I was so close to finishing Surely Goodness and Mercy sampler that I kept working on it Sunday instead of moving on to the next project in my rotation.  Here it is all finished.  This is my second and last finish for 2013.  Only 2 projects completed in 2013.  Not a record.  I like large projects and those take longer to complete.  I am trying to mix different size projects into my rotation so I will have more finishes.  We will see what 2014 brings.

I got this kit from my sister-in-law for Christmas.  It is very pretty.  She said she bought it when they were in Epcot in Florida during their last vacation. 

 I worked on Cat Cushion this past week.  Almost have the 3rd cat done.  Too many interruptions this week.  I had plenty of time to stitch last night and just couldn't get motivated to pick up my needle.

I did wrap all of my Christmas presents while watching movies on the Hallmark Channel last nite.  This year I put the tree up in my kitchen.  I have lots more room for it there and don't lose any seating in the living room that way (namely my stitching chair). 

I hope everyone has a good Christmas!

December Wipocalypse

 Cat Cushion.  This one will get finished in 2014.

 Little Fairies at Play.  I finished almost 2 pages in 2013.  Not bad but with 24 more pages to do I need to pick up the pace as I have quite a few more HAEDs in my collection.

Surely Goodness and Mercy.  Ready to start the backstitching and details.  This one should also be finished early in 2014.

I enjoy participating in Measi's WIPocalypse.  It is inspiring to see what everyone is stitching on during the month.  And it helps keep me motivated on larger projects.  I have looked over my stash and picked 5 more projects to kit up.  Another HAED is in the line up.  I try to keep a variety of projects in the mix.

So here is to another year of stitching and watching everyone's progress.

 Here is my daughter's dog wearing her new fleece coat.  She actually likes wearing this.  Temperatures has dropped drastically and Daphne doesn't have alot of fur.

I had alot of stitching time this past week as I was off on vacation for 3 days.  We also had our first large snowfall Friday/Saturday (8 inches) so in between shoveling snow I just sat and stitched. Page 4 of Little Fairies at Play is very close to a finish.  Hopefully next rotation.  It amazes me that when I take these progress pictures that it looks totally different than when I am stitching it. More of the castle is showing and not just brown/grey blocks.

 I finished up this jigsaw puzzle this week.  I am in winter mode already.  Yardwork is done and I have all of my indoor activities to do.  Which include house work but who wants to see pictures of that.  lol

I worked on Surely Goodness and Mercy this week.  The alphabet is done.  Next time it is up I will remove the scroll rods and start on adding the details and backstitching.  This one should be my next finished project.  I have picked 5 projects I want to start in 2014.  Need to get them all kitted up.

I have 3 days off work this coming week.  I am just burning vacation time since it cannot be rolled over.  I hope to finish my Christmas shopping and get alot of progress in on the next piece in my rotation - Fairies at Play.  Maybe I will be lucky and finish page 4.

 This week I worked on my Cat Cushion.  Two cats complete and working on the third one.  Then I just need to finish the background and do back stitching and it will be done.   That sounds quick and easy but it will take a bit and will probably be a finish for 2014.

I cat sat for my sister-in-law while they were in Florida.  They brought me back this mug because I collect frogs.  But what they didn't know is that when my sister was little she could not pronounce Cathy and call me Cha Cha.  She still does.  So this mug is especially nice.

On Thanksgiving, my brother and his wife hosted at their house.  Part of our Thanksgiving tradition is to after lunch do some kind of craft project with my brothers kids.  He has 9.  Now only the little girls do the crafts (I did have one nephew stop and make one this year).  We made beaded candy cane ornaments for the tree.  I bought the kit at Hobby Lobby and it said it made 24.  I think we got that many as each of the girls made at least 5.  This picture is missing one of my nieces who also made ornaments.  Anna the youngest kept beading away.  She lasted the longest.

My sister and I also ran the Galloping Gobbler Thanksgiving morning with a group of her friends she works with.  It was cold!  26 degrees.  It was 4 hilly miles from St. Francis University thru the cemetery and back.  About mile 3 I met up with two ladies I work with and we finished the race together.  I did it in 49 min and 32 seconds.  Not bad for me.

 I worked on Little Fairies at Play this week.  1,020 stitches completed and still on page 4.

Here is my house with my new windows and garage door.  The garage door man has to come back out to adjust the door as it is not sitting on the ground.  Otherwise it is all good.  The weather has turned cold and my house is nice and snug.

I baked 4 dozen cookies yesterday for church.  I am signed up to bake pies to take to Thanksgiving at my Brother's house.  I will whip them up Wednesday.

Looking forward to the short work week!

WIPocalypse November

I worked on all three of my projects this past month and made good progress on each.  I am glad to see that Measi will be hosting the WIPocalypse again in 2014 as it does help to keep me motivated.  I enjoy looking at everyone's progress.

 I am dog sitting my daughter's dog Daphne this weekend.  They had halloween costumes on clearance and I picked up this Spider outfit for $2.50  I had to get Daphne to model it.  She just wanted to chew on the legs.  She finally calmed down and I was able to get her picture.

I worked on Surely Goodness and Mercy this past week.  Up to the letter R.  But then Daphne came so no stitching Saturday.  She is a ball of energy and always wants to be on your lap licking you.

I worked on my Cat Cushion this past week.  I did move the scroll rods and this is the bottom of the piece.  No more need to move the scroll rods again until it is finished.  I made ok progress this week considering the other interruptions in my stitching time.  I got the call Wednesday that my new windows were in and they would be installed Friday!  That meant moving furniture out of the way and taking down curtains.  All of which revealed more dirt and clutter that needed cleaning.

It took them 4 hours to put in my windows Friday.  I spent that time outside with my son raking leaves.  We filled 10 bags.  I then began once again cutting down the grape vine that runs along my back fence.  I cleared 2 fence sections.  Once the window men left I began washing down the kitchen walls.  I decided to multi task and threw my living room curtains into the wash.  When I removed them from the dryer (delicate cycle) they had melted together.  So Saturday was spent with my daughter shopping for new curtains.  I ended up with new curtains for the living room, kitchen and my bedroom.

I am now waiting on my new garage door.  The rest of the winter months will be filled with indoor cleaning.  Lots of walls to wash and more junk to clear.

 I was off work Monday and the weather was beautiful.  I took a walk around the neighborhood and this is one of the beautiful trees I saw.  Then the rainy weather moved in for Halloween.  The trees that were green on Monday have now changed to their fall colors.  The hard rains and wind have blown down alot of leaves.  I hope to spend this afternoon out raking the leaves in my backyard.  Still plenty more to come down.

I worked on Little Fairies at Play this week.  I was really in the zone and did 1900 stitches.  Page 4 is half way done.  I hope to be able to move my scroll rods next time.  I really feel like keeping it out and working on it for another week.  I am the master of my rotation so I guess I will wait and see what I decide to do.

I made more progress on Surely Goodness and Mercy.  I am ready to move the scroll rods again and begin on the last half which is all alphabet so it should move quickly.  Then there is alot of backstitching and adding elements to the garden that need done.  I am starting to look over my list of projects and make plans for next year.  I might have alot of starts.

I got a quote for a new garage door yesterday and ordered it.  So soon I will have new windows and a new garage door.  I am also making a list of the indoor projects I can do this winter (non-stitching lol).  I should stay busy and out of trouble.

I saw Steven Curtis Chapman, Laura Story and Jason Grey in concert last night.  3 1/2 hours!  Excellent concert.

My daughter is coming for lunch today.  I am looking forward to spending time with her.

I worked on my Cat Cushion this past week.  Moving right along.  I don't think I will make it into a cushion though.

Yesterday I went with my sister to Half Price Books and bought 4 books for .50 each.  Not that I don't have enough to read but it is hard to pass up a bargain.  Then we headed to Hobby Lobby.  I can always find something there.  Bought some supplies to make some coasters, gifts for my co-workers for Christmas and a craft project to do with my nieces at Thanksgiving.

I have decided to get a new garage door since my garage is almost cleaned out.  Then I can put my craft table up in there this winter.  I have several large painting projects I want to work on.  My new windows should be here in 3 wks.  I will be working on clearing out the rooms in front of the windows.  My house is coming along.

WIPocalypse October

 Cat Cushion

 Little Fairies at Play

Surely Goodness and Mercy

I worked on each of my three projects this past month.  Progress was made on all.  I might even sneak in another finish before the end of the year (Surely Goodness and Mercy).  I love all my projects but it is hard to find time to work on them.

I worked on Little Fairies at Play for 2 weeks as I did not make much progress the first week.  I didn't do much better the second week either.  But last night I was in the groove and made good progress.  Stayed up til 1am as I didn't want to quit.  But finally I couldn't stay awake.  Time to move on to the next project in my rotation.

This week I worked on Surely Goodness and Mercy again.  I moved my scroll rods and I will be moving them again next time.  Two more letters and I am at the half way point.  This one moves along quickly compared to the solid stitching in my other 2 projects.  I might get this one done before the end of the year!

The window salesman was out to visit on Thursday.  I have signed up for new windows.  So I am back on the stash wagon.  Good thing I stocked up on patterns during the last few Haed sales.  I know I have plenty to stitch without buying more.

Yesterday was another beautiful day!  After all of my chores were done I rode 15 miles on my bike.  I have signed up for the Galloping Gobbler 4 mile run walk on Thanksgiving Morning.  This year my sister wants to run it.  I have been jogging on the treadmill once a week.  Hope to step it up to 2 days a week this week.

I moved my scroll rods on Cat Cushion.  This one is coming along.  I like all of the bright colors.

Last night I went with some friends to see the Letterman in Concert.  Excellent show.  If you get a chance to see them I highly recommend it.

WIPocalypse September

 It is time again to see what I worked on during the past month.  Cat Cushion had some decent progress.  I am working on this one right now and have moved my scroll rods.  Updated picture on Sunday.

 Little Fairies at Play I made good progress on page 4.  Would love to finish this page by the end of the year.  We will see what happens.

And I had a new start - Surely Goodness and Mercy.

Overall not a bad month.

 I worked on Little Fairies at Play this week.  Made good progress on page 4.  1,120 stitches for a total of 24,066.  Maybe I will try and work on this one twice a month for a while.

 The weather yesterday was beautiful.  After getting my chores done I went on a bike ride.  We have 50+ miles of bike/walking/running trails as part of our River Greenway system.

 I biked for 14.4 miles.  There was a bench here to sit and look at the view.  I rode from my house all the way to downtown.  I might try and ride out to my work one Saturday to see how long it would take and find a safe way to get there.  The last few miles would be on a major road.  I think I need to get a bike helmet first.

 And I was bad and bought more stash during another HAED sale.

I don't know when I will find the time to stitch them all.

I started a new project this past week - Surely Goodness & Mercy Alphabet Sampler from Cross Country Stitching April 2010.  It is moving right along.

I worked on Cat Cushion this past week.  I think I have made good progress.  I missed stitching on Wednesday night as I got a call my father's burglar alarm was going off and he couldn't figure out how to turn it off.  The police were on their way.  So I spent some time over there straightening that out.

I did not get any walking in this past week as it was too hot after work.  Hope to get back to walking as it is supposed to cool down this week.

This is my oldest UFO.  Gathering Pinecones.  I last worked on it October 2009.  Each of the pinecones hanging from the branches are done in a different stitch.  I am having trouble getting them to look right.  It also doesn't help that it is being stitched on linen.  I love this pattern but mine does not even look close to the model.  So I put it away in frustration.  Maybe I will pull it out again and see if I can do a few more pinecones.  It is really close to being finished.

 As part of the on going process of fixing up my house and making it mine, I bought a new red bedspread.  I like color and whenever possible I put bright colors.

 I worked on Little Fairies at play this past week and finished page 3!  Also got a little start on page 4.

Here is a close up of page 3.  I love how when I am working on it,  I see just a jumble of colors.  Then when I look at it from a distance I can see the details.  I have way too many of these in my stash.

The weather here has been perfect.  It was sunny yesterday in the low 80's, low humidity, blue skies.  The weather is to be like that again today and will then heat up to the 90's for the week.  Yesterday I attended the Taste of the Arts with my friend Carolyn.  Good food, music, artwork.  Today I am going to my friend Dianna's lake cottage.  I am having a busy social weekend which is rare for me.  I love being outside when the weather is nice as I know winter is coming and I will be inside for the duration.

WIPocalypse August

 It is time already for an August update.  I worked on Cat Cushion since the last update and made good progress.

 Little Fairies at Play is moving right along.  I am almost done with page 3.

And I had my one and only finish this year - In the Garden.  I hope to have a new start for the next WIPocalypse update.

 I finally finished my In the Garden.  Started 3/17/12 and finished 8/17/13.  There was alot of backstitching in this one.  This will probably be my only finish for 2013 as my other projects are rather larger.  I do have one all kitted up that I will start when I get back to this rotation slot.

 Last Sunday afternoon I went walking in the West Central Neighborhood.  It is full of old houses some of which are on the historic register.  Some have been restored and some are in the process still.  Alot of these homes have been made into multi-family homes.  This one was for sale.  4 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwood floors, new appliances, a carriage house with 2 apartments in it that were already rented out.  I have always wanted to live in a house with a porch and round turret room.  Only $200,000.  My son pointed out that it would be silly to move into a bigger house when there is just me.  He is right.  But I can dream.

This is another home I saw.  All different styles of homes are in this area.  Some had stain glass windows, gingerbread molding.  It is a beautiful neighborhood that most people who live here never go to.