Gone sleddin'

Ok I am a bit giddy! I really enjoyed our first ride out. We got suited up; staying warm number one priority!

  With the ITS trail just behind the house it has been something we've wanted to do since we moved to Maine. The timing was right and we bought a 2007 Bombardier Ski-Do in November. Kind of partial to the brand as the Hubby used to work for Bombardier - Learjet (aircraft manufacturing) in Kansas.

It's taking some getting used to wearing a helmet. But it sure does keep the head warm! 

Once I located the switch to turn on the hand warmers....even better!

We headed to the gas station first to top her off and then back on the trail in the opposite direction towards Corrina for a great breakfast at Barb's Village Square restaurant.

I originally asked for home fries then changed it to corn beef hash; 

she brought me both.  

Hubby is not a big breakfast person...but I am. 

It was a hearty meal; this girl can eat.

We got there just as the breakfast crowd was thinning out. 

The place was filled when we got there. Haha.

Love all the patriotic tributes to the men and women who have served or are serving 

in the U.S. Armed Forces

A sweet New England view from our booth. 

And one from the parking lot looking up to the town hall.  

No pics on the ride folks...good way to fall off. Hope to have some good snaps from future rides when we stop here and there. It was fun to see some of the local eateries had posted signs along the trail to paths cut through the woods to their establishments. Already have a few further north on our Must Stop list. Some folks have already cleared snow on the lake and ponds for skating rinks. Definitely want to get some pictures of that on the next ride. Soon we will see the ice fishing shacks. It is a whole new world of exploration for us and it will definitely help to pass the long Maine winter months. Our daughter will be home in February for her birthday; we've planned two days for Hubby to take her out for a couple of good rides. Can't wait!

With a roast in the crockpot and a fire in the hearth we are cozy comfy back at A Stone's Throw.

I think I will do a little stitching before supper. 

The PSA Season's Greeting cabin is calling to me....well all those trees really!

Before I go here is a glimpse of new beginnings for me. With some yarn bought at Salvation Army I re-learned how to crochet via a tutorial on YouTube. 

After practicing several granny squares I picked up some fun colors 

to make my very first granny square afghan. 

Here is a peak of my squares so far.

Hope y'all have had an enjoyable weekend. 

Here's to a productive, stress free week. :)

Keep on stitching and hooking.

P.J.

*#*#* 100 Followers *#*#*

WOW!! I never thought I'd see the day....

A shout out to Ali at With Needle Thread and Basket for joining my blog. She hails from Scotland, another first for Porcupine Needle. It truly is a small world.

My blogging mojo is waning as I have to "wrastle" with three diffenent devices to post my pictures and to be honest it can be a pain in the tuckus!! I will get a few pics posted soon on the fun Granny Square afghan I am working on. Just something I've been wanting to do for awhile now. It has been a bit of a relaxing change to work on this after long days at work. Hard to stitch when your an exhausted noodle after work.

Looks like we make our inaugural ride this morning on the sled to get breakfast in the town over. I was so excited last night when I saw the trail groomer go by TWICE!!! Hope to have some fun trail pictures to post too.

Keep on Stitching and Hooking!
P.J.

Hello 2015

Another year has closed....can you believe it is 2015. WOW!! No real resolutions set this year. Always striving for improvements. The past year brought lessons of life, love and struggles but we managed through for the better of it. Many family members have said it was the worst year ever... I reflect differently on the passing of my loved ones; although my heart hurts I have taken this cycle of life to cherish all the wonderful memories of those lives. Oh, I have regrets...but I cannot not dwell on what I cannot change. But knowing they are at peace together gives me peace. There are several new lives among our family and friends and it brings joy to us as we watch these wee beings grow and make new memories to cherish.

My framer announced in December she is contiplating her retirement after the first of the year. I am  excited for her after 25 yrs in the business, 22 as an owner....but sad for myself as there is a special connection between us; as most of you stitcher's know and I hope you have that experience. When you take your lovely handwork in, there should be magic happening when finding the right mat and/ or frame for your piece. It is the final crown to bring it all to its wondrous glory. Well I've been fortunate to have that experience twice in my stitching life; first at Heart's Desire in Wichita, KS and the after trial and error searching, finding Polly Wright of FrameWright in Detroit, ME.

Not knowing this when I started my mermaid....filling in the background currently... The whole time I was stitching her I kept saying I can't wait to show this to Polly. I will be ringing her up to see if I can get this one last piece framed as I really am looking forward to her and I finding the right one for this piece. I have a tear in my eye thinking about not having that experience with her in the future.

I think I posted about her last year of how we hit it off like we had known each other for years. She is an amazing individual full of spirit and kindness. I look forward to seeing what her next adventure brings her. :) Bon chance mon ami!

Welcome, welcome, welcome to my newest followers!! There are a hand full that have popped in over the last several months, my faux pas for not giving you a proper greeting. Thank you JMyers, Wagapapa, Margie, Jessica and Prairie Patch Quilts for joining Porcupine Needle.

I will be sure to share some snaps of my latest handwork adventure. I have been wanting to crochet an afghan for almost two years now...my mother even sent me her instruction booklet from the 70's and a package of hooks. I'll share more on the inspiration and what really wowed me, learning from YouTube and my progress. It's been FUN!!!

Wishing everyone an adventurous, successful and happiest of New Year.

Keep on Stitching and Hooking.
P.J.

Elfing around

I had a extra long weekend last weekend and 

it was FAB-U-LOUS!!! 

I was sewing, stitching, baking and cooking!

I put the finish on several smalls. 

I am super pleased that I finished these!!

Two of these I stitched in 2011... I am just getting my feet under me with finishing. I was so glad I found the perfect material for the backing at the Hooking Retreat in November.

I had great supervision through out the day.

Sharing my chair at the sewing table

Ummm, you spilled some.

SQUIRREL!!

...no, seriously there was a squirrel.

I was stitching this piece when I went to visit my Grandma Pat before she passed; it is a good reminder of the love between her and my Grandpa Percy. 

The wool plaid is symbolic to the West Virginia country life..... It's perfect, perfect, perfect.

And thanks to Marly's timely post, about lining up her plaid, 

I was focused on keeping the plaid aligned for this piece. 

The September Sampler I chose to offset the plaid to mimic the variegation of the stitching.

A pin cushion for me...

... a pin cushion for an exchange. 

I painted and waxed the little box too. 8-)

I enjoyed every minute in the kitchen baking and cooking over this extra long weekend.

 

Christmas colors in the kitchen...

 I baked banana bread, pistachio cake (mini loaves) and a new recipe found by my husband, Sam Adams Winter Lager Sugar cookies. I also made a couple batches of a spiced tea mix for gifts.

Looking forward to getting some more elfing done this weekend. 

I've been enjoy the peaceful beauty of the Maine winter landscape...

but the recent rain makes things less attractive and messy.

Headed out this morning with the hubby to lay wreaths on Veteran's graves in Holden. The wreaths are donated from Wreaths Across American which is the organization that places the wreaths at Arlington Cemetery. The wreaths are made in Columbia Falls, Maine.  

Continuing to remember and honor. 

Speaking of such....our Military Appreciation Group coordinated a holiday party at the local Veteran's home with food, festivities, including a magician and an Elvis impersonator, and gifts! It was scheduled for this past Thursday but the FLU hit several quads of the home. 

So the gifts have been sent and the food and festivities are being rescheduled for New Year's Eve once the health dept gives the all clear. 

It has been my gift of joy for the season to be a part of this...

I really don't need anything more. 

Really. :)

Hope everyone is enjoying wonderful moments of joy this holiday season 

with family, friends and community.

P.J.

Not much needling going on

Been in a bit of a fog of late; too tired at night after work to stitch or hook and too busy on the weekends to get any time in either.

We do have some holiday cheer spread throughout the house but keeping it simple. Wish I could find a simple style to stick with every year. I have always liked the colonial greenery. Anyway that is another lifetime....

Have an exchange project to finish for my hooking group and after that who knows. Might take a break.

Betty your package is going in the mail TODAY! YEAH!

Loving everyone's lovely stitching, hooking and holiday posts!

Be MERRY and Bright!