On A Roll - Maybe

As I mentioned in my last post, I had to frog all but the inner circle of flowers and vines from my anniversary cross stitch project. After working hard for the past two nights, I've made good progress restitching - correctly this time - what I ripped out. This time, I'm continually checking to make sure everything lines up correctly.

I'm still not happy with the "25". In the pictures on the chart, it looks like there's a lot more empty space in the center, so I am a bit confused. I think I'll work with graph paper some more to see if I can get the numbers to look nicer. It would appear that exactly centering them does not make for the most pleasing appearance.

Sampler for Weddings and Anniversaries
Patricia Ann Designs

Frogging

I am so bummed. I thought I'd work on my sampler while I watched TV tonight. But something looked off, so I began to investigate. Turns out I have to take out everything except the inner motif. Or at least I think I do. I'm still not sure what happened.

Better that I discovered it before I did any more work!

Anniversary Cross Stitch

My husband and I spent over 5-1/2 hours at the hospital yesterday while he received two units of packed red blood cells.  (Visit Phil's Caring Bridge site to find out what happened.)  One of the things I took to keep me occupied was my cross stitch. These pictures were taken a couple of days ago; today I finished all but a few stitches on the right hand side outer border and started across the top.

I have ripped out the "5" in the center several times, trying to get it positioned the right way, but to no avail, so I think I'll get some graph paper and play with the placement that way.

 

Callie

 

Who needs to pay for Internet filtering when there's a cat in the house?

(Callie looks like she's snoozing, but I'm sure she knows exactly what

Grace is doing on her computer!)

Still here!

I am still here, still busy.  I was able to get outside and snap a few pictures of the spring flowers beautifying our yard.  These are all hyacinths.

Please keep my husband in your prayers.  His red blood cell count has fallen to a severely low level; he will be having a transfusion on Monday.  It's been a tense couple of days around here, trying to figure out what to do.  You can read more at his Caring Bridge site.

Mystery Project

I finally picked up my cross stitch on Tuesday, when I wasn't feeling well. With time moving by at an unbelievable pace, I decided that I ought to tell my husband what I am working on so I can stitch downstairs when we're watching TV in the evenings.

Phil and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary on May 26. I wanted to commemorate the occasion with a special cross stitched sampler. I chose Sampler for Weddings and Anniversaries (PAD47) by Patricia Ann Designs.

This is proving to be challenging for me; there are lots of parallelogram-shaped leaves done in backstitch, and my eyes play tricks on me when trying to figure out where the stitches go! But I am making some progress, so I just need to keep going.

I will try to get a picture soon; other things have taken priority of late! (Like my daughter's income tax.)

More Hospitality

Still not much crafting going on here.  I did manage to sneak in some sewing time last weekend; a quick project that afforded instant gratification.  (I sure like those!)  I desperately need to work on my cross stitch.  It's been about four weeks since I've gotten together with my stitching friend due to illness, first her, then me.  Hopefully we'll connect this Thursday evening.

What has been occupying my time, though, is hospitality.  As I wrote in my last post, there's been only one guest, a wonderful young man who, as of a week ago, is courting our daughter, Grace.  Tonight I served what we have touted as our best meal:  spaghetti and meatballs.  Not just any meatballs, but my hubby's extraordinary ones!  I used the good china, something I ought to do more often, and lit candles.

 

I also served focaccia bread, jello, green beans, and sparkling grape juice.  For dessert, we had rainbow sherbet. 

Anthony will be here for dinner Wednesday night (I have to go out in the afternoon, so he and Grace will be making tacos), Saturday night, and Sunday!  I think he'll get pizza both weekend nights (two different crust recipes), although I have some ravioli in the freezer that I could serve.  I feel like I've gained another family member; the challenge is to serve one more person while not spending any more for groceries.