Fleamarket Finds and Kitten update!

This past weekend I got to spend Saturday with my mom.  A favorite passtime of hers is hitting the local fleamarkets.  Off we went.  I found some great things and can't wait to share them with you!

I found a great sewing case for thread and needles, 2 antique embroidery hoops (these are felt lined to prevent fabric from slipping since they are not adjustable), an old wooden rule, brass skeleton key, and 2 flower frogs ( one mini and one large with base) I don't think the base is the one that goes with this frog because the glass is 2 different colors but it works perfectly as a scissor holder. The last thing is a carved little bowl which I thought would work perfectly for a pincushion base.  All this and I spent less than $20.  Oh what fun I had. 

The next pic is from our bike ride we had on Sunday with the boys.  We came across this bald-faced hornets nest.  It is huge.  The activity surrounded it was crazy.  We kept our distance and mosied on our way.

The kittens will be 3 weeks old tomorrow.  We have named them Charlie, Myles, Millie, Bebe, and Jessie for identification purposes.  Of course, they will get new names when they are adopted.  They have found their little legs and are venturing outside of their nursing basket everyday.  Mom is diligent about collecting them when they venture to far but they are really too cute!!  Here are some so-soo pics.  They are too busy exploring to want to pay attention to the camera.

Myles

Venturing out and exploring
Charlie, Jessie, Bebe

Jessie

Charlie

We are greatly enjoying these little bundles of furriness.  Look at the little white feet on Charlie. AWWW!
Anyways, School starts tomorrow so the next couple of days will be really busy and I probably won't get to post until the weekend.  We are watching forcasts very carefully, Hurricane Earl may make a close pass.  I hope not but mother nature has been brutal this year.  The last 2 days have been over 90 and the humidity is climbing every day.  Until next time,  thanks for sharing.  For those of you that left comments on my last post regarding thread, I ventured out and started with the blue thread.  So far I love it and will post progress soon.

Midnight Watch finally finished!

I have been too busy to post so I will divide this into two posts.  After a very busy weekend, I have lots of news.  I want to start with a huge thank you to Fiona at Peaceful Threads for a wonderful package full of goodies.  She had a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers and I was the very lucky winner.  Here is a pic of all the loot.

Thanks soooo much Fiona!!

Next order of business is the long awaited Midnight Watch from Blackbird designs.  I had started this last year and didn't finish it before Halloween so when I saw a few posts in blogland I decided to pick it back up.  It may not seem it but there is a ton of stitching in this one.  It took awhile but I love the results.

Midnight Watch by BBD
35ct WDW "Linen"

Lastly, I am posting my next project.  My friend Carol and I decided to do BBD Peacock Pinkeep as a SAL.  I kitted this up with required threads and fabric but I am considering changing the threads colors.  I was thinking blue and green rather than the red and green!  Let me know what you think!  I need to start this soon because Carol already has the alphabet band done.  She is a speedy stitcher.  I'm sure I won't be able to keep up. 

Join me tomorrow for flea market finds and a kitten update.  I want to thank all of you who leave comments.  I look forward to your thoughts and ideas.  Happy Stitching!

Lucky. . .

My youngest son found this four leafed clover while we were peach picking.  Any time he finds a clover patch he lays down and starts looking.  It never fails, through patience and perserverance that he manages to find a four leaf clover.  Today,  I needed this reminder to count my blessings and realize how very lucky I am.  As we head into fall, I am feeling blue because summer is ending, fall is near and winter is too close behind.  The boys will be in school next week which leaves this momma bird with an empty nest.  Oh, how will I ever fill my days.  (UMMM, hello, stitching, lots and lots of stitching)  As we head into the weekend, I am going to take time to count my many blessings and be happy with what I have been so fortunate to have recieved.  Although it is far from perfect it's mine!  Happy Weekend!  Hope it is filled with stitching.

A finish and an update...

Since this is a stitching blog I thought I would post my stitching news. I was lucky enough to get together with my stitching group for a day of stitching on Saturday.  We had lots of fun catching up and stitching.  I have been working to finish Midnight Watch.  I'm down to the last row of letters so you should see a post this week.  I also got the JCS Halloween issue and can't stop looking at all of the patterns, sooooo I took a break from BBD design to stitch Full Moon. Here is a pic.

I stitched it on 32 ct Vintage Tarnish Silver with recommend thread.  The fabric is a scrap piece that my good friend Deborah gave me.  Whenever she has something framed the framer returns good sized scraps to her.  She is always very generous and gives them to me.  I am able to use these because I work in hand. 

The next update is about the kittens.  They are now 12 days old and looking soooo cute.  They have opened their eyes and their ears are starting to perk up.  We are now able to pick them up for short periods of time.  Their curiosity is emerging and they are exploring the basket they are in.  Sometimes climbing up to peek over.  We are having trouble identifying them because there are 2 pair that look very much alike. We are greatly enjoying these little balls of fluff.

In other news,  we are getting the boys ready for school which starts next Wednesday.  Cleaning out closets, seeing what we need for clothes to start the new year.  New lunch boxes, pencils, backpacks etc.  Today is our first real rainy day this summer and I am enjoying the down time.   It's the perfect opportunity to stitch and play board games with the boys.  Happy Stitching everyone!

What's going on at the local fair. . .

Just got home from the local fair and had to blog about it.  Every year we take the boys to the fair for the demolition derby and my hankering for fried dough.  Why do I love this unhealthy treat?  Not quite sure but boy did it taste good.  While we were there, I had to pop into the arts and crafts exhibit.  Hey if I have to go and visit all of those farm animals the least they can do is allow me a quick run through of this exhibit.  I was astonished to see, are your ready for this, 4, count them, 4 cross stitched items.  I have to ask, is our love of needlework a dying art??  I worry that one day the only things available will be my stash.  I encourage everyone to spread the word, teach someone your art, and keep this love (obsession) of needlework alive.  I hope to enter some of my pieces next year so more people can see what can be done with needle and thread.  Thanks for visiting and let me know what you think!  I would love to know if you go to fairs and what the needlework section looks like. Happy Stitching!

Wildflowers and Reflection

As a new school year approaches I am reflecting on things to come.  I typically look forward to this time of year to get back into routine but this year I am feeling like the summer disappeared before my eyes.  We have done many things to keep busy, beach, swimming, hiking, vacation, etc...  but I still feel I need just a little more unstructured time with the boys. Once school starts it will be back to scheduled time together, after homework is done, sports are finished, bags are packed which narrows down to a bedtime story or a quick conversation in the car on the way to an activity.  I am a firm believer that children should not be over-scheduled but as they have gotten older they have their own ideas of what they would like to accomplish.  I am not one for holding back and I try to facilitate as best I can.  (Sometimes the mother hen takes over and says things are too dangerous i.e. football, hockey etc.)   The above pictures were taken in the back yard over the weekend while I was having a pensive moment.  I couldn't help but realize that the fall is quickly approaching and wanted to capture a few quiet moments.

A Walk in the Woods

This weekend flew by. We decided we needed to connect with nature and took the boys for a hike. I'm not sure it classifies as a hike but we climbed Blue Hills here in Massachusetts. The view is beautiful. There are lots of rocks for the boys to climb and it is were the Weather Observatory is located. This observatory has lots of history behind it by why bore you with the facts.

The start

The rocks!

Lookout Tower

Hazy view of Boston from the summit

Weather Observatory

I want to thank all of you for your kind comments.  I  enjoy hearing from each and every one of you.  For those of you following the kitten trail,  I want to let you know that everyone is doing remarkably well.  Mom is doing a great job and the babies look as if they have doubled in size already.  It is really tough to get pics but I have a day 4 pic. As you can see, My Cat Person couldn't resist a pet!  But mom, they're sooooo soft! I can't help it!  Now maybe some time to stitch!  I am having fun with the Just Cross Stitch Halloween Ornament Issue.  I want to stitch so many of them, if I could just find the time.  I will post pics when I finish them into something.  Happy Stitching and thanks for following.