T-14 Days...

...and counting.

Or not.

Fourteen days until our country's sesquicentennial.

Like everything else these days, it seems to have snuck up quickly.

Or is it just me?

I have no plans for the 4th and I'm not necessarily sad about that.

Most years, I have tried to spend the holiday at the lake.

However, given that one whole level of the house is uninhabitable (and said level contains the laundry area as well as the main closet where all manner of necessary things (batteries, toolbox, spare paper towel, etc.) are kept and said closet no longer exists), it's not going to happen this year.

It would have been nice to sneak one last holiday in up there with the kids before the new "little" arrives, but it is what it is. Besides, I am certain that the entire area will be a complete and utter zoo.

Even on normal years, fireworks (and other ruckusing) start many days ahead of the actual holiday and continue many days after (with essentially no break).

It is also extremely over-peopley.

In addition to the many resorts and cabin rentals, there are several "residences" in the area that have been built soley as rentals and they are overflowing with tourists.  And those people who are actually residents there most usually have their own parties...and guests.

Consequently, the lake is full of pontoons, speed boats pulling giant tubes, jets skis, water skiers, and the shores are full of other people's music and squealing children.

At dusk, the fireworks will begin and the adult parties and music kick in.

That's on a normal year. On this auspicious Independence Day (that just happens to land on a Saturday, go figure?) I don't care to know what it will be like.

In other words, it's no place for the likes of me.

So, instead, I have decided to "over-decorate" for the occasion and, since no one else will be seeing it, I thought I would share a few snippets of it with you.

{A few of my vintage and antique parade horns on the cabinet in the front entry.}

{Fresh peonies nestled in an old crock in the drysink...guarded by a vintage eagle cookie cutter and drinking straws.}

{An out-of-print Blackbird Designs pattern "Home of the Brave" stitched last year and finally fully finished atop the mantel.}

{Stitched on 40-ct "Old Linen" by xJu Designs}

{Top of the pie safe.}

{Poor photo, but this is an old child's/youth's woolen naval jacket, with greens and flag tucked in a very large gourd container}

There's more...perhaps I'll manage another post within the next couple of weeks and share more.

Among all the dressings and hoopla, however, there is one particular treasure.

{Teresa Kogut's "250th Celebration" with modifications}

Beautifully stitched and beautifully finished onto a little wood shaker box.

An amazing gift from a dear friend.

At a time when my spirit - and heart - desperately needed a lift, it arrived with a fanfare all its own...sweet handmade paper birds, wonderfully packaged...and some of the best chocolates I've ever had.

I intended to photograph the wrappings, paper birds, chocolates, etc. but the latter disappeared too quickly and missed the photo shoot...and then, of course, I felt guilty.

My heart will hold the joy this brought for many, many, seasons to come.

Thank you

𓏲ּꪆ

Pretty in Pink

 

{"My Dear Hearts" by Blackbird Designs...Stitched on 36ct "Tango" by Picture This Plus}

I stitched this little heart is from "My Dear Hearts" by Blackbird Designs last year but just now got around to "finally" finishing it...and, no, it was NOT a WWR casualty.  When I got done, I decided it is definitely "pink-ish." 

 I may have to stitch this one again on a red linen like Aztec Red. (Ha! Yeah right!). Until such time, if any, that THAT happens, I just may have to reconsider my relatively recent (last post recent) dislike of pink.

But, for now, it is Thursday.  And, as promised, I have drawn a winner for the needlepunched heart in my last post.  The winner is:

BUT....

Although not exactly the same as the first, I did have another of the hearts and decided to draw a second winner.

The second name drawn was:

Congratulations to both Teresa and Marshel.  Please contact me within 3 days with your mailing address and I will get your heart in the mail.

Thanks to everyone who played along.

 I wish now I had more hearts.

💕

All Hallow's Eve Tidings!

 

{"Oct 31" by Blackbird Designs.  Drum finish by my sweet and talented SIL, Debbie. I'm not sure why the photo makes it look washed out; it really isn't in person.}

May your night be filled with many happy haunts and magic of the very best kind.

Merrie October

October is, by far, my most favorite month of all...albeit a very bittersweet pleasure.

The fall leaves dance their last dance, the autumn winds conspire, shadows linger a bit longer than they should and magic comes a bit easier.

It is a month-long celebratory preparation culminating in one of the best days of the year.

{"Oct 31" by Blackbird Designs}

Nothing that has come before it, nor anything that comes after it, is ever quite as good as October.

I finally picked up my hook and started working on "Jack's Crow" by Winter Cottage Studio.

Yes, Lauren, I agree....Loops should be like little soldiers one by each...but just remember: Not all soldiers are the same height. 🤣

Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) and Saundra (Saundra of Woodland Junction) hooked this little mat last year...or the year before??? ...Whichever, I nonetheless am late to the party.

And remember I said I'm over the mermaid thing?  Well, I lied.  (Get used to it, I'm an attorney.)  

I stitched this last year (or the year before??) but never fully finished it.  I kept looking for the right frame or right something on which to mount it and never found one.  So I decided to make it a practice piece for a flat-fold finish.

It is difficult to see/photograph, but it is finished somewhat like a book which you pull apart to stand.

(The above photo was taken before I decided to make some cording and add it around the edges.)

(Backside of piece folded...again, before cording was added.) (And no, I am NOT a purple girl...it just went well with the linen....and it was intended for the lake house.)

For many reasons (aren't there always "many reasons" in my world??), I will not be decorating for my beloved Halloween this year.  (Ok...I did pull a few things in easy reach out.)  So, I decided that I will share with you a photo of some of my "Halloween Pasts" each post I do this month.  (Yes, my intention is more than one post this month unlike prior months.) 

This is my collection of vintage pulp/papier mache Jack-o-Lanterns....probably one of most favorite things:

I also thought I would start sharing what I happen to be reading at the time of a posting since it is an addictive escape for me.  I likely won't always remember and I know it won't be something everyone cares a rat's gray hair about, but I have learned, over the years, there are many of you who are fellow book addicts.

This is currently what I am engrossed in:

Just as I prefer hooking/stitching/punching "in season," I also prefer reading "in season" as well....although I confess that I do not limit my intake of books regarding the Salem witch trials to the fall.  Given my connection, I devour whatever I can get - both fiction and non-fiction - whenever I can get it.

Hmmm....perhaps I will share with you "A Witch's Reading List" sometime...

Until next time, be well, be safe...and enjoy this month of magic.

Hats Off to Uncle Sam...Yeah, I'm Late Like That....

I apologize for being so very long gone.  I do have a very good reason.  Trust me.  And not because I am a lawyer.  Life has just veered off course again...but this one I somewhat saw coming. I just did not want to acknowledge it in the ways I needed to.

Anywhat.

I am, as you have, by now, figured out, "back."  I had submitted my issue about my "disappeared" reading list to Blogger/Google Help...and, after several days weeks, they actually responded and informed me they had resolved the problem.  A rare, but so much appreciated, "Woo Hoo" moment. The "Whoops" problem, however, still persists.  My request to make the error message less irritable apparently, too, was ignored.

I have done little and accomplished even less recently that would hold your attention most likely.  I did finish up a Blackbird Design design I had been wanting to do for some time.  Now, well, like many other things these days, I am not sure why.  

{"Hats Off to Uncle Sam" by Blackbird Designs}

I also finished up (stitching anyways) "Oceanarium," a design by The Primitive Hare.

Kind of cheesy sayings I know, but I stitched it as a companion piece to "The Mermaid of Salem Bay," also by The Primitive Hare.  

I'm over my mermaid "thing" now.  Really. Truly.

The Buttercup (Ranunculus) has spent its beauty...

And the Bittersweet is coming into its colors:

Short-lived, however, as a hard freeze is expected by the end of the week.

I will leave you with a photo of my beloved moon.  I missed the "full" harvest moon as it was raining buckets here, but this was last night, so close enough....

Even when you can't see her, she is magical.