Happy Memorial Day

Why start off a Memorial Day update with a photo of half an old water pump? This ole water pump is at the cemetary where my parents, fathers parents and their parents are buried. When we were kids, we always celebrated Memorial Day, aka Decoratin Day, at the small cemetary out in the country. We would cut flowers from home and head out early for the cemetary. Decorate the graves, usually would see other live relatives at the cemetary as well! My little brother and I would take turns pumping water from this pump and run all over the cemetary to water all the flowers others had left. My brothers, Duane, Jim & Chuck went out today to decoare the family graves & Duane sent me a few photos. I was saddened to see that the pump is not working any longer, but, glad to see it's still there.



Stitching updates!



This is the project from Camp Stitch ~~A~~ Way. I finished this week. I love sea horses and I love this, designed especailly for camp by my dear friend Marleen. It was a fun stitch. The piece was designed to be finished as a project minder. As soon as I get the courage to put the gromet in, it will be done!



The back side to the Camp piece.

I'm sad that the holiday weekend is over. Bruce & I were going to make a road trip this weekend and see some parts of the state we have yet to experience. I have not been to Lake "O" yet.... He has not been to St Augustine. As the weekend got closer and the gas prices kept rising and the fire continued to burn at Lake O... we decided to enjoy our time at home. Saturday we did yard work, ran the power washer and cleaned the pool. Sunday was "recover from Saturday day" (the heat and humidity and the fact that we are not 20 anymore really got the best of us!) and this morning I did all the house work. All in all it was a great weekend. We spent time in the pool each day, didn't use more than a gallon of gas running to the grocery store and neither of us is ready to go back to work tomorrow. Dummy me, I scheduled fasting bloodwork for 7a.m. tomorrow, so I'm not allowed to eat or drink for the rest of the night. I'm not a snacker and it's only 45 minutes past the "cut off" time and I'm craving chips, m & m's, carrots, pop, coffee..... I better get my hands busy stitching!


Here is the latest CdC update. I'm almost done! I'm excited and sad at the same time! I have really really loved stitching on this!



Callie 6/1/2005


Callie is almost 3!


Happy birthday Callie! You are the cat's meow!

Stay safe!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Finally rested up, I think!

Camp was a blast! It was so much fun to spend the weekend with the ladies and stitch and laugh and laugh and eat and stitch and talk and eat and shop! Not much sleeping....
The photos in the post below:

1. King Tut, peyote beading project completed by Dr. Patty. He was the only guy at camp....

2. Linda,shopping at the stash swap table

3. Ruby and Carol Ann sharing a laugh!

4. Ruby and Dr. Patty with Tut...

5. Linda, Michelle, Sharon, Eileen stitching away.

6. Mary Jane & Carol Ann stitching

7. Miriam, Carolyn, Eleanor & Malinda working on a beading bracelet.

8. Nicole, Miriam, Mary Jane, Julie, Mary Lou playing a game of LCR for floss!

9. Jean, Eleanor, Marleen, Linda and others stitching!

10. Chow time!!

It was a great weekend. The ladies were a joy. The local shops that supported us, Golden Needle, Quilts 'n More and The Bead Room were awesome. The projects that were worked on (and that some completed!) were beautiful. The facility was perfect. As a whole, we were able to make a contribution to Habitat in excess of $1200!!!! I can't wait to do it again!

New news


My finish for the week. Lizzy Kate "Home is where Our Story Begins". This is the current give back to the community project from Golden Needle. Stitched with DMC floss on Rustico fabric. These will be presented to the local Habitat New Home owners. Quick stitch and I love the sentiment!


Yesterday I took a beading class from Amy Loh-Kupser and made this beautiful bracelet. I'm not a beading fan, but she was a great teach and had TONS of patience with me! Not so sure she truly appreciated my sense of humor when I asked Malinda why she didn't just glue the beads to the wooden needle holder instead of peyote - ing them..... Amy has some beautiful things. Check out her website at i-bead.com
I'm in love with her seahorse amulet bag, just not sure I have the patience to try peyote again after flunking out earlier this year on the bracelet I posted a photo of here on Oct 28.....



Same bracelet being modeled by Miss Rippit....who, by the way, was a great camp guess. She spend a lot of time with the different ladies as the did the reverse stitch....



The mail this week included a graduation announcement for my great niece Emily. Isn't she beautiful??? Looks like her mom & her dad! Sure does make me feel old when the great niece's are graduating from high school.... Congratulations Emily & best wishes.... make sure to save Auntie M back stage passes when you make the big time!



Not much else new. We are trying to enjoy the ACM awards tonight but Comcast seems to think we don't want to watch them, the picture and the sound keeps cutting out.... We still need rain. Work is still work. This week is stitch night at Golden Needle on Wednesday and EGA dinner meeting on Thursday. I'm currently stitching on the commemorative project Marleen designed for camp (I love it!!!). Hope to have a picture to post next weekend.

Stay safe!
Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Camp brief

Wow oh wow oh wow! I'm whipped so tired I doubt I will sleep tonight either! Camp was a blast. I think I made 25 stitches..... but I had such a good time with the girls! Here are a few photos to share and details to follow when my fingers type what my brain is really thinking!

I'll add details to the photos soon, but, if you are inclined, how about making up your own words to the story??? Looking forward to your comments!
Oh, and dear Nicole has awesome photos over on her blog. See the link on my sidebar.

Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

Tassel, tassel....who has the tassel???

No stitching, again. I must be in a slump! In the past 2 weeks, I have added a few stitches to CdC, but not enough to take a picture. I did make a new tassel for new stash....I love tins and boxes and chocolate, so after a trip to the Golden Needle on Saturday, this jewel followed me home...



One of our fine feathered friends...



My newest hibiscus plant. The bloom last night was huge! Too bad they only last a day or so!


Other than that, nothing new down here on the hot, dry Florida gulf coast. Just been working on camp stuff, work stuff, house stuff... just stuff! I'm very excited about camp!
Till next time... Happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

No stitching just venting!!

Sorry, no updated pictures of this weeks stitching! I did stitch a bit at Golden Needles Stitch night Wednesday evening, but not enough to show any progress on CdC!


Hip hip hooray.... tax season is over! Geesh... I really love my clients and love my job, but.... some times people can be so....so....mean and rude and don't think before they speak.... Last Friday afternoon a client called the office and started screaming at me the minute I answered the phone...
She: YOU SOLD ALL MY STOCKS AND BECAUSE OF YOU I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $20000 IN INCOME TAXES....

Me: I'm sorry, but, first, (as I check the account notes and the account activity and the 1099 for the account for 2007)... I did not sell all your stocks, I'm not licensed to do that. You met with your Financial Advisor on x day in February and you and your financial advisor determined you should sell all your stocks..... And, let me look at your 1099, oh yes, I see you sold stocks and had a gain, meaning you sold your stocks for more than you paid for them. Excuse me again, but don't you want to sell your stocks when you have a gain, meaning you made money on your stocks??? Lets take a look at something else real quick. You sold your stocks on x date and the net to you was $120000. Now, if you would have held those same stocks and, lets say, sold them yesterday, now you would have had a net of $85000. Does that help??

SHE: ohhhhhh..... I understand.

No appology.... no thank you.... no kiss my ass.... no have a good day.

Tax season story number 2:
Monday, April 14, time 4:30 p.m.
Office door opens, in walks Mr. Client. We exchange greetings. Then he says to me...
He: I ALWAYS take all my tax information to my CPA in February, but, because I was in London and didn't return until this past Friday, I don't have the heart to take all this in and dump it on his desk today, so I was hoping you could help me understand my 1099's??
Me: Oh, let me get this straight, you don't have the heart to do this to your CPA??? What does that make me, chopped liver????
Hahahahahahaha......... I spent the next day helping him concur turbo tax.

So all that said and done, tax season 2007! is over! Yippee skippee!!! Oh, and I finished my Canadian return this morning.

The online Needlework show.... I went... I ordered:

Carriage House Samplings
Adam & Eve

Designs by Lisa
How do I Love Thee

Northern Pine Designs
Chocolate Humbug Bag

Sue Hillis Designs, Inc.
Pirate's Creed

And I wasn't going to order a thing!

A beautiful weekend on the Florida Gulf Coast. No humidity,sunshine and a sea breeze. Last night we drove home over the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg Florida. The bay was calm, the sky clear and the moon full and bright. It was picture perfect beautiful and the camera was in the trunk....

Until next time.... happy stitching!
xoxo
~~Martha~~

SSS ladies, Cake, Spinach Balls and CAMP!

Look at Sarah, Edith & Julia, looking scared of the camera!



Ruby, Doc Patty are happy as sweet Charlotte stitches away!



Louise, Malinda and Nicole stitch a way....
Nicole has some awesome photos of what everybody was working on over at her blog--see sidebar for link!



Sweet Charlotte made this awesome chocolate cake...



Wanna try one of the spinach balls??



Camp??
Here are the details. I have a few spots left, so if you can come, please email me at miokka@yahoo.com
We are going to have a wonderful time:


Camp Stitch ~~ A ~~ Way

Friday, may 9, 2008
4:00 p.m. until Sunday, May 11, 2008 @ Noon
Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Center
Port Charlotte, Florida
Camp Fees: $100.00

How about a weekend of nothing but.....
Hanging out with the girls.....
Eating.....
Shopping.....
Sharing....
Caring.....
Eating....
Sleeping (or not!)....
Playing.....
Eating....
Movies....
Snacking....
and
STITCHING??????????????

What you need to bring:
~Your bed linens for a twin size BUNK BED (including your own pillow)!
~Bath towels/washcloth
~Personal care items

~Your favorite snack food for sharing

~Your favorite movie (on dvd)

~Your stitching, your stitching tools, lights, magnifiers, extension cords

$$$$ for...
shopping at
~~ The Golden Needle
~~ The Bead Room
~~ Quilts n' More
~~The Town Center Mall

~Items for the Swap Table
old magazines, old charts, excess fibers, beads, kits..... the sky is the limit. Clean out your excess STASH!!! Make room for more!!!

~Items for the Show and Tell Table
Your chance to brag a little!!! A great opportunity to share and encourage others!

~A good attitude and the desire to relax and enjoy!

Your Camp Stitch ~~ A ~~ Way staff will provide:
Coffee/Tea/Water for the weekend
Dinner Friday night
Breakfast Saturday morning
Lunch Saturday
Dinner Saturday
Brunch Sunday
Directions to the shopping venue's listed above
Fun & games
A special treat to commemorate the weekend~~Wait till you see this! I love it!!
A sharing, caring, relaxing environment

SPACE IS LIMITED!!!!!!!!! Camp fee of $100 is due by April 20 (please, so we can buy groceries & plan & prepare accordingly!). Email me for mailing address...

The camp fee will go to groceries for the weekend and to Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity.

Yes, you can invite your sister, mother, daughter, best girl friend, but remember... space is limited!! Due to the layout for the Center, we must limit this event to Women Only, please understand....

Remember..... Bras & makeup are optional!! {;^)
The desire to have a wonderful, relaxing, sharing, caring experience is not....

XOXO
~~Martha~~

Yippee for me!

US Fed income taxes are done~~~~e-filed & I get a refund!!! Whew... Turbo Tax is awesome.

That horrible sick feeling in the pit of my stomach is GONE!

Now, I have 24 days to figure out & file my Canadian return. Something new.

I'll worry about that in a couple weeks....

Off to make spinach balls for the SSS ladies!

I'm a happy camper... I get to stitch tomorrow!