Two Retreats in February

Hello all,

https://fiberfuninthesip.com/

I started the month of February with 2 retreats in a row.  Last week I went to a crochet and knitting retreat (ok most ladies at the retreat would call it a knitting and crocheting retreat).  The name of the retreat was "Fiber Fun in the 'Sip Retreat" at Tara Wildlife  in Vicksburg, MS.  I went with my sister-in-law Katie.  We had a great time.  The retreat covered everything, lodging, food (which was awesome), and 1 class.  I went with one goal, to start and finish an afghan.  I did it.  I finished a corner to corner afghan using Caron's Chunky Cakes yarn, Ballet Sorbet.  Katie and I both participated in the dinner entertainment on Saturday.  We had a murder mystery.  Both Katie and I were "murdered".  It was a lot of fun.  I am planning on going again next year.

Corner to Corner Afghan

I also took a crochet class that was being taught by Dawn from Dawn O Designs.  The class was crocheting a shawl.  Below is my progress, I am about halfway through the pattern.  It was a lot of fun.

Rose Garden Shawl

We were supposed to go on an airbus ride around the area but the water level was too high.  So to fill the time we had a knitting competition to see who knitted the fasted.  I didn't participate because I am a very slow knitter.   We also had a crocheting competition.  I did participate.  I won!!  I beat Katie by 1 stitch.  Whoo hoo!

http://www.cross-stitchretreats.com/

Tonight, after I leave class, I'm picking my sister Bridget up and we are head to Orange Beach, AL for a cross stitch retreat with Katrina Boyd.  My sister Jennifer and our friend Lisha are already there.  I can't wait.  I'm bringing all twenty-something of my WiPs with me.  I will work on all of them this weekend.  I will post pictures when I get back.  But you can look at my posts throughout the weekend on Instagram.  28 minutes before class is over.  I can't wait.  Well got to go, I need to review a test with a student.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sharon

Stonehenge & Bath

Oh my goodness, the day we visited Stonehenge and Bath was my favorite day.  I love Stonehenge.  I drained the battery on my camera taking pictures from all angles.

Shuttle to Stonehenge

Stonehenge from the back

After Stonehenge, we went to to the city of Bath.  We toured Bath Abbey with the angels climbing Jacob's Ladder.  It was amazingly beautiful.

Bath Abbey

 Then the Roman Bath's and the museum that contained a lot of ancient stone works.

The Roman Bath

We then had a proper tea at the  Pump Room.  I really enjoyed the scones, and the sandwiches, and desserts.  I didn't enjoy the caviar.  I gave it away.

Full tea at the Pump Room

On our last day in London, we toured Westminster Abbey and did a Harry Potter walking tour.  Westminster Abbey was an amazing place with ancient sarcophagus.  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside.  I got to see the grave of Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Mary Queen of Scot, and many more.

Westminster Abbey

A sign outside the Abbey

the other sign at the entrance

the site of The Leaky Cauldron

Our tour guide

site of Harry & Mr. Weasley go to Ministry of Magic
also, where Harry, Hermione, & Ron used Polyjuice Potion to
enter Ministry of Magic

Another shot of area & tour guide

setting for Knockturn Alley

setting for Diagon Alley

We had a great time.  I am so glad that I went.  Next school year we are going to New York.

Thanks for stopping by.

Edinburgh was an incredible time

So, we left London at 8am on a train (my first).  The train trip was great.  I enjoyed the countryside.

Once we got there, we were nearly blown away by the wind,  We walked to our hotel to check in;  the Holiday Inn express which had larger rooms than in London.  We spent the rest of the day shopping along the Royal Mile.  We ate lunch at the Whiski.  I didn't order but did eat haggis.  It wasn't good.  I thought it would taste really bad, but it didn't.

We spent the second day visiting attractions.  We walked from our hotel to Edinburgh Castle.  It was amazing.  I didn't get to spend as much time there as I wanted but I was happy to see such an ancient place.  Then we walked to Holyrood Palace. Holyrood had an audio tour which I enjoyed.  I wish I could have taken some pictures but they didn't allow it.  We left at around 4:30 to go back to London.  I wish we could have stayed another day and saw more of Edinburgh than just the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh Castle

Holyrood Palace

 Next Stonehenge & Bath.

Spring Break - London & Edinburgh

I went on my first international trip this month.  We flew from New Orleans, LA to Newark, NJ then to London.  We left Newark at 6:30 pm and arrived in London at 6:20 am.  We dropped our bags at the hotel and hit the town.  We stayed up all day and went to the London Tower to see the crown jewels, the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey (which was closed), then back to the hotel to freshen up before going to Piccadilly Circus for supper.

fish n chips before touring the Tower of London

The Tower Bridge

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Resting on the tube back to hotel

Piccadilly Circus

The second day, we went to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard.  Where I stood were some rude people who put their children on the fence so no one could see (their kids could see over the brick area of the fence).  I recorded it and watched what I could, then over to Churchill's War Museum.  Then we went to Trafalgar Square.  I went to the National Art Museum.  I only got to see half of it but I loved what I saw.  After supper, we went to King's Cross Station to have our picture taken at Platform 9-3/4.

Buckingham Palace

Churchill's War Museum

National Art Museum

Some of the art that I liked

Some of the art that I liked

Oops, I didn't make it on the Platform

 Monday was not a very good day.  We didn't plan well; hindsight is 20/20.  We had the boat tour on the Thames River, walked from the Tower Bridge to Shakespeare's Globe Theater (could tour because play for local schools was being presented.  So went to the museum.  Walked from there to the London Dungeon's Tour (great tour) and then the London Eye (awesome view).  We ate supper at Harrod's (I ate in the Tea Room with Rudy).

Model of Shakespear's Globe

View from the London Eye

 

Fish Pie at Harrod's Tea Room.  Yummy

 Tomorrow I will post about the Scotland portion of our trip.  I have to leave.

Sharon

Pre Spring Break

Well last weekend and this week I have been preparing for my first international trip.  I am going to London and Edinburgh next week during my spring break.  I am very excited and nervous.  I have traveled within the United States by airplane and automobile.  But, this is my first foray across the ocean.  It will also be my first train trip (from London to Edinburgh and back).  I have been gathering all the things that I need.  I plan to pack everything on Thursday.  The only bad thing about this trip is that I have to get up at 4:00 am on Friday to meet the group at 5:15am to travel to the airport.  I don't do well with getting up early.  Other than that, I think I am good.

So what did I work on this weekend and this week.  I stitched a little bit on Tre civette sul comò by Madame Chantilly and Tuffet's Cupboard.  But I didn't complete very much.  I didn't work very long on either one.  Next week I won't be stitching much either because of the trip.

I will post pictures.

Sharon

July, What a busy month!

I have no real excuse for not blogging.  I have been really busy with vacationing in Abbeville, Louisiana with my friend Sharon, Vacation Bible School, and working the lab on Wednesday and Thursday.  I have been trying to clean my house of all the clutter.  But it seems to get worse instead of better.  Well, let me be more specific.  My bedroom and bathroom have been cleared of clutter.  These rooms are comfortable and organized.  There is very little "stuff" sitting on the counters and nothing extra on the floors.  My office is completely empty waiting on getting rid of the desk.  Well, all the stuff from my office is in my kitchen, which looks like a cyclone hit it.  I hope to have everything organized before I go back to work on the 8th of August.  We shall see.

As for last week,  I didn't complete any new projects.  I did, however, finish a few old projects.  I got my sister Jennifer to come over and show me how to make pillows.  I have several small projects that would look good as pillows.  The pillows are actually a little larger than I planned but they are cute.  I finished 4 of the 8 that I have (see below).  A couple of them I finished as ornaments.

Lizzie Kate - Flip It Blocks - January

Rainbow Gallery Freebie - England, Ireland, & Scotland Blackwoork

I don't remember.  I finished it in 2006

Raise the Roof - Wise Old Owl

Next week is "camp" week.  I hope to have a lot of things to post then.  This week is preparing for camp.  I plan on bringing 7 new cross stitches, the Halloween Pudgy Needlepoint that I have had for at  least 10 years, and several amigurumi characters that have been crocheted but not put together.  I am very excited about the trip.

Well I am off to choose what to bring.  Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

July, What a busy month!

I have no real excuse for not blogging.  I have been really busy with vacationing in Abbeville, Louisiana with my friend Sharon, Vacation Bible School, and working the lab on Wednesday and Thursday.  I have been trying to clean my house of all the clutter.  But it seems to get worse instead of better.  Well, let me be more specific.  My bedroom and bathroom have been cleared of clutter.  These rooms are comfortable and organized.  There is very little "stuff" sitting on the counters and nothing extra on the floors.  My office is completely empty waiting on getting rid of the desk.  Well, all the stuff from my office is in my kitchen, which looks like a cyclone hit it.  I hope to have everything organized before I go back to work on the 8th of August.  We shall see.

As for last week,  I didn't complete any new projects.  I did, however, finish a few old projects.  I got my sister Jennifer to come over and show me how to make pillows.  I have several small projects that would look good as pillows.  The pillows are actually a little larger than I planned but they are cute.  I finished 4 of the 8 that I have (see below).  A couple of them I finished as ornaments.

Lizzie Kate - Flip It Blocks - January

Rainbow Gallery Freebie - England, Ireland, & Scotland Blackwoork

I don't remember.  I finished it in 2006

Raise the Roof - Wise Old Owl

Next week is "camp" week.  I hope to have a lot of things to post then.  This week is preparing for camp.  I plan on bringing 7 new cross stitches, the Halloween Pudgy Needlepoint that I have had for at  least 10 years, and several amigurumi characters that have been crocheted but not put together.  I am very excited about the trip.

Well I am off to choose what to bring.  Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Beginning of August

Hey I have been really busy traveling, moving, and stitching.  My sister Jennifer and I took my parents to Houston, TX.  My dad is 80 years old and his only living sibling of 9 children is 88.  So we went to see Uncle James, Aunt Ruth, their son Ty and his family (wife Cherie and children Haley and Logan).  We drove over from MS, which is a minimum of 8 hours,  on Friday.  We stopped in Lafayette for lunch and ate at Pasado's Mexican Restaurant which we all love.  Then we shopped at Stitch n Frame, the local stitch shop.  I used to go to stitching night once a month there.  We stayed the weekend.  Ty and Cherie cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for us on Saturday.  My parents had a great time visiting while Jen and I did a little shopping.  They lived in a neighborhood that was near a shopping area.  Loved it!  They had everything that you could need.  Finally we drove home on Sunday.  Again, we stopped in Lafayette for lunch at Texas Roadhouse, my favorite steakhouse.  We had a great time but were all happy to be home.

I spent last week working on an part 1 of JABC's Tuffet's Cupboard.  I finished it last night (Saturday).  When stitching this pattern I chose to use DMC.  I probably should have used specialty threads because of the large blocks of color.  One of the more difficult parts of the pattern was the spool.  This spool of ribbon has little sheep on it that are suppose to be cross-stitched over one.  Well I can't do over one well (I always pull it under the fabric thread) so I just did quarter stitches instead.  It turned out cute.  I have part 2 which I will start on after I finish my Owlscornu.  I plan on ordering part 3 from Theresa's shop.  But as far as I know JABC hasn't released part 4.  I don't know why I love this pattern but it is too cute and has a lot of buttons.  There will be a sheep at the top near the candle looking pattern, a map, a shell and many others.  The sheep looks really good.  I can't wait to finish it.

Today after church I started working on my Owlscornu.  I had already finished the branch the owl stands on in all 4 corners.  Today I finished the 4 blazing blue lizards.  I would have completed more but my sister-in-law Katie asked me to crochet this baby hat.  Well of course I said yes.  You see this baby hat pattern was created by Katie.  She wanted to make sure that the pattern was easy to follow, which it is.  Yes I know that it's too big to be a baby hat.  That is because I used the wrong weight yarn.  But I finished it and the pattern was pretty easy to follow. Here is a picture of the hat on my Chrissy doll that I have had since the 1970's.  She and her original clothes may be a little worn (she's wearing a new dress my sister Bridget gave me), but she did a good job at modeling the hat.  Katie was pretty happy with the results.  I think Chrissy looks cute in the hat.

Soon after I finished the hat everyone left Mom and Dad's house for their own.  I came home and worked on my Owlscornu but I need to go to bed early.  All faculty have to report to work tomorrow at PRCC.  I have an hour's drive to Poplarville in the morning for "Professional Development".  Which brings me to the moving.  I moved offices on Thursday.  I knew that I was going to be moving but I thought it would be sooner.  My new office is not as wide as my old office but it is deeper.  I got all of my stuff in the new office.  So on Tuesday after our campus meeting I will finish unpacking and start preparing for the new school year.

Well got to go.  Got to go to bed so I can get up extra early for me (6:30 am) and get to work.

Thanks for stopping by

Sharon