Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Spring fever

It is a bit early but I am beating the winter blahs with a round of fresh cuts spring flowers. I picked them up Saturday when I was grocery shopping it perked me up a bit. I am sure I was just feel in the shock of returning to normal after the week in Jamaica but a was in a winter weather blah.
The winter effected my stitching choice as well, I got the new JCS when I got home and knew I had to start the funky flowers in this issue. I had been wanting to do them since I went to the Yankee Cross Stitch and saw them all stitched up. Teresa and I hit that shop on our trip to New England Stitcher's Retreat year before last. I was planning on starting on Dorthy Walpole a Scarlet Letter piece but the flowers won me over.
This is my progress as of last night. This is a fun stitch and moving fast after all those quarter stitches in the snowman piece. I hope to get the snow fever back and finish of those 4 little fellows before next year. They need some retreat time or a few days where I can sit and stitch on them and focus. There are a couple of stitching events on the horizon. Teresa and I will be headed to Arkansas of all places for a stitching workshop in April.As usual I am counting the days.(41) Next week the not-so LNS has a market night after Nashville market that I plan to go to as well.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit,
Pam  

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

No Worries Man

How is this for a fantastic sunset? My wonderful husband surprised me with a week in Negril, Jamaica. We stayed a a small mom and pop style placed called the Samsara Hotel . It was a very laid back and relaxing time. The Hotel was not as high end as a lot of the places down there, but it felt perfect at only 50 rooms and a welcoming friendly staff. The visitors were from Germany, Amsterdam, Brazil, Italy and northern USA. The food was very local and we loved it. Spicy and filling  and not at all Americanized. Exactly what we were looking for. Most of the guest return every year we were told. One couple had been there over 20 times.

The morning agenda was breakfast followed by either snorkeling or suba diving.  Then the lazy days began relaxing on the covered cabanas and reading and even a bit of stitching while listening to the waters hit the coral cliffs. I loved that there was no sand to stick to me and we could just walk to the edge and jump in and swim. 
 How fantastic does that water look? My husband really did good on this one. Lots of brownie points were made in just a few days. 

Treasures from the sea found by one of our snorkeling friends. Harry.


How about a bit of fresh lobster on the grill? It was more yummy than I can express. We went back several nights as the price was very reasonable.  
Yes! It really was this perfect. Temperature in the day in the mid. 80's and a nice cool breeze in the evening to watch the sun go down and listen to the sea.

The day we left I received an amazing stitching exchange which I cannot share yet. But many, many thanks for the wonderful package. I stitched on a Valentine freebie from primitive hare which I was able to complete. No picture yet, I wanted to get it assembled first. It will be the first piece for my Valentine tree. So this is a not so stitchy post but I hope everyone took a little vacation.

    Thanks for stopping by,
Pam