Becky B's ornie, IH35 stitchers and lunch @ Willie Nelson's;)

Several weeks ago, I won this most adorable ornie stitched and finished by those most precious hands of Becky B.'s. It was a drawing on the Let's Stitch Blog.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post a pic Becky, but I want you to know how excited I am to have won something you've made. The stitching and finishing are gorgeous! Thank you so much!! Please check out her blogs linked above. She is so talented and her SAL blog keeps you motivated.




The last IH35 gathering a few weeks ago was awesome...as always!! More show and tell goodies to ooooh and ahhhh over;0

Dorothy crocheted a whole basket of veggies and a turkey! Check out that Indian Corn with it's variegated yarn! Isn't that fun?!

Jennifer was taking a break from her HAED and is stitching this adorable alphabet! TOO CUTE!!

Melissa stitched 25 (?) ornies for a church bazaar. Some of the pics repeat, but that's the only
way I could get them all in! I have to say, I'm soooo glad I didn't have to finish these into ornies!
She did a great job and they are all so sweet!






Lisa stitched this fun crabby pillow! I love it!!!

And we are all so proud of our Mary B.!! Congrats on your beautiful Kopapella finish!! Can't wait
to see it framed up!

Here's part of our most awesome group! Melissa (ornies), Marilyn (another awesome crocheter), Dorothy (veggie, Turkey basket)
Lisa (crab pillow)
AND she gave a very much needed and appreciated class on finishing ornies!
Thanks a bunch Lisa! You did a great job!

Gloria (always making us laugh), Mary B. and her beautiful 89 year young mother! Mary's mother is making some adorable snowmen ornies!
And sitting beside my most precious husband, is Miss Lynn! She is our expert on floss!

After all that stitching (ok, I was mostly talking and eating)...but Mr. Right was working....
we headed over to Willie Nelson's house for dinner;)

OK...not his house, but closest I'll ever get to him, I'm sure!

The service is awesome! Love the peanuts, especially throwing the shells on the floor. The steaks and salads are some of Texas' best!



Well, I'm behind on reading blogs again. Just too much to do;) I've finished stitching my Christmas ornie for our IH35 exchange and now my favorite part (not)! Finishing it into an ornie. Let's see if I paid attention in Lisa's class!..lol...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I wish you all nothing but a day of good health, happiness and blessings:)

(((HUGS)))
Cindy F.

A day @ Stitches from the Heart:)

Oh wow! Lots going on for the past month, mainly the fact that I HAVEN'T been blogging:( I'm sorry I've missed so much, but going to get back into my blogging routine again.

My husband's Facebook was hacked into while he was out of town. The hacker changed his password, then hacked into his email account and changed that password! And because I'm linked, I had to shut down lots of my fun stuff. It had nothing to do with our personal protection...we didn't get a virus. FB just won a large lawsuit last month for this same thing. Anyway, the hacker was instant messaging and emailing all of our friends and family telling them we were in London, had been robbed at gunpoint and had stolen all of our credit cards and money. He proceeded to ask everyone to please wire 1000 pounds to a London address so we could pay our hotel bill so that we could fly home. People not hearing of this scam were very upset and were sending people to our house and we even stopped a couple from going to Western Union.
Mr. Right was out of town all last week and I was fielding calls...assuring people we were fine, didn't need money and that if Mr. Right went to London w/o me, he would be in BIG, REALLY BIG trouble!! It was quite an adventure;) His accounts are still be investigated by FB and Yahoo and I have tried to secure everything I have on my computer. Honestly...there is no foolproof way.

Update on Noah:
European Bistro (Can you see that I had stitched the wrong length of the fabric and had to frog it and start over?...lol....) This doesn't look like much yet, but the final design is really pretty.

St. Nick

Latest find. This rusty looking, folding wrought iron ROOSTER chair we now have sitting in our closet. LOVE IT!

Yesterday, I rode with these three crazy, but wonderful ladies to San Antonio. Mary B., aka Mario Andretti on the left, Gloria in the middle....honestly, too funny, too precious...want to bottle her and carry her around my neck! She makes me smile from my nose to my toes! (Mary just makes my palms sweat from her fast driving;) Dorothy, on the left who has more energy than I did at 10! A few IH35 Stitchers present @ Stitches from the Heart's (San Antonio, Texas) awesome sale! (WE MISSED THE REST OF OUR GROUP:( A few were at a retreat and others had lots going on.)


Jackie, who is such a nice lady (behind the counter) is one of the new owners AND she is the one who organizes and plans all those awesome Texas stitching retreats! 3 a year!!

Penny, in front, is their framer and OMG!! I've seen her work and it's truly perfection! and her
prices are so unbelievably good:)


It was so much fun to see so many friends at one place, to shop...and yes I bought lots of linen and other stash. The cakes, drinks...THANK YOU SHARON, FRANCES, JACKIE and PENNY!! We had a blast!

Hope everyone had a blessed weekend and this week is even better!!

(((HUGS)))
Cindy F.

SB Finish & Stitchy Updates

The 2009 SB Fob stitched on 30 ct. Seafoam Linen over 2. I finished it about 1/2" larger than suggested so I could use as a pincushion instead of a fob.



I put in another 900 stitches on St. Nick:)

I even picked up Mary Wigham again. Stitched over one and loving her!!

Ahhh...the pillowcase. Almost finished with the FIRST one:)

Saturday Mr. Right and I went to Gruene....5 minutes from our home. We hit all our favorite antique shops and the Gruene (pronounced green) Market Days. Every 3rd weekend of each month, vendors set up booths and sell their crafts. We also ate at the Gruene River Grill....AWESOME. But after all the shopping, we headed here:


"Gruene Hall is legendary. Not just because it's the oldest, continually operating dance hall in the state of Texas, but also because it has served as both a starting point and a warm limelight to some of the most prolific talent in American history. It has helped launched the careers of such musicians as George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Hal Ketchum, among others. This famous stage has also welcomed the likes of Bo Diddley, The Dixie Chicks, Jerry Lee Lewis, Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson. Gruene Hall has gone from hosting badger fights in the 1870s to being featured in such notable publications as Forbes, Newsweek and Women's Wear Daily. It has been the site of famous birthdays, such as baseball great Nolan Ryan's 50th, and the location of numerous music videos, commercials and movies. Of special note, the dance scene for the movie "Michael" starring John Travolta was filmed at the Hall."

Listened to a great band, drank a beer....


...and then we headed back to the old folk's home:)

Have a blessed week everyone!
BIG TEXAS SIZE (((HUGS)))
Cindy F.

Winner of my blogaversary giveaway!!!

Carolyn said...

Ohhhhh do I Love those scissors. Uh huh, shore do! I would LOVE to enter your giveaway!

Love ya girl,
Carolyn

October 8, 2009 11:47 PM

Random Generator selected you Carolyn! CONGRATULATIONS!! Too funny...since we talk on the phone and live in the same state!! I swear on a stack of Bibles, the generator did pick you!!

Sorry to be so late announcing, but we had a gas leak next door on new construction! Had to make a lot of phone calls, but finally got the gas co. here to shut it off!

Thanks to everyone who entered:) Hope you're having a great weekend!

Cindy F.

WIP updates and more bday goodies:)

I've been a stitchin'!! (As LoriRay says, I have that Southern Bell/Texas redneck twang goin' on;)

Horrible photographer AND not ironed!!! But, LHN's update:

and my HAED "St. Nick in His Study" update. Finally finished page 2!! 26 more to go:)

Last week I received more birthday goodies!! Alice sent me the CUTEST chicken oven mitt and kitchen towel!! Absolutely perfect in our kitchen:) and the napkins with my initials! Never seen that before! Usually you see one letter! Alice!! Thank you, you dear precious friend of mine! It probably circled the world twice (took a month to get here from France) but it was well worth the wait. And thank you for your beautiful card:) (((HUGS))) and much love!

And then, that precious Pokua sent me these!!
Front side.
Let me say I'm sorry again for the bad photography and I wish you could see these up close!
How cute is this little star pincushion and floss holder??? CUTE!!! How smart is that cushion?! and I love the thread pattern....have it, didn't know what to do with it since I don't finish, finish things. This is so perfect...and the way I would have wanted to finish it, if I had that talent! Beautifully and most perfectly finished girl! That edging is unbelievable!!

Back side.

I am a terribly sentimental person, so I was really squealing when I saw Pokua stitched our initials and the month/year on the back!! and she included the thread colors she stitched the spools with! Oh my gosh!! I LOVE it all! Honestly! What treasures from such a special person:)
Thank you so very much friend!! BIG (((HUGS)))!!!

Don't forget about my giveaway this Saturday:) and good luck to all entering. Mr. Right's going to have his job cut out for him;)

Have a very blessed weekend and thanks for being such awesome stitching friends!!

Cindy F.

It's my 1 year BLOGAVERSARY!!!! (Giveaway)

and I'm having a giveaway!!! I've made so many good friends because of this blog and you guys have inspired me soooo much, that I wanted to say THANK YOU!!!

So I'm giving away, to one winner, things I enjoy:)


(1) pair of Sullivans Antique Silver Round Heirloom 48556

High quality, stainless steel blades. Elegant European handcrafted design. Extra sharp points allow for delicate cutting and trimming.

I have a pair of these and love them! They're 4". If you already have them in antique silver,
my friend Anita, also has them in silver, gold and copper. If she still has your color choice at time of drawing, you can pick the finish color.

(1) pack of 6 - Piecemaker 26 or 28 Tapestry Needles (you pick size)



(1) pack of 6 - Bohin Tapestry Needle 26 or 28 (you pick size)

Made in France.6 ct. Exceptional polish for smooth glide through fabric. Fine point to minimize holes. Eye polished with a unique process to minimize breaking thread. Maximum strength, minimum bending.

To be eligible, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post stating you want to be entered.
That's it!! In 2 weeks, Oct. 10, Mr. Right will draw a winner and we'll announce it here! Then I'll need winner to contact me with their snail mail address. Everyone is eligible;)

Good luck! and thanks so much for making this past year an incredible one!!

BIG (((HUGS))) from TEXAS!!
Cindy F.

Stitching again and thank yous!!!

With my Facebook game addictions lately, it's a wonder I've stitched anything!..lol..
The mindless games have helped me with my son's long distance move:) OK, they're not ALL mindless! I have several stitching friends joining me now and it's really a lot of fun! and it's free;) Want to join us?

A finish!!
The pattern is called Homegrown Melons and is from "The Cross Stitcher" Aug. 2008 magazine. Back in Jan. of this year, I stitched this on 32 ct. over one for my Fair & Square exchange partner, Vonna. I knew I had to have this on a towel! And here it is:) I added ribbon at the bottom to make it fun.
Still working on this bread cover and a long way to go!

I participated in a postcard exchange and Sari from Finland sent me this gorgeous card!
Thank you so much Sari! You did an amazing job and finished it perfectly:)
I'm not showing mine...too embarrassed. You know I HATE finishing and I messed my edges up on the day it had to get mailed, so I stitched this fuzzy ribbon around the edges!! Son was here and I was trying to get it finished fast! Then the post office wouldn't let me send mine without putting it an envelope!! Didn't care if I glued or stitched the stamps on...wouldn't let me! So, Sari got mine in a cardboard envelope.

Last month, I won all these goodies from Kate!! 36 Skeins, 29 Colors, DMC Rayon Floss, lots and lots of Delica beads and some great colored wire!
And if that wasn't exciting enough, Kate made this most adorable Quaker ornie for me!!
Thank you so much Kate!! I'm having fun with the goodies and have your beautifully finished ornie hanging in my craftroom:) It coudn't have come at a better time! Cheered me right up!! (((HUGS)))!!!
That precious Lynn B.!! She made me my very first needlebook and I LOVE it!! Heck, if she made mud pies, I'd want them too! She is so talented!
Love the charm! and the ribbon on the bind.
and then she spoils me with these beauties she made with her very own hands!! Thank you so much dear friend!! From my heart:) (((HUGS)))
Patti!!! Liz does make the most precious things and these are in my craftroom now:) Thank you so, so much! I LOVE THEM!!! (can you send me Liz' link so I can post on here?) I just keep staring at them and you picked my favorite 2 pieces:) (((HUGS)))!!!!
After having several crazy days, Mr. Right gave me something I really, truly wanted....I mentioned it the day after my 50th,,,and then a few days later....
14ct. white gold for my charm bracelet.
Thank you honey! for this most treasured gift. I love you...always have....always will:)

Shari sent me the one pattern I have been lusting over for months and didn't have yet!! I love this one and after I stitch it (and the awesome charts from our friend Wendy;) I will smile and think of you guys every time I look at them! Thank you so very much girl! (((HUGS)))!!!
And OMG!! How cute are these??? Rooster and chicken coasters!! I LOVE THESE!!! Lori, you know me too well!! Thank you soooo much!! and what an adorable stitched card:) (((HUGS)))
Thank ya'll so much!! I will treasure each gift...always:) and THANK ALL OF YOU FOR LEAVING SUCH SWEET BIRTHDAY WISHES ON MY LAST POST!! (((HUGS))) to all of you:)

Check this out! Terri announced mine and Wendy's Our Friends' HAED SAL Blog as this month's Blog of the Month Feature on her blog:) Thank you Terri!! We love your blog idea and thank you for your great post about us!!

And a big thank you and more hugs to CarolynNC and Wendy for this cutie! It's for luck:) and I'm sharing it with everyone of you because we can all use some luck! Especially the good kind:)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT SUE!! I love you to pieces!! (and Uncle Huey will have to put you back together again since I'm so far away!)

And last....my 1 year blogaversary is in 6 days! So watch this blog because there will be a giveaway announcement soon:)

BIG (((HUGS))), good health and stitchy blessings:)
Cindy F.

IH-35 Stitchers, Son Moving:( and my 50th!!!

First I want to tell you how much you all have blessed my life! When I was afraid of the worst, your comments and emails gave me strength. I am so happy to report my cancer scare, was just that! Thank God! I was thankfully distracted with my son here, so I didn't have time to feel too sorry for myself! It's unbelievable how many of you have had "the scare" and I'm so glad to hear you're all here to tell about it!! (((HUGS))) Thank you for your love and support. I'm sorry I haven't been able to answer all my emails yet, but I'm getting to them slowly. Blogging....I looked at 750, but no time to comment. Starting fresh. Really missed my blogging/stitching time.

8/29, I met the girls in Austin for another fun, talkative, stitching day. I wish everyone could stitch with these ladies.

Here's Mary B. making her "no sew" froggy blanket. 2 layers of felt tied together. Isn't it too cute?!


This is the beautiful Egyptian quilt Mary B.'s sister made her for her birthday! We all tried to take it from her, but she was having none of that!

Someone call 911!! It's LoriRay!! She came from Oklahoma to stitch with her precious mom, Gloria! She works for 911 dispatch and really had some great stories to share! Gloria was beaming with love and pride. We were so happy they spent some of their mother/daughter time with us all:) Girl, please come back to visit us again:)

Melissa, Marilyn (daughter/mother) and Lynn

Lisa (aka teacher and recipe extraordinaire for the IH-35 posse')

Dorothy
Mary B. (wondering why I won't sit still and stitch!)

Mary B. gave me this AWESOME 50th bday hat, button and a cute mug (forgot to take pics of).

My precious son, before leaving for his 2200 mile trip to the East Coast.

Mom and Daddy Phil gave me this beautiful blue sapphire in white gold charm for my charm bracelet:) THANKS SO MUCH!!! I LOVE IT!!!

This is today:)
Mr. Right took my hints and gave me this Pattern Maker! I have dreams of designing a personal sampler for myself. Don't worry...lol..not going to torture you guys with my stick figures;) AND my old ipod was pretty much dead, so he gave me a new pink one with a Hello Kitty cover! TOO CUTE!! Thank you honey:) I love you to pieces!!

My precious friend Wendy, made this beautiful card:)

and sent me enough to keep me busy scrapping and stitching for a long time!! Can't see in this pic, but she sent me some gorgeous cross-stitch patterns of roosters too! Thank you Wendy!
My cup runneth over:)


Thank you to family and friends for your beautiful cards too! Today was exactly like I pictured it....just a calm, relaxing...pasta for lunch...day with my Mr. Right:) and knowing my son is safe and happy. Just couldn't get any better:)

Hmmm....my friend Alice
is celebrating a birthday in 2 days:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR FRIEND!! Sending you hugs and best wishes for a most wonderful day:)

Now maybe I can get back to cleaning and stitching;) Have a blessed week!

Cindy F.

Still here...

Very behind.
Quit the job! I was #31 since January of THIS YEAR! You just wouldn't believe the stories I could tell...lol....
I'm really missing blogging, especially reading your blogs....but don't give up on me:)
My son is moving 1900+ miles, coming here first for jeep repairs and hugs.
Not going to think negative, but just got certified letter from hospital my mammogram came back with "area of concern"....so as soon as I know my son is safe and I get through more tests...I'll be back! (My grandmother had breast cancer but lived many years after having hers removed.) I'm very scared, but trying to stay focused on my son's happiness right now:)
Cross your fingers my 50th, which is on our Labor Day holiday (so Mr. Right will be home that day) will be a peaceful, stress-free day, happy day:)
Lots of love and hugs!!

Cindy F.

A beautiful RAK, my Aunt Sue's Cancer Ornies, and Fredericksburg, TX

I'm not going to warn you about the tons of pics to follow...you're used to it by now:) I do want to say I've been behind on blogging, but I have been reading and WOW!! so many amazing pieces being stitched and finished! Please don't think I'm ignoring you....I'm hoping to get into a new routine soon. I JUST GOT A JOB!!! After 2 years of staying at home, stitching, crafting, grazing in my kitchen like a cow....I'm going to work for a CPA firm very close to our home. I start tomorrow and I'm very excited! Poor Mr. Right has been warned from Dec. thru April, he will see very little of me:( He has taken very good care of me, now it's time to give back!)

That precious Tracy!! Several weeks ago, she pointed out that I paid $30 for a $10 item, so I sent her a thank you chart of her choice. And now she has sent me these beautiful thank you gifts for my gift! Thank you again friend! and I DID get my $20's worth of goodies!!

I have been stitching....not showing it all. I think the other wips are still in the boring stage!
But...here's the latest on Noah's Ark.

...and "St. Nick in His Study"
This past weekend, Mr. Right and I took our neighbors, Mary and Gail, to a wonderful town an hour from us...Fredericksburg. We spent 5 hours in and out of shops.
An old hospital, now a kitchen store.
I may have to go back and beg for this quilt!



I love all the store names. This one is "Shoulda Been a Cowboy".

Here we are enjoying our smoothies.
I never noticed Mr. Right had such a look on his face! But the sign below...was hanging across from him:

Ha! He's never grouchy....but he was tired. It was 102 degrees and his body's like mine...out of shape;)

Last week, my dear friend and neighbor, Mary S., came over to stitch with me and....

Mary B. from Austin!! Then we crowned her! "Tickled to be 50"!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN MARY B.!!!

and I threw in some froggy socks and lunch:)


Now I want to share something I'm very proud of. When my precious Aunt Sue in North Carolina read my blog and learned about Donna (Stitching for a Cure)
working on a wonderful plan to raise money for cancer research, she got busy!! One day I got an email saying she was sending me some ornies for Donna's tree.
And here they are!! 64 of the most beautiful machine embroidered pieces!! She is my mom's sister and their dad (my grandfather) died of bone marrow cancer when I was in my teens. Sue, what you've made...your time and love you have put into all this, knowing how sick you have been, words can not express the love I have in my heart for you! I know how you're always happiest giving and doing for others. Thank you....from the bottom of my heart:)

Donna is going to put these on a tree by themself, since there are so many and they all match.

Angel Tree Topper:

Isn't this so dainty?
These are 3 dimensional!

I think every piece is amazing!! Aunt Sue says my machine will do this too...HA!! Just wish my machine would teach it's owner!

Some very dear blogging friend gave me an award, and I'm ashamed to say, I can't remember now where I wrote myself a note to remember to post about it:( I'm truly sorry, but I thank you again!!...and I want to THANK ALL OF YOU, for every single comment you've left me!! I respond to each, unless you have a "no reply" email address....and lots of you do! So if you didn't get a personal thank you....I'd like to THANK YOU now:) You guys are just awesome!

Oh....I turned my FACEBOOK back on!! and now I'm addicted to Mafia Wars!! Want to join me?
Gotta run! Mr. Right just got home from May-e-co and I wanna spend some time with him:)

BIG (((HUGS))), Lots of Love....counting down to MY 50th too.....Sept. 7th! Maybe if I sleep that day, it won't come....

Cindy F.

The "Traveling Pattern" Finish and Ginger's "Mini-Retreat"

Maggie recently asked if anyone was interested in being part of a "traveling pattern". When I saw it was The Primitive Needle's "Simply Live"...I thought OH YEAH!! Click on her name and you'll see her beautifully framed finish.

I wanted to take some colors from our family room and this is what my finish looks like.

I stitched it on 25ct. Bone Laguna, stitched 1 over 1. I wanted the year on it, so I replaced some motifs in the block near the top left. I also stitched my initials in 2 shades in the alpha section. It would have been easier to use variegated floss, but I wanted to use what I had. So, 3 shades each of golds, blues and reds...and one of green. I think there are 8 of us participating. It's a very fast stitch. Mylene, I'll get this in the mail to you by Friday of this week!!

This past Saturday, Ginger, the owner of Ginger's Needle Arts in Austin, Texas hosted a stitching day...or as Melissa named it, a mini-retreat:) 17 stitchers came for this 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. stitch-a-thon! We had lunch and dinner brought in and one stitcher brought the most delicious cupcakes!! We also received a fun project with pink fabric, cute buttons, floss and needles! and a second free chart. We were in the back of her store...trying our best to behave.....lol....

Here is Ginger on the left. She and 2 of her nice employees took turns stitching with us.


Valerie brought one of her beautiful finishes. She was stitching on the most amazing Alaskan Salmon,,,,but I kept forgetting to take a pic!! argh!!!!

Here's Mary, one of our I35 stitchers. This is when we were all being "good"!!
The two ladies on the right are mother and daughter. Melissa (daughter), Marilyn (mother)
For some reason, I insisted on calling Melissa Michelle all day! Melissa was working on her cute Christmas ornies and finished her reindeer. Gloria is way in the back. Sister, why are you hiding?? All three are I35 stitchers and are probably the noisest in our group! ....hehe...just kidding! Mary's really the noisest;) OK...IT'S REALLY ME!!

Ginger's shop not only sells cross-stitching goodness, but also embroidery, quilting and punch needle goodies.

Gloria, Mary and Lynn. Lynn (in the purple) gets us I35 stitchers together each month and does a fantastic job at it! She may look innocent....ok, she is innocent (wink, wink;) but fun!



I had a most wonderful day meeting new friends and stitching with everyone. I actually got a lot of stitching done while running my mouth! I worked on "Simply Live". Thank you Ginger for putting this great day together for us. (I left @ 7:30 because I wanted to get home before dark...before the deer come onto the roads:) Hope we do it again!!

Thank you to everyone who visits and leaves such sweet comments! Mr. Right is feeling 100% better and my wasp stings have finally stopped itching:) All is good again;)

Hope you all have a most blessed week:) AND TO ALL YOU CANADIANS WHO ARE GETTING MONSOON WEATHER....SEND SOME RAIN TO TEXAS!!!
(((HUGS)))
Cindy F.

St. Nick Update, Chicken Salad Recipe and Our First Neighborhood Cookout!!

In the past week, I found time to put in about 1300 stitches on my HAED, "St. Nick in His Study". I'm 1 3/4 in to 28 pages! HA!! If I didn't work a rotation, I'd be a little crazy...crazier..by now:)



This past weekend Mr. Right and I were all over the place! Poor thing has a pinched nerve and has been to 3 doctors!! Pain radiates from his hip to his toes! We think it's because of overcompensating from his other leg's knee surgery last year. We spent all day Friday running errands getting ready for our picnic, all day Saturday in Austin @ the I-35 Stitcher's Stitch-a-Long and Sunday we had our first neighborhood party in our new home. I don't have pics of Austin's stitching because my battery died...it showed fully charged til I was ready to snap pics! Melissa did let me use her camera, but when we got home we received bad news her grandmother had passed away. Melissa and Marilyn, my heart, love and prayers go out to your family.

We had 15 in Austin and what a fun day! Lisa and her dh taught a great class on framing! and it was FREE!! We learned all about spacers and cutting frames and lining up fabric! It was great! Thank you so much Lisa and Kirk!!!

Dorothy brought the most delicious chicken salad recipe to the stitching group:

1- 13oz can of chicken drained
1 stick of celery diced
1 slice of onion, diced
2 tbsp Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing
1 tbsp Mrs. Dash Seasoning Mix
Mayonaise to taste and texture.
you can also add grapes and walnuts if you like.

Honestly...the best I've ever had!!

Sunday, Mr. Right was out watering the plants in the front yard and I was on the back porch cleaning some shelves when a wasp nest attacked me! I was stung from head to foot!! 2 or 3 of those on my lower lip! Swelling wasn't bad til the next day and boy do they itch! I screamed like a 3 year old, being the drama queen I can be! I thought I'd never get them off my face! THEN, I walked into a rusted rocker and put a big gash in the top of my foot! HA! I was glad it was me and not Mr. Right or our guests!

Here are some pics of our first neighborhood cookout. We've been in our house a year now and we were the 2nd on our street. Now we have 6 other houses and the best neighbors! Mr. Right and I said when we moved from San Antonio, we were going to get to know all of our neighbors and have lots of cookouts and block parties! Until now, we haven't had enough neighbors to party with! We had 25 total, including 5 who aren't neighbors, but just as dear to us!

Am I imagining this, or does Gail have a halo over his head??? Gary (a big Jimmy Buffet fan) is the most awesome margarita bartender!! Seriously!

The children here call adult women Miss and their first names. So here are 2 of our beautiful neighbors Miss Dorothy and Miss Ann:)

Mike and Melody, Mike works with Mr. Right. The sweetest couple:)

Our neighbor's nephew and he is such a sweetheart!!

Miss Kathy and myself! LOVE the margaritas Gary!!!

Is she not the most beautiful little girl?!! Zia is one and insists on picking out her own shoes!!


Jacob had just dunked his head in a tub of melted ice and is sporting a cute new "do"! Hannah's left speechless!

The kids...and Gary...were limboing in the kitchen! Go Gary! Go Gary!
Later they played soccer in the backyard.

Zia and her mommy, Jessica

Gary and Christine. (sorry guys....I didn't get a pic of you with your spouses!!)

More limboing! That Hannah is limber!!

Abbey is not dunking for apples....just cooling off! She and her sister Hannah both have their heads in that ice water! Their friend Cassie is probably thinking, nothing strange about that!
Great girls and if I were their age, I'd probably have dunked my head too! They just make everything look fun!


We grilled out hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers....pintos, potato salad, apple pie, lemon pie, ice cream.....fruit plate and cheese dip and tons of chips! Lots of tea, drinks, beer, wine...and margaritas!
We're missing one (Sam), but I want to take a group shot at every cookout so we can watch the kids grow up and the rest of us get younger...lol ;)

We love our neighborhood and our neighbors!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!! Can't wait til our next get-together!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Cindy F.

Mom's stitching again and I'm starting more projects!!!

Recently my mom has gotten in the mood to stitch again. She found a kit in her basement with some other stitchy stuff (I need to see!) and stitched this crewel piece up! Beautiful finish Mom!!! There was a needle left in the top and it rusted, so does anyone know how she can remove the rust??
Update on Mary Wigham:
New start...and yes it's a bread cover. This is no where near the final look...it gets much better!!

Another new start! My 2009 Sheperd's Bush Scissor Fob:

And a 3rd start! Last year I stitched this pattern for a Fair & Square Exchange and I promised myself I would stitch it on a towel one day! One day finally got here!
Not a lot to show in 2 weeks, but I was in a stitching slump. Hoping it comes back soon:)

That sweet Claire of Gazette94
sent me a French cross-stitch magazine!! I was so excited, because I do love French stitches!!
Thank you soooo muchy Claire!! If you haven't been to her site, you should check it out! She has the most beautiful freebies she's designed and incredible SAL's!!!

This week, I received this sweet award from Bonnie,
Meagan
and
Cindy Mae ! Thank you so much for sharing this with me! You three truly deserve it and I really enjoy visiting your blogs:)
Now I'm supposed to pass this on to 7 blogs, which is hard because I have so many favorites!
But, I want to keep this party moving;)
CarolynNC
Margaret
Vilma
Lee
Sara
Shutterbug
TracyJ
Congrats ladies!! You truly have "One Lovely Blog"!!!

Saturday, I'm heading to Austin to join the I-35 Stitchers again! Awesome group of talent and personalities!! Dragging Mr. Right because Lisa is teaching us how to frame and she's going to save us millions!!!!...lol...

Hope everyone is staying cool,, if it's hot....and warm, if it's cold! Have a great week/weekend!
Cindy F. ....going outside to do a rain dance now;)

RAKS, WIPS and the Texas Heat!!

When I started writing this post, it was 108 degrees here in my part of Texas!! and the scorpions were lining up on the back porch hoping I'd let them in for some water! Found one already in the house! and now....after weeks of no rain and being on water restriction...it is finally raining!
So scoot you nasty critters! As Gloria would say...FULL BODY SHUDDER!! Thank you dear Lord....guess you liked my rain dance I did earlier today;)

I just heard Michael Jackson died today @ age 50! of a cardiac arrest??? and Farrah Fawcett died last night of cancer. My thought and prayers go out to their loved ones.

This week, I received the CUTEST mailart from Kirsi!!
Oh my gosh! How adorable and fun is this! It's stitched on linen. Kirsi is in Finland and it got to the States quickly! THANK YOU KIRSI!! I LOVE IT!!! and YES, I will take part in your postcard exchange. I love this idea!! (It amazes me how clean it is! Thank you postal workers:)

and the other side...
That sweet, Staci!
I oo'd and ah'd over her pillowcases so much, she picked me up the last pair at her local Hobby Lobby!! WOOHOO!! Staci stitched hers all in red and I loved them. Thank you soooo much friend! You made this old girl very happy:)

Latest updates on:

"Noah's Ark"

HAED, "St. Nick in His Study"

"Little House Neighborhood"

"Good Night" pillowcases (the I is a gazillion french knots!!)

Thank you for all your unbelievably kind comments on my last post. Mr. Right is happily and thankfully still employed, ds's foot is great and I haven't had a flat tire...knock on wood....in 2 weeks;)...lol... Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

(((HUGS))) from Texas!
Cindy F.

I-35 Stitchers, a finish and a new start

We were in and out all weekend. When we were home, I tried to read and comment on blogs...but NOPE....wasn't happening!!!!!....I either couldn't open a blog or I couldn't comment! And today....internet down all day....lol......another flat tire (8 nails in 12 mos.).....son dropped a piano on his foot (lost his toenail, but dr. says he's going to live:)!!! DH's company laid off 600 people......I kept thinking about that bottle of xanax I keep for emergencies, but decided things could be worse:) I am blessed and I best not forget it!

Monday I finished:

"She Sells Seashells" by Country Cottage Needleworks
Stitched on 28 ct. Lambswool Linen over one. The B5200 Snow White DMC doesn't show the stars in the middle of the borders as much as I'd like. Other than that, love it!

Started Mary Wigham

Stitching on 32ct. Zweigart Lambswool over one.

Saturday, Mr. Right drove me to the I-35 Stitchers' monthly stitching group @ the Terrazas Library in Austin, Texas! Since we live between San Antonio and Austin, either way is about the same distance.....however, San Antonio I have to drive 2 highways and some access roads. Austin, just I-35 and I can drive the access road all the way there!! For you people in the US, I'd say neither city is as bad as LA or Atlanta,,,YET!!!....but they're getting close!

I have to give a shout out to GLORIA!! who was sitting beside me...front, right. This is none other than LoriRay's mother. (Not sure who defected....LoriRay to Oklahoma, or Gloria to Texas?!) Remember Lisa (middle)?? She was at the March stitching retreat!

I'm so sorry....I don't remember names very well:( Middle and right - mother, daughter
Left is Jennifer
Left - Jan (also at March retreat), lady in blue -so sorry I can't remember your name! and in the stripes - Lynn, who is the sweetest lady and also organizes these monthly gatherings:)

Jennifer is stitching on a Heaven and Earth Designs. It's amazing! She..honest to goodness....sewed this linen onto her scroll with her sewing machine! She says it's not coming off, till it's finished. Click for closer view.
Here are some of Jennifer's recent finishes she shared with us. Good job girl!!




I'm not just saying this to suck up so I'll get invited back....ok, I am a little....but I really, really enjoyed my time with these ladies. Most of us 9 drove 1 to 2 hours one way. There are many more members and each first Saturday of every month (except July is the 2nd Sat.), the faces may differ. May be more, may be less....but if you want to stitch from 10:30 - 3:00 with some of the nicest ladies in Texas, share in some good eats and catch up on "important stuff", much more important than anything you could hear at the beauty shop....you need to join us:)

LORIRAY.....you need to get your bottom back to Texas and see your MOMMA!!! and you can stitch with us while you're here!

Decided to wait on sharing awards. Everyone I subscribe to or follow, definetly deserves the most awesome-est awards...cause all of you inspire me:) yeah, I know....time for a group hug;)

Thank ya'll so much for your sweetness and your comments (and yes, this is how I really talk !) Sending you HUGE TEXAS (((HUGS))) and wishing you a blessed week:)

p.s. Yes, I did stitch on my HAED...just not enough to share a pic;) and dear Joke, my sweet friend....NO....I didn't get to all my wips this week;0

Cindy F.