Time Flies and Pictures Galore!

Dear Friends,

Where oh where does the time go? I know everyone asks that but honestly, it really does go speeding by, doesn't it? I have been busy with work - busy with spring garden clean up - busy with well, just life in general. I know, I know, we are all busy. How is it though that some of you super busy folks seem to accomplish so much? I feel extraordinarily inadequate compared to most of you. I can't worry about that though - I can only do the best I can do. Have I told you lately how inspiring you are? Thank you for all that you do and all that you share with us (even if you do make me feel inadequate!). I have been trying to catch up on my blog reading and have tried to leave comments but I am woefully behind. I had to go on travel for work last week and am still playing catch-up!

If you want a closer look at any of these pictures, they are all clickable.

I have a lot to show you - are you ready? First up, because this is supposed to be a stitchy blog - how about some progress on my BOAF, Sally Spencer sampler? She's coming along, albeit slowly. I kind of got sidetracked with my new pincushion and strawberry obsession!



I am stitching this on 35 count Weeks Dye Works fabric called Mocha with one thread over two. I've made some color substitutions but they're close to the called for fibers. I am going to dedicate this sampler to my father's mother. Her name was Texie - how cute is that? That wasn't even a nickname - that was her given name. So this shall be called the Texie Sampler hence forth. I really love BOAF patterns and this one is no exception. I really think it looks much prettier stitched than it does in the cover photo (as do most things we stitch).

The big surprise of the week came from my friend MARY IN FRANCE. Look at the beautiful package she sent me. She mailed it on Monday and I got it today - can you believe that? What a thrill to get home from work and have this waiting for me! Mail doesn't get delivered that quickly in the US - I can't believe it got here from France in less than a week, can you?! Check out all the goodies she sent me - of course, my favorite thing is the pinkeep because she made it- how pretty is that? Check out the kitty threadkeep - isn't that darling - and new patterns and stash! Who Hoo! Thank you so much Mary! I love everything you sent and am just bowled over by your generosity! Oh, inside the little black bag were some very delicious candies with chocolate insides. YUM!!!! Thank you so much, Mary - you're a doll!!!




Mother's Day was super special - not just because it was Mother's Day but because we celebrated Matt's 19th birthday as well! He had to work that day so we had a small family celebration when he got home from work. I can't believe he's 19 and that I'm well.... never mind that. Time does go speeding by, doesn't it?




Sorry for the bad picture - messy hair (me) messy room (oh well).

I've had some fun Goodwill/Salvation Army finds of late, too! Check this out!

It's a shell chandelier that I'm going to hang in the yard. I am going to attach a pie plate to the interior and add a chunky candle for a bit of evening ambiance. For $8.99 I didn't think I could go wrong. Here it is from a distance:



I found these bundt pans for a buck a piece and thought I could use them as bird baths. DEB and I saw some like this at an antique store on our last day out and I thought they were pretty cute.

I just mounted them on large dowel rods and used a small block of wood nailed to the top of the one with the big center, filled them with water and I think they look great! I hope the birds will like them.

Remember the syrup jar Rob got me not too long ago as a surprise for Easter? The same day I saw that - I also saw a miniature glove mold like the large one I have. It's made by the same company that made the big glove molds but it was a little pricey and I wouldn't buy it for myself. Unbeknownst to me, Rob did buy it and i got it for Mother's Day along with a new Troll Bead and the movie "It's Complicated" (which, if you haven't seen, is a must! The house, the decorating the story - all great). But, I digress - here's my little glove mold that is now happily living in my craft studio.

Isn't that the cutest thing ever? The little scissors hanging off of it were an antique market find as is the pink porcelain bucket which is now my craft studio waste basket!

I also found some cute pin cushions and oil cans at the market?

Here are some close ups of the pin cushion doll.



What is it about these old things that we all love? I have loved "antiques" since I was a young girl. My mom used to buy them and she loved them and I share that with her. My dad, does not have the same appreciation for old things - he grew up pretty poor and did not have much. Of course, if we could afford really fine antiques and not the flea market stuff I pick up, he might think differently. What I love is that someone, or many someone's, have loved these items. Someone used them, touched them and there is a soulfulness to them, I think that you just don't find with "new". I don't especially like all beat to heck looking stuff but gently used, softly worn - oh yeah, I love that. The passage of time only makes these things, these objects, better.

While at the market I saw some really cool flower frogs. Deb, if I hadn't already had your gift, and didn't think Dan would kill me, one of these would have been your b-day gift.




Gotta love the cool colors and shapes.

Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I took a road trip with my friends Sally and Sheila. We had a great day together and I thought I'd leave you with this picture of the three of us.
That's Sheila on the left and Sally in the middle and me on the right. Time flies when you're with good friends!

Thank you so much to all of you that have become chocolate loving followers! What a treat it is to meet all of you. I am slowly making it to your blogs and thank you so much for joining me. It is a gift that you choose to follow and I'm so grateful and appreciative. Thanks for all the comments that you leave as well - that is so greatly appreciated!

Have a glorious weekend, dear friends! Don't let time speed by too quickly, if you can help it!

Peace,
Terri