Everything Austen II Challenge

Last year I participated in the Everything Austen Challenge that was hosted by Stephanies Written Word. Since I am a HUGE Austen fan, I have decided to particiapte again this year. The challenge runs from July 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011. The challenge is simple: Complete 6 things related to Jane Austen. They can be craft related, books, and or movies. I have chose to:

1. Read Lady Catherine's Necklace by Joan Aiken - this book is about Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy's Aunt

2. Watch Persuasion

3. Watch Pride and Prejudice - I just love Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy

4. Read The Matters of Mansfield Park by Carrie Bebris

5. Complete a Cross stitch design - Not sure which one yet

6. Read Letters from Pemberly - The first years by Jane Dawkins

Stitching update and a little frog

I was very busy at the retreat. I actually stitched!!! I started the Mill Hill Kit Skating Pond and it was this piece that helped me win a frog! I don't like stitching on perferated paper so I switched it to Jazlyn Opalescent fabric. I LOVE how it turned out. If you look in the top corner you can see the little frog that I won at retreat. It seems that I made the most mistakes and the sad things is that this is 4 year running!! I have a nice little collection of stitching frogs.

For the first part of the retreat I all I could say was "Who wants to stitch my pants???" I wouldn't start the Mill Hill kit until I stitched the pants of my Ozark Sampler 3-foot scarecrow. It was very boring!! I kept asking people to stitch my pants and no one wanted to stitch them....

When we went to different shops I took my stitching with me. On the Mystery SAL from Ozark Sampler the borders had to be outlined all 3 of them UGH!!! So I backstitched while I rode in the car. I am happy to say that I finished outlining the border.

Cross Stitch Retreat

WOW!! What a fantastic weekend!!! I LOVE going to the ILCS retreat each year. We had so much fun. The designers from: MyMark, Twisted Threads and Monsterbubbles came and stitched with us. MyMark and Monsterbubbles held a small trunk show. We were able to visit 3 LNS so we could buy new stash.

Debra, Meari and Berly wrote up an excellent review of the retreat. If you click their name you can read about it. I didn't take that many pictures but I did find some funny things.

When we were in the Historical Section of St. Charles, I had to go to the bathroom. I popped over to the public restroom and just about died laughing about how they protected their toilet paper.

Karin and I went to the Zoo on Sunday. We try and visit the zoo of each place we visit. What a FABULOUS zoo!!! I highly recommend this zoo. One of our favorite exhibits were the penguins. We were so close that you could reach out and touch one.

We saw both saw something that we hadn't seen before. We were looking at the lion exhibit and we saw the lioness taking a nap in the tree.

I think the funniest thing was the orangutans. We saw this big blob and wasn't sure what it was until the worker explained it to us. It seems that orangutans in the wild will cover up with leaves. So they leave blankets around they like to cover up with them.

After the zoo, Karin and I went to the AKC Dog Museum. It hasn't been opened long but it was nice little museum. It had sketches, sculptures and paintings of different dog breeds. They also had different types of collars that dogs had worn in the past. While we were there they had a dog training class going on and they babies were so cute!!! They were learning to be show dogs. One room was devoted to dogs in service. The ones who work with the police helping them with drug busts, search and rescue and fire dogs. It was very informative. This is a Dog House with actual marble floors!!!

Sunday afternoon was a very long drive and I hit a major thunderstorm where the rain was coming down in buckets. I finally made it home around 8:00pm. The dogs were happy to see me...however Mark had sent me a message telling me that I couldn't come home without a stop to Dairy Queen...so I brought him home a French Silk Blizzard so he would let me in the house!!

I came home from the retreat with a suitcase full of things!! I was very happy with everything and can't wait until next year. I am saving my pennies!!!

Historical Couple #7

WHO-HOOO!!!! Couple number 7 is finished!!! I only have 5 more couples to go. Since this was the fashion sense of Marie Antoniette the dress of the woman was HUGE and lots of backstitching!!!

After this, I have a quilt block to finish for my friend Betty and then I am going to work on my three foot scarecrow.

On Wednesday, I am leaving for my annual cross stitch retreat which will be in St. Louis, MO. Every year we have it at a different location. It has been in Nebraska, Indiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. I am leaving bright and early at 7:00 am so I can be in St. Louis by 1:00 to pick up my friend Karin at the airport.

2010 Book Challenge

It has been a while since I posted the books I have read and there is a LONG list. My goal is to ready 150 books this year and right now I have read 32 books. Which means I still have 118 books to read. I guess I had better get to reading!!

1. Arrowpoint by Suzannel Ellison, Book 7 in the Welcome to Tyler Series. Cute little Romance book.

2. Sunshine by Pat Warren, Book 6 in the Welcome to Tyler Series. Cute little Romance Book.

3. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by CJ Box. This was a GREAT book!! I really wanted to reach out and slap a few characters. However the story is about a couple who adopted a baby and then the birth father comes back after nine months saying he wants his child back. They have to fight the system to keep their baby. It did make me cry a couple of times...but I do recomend!!

4. The Seduction of an Unknown Lady by Samatha James. Great Historical romance. I just love this genre!!! If you want to be transported to another time with lords, ladies, castles, shopping, balls and servants...this is a book you will enjoy!!!

5. Knit Fast, Die Young by Mary Kruger - wonderful Cozy Mystery about a knitting store owner. I will have to admit I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed!!! This is the 2nd book in her series and I recommend it!!

6-8: I read the next three books in PC Cast and Kristen Cast- House of Night Series: Betrayed, Chosen, and Untamed. This is a great Vampire series that takes place in Tulsa.

9. Operation Yes - by Sara Lewis Holmes. Chapter book about 6th graders parents who live on a military base and go to a school on the base. Good story for young kids about all the antics they get into.

10. Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher- VERY MOVING BOOK!!! A young girl commits sucide and leaves a message from the grave for each person who played a part in her sucide. I cried in this book!! It is a MUST READ and I am going to have my classes read it next year. It shows you how even the littlest factor can impact a persons life!!

11. Worth Any Price - Lisa Kleypas: This is book 3 in the Bow Street Runner Series. Wonderful Historical Romance book. I love being able to go to a Victorian Ball with the characters because it makes my mind run wild!!

12. Murder of Barbie and Ken by Denise Swanson. Love this Cozy Mystery series!!! This is book 5 of the Scumble River series. The characters are just wonderful and you can just picture everything in your mind. I didn't figure out the killer on this book either...I think I am losing my touch or the authors are getting better at throwing out the red herrings.

13. Shopaholic and Baby - Sophie Kinsella, Book 5 in the Shopaholic series. This character cracks me up!! I love how her mind works...and I would LOVE to be able to shop like she does!!! If you haven't read this series with the first one being Confessions of a Shopaholic- READ IT!! The movie doesn't do the book justice. The series takes place in London, not New York like the movie. The book is side splitting funny on the predictiments she gets herself into!!!

14. Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan- This is the First book in the Charlotte McNally series. I enjoyed this book and once again...didn't figure out the ending. Charlotte is a reporter who has been around the block a few times and is having to search out "THE STORY" in order to keep her job. This book has murder, friendship and a little romance. I recommend it!!!

DisneyWorld...here I come!!!

I cannot believe that I am finally headed to Disneyworld this Tuesday. I have to give 2 semester tests tomorrow, sped lunch and then finish up in my room. After that, I pick mom up and the kids up and we head to Tulsa for our trip. We spend the night in Tulsa. Our flight leaves at 8:30 in the morning! Our first night we will have dinner at Crystal Palace resturant along with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore!

As you can see, Jag is really trying to come to disney with us. However, he has to stay home with my brother who is house sitting for me. Mark is out of town this week so my babies have to deal with a babysitter!!!

Chat with you guys later on!!!