The best of intentions

is not necessarily enough to get things done sometimes. I had planned to have a giveaway for my blog anniversary on the 21st of August but life got in the way. A lot has happened over the last month and a half, largely related to my father and his health and that has kept me from doing a lot of the things I intended to do this summer. I have driven back and forth to Pittsburgh 3 times in the last 6 weeks and hope to never have to make that trip again. We have moved my dad to my sister's house in NH and started hospice so it's likely I won't be doing any road trips other than back and forth from my house to her house. I will do the giveaway this month instead but I need to take a photo of the goodies for the giveaway first.

To try and catch up on a few things, I'm going to start with the wonderful birthday gifts I received from my partner in a private online stitching group I belong to. Since my birthday is in July and the 4th is also in July, I requested something patriotic that I could display in my house. I have nothing other than a small pin pillow from an exchange last year or the year before. This is the fantastic wall hanging I received from Jodi who does not have a blog.
Jodi also sent along some stitching related goodies in addition to the wonderful piece she stitched. She sent some great patriotic fabrics that will come in handy if I ever get around to stitching the patriotic items I have in my stash. She also sent the wonderful red strawberry emery which I have displayed with my other stitching related items and some great threads and a lovely heart tin finished by a lady she knows.
My family also surprised me with some wonderful stitching related items to add to my collection but I will show you those in another post. I did manage to get a little bit of stitching done and finished a birthday present that will be mailed out soon. Once it's been received I will show you the piece - I really like how it turned out. And here is a picture of the ornament I managed to start. I did finish it but need to take an updated photo. Can't remember which JCS issue it's out of at the moment and that's back in ME so I will try to confirm that when I get back up there.