Thread:Superkenzie/@comment-33437691-20200103172834/@comment-37542647-20200116020337

A foot of snow is a lot of snow! I live in northern Illinois and it is not unusual for us to get about 6-8 inches of snow at one time. The snow plows in our area are very good at clearing the snow and the drivers often work around the clock to clear the roads. When I was working my employer usually would expect everyone to drive to work unless it was windy with snow drifts on the roads. It was good to have the snow plows clearing the roads but it was still a challenging drive at times. I am glad I can watch the snow fall in the comfort of my house and not worry about driving.

I am sorry but you are too late with your advice about my gift certificate. I went to the shop expecting to just browse around and maybe buy a couple of small items. I started out with 2 skeins of thread and I was hopeful I would make it out of the shop with money left. That plan changed when I spotted a design by Jeannette Doulas Designs. It was for a Christmas Box and I just couldn't resist it. the design consisted of four small crossed Christmas designs placed in a shadow box. The shop also sold the shadow box which is 6 inches by 6 inches in size. I thought that would be enough for me to buy and I could still have some money left. Then I spotted another design by Jeannette Douglas that would also fit in the shadow box. The small cushions designed for the box could be removed and replaced with other cushions. So of course I needed to purchase that design also. It featured a small sampler with the words "Love to Stitch". The colors reminded me of autumn, my favorite season. I also bought fabric for the stitching box and I thought that I was finished shopping. Then I spotted a beautiful picture frame on sale for $10. Well, I spent the entire $100. I just knew I wouldn't be able to leave the shop with money left in my pocket. I don't know if you are familiar with Jeannette Douglas. She has been a cross stitch designer for a number of years and lives in Alberta, Canada. Her designs are absolutely beautiful and feature a variety of stitches sewn using silk threads. I really enjoy stitching with silk but it is more expensive than the cotton thread. The really great thing about her is that she does not use a lot of backstitching in her designs. You have mentioned that you feed the birds that are in your area. Have you stitched any designs featuring birds? I have stitched a few by a really great designer, Crossed Wing Collection. The designs are very realistic. There is some backstitching, but not a lot. I think that artists who also design needlework understand colors and shading and do not rely on backstitching Getting back to your birds. I am jealous that you have hummingbirds. I have attempted to feed them but I usually only attract ants and bees. When my husband was interested in flowers and gardening he would plant flowers that attracted hummingbirds and I loved watching the small birds. We have small birds that usually migrate to our area in the winter and are called Juncos. I haven't seen any yet this year and that is unusual. They usually appear in late fall and leave in the spring. I'm not sure the reason for this but I miss seeing them. They are small birds with black bodies and white chests. In fact, the number of birds at my feeder this winter is greatly diminished. I have cardinals who are faithful visitors and a few mourning doves. I know the farmers in our area were late in harvesting their crops this past year and I wonder if the birds have found other food sources in those fields. I chuckled a little when you mentioned that if you had a husband he could rig up a birdhouse with a warmer. I have a house, garden and a husband and I can guarantee that my husband would not make a birdhouse with a warmer. I think you would need to have an ambitious and a handyman husband. Not sure if there are any of those around. They may be an endangered species. Well, it is getting late and I need to call my son tonight. Talk to you soon.