Monday, November 7, 2011

I'm still here!

"Kindness, I've discovered,
is everything in life."
Isaac Bashevis Singer

I am still here I haven't gone missing. Right after I got back from the retreat I had to go do a family favor. My husband's sister has cancer and was told if she wanted to go anywhere or do it now is the time. She has always wanted to see Italy.  She also has a 10 year old daughter. So why they went on a trip I stayed at their house and got my niece to bed each night and off to school in the morning. They live about 18 miles away but if I stayed here to take her to school would be right in the direction of traffic in the morning and that 18 miles would take us forever. While there also discovered sort of a hoarding problem so I spent most of my days cleaning my niece's room so she could find the floor. I was also busy at night helping with 5th grade fractions. It has been way too many years since I have helped with homework.  My SIL's trip was cut a bit short due to her illness and has since been hospitalized.  Please keep her in your prayers.

In the middle of all this my son is also home on leave and I have been trying to spend some time with him. Hopefully I can get back to regular blogging soon. I really miss it.

Meantime I have been lucky to receive this wonderful give away from Shannon at "A bit of this and that".



I am sorry to say I did not have time to stitch up these fun Halloween patterns this year, but look forward to stitching them next year. Thank you so much Shannon.

I participated again in "The Stitched With Love" exchange.  I sent my package to Ann in England, she does not have a blog.


I received a wonderful fun package from Pirjo, Finland. Her blog is pirjoka.blogspot.com.


Look at all the fun goodies. I just love the fall leave fabric. It so reminds me of my retreat trip to New Hampshire. There is a beautiful piece of hand dyed linen with matching beads and thread along with some pins. I just love LHN patterns and the one she sent is not one that I already have.


The little pillow that she stitched is the cutest ever. I love the little man trying to pick up the big pumpkin.  Thank you so much Pirjo for the wonderful package.

Meantime I am starting to work on my piece for the next exchange. I hope to post my retreat project  this week. I did manage to finish one of them. Sorry it has been so long since I posted.

Always keep love in your stitches,
Teresa






15 comments:

Tricia T said...

How nice that you were able to spend that time with your niece. That will be a special memory for both of you. I'm so sorry your SIL is back in the hospital, though. : (

Your giveaway win was splendid! And I love your exchanges, both giving and receiving. How fun!

Nancy said...

So glad you could help out your SIL by staying with your neice! Will keep your SIL and family in my prayers.

What a great give-away win you received! And the exchange was wonderful sent and received!

Enjoy spending time with your son!

butterfly said...

Hi Teresa, good to have you back, so sorry about your SIL , it's so hard at times like this.
Love your exchanges given and received , Ann did bring them into the club to show us all wow lovely.
We also have another girl Jan who will join the exchange next year so this will be fun also i great stitcher.
Hope you will now have time to use up all your wonderful goodies you received.
Have a great week.

cucki said...

this is so sweet that you were able to spend time with your neice..i know it is very special time..
so sorry to hear that you SIL in hospital..thinking of you all so much in this time.
lovely giveaway win and beautiful exchange gift both sent and received..
keep well dear xxx

Anne said...

So sorry to hear about your SIL. I will pray for her and your family.

Those exhanges are lovely! Everyone is so talented and creative. Grats on winning Shannon's giveaway! Those autumn fabrics are beautiful!

Hugs

Anne

Mouse said...

sorry to hear your news ... ... great exchanges and wins you got there ... and looking forward to your photos from the retreat :) love mouse xxx

pam said...

Great exchange pieces(going and coming) Don't you just love Laney's exchanges? I am sure you'll get back to your routine soon. You'll be glad you did that for your Sister in Law.

carol fun said...

Family comes first- and it is good that you can help out, but I'm with you -I don't know if I can do 5th grade fractions anymore - LOL!. All your goodies look wonderful.I hope you get time real soon to sit and stitch- take care!

Pumpkin said...

Beautiful exchange pieces Teresa!

I'm SO sorry to hear about your SIL :o( How wonderful that she got over to Italy but heartbreaking to know she's not doing well. Will keep you all in my thoughts.

Catherine said...

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time.
Great goodies!!

Rowyn said...

So sorry to hear about your SIL. It was lovely of you to step in and look after your niece to allow them to make the trip.

Great stitching goodies sent and received.

Bekca said...

I'm sorry to hear you've been having such a tricky time lately Teresa. I hope everything calms down soon.
Lovely exchange pieces, sent and received. I love the pumpkin fabric.
Best wishes to you.

Carol said...

Oh, I'm so very sorry to hear about your sister-in-law Teresa. You are wonderful to help out the way you did. It sounds like a very heartbreaking situation--glad you can be there to offer support.

Lovely exchanges on both sides...that tiny man is so cute on Pirjo's fall piece!

Colleen said...

In all the sadness of you SIL's illness, you are the light of hope for your niece. Bless you, Teresa. Loved all your posts on your New England retreat...I really would love to go, been thinking about it for a couple of years. Love all your gifts from Pirjo & the gifts you sent to Shannon.

Cross Stitch Queen said...

Sorry about your SIL. I hope that she gets better and has a lot of quality time without pain.

Glad that you got time to spend with your niece.

Great gifts there. I got's to get into your exchange groups. Lots of friends, lots of things to learn, lots of great ideas, lots of great finishing techniques, looks like LOTS of fun!!

Well, I am already in the Pen Pal group with you. Can you believe one more month to go?????? Gosh, that went fast didn't it? I am sure all the members feel that way. It was just so much fun meeting other stitchers that way. Hope that you liked it too.

CSQ
betweenthestitches.blogspot.com