HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!

It's my birthday, it's my birthday, yay!!  Not really loving this getting old thing but I figure why not make the best of it since I can't change or stop it from coming every year.  My day started with beautiful roses from my husband, a wonderful copper roofed bird feeder and the largest bag of bird seed I've every seen.  He knows how much I love watching the birds at the feeders out back, so this was a perfect gift for me. 

My wonderful friend Evette came over loaded with gifts.  What fun we had.  She decided to plan ahead for a trip to Oregon that Mark and I are taking this summer and got me all kinds of scrapbooking "thingies" to use for all the wonderful pictures I will be bringing home.  She was so sweet in her planning this gift out, everything was so coordinated and "Oregonian looking" as she said.  Can't wait to use all the goodies.  And then there was a wonderful tote bag with a handle and wheels to use for some of the supplies I have to carry to classes.  Thansks Evette!!!!!  You're the best. 

And I've had so many wonderful, sweet cards and email good wishes from friends, it makes me feel so special.  I especially love my photoshopped picture Jennifer put on her blog.  What a surprise that was!!  And my two granddaughters calling first thing this morning to sing to me followed up by my son Eric, wife Kristin and "Vern" singing a wonderful rendition of happy birthday which is forever recorded on my answering machine!!!  So thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes (and reminders that I'm getting old!!)  Off to lunch with friends so maybe there will be more surprises.  Aren't birthdays fun!!

This is what my work table looks like right now -- UTTER CHAOS!!!  I have so many things that need to be done that I can't seem to focus on any one thing.  I'm working on pattern directions for the upcoming March and April classes, a stitchery design, creating the recipe card for the March classes.....................and I thought I was ahead of the game in January.  My three week bout with bronchitis has put me so far behind.  Oh well, I'll do the best I can and it will all work out. 

Oh look, Tom Selleck and his Cindy Lauper wife stopped by for a visit.  Paul and Meredith were on their way to an 80's birthday party and dropped the girls off for us to keep overnight.  Paul has been growing his hair and moustache for awhile trying to get ready for his costume.  Look at all that chest hair (fake, of course).   They were quite the couple.

Looking good Mr. Selleck

Monday and Tuesday of this week I worked on the girls' bedroom.  They've been waiting since Christmas to have a princess bedroom.  So I finally felt well enough to tackle the project.  It took me two complete days to get everything painted and stenciled.  The girls were so excited with their new room.  My aching bones, however, weren't feeling so excited!!

The girls are sleeping in the bunk beds that my boys had when they were little.  They are solid pine and heavy but still in good shape.  A few coats of white paint and their names stenciled on the sides of the beds made them a little more girly.  GIRL POWER!

Well, I'm still sick.  It's been two weeks and I'm feeling better but the cough is still lingering and the congestion is still there.  I'm afraid I have to say it......I'M TIRED OF BEING SICK!!  There, said, done, move on.

We had new windows put in our house on Monday.  We've been in our old house for 21 years now and things just have to be replaced after that length of time.  Last year it was the roof and all the plumbing and this year the windows.  Look at the picture of one of my yuckier (for lack of a better word) windows.  The seal had broken and moisture was inside and it just looked terrible.  Good riddance!

Here are the guys installing the big window in the kitchen bay area.  I just had to take one picture of them working.  That big window was the one I thought would be really difficult but they got it in with no problems.  So YAY to new, clean, quieter, less drafty windows.

I called my husband and told him I was watching my new 72" HD TV and the view was crystal clear.  I love looking out the new windows at all the birds and the beautiful river birch tree that looks like it's even closer now.  We have had so many birds eating at the feeders.  They are so much fun to watch and what a beautiful grouping we've had.  One time I looked out and there were five blue jays, three cardinals, a woodpecker, sparrows, doves and who knows what else.  Then in the distance I looked and there were three deer walking through the woods.  I felt like I was in nature land.

Got a little stitching time in while I was sick.  This is a new pattern from my friend Debbie Busby of Wooden Spool Designs.  I changed the pattern a little from her original but still basically her same wonderful design.  I think this may be a model for one of the May/June wool applique classes. 

And look what came in the mail one day.  I had bidded on this jar of tomato pincushions on EBAY and won.  The price was super good and I love that they were already in a cool jar.  I love, love tomato pincushions and am always on the lookout for interesting, full of pins tomatoes!  And speaking of tomatoes, I started working on another project that may end up being a class.  Right now I was just making it for me because I wanted a penny mat to go with my new tomato pincushion jar.  Anyway, we'll see how this progresses.

My friend Nancy bakes wonderful pies and treats.  She was supposed to come to my house last night but things got changed around.  She told me the only problem with her not coming was she had baked a coconut cream pie for Mark.  Now Mark loves Nancy's pies and I knew he would be disappointed if he knew he had lost out on a pie.  So we ended up going to Nancy's house to pick-up Mark's pie, which was absolutely delicious.  And while we were there, Nancy was pulling freshly baked, hot from the oven, white chocolate-chip macadamia nut cookies.  So we also came home with a container of those.  Gotta love those desserts!!  Haven't started Weight Watchers yet!!!!  Always eat dessert first!

It's almost time for spring classes to get started.  Remember, for every class you take, you'll be entered into a drawing to win the sweet little bunny shown above.  I really, really hate to part with him but I know he'll go to a good home.  If you don't have a schedule, you can go to my website and view the classes on the "Calendar".  Just click on the class you're interested in and the description and picture will pop up.  Also, under "What's New" are pictures of the Calendar Girls block of the month.  Several ladies have brought by their finished girls for show and tell. 

Happy stitching to everyone!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW

We woke up to a beautiful three-inch snowfall this morning.  This storm was much different than the one we had a couple of weeks ago.  That snow didn't stick to the trees and was mixed with ice so it wasn't a pretty snow.  This snow storm is just beautiful.  To look outside is like looking at a winter wonderland.  Clean, soft, beautiful.  I've had a great time this morning take pictures of the birds at the feeders in my back yard.  Of course, I'm doing that from the window since I'm still sick.  A whole week of being sick.  That's enough.

I love holly bushes, especially in the winter covered with snow.  What a beautiful picture this is.  I did slip outside to take this one but didn't have to leave my porch.

I had a hard time catching this cardinal at the feeder.  It was like he knew I was trying to get his picture and he would fly away every time I got ready to snap.  But I finally persevered!

A feeding frenzy. 

Hope everyone enjoys playing in the snow today.  I'll just enjoy it from my windows.  I'm going to do a little stitching this morning and watch the birds.  What a wonderful day!

Not much going on to share lately.  I've been busy taking care of the girls, one of whom was sick and shared her little three year old germs with me.  So now I'm sick which is not fun when you have lots you want to do and don't feel like moving.  But I've kept busy nonetheless, coughing my way along.   Finished another little stitchery pincushion.  The March recipe card is going to be an "herb" sort of card so I based this pincushion off that fact.  So something a little different and out of the box for me but I had a lot of fun stitching this pincushion.  I suppose it could also be a little pillow or sachet to tuck someplace.  As I was working in my workroom this evening I decided to take a picture of this sweet little sewing doll.  She was just sitting on the shelf looking sort of forlorn and lonely.  So why not take her picture and include her in the blog today.  This was a class I taught last year and turned out to be quite a challenge for some of the ladies.  I think I may still have a couple who haven't finished their sewing dolls.  Maybe they could bring them to UFO night!! 

For any of you local gals that are checking class schedules on the web site, go to the calendar for either March or April for new classes and click on the appropriate class.  Once you do that, a class description and picture will pop up.  I've had a couple of people ask me about that and wanted to share how easy and fun it is to view the classes now.  I love, love the calendar feature on the web site.  I am hearing from most people that they are ready for spring to get here and also ready for the spring projects.  I believe we're about done with the snowman classes and ready to move onto to sunnier days! 

Isn't she so sweet!  And an adorable pincushion from my friend Debbie all the way from Oregon!  I love pincushions.  Can you tell?  They are all over my workroom in various shapes and sizes.  As Evette says, you can never have enough pincushions.  I agree. 

Spring has sprung!!! I've been working on the March/April class schedule today which is what some of the things pictured are from and Evette got cabin fever and showed up with an adorable basket of photo transfer Easter/chicky pincushions. She even included real eggs in her display. Too cute for words!!

A close up of some of the pincushions. Ladies, you need a basket (or colander as the case may be) full of these! The pincushions were created using a photo transfer method and vintage postcards from my collection. Evette got very creative with these even including designs on the backside of some.

Love, love the cracked eggs. She is so creative and talented with putting together baskets and displays.

Aren't you all in the mood for spring now? Just thought we would share what we're doing on our snow day. Anyone interested in learning photo transfer. Let me know.............................