Time for Christmas

I figured this weekend deserved a new start. Fred was gone for the weekend with his amateur radio club. They had a camping geek weekend haha. So I pulled out my Christmas Banner by Stoney Creek. What a fun piece to work on but it made me really wish for snowy winter weather haha. This is the first page complete. It was a short page. It was a lovely stitching DVR filled weekend. I got a TON of shows watched. Fred had a very nice weekend even though it was really hot and humid. They made a lot of over seas contacts and got a lot of points so he was happy. Well I got a lot to do this week cause we have company coming this weekend. Can't wait! Hope everyone has a great week.

Summer

After my last post I said I was going to work on one of my HAEDs. I put some stitches into Grow Together but it's just a blob so no update picture yet. Then I decided Summer better get some stitches considering Spring is still hanging on my wall haha.

We had so much fun last weekend. We went up to northern Michigan (Roscommon area). We drove up and met friends and went the rest of the way with them. It was a gorgeous weekend. Low 70's and the night time temp was in the 50's. Perfect camping weather. If only ever camping trip could be like that. We did the Road Rally geocaching event. There was 53 caches and 192 miles of off roading crazy fun. It was a blast. We laughed and bounced the whole day. We always joke about our vehicle being allergic to Michigan. It seems like every time we go up there something happens. Well our truck made it fine up and back. When we got up to our friends house they had our trailer we store our camping gear in. Carpenter ants had decided it would make a good home so they were EVERYWHERE! They ate holes in our rain fly. We got them all cleaned out and luckily the damage was minor. Those crazy little ants were at least the only bad part of the weekend.

Monday I had a text message from one of my close friends. Her mother has passed away from cancer. Cancer just sucks. It takes the best people. My heart just breaks for my friend and her family though. So if you can spare any thoughts and prayers her name is Amber. I know she can use them.

Fred is going away this weekend. His amateur radio club is having a radio event all weekend. He is camping with his geek friends haha. So I get to watch my DVR and stitch. Now to just decide what I want to work on. Too many choices screaming STITCH ME but at least that means I have the mojo. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Snowman?

This week we've had the AC on high. It's been HOT outside. Yesterday we had a heat index of about 100 today is going to be another hot and humid day too. So what to stitch on during the heat...

Snowmen of course! I got the top snowman finished on Stoney Creek's Let's Have a Ball piece. They look so funny without their carrot noses but I have to wait till I'm finished to attach them. There is one more snowman and some more flakes and words. So happy I finally made progress on it though. I think I'm going to work on one of my HAEDs for a few days. We are going on another camping trip this weekend. At least it's supposed to be cooler in northern Michigan!

WIPocalypse

I missed the May WIPocalypse check in. So here is a summary of what's been going on since April 15th.

Cut Thru Ship -- Worked on 2 days
99 -- Worked on 1 day
Summer -- Worked on 2 days
Let's go to the Beach -- Worked on 4 days and finished!!
Non stitching days -- a shocking 53 days!!!!!

So you can tell I've been doing a lot more no stitching than stitching but I'm back at it. Thursday I picked up Let's go to the Beach and my needles finally took off again. I think I needed an almost new start. I had worked on it in Feb. Here is where I was then...

Here it is after last night's finish...

This piece was also on my Turtle Trot list so I will replace it with another one. Now let's see what the WIPocalypse question was for this time... Have you ever been to a stitch gathering such as a retreat or a festival? If so, tell us about it! Yes I have been. I'm in a local Indiana group called Hoosier Stitchers. We have yearly get togethers and I've always really enjoyed them. It's so much fun to get together with people who love the same hobby and I've learned so much. I was then in another group and we got together a few times. One time I traveled to Arkansas even to attend the retreat. It was fun but a difference of opinions ended with me leaving that group. A few years ago some friends were talking about PALs. It's in Myrtle Beach, SC. I had never been there and we LOVE the ocean. So I told Mom there is a retreat on the ocean and off we went. It's been a blast. I've been there 3 times now and already have my spot paid for this coming year. I think I'm off to stitch. The mojo is back!

June Turtle Trot

Love this picture. It explains my stitching progress really well too. I put my stitched down April 6th. I didn't pick it back up till May 29th!!!! Since then there has been more none stitching days than stitching ones. We have officially reached our busy time also there was a vacation in there. Anyway it's the 10th *cough* 12th of the month and it's time for a Turtle Trot update. We have a list of 10 projects we update our progress on the 10th of each month. I only worked on 3 of my 10.

Cut Thru Pirate Ship

Before...

After...

99 Bottles of Beer

Before...

After...

Summer by Cricket Collections

Before...

After...

So no bragging for me this time about my huge progress. But I've got a lot done in my personal life. Been on vacation. Been on camping trips. Got a lot of landscaping done which ended in my first case of poison ivy ever. Of course I'm an over achiever and the first time I ever get poison ivy I get it all over my face including my eye. So off to the doctor I went. I had to get a shot and meds since it was right by my eye. The swelling finally went down at least and the meds are helping a lot with the itching. Just been busy with no end in sight with all the fun we have planned. When I sit down I notice I just sat there and watch TV. Don't fret my stitching is still a dear love in mine. I'll be back at it soon I'm sure. Thanks for stopping by.

2nd Camping Trip and an Update

We did it again. The weekend after our first camping trip we headed off again. Our tent and trailer on the left and my friend's tent is on the right. We have wonderful friends. They have a gorgeous property right along a river about 2 hours north of us in Michigan. They invited everyone up for our 2nd Memorial Day camping event. Last year went so nice we were very happy to go again. Jeremiah decided to stay home with Grandma instead. He was missing his Xbox too much haha. It was a very relaxing fantastic time. Saturday we even went on a wonderful kayak trip. It was Fred's first time in a kayak and he really enjoyed it a lot.

The only bad thing about the weekend is our truck acted up again. We've been trying so hard to squeeze more time out of our truck. It's a 98 and really starting to show it's age. Our friends really helped us out (yet again) we tried to fix it but realized it was the transmission and not just a quick easy repair. So our friends kept our trailer and we limped home. We made it but couldn't shift into overdrive the whole way. $1,800 later it's fixed. Ouch. But again hopefully this means we'll make it a little longer with no vehicle payments. We've been busy with catching up on outdoor yard work. It's looking good. Just a few more spots to take care of. We have another camping trip coming up June 20th weekend. Life is good just really really busy.

I did actually stitch finally. I hadn't picked up a needle since April 6th I think. Way too long!!! I put a few stitches in the Pirate Ship. Yesterday was our 13th wedding anniversary so I worked on 99 in honor of my hubby. So finally X's are being made at least too. I hope everyone is doing well and is having a great summer.