Life With Jules, and other stuff

On Saturday afternoon, dad and I went for a drive along the beaches of Pinellas County. Florida boasts some of the most beautiful beaches and yes there are many. We stopped and took a short walk out to St. Pete Beach so I could take some pictures. Here is one of 3 gulls in search of dinner. Doesn't the one look like it just wants to have a conversation?! LOL And this little fella just seems content to be by himself!

Clouds are an interesting weather event. They seem to take on shapes and life all on their own. On the way home from the store this evening I turned to the west and saw the profile of Jesus: John 17:1-3 (New International Version) John 17 Jesus Prays for Himself   1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Taken from Bible Gateway

Here is my 2nd finish on the Great Pumpkin Challenge 2010 : I used the pumpkins from the Cricket Collection design The Great Pumpkin Conspiracy but changed them up a wee bit. Instead of using the recommended floss, I used some random DMC that I have in my stash. I stitched these two pumpkins on 14-ct Antique White Aida (Charles Craft). I am thinking about giving a try at a pinkeep using this piece so stay tuned…. Off to do more stitchy stuff!

I don't normally go around taking pictures of the food I am about to eat, but I couldn't resist this time! As most of you know (those that follow Edgar over at Blacksheep's ), we get to read and see lots of interesting dishes and pastries. Well, I took my dad to an Italian restaurant in Wesley Chapel (FL) called Pagelli's tonight. It was delightful! The atmosphere was perfect for an Italian restaurant. To start off, we shared their Mozzarella Fritta, which is fried moz on a layer of pomadore sauce. I failed to take a picture of that, but it's just your typical fried moz in the shape of a triangle. For our entrees: dad had their Salmon Limone: He didn't much care for the artichoke hearts or the capers. Other than that, he enjoyed! I had their Chicken Marsala without mushrooms: Again, a delight to the senses!! I did have my veges in the form of a salad. Their pastry case is to die for: I usually get a desert to go when we eat out, but this time I passed on...

Well, in stitches anyway! LOL I am participating in a Pumpkin themed SAL. The object is to stitch items with pumpkins by the deadline, which is Thanksgiving. It’s called The Great Pumpkin Challenge 2010 and is hosted by BeckySC. Be sure to check it out! There are many, many of us participating!!! So, with that said, here is my first Pumpkin for the Challenge (and I will be emailing the pic to BeckySC soon): I am calling this “Pumpkin Topiary Bookmark” and it is just a little something I did on my own. So, I guess I am the designer, LOL! It is stitched on 14-count Ribband brand Bookmark fabric by Bucilla. I used odds in DMC colors that I have leftover from other projects. I am working on a second something, that will be my own design, and hope to have it finished on the weekend!  

…about moving to Florida several years ago is not being close enough to visit my niece whenever I want. Now, she is becoming a teenager, although not officially until next February, and is starting to show more independence. I am missing her so much. She was a huge part of my life from 2001 until 2006 when I moved away. I only get to see her when she comes down during summer vacation for about a month or so, or when I go to visit my family in MI. That’s not enough in my heart, but in my mind it is what it is. There were several factors which led to my decision to leave Michigan. The main factor is my family here. I never got to spend much time with my paternal grandparents and now with only one grandparent remaining, dad’s mom, I felt the need to be closer to her. She will be 85 years young next month and I am lucky to still have her in my life. My father also lives in FL, as does my sister and her family, several cousins, aunts and uncles. Another factor was the weather. I was n...

What do you think of when you hear the words “love bug”? Does this come to mind:   Or maybe a newer version: Well, when I hear those words the first thing that comes to my mind is this: Now, I am not one to be squeamish around bugs, but lovebugs are really disgusting little creatures! Much like mosquitos, bees, and flies, they tend to swarm and are annoyances. Here in Florida, it is lovebug season. Below is a map of some of the areas these things have been found: So, next time you think of lovebugs, what will come to your mind first???

Hey all! If you received a weird email from me over the last day or so, it was not me. Someone hacked or phished my email. I noticed last night this weird activity when I had many, MANY "mailer demons". I ran a thorough scan on my pc overnight and no viruses were detected, so hopefully it is an isolated incident. I am truly sorry for this and will always put something in the subject line (that makes sense) so you know it is me. Julie

Well, I decided to give a sneak peak at the PIF I will be mailing out next week. I just have to figure out how to do the french knots or use beads and how I will finish it! And the roses, well, you will have to visit my Photog blog to view them, but let me just say that they are HUGE! ***Updated to add: Hey all you stitchers out there! If you need or desire a copy of the JCS 2010 Ornament Preview, check out this blog for a chance to obtain a copy!!! You only have until the 24th, so act fast...and good luck!

…wondered what 25 roses looked like? How about what 50 roses look like?? Betcha never saw 75??? Yup, some lucky lady is gonna have a very special birthday tomorrow (Saturday)! Her husband spent bucko bucks on this gift; and I have the distinct pleasure of delivering it to her home!!! I wonder if they will let me take a picture of her receiving it?! Hmmm…   By the way, this is what the vase looked like before anything was put in it:

I have always been a cat owner, but once in a while there was a dog in my life. This little fella came to live with me and my younger brother when we went to visit our dad in Wyoming. One of his friends gave us the dog and we brought him home to Michigan with us at the end of the summer – and BOY was our mom surprised, LOL. While we didn’t have him long (he was killed by a an idiot and his car that winter) he was a pleasure to have and very loved! If I were ever to get another dog (and I hope someday I will), I would want another dog like Toby (or Jasmine – who will be introduced in a later post)!

Please view this blog for my thoughts and experience on 9/11!

That is something that we have lived with for 9 long years now. Following are some clips from the web: United Flight 93 Memorial rendition For me personally, this event triggered my PTSD to the forefront of my life. I have dealt with this illness for more than 15 years fairly successfully keeping the symptoms at bay. On September 11, 2001 those symptoms came back, however temporarily. Two nights prior to this event, I dreamed of a plane crashing into a tall building. I didn’t think much of it as my dreams can be rather strange at times. I was also a bit under the weather at the time so I thought maybe it was just the cold playing havoc with my subconscious. On the morning of the 11th, my mother was driving me to Ann Arbor (MI) to the VA Hospital ER. As we got closer to the Ann Arbor/Detroit area, I noticed semis pulled over all over the place. Well, being so close to the Canadian border, my first thought was drugs. I had no idea why security was heightened at the VA either. W...

…FINALLY! I have been able to get back into my stitching recently and finally have some progress to share. Here is where I am on the Christmas Design SAL :   I am still wondering where in the world Yoyo is, as I am sure everyone else in the SAL is too. I sure hope she and her family are alright. It’s been way too long without so much as a peep from her. I am going to continue working on this design and get it finished in time to frame and give to my dad for Christmas this year (even if it kills pains me, LOL)! I also have several ornaments I want to stitch and need to restart that Baby Sampler I created. I got almost all the way across the top border on the Sampler and realised that I somehow miscounted either the fabric or the pattern. Anyway, I need to restart it so that it will be finished soooon now that the little boy is here. Update on my Master’s Thesis: I PASSED! I received an “A” on my Thesis. I am officially through with my MA Degree and will should hav...

Yesterday's post was a lead-in to today's. My dad and I went to the Withlacoochee River State Park (about 10 miles from our house) on Sunday. We have driven through there before and he took my niece there a few years ago, but I had never been able to take any pictures until now. Here are some of the critters and creatures I (we) saw (be careful - that last creature can be especially dangerous, LOL LOL LOL):