February Biscornu and Ornament

Design from Au pays des biscornus

28 ct. Jobelan Lambswool

DMC 937

Prairies Schooler Design

14 ct. Oatmeal

DMC 319, 3031, 3777

Back design is from Peppermint Twist

Introducing Winnie

Sumas (red head) and Winnie

Some of you may remember my posting of Valentines last year where I told you the story of our Lovebirds. Well, it has happened again. Last Jan. 29th Sonny passed away. They were both fine in the morning and that night he was gone. In hindsight, he was not the same, didn't fly around the house like he used to, wouldn't come on our shoulder even if asked to. He was around 10 years old, so he had a long life. In the middle of that night and the next morning Sumas shook the cage so hard you would think someone was trying to break the door down. Mom put his toy Winnie in that came with him and he settled right down. Would sit next to it, chirp at it, even poke him around. But still, we did not think he was happy. So off to the pet store yesterday and we bought another one. He is named after the toy and is a little over six months old. Who ever said "all" lovebirds get along has not met these two. I know it's only been a day, but hey when Sumas came Sonny said "Welcome mate" and they got along immediately. Sumas does not like Winnie, I have seen him grab at his claws, push him away from the food dish and just plain be mean. If they sit next to each other it is by accident and doesn't last long. Sumas is more tolerant than when I first put Winnie in the cage, so I'm hoping it will just take some time or as Mom says "Maybe they don't speak the same language."

I stuck my hand inside the cage and managed to get this picture of them together, a little dark and yes that is snow you see outside, we had a bit of a storm yesterday. This is the toy "Winnie".

WIP's

Thought I would show some of my WIP's, the first two I haven't worked on in some time and the last Peppermint Twist I've been working on a fair bit. It seems when I start on this one I just can't put it down.

On the Bent Creek one I made a bit of an error on the border, partially fixed it and put it aside. I'm beginning to think that once the frog has visited I don't want to look at it again. I'm going to see if I can get back to work on it this week.
Little House Neighborhood, not sure why I stopped working on this one, it is by one of my favorite designers and a pleasure to stitch.

I have some finishes I'm working on, will show them later this week.

The flu/cold has been going around, so hopefully, like me, you have avoided it and if not hope you are feeling better soon.

Have a Great day !

Hearts

Free design from
http://kikengrogne.over-blog.com/
Stitched on 28 ct. white evenweave with called for DMC

A freebie that I have misplaced, when I find it will up date with the site.

Freebie from http://swappons.kazeo.com/?page=article&ida=391443
Stitched on 28ct white evenweave with called for DMC.Back is my own,using hearts from the front and letters from a LHN design.

Primitive Valentine Cupboard Sampler

Design by The Sampler Girl

36 ct. Edinburgh Linen

Purely Primitive by Silkweaver

Called for DMC

With every stitch I thought of my Dad and I know in my heart he would be so touched that I did this one for him. It would have been his 90th birthday.

Lizzie Kate exchanges

I took part in the Lizzie Kate exchange on the HOE blog and this is what I received from Cari today. I absolutely love it ! She says this is her first ever cube finish and it looks wonderful. Thanks Cari.

Below is what I sent to Joke

Small Christmas Ornament

Pam's Ornaments by Chen Designs

28 ct. White Annabelle

DMC 666 and 701

I was looking for something yesterday and came across this pattern and thought it would be a quick stitch. I did the side in the left picture before I realized I had mixed up the colors, so decided to do it both ways and put it together. Stitched both sides yesterday and sewed it together this afternoon. You can't tell but I used a goldish color to sew the sides. It is small, 2 by 2 inches. Guess if I had sewn a longer hanger it would make a cute fob.

Peacock Pinkeep

Stacy Nash Design

32 ct. Belfast Raw Linen

DMC

I finished this one up yesterday, very quick stitch. Today I worked on an exchange and it would be finished except I decided to shovel some of the snow off the front sidewalk hoping the mailman will stop by, tomorrow will tell. I must admit I didn't keep up with the shoveling as I was expecting it to rain. I'm sure paying for it now. I am getting some stitching done, but both Tiger and me, and I'm sure my Mom too, are getting cabin fever.

Trees

Tall Tree

Helga Mandl Design

28 ct. unknown

DMC

Joy

Helga Mandl Design

32 ct Light Mocha Belfast

DMC

It's just a coincidence that both my finishes are by the same designer. I think it will be a year of trees for me, I have a few patterns that I really like, red trees, blue trees, even pink trees. Not that I will do the unusual color ones, but I do have a lot of different greens I could use.

Stitchy Kitty

28 ct. Ice Blue Cashel

DMC

This is a complimentary design I have been wanting to stitch since last year. It describes exactly how I feel with all the snow we have. My driveway and lane way are a slab of ice, so I won't be driving anywhere still it warms up enough to melt all away. Since it is suppose to snow again tonight (hopefully turning to rain) it will be awhile yet.

One of my goals this year is to keep my blog current, as in posting more often and showing my stitching when it's finished. I have a bunch of stitching I never showed last month and will post all in a few days.

Happy New Year

The Mailman made it !

We have had so much snow and living on a main street with no curb access or proper sidewalks out front, caused the mailman to stop delivery. Well he made it today with lots of goodies and a neighbor's mail ! I still cannot get out, as the lane is a solid sheet of ice and I am not going to tempt it. Also in the mail is a notice to pick up a letter at the post office, apparently they wouldn't deliver it on the 29th.

First off I got my Kelmscott Initial Needle Minder. I find that having the initial "I" it is not so easy to find something I like or that resembles an I, sometimes looking more like a J. When I saw this I knew I just had to have it and it is perfect. It is laying on some 30ct. Baby's Breath Weeks linen. I had ordered some fabric from Mary Kathryn and when she couldn't get it I trusted her to replace it with another color and she did a terrific job, I love it !

Next I received a package from Anna and she spoiled me. I received one of her gingerbread men and absolutely love him. There is a floss keeper, 32 ct. Green Tea Lakeside Linens, Barbara Ana Designs Santa Paws Biscornu and Plum Street Samplers, My Pretties, I have been wanting these patterns for some time now.

Oops the delicious chocolate never made it to the photo shoot ! Thank you so much Anna.

I also received some charts I ordered and forgot about :) Home Coming Sampler by The Sampler House; Ode to Snow by The Trilogy and Pam's Ornaments by Chen Designs.

I'm still waiting for my parcel to arrive from Stitches 'n Things, I hope it somes soon. I'll not mention the bills that also came in today's mail :(

Merry Christmas

Sorry I haven't been blogging. I am getting heaps of stitching done and will show those soon.

I leave you with pictures of the tree in front of my house, my back stairs( which I'm glad not to use), the bird feeder, which shows just how much snow we have and lastly Tiger enjoying the fireplace and after a romp in the snow.

Repairs and Service

Saturday evening my monitor died on me or so I thought. Hooked up another one and it didn't work so now I know it's the PC. Phoned 1-800-Geek Squad, first available appointment was Wednesday, I will be working so we'll make that Thursday morning and they tell you up front it's $129.00 plus taxes just to come. So I decided this morning to take it to the place I bought it, walked in to be told the technician won't be there till noon. I then took it to another place I have dealt with and have been very pleased with their service only to be told 1 week as there were 6 repairs ahead of me. Well I figured go with the Geek Squad. I had an appointment at this small outdoor shopping centre and they have a computer store there, I have nothing to lose to ask, right ? Oh did I mention that when you start my PC up there is a beep beep sound, that tells you what is wrong with it. I know this from my brother, but he couldn't remember what the beeps meant. Now the second place that said it would be a week, started it up and told me it was a hard drive problem. I'm no technician or geek or computer wiz so I take their word for it. This last, yes LAST place I stopped the guy tells me as soon as he hears the beeps I need a new video card, puts it in everything works fine and it cost me 52.00 video card 20.00 labour, with taxes $80.64. Now I know where to go if I need service, I will be highly recommending this place. Came home cancelled the Geek Squad, set up my PC and I have heaps of e-mails and blog updates to read and I am working the next two days. So there will be no further posts from me till the weekend.