Anything and Everything

Gosh, these past couple of weeks have been too busy. Some of it enjoyable, seeing friends, going out for meals, visiting the cinema. Other parts have been really quite stressful - module selections for next year are driving me round the bend!

The other big news that's kept me away from blogging is that my parents are moving. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this yet. I'm so excited for my parents to start a new, enthralling chapter in their lives, but I will miss calling Burghfield home. It wasn't my first house, but I did do a hell of a lot of growing up in that house. It's going to be a bit odd, that's for sure.

Anyways, because of all the havoc, I'm behind on my Birthday Stitch Surprise parcels. Don't worry Fiona, yours is packaged up and ready for the postie! And I should be on time for Lesleyanne's too, so that is good.

I'm so excited to be going to visit my older sister in her new house on Wednesday. Not only because I get to see my sis, but also because my mum is leaving my post there, which I know includes a parcel from the lovely Peggy Lee! Thank you so much my friend, I can't wait to open it and see what goodies I've been lucky enough to receive.

I haven't really been doing much personal stitching, so I've got nothing to show I'm afraid. I'll be happy when I've got all these module forms sorted and I can return to my stitching properly.

Best wishes,

Stash Diving

Good morning everyone! This is just a quick post from me to show you what I've been stitching on. Well, not everything that I've been stitching on, some things have to stay hush hush!

I was trying to work on Gingerbread Cottage because I really want to get it finished, but I felt myself falling out of love with it and I was desperate to try something new. I was indeed of a pick-me-up and I found the perfect design in my stash.

This is my progress on LHN's Always and Forever. I'm stitching it one over one on 28ct Mocha Lugana using Weeks Dye Works Americana, kindly sent to me by Terri last year.

 I love working on this piece. I love how it's so delicate and it takes ages for something to come together, but when it does, it looks so lovely. I've really enjoyed stitching on this whilst Lawrie has been away. I'm going to personalize it with our initials and the year we met. I love making ornaments for us :)

I hope you've all got a fun weekend planned. I'm spending the rest of Saturday doing a bit of work and baking. Then on Sunday, I get to go and see Lawrence because he's finally back from skiing! Hurrah! I'm so looking forward to it :D

Best wishes to all,

And The Winner Is . . .

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter my little giveaway. I do so love putting packages and things together for my fellow stitchers and wish I could do it more often.

So, now onto the real reason you've checked in today. The winner of the LHN chart is . . .

Lesli!!!

Comment number nine - "Bekca- Congratulations on over 100 followers! :) I'd love to be entered in the giveaway!"

Congratulations Lesli, if you could email me asap with your mailing address, I'll get the parcel to you promptly. My email address is on my profile :)

This was a lovely giveaway, it's not too long before my blogaversary, and you'll know I'll have something special ready for that!

Best wishes,

Lucky Girl

I'm not usually one for Valentine's Day but today's treat came exactly at the right time. I have been nursing a cold all weekend, but today it got nasty. I was really feeling under the weather and couldn't even make it to lecture, which is not like me at all. I was curled up in bed, box of tissues in one hand, hot water bottle in the other when there was a knock at my door. There was no reply when I said they could come in, so I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed and opened the door.
There waiting for me was a box marked M&S flowers. Oh gosh. I knew there was only one boy who would be sending me flowers on this special day. Ladies, I am very lucky to have my Lawrie. It's almost like he knew I was feeling awful, so timed it to perfection. He's away skiing so we weren't able to do anything, but he sneakily surprised me and made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
My boy just didn't get me one rose, he got me the whole rose plant!

I cannot wait to get this planted in a proper pot and look after it. It will be so special when it blooms. I truly love this gift because it's so very personal and something that will keep on giving.
Isn't he the sweetest? :)

Hope you're enjoying lots of sweet treats as well!

Snowy Stitching

Brrrrr! It's so cold out in Winchester today! I had a few errands to run in town today, but now I'm very glad to be home with a hot cup of tea nearby.

I'm very pleased to say I've finished this month's stitched piece for the Birthday Stitch Surprise - ahead of schedule :) I know I say it quite a lot, but I do love putting these parcels together. I'm already thinking ahead to March, that's you Lesleyanne!

Obviously, I can't show you that stitching, but I can show you my progress on Gingerbread House. I started this late last year and would really love to get it finished soon. I can hear other projects calling my name and it's getting harder to resist them.

I've only really got the wording, two borders and a few more snowflakes to do. I hope to get it all stitched up within a week or so. I thought it might seem strange, stitching on a wintry design after Christmas. But the freezing weather we're having makes it appropriate really.

Don't forget there's still time to enter my giveaway here. It closes next Wednesday :)

I'm heading home this weekend for a meal out with my extended family. I haven't seen some of my aunties, uncles and cousins since Christmas 2010 so I'm really looking forward to it. And tomorrow evening, I'm heading out to the theatre to see my friend perform in a play. I can't wait for that either. As for tonight, I've got a bit of cooking to do to stock up my freezer, then it's all about the stitching :)

What are you up to tonight/over the weekend? Here's hoping it's something fun!

Best wishes,

Over One Hundred Followers Giveaway!

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone that entered!

I can't believe I've got over one hundred people reading what I have to say and looking at the craft I have to show. It's rather humbling and I'm so very grateful. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my little blog. I probably don't say it often enough, but comments make me so happy and this blog means rather a lot to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart :)

To reward my lovely followers, I am holding a giveaway. The main prize is this Little House Needleworks chart that regular followers will know I stitched up last year.

I'm sure I will add a couple of bits and pieces along the way :)

So, to enter:

1. You must be a follower of Stitching Lion.

2. Leave a comment on this post only to let me know your interest.

3. This competition is open to all followers, international ones too.

4. The competition will close next Wednesday 15th February at 9am.

5. There is no need to mention this giveaway on your blog, but thank you kindly if you do!

Good luck everyone! I'll be back soon with a stitchy update to share.

Time to Stitch

Hello everyone! Yesterday I finished off my big written drama assessment for this semester, and boy, am I pleased that's over with! The work itself wasn't too hard and I enjoyed the plays we were studying, it's just finding constant motivation is hard work. But now it's done and dusted and I can resume my normal stitching schedule. Yay!

About a week ago now, I posted off my first Birthday Stitch Surprise parcel for Mouse. I can happily report that the package arrived safely and was liked by Mouse, so I can now share what I sent . . .

Some pins, some needles, some ribbon, some fabric, some tea and a Margaret Sherry Mouse ornament, stitched on 32ct Vintage Beige Linen with recommended DMC threads.

Now I can't wait to sort out and send the next one! Fiona is my next victim  participant :)

I have been meaning for days to post the recipe, but I worry that it's going to seem so very basic. I really experiment with my cooking and just add whatever suits. But I have the recipe here for four people, but you can just do what I did and half it for just two of you. I cooked mine in a slow cooker, but I'm sure you could use a casserole dish in a low-heat oven, around 160C

Pork and Cider Casserole

Ingredients:

One small onion, chopped.

One cooking apple, cut into cubes.

4 steaks of loin pork.

1 tbsp of plain flour.

400ml of medium dry cider (I used Thatchers)

Half a teaspoon of dried thyme.

1tsp of dried sage.

Salt and Pepper

1) Cut the pork into bite sized pieces.

2) Heat some oil in a pan and gently fry the pork until it is browned on all sides. Transfer to your casserole dish/slow cooker bowl.

3) Add the onions and the apple to the pan and fry for around three minutes. Stir in the flour and then gradually add the cider.

4) Bring to the boil, stirring continuously, and then take off the heat and add the herbs and seasoning.

5) Transfer this mixture to the dish/bowl with the pork and mix together well. Place in a low-heat oven for 6 - 7 hours, or a low setting on the slow cooker for the same amount of time.

So there you have it, my first ever recipe! It's best served with boiled potatoes or crusty bread because there is a lot of lovely gravy. I'd love to hear if any of you out there try this recipe, maybe you could send me a photo?

I've got time now to settle to my stitching before heading out to Creative Non-Fiction. It was snowing this morning in Winchester, just little flakes mind. I'm going to need my woollen hat when I venture out later on!

Best wishes,