What A Year It's Been . . .

     This has been a YEAR! and finally it is coming to a close. November has arrived and soon, very soon there will be a New Year. I'll have to say that I'm ready for that to take place just as soon as it wants to arrive. LOL

 
     And we're heading into holiday season, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and also one I dread because it signals the start of the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are not favorites of mine. And the time changes, there is less light during the day and then there's that pesky cold weather.

      But it is also the time to start planning for next year!

     I haven't been blogging much this year but I intend to start blogging again regularly in 2015. The countdown is on . . .Look for some interesting posts in 2015, the return of the A to Z Challenge in April and NaNoWriMo in November. (I had thought of participating this year, it is November right now, after all, but I simply didn't have time to prepare for the event.)

 
     Look for my return on January 1, 2015. Also, some reminder posts leading up to the big day.

     As a side note . . .Don't Forget to Get Out And VOTE Tomorrow . . .it doesn't matter who you vote for, just vote . . .it's your constitutional right and you need to exercise it. (If you voted early, good job!) Thank You~!

Colorado . . .

     A friend of mine just got back from a trip to Colorado and brought back so many beautiful photo's that I just had to share them with you.  Enjoy these photo's and if you want to see more of them, check out this website: http://imagesbybob.biz/

I've Moved . . .

Hey! I've moved- to a new town and a new apartment and I have a new job . . .all since April.  Amazing!  However, I'm still living out of boxes.  I've been so busy, I haven't had time to unpack everything yet.  Here's a view from one of my balcony's.

I went from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom; 1 bathroom to a bath and a half; a small garden spot off the driveway to two balcony's; and even a pool.

These pictures were taken in May and since then I found a barbeque grill at a garage sale for this balcony (although I haven't had time to use it yet).  This is my long balcony and faces the street.  My son and I sit out here occasionally and have supper.  My begonia's have grown so big they spill over the edges of the basket and on the side facing the street you can see the vinca vine, that is also in this basket, and has since grown so long and so full it has grown to the bottom of the balcony.  I'm wondering if it will will eventually reach the ground?

 This is the short balcony and it is around back and just off the living room.   It faces the pool.  My geranium now has 10 big red blooms and all three of the cactus have doubled in size.  Notice the balcony lights, which I had planted in the rocks of my garden space back in Salina.  I wanted to use them here and they fit perfectly in upside down clay garden pots.  My balcony looks spectacular at night.

A Quote . . .as seen in the lobby at work

He who believes that nothing is impossible . . .

has never tried to slam a revolving door.

Hearts All Around

First there was the heart in the center of a cake donut

And now, there's a heart shaped chicken bite

I'm going to keep looking for heart shaped food

and when I find it, you'll see it here!  LOL

A Quote. . .as seen in the lobby at work

Everything has a purpose, he said

for no reason at all.

Embroidery

Yet another internet pattern.  I saw it pinned here: Sunshine

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

What's an "HONOR NIGTH"?

I think maybe they meant  "honor night".

Lebold Mansion Abilene, KS

Approaching the iron gate . . .

 

The mansion rises from the prairie, intimidating, foreboding; holding untold secrets . . .

Passing through the gates, steps hesitant as I approach the front door . . .

The Lebold Mansion; Abilene KS 1856 built on the site of the first dwelling in Abilene KS there is a plaque out front with additional information about the site and I found it to be very interesting; including the fact that the first white child of the area was birthed here; it's worth the drive to Abilene to check this and other historical sites out. The day I took this photo the wind was blowing 40 mph, early spring, and it was kinda creepy standing out front. I wondered what secrets the walls could tell . . .fascinating.

 

Embroidery

This was a free pattern on Elefantz blog.  

It's the "year of the stitch" and the stitch featured here was the back stitch.  

Check out Elefantz blog here: Elefantz

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

What's a "HOIDAY" shop?

I think they meant "holiday" shop.

A Quote . . .as seen in the lobby at work

Sometimes when I close my eyes . . .

I can't see!

Embroidery

This was a bonus pattern from Just Cross Stitch magazine; March 2013.

I really liked it up against the pink stripe fabric, 

but that doesn't show up here very well.

It's Spring . . .

 This is one of my favorite "signs" of Spring:

Spring waits . . .

Historischer Friedhof, Weimar, a photo by Hellebardius on Flickr.

behind the green door
Spring, at the top of the hill
waits and hopes and plans

© Lydia Lowe 03/01/14

Embroidery

This is a Lucky Jackson pattern.  

Check out her website to find out more about her 365 day project.  

Lucky Jackson

A Monthly Series . . .

I was inspired by my cube mate at work who has this:

sitting on her desk.  She changes it out monthly.  I'm a big fan of words, so of course, this appeals to me.

I decided to do a monthly series of my own after seeing that my favorite cross-stitch magazine was publishing a monthly series of designs.

The supplies above are for the December design.

I completed January:

and I framed it.  I think it would look much better in a frame that hugs the edge of the design, but this makes it much easier to frame each design without a lot of extra work.

I completed February:

Then I completed March:

I decided that I'm going to trim these designs down after they are all completed and put them together in a quilt.  

Of course, then next year I'll need a new year long project to frame for my desk.  LOL

A Quote . . .seen in the lobby at work

Their is one basic difference between genius and stupidity . . .

genius has its limits!

Friday Trivia

It was my turn to prepare Friday Trivia.

I chose: songs of the morning, sunshine and days of the week.

I supplied the name of the song and a photo off the internet of the group

who sang the song.

Little did anyone know, I also provided the answers, because if you moved the cursor over the photo of the group, it would link to their wiki page and give you their name.

Immediately, someone figured it out and notified me, and then they dropped out of the competition.

Shortly thereafter, another person figured it out and sent me all the correct answers, except for the bonus answer which didn't link to anything at all.

Most everyone just gave up.

I announced the winner at 4 p.m. and told them about the hidden answers, there was some laughter . . .

It's A Beautiful Morning,

was sung by which group?

Beautiful Day,

was sung by which group?

 

Tuesday Afternoon,

was sung by which group?

Saturday in the Park,

was sung by which group?

I'm Walking on Sunshine, 

was sung by which group?

These are some of the songs and groups that I had on the original trivia contest list.

Can you name the groups, without looking them out on the internet?

Good Luck!

I Won!

Every Friday at work, we do a trivia contest.  Once in a great while I participate.  I hadn't planned on participating this week; but when I opened up the attachment and saw the photo's they just called to me and I couldn't stop looking at them, so I decided to participate.  The bonus question is where you actually win the contest. This trivia contest had a bit of a twist to the bonus question.  The name of the trivia contest was:

How Well Do You Know The United States

5 extra bonus points if you can guess where this is taken

This is not in the United States, this is a mountain range in Canada near Vancouver

 And, I won!!!  Who'd have thought it. 

I don't know what I won because it wasn't told to us up front (usually it is a pop or snack of some kind) but it was just nice to win.  Of course, there's a catch to all this.  Now I have to come up with the next trivia contest and prize.

The Bridge of Disappointment

The Bridge of Disappointment, a photo by Danny Chapman on Flickr.

winter curls it's icy hand
around my upper arm
and won't let go;

sleet slices through the cold air
blowing, drifting snow, ice
as I wait here;

across the bridge, sunshine waits
beckoning me with warmth
blue skies, flowers;

I want to cross over there
itching to feel new grass
on my bare feet;

arms outstretched under the sun
birdsong sweet to my ears
buzz of insects;

but for now . . .

winter curls it's icy hand
around my upper arm
and won't let go;

© Lydia Lowe 03/01/14

Embroidery

I made this series of Dimensions mini's this past summer.  They were small and easy to pick up to work on.  Working on these made all the difference during this past year when everything was so crazy and depressing.  I think it's because of these little jewels that I was able to make it through the bad times.  Cross stitch embroidery is such a relaxing thing to do.

Embroidery

This is an adapted pattern that I made into a table topper.  I did the lettering using Microsoft Word and then added the design elements from an Elefantz freebie pattern.  Check out this website: Jenny of Elefantz

Embroidery

This is from an internet pattern; unfortunately I don't remember the site.

It's Friday . . .

A New Day Dawns . . .

sun·rise 

noun

the rise or ascent of the sun above the horizon in the morning.

the atmospheric and scenic phenomena accompanying this.

the time when half the sun has risen above the horizon.

the open or beginning stage of any period.

Embroidery

This is from an internet pattern; check out this website: If You've Got It Craft It

Green Car Club

 
    I have joined a club without realizing it, or maybe I originated it.  I'm not sure.  Back in September of 2012 I traded cars and bought this little bright green Ford Fiesta.  There were only two in town like it.  But then a few more appeared.  And a few more.  Now the town has about 10 to 15 of these little green cars in two different body styles.  Ironically, all with women owners.  When any one of us see's another one of us on the street driving by, as we pass each other, we always smile to ourselves, smile at each other and wave.  We don't know each other but it's just so much fun to see another bright green color car in the midst of all the boring navy, white, red, brown, gray, black and yellow cars.

What Are Friends For?

      I was at Wal Mart today and saw a woman and her friend going into the store, they crossed in front of my car.  One of the women had her hands full of receipts, the wind caught them and they went tearing down the drive.  There were a lot of receipts, flying through the air, like snow.  She went tearing off after them as her friend stood there looking embarrassed, and watched her as she dashed around in obvious distress.  She kept looking back at her friend by the door, and waving her arms around as she grabbed up her receipts.

     A couple of fellas saw this and began helping the frantic women gather up the receipts.  They went down aisles, went between cars and gathered all of the receipts up for her.  Her friend continued to stand near the doors. 

     Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers!

    

Embroidery

This is from an internet pattern; check out: Do Small Things With Love