Teresa's Giveaway. Woot !!!

Teresa at Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches is having a wonderful giveaway.  Why?  She has been blogging for 1 month now.  Please HOP on over and check it out. 

Another Crazy Week

It was another busy week full of Dr. Appointments and Errands.  DH (Roger) finally got in to see the surgeon for his eyes and we got good and bad news.  He is totally blind in his right eye and can only see out of a tiny hole the size of a pin head out of his left.  So that's the bad news.  The good news is....  With surgery on his right eye,  he could regain most of his vision back.  So he will have surgery on April 6th.  I am so excited for him.  Then in a month they will go in and operate on his left eye and see what can be done. 

Now today,  I did nothing other then a few loads of laundry and threw some chicken in the crock pot.  And glory be,  I sat and stitch for almost 3 hours while listening to a book on CD. It was so wonderful. I am working on Easter Blessings and I love stitching the Easter eggs the most.

RAK Winners Are.........

WooHoo...   It's the 20th and I can say who my RAK winners are. 

Shari at Shari Sharings

Chrizette at Chriz Stitching Spot

Marcy at Stitching Plus

Debbie at Debbie's Cross Stitch

Gracie at Needles Pins and Dragonflies

Mia at Positivity

I have everyone's email accept for Mia,  So Mia please email me with your info.  I am so excited and I hope everyone will like their RAK boxes.  Thank goodness I have 365 days to get it all together,  but I am sure it will be sooner then that.  I have put your names in a hat to figure out who to work on fist and I pulled out Chizette's name first.  I even know just what to send to her.  Woot !!!!

MY PIF is now a RAK

Well,  I don't think my PIF post is going very well.  I'm not sure if I should take it personally or just realize that this is a small blog with just a few followers that more then likely have a bunch of PIF's, RAK's and Giveaways to take care of. 

I think  what I would like to do is turn my PIF post into a RAK post.  I would still like to have the 365 days to get the RAK to you.  I would like to get in 3 more RAK's.  So I have 3 spots left.

I don't have any rules on this one.  But please leave me a comment with your name and blog so I can check it out and try to make your RAK a bit more personal.  

If you like you can mention my RAK on your blog. 

My RAK will close on Sunday the 20th.

Linda

Pay It Foward

A couple of months ago I signed up for a PIF.  I really didn't think about it after that.  I pretty much forgot all about till I got an email this morning from Shari at Shari's Sharings 
I am so excited that I was picked !!!  So now is my turn to PIF. Here is what it's all about.

Pay It Forward (PIF)~ verb: "1. to repay the good deeds one has received by doing good things for other unrelated people."
And now it is my turn! Would any of you like to participate in a PIF from me? The rules are very simple. I will send a stitched gift to three people who leave a comment (on this post only) ( It would be really cool if you could post this on your blog also, so more stitchers enter) (also, you must be a follower) requesting to join my PIF challenge. I am just learning how to make ornaments it will most likely be one.  I will also check out your blog and send you a surprise-- I have 365 days to fulfill my end of the bargain. If you are chosen as one of my PIF recipients, then you must offer the same on your blog to keep the kindness going... Please specifically mention in your comment if you wish to be considered for this...If more than three people sign up, I will have a drawing for three names.

A quick Finish -- A Joyeux Noel

We lost our internet for a few hours tonight,  so no pogo for me.  However I did get a quick project done while hubby and I watched a movie.

We lost Niles for about an hour tonight.  He wouldn't come when we called or when we tried to bribe him with treats.   I knew he was in the house since he has never been let out before.  Roger and I tore apart the house and this is where I found him. 

So much for clean and fur free towels.

Finished Heaven

This was one of the FCJC Project.  It took about 4 hours to finish in total.  A really nice and fast pattern to complete. 

 

Fairy Celebration IV -- Finsished

Fairy Celebration is done.  I stayed up late last night to finish her.  I kept thinking it would be done within the hour and 3 hours later it was.  

I can't wait to get the other fairy's in the series done also.  Mattie's room will be covered in cross stitch if I don't stop. 

Happy Birthday Mom

Tomorrow would have been my Mother's 78th Birthday.

She passed away on July 8th 1987 after dealing with a horrendous heart disease that she had to deal with her entire life.   She had  New Brunswick Disease which is where the heart calcifies due to her body creating to much cholesterol.  They did not have the meds back then like they do today.  My Mother survived 5 open heart surgeries and back then patients would spend months in the hospital.

A few years after my mother passed away,  I was still at times very depressed.  It was her Birthday and I was at work and having a horrible day.  I asked God to show me a sign, something, anything, to tell me that she was happy and safe and healthy.  Later that night after work I walked to my car and on the passangers seat was this tiny ceramic elephant.  My Mother loved elephants.  I have no clue to this day how it got there.  No one knew it was her birthday,  not even Roger,  no one had the keys to my car which locked automatically so I know I didn’t leave it unlocked.  It’s a mystery and I love having it that way. I still have the little elephant.  It's always in my kitchen to help me cook.  LOL

My Foster Mother Judy gave me this poem just before she had passed away and I find so much comfort in it.  

A Mother's Crown

Heaven lit up with a mighty presence,
as the Angels all looked down.
Today the Lord was placing the jewels
Into my mother's crown.
He held up a golden crown,
as my darling mother looked on.
He said in His gentle voice,
‘I will now explain each one.’

‘The first gem,’ He said, ‘is a Ruby,
and it's for endurance alone,
for all the nights you waited up
for your children to come home.’
'For all the nights by their bedside,
you stayed till the fever went down.
For nursing every little wound,
I add this ruby to your crown.’

‘An emerald I'll place by the ruby,
for leading your child in the right way.
For teaching them the lessons,
That made them who they are today.’ 

'For always being right there,
through all life's important events.
I give you a sapphire stone,
for the time and love you spent.’ 

‘For untying the strings that held them,
when they grew up and left home.
I give you this one for courage.’ 

 Then the Lord added a garnet stone. 

‘I'll place a stone of amethyst,’ He said.
‘For all the times you spent on your knees,
when you asked if I'd take care of your children,
and then for having faith in Me.’ 

‘I have a pearl for every little sacrifice
that you made without them knowing.
For all the times you went without,
to keep them happy, healthy and growing.’

'And last of all I have a diamond,
the greatest one of all,
for sharing unconditional love
whether they were big or small.’
‘It was you love that helped them grow
Feeling safe and happy and proud
A love so strong and pure
It could shift the darkest cloud.’

After the Lord placed the last jewel in,
He said, ‘Your crown is now complete,
You’ve earned your place in Heaven
With your children at your feet.’
Anon

Busy Busy Weekend

I drove down to Phoenix on Friday and spent some time with Harry.  I also made him some tomato soup which I was so happy that he really liked.  He has had a major set back and is bedridden again.   I know his move from the hospital to the group home had to have been stressful, but I don't think enough to cause him to be bedridden like he is.  This is his 2nd week there and I sure hope he starts to feel better.

Yesterday,  Roger and I finally decided to celebrate our 22nd Anniversary.  We are a few weeks late but better late then never.  When Roger and I first got married we went to this wonderful Lion Sanctuary called Out of Africa.  We used to go every year on our Anniversary until we moved out of state.  Ever since we have been back we have talked about going to see the changes they have made and so yesterday,  we woke up and saw what a beautiful day it was going to be.  We quickly got dressed and off we went.  If you are ever in AZ,  you have to check this place out.  It was such a wonderful day.  I have a ton of pictures but I will only post a few.  I hope.  LOL

 This is Chili Pepper.  We were taking a tour in a jeep and stopped for a few pics and to give her treats.  She loved to peck at our knees and she even tried to steal Roger's glasses.  We were told that she does it all the time.  

This is Humphrey.  There are these holes in the fence so he can stick his head thru for treats.  It was so much feeding him.  I also couldn't get over how soft his nose was.  It felt like velvet.

I can't remember the name of the Giraffe but I had the most fun feeding her.  Well.... until my entire arm got slimmed. 

 OK OK,  I only said a few pics but there are so many.  LOL.  I can't wait to go back again.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and I hope everyone's has a great Monday.

  Linda

TUSAL and Weekly Pictures and Project Updates

TUSAL

I love watching everyone's jars fill up.  I am surprised at how much is in my jar and how fast it is filling up. 

I only worked on 2 different projects this week.  

Fairy Celebration IV which is one of my WIP for the FCJC.  It's going to be for my Grand Niece Mattie, for Easter.  

I also got more time in on the Horse Silhouette.  

NILES

This is Niles,  he will only drink water from his Left Paw after he dips it in a cup of water.  We adopted Niles from the ASPCA when he was 6 weeks old.  I have no clue why he drinks this way but it's always fun to watch him.   

 

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess

Today is National Dr. Seuss Day !!!!   I grew up reading Dr. Suess just like many of you have.  I read all of the Dr. Seuss Books to both of my Niece's and now I get to read them to my Grand Niece Mattie who is totally in love with  The Lorax,  just like I was when I was a kid. 

Mattie and I have been working on a few craft projects that we found for free on the internet.  They have been fun and easy to do.  Here is the Link  


I love the Horten Hears a Who.  Now if I can keep Mattie from trying to eat it.  LOL