Into Canada

Jasmine enjoyed the sunshine in Coumbia Falls, MT

We made it across the border with no incidents...not that we expected any, but you never know.  We are actually in Okotos on the Sheep River.  It is really nice, operated by the Lions Club.

It is so beautiful here.  The fields are bright yellow.  I learned later that it is rapeseed (canola).  We are going into Calgary to check it out and to a visit a cousin who lives here.

I finished Lilca Time, the Laura J. Perin project.  Although it has some flaws I am pretty happy with it.  After seeing the photo I did a little work on the leaves and added some more lilac color to the center lilac.  Looks a little better I think.  I still think the center leaves need work.

Here is  close up of the corner detail.  The Ribbon Floss is so beautiful.

I also finished Blue Heron by Imaginating.  Will frame this when I get back to Blanco and hang it in the guest bathroom.

My wonderful husband took me all the way out of Calgary about 40 minutes to visit "Traditional Stitches".  OMG!  What a wonderful shop.  The lovely lady, Janice, was so helpful and amazing, she has her work hanging all around and it is just exquisite.  I got lots of goodies!  (I will post them later when we are on the boring part of our trip headed back through Texas) I have never been a person who does samplers, but I gotta tell ya her work is amazing and gave me a new appreciation for them...I may even do one.  With the US dollar so strong here I was able to pick up a few things at a good price.

We had a fantastic visit with my Calgary Cousin Kati.  Had dinner at a wonderful place called The Keg.  Terrific food and lovely atmosphere.

Today we will be exploring Okotos and visiting again with Cousin Kati here at the campground this evening.

I will start a new needlepoint project when we leave here head back to the States.  I am looking forward to getting it set up and ready.

That is it for today...

Thanks so much for visiting and sharing our trip.

Beginning our Travels and Beginning a Project

We are in San Angelo, Texas for tonight.  There is some kind of update to our RV that needs to be done and the place to do it is here.  They open at 7am so we will be up early.


I have mostly brought straight DMC projects of various sizes and subjects.  I also have prepared a couple of needlepoint projects to do while we are driving along.

Lilac Time,  Laura J. Perin Needlepoint

I got a fair start on this one today.

These are the projects I will work on during the trip.  I will post progress as it happens; this is where these are at the present time.  That way you do not have to go backwards on the blog.

Knot Garden, Chatelaine
  I would really like to finish the DMC potion of this project during this trip.  We will see.

Books Reading Books, Heaven and Earth Designs
  I would like to get a couple of pages (or perhaps just one) done during the trip.

Blue Heron, Imaginating
  I should be able to finish this if I really give it some attention.  There is very little back stitching (Hurray) and it is not a full coverage piece.

Great Blue Heron, Crossed Wing Collection
  I am not sure why I included this one.  I have barely started it.  This project is also not full coverage so who knows, maybe it will go quickly.

Starburst Flag of Canada, Cherry Lane Designs
Am doing this for my cousin we are headed to visit in Calgary, Canada.  I hope it goes quickly.  I am a little nervous about it since it is specialty stitches and I am afraid I am not going to be able to count it accurately.  I will give it a whirl, but I already feel overwhelmed by it and I have only put in a few grid lines.

Mini Mandala 05, Chatelaine
  I threw this one in at the last minute because I decided I could not go a month without doing a Chatelaine.  Am I loosing it or what.

Also taking along my Americana small projects and my Halloween small projects.  Why?  Because I have completely lost my mind!

I am sure I am being overly ambitious.  If I only took one or two projects perhaps I could actually have finishes!  Not sure why I feel compelled to take so many.

Tomorrow we are headed to Amarillo.  It always takes at least 2 days to get out of Texas ya know.  I should have some great progress on the Needlepoint project, and who knows what I will work on this evening.

Thank you for visiting.

Oh, There is some magic thing about comments and being able to contact me.  I messed with the settings (Google + and whatever else I ran across) so hopefully all will be well.  I do enjoy your comments (well, most of them anyway) so feel free and I will attempt to respond to them all.

Hello June, Hello Sunshine, Goodbye WIPs

Bird Rescue

Good news on the bird rescue front.  I found the little guy had joined the family of other blue jays in the front of the property.  I feel much better now.

We are finally having sunshine and breezes so I expect we will dry out for the summer.  I am VERY happy about that.  It means I can stitch on the screened in porch and on the patio....once I get rid of the moss that is!  Everyone is enjoying the fantastic weather!

17th Century Irish Garden, Liz Turner Diehl

I simply cannot continue this project; not enjoying it in the least and am not excited about seeing it finished.   Nothing wrong with it; I simply am not enjoying it.  So I have put it away for a while.  This is as far as I am going right now.  I could not even bring myself to finish the last corner before giving it up for now.  

Pumpkin Swirl, Glendon Place

Still beading this project.   I am taking it out of the rotation until I get back to California in November.  I am confused and the original pattern is in my book there so this project and the other Glendon Place dessert series projects will have to wait until next year.

Old World Vinery, Chatelaine

Have a good start on this project.  Of course, I am loving it.  I really enjoy the variety of specialty stitches and watching it come to life.  Thus, my addiction to these wonderful designs.

Knot Garden, Chatelaine

Making good progress on all the DMC portions of this project.  It is a great one to work on when I am outdoor and waiting around for something.  There are specialty stitches and beading, but I choose to leave them until the end so that I can launder this piece when all the DMC is finished.

If you are a Chatelaine addict like I am, you might notice that I did not do the little birds that are supposed to be sitting on the gates.  I decided to leave them off.  

Dragonfly Dreams, The Sweetheart Tree

As if I need another project I was inspired by the latest fabric of the month from Dye Stitch Love.  It is called Faerie Whispers and think it will be perfect for the Dragonfly Dreams (and Bumbler Bees).   These two two small pieces (about 50x50 stitches each) are perfect for when I do not have the patience or concentration to work on any major projects.  I have to say that so far I am not really enjoying this project.  I want to do it, but I think other charts have spoiled me.  Also, these pieces are really tiny.

I love the fabric, but this tiny little stitching....I just don't know


Blue Heron, Imaginating

Since we have Blue Herons on the river this will be a good project for the guest bath.  It is straight cross stitching on a piece of jobelan "Winter Storm."

Mini Mandala 05, Chatelaine

I could not resist starting another Chatelaine that is smallish.

June will be busy with chores and getting ready for our trip in July.  I have some finishing to do and getting things kitted and prepared to travel.  More on that in a later post.

Thanks so much for visiting.  Hope your summer is off to a great start.