Northern Needles

First day of school was long and hard for this mommy.  I spent the day stitching something chocolatey instead of eating chocolate.  It’s hard to get the pink of the fabric with my camera so I’ll have to go find some natural light.    It’s a free pattern by Casey Buonaugurio.  It was so much FUN!!!  You can see more of her designs at www.caseybuonaugurio.com and I believe she has a pattern in a current magazine but I can’t remember which, it’s either Just Cross Stitch or The Cross Stitcher so take a look when you happen by the magazine stand!

Look at them, walking away.  I guess this is something I have to get used to, for the rest of their lives they will be leaving me to pursue their dreams.  I just hope they know I’ll always be here waiting and supporting them. 

First day of school…pass the coffee and baileys.

c’mon….just a little closer…..I can wait….come on….here birdy birdy…..

I got to do it again!  I went out and snuck my digital camera with me and the chickadee again landed in my hand.

 Unfortunately I didn’t turn the flash off and it scared the heck out of him and his buddies and I had about 20 chickadees yelling at me for a good 10 minutes in the bushes around me.  So I’m going to have to leave the camera in the house and just go stand out there from time to time to let them get used to me again.  For now they think I’m the big scary creature with the flashing light that blinds them.

So there I was this morning, minding my own business, going about my daily routine when I had the most incredible visitor.

 I went to refill my bird feeder outside and as I looked around I could see several chickadees and sparrows waiting in the branches.   They’ve been coming closer and closer every day, getting used to me I guess.  Well today, instead of just putting up the feeder and then walking away, I took a few sunflower seeds and held out my hand. 

A chickadee took a brave step and flew off his branch and LANDED IN MY HAND!  He looked up at me, grabbed his seed and flew off.  I was blown away, standing there in my pj’s, dog at my feet.  I kept my hand out and he did it again!

 Oh what a feeling, those tiny little feet landing on my finger and him reaching out for a seed, feeling his beak touch the palm of my hand as he picks it up.

What trust he has in me.  I’m overwhelmed.

Yesterday was an eventful day.  It was my daughter’s 6th birthday AND we have a new addition to the family.  Welcome CRAMMER!!  (kray-mer)  He’s an appox. 2 y.o. black and white tuxedo cat that we adopted from the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter here in Whitehorse ( http://www.humanesocietyyukon.ca/ ). 

We go at least once a month to visit the cats and drop off dog or cat food.  We adopted our Lady from there about 2 1/2 years ago and felt it was time for a cat.  We’ve actually been looking for months but wanted to get to know the cats and find the perfect one for our family.

 Crammer was it.  He’s got extra toes on all paws, which may be the reason he’s a bit on the clumsy side and falls of things.  You’d think with that many claws he’d actually be more stable.  Currently, he’s stretched out on my feet doing that kneading thing in the air, with one eye trained on my dog with a “whatever” attitude. 

Lady is very unsure as to what to make of him.  She was all excited when he came home, wanting to play with him.  But Crammer just doesn’t want him near him….YET.  Lady is at the point that she gives a little cry when Crammer looks at her.  Poor baby dog.  Apparently we know which one of the two is the tough one.

Last night Crammer laid on the bed with a paw dangling over the edge just inches above Lady’s head where she lay on the floor.  Was it a taunt?

On the whole Crammer has made himself at home.  Since it was Lisa’s birthday he is technically Lisa’s cat and he seems to be ok with that.  He spent most of the afternoon and evening sleeping on her bed with her stuffies.   

Well I decided I better start showing you some Works In Progress otherwise no one will believe I stitch anymore.

 It’s been a hard past few months stitching-wise but I’m back into the groove again.

Here is something I’ve been working on the past couple of days.  It’s called Native Princess II and it’s from the Cross Stitch Pattern Gallery ( www.crossstitchpatterngall.com ).  I started at the bottom where the pages are quite small so to date I have completed 2 pages.  I’m going to try and get as much of the cream out of the way so I can look forward to COLOUR!!

My Round Robin isn’t home yet but this is my latest picture of what it looks like.  I wanted the Diva’s to stitch their favourite hot beverage.  Of course by now my favourite blend has changed but oh well!  Now I have to figre out what to put at the bottom, I was thinking coffee cups, maybe a sign indicating a coffee house….add random coffee blends I’m not sure.  But I sure like the way it looks!  Awesome job my Diva girls!