Halloween Hornbook - Stitching Finished

The past week while I have been housebound with a cold I finished a couple of stitching projects.

This is the Halloween Hornbook from Plum Street Samplers.  I started it last year.  Fabric is unknown; threads are Belle Soie.  I can't decide whether to have it made into a pillow or have it framed.  We'll see.
It was a fun stitch.

Thanksgiving Tradition - Updated

One of my not necessarily healthy Thanksgiving traditions is to have a piece of left over apple pie for breakfast the day after our feast.  We had Thanksgiving dinner early here this year, so this morning my traditional piece of apple pie was made by my granddaughter, Kyle.  How time flies.  Twenty-three years old, mom of Izzie, and baker of a Thanksgiving pie brought to Gram's house.  How sweet.

Acorns, Pumpkins, and Friends

We only had five in our group today.  We missed Lenore, Linda, and Terri, but had lots of fun any way.

I made a German Apple Pancake this morning...my first ever.  Despite it overflowing a little on the bottom of the oven, it was really good, and I have the confidence to make it again.  I just got the idea in my head a couple of days ago and found a recipe online that sounded reasonable.  I continue to be amazed by the fact that anything that pops into your mind can be found at your finger tips today.  Awesome!

After a slow start, we made little stuffed acorns to fit into the burr oak caps from my nephew's yard in Northwest Ohio.  I have a lot of caps left to fill! Thanks, Jim.

We had a super potluck lunch and then made wool pumpkins.  Rose was the only one to finish hers, but we got a good start on them.  Sandy elected to continue stitching on her contract piece.  It is looking beautiful. 

We also exchanged hand made pincushions.  So much fun!  Rose fooled us by saying that she didn't have time to make one, but ended up putting a beautiful little one together...one of Lauren's patterns.  And Linda...you sneaky little one!  When Rose came and said she had two pincushions - and then explained that one of them was from you - immediately I knew what it was and I unashamedly (well, maybe with a little shame) started jumping out of my skin, saying that I hoped to pick that one.  And guess what...I did!  Thanks Linda.  That was such a fun surprise.  We all got a big kick out of it...mostly me!

Anyway, here are some photos.

 Acorns, acorns everywhere.

Pumpkins...I think both of these are Rose's.

Our pincushions for exchange.  The one I received is the Blackbird one in the back. 

Thanks again, Linda!

I just had to stitch this gal up for fun.

I finished her at 12:35 a.m. this morning!

Lots of laughs today.  Lots of good pointers on stitching, too.  And some life lessons maybe learned regarding the pincushion exchange.  Don't know if I will ever learn the one about procrastinating, though!

Generations

Here is the five generation photo taken 9.18.2010, plus a couple others that I snapped.

Baby Elizabeth (Izzie), Mom Kyle, Great Gram, Great Great Granny, Aunt Lindsey, Grandma Terri

Isabella and Izzie hanging out with their moms.

It's tough work being a Grandpa!

Stitchin' on the Shores of Lake Erie

Nine of us were fortunate enough to share a wonderful weekend at Nancy's lakeside condo stitching Lauren's little sampler and collection of smalls based on the characters from Little Women.  Thanks so much, Nancy and Lauren.

I only have one photo to share so far.  This was taken when there were only six of us left, including Nancy - our gracious hostess, Rose - holding a fish made my Nancy's granddaughter, birthday girl Ginny, and myself are shown in the picture taken by Linda - stitcher extraordinaire and reliable photographer.  Our designer and instructor, Lauren, must have been hiding somewhere.

Sharing time getting to know friends better, acquiring new stitch projects, eating good food shared by everyone...all on the shores of Lake Erie on a beautiful September weekend.  How much better can it get?

Again, thanks to all.

It's All About Fall

Yesterday seven of us were here for an "It's All About Fall" fun day, and boy did Mother Nature do a great job of cooperating!  It was a totally amazing first day of autumn weather day...winds, dark clouds followed by blue sky with clouds with character, temps in the 60's.  Love that!  I was in my glory.

In the morning we all made these acorn pin cushions.  In the afternoon some of us made acorn needle books.  I haven't finished mine yet, but will post a photo when it is completed.

It was a fun day.

Subtle Changes

Moving from this...

and this...

to this...

As we move from summer into fall,

I am beginning to feel the anticipation and excitement

that I experience each and every autumn.

To me autumn is the best of the bunch.

I am looking forward to what is to come.