THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

Thanksgiving Day is a day for family and all our blessings. I think each year I count my blessings more and more. I know I am blessed with so much in my life.

As Thanksgiving arrives so do all my memories of family, many that have passed. As I am preparing my Thanksgiving meal I can't help think of my Grandmother Mabel Pickett. I was so blessed to grow up having her as my "Grandma Pickett". My Grandma Pickett was a kind hearted lady who grew up in Glasgow, Kentucky as a child, met my Grandfather at an early age, married and to Indiana they went. She was mother to six children, thirteen grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

This leads me to cooking and a great cook she was. When I became a mother and decided to fix my first Thanksgiving meal who else but Grandma Pickett did I turn to. This was over 30yrs. ago and I still have all my notes of recipes just how Grandma told me to cook. I still go to my recipe box for many of her recipes, starting with her noodle recipe. Her notes are so interesting on every detail of how to do this or that.

I go from making Grandma's noodles to her Oyster Dressing recipe. I must say...Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without "Grandma's" Oyster Dressing. I have many of her recipes that I go back to each year. But what I really go back to each year is the memories of Grandma Pickett and how she had all of us pile into her home to enjoy her delicious Thanksgiving meal!!! The memories of her preparing her holiday meals for days ahead of that special day. Grandma Pickett's blessing each year was to have her family. My blessing is having all the wonderful memories of my Grandma Pickett and the recipes I treasure with my family each year.

Another Thanksgiving blessing I am going to share with each of you... 33yrs. ago I gave birth to my second child Carson on Thanksgiving Day. What a true blessing!!!
So each year we celebrate not only Thanksgiving but Carson's birthday. Every seven years his birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day and this next year his birthday will once again be on Thanksgiving Day.

And another blessing...my family!!
I am so blessed to have my family and with each of them looking forward to my holiday meal and time to spend together on Thanksgiving Day!!

Last blessing...Each of you who take a few minutes out of your day to read my blog. Thank you!!
As I end this Thanksgiving posting, I hope each of you had a Blessed Thanksgiving Day!! And with many memories of family.

Until We Meet Again...
HAPPY STITCHING
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

WISHING ALL A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Just in time for Halloween, please meet Ms. Halloween Witch!!!

Ms. Halloween Witch was stitched on 14ct. Country Mocha Aida Cloth. I picked this cloth as I like the aged antique color. I would rather have had an 18ct. but it wasn't available. My cloth was purchased from Needle Fever Shop, Indianapolis, Indiana. The pattern came from a Leisure Arts book titled "Holidays Remembered". My floss was DMC and the frame was purchased from Hobby Lobby.

I have enjoyed all the cross stitch patterns I have stitched from the Leisure Arts Books. I must say the patterns offer a challenge for the stitcher. The patterns keep you on your toes paying close attention as many colors are so alike that it can become confusing. The patterns are very easy to read and in color. I have purchased many Leisure Arts Books on Ebay and would recommend these books.

Wishing a safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Until We Meet Again.
HAPPY STITCHING!!!
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

HALLOWEEN WITCH UPDATE

Just a quick update...

I will soon be finished stitching my HALLOWEEN WITCH. Then comes framing and I am hoping to have this ready to show off by Halloween. The old witch is looking good!!
Love the colors of her dress and the moon is just beautiful! Can't wait to show her off...

Sharing with you all...
Todays mail was my surprise, I received my Holiday Edition of "A Primitive Place" magazine. Inside they have 5 Holiday Home Tours. Many holiday crafts and recipes. Such a beautiful primitive magazine. Job well done. Anyone wanting to know more about the "A PRIMITIVE PLACE" magazine, please check out www.aprimitiveplace.org
Be sure to stop at the "members gallery" showing many beautiful homes.

Won't be long.......
HALLOWEEN WITCH will be visiting you!

Until we meet again.
Happy Cross Stitching!
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

LOTUS WATER LILLIES

Indiana's August 2010 was like no other August I can remember.
Hot hot hot!!! Very hot and dry weather. No rain!
Our grass is brown instead of pretty green. The farmer's corn crops are dry and ready to be picked. There is nothing better than an Indiana acidy tomato and I can't say I have had one this summer.

However...
There is one thing in my town that has loved this hot hot weather.
At the edge of town by a shopping center strip is a retention pond with a water spout and many many water lillies.

LOTUS WATER LILLIES
Oh are these Lotus Water Lillies ever showing off!
Each day there has been many people stopping by taking pictures. This is a site like no other. My neighbor who is over the flowers and grounds of the Eli Lilly Center and Indianapolis Art Museum told me this is a "spectacular" view. He tells me the Lotus Water Lillies are way above the ordinary water lilly. We are so lucky because the Lotus Water Lilly grows mostly in tropical country, not Indiana. It is actually from the Indian cultural. These beautiful Lotus Water Lillies grow 4-5 feet, the pink to yellow cream colored flower is 10-12 inches and the leaves are 19-20 inches wide. Very large leaves! They also have seed pods and as they dry and harden they rattle. Again, the Indian cultural cut these pods and use them for art work. The roots are edible in different countries. There are many species of Lotus Water Lillies but the name of this Lotus Water Lilly is Green Maiden Water Lilly.

Are you wondering how these Lotus Water Lillies come to be in this retention pond? I sure did. Well, again my neighbor man knew that answer too. He said a lady who was in the U.S. Water Garden Society decided years ago to plant a few seeds. I bet this lady is so shocked to see how many water lillies have grown this summer.

Once again, these Lotus Water Lillies have loved our "tropical" summer weather and the day I took pictures they were really showing themselves for me and many other takers. I must say they have been the most "spectacular" flower showing this summer.

So, I want to share with each of you this "spectacular" view.

I hope each of you enjoy my pictures of these Lotus Water Lillies!

Just to mention...I am still stitching my Halloween Witch.
Until We Meet Again...Happy Stitching!!

CROSS STITCH WOMAN

A PRIMITIVE PLACE MAGAZINE

I just received in the mail the first issue of "A PRIMITIVE PLACE" magazine.
It is the Fall 2010 issue.
The very first issue too!

If anyone loves the primitive/colonial decorating look...then this is a must have!!

A PRIMITIVE PLACE magazine shows off homes, how to decorate, crafts and recipes.
Anyone wanting to order this magazine ?
Go to www.aprimitiveplace.org

I also loved how the magazine arrived in a plastic covering with no rips or tears from postal machines. What a great way to receive a magazine! So well protected.

Now I can't wait to have the time today to sit down and browse through all the homes and recipes being shown off. Furthermore...can't wait for the next issue to arrive.
It will be for the holiday season and just in time for Christmas decorating.
Can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Be sure and vist "A Primitive Place" blog.
www.aprimitiveplace.org
This blog is for sure the best blog for primitive, colonial lovers. There is a lot offered so be sure not to miss out...take a look. Don't miss the "members gallery" showing all the beautiful homes inside and out. It is a must !!

Until We Meet Again...
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

HALLOWEEN WITCH "UPDATE"

Just a stitching update...

The ole HALLOWEEN WITCH is coming right along. To this date I have stitched the snow white owl, the witches face, hat and scarf along with some hair. I feel pretty good with my stitching so far. Everything seems to be moving quickly. I also have a few of the stars finished too.

I always do my backstitching last but with this pattern it was driving me crazy looking at the owl and witches face. Looking at these areas made me feel like I was sort of lost or no direction of where I was. Guess you could say, everything seemed to be running together. Don't know if this makes any sense but again was driving me crazy. So, yes...I did the backstitching of the owl's beak and around the witches hair. Then I backstitched the witches face and stitched in all details. I must say...I feel so much better!!
I now feel I can move on knowing where the owl & witches face started and stopped.
Maybe this is called "finding my way".

Next I will stitch the witches hand around the white owl and then on to her long stringy white hair.

I have a picture of the Halloween Witch in my previous post, so scroll on down and you can see this neat pattern.

So far this Halloween Witch pattern has been a real joy to cross stitch.
On to my stitching........

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN...
HAPPY STITCHING!
CROSS STITCH WOMAN