November Ornament

Here is the finished stitching on my November ornament.



The theme this month was reindeer. This ornament is by Homespun Elegance in the 2007 JCS ornament issue. It was in my stash of kits.
Because of the shape I am definitely going to need some finishing help. It might not be finish finished by the end of the year.
One left to go. For December it is stitchers's choice....what to do??
I hope my stitching mojo comes back soon.

Happy Stitching!!!!

Chris
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There Is Still Time.....

To enter my Thankful Giveaway. Just visit this post and leave a comment.


I hope that everyone is having a great week. Things are very stressful at work due to the upcoming changeover. They did not offer the other technician a job. This means that things will be changing drastically for me and huge additional responsibilities. My Pharmacist told me that she got a big pay increase while I am taking a decrease in pay. Maybe I need to give it a chance but it also maybe time to consider the job that is a half hour closer to home making less. Keep the good thoughts coming.
I hope that everyone is having a great week.


Chris

Where's Chris?

England?



Wrong! Richmond, Virginia. This is Agecroft Hall a Tudor manor house that had fallen into disrepair in England and was crated up in 1925 and reassembled in Richmond.



We took a lovely tour of the house yesterday. There were some lovely tapestries and needlework on display inside the house.



The house next door is a little older. Unfortunately is wasn't open for tours.



Before we want on the tour we stopped here...



So we were fortified for the day with these...


They really don't have bakeries in the small town that I live in so when we travel to and spend time in a city we search out these places.
Our next stop was Maymont.



This house is situated in the middle of a lovely park that we enjoyed walking around before taking a tour of this house. The house and grounds were gifted by the original owners to the city of Richmond. The home has a beautiful Tiffany window and has all the furnishings from the original owners. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays. If you are in Richmond you need to visit both if these homes.
Rich and I drive up on Friday morning and after meeting a friend for lunch rich and I went to see the Chihuly exhibit at the VMFA.



What a wonderful museaum and what a fabulous exhibit. The colors of the glass and the shapes are so amazing.



These look like something out of the Willie Wonka factory.



This is part of Chihuly's collection of northwest Native American blankets that he is inspired by. What a great textile connection.



Amazing colors and shapes.



These glass spears or reeds are some of the strongest shapes.
If you get the chance to go to an exhibit if Chihuly's work make the time to go see it.
Rich and I also visited a restaurant called Balkan. They have Bosnian and Eastern European Food.



Yum!



Richmond, we will be back!
Especially since you are only about 3.5 to 4 hours from home and there is a lot more to see.
Now it is back to work and getting ready to start the new job.
I hope that you all had a great weekend. I did not get enough stitching done to show.
I will start catching up on my blog reading tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting Richmond with me!

Hugs!
Chris
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Some Pretties

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I hope that everyone in the US has been having a great time eating leftovers, shopping, watching football, and stitching.
I wanted to share another finish that Myra put together for me. This is one of those kits that I stitched up and it was too large for me to work my finishing skills on.



Isn't the ruches ribbon lovely?



Lovely backing fabric. It is just perfect for this design.
Thank you Myra!!
I had lunch on Friday with one of my dear girl friends and we exchanged Christmas presents.
Look at these lovely things...



Look at this lovely smocked ornament she made me. I am thrilled.



And she gifted me with this wonderful project bag. Isn't the fabric wonderful. Stitching friends are the best.
I have not stitched at all this weekend so I am going to try and get some done now.
Have a wonderful evening. Welcome to my new followers.

Chris
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Thank You & Some Baby Pics

First the baby pics, the NC Zoo's babies. Asheboro is the home of the NC Zoo. Rich and I haven't been in A few years and yesterday was a perfect day to go walk around before heading to my Mom's for dinner at 3.
The first thing that you need to know about this zoo is that it is 500 acres so lace up you walking shoes.
They have had a few babies born this year...



2 baby gorillas, can you see the little guy on his Mom's back.



Here are both mom's laying in the sun with the babies.



The giraffe baby on the right. The giraffes amaze me, they are so large.



A baby chimp too. That is it for the babies.



The elephants and rhinos looked happy.



This is the sign you see on your walk back to the entrance.
It was great to have a walk since we were going to eat so much later. Right now it is hunting season so we will not be walking at our normal spot until it is over so the zoo is an option for us.
Now the thank you part. Thank you dear friends for all you cancers about the job. I did get an offer and I have paperwork to fill out. There are some changes. It is a little less money, the hours are a little different, I will notedn as much paid time off. It is better than going back to my second job full time. The job will be different in quite a few ways and I know that I will have to assume extra responsibilities during the process. So the next few months will be stressful as we adjust. I also need to go buy some khakis since there is a very specific dress code. Ugh! I am thankful for a job and insurance but this is my 3rd company in 5 months at the same location to provide services at the county behavioral health facility. It all has to do with the funding and managed care situation. I don't understand it all.
So thank you again for all the crossed fingers and support.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs!
Chris


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Happy Thanksgiving

Here is an oldie but a goodie.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. I hope that everyone has a wonderful meal.

After looking at today's newspaper I am thankful that I no longer work in a retail position that requires me to work the holiday or be at work at midnight.
If you are going out to shop please be safe but also be kind to all the retail employees that you may encounter out there who no longer have the day off and have to make it through a very long(Thanksgiving is so early this year) Christmas season.

Peace

Chris
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By the Bay Fall SAL

I did some stitching yesterday and finished my By the Bay Fall SAL piece.



I love it! The colors are so great.



I did Rhodes stitches for the greenish brown bumps in the field and did padded satin stitches for the pumpkins.



Now I just have to get it into the frame that I picked up for this.
Thank you Donna for these generous designs.
I am still waiting on that offer email for work, the stress continues....
I hope that everyone is having a great Monday! If you haven't gotten your turkey yet, time is running out :)


Chris
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More Celebrating

Hello Friends,
I made it to the weekend. Yahoo! After a visit from HR on Thursday saying when benefits are ending and that we should call this number to find out about cobra coverage, to meeting with the Director of Store Ops for the company being contracted to run the site and working until 10pm at the other job I made it to Saturday.
Thank you for all the good wishes. I hope to have an offer on Monday so I will know who my employer will be on 12/1.
Today was the Christmas open house at Lone Star Mercantile in Fuquay-Varina. I picked Myra up and we headed down the road to check it out. Susan met up with us there.
The Xmas displays were wonderful. I picked up a couple of small patterns that were on my list.
After that we went to lunch at the same place Myra and I visited last time.



I had some yummy spinach pie this time.
Myra and Susan brought me some birthday treats.



Look at this amazing book from Susan. We are both local history enthusiasts and have been to a lecture on Southern Family Graveyards. I have been to the cemetery were Daniel Boone's parents are buried near where we live. I am really looking forward to spending time with this book.
Thank you Susan!



Myra totally spoiled me too. Look at all these wonderful treats. It was just like Christmas! In the bag of treats was also a spiced cider Chapstick. I love seasonal flavors.



This was the other wonderful thing she gifted me with. She stitched and put together this wonderful pendant for me. Won't it look fabulous against a black turtleneck? Thank you Myra for your generosity and your friendship.
So what a great day. I did not really sleep well last night and I am mentally exhausted.
Thank you for all the good thoughts, please keep them coming, hopefully I can totally relax Monday.
If you haven't had a chance to enter my giveaway there is still time. Please check out my last post and leave a comment to be entered.

Hugs!

Chris
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Thankful Giveaway

Well,
Here it is. I wanted to do a small giveaway to say how thankful I am to be part of this blog community. You guys inspire me everyday. Your comments and encouragement make each day easier. So to say thank you I am hosting a giveaway for this new chart by With Thy Needle And Thread and the overdyed floss for this project.



If you would like to be entered in the drawing please leave a comment on this post. You must also be a follower of this blog. New followers are welcome since I often receive wonderful comments and feedback from friends who are not followers.
The drawing will be held on Sunday, December 2nd.
Thanks for stopping by. Keep those good thoughts coming my way the next couple of days.

Chris
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Dreary November TUSAL

My jar is pretty full. I spent some time Sunday dusting my jar collection. I haven't picked a jar out yet for next years Orts but I will soon.

I hope that everyone is having a great week!

Chris

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Fall Stitched With Love Exchange Reveal

Hello Friends!
I recently participated I the Stitched With Love Exchange Fall Into Halloween Exchange.
Here is what I stitched...



This is a Prairie Schooler design from design book #141.
I added this little guy on the back...



Doesn't he look like the squirrel from the Ice Age movies that is always chasing the acorn.



I used some chenille from Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler to finish it off.
This is what package I sent off looked like...



My exchange partner was Lisa V from Lisa V's Lounge blog.
And this is what Lisa sent me....



Look at all these wonderful things. The stitched piece is a Bent Creek design that was finished as a flat fold. I took it to work with me to decorate my desk. I love the little fabric with the pumpkins and cats.
Thanks Lainey for organizing this exchange.

I wish I had time to participate in more of these, but I just barely keep up with my stitching. I am interested in seeing everyone already talking about setting stitching goals for 2013. I need to do this and more importantly I will need to adhere to them.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers.
Have a great Tuesday!

Chris
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Limbo

Hello Dear Friends and Stitching Pals,
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. I had a very nice day, I had lunch and dinner with different friends that I don't get to see that often.
The work week was pretty tough. I had a stomach bug and lost a nights sleep and it was difficult to catch up. Also, I had no firm info on the impending job change coming 12/1. Hopefully I will know something next Friday. Not much notice. If I knew it was definitely ending I could make plans. So that is why I feel like I am in limbo. I hate it.
It has made it hard for me to settle down and get any stitching done. Here is my By The Bay SAL progress.



I was hoping to have it finished but no such luck. Hopefully this week.
Rich and I went and did some shopping last night. I had a gift card and a 30% off coupon so I came home with some fancy pillows that will maybe help with my sleep. We also had dinner and went to see Argo. What a great movie. I am so glad that we made it up to Greensboro to see it. I am looking forward to seeing Skyfall over the next week or so.
That is it from here! Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Remembering all those who have served. Thank you.
Have a great week!

Chris
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Otherwise Occupied...

This was my greeting this morning.
Maybe things will return to normal tomorrow!


Whoot!


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That 1 Extra Hour Was Not Enough

I can't believe the weekend is already over.
I did not stitch at all last night. I just could not settle down. Here is one of the things that I accomplished yesterday.



This is Grandma's Pumpkin Bread from the Tasty Kitchen website.



I had to add walnuts. Nuts make everything better. This recipe is a keeper. I probably would do better with a 10 cup bunt pan than this fancy 8 cup one. I also had to cook this quite a bit longer than recommended. Yum!
Rich and I headed up the road to go to the new Trader Joe's in Winston Salem. We stocked up there and then at Costco. I try to get this dome before it gets too busy.
Then we went to Salem Lake park to get our walk in.



This is a nice walk around this lake, it is almost 7 miles long. There were lots of other people running, biking and walking.



This heron we saw was huge.



The leaves are almost gone but there is still a little color.
After that it was off to the movie theater where we saw The Flight with Denzel Washington. It was good but mostly about an alcoholic's struggle.
Now it is home getting ready for the week ahead. I got a few stitches in but this is still only part 3 of the By The Bay SAL.



I hope that everyone made the most of that extra hour today.

Have a great week!

Chris
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Sampler Books & News of a Giveaway

Hello Dear Friends,
  As November started, I have been thinking of every one in NJ, NY and CT. Power is still being restored, and there are many dealing with total loss. The news continues to be difficult and sad. I need to go give blood and I continue to think of other ways to help.
  It was a difficult week here at work. They department that I am working in is going to be contracted out and the date will be December 1st. I don't know if the new company will hire me or anything about them. I hope that things work out. Keep your fingers crossed.
  I received a couple of books in the mail this week.

The new Feller Collection Book.

And the new Whitney catalog.
 I am hoping to have a chance to sit down and look through them over the next couple of days.

Today has been what seems to be a normal Saturday. I went to Zumba in the morning. I didn't think that stretchy tight workout pants would start to creep down if you jumped around too much. There was almost a wardrobe malfunction of major proportions. I guess that I need to buy some smaller tighter pants.
  After that I did the grocery shopping and errands. I ran into Myra at Aldi. She was out an about doing the same thing. She has some lovely new finishes on her blog.
  I have spent the afternoon cooking. Butternut squash, pumpkin bread, putting together a baked ravioli dish for dinner. I was going to make Pioneer Woman's cauliflower soup but I ran out of steam. Maybe tomorrow. It is one of my favorites.
  I need to stitch, I probably won't be able to settle down to do that until tonight.

Speaking of stitching and finishing....The Victorian Motto Sampler shop is having a wonderful giveaway all through the month of December. Go sign up now. There is lots of fun to go around.
I am stitching my By The Bay Sal with some of Nancy's wonderful floss.


Well I should go stitch now.

Peace and warm thoughts.

Chris