A Little of This and a Little of That

Like Karen at On Beads and Needles I had one of those "hero" co-workers and am home today with what I am hoping is just a cold.  I suppose, to be fair, most people are contagious before the actual symptoms appear so they don't know they're sick, but this could not have happened at a more inopportune time of course colds don't seem to care about your schedule.

Looking back, it's been a while since I posted, so there is a little catching up to do which if I am honest could really be done in a very short while but it is my blog so I am going to blather on a bit...

Before I forget, take a peak over at By the Bay Needle Arts' blog. Donna is hosting a free, four part, summer mystery SAL.  She has a fuzzied up picture of the finished project so you can get an idea if you squint and twist your head just so of what it will look like. Even though I need another project like I need a hole in my head I'm on for this one. Especially as I am fairly certain that I have everything I need in my stash and I do love Donna's designs. If you look through my stash you'd probably be surprised by that, as her designs don't really "fit" but there is just something about them that appeals.

I have been very lax in my stitching the last couple of weeks as other things just got in the way.  For the first time in I can't remember I did not put needle to fabric last weekend, instead I did a girl's weekend with a couple of friends from the office.  One of the ladies owns a townhouse about 10 miles from Ocean City, Maryland and agreed to host and she was an *amazing* host.  We had a great time - no stress, no must-dos - just food  if you are ever in Lewes, Delaware and have a hankering for Mexican food I highly recommend Agave - it's a first-come-first-served restaurat so the wait could be long but they do take your cell phone number and call you when you're table is ready so you can do some wandering around downtown Lewes, laughing, reading and a fair amount of b&tching discussion- we were all destressed and ready to tackle the world by Sunday afternoon.  I even managed a quick trip to a new-to-me yarn/needlework store in Bethany Beach.  If you are in the area Sea Needles is packed literally with yarn, patterns, and supplies for the knitter and oodles of patterns and supplies for the cross stitcher.  I wasn't able to spend a lot of time in there but I did enjoy the time I had.

The hummingbirds have finally returned!  I am not sure where they have been as I usually see the first one in late March/early April.  No pictures yet but once they settle in a bit I'll give it a try.

So, you ask, has there been any stitching in the last couple of weeks?  Well, yes a little.

Here is where I started on Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden:

Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden
Stitched on Silkweaver's 32-count Carol's Meadow with recommended fibers and beads

And here's where I finished stitching the backstitching of the gate and that silver bit above the smoke took FOREVER.

Chatelaine's Secret Victorian Garden
Stitched on Silkweaver's 32-count Carol's Meadow with recommended fibers and beads

I have a four day weekend coming up Friday is my off-Friday from work and Monday is Memorial Day.  I am hoping to get out on the boat despite the fact that there will be soooo many people taking theirs out for the first time this season and the area will be crazy busy but if we don't I have 99 by Ink Circles this will make a perfect addition to DSon's mancave apartment and Holy Night from Shepherd's Bush just waiting for a little attention.