Valentine's Day Revisited

Last Friday was not only Valentine's Day ... it was our 38th wedding anniversary   : )   John & I exchanged gifts, then went to Lexington where we had a luscious meal at Red Lobster ending with a visit to the Half-Price Book Store near Fayette Mall.  I know what you're thinking ... a visit to the Half-Price Book Store on your anniversary?  Well, they were celebrating their 1-year anniversary being open at that location. The first 100 people through the doors would receive a tote bag containing a few goodies with 99 of those bags containing a $5.00 gift card & one bag containing a $100 gift card. John said that he'd like to stop by so that each of us would get a $5 gift card & this would give him $10 toward a future purchase. I jokingly told him that would be fine with me but it would be part of his present   : )

When we arrived at the store about half an hour before it opened, there was one couple standing in line & several cars in the parking lot.  We joined the line about 5 minutes before opening time.  We were either the 5th & 6th or the 6th & 7th people in line.  They opened the doors & started handing out the tote bags.  I took mine from a girl that had been handing them out on the right side of the door.  Another girl came up on the left side as John came in & he took a bag from her.  I opened my bag & found my $5 gift card, but when John opened his bag, he found this!      

He couldn't believe it!  He went to the manager who gave him his gift card & they took his picture to place in the store   : )

It's quite amazing really.  We never thought for a second that either of us would get the special card!  I was glad that John got it. He was thrilled!  Of course I would have given him the card if it had been in my bag   : )

It's hard to believe that we have been married for 38 years, & we knew each other for 8 years before that!  We met in high school when I was 14 & John was 15.  Time sure passes by quickly.  Who knew that day we met that we would spend all these years together   : ) 

Do You Hook Rugs?

If you hook rugs, I have a proposition for you.

Once upon a time, I made braided rugs using wool strips evenly & precisely cut somewhere between 2-2.5" wide (I'd have to go measure & to do so now would wake DH) across the width of the fabric.  I am sure that I will never again make braided rugs, so what to do with the strips?  I am guessing that a hooker can run them through a strip cutter ...

... in order to cut them down to hooking size. The strips are clean & free of any odors (DH & I are not smokers).  They have also never come in contact with Sophie ...

... so you needn't worry about cat hair   : )

I have 4 humongous Rubbermaid containers filled with these wool strips in a large variety of colors.  The exact number of strips is unknown to me, but as you can see, there are a lot.  I apologize for the less than enticing photo.  It was taken last week when I decided to de-clutter the guest room & wanted some "before" photos.    

My proposition is this:  if you are a hooker & would like to have these strips, I will gladly send them to you in exchange for (A) dollars (make me an offer), or (B) handmade items crafted by your own talented hands.  This offer is only open to folks living in the continental US due to the cost of shipping which I know will be quite horrific.  I have considered putting them in groups to sell on eBay or in my Etsy shop, but I just don't want the hassle of doing that. 

If you are interested in the strips, please contact me via email.  Needless to say, the Rubbermaid containers are not part of the deal   : )      

Happy Valentine's Day!

Words to remember on Valentine's Day

& every day   : )

Always Remember

Recipe for Living in the Devil's Playground

Tea!!!

Here it is February, & leave it up to me, I am still posting about Christmas ... lol!  Of course a couple days after Christmas through last month was filled with illness so I never got around to posting this.  I think today is a good day for doing so, especially since I'm enjoying an absolutely delicious cup of tea right now   : )

I have been asked what kinds of goodies were in some of the Christmas packages my husband so lovingly gave to me.  Well, among other things, knowing how much I enjoy tea, he decided to treat me with a wonderful selection!

There are teas here from Teavana, Davids, Lupicia, Harney & Son, Stephen Smith, Elmwood Inn (a local brand), & a few miscellaneous teas.  I wish I could invite you all here for a tea party   : )

I would have to say that my favorite teas are produced by Teavana.  They have one tea ... Caramel Almond Amaretti ... that smells & tastes like a baked spice cake!  Right now I am trying their Zingiber Ginger Coconut tea which is a rooibos tea.  It's my first time having this one & it's not going to be my last!  I love coconut anything.  This is definitely one of my new favorites   : )

I also wanted to share with you a couple ornaments I sent as Christmas gifts but hadn't gotten around to posting yet.  Unfortunately, I can only remember one of them ... lol!  The other ... I have no idea what it was.  This one I gifted to Anne.

 Designer:  Prairie Schooler

Design:  Christmas Tree from

2013 JCS Christmas Ornaments magazine

Fabric:  32 ct Lambswool linen

Floss:  DMC as suggested by designer

There were also several stocking ornaments I gifted to people but I neglected to take photos prior to sending them.  Michelle did post a photo of the one I sent to her, so I will share that with you.  I finished these stockings myself!

It looks a bit different than the pattern photo below.  This is a Nikyscreations pattern simply titled Christmas Stockings.  

And that's all I have to share with you today except this   : )

I am so thankful that God is my help.  He is your help too!

Any Ideas?

I have spent many an hour stitching this Threads Through Time design, Christmas Village, which appears in the 1999 JCS Christmas Ornaments magazine.  I'm stitching it on the suggested natural linen although I chose to stitch it on 40 count rather than 35 count.  It's quite fiddly, & there is an error in the chart.  The model shows a wreath hanging on the door of the upper right blue house, but it's not included in the chart.  I didn't catch this until I started stitching the other doors on the other houses & then looked at the model, so of course I frogged the first door & added the wreath.  I've made a few other small changes & intended to make a few more including taking off the date & replacing it with a few more of the stars already in the design.  The stars, per the designer, are stitched in white.  If I stitch them in white, they get lost on the background.  The same goes for the border that goes around the design which is also stitched in white. 

Here is what the model looks like. 

I'm really stumped.  For now I have placed the project on hold & have started something new.  I will go back to this one, but really do need some suggestions on what I can do for the stars & border.

Any help will be appreciated   : )