Where Do I Begin...

Hello Friends!!!!!!!

 

I have missed you all so much!

 

I know that it has been forever since my last post, but so much has been going on that I don't even know where to begin!!!

 

Hmmmm, how about if I just start at the beginning...the beginning of December that is! :)

 

As you all know, we sold our saltbox home and moved closer to my husband's company. It was a very sad departure for us but we did it and now we are starting a new chapter of our lives here in southeastern WI. After many disappointments and several months of searching, we finally found and purchased a house. It isn't anything like what we were hoping to find, but we purchased it anyways because we very badly wanted (and needed) to be in a house by Christmas. We settled on a nice, but somewhat smaller Colonial home with a big back yard in a very nice country neighborhood. We absolutely love the area and so far have met some very nice neighbors. I really think we are going to like living here. :)

 

The house itself is nice, but not early looking at all, and it needs some up-dating both inside and out. I am, however, having a really hard time liking it without always comparing it to our saltbox. All of the trim and woodwork is solid OAK...a very pretty wood in it's own right, but very orange in color and...JUST NOT ME!!! The flooring is a combination of oak hardwood, carpet and tile...again, all beautiful, just NOT ME! The exterior is also very dated in color and appearance, so we are going to be up-dating that for sure...as well as the overgrown landscaping.

 

I was hoping to be able to paint the trim and cabinetry, pull up and replace some of the flooring, etc...but...my husband is fighting me every step of the way. You see...this is only a temporary home for us and he keeps thinking "resale-resale-resale" so to him, putting a ton of money into this place would be a big mistake...I guess I agree with him to a point, but decorating is sort of "my thing" if you know what I mean, and it sure would make little old me a lot happier if I could "early things up a little" and at least take the home's appearance back a couple of hundred years!

 

Maybe if I whine enough he will get sick of listening to me and give in...notice I said MAYBE...time will tell, but I am going to be making a few changes, so I will be sure to take you all with me as I make those changes in the months to come.

 

December was not only busy with the moving, but I also did most of my traveling for the new Christmas book I have coming out this Fall. I actually finished up my travels in mid January, so with moving, traveling, and Christmas thrown in the mix...not to mention tax time...I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY!!!

 

I have also been working on a few new cross stitch patterns and I just released the new ones on Tuesday. If interested, you can click on the link in the top left corner of this page to go to my PT to check them out. I have had a wonderful response to my pattern line and there are so many of you who have contributed in making this such a successful venture for me  that I have decided to give you all a little thank-you for all of your orders and the kindness you have all showed over the past several months.

 

I have had numerous requests for this design, so I thought that it would be a good choice for my first give-a-way.

©2013 Tina Woltman

The wonderful dolly in the picture was made by my friend Lori Rippey of www.picturetrail.com/homespunprimsbylori and she is holding a little pin-keep that I designed for her called "For My Friend". ...because Lori is such a good one...friend that is...but now that I think about it, she is real doll too! :)

Here is the chart...I have never posted a pattern before, so I hope that you will all be able to save and/or copy it.

Now on to some very sad news....

Back in October I announced some WONDERFUL news about our daughter Hannah expecting our first little grand baby. About a month ago we got the news that she was having some trouble with her pregnancy and we recently got more bad news. I won't go into all of the details of her complications, but she is only 25 weeks along, which is far too early to deliver. She is on complete bed rest due to these complications and there will most likely be a premature delivery. She has already been hospitalized once and we are all doing everything we can to help her both physically and emotionally, and her doctor has been amazing, but I think that prayers are what we need most right now, so can I ask that you all please take a moment to say a prayer for both Hannah and our sweet little baby? As anxious as we all are to meet this little darling, baby needs to be patient and stay put for several more weeks!!

Well my friends, on that note I think that I need to sign off before I start crying all over again :(

Thank you all so much for stopping by...your visits, emails and kind words are always so much appreciated!!

Enjoy Your Day...Tina