precious moments

This morning at 8:20 I was sitting at the dining room table replying and sending email, drinking a cup of coffee, listening to talk radio, stitching on my Stacy Nash piece off and on, and enjoying the sounds of my little one playing peacefully in the vicinity. This was a good start to my day. All of a sudden I hear silence. Now, we all know that when a child is quiet more than likely they are into something. This can't be good, I thought. I looked around and I spotted him. What a sight it was. There he was under the dining room table sleeping with Blue Bear peacefully at my feet. I had to capture this moment forever.

{sweet dreams my baby boy}

I see people now...

I know this is a goofy post, but I'm just so darn excited that I've been blessed with the gift of sight. To make a long story short...I had a pair of glasses when I was 17 and the only reason I had these glasses were to see the chalkboard at school. I didn't need them to drive or to read. Over the years I've somehow, someway, managed to keep those glasses. In the last 6 months to a year, my eyesight has gotten profusely worse. I've been having a, lack for a better term, focusing issues. It's just gotten bad. I can't focus on anything and we believe that some of my migraine pain is due to my eyes. Just last week I had my eyes checked and found that I have astigmatism in both eyes. AH!!! No wonder I can't focus on anything and I get headaches. My eyes cannot focus on anything I look at and my brain is on the fritz because of it. It was one of those Ah-Ha moments...Anyhoo, I wanted to show off my new eyes. They are rectangular, plastic and lightweight (to relieve any pressure on my nose and temples), brown in front with light green behind the brown rim. On the side, there is a twirling cut-out where the green shows through. I really, really like them. And so far, I've been told at least 4 times that I look like Gov. Sarah Palin. Funny! I don't look anything like Sarah Palin and our glasses are totally different with the exception of being rectangular. Other than that, no comparison. Oh well!

primitive stitching

I have started my very first Stacy Nash Primitive design called Hallows Eve Sampler Pillow. I haven't stitched much on it, but to see it with your own eyes, even at the small amount of stitching I have done, you can see what it'll become and it just makes you hungry. Once I post this little tid-bit, I'll be off to bed, put in a movie and stitch on my SN design. Oh, I'm so happy!!! Yeah, I know...Halloween is over but I don't need Halloween to display my SN piece. Do you???

I also have at least 3 other SN designs that I'm going to begin and I cannot wait to get my supplies together and in order ~ I find this part particularly fun. It gives me a chance to see what I have. Kind of like a constant reminder of what I own and what I need. I see it as an opportunity to incorporate concepts not originally called for in the piece. But I digress, it isn't that I'd want to make any changes to Stacy's designs but I think any designer would be satisfied and pleased with any needleworker putting personal touches in a piece that was theirs. I think to give that much thought into a project is giving the designer a lot of credit. The needleworker feels empowered and motivated by the designer to think outside the box and add their own personality to an already perfect piece.

tuesday at Nana's house

Jose didn't have school on Tuesday because the teachers had an in-service day. Coincidentally my dad was out of town so mom had the house to herself. Me and the boys decided this was a good opportunity for us to spend some quality time at Nana's house with just Nana. It is always fun at Nana's! We made the decision to sleep over Monday and then spend Tuesday afternoon hanging around Nana's house to do whatever our heart's desire. The boys had fun eating yummy treats and playing outside among the warm fall season. Here are snapshots of our time at Nana's.

{7-layer brownie prep work}

{prep work complete and ready for baking}


{Ding! Fresh from the oven}

I think they've watched a little too much 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and a wee bit much of rum. Yo-ho-Yo-ho a pirates life for me... grrrrr mateys!

{Captain Cameron}

{Nana's had a little bit too much rum or maybe a little too much "us"}

We then ventured outside where the sights and sounds of fall were evident no matter where you turned. My parents live in a very small town called Kingston Springs which is about 20 miles west of Nashville. There isn't a lot to be had in K.S., but one thing is for certain...it's absolutely beautiful out there. It is completely away from all the grit and grime of downtown life. There are no planes to be heard. No buses or heavy traffic to be had. It is so peaceful and quiet. There are 3 sections of Tennessee: East Tennessee, West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee. Each has its own special identity that makes it unique to Tennessee. We live in Middle Tennessee. The nickname here is "the hills of Tennessee" and the scenery truly speaks for itself. My mom has a slice of heaven and she just doesn't know it.

{Mom's street from both ways (above)}

{gravel drive leaving home}

{gravel drive leading down to house}

{a trail (as Jose calls it) leading to the home}

{again, the trail leading to Nana's house - you can barely see the roof}

{tall oak trees engulf the property}

{another view of the oak trees scattered on the property}

{Cameron truly enjoying the leaves}

{Cameron loves playing outside, especially at Nana's}

{Cameron is amazed by the tall oak trees and the busy sounds of birds and wild animals}

{look what Jose found ~ those oak trees lend gifts}

The acorns that fall from the oak trees are, to us, a necessary evil. In my opinion, acorns have this unspoken beauty about them but they can be harmful if struck by one (this can be a serious matter). The trees are beautiful and the acorns that are sent by them are sometimes huge and at times itty-bitty; some have survived the giant fall and retain their tops. Others lose the fight. When inside the house you can hear the roof being shot by acorns. It isn't just often or even sometimes...it is all the time. It can get quite loud and sometimes it makes a person ask "What was that?" ~ they can strike the roof with pretty fierce impact, especially coming from a lil' ole' acorn. Nonetheless, the yard is covered with acorns, berries and anything "wild" you can think of. Even a neighborly dog will come to visit and wait for a treat at the front door.

There are various displays of "wilderness" adorning the landscape. An old wooden birdhouse sits to the side of the property. A make shift wood storage container lay on the property. A small place to build a fire is there if you feel the need. Mom's old wooden gardening stand sits among the trees. These things just look like they've always been there. Some of it was there when Mom and Dad moved in. Here are some of those photos.

{side of house}

{from front porch into yard}

{birdhouse that has always been}

For as many reasons there are to want to be at Nana's and Papa's the outside is always one of the best places to pick up your feet and enjoy the scenery. These next couple photos are of the half wrap around 2-level porch. Just imagine the possibilities. They have even brought modern to a wilderness setting by putting in a spa on the upper portion of the porch. (I helped my dad stain this porch.)

{lower level of porch, which goes to ground level in rear of house}
{another view of the lower level and the stairs leading up to the upper level}


{side view of home from lower level deck ~ see the spa}

Nana and Papa's (Mom and Dad's) home is just a great place to get away to when the city bogs you down. At Nana and Papa's there is always good food, plenty of laughs, open arms at the door and love when you walk in. And when you leave, you can't wait to come back. It's a home away from home.

This is the lasting impression when I leave Mom and Dad's. This is the last visual you have when leaving their home on Wildlife Trail. (and that's really the name of the street)

{The Golden Tree}

prim stitching

Finally... I'm posting some stitching; my stitching. Here are pictures of a finished (but not finish-finished) Primitive Bettys Hallow's Eve design. I stitched Hallow's Eve on 28 ct Lambswool linen using GAST Black Crow (how appropriate for the piece) but used a GAST Limited Edition color called Arizona Petrified Wood for the key only. I wanted the key to have an even "primitiv-ier" old look. Instead of using coffee or tea I used a distress stain made especially for needlework to age the linen. It was the first time I used the solution, and even though I am pleased with my first attempt, I know I'll get better with experience...thankfully!

My plan for this piece is to make a wall-hanging. The fabrics in the photo are the 2 fabric pieces I'm going to use for boarders. The off white fabric is so cute. It has little black keys, which is perfect for this particular design. The focus fabric is a simple primitive green. This will edge the key fabric that'll edge the Hallow's Eve design. Once pieced together, much like making a quilt, I will sew and/or glue black cording around the entire finish-finished piece and have enough length to allow for cording. Voila!!! I can't wait for this to be complete.

recently I...

...took my 1-year old to the ER because he fell and cracked his head on our foyer tile
... enjoyed Jose, my 11-year old, deciding for his Halloween to not dress up and go trick-or-treating; instead he wanted to eat Mexican food and go to his first haunted house ever...he was really scared and doesn't want to go back, but at least he went (I'm proud of him for that)
...have been suffering from relentless migraines - at least 4 per week
...got new glasses and was told twice that I resemble Gov. Sarah Palin
...plucked acorns from my mother's front yard that have fallen from the giant oak trees (fall time is so beautiful)
...did the laundry, but haven't cleaned the house yet
...finished stitching Primitive Bettys Hallows Eve freebie I received from my SNG
...brainstormed ideas on how to finish the Hallows Eve piece
...have been spending a lot of time at my mother's house hanging out in her stitching room
...had a sleep-over at my mother's house with my 2 sons - we had a nice time
...voted!
...had dinner with my father-in-law, his lady friend and all my boys, DH included
...watched Mr. Cameron kick through fallen leaves for the first time - he loved the noise it made
...took Cameron to the library and wished our experience was a little more pleasant
...made new friends through Yahoo! Groups
...searched and shopped at the Goodwill Store and had sooooo much fun doing it
...began stitching Stacy Nash Primitives Hallows Eve Sampler Pillow - WAHOO!
...have been inspired to create and invent, and have found that inspiration in the oddest places
...have chosen to start stitching The Sampler Girl's Plimoth piece for Election Day
...visited with an old high school friend for dinner
...watched a couple of movies
...haven't slept well because Mr. Cameron hasn't been himself since his head injury
...have taken interest in researching Tennessee's state history
...picked out a few books to start reading in the near future
...took a ride in the Cobra Mustang with my DH (this is a joy-ride vehicle ONLY)
...went to my LNS and browsed
...refreshed my way of organizing my inventory and stash of needlework charts, accessories, etc.
...had a laugh-fest with Jose - we laughed so hard about absolutely nothing and it was great :-)