Monday, October 5, 2009

Speak Not....then again...

Isn't this the coolest design? I absolutely love this design and verse - what a thought provoker. As it was a must-have, I ordered it immediately from Jan of Only One Ewe Needleworks and asked if I could post about her on my blog. The design part of her ONS is new and can be found at Tree of Life Samplings. Check out the blog for more upcoming new designs. :)

It's been a busy week; Mom is improving, though still dealing with some pain. But the scooter is gone and she's walking and going through physical therapy. Thank you all again for the well wishes and encouragement you've all given.

Is it me or has anyone noticed that having a pet is like having a kid, literally? We just paid the bill for Montana's possible eye, ear, and bacterial infections; we're to give him Activia yogurt...if you get my drift. He also strained a muscle trying to move on tile floors at his Puppy College, as my DH calls it. You can tell we were slack during the summer; he's a little unruly. The vet informed us that while he might be an obedient dog, he would always retain that "wild" factor (Big sigh). However, as long as he's sweet and loving, that's ok. Haha I loved his take on it; he's not the one trying to restrain the 76#and still growing "puppy" as he LOVINGLY greets new people. Somehow I don't think loving is the word the recipient would use; more like licking and stomping. LOL He looks happily innocent, doesn't he?


Stitching progress includes the next heart for Karin's Friendship RR...

Sara, Deborah, and I met to exchange our Friendship RR's in person. What fun! Deborah and I are friends already, but discovered that I'd actually met Sara at another stitch-in two years ago. Who knew? And she's such a sweetheart, just like Deborah. I'm continually amazed how stitchers are universally nice and we all share this common thread (no pun intended).

Sara and me with Karin's RR...

Sara and Deborah with Diana's and Lisa's RR...
If you remember, Lisa's RR was kept and she started over again, but she's catching up.
Here's the progress on my own RR somewhere out there in the world; I love it!

I've been stitching as much as possible on Zentangle; I'm through pt. 5 and hope to finish it before it's taken off the website.

Zentangle pts. 1-5
design by Kirsten Schmitt and Elke Reiss for the Marquoir Yahoo Group
Zentangle is being stitched with permission by the designers

And the newly engaged couple came home this weekend; they're soooo happy. We talked into the wee hours of the morning and caught up on life. DFiance', DDIL, and DH have BD's, so we celebrated everything this weekend. In honor of this fact, DH has a new bike that we can both enjoy. Gotta love these colors; I did mention that I wanted bright. He traded in his beloved Fat Boy (sniff, sniff) for this spiffy touring bike. Away we go!

If you click on the picture, you can see the look of satisfaction on my DH's face. It looks as if he hunted it down, killed it, and hauled it home. Men are too funny.
Happy Birthday to my Sweetie today!
Hope all of you have a great week and stitch to your heart's content. :)

43 comments:

Meari said...

Happy Bday to your DH. Men and their toys... They're so proud of them!

Sounds like a fun weekend was had by all :)

Emily in NC said...

You make my DH jealous as he wants a new bike and we can't really afford one yet. Your dog is just over jealous at greeting new people, had a dog like that once, just teach him not to jump and things are good.

saras said...

I love when people obey me immediately! :) ha

Cynimin said...

I'm jealous too. i'd love to be on the back of a bike but DH isn't the bike type. Great stitching! And Montana is such a cute 'little' boy!

Vicki in CO said...

You're right, I really love that design! Thanks for the links.

Montana looks like he'd be a perfect playmate for our Murphy. He's 10 months old and we call him our 'horsey boy.' Aren't they a hoot?!

Mel said...

Great update Carolyn!

Nice stitching and love the pics of your puppy.

GoldenAngelsWorks said...

How great that you all could meet and spend time together.

Montana is getting so big. Love him and his big eyes.... lol

Lucky hubby ... Happy birthday to him!

Anna van Schurman said...

I always thought the quote was more along the lines of "speak not unless you can improve the silence." The way it is doesn't make sense to me.

Karen said...

Thanks for sharing...I love that design too! Great progress on your stitching.

That bike would look so much better in a Clemson orange!

Faye said...

Like your whole post here Carolyn especially that cute quaker piece!! I will have to check out her webpage..!~Faye

Sharon said...

What a great up-date! You tell Mom to keep on "keeping on".

Hang in there with the dog...when we first brought our Sweetie home, she had been abused and would cower at eery noise and would hide under the dining room table when anyone would come over. Fast-forward nearly three years...Now I need the "Dog Whisperer" guy to come make a house call! She jumps on everyone now - she has WAY TOO MUCH confidence!! Go figure ...
I loved all the stitching photo's, as well...some really cool progress you're making!!! :)
A man and a bike...sometimes a pic says it all! Hope he had a great day!! :)

Sharlotte said...

You know the old saying 'the only difference between men and boys is the price of thier toys'. My hubby wants a Fat Boy but that's gonna be a while.I say that is one nice bike!! My hubby would drool if he saw it. Montana looks so nice and fluffy and hugable.It's hard to stay mad at them when they misbehave and then look so cute isn't it? Thanks for your nice comment today. I have you in the draw by the way.

Suzie said...

Wow, Carolyn! SO much has happened in your life since I was last able to try and catch up, when you were showing your vacation pictures. That probably seems like a lifetime ago!! lol

I'm so glad to hear that your Mom is doing better! And a BIG congratulations and BIG birthday wishes for the newly engaged, and the newly "year older's"

What a gorgeous bike! I expect to hear about all of your adventures, and see loads of your lovely photos to go with them!

As for your stitching, what can I say. .it is as lovely as it always is! You always find the most wonderful patterns, and bring them to life1 What a gift!!

I must have missed it. .did your hearing come back to the level that it was before you took those ear plugs out? I truly hope so!

And lastly, but certainly not least. .I know that puppies, even big ones, can be a challenge, and I admire you for putting up with his antics, but they do have a way of giving back so much love. You just have to look for it sometimes! lol

Hugs!!

Anonymous said...

Cute finish. Love riding at the back of a motor cycle, my brother had one when he was younger, even wanted to learn how to ride it, but chose the car instead.

Marl

htimcj said...

I LOVE that verse and the stitching too. Your dog is so cute.
Heidi-ILCS

Gabi said...

So good to hear that your mum is doing better. Also great that you had such a nice family time together.
Love that picture of your husband. Looks like he got himself a great new toy.
Montana is of course cute as always. Great stitching as well. I'll go and buy the Zentangle chart from Elke soon as she takes it off their website as freebie. Then at least I won't have the time pressure. Found already the color I'm going to stitch it with.

Domovnitsa said...

Happy birthday to your DH!
Montana lovely dog :0)
I really like your friendly company needlewomen!

Kathy A. said...

Great chatty post girl. How nice to be able to meet up with our fellow Friendship stitchers.
Congrats to the family for their celebrations.
Glad to hear your Mom is progressing well.
Men and their toys lol.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Love the new sampler's thought! Every time I look at your Zentangle, I think of jester hats... is that just me? You know I love the hearts RR - nice to 'meet' the friends who go with it :-). Glad to hear Mom's continuing to improve!

Of course the fur babies are our other children!! How can you talk about Montana like that? That precious face could never do anything wrong!

Now, my friend, that's a bike!! No wonder DH is proud. Hey, is that a speaker at your right hip? Always wondered how the passenger could hear the music!

Wendy said...

Happy birthday for your DH!!! I wish him a wonderful day!
That is a nice picture of your dh and his bike. He looks very happy.

nice progress on your stitching!

Jan said...

Carolyn, thanks so very much!!! You are too sweet, I am so glad you like Quaker Silence, you are right it says so much! I really loved designing it and I hope that many stitchers, enjoy stitching it!

Happy Birthday to your DH, and you are right, he does look a bit smug, too cute!! Glad he is going to share his new toy with you!

Love your stitching progresses, and that you were able to meet up with stitching friends!! Great pics.

Last but not least glad your mother is doing better, and glad that you have a vet that recognizes that sweet boy's charms!!

Anonymous said...

Nice stitching. Looks like you had a great get together with a fellow stitcher. Glad your Mom is doing much better. Yes animals can be just like having children. I know I have two cats. Your doggie is just to cute. Are you sure he get into things? LOL. Sounds like you guys had an awesome weekend. Happy Belated Birthday to your husband. I love the color of that bike. How cool!

Karen said...

I love that sampler! so true! great pics of you gals and the RR's!

I can so relate with you on the puppy situation! ours also greet very "lovingly" HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!try having 2 5month old springer spaniels! UGH!!! plus their mama. double UGH!

Kathy said...

Tis the season for birthdays. :) Happy Birthday to yours.

Love the photo of Montana. What a beauty. And yes, don't they all look so sweet and innocent. Unless you are quick enough to catch the little light in the eye right before they jump up on you. LOL
Love all the stitching. gorgeous as ever.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful finish! Great photos of all your "boys with their toys".

Von said...

I don't dare show that bike to DH! He'd love to have one himself. :) Have fun touring around!

StitchinKat said...

Hey C!! One week till we go off PA for stitching vacation!

Maybe your helmets for the bike can be loaned out to visitors to greet your giant "puppy"! Lad weighs the same and he's 5 years old! (most of him is fur tho') ;-)

Rene la Frog said...

Great new bike and you sure can tell the DH is happy with it.

Great stitching as usual and lovely new design

CindyMae said...

Happy Birthday to your DH!!! Awesome new bike! Montana is growing so much! He is such a handsome pup! And yes, they are much like children for sure! That design is great!

Cindy F. said...

Happy Birthday to DH!! What an awesome bike!!
Glad your mom is feeling better:) and yes, pets are expensive children!

Love the new design!! Haven't seen that yet! and beautiful stitching too!

Marion said...

Great stitching!! How cool that you met Sara!! I've "known" her for a while.
Glad to hear your mom is improving!!
Oh....I know what you mean about dogs being like another child...I could have sent one of my kids through university for one year with what I spent on our sweetie last year! LOL
Take care
Marion

too_busy_to_stitch said...

That new design is lovely - I'm so tempted,and I'm supposed to be only buying things that I really NEED, and am about to start, not to stash away! Those RRs are a lovely idea - love those hearts.

Brigitte said...

That new Quaker sampler is so beautiful, I'm still drooling over it, lol.

Nancy M said...

Love the new bike....your seat looks much more comfortable than mine and speakers too!!! We use an Ipod and just found out that's illegal! I just watched Marley and Me and thought of Montana! Hope to see you next week and maybe I can show you a little Quaker finish.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn,
LOVE the bike! I wish I had more time to ride mine before it gets too cold!

Really like the new piece. You always find some of the neatest designs to stitch! Love the WIP's!

Enjoy the puppy years for too soon, he'll be an old dog and you'll miss it. Maybe not the destruction but everything else.

Happy Birthday to DH & Congratulations to the happy couple!
Hugs!!

Unknown said...

Love the puppy!!

Dani - tkdchick said...

The friendship RR's are looking fantastic! What fun to be able to trade-off in person!

Anonymous said...

Love your dog, so cute!!! Nice stitching and update.

Parsley said...

Thanks for entering my CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY and your sweet comments.

I just got my first cross stitch and am so excited, and apprehensive, about getting started. I hope I can do it!

Blessings on your week. Loved getting to know you better via your blog and I am excited to hear more from you in the future.

marylin said...

Hello, I like very much your blog beautiful realizations, the dog is very beautiful too best regards of FRANCE, marylin

Janaina said...

Getting to know ppl we only know online is such a thrill!!!!! So happy for you, Carol!
And, oh, girl... thats a happy DH, huh? =D

Chris said...

Hi Carolyn
I love that stitching motto... and what a lot of birthdays all together, nice to have them for a grand family gathering.. and yes dogs are like children but harder work! They get too big to pick up and cuddle and gosh can they make a noise some times!
Chris x

Habibi said...

Looks like a great time had by all.