I Have a Few Pictures

but because I am brain-dead, I accidently deleted all the pics of the give-away that Kathy won.  Just suffice it to say that she was quite happy with the contents of my give-away and I hope she'll post a picture of what she received.  Damn.  I was hoping to whet your appetite for the "I AM SICK OF WINTER" give-away.  I'll post at tease for the Sick of Winter giveaway, I'm just starting to stitch something totally adorable!

Anyway, by some miracle, the blurry pics of Her Sampler survived the Great Picture Purge.  Here they are:

These pictures were taken 2 weeks ago and now, the sampler is almost done.  I only have the acorn on the lower right side to stitch and then, STRIKE UP THE BAND for a happy dance.  Can you hear the orchestra tuning up and the angels warming up their voices to sing the Halleluia Chorus?  And finishing this sampler will be #2 of my 2011 Wip Bust.  I finished Snow Fairy too.

Now it'll be on to another WIP, BOAF's Friendship Sampler and Merrily Beams, Alphabets.  Friendship Sampler has just the top border finished but I really screwed up the colors because I misread the color chart and I hate the coverage with the Charcoal WDW floss.  But I'm not frogging it out because at that point, I'd just have to start over.  I will frog out the Charcoal and sub in a GAST color that's very close to the Charcoal thread.  I think I can manage that but to rip out all that Tropical Blue border to replace it with Cornflower, NO THANK YOU! 

I have to tell you that I've been in a funk recently too.  I hate February,  It's the longest month of the year for me because by this time, I am very tired of the cold and snow.  We had a bit of a thaw here in Upstate NY this week. Spring-like temps and SUN!! I was very encouraged to see Daffodil shoots coming up in my garden.  That's encouraging.  Today, we are under a wind advisory, it's snowing and cold again!

In other news...
My kids are in Japan and I believe settling in nicely.  Mike will be very busy the next couple of weeks spinning up to speed on his job supporting Search and Rescue.  There are a number of training exercises comng up and then....he deploys to Afghanistan this Summer.  I know that's what he signed up to do but I can't help but be worried and scared for him.  I guess he's just not playing War but is in one.

I am also struggling with a few health issues (I am at that age, high cholesterol, high BP and pre-diabetes) and some other personal things and I am very thankful for my stitching because it calms my mind and I don't think about the things that bother me when I have a needle in my hand.  And, I am trying to be positive, focusing on my many, many blessings.  That alone lifts my spirits, as do all of you who come by my blog.  I am so grateful for the internet and the stitching community.  But if you would and are so inclined, keep me in prayer.

So, I am off to start my Saturday.  My coffee is finished, the load of laundry is done and needs to go into the dryer and the vacuum is calling my name.  Have a great weekend!  And thanks for stopping.  Come back soon!