Updates from Ky

Well, the ice storm taught me to appreciate modern technology, I probaly would not have made a very good pioneer! The dear husband has spent hours cleaning up the broken limbs and trees on our property and that of my parents. He sill has hours left to work. The last of the road crews who came from many states left our area the first of June. The last group was from Alabama, they were awesome. I still have a snowy background...but with the temps. in the 90's and heat index even higher, I might just leave it! No stitching news to report at all except I have it ready to start back on today. I am going to work on my Little House Neighborhood and Through the Woods. Through the Woods will be a Christmas gift so it will have to be finished before Christmas! Since I was last here....I have a new grandson! Isaac was born April 2. Our daughter had some serious problems but she doing better. The little grandson had to have surgery in May but he is doing better also. Growing stronger every day. March 15th I changed to a new career! I really am happy with my new job but had a lot to deal with for the past few months. Things are getting more calm now and I am going to be able to get back into my stitching and blogging. I am having some eye problems but I think I will be able to stitch some most days. I'm hoping its an allergic reaction and will clear up soon.
Happy Stitching!

We Have Power!!

Yesterday evening around 6:00 our power came back on!! Thank You! Thank You! To the men from North Carolina who have been working on our lines!!! I have cleaning and laundry to get done today but I don't mind at all! The sun is shinning and it should get up to 60 degrees today!! What a switch! Thank you all for the comments, prayers and good wishes. Its amazing how the 'I can do this' process kicks into your brain when there are no other options. I love the weather channel and have seen others go thru storms like this and now I not only can pray for them, I can relate to their suffering. There are still alot of families without power in our area and the phones lines are not all repaired but with the dedication of so many workers from our state and many others, all will be well soon.

Day 12.....Still no power

Tuesday morning January 27th 2009, at 3:30 a.m. our power went off due to a major ice storm hitting our entire county here in Kentucky. We had a couple of inches of ice and a couple inches of snow. We still do not have power. The first 2 days we used candles and oil lamps for heat. We used a battery power radio to keep up with the news. That second day we were able to borrow a kerosene heater. The ice broke limbs and crashed trees to the ground all around our house but we were lucky none landed on the roof. Limbs and trees blocked roads thru the entire county. Most were cleared by citizens who lived on the roads. We are very thankful to have some good men living on our road who worked in the freezing temps. to clear away trees. As they worked, more fell and this continued for several days. With so many falling, the road was just one lane most of the time. We live near a wooded area and for 5 days you could hear them crashing. Saturday, January 31st we were able to get from our home to the nearest Rural King. There were trees, limbs, power poles and lines, telephone poles and lines down everywhere. Limbs and trees were laying on houses and covering yards. The road was sometimes a one lane maze. We finally arrived at the store and stood in a freezing line with several other people hoping for a chance to buy our own kerosene heater. We did get one and were able to return the one we borrowed. We also went to another store and waited in line to get propane for our outdoor gas grill. We had a little but it was nearly out. We waited in another line for gas for the truck and still another line for kerosene for the heater. Very few businesses had power and most that were open were running on generators. The workers used flashlights to escort the customers a few at a time to pick up some items they needed. One of the days this past week some friends who live in another town did get power and they loaned us their small generator. I'm not sure what day it was. We are able to use a few lamps and our T.V. We also hooked up the laptop. Our phones have been off and on. The cell phone reception has been off and on also. With the generator, we are also able to use our coffee maker. I have been making coffee outside on our gas grill which has a side burner. It was very cold but that was my fault because I would get up at 4:30-6:00, just could not sleep. A couple of days/nights the temps. were in the teens with the wind chill below 0. We did get our water back a few days ago and that was great. We have crews working on the power lines from so many different states. I heard on the news there were 2500 power poles down in our county. The electric crews were working on our rural road yesterday. It was so great to see the trucks going up and down the road. We are hoping to get power back soon. The National Guard have been going door to door checking on everyone. The one who came here told me they have found people with no food/water/heat and some who needed immediate medical attention. Some were evacuated from their homes. We are blessed to be able to remain in our home when so many have gone to shelters. We have stayed warm and been able to cook on the gas grill. I have also used it to heat water for bathing and doing the dishes. Because the generator does not run the fridge, we have been eating alot of soup. We have a small cooler with ice where we have kept some lunch meat, hot dogs, milk and butter. We did get pizza and burgers two different nights. The dear hubby picked them up on his way home from work at a nearby town. He had a difficult time getting to work thru the maze of fallen trees and had to attempt several different routes to and from before he reached his destination. Most of the days have been freezing or below but yesterday high temps. were in the 40's and they will stay around there for the next few days. There is rain in the forcast but no ice or snow. School has been out since January 27th and we have already been told we will be out February 9th and 10th. We heard the school board is hoping everything will be back on for the 11th. We are blessed everyone has been well and we have what we need to survive this disaster. We were not exactly prepared for such a cold long term power outage but we are hanging in there. Prayers and thank you to the electric workers from our state and several other states who are working very long hours to restore our power. Also, prayers and thanks to the National Guard who are going door to door to check on the residents and all the other jobs they are doing.

New Photo! Caring Wings

I got a photo of Caring Wings. This shows the progress I have made. I worked on it 3 more hours after the picture was taken. The spaces that are open on the dress and wings are for beads and gold floss.

Making Progress on Caring Wings

This pic was from June of last year. You can see what I had finished and just imagine the wings coming out from the back. Sadly, I do not have an updated pic of Mirabilia's Caring Wings yet. (dead camara) I am hoping to get my daughters camara and get one later and I will post as soon as I do. I have been working on it all week. The only part left to finish on the bottom half of her dress is the beads and the gold thread. I also have more of the leaves finished around the bottom of her dress. I have over half of her wings finished and then I will move on to her arms, head and the rest of the leaves. Then I will stitch the dove. Last, I will do the gold thread, beads and back stitch. There is not really too much back stitching so that is good. I really want her to be a finish for this year. I am not rotating any of my other pieces since I want to get her finished and framed and hung on my DD's wall.

Link! Happy Halloween pic's

Link the #1 long coat Chihuahua wearing his vampire costume this past Halloween. He was not a happy camper! This is the only time I have ever seen him stand still! All other pictures of him are a blur because he is always on the move, either playing with his toys or teasing the cat. He is so loveable and such a good doggie! He is now 1 year old. Santa brought him and new toy and a new bed! He thought the bed was a large toy. After he had the paper off, he clamped his little teeth on it and started trying to shake it around. We laughed and showed him it was a bed. Its on the end of the couch where he lays while he is watching Spongebob. He loves his new bed! I read somewhere that chihuahuas can not jump on furniture because they are too small. Well, someone forgot to tell that to Link. He runs and Leaps! on to all the furniture including our bed, where he sleeps at night. (His new bed is just for 'day sleeping') He loves it when we have visitors and is the friendliest little doggie I have ever seen. If you are thinking about getting an inside dog, chihuahuas are awesome! He only barks if its 'necessary' lol and he is totally friendly because we let visitors give him a small treat. So he looks forward to company. He was totally easy to paper train and is very aware of everything going on. Another plus is the fact he does not get under my feet when I am walking! He weighs 5-6 lbs. and is just a wonderful little dog.

Happy New Year!!

I want to wish all my friends a Happy New Year! My goal for this year is to finish some of my larger wip's. That might have been a goal in the past that was not accomplished but hopefully I will be successful this year. I want to finish Rocky Mt. Christmas and Caring Wings. The Fortunate Traveler will come after those two. Cross stitching is a peaceful hobby that lets me see a finished project. It is encouraging to have so many friends who cross stitch. My finishes for 2008 were not that many but they were finishes! Wishing you all a healthy, happy new year!

Been Crocheting

I have crocheted a scarf for each of my two granddaugthers and one for my youngest daughter. The two little ones are red and fuzzy, the one for my teen is pink. I am working on another one and it is purple and fuzzy. These will be for Christmas. I finihsed the stitching on my Partridge in a Pear Tree but I never got the beads ordered so its not stuffed and on my tree. Life is pretty busy around here so I have not had alot of stitching time. Getting the Christmas scarfs finished was a hugh goal for me. After the purple one is done I have a blue one to make. I'm running out of time! lol I know I will get the purple one done and the blue one is going to be cutting it close. Schools closed 2 hours early Monday and we were home Tuesday and today because of icy roads. We are suppose to get some freezing rain/snow mix today. The high is suppose to be 31 so I don't think we will be going tomorrow either. That's fine with me, I love snow days! Unfortunately, I can't take a pic of the scarfs because my camara has bit the dust. Maybe I'll get a new one for Christmas! "Hey Santa! I need a new camera!!"

Adding To My Stash!

I have been shopping at www.stitchingbitsandbobs.com They are having a sale and I had to take advantage of the great prices. I bought a couple of Little House Needleworks charts for Christmas gifts and the Wool Needlebook and Fob chart. I also bought the Prairie Schooler Santas -04 thru 08 designs. I also got Prairie Schooler - Decenber, which is a new design and Prairie Schooler- Prairie Birds. I would have bought more Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks but my daughter wanted me to make a list for her to choose from so she can get me some charts for Christmas. I worked on my Partridge in a Pear tree ornament last night. Having the time change gave me an extra hour to stitch! Its a beautiful day and we are going to watch the dear teen and her high school band march in the Veteran's Day Parade. Please support our troops and veterans, they have risked their lives for us. I will also take this time to mention...it is very important for each and every one of us to vote in the Presidential Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4th.

Stitching News and More

I have been working on my Partridge in a Pear Tree and my Little House Neighborhood. My rotation stitching has flown out the window so I need to update my blog. I did stick to it some when I first started but I guess I'm just not a rotator. I did buy some fabric and I have the materials I need to turn my Holiday Snapper into a pillow. I have been organizing my charts and fabric and preparing for some snowy stitching weather! Just waiting on snow now! I have not started my Christmas shopping and I don't usually get in the mood to do that until after Thanksgiving. I did buy 2 new snowman potholders. lol My dear grandson has turned 7 last week and lost his first tooth the other day. He looks so cute! Plans for today: Laundry, grocery shopping and then stitching!

Mail Call!

My Little House Needleworks and Country Cottage Needleworks charts were delivered the other day!!! I am so excited about these designers! Little House Neighborhood and Though the woods are the first two I am starting. I have a basket on my dining room table with my current wip's. It was just a little overcrowded in there (imagine that) so I finished up a couple and now I can start more! I have started The Sweetheart Tree 12 Days of Christmas Series. I have the first 2 'days' so I only have 10 left to buy. Another fun shopping spree! I do not have any stitched ornaments I have made for my own tree so I am excited about having at least a couple from this series finished this year. I'm looking forward to alot of snow/stitching days!
Happy Fall my stitching friends!

Another Finish!

Bent Creek Zipper Kit: Snow is in the Air is finished! I am going to put it in a small frame.

Holiday Snapper Finished!

Bent Creek Holiday Snapper Series is finished! I am going to make it into a pillow.

I've been shopping!!

I went to my favorite LNS, which, sadly for me, is online and not in person. But I had a great time! In a couple of days I will be the proud owner of Little House Needleworks: Acorns, Through The Woods, Lavender Hill, Hollies And Berries and Little House Neighborhood!! I also ordered the Crescent Colors and Gentle Arts that go with Through The Woods. I am so in love with all the Little House Needleworks charts! I made a wish list that includes nearly all of them. I think I will pass a copy out to all my family members this year at Christmas. Too forward??? Well maybe I will try and control myself. If you have not discovered the awesome charts they have to offer then take a few minutes and visit their website. www.littlehouseneedleworks.com
Next, make out your wish list and then visit www.houseofstitches.com or your LNS! Happy Stitching friends!

Got A 'hall closet'?

Anyone else have a 'hall closet'? Actually, its a small bedroom that holds the Christmas/Halloween/Thanksgiving/Easter/4th of July decorations, several tubs of keepsake toys, all the prom dresses the dear daughters could not bear to part with and their china dolls, books that don't fit on the over stuffed bookshelves, broken lamp, the hugh Bread Box your youngest child will not let you get rid of because that is how she learned to spell B-R-E-A-D, suitcases, tent (still in the box) dear daughter won at a school function, couple of boxes of dust collectors I could not part, extra blankes/quilts, baby clothes, lighted 5' Fig Tree from daughters wedding, old broken stero, etc...You get the picture. Anyway, my question is....How do you clean it out???? I have tired several times, I end up moving things around but thats about it. My GOAL is to try and get some things out and give them to my daughter who is having a yard sale this week. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!

My Poor Neglected Blog...

I have neglected my blog for almost 2 months! Sorry blog!! Its always extremely difficult for me to get back into the 'work' mode after summer vacation. I am lucky though, most people don't even get a summer vacation. I have stitched alittle but not too much. Things are kind of getting into a routine now, so I hope to get started back with my stitching. I have some great fall projects I would love to start and a few UFO's I need to finish! I will try to stay focused on getting in some 'me' time which means computer and stitching!

Stitching Update, This & That

I have worked on my rotation pieces some the past few weeks. I can see progress on all of them and that is encouraging. I am working on the Halloween chart of the Holiday Snapper. When it is finished all I like is the Thanksgiving chart and the boarder. I am having a really hard time not starting another one! I have all my new charts from my last stash shopping at Cross Country Stitching and they are begging me to come play! School has started back so the end of summer vacation has arrived. It has cooled off the past couple of days and the hot, humid weather is taking a break. We could use some rain, the ground is very dry. I have been watching some of the Olympics and the opening ceremony by the host country China was so awesome I could not put it into words! I can not imagine how many total hours were spent working on that ceremony!! It was all very amazing and breath-taking! Thanks China!!!

A New Finish

I have a new finish to add to my 2008 Finishes! Can't post a pic. until it is with its new owner. It is a bookmark. I used a pattern from one of my Cross Country Stitching magazines. After a few of my own alterations, it is completed. This is my favorite magazine. I love the colors and the charts. I did not follow my rotation yesterday so no update on the Traveler. I have worked on my small UFO's, Holiday Snapper and Rocky Mt. Christmas, also the bookmark this past week. I was going to work on The Traveler yesterday but I had such a bad headache I was afraid I would have to frog out everything I put in. So I worked on Holiday Snapper and just like about an hour having the July square finished. I do plan on working on The Traveler today if all goes well. For the most part, I have stuck to my rotation. I know it has helped keep me motivated and 'on task'.

Weblog Award!

I have been selected by GoldenAngel to receive this Weblog Award! Thank you Golden Angel!! It is awesome! I am glad you enjoy my blog and felt me deserving of this award. Now I am to choose 7 others and pass this award along. All my stitching friends are awesome bloggers and I appreciate each and every one of them sharing their lives through their blogs. Several of my stitching friends have already received this award. So I will choose some who have not. I think all are excellent and deserving of this award.

1. Sonda

2. DawnB.

3. Lisa

4. Rene

5. Kathy

6. Chris

7. BarbCat

Kreativ Blogger Award

I was chosen for this award by Dawn B. Thank you Dawn! I am very honored to received this award. I had seen it on other blogs and now I am the honored recipient of the Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you again Dawn! Also, thanks to everyone who reads my blog and thank you for your comments!

Now I am suppose to choose 5 blogs and pass this award on. This is difficult because I really like all my stitching blogger friends. These are five of my long-time blogger friends and I really enjoy reading their blogs.

1. GoldenAngel

2. Linda

3. Shelleen

4. Kendra

5. Rena