I've hit the wall...

I am sick of winter!!!!!

I'm just putting the final touches of makeup on for the day before heading into Country Stitches and I hear that loud noise...

I know that noise...

the dreaded noise of that big yellow road grater.

Now this isn't our typical city snow plow...this is a big time toy!

My first thought was to run outside and stand in my driveway. I could hope "he" sees me and out of the kindness of his heart, lifts the blade. The hair was done, makeup was on but I was waiting for the iron to heat up so I wasn't totally dressed...if you know what I mean?? So let's just say I wasn't totally presentable...so instead I stood and watched out the window and said a swear word or two, or three or maybe it was four....

You see, "they" come along after your driveway has been blown out...always a given. Their blades not on the street mind you, but up on your parking and with the blink of an eye you have

Mt. Everest at the end of your driveway. Any plans of going to work anytime soon are gone...

Have I mentioned I'm sick of winter???

Don't "they" think people need to get to work? Our neighbor (who is a surgeon) is currently out in his driveway in his little hospital scrubs (brrrr) chucking frozen boulders of snow by hand...can't even scoop the stuff! As for the patient...hopefully it isn't anything too pressing as doc is going to be late today!

So I guess I will spend another day at home working on Easter designs & hopefully the bright cheery colors of the season will help brighten my day!

Snowed In,

Brenda

P.S. as for the photo above...I can't take credit for this but you know that winter is getting long & cold when this is the stuff your friends email you.

Round 2

After our 24" Christmas snowfall we are bracing for round 2

&

baby it's cold out! Over~night temps are supposed to be 35 degrees below zero...brrrrrrrr

We just worked a part day today at Country Stitches, heading home before we got blocked in our driveway by the snowplows that go by. Tomorrow is "ify" as to if we'll make it into work. Eight new inches of snow and blizzard conditions are expected for tonight and tomorrow.

I don't like winter...

never have,

never will...

I just don't like being cold!

Soooo....

I trudge through the winter months trying to find the beauty in this longest Iowa season

& I will admit even though it is cold...

it is pretty.

Big fluffy flakes

falling gently

look like goose down

Icicles...

nature's Popsicles

(largest icicle I've ever seen...must be 15 feet long)


Subtle reminders of warmer days...

Dried floral...

a snowflake's resting place

Snowflakes...

one of nature's most fragile,

but just look what they do when they stick together.

This weather makes me long for warmer days...

so in the mean time

I'll thumb through the seed catalogs that are arriving daily

&

dream

& wait

for my amaryllis to burst into its beauty...

&

just suck it up...

It's Iowa & It's Winter!

Have a good one,
Brenda

NEW PATTERNS!!

INTRODUCING...

With thy Needle & Threads first ever Valentines

cross stitch pattern designs!

I've been wanting to design some patterns for Valentines, yet designs that don't really "scream Valentines"...does that makes sense??!! I do think I have achieved that goal with these 2 new designs. Either piece could be kept out year long...sending the message of love without saying "happy valentines". If you are real adventurous...work them in different colors! I could easily see either piece worked in civil war shades of indigo blue & browns.

"Cupid's Heart"

Finished size is approximately 6 1/4" tall by 7 3/4" wide. Design is worked on 28 count Cashel linen over 1 thread (color - Antique Ivory) with DMC flosses.

"Love & Be Loved"

Finished size for this hanging pin keep is approximately 5 1/4" tall by 9 1/4" wide. Piece is worked on 32 count Belfast linen (color - Platinum) over 2 threads with DMC & Weeks Dye Works flosses. Piece is gently aged with Distress It spray for a wonderful "time-worn" look. Old buttons stitched across bottom of piece adds additional charm.

Patterns are now available for purchase on our website.

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Conversation Hearts & Stitchin'...

I've had several emails in regards to my new blog banner...

Is it your design?

Is it going to be available in pattern form?

When will it be available?

To answer your questions...

Yes,

Yes

&

Real soon!

I've been spending my "vacation time", or shall we call it "away from the office time",

thinking Valentines,

eating conversation hearts,

designing

&

stitching...

a wonderfully sweet

&

pleasingly good "vacation time"!

Two new cross stitch patterns titled:

"Love & be Loved"

&

"Cupids Heart"

coming soon!

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda

Please tread carefully...

THE
HOOKED RUG

I am the family wardrobe, best & worst

Of all our generations, from the first:

Grandpa's Sunday-go-to-meetin' coat,

And the woolen muffler he wore at his throat;

Grandma's shawl,

That came from Fayal;

Ma's wedding gown,

Three times turned and once let down,

Which once was plum, but has now turned brown;

Pa's red flannels, that made him itch;

Pants & shirts;

Petticoats & skirts;

From one or another, but I can't tell which,

Tread carefully,

Because, you see,

If you scuff on me,

You scratch the bark of the family tree."

"~author unknown~

With thy needle & thread,

Brenda

Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa's...

Hi, I'm guest blogger today for Grandma. She is busy with design work again so I'll be filling in for her today. I hope you all had a great Christmas filled with peace, love & family.

This was my 2nd Christmas and it was pretty fun! I don't remember too much about my first Christmas, but Grandma says my jammies had reindeer's on the feet & I slept right through Christmas...how silly is that!??!!

I got my 1st hair cut just in time for Santa...what do you think? Do you like it? I used some of Daddy's hair goo to make it stand up like that...fun stuff! I hope my teddy bear hat doesn't mess it up...

I played some of my favorite songs on Grandma's piano...
Christmas carols of course!
Jingle Bells is my favorite song...
Everybody clapped when I was done playing Jingle Bells...
so I thought I'd clapped too!

I have jammies just for Christmas...

they are warm & fuzzy

and keep my toes extra nice and cozy.

It's bedtime...

time to brush my teeth.

Tomorrow's a big big day as Santa comes tonight.

I've got the "paci" in place...

night night time!

SANTA CAME!

It was a big test of my patience, as I had to wait all day until we got to open our presents. Grandma fixed a meal of tenderloin, Rosemary Cream Potatoes (yummy...I loved them), Green Bean Bundles, and other goodies too. After dinner we passed out the gifts & Grandpa started a fire.

It was almost my bedtime, but I got to stay up late to see what Santa brought.

Hmmm...that box is bigger then me...what can it be? I bet that was a struggle getting that box down the chimney...Santa is awesome!

Did I mention it was bedtime? I tend to carry my "blankie" around when I'm tired...

So "blankie" will accompany me in each photo from here on out.

Let's see...

what could it be??

It's red

&

shiny...

It's a bicycle just my size....

Big people call these tricycles!

It even has a bell on it! Daddy showed me how to ring the bell.

It has streamers too...

l-o-v-e the streamers!

Come along...

Let's go for a ride!

XOX,

Beckham

WINTER WHITE

There was no need to dream of a white Christmas here in NW Iowa...

It was indeed a white Christmas

with 18" of

fresh

white

fluffy

snow.

I woke this morning and looked out the window

&

couldn't help but think of the Mr. Roger's song!

"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood..."

So I strapped on my winter boots

& with camera in hand, went for

a morning walk in the neighborhood, to take in the beauty of this winter wonderland.

Bundle up and come along for a walk with me...

Our Red bud tree laden with snow that fell straight down...
something that doesn't happen too often on the windy plains.

It snowed for 3 days...
we didn't think it would ever
STOP...







Can you find the car in the above photo?
Hint...
tis to the right of the tree
& to the left of the man blowing snow!




Snowed in Bethlehem as well...


The soldier that stands guard over our lake
is now the
king of the mountain!

Tis going to be awhile before any grilling or use of this lawn furniture...

We are busy keeping our birds fed...

Looks like Aspen or Vail

not Iowa!

People are beginning to dig out...

The only living creature out and about in this yard appears to be either a rabbit or squirrel.

Snow-covered bushes look like

big

fluffy

white

marshmallows...

Speaking of marshmallows...

time to head inside

and warm up

with a cup

of cocoa

with

lots

&

lots

of

marshmallows!

Stay warm & enjoy your weekend,

Brenda