I won a giveaway.

Wow this month is really flying by, the week has been a busy one for me making the days go by in a flash.
With things settling down a little I have time to type a brief post. Recently I entered a giveaway on one of the websites I read and I won. You can read about the giveaway here: https://deborahblake.blogspot.com/2016/08/magic-times-two-giveaway.html
My prizes came in the mail a few days ago and I couldn't be more thrilled. If you know me I am quite obsessed with pens and notebooks I have them everywhere, I can never have too many.

I won the Magic x2 notebook and the sweet little broom pen along with some promotional postcards which I happen to collect.   The notebook cover is based on the two books in one by authors, Deborah Blake and Mindy Klasky. Which is now available on Amazon.

I have been reading Deborah Blake's books for a few years, these are a few of the books I have on my book shelves, the Almanac includes other authors too.

Slow Sunday Stitching and a new Toy

The hand embroidery on block nine for the Hocuspocusville Quilt is coming along nicely, I am hoping to have this one completed a bit faster than block 8 which I finally completed a few days ago, I started it at the end of June.

Stitching branches

block 9 before stitching

I have the bottom of the tree complete and just a few more branches to do before I move onto the house; I love stitching trees. Block nine is another busy block but nowhere near as busy as block eight was.

block 8 completed

I am so glad I traced all of the patterns on the fabric blocks before I started the stitching it, all I have to do is pick up the next block and start embroidering. I even made sure I bought more than the 10 skeins of black floss recommended so I wouldn't run out since I use black for other projects I'll have it on hand. After a few weeks of debating with myself I bought a new toy, a Nextbook tablet with detachable keyboard.

I mainly purchased it so I could install an e-reader to allow me to download books a thing I swore I would never ever do. But times change and so do I.  I am a very avid reader and have more book shelves stuffed to overflowing with books. Here are some of the reasons I have decided to install the e-reader on the tablet:
1. I don't have to find space in the bookcase when I am done reading. I don't what to buy another bookcase.
2. Many of the books I want to read don't come in large print and many books have such small print or very light type that even with my strongest glasses I can't see the words or I strain to see it so I don't read the book.
3. I can enlarge the font on the reader so reason number two won't be an issue.
4. I read quite a few series novels which I usually check out from our library or buy used because frankly spending $7.99 or more for a paperback doesn't sit well with me, I know I won't read it again and if it doesn't make it past my 50 pages or first 3 chapters rule I have wasted what I spent because I won't continue to read the book.  And also reason two is a common drawback of some paperback books.
5. I can borrow e-books through my library too.
6. I can take any size book with me easily and holding it won't be such a strain on the hands and wrist.
7. Having the e-reader on the tablet means I don't have to purchase a separate device. I have installed Kindle and Nook was installed.

The drawbacks are few:
1. No physical book with pages to turn or the scent of old or new pages.
2. Those pesky fingerprints when I use the touchscreen. (this will drive me a little batty).

I like how lightweight the device is, it has a front and back camera that I need to master because I keep taking photos of my forehead.  I need to master the correct amount of pressure for the touchscreen my touch is too light and my swipe method is lacking. (It's the mail reason I never use my cell phone).

Here is the quilt top for a small quilt I am making for someone special, it is the same pattern I made a while back using the leftover fabric.  I bought way too much but I actually made 5 baby quilts.

Here is a closer look at one of the pinwheel blocks, the fabric for the backing will be fabric with the tiny white flowers on lavender.

Well let me get this posted today I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts today for Slow Sunday Stitching
here:https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2016/08/slow-sunday-stitching_21.html

I am joining the linky party at Super Mom No Cape here:http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/08/22/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-72/

Block Eight is Finished

Wow this one took some time but the hand embroidery is finally done on the eighth block of the Hocuspocusville Quilt.

I put the final stitches in today exactly one year and a day since I started the hand embroidery on these blocks beginning on August 14, 2015, you can find that post here:  http://deborahsbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/2015/08/tusal-report-for-august-new-moon.html

My stitching has much improved and the one constant is my allergies still flare up in August and cause much distress for my eyes.  I began this latest block on June 26th I was a little surprised this block took nearly seven weeks to complete the hand embroidery until I took the time to look back over my blog posts for those weeks, well I always said I'm in no hurry to complete this project but now that I have more than half of the blocks embroidered and autumn right around the bend it would be fun to see it completed.  I am linking my post over at Supermom No Cape's linky party where other bloggers share what they are currently working on.
http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/08/15/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-71/

Fun, Family and Stitching

Wow! It's the second Sunday in August and another opportunity to get some slow stitching on my Hocuspocusville block 8 today. I may get it finished today if all goes well.

I will be linking my post up over at Kathy's Quilts blog today here is the link come on over and see what other talented bloggers are slow stitching today.
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2016/08/slow-sunday-stitching_14.html

My health continues to improve and Tuesday I showed a loss of 3 pounds which is always a good feeling. My daily walks have been scattered at different times of the day usually to avoid the rain so a few days I found myself walking in the early afternoon, great on the beach not so great at the park I forget how oppressive the heat and humidity can be at that time of day.
It's been a very lovely week with daily rain finally giving the dry garden and lawn a good soaking.  I don't have any photos to show today but I can say I have lots of weeds to pull this week.

This week I am reading the first book in the new series by Terri DuLong, Patterns of Change, so far I

am enjoying the book.  This new series takes place in Ormond Beach, Florida, where the author recently relocated to from Cedar Key, FL. (which is where her other series took place).  Ormond Beach is one of the beaches I go to when I don't drive up to Flagler beach and its one of the cities I am househunting in.  My new issue of Tea Time magazine came on Saturday along with a few letters so later today I will be putting aside time to write a few replies and see whats happening in the world of tea.

On Friday I passed up my usual trip to the beach and headed out to Citrus Springs to see my sister and grandniece. They have recently moved here from Texas, they are renting the house for a month until the closing on the house in Crystal River which isn't too far from where she is now.  She moved to Texas last year because she didn't want to deal with all the snowy winters any longer, but she didn't like Texas at all too, too hot in the summer. She lived here in Florida when our mother lived here so she knows much of the area. I haven't seen my sister in over a decade and seeing my grandniece was pure pleasure.  Her husband will join her in October, he works in insurance and is now in Oregon, and barring any tornadoes or hurricanes or other related disasters he should be there until he retires in a few months.

Anyway my sister and niece will be in town once a week for the bounce house so I plan to meet up with her when I can so she doesn't feel so isolated and we can perhaps start to mend those broken fences that kept me away for so long.

Stitching and blending

Well the rainy weather here in August is sure making up for the lack of rain we had in July and as much as it interferes with a few early morning task it is much needed.  I took my morning walk with a light drizzle falling on my face and a nice breeze in the air and at 75 degrees it was quite nice.

Tomorrow morning the roads will be full of school buses with kids returning to learning after long hot summer, July was a scorcher.  After 20 odd years living in Florida I still find it odd that kids go back to school before Labor Day, I mean summer is in full swing, it all comes down to location I suppose, heck some of the schools in Florida go year round so I for one am glad I no longer have a school age child.

I bought a new blender last week and it works really well to make smoothies and crushes the ices like a breeze,

It's a bit of a monster blender, probably more blender then I really need but I like that it has single serve capacity with cups as well as a 72 oz blender container,  its a Ninja Professional blah blah blah.
I like the fact I can put the small blade piece onto the cups and just mix what I need and not have to deal with washing the huge container.

Yesterday I made more progress on my block eight hand embroidery and today I will work on the stepping stones and hopeful to get started on the tree.

I think all I did was the railing over the door before my hands started to tingle so I put aside the needle and just forgot to pick it back up again.
I will be linking my post over at Super Mom No Cape what don't you come on over to see what other bloggers are stitching today.
http://www.supermomnocape.com/

Good Health

It was a bit  of a crazy day today an early doctor appointment kept me from my early walk and after the doctor I was just pulling into the parking lot of the park nearby when it started to rain with no sign of letting up soon,  So I headed home planning to walk later after running errands and once again the rains came just as I was heading to the park.  I was beginning to think the odds were against me today.  So every half hour I peeked out the window only to see rain and I was getting so flustered, If it was s drizzle I would have walked but here in Florida when it rains in the summer most times the sky just opens up and pours the rain down.

Well finally after five the skies began to lighten and sunshine was peeking out here and there, I put on my walking shoes and headed to the park.  I managed to get my walk in under partial dark gray clouds/

The doctors visit this morning wasn't too bad, my blood pressure was good, my lungs clear and the EKG was normal but I will have an Echocardigram to look a little deeper since I have been having shortness of breath, tiredness.  Oh and bloodwork since its been 6 months and she wants to check the vitamin D deficiency and my A1C again.

Tomorrow I am off to the beach for a little sunshine and a nice long walk on the beach.

More stitching done on block 8

I love the start of a new month with all those fresh new days ahead, some well planned and others hopefully with a few good surprises tucked in, often thought of as the last month of summer with everyone rushing to fill these days with fun and adventure.

Yesterday after my initial work printing shipping labels and packing items for today's shipment I spent the last evening of July relaxing with some slow stitching and made a bit more progress on block 8 of the Hocuspocusville Quilt.

My photo is a bit fuzzy but that little rocking chair is so cute but the letters in those signs really give me finger fatigue.

There is another sign hanging from the tree I am not looking forward to doing, for some reason I grip the needle so tight my fingers can't feel the needle. You can't tell by these photos but  I'm more than half done with the hand embroidery on this block.  I will be linking up at Super Mom No Cape here
 http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/08/01/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-69/