Monday, November 02, 2015

Anniversary Tree 2015

We waited just a tad bit too long this year to capture our yearly photo with the Anniversary Tree... those top leaves just couldn't hold on any longer. A little like the fleeting thoughts and reminders that I don't *quite* get written down, and therefore disappear into the nether.

This family of mine just makes my little heart so full and warm and happy in every way. We are growing and becoming more entwined as the years pass. The littles getting so much taller and more grown up and the things they say just astounds me sometimes.

I learn from them almost as much as they learn from me, I think.
Click here to walk back through our Anniversary Tree timeline.

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Steve and Elsa

If you've been reading this blog for more than a year, you know that we don't celebrate Halloween in the traditional manner. We don't have neighbors to speak of, so going door to door for candy is a hassle. A few years ago, together with the Farmboy's sister and her family, we started a new tradition that has made our kids completely over-the-moon-happy.

It starts as you would expect, with costumes.

This year we were once again visited by Elsa, this time wearing a dress found at Costco, which apparently is even better than the amazing one I concocted last year.

Whatever.

Queen Elsa was happy to have her friend Steve along for the festivities.
With torrential rain in the forecast (we felt sorry for all those PNW kids out there either braving the elements or stuck trick-or-treating at the mall), we moved our usual celebration from our house, to the roomier house of their cousins.

Ahem, I mean Pikachu and Ariel.
The traditional in-the-dark Easter egg hunt (YES!) was moved indoors, but was still quite dark and exciting. Headlamps? Check! Flashlights? Check! Buckets? Check!
Shortly after all of the eggs were found, we convened on the front veranda where the kids took turns beating on a castle pinata and chasing down flying candy, with a good dose of raindrops and leaves thrown into their buckets for good measure.
And swords. There were swords too. And sword-fighting Disney princesses, no less.
Followed by a puppet show.
At which point everyone was a little rummy from sugar and swords and beating up castles while dressed in costume, and it quickly got ugly with dying seals and other such nonsense which led the responsible parties to break up the fun until the next time.

Cousins are the best.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

I always drag my feet when it comes to pumpkin patch time. I can't explain why. I just don't like them. But my kids... they think about field trips to the pumpkin patch with great longing. So, being the good mother that I am, and very glad that their new school lets all of the elementary kids go together instead of splitting into grades, I signed us up.

It rained the day before and it poured the day after, but on the actual day of our field trip, the heavens opened and beams of light and warmth flooded the earth. Which is a very good thing, because I most likely would have called it off otherwise.

We were once again at Liepold Farms in the next community over, and this time, I told the kids, there was no choice for them. If I was going to take them to the pumpkin patch, they were going into the corn maze with me, no complaining allowed.

We picked out pumpkins, posed in plywood cutouts, went on a hayride around the property, and then we conquered the maze.

And I actually had fun.
They wanted to go back again the following weekend with their Dad, but I said no... the pumpkin patch is only a once a year thing. And I'm really, really glad.

Friday, October 09, 2015

*NEW* Pincushion Street

I don’t remember where I saw the quote, perhaps it was printed on a journal cover or some such item, but as soon as I saw it, I knew it needed to be stitched up in a sampler... “Come in the evening or come in the morning. Come when you’re looked for or come without warning.”

Reminds me of former days when we weren’t all addicted to our electronic devices and Sunday afternoons were reserved for popping in unannounced at a friends’ house. I absolutely love the surprise of someone showing up on my doorstep without calling ahead because it tells me that they are comfortable enough with our relationship to know they will be welcomed with open arms, no matter what.

Stitch Count: 251 x 140
Stitched with one thread over two on R&R Reproductions’ 35ct. Classic Homespun

Using thread from The Gentle Art: Brethren Blue(2 skeins), Bayberry(2 skeins), Apple Cider, Picnic Basket, Caramel Corn

And from Weeks Dye Works: Grasshopper, Red Rocks

Conversion to DMC available on request.

The frame was thrifted, then re-finished by me.


This design is now available in my etsy shop, and will be going out to my distributors and the shops on my automatic shipments list soon. If you prefer to bypass etsy and order directly through me, you can send me an email: beth@heartstringsamplery.com

Just Really a Lot of Pictures

No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get caught up on posting pictures. So with an unexpected free day, I'm going to blast you with back-dated posts that will be rather picture heavy. Back-dated, in case you didn't know, means that I'm posting in November, but can tell them to publish as if they were on schedule. In this case, October.
We Grow Them Big in Oregon :: Black Cat :: Misty Horizon :: Mama Got a New Camera :: One of my Four-Stringed Babies :: Shimmer :: The Big Drop :: Hardy Kale :: Chartreuse and Fuchsia :: Web :: Change :: Almost Ready :: What's Up, Doc? :: Gone to Seed :: Downpour :: Is Your Mouth Watering? :: Sunset :: Days Gone By :: School :: Brussels are on the Menu :: Freestyle Mario :: Wispy :: Hello Coffee, Have I Told You Lately that I Love You? :: He Left the Motor Running :: How to Make a Cardboard Arm :: Stitches Past :: Building a New Road :: Wooly Bear :: Reflection :: Perch