Some Stitching and Trip to Auburn Recap

Our visit to Auburn proved to be quite restful. I did do quite a bit of visiting with friends old and new, but I also got in some stitching time. I was so ready to work with my needle. 

I worked the first part of the time on the family registry. The colors are quite muted so they don't photograph well, but in person they are just perfect for this sampler.

A closeup up.

Because of the darker linen and colors I couldn't stitch very well one of the nights so I started Tucker's name. 

I am not quite finished with the first letter I started. I have outlining to do on the U and a doggie to do on the top of the U. This is the only letter in which I am following the book's pattern. 

I will personalize the doggie to look like their dog.

This book is an oldie but goodie. I did Lindsay's name way back in time. I never did Paul Allen's mostly due to the length of his name. He got lots of other things done for him.

Many friends ---Mary of Stitching Friends and Arlene from Nanaland sent patterns with beach things so I have penciled out a plan for the name. The only letter I haven't nailed down is T; hence the start with the letter U. I do think I have an idea but want to get into it a bit before I decide.

Now onto the rest of the trip. 

Tamyra of Positively Southern came over to visit one day. I have been telling her since we moved into the Auburn house a year and half ago I would have her over to see the house and the wonderful little neighborhood it is in, but I have always a crew with me. Since it was just Jeff, me and the dogs, I texted her on the way up and invited her over. 

We met in person at the Sweet Home Antiques tent sale. Tamyra does the social media side of the things for them. It was fun to have her over and spend some time visiting. We plan to do this more often and I will go and visit her lovely home that is full of gorgeous antiques.... a mutual like.

No pics this time.

Jeff and I also stopped at a park that we have driven by hundreds of time. IT is just as you come into the outskirts of Auburn from the old cabin at Lake Martin. We also drove out to see the cabin for the first time since we sold it. It looked just the same, but lots of new construction out that way going in.

Anyway, the park is one I will visit again for walks. IT has a 1 mile, 2 mile, and 5 K loop and was extremely nice. The front side has lots of areas for education. I am sure they do field trips for kids. 

...and trails behind.

We made a pot of soup for one of the days and had our very good friends over who have a house on the same street. Jeff and Jeff have been friends since jr. high school. Then the next day they made chili and had us over. 

Other than those activities, we had some downtime at home and it was very nice. 

We were in bed by 10:00 and heard very little fireworks like at home. We got up early this morning and drove home. No traffic hardly at all. We were trying to get home before the noon kickoff of Auburn's bowl game. We good have foregone that since they played horribly!

Oh well, onto basketball season now.

Mother, Lindsay, and I are going to Monroeville tomorrow to visit with my aunt and check on the cemeteries. 

I can't really dig into all my New Year's plans until Hubby goes back to work:)

2020 is here....I wish my 20/20 vision was still here. Getting old dims the old eyes.

Sandy

A little Gus and Lemony next time.

A Few Thoughts Today

This will most likely be the last post for 2019. I am soaking up these last few days of the year. I have been somewhere between knowing I need lots of physical rest and wanting to be busy busy busy around the house. What has transpired is a good bit of both!

After one of the months that I did the least amount of cross stitching for the year, I have been trying to make up for that the last couple of days. The evenings have been glorious with some stitching time. I have been working on the Quaker family registry each evening. I didn't think I would be able to do it at night due to the dark and subdued colors of the floss but I seem to have found my groove. I am off count of the border and think I know where it occurred - ARGH!

I have been in full on reflection mode as well as tidying mode. I have to say I don't have so much to declutter with the exception of that sentimental stuff I have spoken of before. I have hit some of the hot spots around the house and made a bag of things to take to Goodwill. The sentimental stuff is waiting on me downstairs and that is going to be a long slow process for 2020.

I spent half the day in the sewing room. I call it that it but it should be something like the --- "multipurpose room, the laundry room, the office,  work room, the catch all" --- you get the idea. Wow! No matter how hard I try to stay on top of it sometimes it just gets out of control. December was one of those times. It is now all clean, the desk is somewhat tidier, the counter is cleaned off, the ironing is done, and lists have been made to deal with soon.

So now it is time to talk about what worked in 2019 and plans for 2020.

Home Life

My cleaning routine that I came up with and tweaked this year has been quite effective. Doing a little each day is working for me at this stage of life. I still have some serious hot spots...namely my desk, the kitchen island, and my table next to the chair in the family room.

I am simply determined that I will conquer those areas this year! Not sure how but determined. If you lay one item down on that kitchen island it is over.

Stitching and Sewing

I did so much better the second half of the year reigning in that buying of patterns when I HAVE more than I can stitch. I got to the point I felt overwhelmed with it. I had made some poor purchases. I did feel better after I sold some on Ebay. 

With that said, this is the year of stitching with my stash. I really really am going to try and stay true to that. I have a list a mile long I want to stitch and have all the patterns to do so, so it is time to do just that. You heard it here!

I also want to do some crafty projects that I have in my project boxes and have put off for some time. It is time to bite the bullet and start them. I think it is about making a plan to do just a bit at a time.

After keeping Tucker this year, Jeff was quite good about giving me some time on Saturday mornings to just go BE in my "sewing room." I really think I should call it the "work room" like at school. I would like to maybe continue that.

Gardening

I really am proud of myself this year. I made some huge changes there. I pulled those roses up. I gave away a lot of pots and scaled that down a lot. I love to grow things, but I need to have a doable amount and need to quit trying to do more than I can or fighting what grows in my area. 

I have been researching and having fun doing just that. 

My little garage pots are looking quite pretty for a late December day and all of it should survive the winter and move right into the spring.

Loving those white pansies this year. The key is lots of fertilizer!

And the ornamental mustard has taken off in the swans on the front porch.

Family Time

I am just counting my blessings here. I can't even begin to tell you the blessing of keeping Tucker this year. Yes, he disrupted my life, my free time, and the like---but oh what a blessing he has been.

I look forward to more of that.

I know that I have to devote a bit more time for Mother in the coming year, so Tucker will be soon going to some day care for some of the time. I will not get free time, but more time to see about her. I know that time is coming when that will take up a lot more time, but it is what it is. 

In this category, I have some goals mapped out for health and eating that fell off the cliff with keeping Tucker. They are going to be a top priority!

Faith Journey

Let's see...

Walking with and trusting in the Father is just that - a journey. I am so grateful for Him! I have no idea how people get through life without Him. 

I mentioned reading a book by Emily Ley towards the end of the year. I ended up reading all three of her books and they really spoke to me. The first one is a story, the second one is a how-to, and third one just really wowed me - a story and a how-to.

I want to watch my contentment level by being careful what I fill my mind with. Too much computer and Instagram, etc. can leave one feeling very discontented and edgy. I plan to do a little fast on everything except my blogs. I don't feel that way with them. In fact, the little blogs I read and spend the most time are filled with ladies who encourage me.

I like this quote form the above mentioned book.

" When we spend hours scrolling through photos and updates from friends on social media, we are foregoing the undistracted time with our thoughts and with our people that would happen if we just put our phones down." ___Emily Ley

I plan to keep blogging. Some noticed the header change. That was a total accident. I was playing around one night and well, I lost my other forever...gone into the dark hole. 

I will work on a new one. Not pleased with the one I have just yet. 

If you haven't noticed I have touched on the categories of the tag line for my blog. I am going to stay true to that in the coming year.

Almost to the end ---

I have a new planner. I always splurge on a planner. I am a paper girl and it keeps me in order. I know myself!!!

Anyway, this year I made a switch. I am just itching to use the new one. It is a different layout and the company is a local girl ---Emily Ley --- a Pensacola native.

Isn't it just the prettiest?!

I have no word for 2020 yet! Don't know if I will choose one. If it comes to me ---then I will have one.

Hubby and I are heading to the Auburn house tomorrow and staying a few days. I am so grateful for place to go for a change of pace. I know it will force me to rest. I look forward to stitching, reading, and resting. I hope to come back refreshed and ready for 2020. 

Does anyone else think 2020 sounds so "futurish"???

I am leaving you with the most precious picture from Christmas Day's picnic.

 See you in 2020,

Sandy