Sharing some stitching....

Okay, I want to share some stitching with you that I've been doing this past couple of months.

This first design is from Tanya, The Sampler Girl, and I love it, especially since my birthday is on Halloween, October 31. Tanya is a very talented young lady and I love most everything she designs. The following is the front and back of the pillow I made.




The next two photo's are a freebie (and the back) that came from mausimons. It is such a cute fun design, and I couldn't resist stitching it.

Some of the designs below are ones that I stitched several years ago and had laid aside. I am a procrastinator when it comes to finishing items.

This design is one that I had stitched a couple of years ago, but had not put a finish to it. I have always loved this design (sorry I can't remember who designed it, and I can't find the chart). If anyone knows who the designer is, please leave a message for me. The buttons really add a lot to the design and make it really stand out.

This is the back of the above pillow.

This next hanging pillow is from Brittercup Designs and really points out what Autumn is all about.

Below is the backing on the above photo.

This design is from San-Man Originals, and I believe it was a freebie. It is one of the "letter" charts they do. Following it is the backing on the hanging pillow.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at what I've been stitching on. Remember, you can click on each photo is see a larger view of it.

Thank you for stopping by....please let me a message if you want.

Blessings,

Barbara

Mail Call....and a Cake

I ordered several patterns from Amy at Down Sunshine Lane and they came last week. I love new stash! What I received is Pumpkins 4 Sale by Little House Needlewooks...My Lady's Quaker and Gentleman Quaker by Jardin Prive'...Autumn Days by Val's Stuff...Cottage Pinkeep Sampler by Midsummer Night Designs...Peacock Pin Pillow by Beehive Needleworks. I probably won't get the Autumn designs done this year as I am starting to wound down by Fall stitching, and moving on the Winter and Christmas items.



Even though Fall does not come until September 22, according to the calender, Mother Nature has decided that it needs to come now. The days are getting shorter and the temps are cooler during the day and almost cold at night. You need a light jacket during the mornings, but can shed it during the afternoon, and we are getting our share of rain. Even though the trees have not started to turn, there are leaves falling to the ground, so should not be long before we have beautiful trees. Wayne and I will make a trip to the apple farm before the end of the month to purchase apples to eat, bake with, and share with others. Since the weather is cooler, it makes me think of pumpkin, so yesterday I baked a Pumpkin raisin snack cake and will share the recipe with you.


Pumpkin raisin snack cake.....

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
15-oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

Thoroughly blend the sugars, pumpkin, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl with a whisk or electric mixer. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Stir into pumpkin mixture. Add raisins and nuts. Pour into a greased jelly roll pan or 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes for jelly roll pan, 35 to 40 minutes for baking dish, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting. I use store bought Cream Cheese Frosing, or you can use the recipe below.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 to 3 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, 2 T milk and vanilla until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to make a frosting consistency.

TIP: Coat the raisins with flour before adding to the mixture to keep them from floating to the bottom of the cake.

Fall is my very favorite season of the whole year. I love the colors of Fall and the cool nip in the air. Do you have a favorite season? Make the most of it by baking, stitching, and decorating your homes.

Blessings,
Barbara

A day at Silver Dollar City....

Wayne and I went down to Silver Dollar City at Branson yesterday. We always enjoy going when the Southern Gospel Picnic is going on. The picnic only runs for 12 days and SDC brings in some great Gospel groups to entertain the crowds. We saw and listened to four different groups yesterday. We also enjoyed our fill of picnic food...Southern fried Chicken, apple butter glazed chicken, orange-glazed chicken, pulled pork, creamy coleslaw, cheesy scalloped pototes, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked beans, potato salad, zucchini and tomatoes, mac and cheese, assorted salads and vegetables, and hot dinner rolls. Afterward, we enjoyed a hot funnel cake with powdered sugar and hot cider. Very yummy food and way too much to eat.


I always manage to do a little shopping while there and purchased the cutest mending basket, which is pictured below.






I also managed to take a few photo's of the decorations around the city.........

If you ever get a chance to visit Silver Dollar City in the Ozarks of Missouri, you won't be sorry.

Blessings,
Barbara

A Special Day...

Today, August 27th is a very special day for Wayne and I, forty-two years ago, around 5p.m., Gordon Wayne came into this world. He was born in Joplin and weighed in at 4 pounds 15 ounces, and dropped to 4 pounds. He had to spent a few extra days in the hospital after I came home. Looking at the photo below, you would never know he was that small. Gordon joined the US Air Force in October 1985, he was 18 years old, and will be retiring from the AF next year. Wayne and I are very proud of what Gordon has accomplished with his life in the military. He has traveled the world, received his Bacholar's Degree and his Master's Degree, been in unsafe places, and is now stationed in Germany. His wife, Tammy is there with him and is a very special DIL to us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORDON and may you have many more.

Love you both,
MOM

I'm back....again

Hello Dear Friends,



Well, I'm back, after several months of health issues and whatever, but we won't go into all that. But after having surgery, I must say I am doing better.



The weather here has turned Fall like, cooler evernings and early mornings, with the temps rising greatly in the afternoons. I love Fall with all its many colors, sunflowers, pumpkins, and black cats! We have the windows open with the cool breezes blowing through. The mornings are wonderful, as I can sit on my pation with my morning coffee, listen to the birds sing and watch our two dogs play in the yard.



I've been stitching Fall/Halloween designs from LHN, The Samper Girl, primitivebettys, Stacy Nash, Brittercup Designs, and Jenny Hoffman. Stacy Nash has a new Halloween booklet out full of Halloween pinkeeps, which I will be ordering today. I love the primitive look, they are fun, easy designs to stitch. I don't have any photo's to show today, but will have in a day or so, as I need to take the time to put finishes on what I have stitched.



Yesterday, I purchased the new Debbie Macomber Cedar Cove book #9, 92 Pacific Boulevard. I've read this entire series and have really enjoyed it. I also purchased her new Cedar Cove Cookbook. I do read cookbooks from cover to cover. I don't always make many dishes in them, but they make great reading for me.



Wayne and our are planning a few days trips for this Fall. One is to the Wilder Festival at Mansfield, MO. This is where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived and penned her Little House books. I loved those books and still read them from time to time. Of course, we will also venture down to Branson and Silver Dollar City a few times this Fall.



Until next time, Blessings to All,

Barbara

Happy St. Pat's Day!

May you blessings

outnumber The Shamrocks

that grow. And may

trouble avoid you wherever

you go.

~Irish Blessing

The Merry Month of March.......

I can't believe March is already here....but March brings many things for us. The first day of Spring, my hubbies birthday, my mom's birthday, our grandson's birthday, my step-dad's birthday, and the birthday of two nephews, phew, a full month of birthdays. March also brings the start of planting season for some flowers and vegetables. And, we have St. Pat's day in March and the wearing of the green!


Frist I have a photo of my DH, who will celebrate 70 years young this year (don't tell him I told). Wayne and I met at Crowder College here in Neosho, taking speech class. We were married in May of 1965. The photo shows him with our two dogs, Fred and Maggie Mae. This photo was taken last summer (and I think I posted it last summer also).




Now..for some stitching.

The is a design by Heidi at www.needlenecessities.blogspot.com. This is the design she shared for the month of February. I love the way this turned out. For the handle I simply cut strips of the backing fabric and braided them. Each of these designs will be hung on my Christmas tree this year. I am very anxious to see the next one, which she will post on March 15. These are quick easy designs to stitch up and I do stitch them up quickly, but my problem is getting things finished. As you can probably guess I would rather stitch than finish!

The first photo is the front and the next photo is the back of this very cute design.





You can click on any of the photo's to enlarge them.

I hope each of you have a Merry Month of March also.

Blessings,
Barbara