FlossTube Episode Eight: Halloween Designs

Happy Friday friends! My latest FlossTube video has been posted. This video is a summer wrap-up, a general update and puts a spotlight on my latest Halloween cross stitch designs (plus I show/talk about a few of my vintage Halloween designs). Thank you to those who have subscribed to my channel and to those who have liked and commented on my videos - I appreciate the kind words! 

You can find my YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/BelindaKarlsNace and I will post the latest video below:

I am busy organizing my photos this afternoon (I have almost 13,000 photos and videos on my iPhone - true story!)…I am setting aside some of my favorite images to share with you in future posts - both needlework finishing and sewing/quilting. My to-do list has seventeen items on it that need completed in the next week, so I'm hoping for a few productive days before we have some travel plans (a wedding in Chicago). 

We had a relaxing Labor Day out on the water - we packed up lunch and took the boat out to Hillsdale Lake for a long afternoon. It was a postcard day and being out on the boat forced me to take a little time away and just breathe (which I desperately needed). My husband did some fishing, but I just sat back and enjoyed the quiet outdoors.

I have some paperwork and some cross stitch design work on my agenda this afternoon...and I have some needlework finishing to start for a client....hopefully I can cross a couple items off my list! Tomorrow, we are headed to a MWK Jeep Club event and a Sporting KC (MLS) soccer game with friends - I'm looking forward to a fun weekend...

Fresh Air and Quiet Time

Once in awhile, we all need a chance to unplug and recharge...so when my husband had an unexpected week home from business travel several weeks ago, we decided to get our bass boat out of winter storage and make an impromptu trip to Lake Fork, Texas (about a 10.5 hour drive from our home). We had about a week to get our plans in order, gather supplies, and make arrangements...which went rather smoothly, as my husband has traveled to Lake Fork for bass fishing in March for the last 15 years. I was excited to make my first trip to this fishing paradise and go radio silent for an entire week at the Minnow Bucket Marina - Big Bass Lodge...however, I was concerned a week on the boat from morning til night might be a bit much for me. Much to my surprise, I found it quite relaxing...and although fishing was slow that week, I still managed to catch quite a few (at least for me!)...most of them were small largemouth bass, but I did catch a very pretty silver carp just shy of 6-pounds (to my recollection, the largest fish I have ever caught)...and before you ask - yes, we catch and release - we didn't keep any of the fish we caught. It felt great to go radio silent and just enjoy the water and nature and I learned quite a few things...like how great my bladder is, how often sunscreen needs to be applied, when to take motion sickness pills with a storm quickly approaching, and that I NEVER want lip injections (I had a severe allergic reaction that caused me to have VERY swollen lips). Although there were a few challenges, it was a much welcomed week of quiet with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and quality time with my husband...and I really did feel refreshed when I returned home. Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip...a couple of which are inspiring some of my upcoming quilting/stitching projects...click on any photo for a larger view...

Average size of the largemouth bass I caught...

Average size of the largemouth bass my husband caught...

American Coots 

I hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you, even if just for an hour or two...the fresh air and quiet time is good GREAT for the mind, body, and soul...