The sun is streaming through the windows.  It is such a glorious day.  That reminded me to take some pictures. 

I found these fibers at an estate sale sometime before Thanksgiving.  When I had the camera out, I forgot to take a picture to show them to you even though I was very excited to show them to you.  They were a bargain that was way too good to pass up even if they were not "my" colors.  Don't I sound like an absolutely incorrigible stash-a-holic? 

We took the Christmas tree down yesterday.  Today I vacuumed all the needles from the carpet.  It was up for only a couple weeks but it seems like there is a hole in the living room even though I have moved the furniture back. 

There is one less rocking chair in the house.  We sent a Nelson family rocker home with Roger's sister.  I feel good about this.  Roger is not yet ready to part with the little child's rocker so our teddy bear, Bert, occupies it in the living room. 

I thought that you might like to see my progress on the Florida State Sampler.  I wish that you could see the oranges in the tree the way that I can in real life.  They are wonderful.  I have to set it aside and am not certain when I will be able to get back to it. 

This week, I must stitch names and dates on two baptismal banners and finish them.  We will baptize two children next Sunday. 

I may have to set this sampler aside for a little longer.  I am trying to design a sampler specifically for the younger of Roger's two sisters.  We have a definite finish date in April.  At this point I have designed the top which would roughly correspond to the orange tree.  Unfortunately I became so excited with my success that I have been resting on my laurels.  This is no way to finish and stitch a design. 

Please keep your fingers crossed for me.  I have applied to participate in a little project.  This afternoon I learned that I have progressed to the point where my name has been entered into the lottery to determine the participants.  If I am finally selected to be a participant, I will let you know.  True to my slightly superstitious Russian heritage, I am reluctant to talk about it very much.  Maybe it is more accurate to say that I am reluctant to allow myself the opportunity to count on it because the disappointment would be so great if I am not selected.