Sweet Becky!

I got home tonight and there was a package in the mail from Becky waiting for me! She sent me an adorable pinkeep. It's Shepherd's Bush's "January." I just love it!

That was so nice of her to think of me! I have made some wonderful stitching friends in the past year. Here are all my wonderful stitched items made for me that I've received....

It's still hard for me to believe that people think of me that much! Words can't express my appreciation. Not just for the gifts, but mainly for the friendship! I feel so blessed in so many ways! Thank you all!

I have to share a picture of the sunset over Tampa Bay as I was driving home. It was spectacular. The picture doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea.

Sorry for all the spots, my windshield was just a tad dirty! :) I'm so tired from driving, but I'm going to try to stitch a little anyway! :) Write later!

Where do I begin?? Warning - long post!

I'm trying to get back to normal after being away for the weekend. My mom is sick, so I'm watching my niece and the boys. I must be doing pretty well because both babies are sleeping. :)

Anyway, Friday we dropped two out of three boys at my MIL's house and we drove up to Jacksonville. I got up early Sat. and went to a couple shops in the area. The first one Olde Green Cupboard was very cute. It was mostly quilting, but they had a small section of cross stitch. Most of the charts were Blackbird Designs and Carriage House Samplings. I found one Goode Huswife that I didn't have "Fruitful Clusters" and some fabric for my mom and I.



After that I went to A Stitch in Time. It was a pretty nice shop. They had yarn, needlepoint and cross stitch. I didn't see anything that I couldn't live without, so I left without buying anything. I went back to our room and my dh saw online that a Hooters near us was showing the UFC fight and he had to go! So we went there for lunch. We didn't stay for all the fights (thankfully). After that I told him I wanted to do a little sight seeing. So we headed down to St. Augustine. It's very pretty, but a little too touristy for us. We liked the fort, but unfortunately it was closed. I figured we could go next time we're in the area.


Castillo de San Marcos

After St. Augustine we decided to put our feet in the ocean for a bit. What a difference the Atlantic is from the Gulf of Mexico where we are the waves. The waves are huge and you could hear them crashing from much further away.



The next day we went to Starbucks and headed our separate ways. I was very sad to see him go and a little sad last night, but I am also happy for him and the opportunity he's been given. He seemed to be doing pretty well when I talked to him today. He's probably already met ten friends (he makes friends so fast)! On my way home I stopped at a couple more places. The first was Brick City Stitch in Ocala. It was a pretty nice shop. She was having a little sale - some charts on a table were 50% off, so I got a couple of those. My only problem was her threads were kind of high - $3 for weeks and $2.75 for Sampler Threads and Crescent Colours. I did get a few of them, but I probably wouldn't again. Here's what I got...



And my next stop was the Russell Stover Outlet. I had to see if they had any Whitman's tins and they did! Cases and cases of them! So I got three cases of these ..



I was going to put some of them on ebay, but I thought I'd offer them to my stitching friends first! I was planning on selling them for $3 plus $1 shipping for each tin (got to thinking and $3 seemed a much better price). Just email me if you're interested! :)

My last little bit of news is Kathy Barrick-Dieter from Carriage House Samplings received my stitching and sent me some charts. Well, not just some charts... she sent me ALL of the charts I had on my wish list! I couldn't believe it! I told her just one or two charts would be fine. I was just amazed when I got the package today.



Well, I think I've said it all! Sorry for such a long post! Write later! :)

I'm back!

We had a nice visit. We didn't do much... just hung out and the kids went swimming, which they loved! It was nice for me when my dad and step-mom took the boys I stayed back with Matthew and stitched! I got quite a bit done on Winter Wind...



I also got some stitching done on Spring Violets, but I didn't take a pic yet. I'll take one later tonight or tomorrow. Here's a picture I took of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on our way back (sorry it looks so far away). The weather has been gorgeous lately - there were so many boats out that you can't see in the picture and so many people out fishing. I know my dh wishes he were one of them! :)



Well, Matthew is fussing so I'd better go! Write later!