It's all about having fun, people

I know it's been awhile but I've been taking full advantage of having my bambinos with me 24/7. Since they've been back we've been spending lots of time doing fun things. That's what my focus is on this Summer. Spending time having fun and doing what we want to do. They've only been back from my parents for a week and we've managed to squeeze in 2 trips to the movies, a fireworks show, a sleepover, a birthday party, swimsuit shopping (boo! hiss!) and lots of stitching. There's lots more fun coming up too. Tomorrow we're spending the day at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. I'm so glad we got those passes. I know I was pretty set on going to D.C. on the 4th but I'm not so sure now. I know if not this year, definitely next. Half of us want to go to D.C., the other half wants to go to Virginia Beach, and we've also been invited to a cookout. I really want to do all 3 but no can do. Being how's I've been trying to build relationships here I'm thinking we really should go to the cookout. I think we might have to draw straws on this one. You know, we never had this problem in Texas. There was never anything to do.


Mike's working 1/2 a day from home today and then is off the rest of the week. So I'm trying to get everything done. So why am I posting and not doing chores you ask? See previous paragraph. My priority this Summer is having fun. And yes my house is clean in case you're wondering...lol! I did a lot of stitching in some of my fun time last week. Here's what I've stitched in the past week excluding an ornament I finished for a Christmas in July exchange:




How pretty is this? It's going to be a Christmas ornament. It's called Tudor Rose Ornament from The Nostalgic Needle. My tentative plan was to start stitching Christmas ornaments now so when December gets here I'd have plenty to give away. I had fully intended on giving this away and had a few people in mind to give it to. Since finishing it I've changed my mind. I love this one way too much to give away LOL! Perhaps I'll stitch another one to reside with someone else :).




I've been meaning to stitch this one for a while. It's the French Country Reindeer from JBW Designs. I stitched him on 28 ct. Creme Brulee linen in Maple Syrup sampler threads. I'm giving a friend a lesson on how to make a flat fold on the 16th so I think I'll be taking him and making him in to one. And he's probably going to be for me to. How sad am I? LOL!




Here's another piece I stitched last week. It's JBW's French Country Pumpkin. I've had a large piece of this orangey linen that I stitched this on. I had been itching to stitch something on it. I figure it'll only work for a couple of things. Autumn or Halloween Designs. I think it turned out ok but I'd probably like it better if I stitched it on a neutral fabric. I still like it though :). It was nice to stitch on a fun colored fabric. Most of the time I stick with neutrals. I stitched it in Gingersnap sampler threads. And it's mine to LOL! Look, I've been stitching presents for a long time now and haven't squeezed much of anything in for me so last week it was time to stitch some things for myself. You'll be happy to know that I did resume my gift stitching last night. I'm planning to spend all of my stitching time in July stitching Halloween, Autumn, and Christmas pieces. Probably more Christmas than anything and most of them will be gifts. I'm determined to be prepared this year. I'll have more finishes to post soon.


I also started on a book last week. It's Gordon Ramsay's autobiography, Roasting in Hell's Kitchen. I've only gotten through the first chapter and half of the second so far but it's definitely keeping my interest. I'm a big fan of Hell's Kitchen and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.