I Couldn't Wait Until Next Year!

Had to show you what I finished while I was gone.  I have a list of cross-stitch "to do"s.  This Shepard's Bush chart was from the early 90's.  The Herbal Husband was amazed how quick it was to finish.  He was probably thinking why didn't she finish it sooner!  Oh, well, this was what I was ripping out earlier and had to start over again!

Psst, don't let The Herbal Husband know it, but this is my favorite Christmas present this year.  He got me some wonderful language of flower books.  I'll share them later.  This is from my best friend's daughter, my almost daughter, Miss C.  It is a BloemBox for a Bumble Bee Garden.  Inside this adorable box are three 5' seed ribbons made of plantable, biodegradable tissue paper filled with premium seeds for effortless planting.  They are Dahlia Flowered Pink Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), Queen Anne's Thimble (Gilia capitata) and Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), all annuals.  Miss C called this gift a twofer because once the seed ribbons are planted, the box is way too cute not to use it for other stuff!  So Miss C and I will be busy planting them next spring after the threat of frost is gone.  So The Herbal Husband and I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration wherever you may be!  Be safe and I will talk to you in the New Year!  (Probably tomorrow!)

My Christmas Present to Myself!

I finally finished this cross-stitch piece.  I think I started it last year at this time.  I try to do a big project a year.  Didn't get any thing finished for 2009.  This is my seventh from the Told in a Garden series.  For as complex as it looks, it is really a simple life and design and that's what I love about them.  I have already started another project and have been ripping out what I started.  A story for another time.  I have a list of projects and maybe it will be finished some day!  Movie day.  Going to see The Fighter this afternoon.  Not my kind of movie, but going to see the performances.  Saw Black Swan the other day.  A very intense movie, but a wonderful performance by Natalie Portman.  Hope you are staying warm wherever you are.  Talk to you later.

It's Travel Thursday--Royal School of Needlework, V & A Museum and The National Gallery

I spent a lovely afternoon taking a tour with Jessica, a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace, the former home of King Henry VIII. The School has a very small section in the Palace and could use a little more room! Their collection comprises 60,000 pieces plus of embroidery of all shapes and sizes. We saw a tiny fraction of that collection that was displayed on the walls and saw work in progress on both new and preservation of old pieces. There were ladies on our tour that come once a year. Wish that could be me! The staff was anxiously awaiting the UPS truck for a delivery of material for a commission piece for Dover Castle. Have my fingers crossed that you get the commission work finished!

As you can see below, it was a little too early for the magnificant gardens, but they were getting ready for the season.






























The next day the Herbal Husband and I went to the Victoria & Albert Museum in the morning and the National Gallery in the afternoon. Here are a couple of pictures from the V & A collection of textiles. Truly another amazing collection of embroidery!

Inauguration Day!

Today is a very important day for the Obamas, the Bidens and the United States of America. I have been working on this Capitol for quite some time. The Herbal Husband became a United States citizen in 1992! I was hoping to get this done sooner, but maybe there is a reason why the sampler has not been finished until this year! Yes, we can!

The Rhodies are Even Cold!

When the rhododendrons are curled up like cigars, you know it's cold! The birds at the feeders wanted extra food today. The herbal husband put hot water in the birdbath and even the sparrows were in taking baths! I don't know how people in the north country stand it. Very hardy souls! I stayed inside with a cup of wild strawberry tea and worked on some special Christmas cards from one of the English cross-stitch magazines.

The Best Combination-Herbs and Counted Cross-Stitch!

A little diversion from the Christmas posts. I do love to do counted cross-stitch and herbs and counted cross-stitch are the best. My neighbor and herbal travel companion when the herbal husband wants to stay home gave this to me. There is one at her house for me to teach her how to cross-stitch. Hopefully some day soon that will happen. Time just seems to fly by these days! I'm off to the Master Gardener Holiday Gala this evening! Stay warm!