The House is Empty today

After having my son, his wife and their three children around for almost a week, the house feels empty today. It is even emptier because my husband is off at a meeting.

The kids appeared to have a good time. They did everything from visiting the Air and Space Museum to hunting Easter Eggs at their Aunt Vicki's house.

We were 17 for Easter dinner. I am sure glad I didn't have to cook it all. I brought a honey-baked ham, and a spinach salad. My son did a macaroni and cheese dish that was so rich it could afford a chauffeur. My daughter-in-law made bacon-wrapped breadsticks. They are fantastically good, and simple to make. Just wrap a thin breadstick in a slice of room temp bacon. Then coat it with a combination of brown sugar and chili powder. Bake.

My daughter and her family were just back from a trip to Arizona. She did rolls and deviled eggs. She also had some dips and crackers/pita bread. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend brought potato salad and green beans with ham. My niece and her fiance brought cupcakes for dessert.

Everything was SO good!

One of the highlights of the LI family's visit was that all three of the grandkids decided to embroider. The little boy had the most trouble with the actual stitching because his eyes are 20/50 - corrected. He had a hard time finding the little holes in the Aida cloth. His little sister lost interest after a very short time, but kept picking it up. However, the star of the needles was the oldest granddaughter. She kept at it between everything else. When she left here, she had a sizeable bit of work done.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of any of them with needle in hand. I was busy helping out, and didn't grab the camera. Husband never thinks to take pictures.

I spent today putting things back the way they were before. And finding lots of Easter grass everywhere. I still don't have all the grass contained.

I'm going to go back to stitching tonight. I'm tired of cleaning.

Oatlands meeting tomorrow. I think we are continuing on with the Mystery Band Sampler. I'm actually caught up to where I should be. Miracle of miracles.

Two Turtle Doves, Three French Hens

I have finished both of them!

I just have A Partridge in a Pear Tree left for the challenge.

The birth sampler I chose is not going to the intended recipient. She lost the baby. I'll have to find another use for it.

My local grand-dog is coming for a visit tomorrow. We will have Dash (a border collie) for a week. The Long Island grands and their mother are coming on Wednesday. Our son can't get away until Friday, so we won't see him until late Friday. They aren't going home until Monday. A very long visit this time. Also, a very complicated transportation method. Barb is driving down to her sister's in Maryland this weekend and bringing their parents. Her sister, her sister's family, and their parents are leaving on Wednesday for North Carolina to visit her brother. Jon is driving his in-law's car here. They will pick it up sometime Monday to drive home.

We will be heading to our daughter's home on Sunday for Easter Dinner. Although it means no leftovers for us, it is an awful lot easier on me that way. So, if I don't get back before .... Happy Easter to you.

Oh, have you seen the embroidered eggs that were featured in Mary Corbett's Needlen Thread? If not, here is a link. http://album.aufeminin.com/album/see_105544_55/Photo-d-expo.html
And have you seen the carved Easter Eggs? Here is a link to them. Carvingeggshells.pps




Both are worth seeing. Happy Easter

50th Anniversary

I had thought that I would personalize the Pam Darney Red Bird sampler for my son's anniversary. But, in the end, I did it for our 50th Anniversary. The anniversary isn't until in June, but this way, it is done and I don't have to rush around finishing.

I took it to the framer's. I had a terrible time picking out a frame. I finally ended up with a relatively plain frame with a gold fillet. Hopefully, it will look ok.

I also took my grand=niece's piece. I really like the frame we decided on for that ... a turquoisey frame with a bit of gold next to the picture. The color of the frame is almost the same color as a color in the sampler.

Pictures for both after they return. I still don't have a shot I like of Rhapsody in Red. I keep getting too much glare. I'll try again.