A Few Good Reads

I so enjoy reading. The one bummer about getting back to stitching after many, many years is having to choose between stitching or reading when all is quiet on my home front. But here is a bonus on both fronts: I can stitch when my 1st and 3rd grader have to read aloud to me and I can read to my 1st and 3rd grader for our read aloud time! Win-win!!

Here is what I just finished reading to the Peppers:

Teddy's Button

1890 by Amy LeFeuvre

 edited and rewritten by Mark Hamby

 

I LOVE this book! I am so glad we had more children so I would have an excuse
 to read it out loud again! haha

Seriously, it is such a good story I had BNH read it last week so he would know what we were reading and how we are working on fighting "Bully." It is a sweet, simple story about learning to be aware about fighting our own sinful flesh. This book is one of many in the fabulous collection of Lamplighter Publishing. All of their books are century old stories found and carefully selected for reprinting. While I am a huge fan of holding a book and turning pages, I just saw these available as ebooks at CBD.

 

Another way I get a little reading in is through our high school English Lit. courses. Here is what my senior and I are reading:

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

This story of intrigue was written in 1905 and takes place during the
French Revolution.
One of the greatest times in homeschooling high school for me has been being able to pick our own great literature and having discussions with the kids. We have reamed out Hester and Dimsdale in The Scarlett Letter (not our favorite by any means), cheered for "the patient" for not giving in to Wormwood and Uncle Screwtape, and given thanks for the life change of Marcus in Quo Vadis? Perhaps one of the reasons
I have also so enjoyed this time is that my own high school lit. had titles
 such as Lord of the Flies and Fahrenheit 451.
Not really my idea of great reads.

But, back to the Pimpernel...I like the author's writing style and it is full of rich vocabulary like rubicund, defalcations, and obsequiousness. My son is using a specific study guide with this one which has a great vocab study and essay writing. The downside is that we only read one chapter a day. I confess that at times I have read ahead. I can't help myself! Once I get my nose in, I get so engrossed. But this frustrates my son because he doesn't like me knowing what's to come.

Here is one just for my own interest:

Mary Lincoln

Biography of a Marriage

by Ruth Painter Randall

 I chose this one because of the recommendation of Jennifer over at
Feathers in the Nest. I actually found a copy at my local library and am slowly making my way through it. The author handles her well researched material very carefully as she refutes Lincoln's junior law partner, Herdon, and his character misrepresentation of Mary Lincoln, as well as tell about the couple's relationship.  It is a bit of a tedious read and seems to have a bit of a legal/defense feel to it, but I am curious to know the details as much as can be found out from past letters and stories told about the couple. I find myself feeling sorry for poor Mary and wishing she could have gotten some help and understanding for her reactionary temper and for whatever may have been going on with her physiologically.

  Quite the wide range of style and age appropriateness! The only common denominator between these three is that they were written over 100 hundred years ago or about events that happened over 100 years ago. I guess I just love old books!
There is just something about their style, message, and vocabulary that endears these classics to me.

So, what's the choice for tonight? Maybe 15 minutes of stitching and then a chapter of Mary and Abe before I fall asleep.
I'd best be off before I get too tired for either one.

Victoria


My Pokey Progress

Well, here my bit of stitching progress:

Out of focus, I dare say...but a picture nonetheless.

I am struggling a bit with this one. There are suppose to be 2 shades of green for the cacti and for whatever reason they don't look to be different. I went to Michael's to check the dye lot and they didn't have the DMC in question. humpf!

 I think I will have to rip out all the green. So I am not stitching any more of those areas until I can get somewhere else to check the floss.

It seems really pokey to me. But I am trying to encourage myself

that every stitch counts. And my boy keeps watching for progress so I feel like I need to keep at this one even though I want to start something new.

 

So I am curious, following stitchers. Do you limit the number of pieces you work on at one time? Or do you just have a constant pile of ones in the works?

I am a one-at-a-time girl. I think I would drag some out way too long if I popped around on what I was working on. Or possibly leave some undone. The trouble for me with just working on one at a time is that if it is not going well, I don't get much stitching done. I get bogged down and then don't stitch for a few days or longer.

 

If you have time, I'd love to hear from you how you make it work and what you do when you get bogged down.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

I am honored to have you as followers!! :)

 

Simply,

Victoria

 

Birthday Girls' Getaway

Sometimes in life someone comes along your path that becomes a part of you.  A very dear someone that is completely irreplaceable. Someone that has seen you through marriage and births and peaks and valleys, sharing laughter and tears of enormous proportions.

That dear someone came across my path in high school gym class, freshman year. Somehow in the sea of one piece, zip-up, striped-knit gym suits, we found each other and commiserated on the joylessness of playing football with pimply-faced boys that ran you down in their intense competitiveness.

She - the extrovert, and I - the introvert, found plenty in common and grew together those high school years hanging together in the same social circle and extracurricular activities. Our favorite was drama, including one-act plays and musicals.

Here we are as seniors in our last hurrah, The Wizard of Oz.

Lisa was the Wicked Witch of the West and I, the Good Witch of the North. We had such a blast! (See the stars on our dressing room door?? I think we had a touch of senior ego going on.)

Well, fast forward 30 years, we now have to be intentional to make sure our paths cross as she lives over a thousand miles from me. Last year we decided that in 2013 we would celebrate our not-yet-half-century birthdays by having a girls' getaway. What we had thought could be a warm weather getaway, turned into a trip that was providentially just what we needed. God closed doors on flights and open ones to a bogo overnight stay and quiet fellowship. Lisa flew to me and we drove to a lovely resort to spend two nights of sweet girl time.

Lounging, watching HGTV and FOOD network, dipping in the hot tub, taking a walk, as well as cooking filled some of our time together.

Hi, dear friend!

Here is one of the delicious dishes we created: lemon-butter salmon, roasted asparagus and potatoes cooked in coconut oil. Oh-so-good! We also made chicken parmigiana, that would make PW proud, and cream cheese scrambled eggs to knock your socks off.

And, of course, how can it be a girls' getaway without some Jane Austen?? Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth did not disappoint. I stitched a bit, but with Rupert Penry-Jones on the screen I gave up counting. :)

We have often been asked if we are sisters and we are. Sisters of the heart and sisters in the faith.

Thanks, Dear, for your gift of friendship and for being Auntie Lisa to my kids. You are a treasure to all of us!! Can't wait for next year's 2nd annual getaway!!

So Blessed,
Victoria

Another Giveaway

Oh! I just found out that I won Parsley's giveaway - a LHN chart. My first win! Thank you so much Parsley!!

I also found that Nancy is giving away some dyed threads. Check it out. The entry goes on until March 15th.

Lots happening here this weekend. DS, child number 4, turned 18. And DD came home from Brazil today after nannying for a sweet, godly family. She has been helping this family for a year and a half. When the dad got a job transfer, they asked her to accompany them to get settled. So she has been in Rio de Janeiro for the past 6 weeks. I am praying that she can adjust being back home fairly quickly. It will be hard for her.

Lots of rain here today. Hopefully it will melt the snow and spring won't be too far away. Well, I am going to grab my needle and stitch a bit before bed. The fire is crackling and BNH and I are talking with our oldest DD and her friend. I'll post a pic soon on my progress.

Blessings to you all,
Victoria

Parsley's Giveaway

If you love LHN patterns, hop on over to Parsley's to check out her giveaway. I so like the idea of passing along a chart when finished with it. I need to pick through mine as well to share the fun. Soon!

Hope your week is starting out well!
Victoria

Soup...It's What For Dinner!

Another 8 inches of snow fell here last night.

That calls for warming, spicy soup for dinner.

This recipe is sooo easy! And equally tasty.

I haven't made it in awhile and am so glad that I had some

uncooked chicken breasts in the fridge!

 

Salsa Chicken Soup

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed

32 oz. chicken broth*

1-2 tsp. chili powder**

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup salsa

 

In a large saucepan, combine chicken, broth, and chili powder. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add corn; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add salsa and heat through. Garnish with avocado and grated cheese. Serve with a side of corn bread.

 

* I always have some homemade broth in the freezer. It really gives it a rich flavor, because it isn't watered down like the canned stuff, but Pacific Organic chicken broth is good in a pinch.

 

** I used Penzeys' Chili Powder Medium Hot. It was pretty zappy so I only added 1 tsp.

 

Give it a try and let me know how you liked it!

 

Have a warm and cozy evening!

Simply,

Victoria

 

 

 

 

First Framing Attempt

I love weekends.
I love the change of pace and the freedom from school.
I love being able to take some time to create.
A couple of weeks ago I purchased some supplies to try my hand at framing.  I purchased a large sheet of acid-free foam board at Michael's, found in the framing department, and some brass, rustproof pins at Joann's. This weekend was the first opportunity to give it a go.

I had googled the process a bit and learned some from a store owner before I purchased anything. Some of the things I read said to lace, some to just pin. The lady in the closest LNS to me used T-pins that she removed when finished. She laced with a cotton string/thread that you would use in crocheting. Before I started I wasn't sure if I would pin and/or lace. I just knew that I didn't want to use any tape, acid-free or not.

To start I measured the foam board with the piece of cardboard inside the frame I was going to use, making sure there was enough room in the frame for the fabric as well. I decided the best way to cut it was on the band saw. Then carefully eyeing up the piece and the lines, I began to pin it. I had to unpin and repin a couple of times. Once because I found that I had left a tiny thread tail that showed through rather obviously to me. (*Note to self - trim thread tails carefully!)

Here it is pinned:

 I decided to lace. Since I have never done this before, I wanted to be sure that it would be tight enough. I just used a thick thread I had on hand which worked adequately.

I just kind of zigzagged my way across top to bottom and then side to side. Next time I will tack the corners differently but I didn't want to make them too thick and bulky.

So I just left them rough as they wouldn't show anyway.

I am quite certain I will win no awards for my lacing! :p

It looks pretty scrappy!!

 

I remember the store owner saying not to pull too tightly or it distorts the linen

 and the evenness of the piece. So I really just laced to secure it without creating too much tension. I then just pushed the pins straight into the foam board.

Then into the frame it went.

 

 

 There it is. I am curious to see how well it holds and if it gets any gapping in the linen over time. Now I know that if it does, I can fix it by repinning and lacing again.

If any of you have some tips on this, please, please share! I am sure I could learn more regarding the actual lacing process. And, for those of you who have never done this, I encourage you to give it a whirl. For me it wasn't as intimidating as I thought it was going to be. I had asked the lady at the LNS if I attempted to lace a piece and I goofed it up would I ruin it. She said she didn't think so. So that also gave me encouragement to try it. I am also glad I first tried this on a small piece.

What is most rewarding to me is the fact that the whole thing cost less than $10 when I was finished.
Here's my math:
Foam board  $6.90 for a sheet that was 32 x 40 -  I used 5 x7--  $.19
Brass pins $4.49 for 200, roughly used 35 pins -- $.80
Frame $3.99 on clearance plus 25% off that (Michael's)-- $2.99
I didn't factor in the thread~

The approx. total for framing was $5.00. Wow, that seems really low, doesn't it?? Well, I checked my math a couple of times to be sure and I get the same thing. If any of you check this and I am incorrect, please let me know!

So, stitching friends, here's my encouragement to you: if you've been thinking about doing this, give it a try. You might find that you can do it too. Besides, who of us wants our lovely work rolled up and tucked away until we can afford to take it to a professional framer?

Simply,
Victoria