Snow!

This is the lovely snowfall we woke up to this morning. It's pretty, especially if you do not have to drive in it!

Snowblower Success!

Doug got the snowblower out yesterday, in anticipation of this snowfall and - lo and behold - it started right up! Aren't we lucky?

Surf's Up!

While we are busy decorating for Chrismas and shoveling snow, this is what my son, Justin, is doing in California!

Martha was here .... Thanksgiving morning

Ooh la la! Martha was here this morning and made this lovely Almond and Cranberry Tart. I'd like to have it for breakfast but I will have to wait until later today!

Dinner By Brian

Above is the scallop appetizer Brian made for us, before he served a delicious fish dinner.

Best Hair Ever

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!

Lavellette, New Jersey - August 2007

I was lucky enough to visit Lavellette, NJ, last month and visit with family. The picture on the top is my sister-in-law, Linda, and her mother, Flo. It was great seeing them together - mother/daughter - and great having Flo with us as she knew the area and could tell us all about the best places. The other picture is of me (on the right) with my sister, Polly, my OLDER sister!

Isn't it just about the prettiest place you have ver seen?

The cousins and second counsins sat for a photo while at the weeding of cousin Jesse Baker, now Jesse Haney. Aren't they the sweetest bunch?

So here I am using Maggie's "miner's" lamp for reading on the front porch. How attractive! I wonder if this would work for stitching in bed!

This is a project that has me captivated. It was a class project, designed and taught by Betsy Morgan. The Indianapolis Embroiderers' Guild hosted this class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has 4 sides, each depicting a different season, using different light-colored ground fabrics and gorgeous silk fibers. The top and bottom squares pull all the colors together, as does the small fob piece for the scissors. I am just about done with the stitching and will begin the finishing very soon! Believe it or not - this might be the first piece I will have finished in all of 2007!

This is a photo of the Blue Ribbon Sampler, stitched by my friend, Joyce Hoffmann. One year ago, Joyce challenged me to do this sampler. I got side-racked but she finished hers and it is at the framer's now. As soon as I finish sorting through my sewing room - I will be starting on this project again. Hers is fabulously gorgeous and I can't wait to see it framed!

This is a picture of Maggie enjoying a bit of shade under the trumpet blossoms! Fabulous!

This is Katie underneath these fabulous blossoms which are trumpet-shaped and hang from an enormous tree! Awesome!

What I like about this picture is that you can see my toenails! The picture was taken at the Froelinger gardens in Fort Wayne on my birthday. The girls took me there to celebrate. It was a lovely day and I am glad I got there because the day before my girlfriend, Joyce, pampered me with a pedicure and a manicure to celebrate my 52nd!

This is a picture of me at the Bugs & Butterflies exhibit at the botanical gardens in Fort Wayne.

Katie and Mo look so happy in this picture!

Time is sure passing quickly this Summer. It is now past the 4th of July and I am just now posting a photo of Maggie, taken when she was in South Africa. That trip was taken just after the Spring semester ended!

Mail Art from Canada!

This is my latest mail art envelope. I received this from Fiona in Canada, through one of my online mailart exchange groups. In addition to the lovely motifs, the stamps are all very cool, too. The inside is lined appropriately with ice hockey fabric that matches the Canadian theme and the inserts were thoughtfully chosen as well - a postcard from Toronto, a Canadian "rubberband" bracelet and a sweet pin depicting the flags of our two countries. Can't wait to put it on display for my fellow stitchers and friends!

Easter Brunch

Today was the coldest Easter Sunday I can remember. I awoke to find a heavy dusting of snow coating my daffodils, which are now all wilted. Soon the snow had melted and Doug took Katie, Maggie and me to a lovely Easter Brunch at a nearby restaurant, called Joseph Decuis, in Roanoke, IN.

Joseph Decuis was founded in 1996 as the private dining facility for American Specialty and was opened to the public in 2000. It is known for its distinctive reputation for superb gourmet dining. Here was today's menu:

Amuse Bouche *
Carrot and Ginger Soup with Orange Agrumato
~
Choice of Salad:
Hearts of Palm
Artichoke Hearts, English Cucumbers, Bibb Lettuce,
Tarragon Remoulade, Jumbo Lump Crab Meat
or
Spring Mista
Mesclun Greens, Strawberries,
Goat Cheese, Honey-Champagne Vinaigrette

Choice of Entrée:
Thai Barbequed Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast
Thai Jasmine Rice, Wok Flashed Vegetables, Mango-Habenero Mojo
or
Wild Mushroom Crusted Jail Island Salmon
Celery Root Puree, Haricots Vert, Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms, Red Wine Reduction
or
USDA Prime Petite Filet Mignon
Potatoes Anna, Asparagus, Baby Carrots,
Black Truffle Demi Glace
or
Lobster Ravioli
Tender Pasta with Maine Lobster, Artichoke Hearts, Parmesan,
Light Cream and Brunoise Vegetables

Choice of Dessert:
Caramel Pot de Crème
Whipped Cream, Tuile
or
Carrot Cake
Cream Cheese Frosting, White Chocolate Tuile
or
Flourless Chocolate Gateau
Chocolate Coulis, Fresh Raspberries

* After reading the menu and learning that Amuse Bouche means "amuse mouth", it is safe to say I was expecting a party in my mouth! We sat in a lovely solarium in our Easter finery and were graciously waited upon!

The deer are hungry ...

These two photos make up a panaramic view of my backyard. The small black dots are all deer. They must all be in the field looking for bits of food. There must have been about 30 deer!

Moving to Fort Wayne ...

Now that I am working as a municipal attorney for the City of Fort Wayne, Doug and I will be moving to Fort Wayne. We found this lovely home, in an area convenient to work, that we will be moving to in about 2 months.

On the move ...

This is the shed where Doug will live!

This picture depicts the front of a mail art I did for an international exchange. Of course, the "theme" was "patriotic" so I used a few motifs and stitches from favorite charts to come up with an envelope that would represent colors in the U.S. flag. Hope my partner likes it!

Patriotic Mail Art - Back

I wanted to make the back look a little interesting, too, so I added a charm and some couched grosgrain ribbon.

Wintery Wreath

Winter finally arrived this week. It started snowing Monday evening and continued throughout Tuesday. I was unable to get to work but, as it turns out, my office was closed for the "snow emergency" at about noon. I was grateful to be home and safe. The wind was fierce all night long and there is an incredible amount of drifting. There has not been a plow down our road at all nor have any cars passed. This picture is the wreath on my front door.

Sister's Weekend - Wilmington, DE

The coven of five sisters met in Wilmington, DE, near Kathy's home. We had a great time talking, exercising, shopping, and - of course - eating.