Fall Means Holiday Prep

I am visiting Ric in Maryland. While here I am busy making things for a holiday bazaar that I joined. It is fantastic I can devote so much time to this challenge. Pictures will come when I am home.

October's TUSAL

This should fill up in the next month.  I am spending time with my DH in Maryland.  I have committed to have items for a Holiday Bazaar. Lots of work to do before the Holidays.

A Busy September!

I am finially posting my finishes that I have been working on these last few weeks. They are both gifts for a couple of special friends. First was for the wedding of Vanessa and Justin.

I finished another one of the Lizzie Kate's "Friends For All Seasons" for Sally who has a birthday on the 30th. We have both been through a lot of storms and have been a great support for one another.

Payton invited me to his preschool for Grandparent's Day.  We enjoyed the activity of making our Family Tree. Loved the chance to send time with this precious little boy.

Payton celebrated his 4th Birthday on Saturday.  He did like us singing to him. :)

August ORTS and a Finish

August New Moon slipped past me and I am finally posting my ORTS for the TUSAL.  It has been a busy stitching month.  I will post more on this later.  I did finish the "Come Unto Christ" for a friend.  I really like the colors. I found that Hobby Lobby sales mat board and it was even 50% off.  Love that school started and I am tackling many projects that have been on my list all summer. Some will hold until it cools down though.

Another July TUSAL and a Month of Family

July has another new moon and time to post my progress to the TUSAL. I am making another "Come Unto Christ" and working on the Lizzie Kate's "Time for God". I love this piece and can't wait to finish it. After Sevrine does her school work and chores, her reward is to go swimming. I have been adding to my dish cloth pile sense it is an easy project to do while sitting by the pool. 

The colors are chocolate and blue.  I just need to add the beads and then it will be ready to frame and wrap.

Our July Activities

 We were lucky enough to have Ric here for the 4th of July.  The family gathered for a BBQ and swimming. This picture is Payton getting his back rub from Grandpa.  It seems that he is just like his father. All of my kids loved having their backs scratched and especially Kelvin.  Now we can add our grandkids to this routine.

         Kelvin, Payton, Hailee and Sevrine waiting for the fireworks at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Payton accommpied grandpa to the movie, Cars 2.

We celebrated Kaitlyn's baptism while Ric was home.  We all had a part on the program.  We are so very proud of her and she looked like an angel all in white sitting with her dad.

Kristen, David, William, Kaitlyn, Elizabeth and David's mom, Nancy

       Our family, minus Marissa who is in Virginia, and Sevrine who was with her dad this weekend.

We sure enjoyed getting together and especially having grandpa here. 

July's TUSAL

A little progress on "O Jerusalem" to add to my ORT jar.

Beating the Heat

The perfect way to beat this heat is keeping busy with all my projects that I have on my to-do list.  I framed this piece for a friend's birthday.  She is battling cancer and such an example to all of her friends. She is so positive even when she is not feeling well. This represents of the kind of person she is.

More baby presents....

Sevrine loves to swim.  After chores and school work she earns swimming time. Knitting is the perfect project to do by the pool.... Now I have replenished my stock of dishcloths.

It has been a busy month.  I got a chance to visit with my nephew and his family while they made a brief trip to the valley to register for school.  After his discharge from the Navy, he will start school in January.  We will get much more time to see them next winter and meet the rest of the family.

Colleen, Sevrine, April, Gayle, Allison, and Michael

Summer Time

There is a song that I sang when I was a child. It seems to be running through my head as I take care of Sevrine. The yard work gets done early and we try and find things to do to stay cool on these long hot summer days.

“Oh what do you do in the summer time when all the world is green?

Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?

Is that what you do? So do I!”

“Oh what do you do in the summer time when all the world is green?

Do you swim in a pool to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?

Is that what you do? So do I!”

“Oh what do you do in the summer time when all the world is green?

Do you march in parades or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?

Is that what you do? So do I!”


It seems that summer just screams reading, so Sevrine and I signed up for the summer reading program at the local library. We have attended a story time and a juggler program to get her excited about reading. She earns prizes for the books she reads and for the time we read to her.  For book club we just finished a prequel to the “Anne of Green Gables” series. I just loved how the book told the story of Anne before arriving to Avonlea.  The Book is entitled, "Before Green Gables" and it is by Budge Wilson.

It isn’t summer unless I can watch the NCAA College Women’s World Series.  I enjoyed following the teams through the Super Regional’s and on to the World Series in Oklahoma. For the second time in as many years, ASU made it through and were National Champions.  So very proud of the team work the girls displayed.

While watching the softball games, I made this for a friend.  (I had a hard time getting a picture without the glare.) This is a Lizzie Kate design that worked up quick and it was a perfect sentiment to say Thank You for all that she has done for me.

Now I am on to other books that are stacked on my end table and other WIP's.  Summer is such a perfect time to get a lot accomplished.

The ORT jar and the TUSAL

You might not be able to tell but there are a few more threads added to the ORT jar.  I continue working on "O Jerusalem" along with my various knitting/crochet projects.  With the College World Series in Softball starting this week, I am motivated to get my housework and yard work out of the way so I can get some stitching done.  I'm itching to start something new and have gone through some of my 'to do' pile.  I will keep you posted on anything new that I find interesting.

Memorial Day!

In honor to those who have served this country! I am so very blessed to live in a country that respects freedom. Thank you to my family who have served and are serving:  Dad,Vernon-Navy, Michael Snodgrass-Navy, Bob Pugmire-Army, Lamar Breshears-Marines, and Steven Sifuentes-Marines

End of Year and a Gift

Today was the last day of school for my grand daughter.  She had her celebration and said good bye to her teacher, Mrs. Nelson.   Sevrine has enjoyed the year and loved having Rayden in her class.  She also attends church with her so this has made for a great friendship.  I started the lace on Friday and finished the piece on Tuesday.  We have a fun summer ahead with swimming, crafts, and lots of reading so she will be ready for first grade.

Catching Up and a TUSAL

Today is the new moon and time to post my ORT jar.  I was fortunate to be able to stitch quite a bit earlier this month while visiting DH in Maryland.  I made some head way on "O Jerusalem" which has motivated me to keep at it.

I finished this to give to my SIL, Regina while I was visiting DH.  I have appreciated Steve and Regina including Ric in many of their families activities. It helps knowing there is family for him to be with while I am still in Arizona.

The first weekend we traveled south to Richmond to pick up Marissa. We then went to Colonial Williamsburg to visit the town. I enjoyed the reinactments, palace and capital with all the history that was covered. Even though we spent the day, we didn't see everything that was offered. I was disappointed with the weaving and dyeing exhibit. The woman didn't have much information and kept making excuses to what she was really showing.

While we were visiting Marissa, she gave us a private tour of the VA Capital. She has 24 hour access because of her job with the Lt. Governor. It was nice to see all of the artwork and the model of Thomas Jefferson's original capital building.  We loved the history that is so apart of the beginning of this country there in Richmond.

The last weekend we went into DC to catch the Cherry Blossom festival.  We had a big storm blow through on Thursday so it wasn't as nice as it could have been.  It was pretty, non the less, and a nice walk around the Tidal Basin. The 16 days went way too fast and it was hard to leave.  I did enjoy the time with Ric and I put my Kindle to good use.

Spring Stitching and April TUSAL

It is beginning to look a lot like Spring around here.  I have been working on booties for all the new babies that are due this month and the next. The little ducks will go to Sevrine's Kindergarten class.  You can't look at the brite little ducks and not think that it is almost Easter.

With April's new moon, it is time to post my progress on the TUSAL.  I have made progress on the "Come Unto Christ" and a finish to the "Irish Blessing" have added a little color to the jar.  I should get a lot of time to stitch in the next few weeks sense I am taking a much needed break to visit my DH. (the Bunny pair are Lizzie Kate's and were  done last year)

An Irish Blessing and Family Recipe

I finished this piece this week for Saint Patricks day.  The pattern can be found on the Leisure Arts blog. I can always use a blessing and shamrocks for luck. It was done with the required DMC threads and Linen.

I am not a big fan of corn beef.  My mother in law fixed this casserole for St. Patricks day and I liked the combination of flavors. (Bacon makes a lot of things taste better) The left overs are even better.

Corn Beef Noodle Casserole

1 tin of corn beef
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 lb. bacon, cut into pieces
2-3 stalks of celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
16 oz. bag of egg noodles.
1 cup cheddar cheese
Cook egg noodles and set aside. (I used about 4 cups cooked)

Fry bacon until crisp-tender. Remove from pan. Drain all but 2 Tbsp. fat. Add chopped vegetables. Cook until tender.  In a casserole dish, combine corn beef, cream of mushroom soup, bacon, and vegetables. Add egg noodles. Top with cheddar cheese.  Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.