Boatswain Santa

This guy actually looks better in person, but it's the first start to finish project I've completed in 2012 -- and the earliest I've ever had a Christmas present ready!!

Better Late Than Never

As this sampler shows, my niece Anna was born in 2004.  I finally finished her sampler in 2012.  Why did it take so long?  I has close to completing this when I spilled coffee on it.  Thinking I would ruin it getting the coffee out, I decided to stitch it again (this seems to be a pattern for me).  After finishing the second version, I was brave enough to try go remove the coffee stains.  Guess what?  The stains came out easily and didn't leave a trace. 

The thread color of the swirls were slightly different, so I gave my sister the option of selecting the sampler she liked better and promptly misplaced them.  I told my sister that if Anna ever wondered why Carly had a sampler and she didn't that she could tell her that Aunt Sue didn't want to make three!

Over the holiday break the samplers magically appeared in my laundry room.  I put the finishing touches on the sampler and here it is -- clean and complete.  I plan to take the name off the other version and finish it up for another special little girl!

A Midwinter Day's Ride

You don't often find temps in the mid 50's in January, so there was no resisting the opportunity to get out and enjoy the day.  My friend Terrie and I biked the Lower Trail, a rails to trails that stretches along the Juniata River in Huntindgon County.  We rode from Alfarata (Alexandria) to Williamsburg and back - a total of 22 miles.  In addition to the sites shown on the photos below, we also saw one other very interesting site on the trail -- Mike McQueary riding the trail with his wife and daughter.

Heading out from Alexandria

Enjoying the day in a canoe.

Mt Etna

Remains of the old canal.

I

Dodge, and old and friendly dog.  It even says so on his vest,

along with an address and phone number.

Williamsburg through the trees.

A couple of scenes from the return trip.

This one's for Connie

My sister, Connie, is a real foodie.  She makes the most incredible dishes, mostly by putting what she thinks would taste good together.  I tend to follow the recipe to the letter.  If it calls for a 1/4 teaspoon of something I don't haveon hand, I have to buy it -- even if the container has more than I'll ever use and it costs more than I think it should -- how could a recipe possibly taste great if it's not followed exactly?

I'm trying to be more creative these days.  I love to cross stitch but can't afford to frame project I create, so I plan to come up with other finishing techniques.  When I wanted to make a bulgar wheat salad but didn't have enough walnuts, craisins, or lemon juice, I devised this little diddy --  a bulgar wheat salad with a few craisins, raisins, pistachios, oranges, along with fresh squeezed oranges, a touch of honey and a little bit of olive oil.  I have to say, it's tasty!  So here's to you Connie -- in honor of your birthday and for all your kitchen creativity and inspiration! 

Happy New Year!

I decided to take a break from Splendor I and work on some Mill Hill Kits.  I have a brother in law whose into the sea and all things pirates and thought these would be perfect for him.  Problem is I found them too late to have them delivered and finished by Christmas, so I'm getting a head start on next year!  There are three Santas in the set.  Below is what I've accomplished on the Boatswain Santa.



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