Until Next Time...

How's it mid-July? I thought time was supposed to slow down the older you get. That is definitely not the case in my life.  We have moved The Squirrels into their new house. We are going back this weekend to bring them a lawn mower and fix their dryer and get the few pieces of furniture they had out the apartment.  I'll post pictures next week.  We celebrated Hubs's 50th birthday this week. Ashley and her bunch were the only ones missing. He got brave and tried a dirty martini.  Said it tasted like swamp water HAHA he went back to beer.  We went see Lolo's new place. Very nice. We need to get her a housewarming gift.  Hubs is saying a grill. Jarrett is all for that.  So, on to addressing the title. It's #fqsjollyjuly and I had a plan.  That plan has been shot to pieces. I have only started one Christmas project and have been working on other things.  I almost have one of my #stitchsania peices finished. I am loving sti...

I must admit, I really liked how #stitchsania went.  Focusing on one piece during the week had me feeling like I got a lot accomplished.  I've kind of taken that mini-focus and kept on with it. I'm changing it up a bit by giving myself a goal with the focus piece. For example,  yesterday's goal was to complete the black around Kringles on that piece. I almost got there! I'll finish that up tonight and pull out Sunflower Farm to work on - I was browsing through Everything CrossStitch's weekly sale and saw it and remembered I started it last year. It's a happy piece.  So, let's go through what I did last month.  First up was Calvin and Trixie by Stitching with the Housewives.  I got a good bit done on this. I am even further along now because I kept it out of the basket so it will be in my current rotation.  I now have all of the green leaves complete, 2 more of the jack o lanterns, and have started on Calvin's face. I have a cute...

 Happy June, everyone!  Summer is almost here.  Most people are gearing up for vacations and get togethers.  In our family, we are getting ready to trade homes.  Both Lola and the Squirrels are moving this summer.  On the same day.  How am I supposed to pick who to help?   Actually, we will be helping Lauren move first.  She has to be out of her apartment by midnight July1...which is also her birthday.  She and Agent J are moving into a newer three bedroom, two bath apartment with their fur baby, Ridge.  They are super excited. The Squirrels have are moving out of their apartment in Tuscaloosa and into a two bedroom house.  They have most of the month of July to do it though.  While they have more time, it meant we have to pay double rent for them in July and we need to find some living room furniture.  Their current apartment is furnished while the house is not.  Harley wants a new bed as well.  She ha...

 One of my favorite things to eat, especially during the warmer months, is a salad.  A little side salad is not what I am talking about.  While I do enjoy those, I am talking about a salad that will fill you up on it's own. While I was digging through food blogs and websites, I ran across several BBQ salad recipes and figured I would try it.  I fell in love!  So when Hubs said he was grilling night before last, I had him throw some chicken on the grill so I could make the salad. Harley and Mallory came for a visit last night and were thrilled to know this is what was for dinner.  Mallory said she could have eaten the whole bowl herself.  And I don't doubt it for one minute LOL   This is easy peasy to throw together.  I added BBQ sauce to my serving.  Not everyone in the house wanted extra BBQ sauce on theirs.  Here's the recipe: about 6 cups mixed greens - I used spinach, iceburg and romaine lettuce 2 ch...

 HI!  I'm back as promised with my focus pieces for #stitchsania this month.   Up first is Calvin and Trixie by Stitching with the Housewives.  I don't know when I started this.  Last September, maybe.  I dyed the fabric grey and then coffee/tea dyed it.  I liked the fabric then, but when I picked this up to work on it this week.  I don't know.  The fabric just looks dirty to me.  And that makes me sad.  But, I have so many stitches in it already that I will just keep on with it. Next week will be an easy peasy finish.  This is the third ornament in the Secret Santa series by Hands on Design.  It's called Silent Night.  I love the fabric and they way the colors pop on these.  I'm going to have to make these a priority this year so I can finish them and put them on my Santa tree. Third focus piece is the squirrel from Waxing Moon Designs Bittersweet Trio.  I have lots to go on this LOL  I have a cou...

 Ya'll know my love of counted cross stitch.  I am wondering why I gave it up for so long.  I started doing cross stitch when I was about 9 or 10.  I remember my grandmother giving me fabric with the blue printed embroidery pattern printed on it to stitch.   Then, when I was in junior high, or maybe a freshman in high school, my mom taught me to do counted cross stitch.  I fell in love!  I've done wedding gifts, graduation gifts, stockings and various other pieces.  I did a teacher piece with a bear holding an apple to give to my Aunt Myra for her kindergarten classroom.  She gifted that back to me when I started teaching.  It will always be a treasured piece. Since I quit stitching and have come back, things have changed somewhat in the world of cross stitch.  There is this thing called Stitchmaynia.  It even has it's own hashtag  #stitchmaynia The idea was to start 31 new projects. One a day for the month of May....

 We have been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!  Spring has finally come to north Alabama and we have been taking advantage of the warmer temps.   The front of the house has been an eyesore for several years.  The girls have parked in the yard so much that I had absolutely NO grass, just a dirt pile.  I have been asking for grass for about 3 years now LOL  I finally got it!  Hubs and I spent a weekend tilling and adding topsoil and planting grass seed.  Of course, we put hay to cover it.  It's been 2 weeks and I finally have little blades of grass showing up.  We also put in a walkway from the main walk to the driveway.  I LOVE IT! We also planted some hydrangeas in front of the porch, and some gardenias in front of Harley's room.  I had to put in a red crepe myrtle on the corner of the house.  I can't wait for them to bloom!  I need to pull the ivy off the house behind the gardenias.  I am not sure where that...