This and That and Travel

Where does the time go? It has been a week and a half since I last wrote a post. Sure does not seem that long. Kept thinking I would do one last week and it just did not happen. Too many things to do. When I retired 4 years ago, several people expressed concern as to whether I would have enough to keep me busy and not get bored. I told them I thought that it would not be a problem and it has not been. Actually the old adage "How did I ever have time to work?" is true. With the things I do I would never have time to work a 40-hour job now. LOL.

This post is going to be a hodge-podge of things. So much so that I have made a list of things that I want to tell you about. And then I will probably leave something out.

Remember the little design by The Sunflower Seed that was done for our sleepover. Here it is done and framed. All of us that attended the sleepover have them done and framed. Last Monday night at our Stitch Therapy session, we all autographed each other's piece on the back. Reminded us of the good time we had that weekend.

Stitching Friends

28-ct Summer Khaki Cashel

DMC Floss

Frame-East Side Moulding

Even though my Carriage House-Village of Hawk Run Hallow has been put on hold while I stitch Quaker Christmas, Marcia from my Monday night group did finish hers. Marcia, it is so beautiful. I love it. Now I need to get cracking on mine.

Carriage House

Village of Hawk Run Hallow

40-ct Lakeside Linen

DMC Floss

Frame - Old Colonial Design/ Birdseye Maple.

Last time I think I told you about a kit I received for Christmas that I had started. I have done some more on this project. We are going to South Dakota the end of the week for about a week and I needed to get some work done on it, because I know the person that gave it to me will want to know that I am working on it. I have made a small start. It is a Dimensions kit called "Paradise Gate". I switched out the white Aida for 28-ct Antique White Jobelan. This is quite an interesting design. So far, I have only done half crosses with anything from 2 strands to 5 strands and some with blended needle. Up close, it looks rather strange, but from a distance then it does look more like the picture. This is going to take a long time to complete.Most of my stitching time has been devoted to Quaker Christmas. I know I am making progress, but I had to go back to my last picture to know which motifs have been added since the last time. I have even added some stitching since this picture was taken. The motif that is started below the "B" is large and is about 1/3 done. I am working from a copy taped together so I can finish a motif that is on two pages all at one time. Yesterday, I had to add the last pages to the copy, so In some places I am way past half-way. Still love stitching on it. Just not enough time to do it.
Last Thursday night, my friend Sandi and I went to a local Community Theatre to see "Menopause-The Musical". Wow!!! What a wonderful show. So many things to identify with were included. Or at least, Sandi and I could identify with. Basically the writer has taken many songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's and changed the words to relate to issues involved with menopause, such as not sleeping, night sweats, hot flashes, etc. If you ever get the chance to see this DO IT. There were even a couple of men there. Not sure they got as much enjoyment out of it as the ladies did. Now Sandi and I have decided our entire stitch group needs to see it. We neither one thought we would have a problem seeing it again.

My significant other (Morris) has some vacation days to use by mid-June or lose, so we are going to see his mother and other family members in South Dakota for several days. We leave on Friday and probably will be back the 30th or 31st. Have to be back to go to a Royals game on June 1st. We have not been up there since last July and his mother just turned 85 and we thought we needed to go again before the gas prices got any higher. It is about a 81/2 to 9 hour drive, that is without very many stops, but we tend to make several. Have several places that we always have to stop at. Been working to get things together to take with me so I won't be too bored. Also got a couple of crochet projects started so I can work on them in the car, if I want. Usually the dog has to lay in my lap most of the way. It is easier to crochet than to stitch when she is in my lap. I think that Quaker Christmas might be difficult to stitch on in the car. I have started another baby afghan and another dishcloth. I finished another dishcloth yesterday, so now I have made a total of 2. Would like to get more done as Christmas presents.

Many blogs have talked about working in the yard and gardening. Well, I don't do much of either one. We have had such a cool spring that I have not done much of anything in the yard. Trying to really have mostly perennials, so I don't have to do much. Morris spaded up the area that we usually put tomatoes it and it was hard and cloddy. Saturday he went out and bought a mini-tiller to work on it so I could put the plants in. We have really yucky clay soil and it can get really hard. Even the tiller could not break up the clods. He ended up wetting it down and then tilling to get it so I could put the plants in. Yesterday afternoon I put in 4 regular tomato plants and 2 cherry tomato plants in. This morning I put in 8 petunia plants. Still have a purple fountain grass to put in, but I tried to dig a hole big enough to drop it in and it was hard, so Morris will have to work on that tonight. Need to go buy a few more petunias and a couple of green pepper plants and my flowers and garden will be in. LOL.

Here are some photos of my flowers, purple iris, mostly. They are easy to grow and care for. Throw them in the ground and let them go. Sorry, Julie, I know you don't like them, bu they are easy to grow and look nice. I also have some white ones, but I guess I did not get any of those pictures uploaded. Muffin standing in front of some of the iris. You can see to the left in this photo that my peonies are in full bud. Usually by this time, all my iris are done blooming and the peonies are close to done. Don't think they will even be open by Memorial Day. I can remember growing up that my mother and my aunt would pick them as they were opening up, wrap them and store in the refrigerator to save for Memorial Day to decorate with at the cemetery.
Another picture of Muffin. In the first she is in the bright sun and her eyes are almost closed. In the shade they are more open. Maybe I should get her some sunglasses. LOL. The white irises are right behind Muffin in this picture.
This is probably my last post until we get back from South Dakota. Just noticed that May 31st will be my blog/anniversary. It is hard to believe that I have been doing this for a year. Hopefully you have not been bored to tears reading my babble. I really enjoy doing it after I get started. It is the getting started that is the problem. Don't want to take time away from stitching. Been having trouble keeping ahead of the blog reading. Many of the comments that I make are 2-3 days behind when you posted. That will only be worse after being gone for almost a week. Better late than never. Thanks for stopping by and reading my babble. Have a good couple of weeks and I will be back in touch in about 2 weeks.