Have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving!

May this day and every day be ever blessed for you and your family!

Thank you to all Veterans!

Election Night!

I voted!  I was so lucky -- walked right into the polling place, voted, and walked out.  Less than 10 minutes from start to finish!

Tonight, I'll be watching the returns and stitching.

May be a long night... but it's sure to hold a few surprises.

Happy Stitching, Ya'll!

ALL SOULS DAY and a bittersweet farewell

I lit a candle and prayed my Rosary for you today.

Melba and me on my Wedding Day in 1990.

She always made me laugh -- often at the most inappropriate time.

We gently and lovingly lay her ashes beside those of her parents today.

When my mom was pregnant with me, Melba was just 2 1/2.  She patted mama's tummy and asked if she would take the baby out so could play with me.

We were playmates for 57 years.

Bittersweet... tears of sadness, joy, remembrance...

It hurts to say goodbye, so... fare thee well, Melba.  I'll see you again.

Just for you:

Blessed All Saints Day!

May this day bring you peace and blessings.

All Hallow's Eve

May this solemn evening of remembrance and honour be blessed.

MONDAY

Woke up with a miserable stuffed sinus ans sore throat.  

I like to think I "partied" too much on my birthday weekend, but truthfully, I slept under the fan.

It was a great birthday!  My Dawgs won, Ga Southern won, Notre Dame won on Saturday.  As did the Boston Red Sox (WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!).

Sunday, Happy Husband took us all to lunch, then my youngest took us to LuLu's chocolate bar for dessert.  I had a chocolate martini.

BLISS.

Hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed week and happy stitching!

DAWGS WIN!

AMAZING GAME! 

WHAT A SCORE!

HOW 'BOUT DEM BOYZ!

 #GoDawgs

Next Game tonight:  Navy v. Notre Dame.

#GoNavy  #GoIrish

GO DAWGS!

GO DAWGS!

BEAT FLORIDA!

Let the BIG Dawg bite!

Long day in the ER

Just after my post about Michelle this morning, Happy Husband came crashing into the house...  And we were off to the ER...

It's either an ulcer (most likely) or an attack of pancreatitis (less likely).

He's on a bland diet for a few days.

We just got home and he's soaking in the tub -- then to bed for him.

I do know that posting about Michelle's fund may have put off some people, but I'm her Mother and I must do whatever I can do to help her.  

Your Prayers are the biggest blessing we can receive.  The money will come or it won't, but your Prayers are much more important and we thank you for them.  

See ya'll tomorrow.  I hope. 

Help for my daughter, please.

 This is my eldest daughter, Michelle, and her family. She has had two cancer scares and two surgeries in the last month.
 Her family is hard-working, but medical expenses have taken their toll. I know that you will help if you can, and I appreciate this more than you know.
 If you cannot help financially, may I please ask for your prayers.

 Thank you so very much!

Six Stitchy Things

SIX STITCHY THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME:

1. My favourite fabric of all is Banjo Cloth. It's just a simple rustic aida but it is perfect for country / primitive designs.

If you have any to sell or trade... email me!

2. I have 40+ Crossed Wing Collection charts.  Including the Christmas Cardinals Design that is now OOP.  I've never stitched any of them. :(

3. I stitch in-hand.  I've tried Q-Snaps, frames, hoops, etc.  I just can't do it.

4. I am a reformed Linen Snob. Evenweave is my soul-mate. 

5. At last count, I've finished 169 cross-stitch pieces.  It's possible I have the same number of WIPs. 

6. I AM a silk snob. Vikki Clayton's Hand-Dyed Fibers were, and forever will be, my favourite silks.  I have dozens of skeins and spools.  I use them sparingly as there are no more to be made.

7. BONUS:  My favourite cross-stitch photos: 

Morgan Rose at her stitching!

What stitchy things do you have to share? I'd love to know!

Happy Stitching Ya'll!

Sunday Stitching in Savannah

It's a stunning day in Savannah today! It's in the 60s at the moment and so lovely.

Today I watch my boys! Carolina Panthers (#KeepPounding) 

and later, Washington v. Dallas, and tonight it's KC v. Cincinnati! Not that I love football... or anything...

Of course, I shall be stitching as I watch.  Still working on Pumpkins 4-Sale.

Have a lovely, happy, fun, safe day! Happy Stitching!

Confederate Pot Roast #RECIPES

This is my younger sister's version of Confederate Pot Roast!  Just a bit different from my own.  

Ingredients:

Bottom Round Roast (approx. 3 pounds)
Red Potatoes (whole as these are small)
Baby Carrots
Onion (White or Spanish)
Beef Consomme
Garlic -- cloves added to taste (she used 5 cloves, diced)  
Salt & Pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Lightly sear the roast on all sides.  Place roast in a large (at least 10 X 10 pan) that has been lined with aluminum foil.  

Arrange the vegetables around the roast.  Salt & Pepper as desired and pour 1 cup consomme over the ingredients.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 F for one hour. 

Turn oven down to 325 F.  Remove from oven, turn roast over, mix up the veggies and pour rest of consomme over the ingredients.  Cover.  Bake about 1 1/2 hours on 325 F.  

Serve with sides of your choice.  Down in South Georgia, we serve it with Mac & Cheese, green beans, collards, etc.

My own recipe is similar but there are a few differences.

Terri's Confederate Pot Roast

Ingredients:

3 to 4 pound Rump Roast
Vidalia Sweet Onion (Cut into medium-sized chunks)
2 Large Carrots (peeled and washed), diced
1 Turnip or parsnip*** (Diced)
Mushrooms (if you like) -- cleaned and sliced.
Small Red & White Potatoes, cut into halves.  (Depends on size of your Dutch Oven or Crockpot).
8 cloves of garlic, cut into slivers.
Rosemary -- 2 teaspoons dried or 2 sprigs 
Thyme -- 1 teaspoon dried or 1 sprig
Sage -- 1/4 teaspoon (NO MORE!)
Celery Salt -- 1/2 teaspoon
Salt -- 1/2 teaspoon
Fresh Ground Black Pepper -- 1 teaspoon
Bay Leaf -- one whole (Remove BEFORE serving).
Beef Bone Broth -- 1 1/2 cups

In Dutch Oven or Crockpot, add 1 1/2 cups of bone broth.  Set to HIGH for crockpot or 375 F for Oven Roasting.  Cover.

In a sauce pan, add 1 tablespoon butter, place diced carrots, turnip / parsnip, and onions in pan and cook until soft and tender.

Add the above ingredients to the bone broth. Add potatoes.  As you prep the beef, allow the sliced mushrooms to cook in the sauce pan where the veggies cooked.  The mushrooms need at least 10 minutes in the sauce pan on medium high heat.

While the mushrooms cook, score the beef with a sharp knife and insert slivers of the garlic.  Do this on the bottom and top of the roast.

Combine Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Celery Salt, Salt, and Black Pepper in a small bowl and combine. Rub mixture into roast, covering as much as possible.

Remove mushrooms from sauce pan and add to roaster.  Place the bay leaf in as well, Stir well to combine the veggies, then gently place roast (FAT SIDE UP)*** on top of the vegetables.  

*** If you use a parsnip, cut the top and bottom off, peel, and rinse well.  Cook in boiling salted water for 5 (Five) minutes before dicing.

***Always put the roast FAT side up.  The fat will melt into the roast and make a juicier meat.

Using a cover (aluminum foil or lid) is best for a tender roast.  375 F for one hour and then 325 F for 1 1/2 hours. 

For the Crockpot:  Set to HIGH and cook for two hours.  Turn to LOW and allow to slow cook for at least 4 hours.

A little pink is a good thing.  If you prefer your roast medium, check after an hour or so and adjust temps and time accordingly.

Stitch and be happy! 

Stitching today... along with baseball and pot roast!

I am determined to stitch for a couple hours today and later tonight.  I need it. Desperately.

I have to get the dirty clothes together, wash dishes, and gather the household trash up.  After that, it's needle and floss.

I have put off the time on Pumpkins 4-Sale because of the addition for my late sister, Beth.  I tend to cry a lot when I think of her. 

This is me and Beth on my Wedding Day.  We were laughing because I'd taken my shoes off.  God Bless her... she tried to teach me knit. She finally took the needles from me, handed back my crochet hook, and made me promise NEVER to try to knit again. :)

I miss her.

Anyway, I will get through it. I always do.

Tonight, Happy Husband and I will be at my younger sister's home for Confederate Pot Roast! No cooking for me! No dirty dishes!

Baseball this evening and tonight: #GoSox #BrewCrew!

Last, but definitely not least, Savannah's HOT weather is on it's way out. Here it is, mid-October, and we're just now going to drop into daytime highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-50s.

I will be mailing the prize packages this weekend.  Look for another giveaway in November!

Happy Stitching ya'll!

Goodnight!

Thinking of deceased loved ones and friends today. 

I am so lonely... so overcome with grief and sadness.

I wish I could just disappear.

Pumpkins 4-Sale -- small progress

I worked on Pumpkins 4-Sale for a few hours this evening.  Not only did I make some progress, but I charted my own special addition to the design -- a small tribute to my late sister, Beth.  I'll stitch that into the piece tomorrow.

Would you believe I had NO skeins of Black from any fiber company?  Mike had to make a quick run to Jo Ann's for me.  First time I've never had any DMC 310 since I started stitching 20+ years ago.

My football hopes for UGA were dashed by LSU this afternoon.  However, the Crimson Tide is rolling!  My Milwaukee Brewers today as well.  *sigh*  

I wish you all a very peaceful, calm, blessed evening.  Stay safe and Happy Stitching!

It's #ILoveYarn Day! Time to Stitch!

I don't knit, so I'll crochet a bit this evening.

For me, it's time to stitch.  The past few weeks have been scary, stressful, and worrisome. 

I seriously considered packing away my WIPs and shutting down.

But, I persisted! 
Thankfully, those feelings passed and I'm ready to get to work!

STITCHING: Needle, Floss, Fabric, Chart, Markers, Scissors: All Set.

SEC FOOTBALL:  
#RollTide 

#HottyToddy 

#GoDawgs 

Also, #GoNavy  #GoIrish  #GoYellowJackets

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.  Happy Stitching!

WHAT A WEEK!

So happy that Friday is here!

What a wild week!  Hurricane Michael barreled through the Florida Panhandle and then north.  It really wreaked havoc and is continuing to bring rain and more rain.

Savannah was spared this time and we are thankful for it.  The storm did break the terrible humidity and heat, however, and we have cool temps for this weekend.

Congratulations to the three lucky winners of my birthday giveaway.  I'll have a new giveaway coming in November!

I haven't stitched any this week.  Between the pulled muscle in my back and my knee... I've been on a heating pad more often than not.  I intend to stitch today.  Wish me luck.

Please may I ask for prayers for my oldest daughter, Michelle.  She is having a small lump removed from her breast.  This is the second time.  The first was benign and We're praying this one will be as well.

I hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed weekend.  Shabbat Shalom to my Jewish friends.  

Happy Stitching!