Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I'm experimenting with decorating my blog posts with
free clip art. I am someone who loves visuals, as I'm
sure you've noticed when visiting my picture laden blog.
Since Chrysanthemums are starting their blooming
season right now and into the Fall, here is a lovely
bouquet of pink Mums for you.

It's been busy around here for the past few days, which
meant that I had no time to update my blog on Sunday
morning. So I'm here tonight, midweek, and trying to
remember everything that has been going on since I
last posted. Well, at least the interesting stuff.


First order of business, and biggest news....it's finished!!
Here is Gate with Lantern which I put the last stitches
into on Monday evening. I'm amazed its done. Begun
around July 6th, so it's taken just under two months to
stitch. The design is by Barbara and Cheryl Present
(featured on Stitching Bit's and Bobs site under Graphs
by Barbara and Cheryl) and measures 70 stitches wide
by 90 long. It is stitched with all DMC thread. I'm
quite pleased with it and hope perhaps someday to
stitch another of these as a companion piece.


During the second week of our vacation my DH proved
to me yet again that he is absolutely the Bee's Knees!!
He is an awesome dude!! He is THE MAN!! Why,
you may inquire, am I saying this?? Because one day
we hoped in the car and he drove me down to Port
Credit, a good 45 minute drive from here, and took
me to visit Gitta's Petite Point shop.

Gitta's is cross stitch heaven!! It has charts! Everyone's
charts!! LOTS of charts!! It has threads! And I'm not
talking DMC here, although they do have that there too.
No sir, we're talking Crescent Colours, Dinky Dyes, Weeks
Dye Works and more!! There are fabrics of all kinds,
Mill Hill Beads, Buttons and all of kinds of wonderful,
glorious Cross Stitch STUFF!!!

I spent over two hours wandering in a wide eyed,
slack jawed haze, checking every nook and cranny of
the store out.....at least twice. I bought threads that
I would need for projects. I bought some charts that
I wanted (Waxing Moon Designs...Wheee.....) and the
buttons and fabrics for them. I talked with the ladies
working there. They were so very friendly and
helpful (and not one of them mentioned the goofy
look on my face). I reveled in my surroundings.

And my dear DH spent those two hours waiting
patiently for me to finish. He explored the old
neighbourhood behind Gitta's (Port Credit is a lovely
place, located on the shores of Lake Ontario with
lovely homes on tree lined streets) and poked through
a few stores that caught his eye. But mostly he just
sat in front of the store and waited for me to
regain my senses.


Was that the end of my wonderful day??? Oh no!! Then
he drove me to Chapters bookstore in Square One where
I got to meet the authors of Marked, Betrayed and Chosen
P.C. and Kristen Cast. I got my copy of Marked signed by
them, and listened to them chat with the fans gathered
around their table. Then I got to wander the store for a
bit, before we returned to the car and headed for home.

Now I ask you....is this man not worthy of a nomination
for sainthood?? An academy award??? The Noble Peace
Prize??? Prime Minister of Canada?????? I rest my case.

In case you're wondering Gitta's web site is:
http://www.gittas.com/ and there's lots of pictures of the
interior of the store so you can see what it's like.


And here's the big guy his very self, along with our friend
Sue. They are dressed for a party that we hosted here on
Saturday. Yes, we had a Christmas Party. Why did we
have a Christmas Party in August you may be asking.
Well, because last Christmas we had to cancel our annual
Christmas party because both DH and I got sick and were
too miserable to have it. We promised our friends that
we would have the party at a later date. And we kept our
promise.

We decorated the deck with Christmas lights, stockings,
a small fibre optic tree, and garlands. We hung a wreath
on the garden gate. We used Christmas table cloths and
festive plates. What the neighbours thought about it all
I hate to think. And we told our guests to dress for the
occasion offering prizes for the best dressed.
Unfortunately the weather was humid and hot on the
day of the party, so most preferred to dress for comfort
rather then atmosphere. Sue won the top prize for her
shirt, a Christmas wreath around her neck, and a
creche on a ribbon, hanging down her back. Below is
a back view of the ensemble. Oh, and check out the
earrings.

***************************************************************


This is my latest reading finish. Book one in a three book
trilogy, and the first novel that the author, Maria V. Snyder,
has had published. This fantasy series has been featured
and reviewed on other blogs, which is where I first heard
about it and decided that it sounded like something that
I'd enjoy. And I did. Very much. It's very well written
and the story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
M. Snyder has crafted a well thought out story and
created a nicely detailed world, and characters that
I came to care for and want to read more about.

It begins when the heroine, Yelena is about to be
executed for murder. She is offered a reprieve by
being given the choice of becoming the food taster
for the Commander of Ixia, or going through with
the execution. Needless to say, she chooses to be
trained as a food taster, secretly hoping to escape
at some future time.

Yelena is a hopeless, beaten soul when we first meet
her, but as the story unfolds she begins to recover
from the ordeals that lead to her sentence of death.
She learns about poisons and how to detect them
from the Commander's Chief of Security, and when
attempts on her life force her to take steps to learn
to defend herself Yelena begins to grow from a
victim to a strong, self confident young woman.

I began book two in this series today and am a third
of the way through it already. I have book three on
the shelf to pick up next. This is an excellent read
and I recommend it highly. Check it out and see if
it might be something you'd enjoy too.

**************************************************

I see that Beatrice (Stitching With a View) has just
finished a wonderful, pumpkin filled Halloween
piece by Prairie Schooler and it is adorable. It's
chock full of pumpkins and a scary witches silhouette
and it's just perfect for the Fall season that's on our
doorstep. And Lynn (Kearnel's Korner) had two
lovely finishes, including a Tantes Zolder design in
a wonderful colour combination of mauve and
yellow.

I guess I'd best finish this post off because it's
getting late. I'll be late posting my next blog entry
too because I won't be home this weekend. More
about that next time.

Thanks for dropping by. Cheers!!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your gate finish looks wonderful!

Coni said...

Woo Hoo! What a fabulous finish! And your DH certainly deserves SOMETHING for pointing you in the direction of that shop....the Spinster votes for Sainthood!

Andrew Clarke said...

May I suggest a book to try, if you like fantasy? "Outcasts Of Skagaray" is an action adventure fantasy which you can preview by reading the sample chapters on www.threeswans.com.au I would be glad to hear your opinion if you decide to read it. Best wishes, anyway.

Pumpkin said...

Wow! You had a lot to cram in on this post ;o)

Congrats on your finish!!!! {HD} It looks like you can just walk right up to the gate. It's beautiful Judy.

That's great that your Christmas party turned out! LOL! I still think that's so funny :o)

I've heard of Gitta's but I've never been there. If it's 45 minutes away, how come you're not there more???? I know I would be! LOL!

That is SO awesome that you got your book signed! Our city is too small for authors to drop by :o( I say that your DH does deserve a HUGE reward for being so patient and just being an all around nice guy ;o)

Beatrice said...

Your gate looks wonderful.!Your Guy is a winner for sure.
I talked to Kathy today. Please know my thoughts are with you...you will be missed here. I hope all is well!

Lynn said...

Yay! Gate with Lantern looks fantastic, and in record time too!!
I agree with Coni, I think your DH should be put right up there with the saints!
So sorry to hear you won't be joining us this weekend. I hope I get the chance to meet you another time.

mainely stitching said...

Yes, your husband is worthy of sainthood, IMHO. What a wonderful gift to give someone - time to do something they really enjoy! :D So glad for you. Sounds like a great day out. And your Christmas-in-August party sounds like it was really a hoot! What fun! :D Love the winning ensemble that your friend Sue sported! And is your DH very, very tall or is your friend Sue very, very small?

I've been doing some reading. I finished The Year of Fog (M. Richmond) and Skylight Confessions (A. Hoffman) in the past week or two. I've started Confusion (N. Stephenson). I've been meaning to write down in my blog what I've been ripping through, because otherwise I tend to forget ... and now I am drawing a blank. LOL!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Congrats on your finish Judy! You were sure missed this weekend I hope your Mom is okay!

Lelia said...

Merry Christmas!! LOL - love to read about your party in August : )

Congrats on your finish, too. Very beautiful!

Oh, he is a keeper. What fun to have time to browse needlework and book shoppe without hurry.

ENjoyt he day

samplerlover said...

Hi Judy, well congratulations on finishing your beautiful piece. It is quite lovely and would look lovely with a companion piece.
Well what a great guy your DH is. It is lovely to be able to go to a place where a girl can be in absolute heaven.
We have Christmas in July up here in the Mountains. Usually Christmas Day in the land of Oz is usually quite hot. To hot for the traditional Roast Turkey etc. So a lot of the hotels in the Mountains have special weekends during July where the have the full works. Santa usually makes an appearance as well.
I only have one more motif of my sampler to finish and then I will be done with Elizabeth. Yay she says. I hope you have a lovely week and weekend = Sandra.

samplerlover said...

Oh dear Judy, I am sorry to hear about your Mum. I will say a little pray for both of you.
My email address is sandra.moffitt@gmail.com. I am always here (or nearly always here) if you want somebody to talk too.
BTW you did really well with the cat on your lap (sounds like a title of a book). It is around midday here and my dog Sally won't get out of bed. She sleeps in the laundry on a big pillow covered in sheep skin. She must be nice and cozy. - Thinking of you - Sandra.

monique said...

Gitta's sounds like a neat shop! Your finish is beautiful and your hubby is a keeper :)

I always think the French blogs are so cute because they pepper them with sweet clip art.

Andrea said...

WOnderful finish. What's next on the agenda?
That sounds just like me and needlework/craft shops. LOL.

Leeland said...

What a wonderful hubby you have... I'm spoilt as well and aware of it... Lol!
It's always great to read your blog.
Congrats on your finish, it's amazing!!!
Hugs,
Lili

Wendy said...

I thought I recognized that pink awning in the picture LOL! That's what I look for when I 'm getting close to the shop. You have to get to the Creative Festival in Toronto in October for a real stitching fix, most of the shops have booths there. Your hubby is definitely a 'keeper'!

Gina E. said...

Gate With Lantern is absolutely gorgeous! Your DH sounds like a very special guy. Ken doesn't mind waiting for me if I'm in a craft or antique shop, but not for 2 hours!!! Ten minutes would be more like his limit, lol!!