May 2019 - A Happy dance and some smalls

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this month.

Stitching:
I knew that I had some time in the waiting room during DH's cataract surgery on the 2nd, so I brought along this new start:

Bee and Hive © Karen Kirk Blackberry Rabbit Designs
Published in the 2019 Nashville Cookbook Happiness is Homemade
Fabric: Mystery 32 count Linen (PTP Heritage I think)
Threads: DMC Threads

Stitch Count: 32 x 49, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch




It's finally Happy dance time!So glad to see this one finished. Still deciding on my next "heavenly" project.

2013BB SAL QS Mystic Garden (It is a cropped version of Peacock Garden.)

Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Ciro Marchetti
Fabric: 28ct Picture this Plus Valor
Threads: DMC & Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 139 x 138, 1 over 1 full cross
April 30, 2019: 18760 stitches completed, now at 100% complete 19,182 stitches later

Since my beads arrived late February, I was finally able to finish this from January. I couldn't find my gold beads...had the burgundy one, just wanted to do all the beading at the same time...Now that my back-ordered DMC#8  for the cording has come in, I can get it finished in the shape of a mouse.

The Little House Mouse © Judith Tuttle of Twisted Oaks
published in the JCS Christmas Ornaments 2012
Fabric: 28ct white
Threads: NPI, NPI Northern Lights
Beads: Mill Hill
Stitch count front: 24 x 45
Stitch count back: 30 x 53
Cross stitch, some 1 over 1, fractional stitches, back stitch, french knot

DH's 2nd  cataract surgery was on the 16th, so I brought along another new start:

Lizzie Kate Quick-It Dogs leave paw prints Q-003 © 2009 Lizzie Kate, Inc.
Fabric: Mystery 32 count Evenweave (PTP Heritage I think)
Threads: WDW Threads
Stitch Count: 56 x 56, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch





 Next I started this freebie

Woof Spoken Here complimentary design from Stitchy Kitty© 2006 Michelle Lutzen
Fabric: Mystery 28 count Linen (close to DMC 712)
Threads: DMC Threads instead of the called for Crescent Colours
Stitch Count: 50 x 50, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, french Knots





Spent yesterday in a different hospital waiting room for Mom's basal cell carcinoma surgery.  I brought along this new start:

Dog House Sampler © 2005 Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 count PTP Earthen Belfast Linen
Threads: DMC
Stitch Count: 79 x 97, 2 over 2
Cross Stitch
  






Sewing:
Finished some more ort catchers for my birthday club friends, and attempted to make a new grime guard for my 11" Q-snaps.

I had this lovely flannel fabric print that I thought would work perfectly...found an online tutorial, and ta-da... now I have a new grime guard.. I still  have to make a few more for my 8" q-snaps, and maybe a couple for my 8" hoops...











Stash: 
A small cut of PTP Earthen above (to see color before deciding on this one for a different HAED)
a few sampler threads, DMC #8 for finishing mouse above and 2 stitchworks charts: New Doggie Love, and Doggie Love 



What I've read: 
Diane Kelly: Death, Taxes and a french Manicure
J. R. Rain:  Moon Dance,
L.T. Ryan:  The Recruit,
started  J. R. Rain:  Vampire Moon

Updates

Temperatures have been cooler than normal for the month and we've had lots of rain. May showers seem to bring out the June bugs. Black flies have shown up and they are biting like crazy. Still to early to be planting anything as we've had frost warnings this past week. Also, not sure how much I want to do this year as the deer nibbled all my hyacinths earlier this month. My hosta plants are either stunted by the weather or suffered too much damage from the deer last year. Our apple trees and crab apple trees have just started to blossom. Most of the trees have leafed out although the walnut, oaks, elms, and ash are still waiting to show their new spring foliage.

We did get to see our first hummingbird of the season on the morning of the 4th

... this young bird (Orchard oriel) showed up on the 16th and took several drinks from the hummingbird feeder.

We also had a visit from this colorful little male just last week.

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.

April 2019 - Page 2 finished.. almost there....

Hi everyone,
It's time to share what I've been up to this month.


Stitching:
Not much on this stitching front this month - just worked on this lovely a bit more. Page 2 is done and only a few more stitches to put in on page 4 before this will be complete!

2013BB SAL QS Mystic Garden (It is a cropped version of Peacock Garden.)

Design by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Ciro Marchetti
28ct Picture this Plus Valor
DMC & Kreinik#4
Stitch Count: 139 x 138, 1 over 1 full cross
April 1, 2019: 17260 stitches completed, now at 18760 stitches completed

Stash:

I took advantage of the HAED Sale, and ordered a few new charts.
Mini Dragon Kin (Anne Stokes)
Mini Wolf Moon (Jasmine Beckett-Griffith)
Mini Raven Kin (Selina Fenech)

I also received my Silver Needle Circle of Friends kit - this time from Little House Needleworks.

Updates
The first of the robins showed up on the 5th  - just before we had another 2" of snowfall.

Then mid month when we had a short warm stretch, we started to hear the peepers... It was so nice to hear the frogs loudly chirping away all day and eve. Definitely a sign that spring is finally here. We did not see our pair of ducks this year.. maybe because the thaw was gradual and they had a better water source available.

Temperatures have been cool. We had snow flurries over the weekend and are expecting another frost night tonight. Spring is trying to arrive with some of the trees beginning to show signs of  budding.









My dear great uncle passed away early in the month - he had been plagued with medical issues for the past several years.

DH has cataract eye surgery end of this week and again in two weeks.

We're getting ready to open the swimming pool at the end of this week. Last year we opened it and then had snow the next few days. 

Mom has a basal cell carcinoma above her right eye. We see the plastic surgeon tomorrow to set up her surgery and follow up care schedule.

Dad has seen a few of his doctors. He is stable but is in stage 3 of kidney failure. Also his leg edema has not improved- so they are trying a pump to remove the buildup of fluid.  Also waiting for a new type of glucose monitor for him.



I wanted to take part in Maynia next month, but lots of travel with associated medical appointments for family will prevent me from stitching a lot. So we'll see what May has to offer as I get home late most evenings. I did read a blog from a fellow stitcher who suggested a type of Maynia in August ..so maybe that will work out.

I'm off to get the hummy feeders ready as we should be seeing them anytime between the 3rd and the 9th of next month.

Until next time,
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa M.