Huh? Would you look at that?

A blog post? From me? I don't think I've ever gone this long without posting something.  And I have only been reading and commenting sporadically the last few weeks.  Work has made it impossible to even think about turning on a computer or engaging my brain in any activity that requires more than two neurons firing at the same time when I am home. 

First welcome to my new followers I appreciate that you think I have something worthwhile enough to say that you're willing to show the world that.

So what's been going on?  I am finally over the cold that I mentioned in my last post, but the darn thing hung on for ages.  I got some gardening done - okay it was mostly weeding and mowing the grass, but at least the house doesn't look like it's abandoned.  Oh yes, I did find a lovely nest of yellow jackets while I was mowing.  Nothing intentional but they seemed to take offense to the mower running over the entrance of their home and then me stepping on it.  For something so small, about 1/2" to 3/4" I have no idea what that is to the rest of the world - it would have soooo much easier if we had just gone metric back in the 70s, they pack a punch!  And wouldn't you know that if one is injured say by someone frantically brushing it off their leg (which was encased in clothing) it sends out a message to all its friends that it's in distress and please come help and you end up with multiple stings because each one of the nasty little things can sting multiple times from multiple critters.  It was not a pleasant experience.  The worst of the areas is just now settling back and looking like normal I ended up with 7 sting areas but thankfully the skin reaction was all I had.

Our summer invasion of finches has arrived.  The little pigs-on-wings pretty much empty two feeders every other day or so.  They are having help with a third feeder a raccoon is climbing the feeder pole and dumping out the seed and then cleaning it up off the ground so I will need to get back out there with grease and make the climb a little more difficult. 

On the bright side, I have been stitching. In no particular order here is what I've been working on:

Ink Circles' 99
Stitched on Unknown Company's 32-count Golden Walnut with DMC threads

This photo shows the fabric color a little better, but also shows what happens when you forget to divide by 2 when deciding on a starting place 9" is probably a really good margin for a framer.  Fortunately there is enough space to put a row above this one and not throw the design off or frogging these bottles. AND there are only 96 more bottles to go before it's finished.

A HAPPY DANCE!!  Shepherd's Bush's Holy Night
Stitched on Unknown color of 28-count R&R Reproductions linen with recommended fibers and buttons

Summer Mystery SAL from By the Bay Needlearts Part 1
Stitched on 32-count Silkweaver's Lavender Swirl with DMC

Drawn Thread's Summer into Autumn
Stitched from materials in kit

Dimple Designs' Twilight of the Tsars
Stitched on 32-count Smokey Pearl Belfast with DMC and Kreinik BF and Braids

I think that's about all.  Probably not a lot of stitching this week as I am traveling for business, leaving tomorrow and home next Sunday.  Chatelaine's Winter Watergarden will be put on the frame for a little love this afternoon/evening, but unless the cats or The Hubs have learned to stitch while I haven't been looking, there won't be a lot done.  I do hope to get a chance to catch up on my blog reading and commenting while gone the wonders of tablets and WiFi.