Stitching and More....

 First up is October's Christmas ornament. This one may be my favorite this year. I have made all of the ornaments this year into flats, but this one I did into a pillow. I noticed that the pillow is not any heavier than the flats, so there may be more before the year is over.

The pattern came from the latest Christmas Just Cross Stitch magazine. I just love the little cardinal.

Here it is hanging.

The next picture shows the backing fabric. The trim is some rick rack from the With Thy Needle and Thread's Country Store. I have a lot of it and every single thing I have ever used it on, I have loved it.

I have also started my Florida sampler. I ran into a color issue right away and knew I had to adjust. 

This little oranges look like pumpkin spice colors rather than citrus oranges. I stitched them and immediately knew this wouldn't do. I bought an orange to bring home to look for new colors. I brought out lots of colors laying them across my orange. Some interesting notes... the above orange is organic and shows what a Florida orange looks more like here fresh from a tree. Of course, they might not be that perfect in color fresh from the tree. The tops are lighter near them stem getting the sunlight and the bottoms are a little darker. The pattern maker had that concept right, but just not the coloring. Now, I have seen oranges that more like an orange crayon color. In fact, I saw some in Target yesterday. I know they have to have been messed with in some way because they are all one color not as I describe with the tops and bottoms. Since the above picture, I have been working on the ones coming down the left side with different colors. I couldn't use the colors that matched the above orange perfectly because on the linen they looked like lemons, but I have played around a bit more and think I have found a color match that I can live with.

BTW, that orange was delicious and I have been on an orange kick for the past few days.

I also have stitched on the tree so there will be more to show next time. I am changing it up a wee bit too. The Spanish moss has to be just right since I walk out my door to that daily.

Gardening Time...

I did find orange pansies and planted 2 pots of them to go with my blue/purple ones. Pansies are just such a happy flower. I am drawn to them every time I walk out and they lift my spirits when I drive up or walk back in the circle. My pictures are from a week ago. They are really popping now and will fill out the pots in another week.

In the blustery wind the other night, one of my begonias was laying over pretty good, so I snipped that stem and added it to some of my roses for a pretty vase of goodness.

The weather this past week was just perfect. Cool mornings and then the most pleasant days. The next picture is just some wildflowers in the neighborhood. Just so much goodness all around.

One morning I went out to water the roses and decided to capture the sunrise. I absolutely never take for granted this view. I am so blessed to live here. I love the coast. I was made for it.

Such tranquility in nature in the early mornings.

To finalize this post I have some family pictures. Tucker is 5. How can he be 5? Does anyone who has read this blog since he was born believe he is 5 already?

We celebrated on his actual birthday with supper and cupcakes.

I made this picture but Lindsay edited it and I think it is just about perfect.

There are many so I am just going to share a few. 

Lindsay and Tyler were with Tyler's family out to eat this weekend and captured this family photo. It is a good one.

Today at Tucker's friend party at the park Lindsay got this one of Paul Allen and Katie with all the boys.

Another really good one...

Tucker had a monster truck themed party. I made cake and cupcakes and Lindsay made a cute sign plus she had the tables all cute with the theme.

A friend of a friend knew two guys who have jacked up trucks that look like real monster trucks. They came by with them to the park and the kids got to go out and see them. It was a big hit.

And because my heart is ... oh just because....

And that is it for this post. 

Happy Fall,

Sandy