A picture.....

is worth a few hundred stitches!
I couldn't wait!
I will try to get better pictures as time goes on.....
The rest of my stitching is toast....
Happy Monday!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Thanksgiving Weekend Update

Where did the 4 days go?
I am not ready to go back to work tomorrow....

Hope you all had a wondertastic holiday with family & loved ones.
My birthday was Wednesday, so the holiday festivities started early! I received flowers at work from my dear stitching friends Marleen & Eileen! They are beautiful and really brightened the day. Lots of cards and phone calls with well wishes too!
Hubby bought me roses. My recent trip to Treasure Island to stitch with Susan was my "official" present from DH!





We spent Thanksgiving day with our dear friends Pat & Richie. All the turkey & ham & sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes and green beans and pie and cake and fun you can imagine! There were 13 of us at the table.



Our pre-dinner entertainment was their grandson RJ and his magic spoons!



I did not go shopping Friday. There is not enough money or bargains in the world to get me out to the stores on Black Friday! We had friends down from Michigan for dinner on Friday. I fixed a big pot roast with gravy and mashed potatoes and mixed veggies and my Moms Cherry Jello for desert. Not sure where my camera was, but no pictures! Oh, I also learned how to drink gimlets.... so that could answer where my camera was!

My DH had a wonderful time all week teasing me about a big surprise trip on Saturday. The only things he would tell me:
1. Dress like I would if I was going out goofing off on Saturday with friends..
2. Not to make any plans for Saturday.
3. Be ready to go at Noon. (He had a commitment Saturday morning at the Shrine).
I asked all kinds of questions. Where are we going? Do I need to pack a bag? Are we going alone? Have I been there before?.... He would not answer any of my questions. If you know Bruce, this had to be very hard for him because he is not good at keeping secrets, or anything for that matter, from me!

Noon came, he was home from the Shrine. I'm ready to go. He is outside doing something in the garage. I'm waiting.... wondering.... Then he comes in & says he has to tell me something because he can't find something..... OK, I ask, what are you looking for? His reply, "Your stitching bag..." My reply "I thought I didn't need to pack a bag"...... so I hand him my stitching bag. We get in the car & leave! My surprise....




Dinner & stitching with Bill & Ruby! I couldn't think of a better way to spend an afternoon! Bill & Ruby fixed Port tenderloin, a yummy pear/lime jello salad & my very favorite black eyed peas, sweet potatoes and my very favorite red velvet cake!
We had a great time visiting and looking at cross stitch books! I think I made a half dozen stitches~ nothing to show you on that end as I am still working on my Christmas stitching~ But...... you all know I have been lusting after Ink Circles CDC.... Cathy at Golden Needle ordered some of Ink Circles Charts after I showed her their website... Last week when I was at the shop, I picked up my threads for the project, but did not see the chart yet. I didn't ask.... It's a good thing.... because look what Ruby & Bill gave me for my birthday!!



Now if I could just get this Christmas stitching done I could start CDC! I'm think I will go work on it now!
Enjoy your week! Think happy thoughts! I'm going to stitch.... I just have to start CDC!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

A Thanksgiving Poem

"Twas the night of Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't sleep.
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned. The dark meat and white.
But I fought the temptation with all my might.

Tossing and turning with great anticipation
The thought of a snack became just infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door.
And gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
pickles and carrots. beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
'Til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees...
happy eating to all - pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes 'n gravy have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!

But most of all let's be thankful for living ….
and may you and your loved ones be blessed this Thanksgiving.

xoxo
~~Martha~~

Susan Greening Davis, Treasure Island Part 3 & Golden Needle Stitch Night & Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have to share my good fortune! Susan always has a fund raiser for Breast Cancer at her retreats. I was lucky enough to win one of the goody piles! This lovely little Spool Doll was in the prize basket I won. Isn't she sweet?? Ok, I'm done tempting you with photos from Treasure Island!



Golden Needle Stitch night was this week. Cathy organized a stitchers tree for the local Symphony of Trees and here it is! Lots of us stitched these lovely ornaments. I did a quick rough count & think there are approx. 90 hand stitched Christmas balls on the tree!



Our Golden Needle Stitching group!



I spent the weekend putting up my Christmas decorations! I know it is early, but I have plans for next weekend (don't ask me what because dear hubby said it is a surprise!)& wanted it done! This is my collection of Tom Clarks People at Prayer & it stays out all year. I will post Christmas photos AFTER Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday! You are ALL my blessings!
Thanks for being there!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Susan Greening Davis, Treasure Island, Part 2

This is the inside for the Shaker Box~~Stitching Smalls.




Saturday evening, after the trip to the LNS, we went down the street to Sloppy Joes for Supper!



Sunday morning, we enjoyed breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel. I'm stumped... I can't think of an "s" word for breakfast..... But Stitchers sure do like food! Breakfast was yummy. This is the first time I ever had creamed eggs & I'm planning on serving them at my Christmas morning breakfast! I googled creamed eggs & it sounds quite easy!



Sunset on the Gulf Saturday night.



Stitchers Sitting in the Sun. This was after **lunch** (more food!) on Saturday.

Susan Greening Davis

My weekend at Treasure Island, Florida studying with Susan Greening Davis was wonderful. This is a picture of the Shaker Box that will hold the Smalls that Susan designed. The items that go inside the Shaker Box are a needle book, Scissor Holder, Tape Measure and Needle Guide.
As always, Susan & Sally provide a funderful class at an awesome location!




Here are a couple of our Smiling Stitchers!!



Ohhhhh Ahhhhhhh.... Stitchers Stash!



Serious Stitchers!




Silly Sticky Stuff Stitchers!!

The weekend really was great. I always enjoy my class time and my visiting time. Sometimes I get the 2 confused!
Nicole (Island Breeze) sat next to me. She is such a doll. She lives near the hotel, so was our tour guide for a trip to the 2 LNS! Thanks tons Nicole!!!
I also got to spend time with my stitching friends Marleen & my adopted Mom Eileen. My roomy was nice, she didn't complain that I snored....really loud!

For more photos see Nicoles blog and my next post!

November

I am in awe at how fast this year is flying by!! Holly cow!
It was a beautimus fall weekend on the Florida Gulf coast. Sad to see the pool temp drop to 75, but wonderful to turn the a/c off & open the house!

I hosted my stitchy friends today (my DH calls it my "hen party")! It's such a treat to be able to do this. The highlight of my month. This is my reward for cleaning house!

The fist photo is a little something our mystery guest stitcher finished this afternoon! Do you know who she is? Can you tell her style???


Here are Louise & Sara. Sara does the most awesome thing with that counted canvas stuff! I'm ashamed to say I did not get a photo of her recent finish. Louise is also a counted canvas expert, but, she was working on linen today



Meet Jessica! This is the Jessica, daughter of Deb aka Lavender Rose. It was such a treat to have her come stitch with us. Nicole (Island Breeze) is trying to move out of the picture!



And Malinda and Deb. If we would have stitched as many words as we spoke, ALL our UFO's would be done now!





TaaaDaaaah! Here is Cathy of The Golden Needle and..... our guest mystery stitcher, designer and teacher extraordinaire..... Susan Greening Davis!

I'm missing pictures of lots of the ladies. We had Charlotte, who made a desert called "Death by Carmel".... it was soooo good, Ruby brought mushroom gravy and some yummy orange/ginger carrots, Mary Jane, God love her, she comes to these things and only eats fresh veggies...., Jessica, Deborah, Queen Patti who was stitching a beautiful hand painted canvas with really cool stitches. Eleanor brought coconut/chocolate/raspberry cookies and cheesy sauce for the baked taters. Nicole, from Island Breeze was busy giving her headless sheep a head! Louise made apple pie, Gigi & Edith our newest stitchers, Malinda made the best chili, Sara brought pumpkin cheesecake, Cathy & Susan. We had baked potatoes and all the fixings you could think of to add to them. Gigi & Eleanor brought their finished tassels from my tassel class & they are beautiful!

The day always goes way to fast for me. I love these ladies & it's such a treat to spend some quality stitching time with them.

I'm off to Treasure Island next Friday for the weekend. I am spending the day Friday in another office to observe and see how they do things. Friday night is class with Susan Greening Davis, as is Saturday, Saturday night & Sunday. I'm looking forward to this retreat and some time away. The Thunderbird Inn is right on the beach. I'll take lots of pictures.

Thanks for all your kind comments. I wish you all could come to my hen parties!
DH is hungry, best go heat him up a left over baked potato!
Stay safe!
xoxo