Wise Words

"Kind words are short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless."  Mother Teresa

I guess you can tell I love quotes!

I am making more progress this month than I have in the past on my stitching.  Of course, I can't show you my focus piece.  I'm really kind of annoyed about that.  I'm thinking that in the new year I would like to do a SAL.  Maybe with a group where we say every Thursday we work on a certain piece.  I've seen many of you doing these.  Does anyone know of one I could join in the new year?  I'd need to order supplies so I guess I need to be thinking about this. 

Black Bean Chili

Things are a little cool here.  We made our usual chili and a black bean chili for a recent get together.  The black bean chili turned out so well that I wanted to share the recipe with you.  Here it is:

Black Bean Chili

Ingredients:

   ½ pound ground beef

   ½ pound Italian sausage

    2 cans black beans drained and rinsed

    2 cans diced tomatoes

    1 cup chopped onions

    2 teaspoons garlic

    1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

    1 tablespoon chili powder

    1 teaspoon ground cumin

    Pinch paprika

    ½ teaspoon black pepper

    ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

    ¼ teaspoon oregano

    ¼ teaspoon thyme

    ½ teaspoon salt

    4 cups water

    2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

    1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

    1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Directions

In a skillet, brown ground beef, Italian sausage, onions and garlic.  Drain and move into a pot.

Add tomatoes, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, salt and water.  Let simmer for around 15 minutes.  Add black beans and let simmer for an additional 20 minutes. 

Right before serving add the lime juice, cilantro and cheddar cheese.  My husband also likes sour cream and crackers!

If you make it, I would love to hear about it!

Ho Ho Ho Update and Question

I wanted to give an update on my Ho Ho Ho Ornament.  Keep in mind that this is just my lunch time stitching.  So while there is some progress it's really not a lot.

I'm still working away on the project that is a gift.  I feel bad since that is where most of my time stitching is being spent and I can't show you my progress.  I'm only about half way finished with the project so I still have a lot to do. 

I have noticed on several blogs that it is common to start a new project on your birthday.  My birthday is coming up on November 30th.  And I LOVE the boxes Becky has made. I would love to make a box like this for myself and I think it would be a perfect birthday gift to myself.  Does that sound selfish?  I'm really not.  I only have a couple of things I've stitched because I almost always stitch gifts for others.  But this leads me to a question.  What pattern should I choose?  I'd like something that could stay out all year.  Does anyone have a suggestion?  I don't have a local store, so I'll need to order the pattern.  What do you think?

What A Great Idea

Oh my goodness!  I have a follower and someone posted a comment.  Thank you so much for the warm welcome to blogging.  I'm so excited to see others have found me.  I'm still a little nervous about posting so I hope you won't get bored before I figure this all out.

I was reading blogs today and came across Lindsay.  She has a wonderful thing she does at the end of each month.  She posts how many stitching hours she got in that month and a summary of what she accomplished.  What fun.  Kind of like a challenge to yourself each month.  And since today is November 1st, it's the perfect time to join in.  Hopefully we won't all laugh at my attempt at the end of November.

Current Projects

I have two current projects.  Only two you ask?  Well, I have more UFOs than I care to admit to.  However I'm trying to get that number down. 

The first project is really my main project that I stitch on during weeknights after work and on the weekends.  It's a gift so I really can't post a picture of it yet.  Sorry!

The second project is my lunch/errand project.  I've just started it.  I know this picture is horrible.  I'm so sorry, but I really wanted to post today so I had to take a cell phone picture.  Something is better than nothing, right?  This will be a Christmas ornament.  Christmas is my favorite holiday!  The design is from a book called A Cross-Stitch Christmas Celebrations in Stitches from Better Homes and Gardens.  The name of the design is called Ho Ho Ho Ornament.

Like I said, I've just started it, but I really wanted to post today.  

Halloween Giveaway

Terri is having an amazing Halloween Giveaway.  Be sure to stop by soon and enter to win! Terri's blog can be found here.

Introduction

First, let me say thank you to all my stitching friends that have inspired me.

Have you ever been in a place in life where all the sudden you stopped and asked, "How did I get here?"  That's kind of where I am now.  I'm certainly not where I thought I would be.  And I have to say, it's mostly the decisions of another that have brought me here.  Kind of frustrating, really.  I'm reminded of a scripture from Jeremiah 31:13.  "Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.  I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."  That's exactly what I need:  comfort and joy instead of sorrow. 

I was reading a book this weekend, The Perfect Life by Robin Lee Hatcher.  It was a great book.  And I want to share a couple of sentences that spoke to me.  "We can't always alter our circumstances, and we can't control how others behave or think, no matter how hard we try.  Our focus must be on what we need to change about ourselves - our attitudes, our words, our actions - even if our circumstances and the other people in our lives remain the same."

I think it spoke to me because that's where I am. 

I will be back later in the week to share my stitching with you.