Stockings...

Isn't it cute...???  This is the 8th Shepherd's Bush stocking that I have stitched! This one is for my niece Emma.  I'll be sending it off to get "finished" soon... am trying to be abitious and get two more done before that... am about 1/4 done with one of them... not very good progress... but they do stitch up remarkably fast! 

Angela's Wall Hanging...

Crabapple Hill Autumn design...
It really turned out cute!
Embroidered... padded satin stitch, french knots, lazy daisy stitch, long stitch and running stitch.

9/11

Well... I sit here and reflect as I'm sure a lot of folks did today... 9/11 what does it mean to you?  Well, 9 years ago... it was a birthday... mine to be exact... (not looking for b-day wishes! LOL) so, it was cake and some excitement, though that changes too as we get older...
Where were you?  I was getting ready to go to the Montana Ram Sale in Miles City... my friend called and said... you gotta turn on the TV.... and so it began... I listened to it the whole 275 miles to my destination...
Seeing the images still make me cry.  I feel deeply patriotic... I love America!  I get goose bumps when I hear the Star Spangled Banner.  I feel oh, so blessed to have the opportunity to live here... I love what our country stands for... I sometimes wish that I could live at some earlier time when things were simpler (not easier... just simpler)
A couple years after on the anniversary my oldest who was around 9 told me he was sad... I asked him why? and he said for all those people, for all their families... I was touched... after all we live across the country from NY and we did not personally know anyone there... he looked outside and said... look mom, a rainbow! I think I know why God made that rainbow... do you think there is one in NY too?  I cried.  Out of the mouth of Babes...

Anyways, I hope all remember...

Hey all... little update from me... this is a swap that I did with my Hand-Dids group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hand-Dids/   We made 3 needle cases and then got back 3 different needle cases... very cute!  The crocheted purse and needle case was a little extra special drawing that Angela (our group Mommy) made and I won (yay me!)

2nd Update... as of today Corey hasn't had any more seizures... I just keep praying that it will stay that way... that the medication is where it needs to be... He's very independent.  He has a 3 day field trip coming up in a couple weeks.  He doesn't want me to be there as a chaperone... he informs me that there are plenty of teachers and instructors that will be there... so deep breathe... ok, he needs space... this is really hard on him.  He's my go off by myself... do my thing...

Sneak peak of my Autumn wall hanging swap with Angela...

Update on Corey

Well, we made it to Seattle... I have to say the Dr. looked at us like we were crazy driving all that way. They did another EEG with sleep deprivation... only could have 4 hours of sleep... (He is still on a small dose of Klonopin) anyways the EEG came back with nothing on it. The Dr. felt it was probably a mixture of the Klonopin and the Lamictal but he felt that Corey shouldn't have had a seizure after being on the Lamictal 300mg for 5 days so he upped the dose to 400mg... he is to stay at 400mg + the small dose of Klonopin for 2 weeks. Then he is to drop the Klonopin and see if the Lamictal will keep the seizures away. If it doesn't then we will switch to a different medication... and so it goes... I am happy that he didn't have a seizure on Thursday though... :-)
Almost done stitching on Angela's wall hanging... just a little bit to go...
Oh and I got 3 gallons of blackberry juice! (I always take my juicer... and then make jelly/syrup later) and then when I got home my girlfriend came over and we made 9 batches of wild plum jam!

Thanks... I'm ok...

Yesterday was a melt down... sorry All... I just had to explode somewhere... it just happened to be here... the Dr's office called and they had a cancellation for Tuesday... so we are headed to Seattle Monday afternoon... will be in Idaho pickin' berries and floating on the river over the weekend... so you won't hear from me for about 5 days... thanks for all the support and thoughts and prayers and everything!
Working on Angela's wall hanging... ;-)
Waiting on the finished stockings... think I need to start Emma's (my neice's stocking this coming week)
Got the new Just Cross Stitch mag... ooo, some cute stuff!
KimV

on a lighter note... I saw this post in Angela's Handid's group...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1205007/Shepherdess-bride-marries-stunning-dress-wool-flock.html

I HATE THuRSDAYS!!!

Well, it's Thursday and I now officially hate this day of the week... the last 3 Thursdays in a row Corey has had a seizure. This morning I sat holding my breathe... "ok, we're going to get through the day without a seizure... everything is going to be fine... he's up to full dose for 5 days on his meds... he's been up almost an hour... yep... it's going to be fine... not going to let him play any electronics... just get past the first couple of hours... 9:23am... we're talking, carrying on a conversation... he's quiet... oh, no... not again... please, Lord, no more..." I don't know if I can keep doing this... this week... the last few days... have really been rough for me personally ~ I'm trying to stay calm, be strong for Corey and Mike(DH) and Brandon(oldest)... We are trying to get in to see the specialist... 2nd opinion type of thing... confirming diagnosis... first set for Oct... have gotten it bumped to Sept 10... but not with the same Dr... 1st Dr is epitologist... head of the epilepsy dept... the new Dr is a pediatric neurologist... in the same clinic.
Stitching... I've been working on a swap that I'm doing with Angela... it's very pretty... I like it alot... been admiring the pattern for a couple years... hmm... not saying anymore Angela!!! ;-)
Well, I'll check in later... Corey is going to walk over to his Grandma's... I'm gonna follow.
KimV

Icecream...

I scream...You scream...We all scream... for icecream!!!

Ok... so what is your favorite flavor???

There are so many but I have to say that Vanilla is my very most favorite!!! It always has been... you can add chocolate fudge... that's good... but vanilla in general is the best!

my swap with Imi

Here are some pictures of what I got from Imi...

She made me a lovely wall hanging, an ooooh so cute sheep needle book, a cute little pillow, some beautiful Gloriana silk thread and yummy Dutch coffee candy!

thank you Imi!

KimV

Embroidery

Well... finished tea towel #1... hopefully none of my family find my blog... or they will see their Christmas presents... and it won't be much of a surprize! lol!

Isn't that just cute??? I found this "store" on Ebay... she sells lots of iron on patterns... this is my sis-i-l... I think she'll love them!!! ;-)

I can't wait to get back the stockings so you can see them. They are going to a new finisher lady... so it will be interesting to see how she does them... hopefully they are like the others... but these are for the mom & dad of the family so... they could be a bit different from the kids'...

I'm here...

Hi everyone...

Did you all think I dropped off the edge??? It almost feels that way... summer is hard... since I don't have a "real" job ~ we aren't on a real schedule.

We've been boating/jet skis... Corey learned how to slalom ski! He's a very determined boy...

We went to Hungary Horse Reservoir... wow! It's probably one of the most beautiful places I've seen...

We have been dealing with the Epilepsy. Corey has had 6 total seizures this summer. The last one this morning... I feel so frustrated and helpless. He will be at full dose on his medication Saturday. We are making an appointment to go to Seattle to see a specialist there. I have yet to hear from their office.

My oldest starts football practice tomorrow. Where did summer go? School starts in 17 days... it all goes so fast.

I watch them go through all these life periences... I ache for them... first love... first heartbreak... unexplainable illness... It's cloudy and rainy here... I think it's affecting my mood...

On a brighter note... I have to post pictures of my swap with Imi! I have a couple of pictures from the scissor fob that I made her...

I've been working on Christmas presents. I finished my sister's stocking. Both her and Bill's are sent to be finished ~ I will post pictures of the end results... I've also been doing some embroidery. I am making tea towel sets. I found the cutest cowgirl/boy day of the week patterns... I just finished the stitching on Monday... have to do the corner fabric and blanket stitch! Soooo cute!

Well, I just wanted you all to know that I am here... just busy! September will be better for communication!

KimV

My Exchange with Heather

Hi All... here it is... my exchange with Heather. I should have taken a picture of the box before I started. It is just a little bass wood jewelery box from Michael's craft store. I painted it. I lined the drawer and the upper storage with a piece of hand dyed wool that I did... added some paper flowers and beads.

I found the pattern on the net... it's a freebie from

It's stitched on 30ct Mocha with DMC. I think it turned out sweet... and Heather assures me that she likes it.

Fair and Square Exchange with Peg

Ok, Peg finally got her squares... boy, was I getting nervous about that! Last thing you want is to do an exchange and then have all that work get lost in the mail and have you partner not receive her stuff on time!
The pattern I used is a Primitive Traditions Design for a checkbook cover... I just loved it! But, I must admit I changed the colors... the linen that I used is a warm cream and I thought the brown would look nicer than a grey. I started my squares and finished the house (almost) only to notice... I screwed up... hmmm.... would it be noticeable??? hmmm... YES! Grrrrr... Oh, bother... I'm not pulling stitches... I'll just start over! I think it was quicker that way.
Oh... another goof... I stitched it up and then looked at it... now why would I stitch 2008??? that one I did pull! lol
As soon as Heather receives her exchange I'll post pictures... she sent hers to me via Maine mail cause she was across the border... Do you know how much it costs to mail something "bigger" to Canada (or internationally)???? Holy Smokes! I was blown away... when did that happen... I suppose from now on most of what I exchange will be smaller items that will mail in smaller

packages... anyways... I hope you all have a great day...
Oh, and Lori (tkdquintmom) I'm still waiting for that address... ;-)

Give Away!!! Check it out!

Deb at http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway.html is giving away a lovely Adam & Eve chart... that I hope to win (lol)... go check it out!

went fishing today...

We went fishing today and so did he...

Epilepsy...

Well, we start on a new journey with epilepsy as part of our family. His EEG came back abnormal... in other words the brain's electrically misfiring... (as I was explained to by the Dr...)

I'm nervous...

Talk soon

A Finish from an earlier stitch...

I stitched this cute little freebie pattern from By the Bay Needle Art (link below) and finally made it into something... it wasn't hard at all really just had to make myself do it... painted the paper machie box and lined the inside with the same hand dyed wool that I stitched the linen to. Glued the wool/linen to the lid and edged it with the velvety rickrac... painted "very primitive" hills, houses and trees on the box and there ya go... DONE!

http://bythebayneedleart.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-chart-thank-you-for-checking-out.html

Summer... finally?

Yippee! It's summer! Except it snowed... again... at least this time nothing actually stuck here... now on the mountain I could see a dusting on the trees! The weeds are coming up in the yard. I have several... well, actually I don't really have a "yard" ~ I have more of a mountain pasture... I have mountain strawberries, lupine, moss, several native grasses and forbes... and really I'm not complaining... but we would like a little area of grass... real grass. So, that is in the plan. I did get them to build my raspberry bed and I did get raspberries planted and I did put a little fence around it to deter the deer. I also planted a little flower bed by the driveway. I planted thyme, sage, salvia, oregano, blanket flower, butterfly weed, my mother's day bleeding heart, lavendar, rosemary and a columbine. Well, the deer pulled one sage out of the ground... but must not have liked it at all... so I replanted it. They have nipped the tops off of two of the salvia but did not eat them... the columbine, however; has been pruned... there are stems left, all the leaves are gone! Poor thing! I wonder if I should dig it up and pot it... don't know what else to do with it...?

On another note... I had quite the scare Friday night. My baby boy (pictured in earlier post) who is 13... had a seizure. He's never had a seizure, there is no history of seizures in either family, he had not been sick... in fact he's always healthy... oh, how scarey! I hope nobody reading has to see their child like that! We spent the evening in the ER after a 50 mile ride in an ambulance. All blood work and CAT scan came back normal. He is scheduled for an EEG Thursday... I will keep you posted on that... He was playing a lap top computer video game and they are actually thinking that it is possible that it triggered the seizure! He had been up late and had to get up early for school... they had a day long bus ride/ field trip. He was tired... and they say that video games can cause seizures in some cases... Anyways, pray for him, please.

I have been stitching... I finished my swap with Heather and put that baby on it's way to New Brusnswick Cananda! Also, Peg's squares have been mailed to her and should be in Missouri anytime now! As soon as I know that they have received them I will post pictures. I have started my swap with Imi from Holland... but again... it's a surprise... so you'll have to wait on those...

My Fair & Square Exchange for Peg

Ok, here they are, my squares that I stitched for Peg! I got the pattern from Primitive Traditions. I changed the colors... I think it turned out nicely and she assures me she loves it... We had great exchange with each other!

Look what I got!

Look what I got in the mail... last week... Heather and I are doing an exchange! She was on time and this is what I got... I am not on time and she is waiting... sorry Heather... but I am almost done and I must say... it is going to be soooo cute! I've been taking pictures... should finish tonight. And then Heather it will be in the mail to you!

For all of us who love CHOCOLATE & COFFEE... ya gotta try this recipe!

Seattle Latte Brownies

6 oz (6 squares) unsweetened chocolate
¾ c butter
¼ c water
1 Tbsp instant coffee crystals
1 c granulated sugar
1 c packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¼ c all-purpose flour
½ c ground almonds
¼ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
2 Tbsp p. sugar (optional)
¼ c cocoa (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°. Line 9x9x2 baking pan with foil and grease well; set aside.
Meanwhile, cook chocolate, butter, water and instant coffee crystals in a large microwavable bowl on 100% power for 2 – 4 minutes or until butter is melted, stirring once or twice. Remove and stir until chocolate is completely melted.
Beat sugars together until mixed. Add eggs and vanilla; beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Add flour, almonds, cinnamon, and salt; beat on low until combined. Spread in pan.
Bake in a 350 oven 30 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not over bake.) Cool in pan.
Lift foil from pan. Cut into squares. If desired sprinkle with p. sugar and cocoa. Recipe from Hometown Cooking Aug 2000.
YUM!!!

Exchange received!

I received these lovely squares from Peg! Aren't they too cute? (note the K A & V for my initials... ;-)) I love them... I bid on a chart on ebay ~ many moons ago (didn't get it)... called the James Town Minstral??? I can't remember anyways it was very remincent of this... I would love to find it... anyone know what I'm talking about? Anyways... I'm thinking of makeing a little pillow/pin keep... but then again I think it would be adorable framed up in a very dark prim frame... what do you think? I'm almost done with my squares for Peg... had a little glitch. Stitched the biggest part of the design then noticed OOPS! Oh, how aggrevating!!! GRRRRR... to much and too big to pull stitches so ~ I started over. I am close to done... can taste it! ;-) Will post when she gets them.

Also, working on another exchange. can't show you that one either... deep sigh... but it's gonna be cute!

It was beautiful Monday! My 13 year old and I went fishing and for a ride... (caught 6 fish ~ they were oh, so tastey!!!) as you can see I make him do all the work... I just catch them! The advantages to being a mom... ;-). I could feel summer! I think it got to be 82!!! Shadow thought it was way too hot to run but he is so out of shape since we moved so he did a lot of running... had to stop at every water hole on the way ~ makes it a little hard to fish LOL! Well, today is 33 so far and it actually had the nerve to spit snow!!! What is with that???? I do think it's gonna be a nice day but really now...