Long Overdue Update...

I'm slowly getting back to the routine of everyday life after spending two weeks visiting with my family in Ohio and Indiana. It was a very emotional and gratifying journey in so many ways. It was great to spend time with my mother and siblings in Cleveland and attend the wedding of my niece, Kris. The wedding was gorgeous, the bride spectacular, the groom handsome, and the weather totally cooperated (considering it was raining quite a bit the evening we arrived). It was nice to spend time with my younger brother who underwent surgery last month and I ask for your continued prayers for his recovery.

We arrived in Columbus, Ohio on September 15th to some heavy rains. It was dark by the time we picked up our luggage, car, and headed for Cleveland. Barely 2 or 3 miles from the airport I look in my rear view mirror to see twirling lights...yep, a policeman. I stopped at the side of the road to discover I was driving with only my daylights on. I had to explain to him that it was a rental and it took all 3 of us to figure out the lights...LOL! The following day on the way back to our hotel I turn on my signal light to make a left into the parking and discover that yet again there are twirlings lights behind me. YES...it was an Ohio State Trooper!! When he asked if I knew why he had pulled me over I said "please don't tell me I forgot my lights again?" He said, "again?" I had to explain to him it was a rental which I'm sure look suspicious considering I was in Ohio and the rental had Illinois plates and I have a California driver's license. Turns out the rental had automatic lights and I could have saved myself the "run-in with the law", as my husband put it. As I said to him, "well it won't be a trip we'll forget anytime soon."

In addition to our time in Cleveland, we visited my brother in law in Harrison, my husband's cousin in Cincinnati, and his sister in Connversville, IN. We also took time to visit cousins in Indianapolis we'd never met and my husband hadn't seen since he was a boy. We had a great time with the Dunaway clan at the home of his Uncle Eddie and a great dinner at Olive Garden.

10th Anniversary

Weekly update

I concentrated most of my stitching this week on Fairy Grandmother and thrilled with the progress I'm making. I hate to stop working on her but it's a large project to carry so I will leave her behind while I'm on vacation and devote what little stitching time I have to Wild Roses.

Fairy Grandmother

by Lavender and Lace

Wild Roses

by Carriage House Samplings

Quote of the week

"Don't live in the past, thinking about mistakes or changes you made. Think of your life as a book, move forward, close one chapter and open another. Learn from your mistakes, but focus on your future, not on your past."

-- Unknown

Lady of the Flag (UFO)

I mentioned last week that I had Lady of the Flag by Mirabilia stashed away where she became a UFO and languished in a tube for over two years. Well I finally took her out to let her breathe. Though I think the surprise was on me when I realized I was much further along than I remember. I knew I had most of the stitching done but I actually started the beading too. She's going back in my rotation and I WILL FINISH HER!

Fairy Grandmother, Week 2

I'm so enjoying this one and I hope my enthusiasm keeps up and I have finish her before the year ends. WHAT!?! I can do it. LOL! Gee what stitcher hasn't uttered that phrase more than once.

Happy birthday to me!

Yep, another birthday crept up on me. I had such a great day thanks to my husband. I got some books, some iTunes cards, some stitching goodies but most of all the love, support, and MANY well wishes from friends and family. Even had a new arrival on my birthday when my niece gave birth to Julianna Lissette, born at 4:30pm weighing in at 7 lbs., 6 oz. and 20" long. Another memorable birthday! THANK YOU ALL!