Merry Christmas!

From pictures I took in Dominican of Christmas Trees at the hotels I was at. ENJOY!

Hugs and Stitches! Joan

DOMINICIAN OR BUST? Arrival day and Day 1 Site Inspections

So flying in on final approach to Santo Domingo on Sat. Dec 3rd so picture perfect! Came into 80+ weather.
Finally, thru customs. On the way to get our transfer. Oh, what a ride that was! Give me driving thru Philly any day!First night at the Melia. Very nice hotel, very well-suited for the business traveler. Enjoying the local sites. The relaxation by the pool.And a beautiful sunset my first night in Santo Domingo. Tomorrow starts the fun of extreme walking. My co-workers and I off to Boca Chica.
Off to hotel number 1 of 20! Now arriving at Hamaca Suites in Boca Chica. View from the lounge. Now onto the next amazing property – Casa de Campo.

The lobby, celebration drinks, AMAZING FOOD, and amazing view. This is the side of the island I would stay…calm waters compared to Punta Cana side. But, I will be showing you a property there I would stay at. This property is higher end but worth every penny!
Now onto La Romana….ready to dive in….it was so hot and humid…July weather in the northeast. this is Be Live Canoa – for the budget conscience family. Now onto Dreams La Romana…everywhere we stopped hotels would greet you with cold scented washcloths to refresh you and a cold drink….it really hit the spot!
Beautiful gardens….inviting beds…gorgeous views!Welcome to the Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus … the most unbelievable landscaping...

did someone say buffet! Seeing and eating is believing!

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

END OF DAY ONE WITH MY CO-WORKERS! 6 PROPERTIES DOWN..14 MORE TO SEE. But, actually many more than that since many properties contained several levels of properties on one-site. Some as many as 4-6, so I think each day of walking was 5 –10 miles of walking. So yes, this was work at it’s hardest. Beautiful location none the less.
So how did this happen – details coming up in Day 2 of our site inspections.
 

Michael Powell Tri-Pic stitching completed

 

		Mini Christmas by Michael Powell VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Well I finally finished stitching the Christmas door. No completing my 3 sections of my Michael Powell, Christmas window, mini tree and Mini Christmas Front door. The first one was a kit that I purchased when Michael was having a clearance sale. One more winter scene kit to go yet – Called “Chalet”. That one will be framed separately.

The other 2 pictures are from the “Members download area”. After finishing my stitching last night and laying out the 3 pictures to see what order I will be matting out. Well, suddenly it dawned on me! There is no snow on the 2 freebies. So now a quandary, do I still continue to make a tri-pic or put the large window separate. Then, put the tree and door into a side by side pic.

Hate making decision. So what do you all think? I am going to double mat. Thinking about hand water coloring possibly a snowy scene between the 3 of them. And if I do what order do I put them in. Or just double mat the window and then the other 2 in another frame. HHMMM! The colors for the mats will be crème, accented by black or forest green in a crème frame or black.

So love to hear your feedback. Hugs and Stitches Joan

Now that's a Cuke!

Well nothing much to report in the stitching sector of my life but the garden part of my life well! Hubby did well. Look at this Cuke! With all the rain that we have been getting well - it's pickle time!!!!

You would think this was a zuchinni if I was growing one, but this must have been one that I missed on the last pick a few days ago.

Here is a link to an amazing pickle recipe - but the gentleman that posted some years ago - a few questions always comes up - the salt goes into the brine mix and it is white vinegar that is used. Russian Dill Pickles (wonderful Sweet/sour pickle)

Now for my refrigerator version:

I used a empty (LOL!) pretzel container, you know the large barrels. In layers of the remaining ingredients.

Make double the brine recipe

dill/vidalia onion (I used 1/4 onion for each layer)
3 inch layer of chunk cukes - 1/2" slices
more dill and onion
2nd layer put in addition Crushed garlic clove (not minced like recipe calls for does the same thing)
continue till you get about 2 inches from the top.
On the top place 4-6 cloves of garlic and 1 tsp of Alum(found in the spice section of the grocery store - this helps prevent the pickles turning black)

After brine has cool some - warm pour over the pickles. Using a wooden (not metal spoon), push the cukes around a bit.

Let the container sit at room temp for 5-6 hours and then put in the frig. Ready in 24 hours. Great in 2-4 days peak - if you can wait. Not happening once you taste them! LOL!

So enjoy the reaps of your labor - I have been enjoying mine!

Hugs and happy gardening Joan

Wonderful Vacation Getaway

Well I had a wonderful time on vacation - just got back from 3 days in Atlantic City with hubby! Of course found a wonderful needlework shop- okay knew was there - so it was a revisit. Here is the stash I came out with. Who wants to put money in the slots. Actually this shop is located 12 miles south of AC, in Ocean City, NJ.

So here is the hauling:

 So this is what I bought: Rainbow Galleries: Very Velvet in Christmas and fall colors. Inspiration into the Christmas Card SAL! DMC no 5 Pearl in Christmas colors. The whites also Rainbow Galleries - Alabaster, Artic Rays and Fancy fur (also part of the SAL). Needle Necessities - since out of biz - Love going there to get some more for the collection.  and Carons Watercolors Marigold. Since her shop is distinctly for Needlepointers she has some linen she sold me for real cheap. So the name of the shop see below! This is what the shop looks like from the outside - go to her website to see the inside! DROOL!



So anything you need and want for the SAL will let you know which ones I will be using by the end of August so you are ready for the first part in mid-September!

So did you think that I would not come back with thimbles - you are all so funny!
Of course I did - ones for me and extras for swapping! You want to swap let me know!

 So as you can see ones from Atlantic City, NJ and extra New Jersey ones. Close up in next pic.

 So if you want to swap for a jersey one - well needs to also be a souvenir one from either your state if I do not have it or some where else. Just need to send me a pic!!

and unfortunately these were the only 2 I could find the day of my jaunt to Ocean City, NJ, so these are staying in my collection. so the collection grows.

Now a few pics of my trip: this was the skyline coming into AC

 Early morning boardwalk walk after we got all settled in

 View from the one restrarant we ate at in Bally's

 One view of the NJ Korean War memorial - very impactful!

 It's Sugar Store - and yes that elephant is covered with Jelly Belly Jellybeans

 One of many views from our room

 Night shot of Wild Bills casino

 Trip to Ocean City, NJ, this is the music pier

 And this is a shot I took from it!

Then back to AC for an evening walk down by the beach!

Thanks all for looking! Now back to Drooling over my new thread stash!!
Hugs and Stitches Joan

making comments

so I try and I try to comment back to your comments and blogger will not let me - so dumb - so I am not ignoring you - blogger is! LOL!

Lil' Christmas Tree

So this is the Michael Powell - Mini xmas tree - the 2nd of my tripic - before the backstitching.

Will update the backstitching - should be completed by tomorrow.