Monday, December 28, 2015

I'm still here...

I hope everyone enjoys this beautiful holiday season. Couple of days ago I woke up to a gorgeous winter scene. It was white everywhere! The snow came a little late so we didn't have a white Christmas and since it is disappearing quickly I don't think that we'll have white New Year either... Oh well, while living on the north I had not just white Christmas and a New Year, the Easter was white too.

Usually this time of the year I'm reflecting on the past and making plans/setting goals for the next year. For some reason I have a feeling that I'm holding on to the past way to much so this year - screw the past, it's a long gone and will not come back. I will not dwell on glories and failures of the past, instead I will try to set my sails for the bright future.

As my stitching goes... I'm NOT DOING January Crazy Challenge in 2016. I have so many WIPs that it is almost impossible to count them. Well, it is possible but I will not do it as it will take me too much time. I prefer to use that time to stitch. So here are my goals for 2016. It is a working project for the next few days so it can change a little.

Health: be healthy and fit
Career: expand my Mary Kay business and move to management
Hobby: Finish at least sixteen stitchy projects, read 60 books, discover one new hiking trail a month.



I will finish this post with the update on Double Delight. I started stitching this project 27th or 28th of October and now it is 90% done. I'm aiming to have it finish by the end of the year - still (counting today) there is four days left. I hope I can do it...


 So long my friends,
Evalina



Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Another full moon and another WIPocalypse time!

I wasn't blogging for a while but I was stitching. I always liked HAED charts and always have some WIPs going but lately I've got addicted to them. A month ago or so I bought a Double Delight by Rosario. It is a small pattern, just 24,325 stitches and I'm already 1/3 done.

Here is my progress pic:


So long my friends,
Evalina

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Divine Grace update

It looks like I'm dedicating all my stitching time to HAED projects. I've got hooked on Divine Grace and for some reason it's impossible to put that one away. I really would like to do a rotation and work some more on Alicia and Guardian Angel and Hecate and Strawberry Thief  but I'm glued to Divine Grace for now. Last week I finished first page and this Monday I've started the second one. I'm really happy with the progress.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Supermoon and more!

It's time to dust off your small telescopes and binoculars, track down an observatory event or webcast, or invite some friends for a moon-cake party. Don't wait too long — if you miss it, the next one isn't until 2033!

The supermoon lunar eclipse of 2015 will occur tomorrow, Sept. 27, and is a confluence of three events: a full moon; a lunar eclipse, in which the Earth blocks the sun's light from hitting the moon; and lunar perigee, when the moon is in the closest part of its orbit to Earth. The last time such a confluence happened was in 1982; there were just five instances of it in the 20th century. This time around, viewers looking from the Americas, Europe, Africa, western Asia and the eastern Pacific Ocean will have a chance to see the show. Check the video:  Rare Super 'Blood Moon' Lunar Eclipse Coming, Last Until 2033

During lunar perigee, the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky, which is why a full moon coinciding with perigee is known as a "supermoon." (A "minimoon" is when the full moon is at its farthest point from the Earth.) This large moon will present the perfect canvas to watch the Earth's shadow slide over and block the moon's light.

I guess all that influenced me to start another project (progress pics are coming soon).
So long my friends,
Evalina

Monday, August 31, 2015

I'm going paperless!

OMG, I'm so excited! Yesterday we had a little SAL at the Stitchers Muse (some very lovely stitchers are meeting there every Sunday from noon to 4 PM) and I noticed that Nancy (unfortunately no blog) and Rachel from Stitch, Please! were tapping their tablets instead of marking charts and they had so much more room around them... You know, curiosity killed the cat, I glanced over Nancy's and Rachel's shoulder to see what they are up to... they were working from digital charts! Wow!!! I absolutely loved it. I learned from my dear friends that I need to apps


Dropbox is free and is installed on the iPad (tablet) and your computer. Then you can drop your .pdf file to it and it will miraculously appear on the iPad. Then you can open it in GoodReader (only 5 bucks with change) and then, voile!


I bet that my progress on Guardian Angel and Strawberry Thief will be tremendous this week. Who knows maybe I will put a few stitches in Strawberry Pirate too. All my HAED designs are in PDF format.

So long my friends, I'm back to stitching!
Evalina

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Guardian Angel update

I just finished third page of my Guardian Angel and that will make my first column of pages complete. Five more columns to go... well, the last column of pages is only 12 stitches wide so really it is only four more to go.
I've started this project in January of 2011 as a part of the Crazy January Challenge, if this is a speed I'm stitching it will take me sixteen more years to see the final result (@#!$). I guess I have to commit myself to stitching this project more faithfully, just like I did with Strawberry Thief (ST). If I can stitch one page  month (this piece hasn't as much confetti as the ST so it should go faster) then it can go to framers by Christmas of 2016. And I have just perfect spot for this angel in our bedroom...

So long my friends,
Evalina

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Strawberry Thief - weekly update

Thank you to all for keeping me in good spirits during my dreadful Tuesday morning. Frosty is back to normal and I'm full of energy ready to conquer the world.

I was able to finish my first column on the first page of the Strawberry Thief. It took only a little over ten hours, here is the pic:
So long my friends,
Evalina

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Shitty morning

It's another beautiful morning on the island and I'm sure it will be another beautiful day but my day started somewhat shitty. Frosty got sick and has upset stomach so I haven't slept much and in the middle of the night I was cooking some rice for her and then black cat crossed my path and then I forgot to make my volunteering work (thank goodness they found replacement).  It's just around ten o'clock in the morning and I'm already kind of pissed off depressed. I guess I need some stitching therapy before my next move.

I was working a little on the Strawberry Thief. I decided to stitch in columns. I saw other stitcher's work done in columns and I loved to see how the piece was developing. I usually do not grid my fabric but this time I drew (with water erasable marker of course) squares 10 x 10. Holly Molly, it makes stitching so much easier! The confetti isn't dreadful as much as it was before. It actually is going not as slow as I was assuming. To stitch my first square it took me an hour and fifteen minutes and then I was frogging for half an hour... but now at least I do not make silly mistakes which saves me that frogging time.

I know I said that I would like to stitch a 100 stitches a day but if I can increase my stitching to 123 stitches a day then I could have done one column a week, a page in two months and the whole thing could be done before summer of 2018.

My mood changes as I'm typing this post, I'm more cheerful now than I was a few minutes ago. See, even typing about stitching makes me feel better. I think as soon as I send this post to the whole world I will work a little on Santa's 12 Days of Christmas - there is nothing more cheerful than a Santa. By lunch time I'll forget my rotten morning.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Friday, August 21, 2015

Strawberry Thief

After Super Duper Crazy Challenge (60 new starts during January and February) I thought I'm good for a few years of stitching and under no circumstances I would start any new project. Oh, how wrong I was! I just entered into daily SAL with Jacquie of My Journey. We are stitching Strawberry Thief by HAED. The piece is gorgeous but I'd never see so much confetti in a chart...
So we decided to stitch just a hundred stitches a day - the project should be completed by Christmas 2018. On my right I posted a progress bar and once in a while I will post some pictures of my work in progress.
The original art is by William Morris under same title and, to my surprise, it is quite famous.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Gifted Gorgeousness

It has been a while since my last update on the Gifted Gorgeousness hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching, a very long while since my last post was in April! Never-less I was working on it a little and here is the new look of the Quaker Christmas Sampler:


I promise to have it done by the next update in September (big smile).

And, since it is Sunday, I was stitching with Linda. She is done with Santa's 12 Days of Christmas, I just finished my Santa number two:


So long my friends,
Evalina

Hitler gets bad news about the Canadian election! (Satire)

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Caught in the storm but finally home

Yeah, what a trip - caught in the storm, canceled flight, stranded in an airport, missing luggage... but at the end I'm safely back home, the luggage was found and now I have no idea where to begin.  I guess one step at the time and since the whole household is still sleeping I will give priority to hundreds of emails.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Hello Summer!!!

It is official, summer is here. After living on the north for ten years where summer lasted just for a blink of an eye it feels like the season here has started a long time ago! I love island living! There is so much to do, sometimes it's hard to choose... I thought I will miss the midnight sun but I DO NOT! I'm having fun watching hummingbirds, working in the garden, visiting the long beach, markets, music festivals and so much more. I wish for more hours in a day.

On the stitching front - I'm working mainly on the Guardian Angel, right now on the third page. Here is a pic before and after:
 as of June 17

and today
So long my friends,
Evalina

Friday, May 29, 2015

Almost gone...

May is almost gone, time to reflect on the past and set some goals for the future.

It was a good month. Finally I have acclimatised in Port Alberni. It took me a while but now it feels like home.  In May I work a little, stitch a little, read a little and train the dog a little. Below is a progress on Guardian Angel (page two is almost done - no more confetti stitches to the end of the page!)

 before
 and after

I also have a new addition to the family

a little kitten was looking for a home and found me. His name is Ragnar. He was born around St. Patrick's Day and I was tempted to name him Clover but after watching him over couple of days I noticed that he is brave, smart and a 'tough cookie' - so he is Ragnar (like the Viking Ragnar Lothbrok).

My goals for June:

Work
 I'm self-employed working from home and I must motivate myself to spend at least 5 hours a day actually working. I think that's a very reasonable goal considering that we are taking care of MIL with Alzheimer's.

Stitching
I would love to finish page three of my Guardian Angel and have one finish from super duper starts

Reading
Same as before - a book a week! Sometimes I combine both, the stitching and listening to a book... I think that counts and it is perfectly fine.

Social Media
1. Blog more often and visit blogs more frequently
2. Learn how to host a digital class
3. Create a Facebook page for #2.

Life
I would like to go hiking more often.  In June I would like to discover two new trails. And I want to spend more time training the dog myself so my dog can understand me and obey.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Sunday, May 17, 2015

IIHF - Russians crshed!

I'm not the biggest hockey fan but I can't resist when Canadians are playing with Russians. Today they beat Russians 6 to 1 in an almost perfect game. They did not just won the gold but they won all 10 games. For that perfect score they got one million Swiss Franc worth about three million Canadian Dollars. I'm so proud to be Canadian!

So long my friends,
Evalina

Friday, May 15, 2015

Goodbye BB

I love his music and I was lucky to see him live some twenty years ago.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Happy Birthday Mary Kay!





Happy Birthday Mary Kay!







Would you like to know more about Mary Kay Ash? Here is a short, four minutes video - enjoy!


So long my friends,
Evalina

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Long time no see...



My poor Guardian Angel has turned into an UFO (unfinished object) and today I decided to bring him back to life.













I started this project in January 2011 as a part of the Crazy January Challenge. By the end of May I had done just the first page or a little more ( I think...)












 


I did a few more stitches and in March 2012 it went on a back burner. It stayed there until today... I couldn't find my marked page... disaster...  Well, I really like this project and I really wanted to stitch it so I grabbed my water erasable marker, drew some lines, counted stitches and started from row 140 going up hoping that I didn't make a mistake and all colors will align perfectly. So far, so good!






So long my friends,
Evalina

Monday, May 4, 2015

A to Z Challenge Reflections

A big thank you to my readers who followed me during this challenge and read about my heroes.  I bet that now you know me a little more. For some reason this year the challenge it wasn't as hard as before... I discover some new blogs and follow some more and a few more are following my blog. The most hilarious theme I came across during the challenge was '26 ways to die in medieval Hungry' by MopDog. I absolutely loved it!
During the challenge three hundred eleven comments brighten my day and I have a surprise gift for the top commenter, actually two of them - Jo who can't think of a clever nickname faithfully commented every single post during the challenge (27 comments) and Bea (25 comments). Thank you ladies.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Z for Zorro (A to Z Challenge)

The whole month just flew by and here we are at the last day of the challenge. If you were following my daily posts you know me pretty well by now and I'm sure isn't a surprise to you that my last hero is the handsome, agile athlete and acrobat that swings between rooftops master of the sword and a fantastic horseman. He defends people of the land against tyrannical officials and other villains.  He is impossible to catch and he loves to publicly humiliate authorities for their wrong doing. He is Zorro!

In a few days I will write my A to Z challenge reflections and I will have a surprise gift for the most faithful commenter.
 
So long my friends,
Evalina

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Y for Yentl (A to Z Challenge)


I love Barbra Streisand and I love Yentl. Yentl is a Jewish girl starved for education. To accomplish her goal she dresses in man's clothes and goes to university.

Yentl story is based on on short story by Napolin and Isaac Bashevis Singe "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy" but Barbara rewrote it beautifully. (In the original Yentl stays as a man after graduation)

So long my friends,
Evalina

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

X for Xena (A to Z Challenge)

"In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle. The power. The passion. The danger. Her courage will change the world."
I love Xena! A smart, tough, and fearless fighter who travels the dangerous roads of Ancient Greece defending the innocent from the forces of darkness and seeking redemption for her cruel misdeeds of the past.

So long my friends,
Evalina


Monday, April 27, 2015

W for Wolfie (A to Z challenge)



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - should I say any more? First superstar, extremely talented, died way to soon. Played multiple instruments and wrote about 600 pieces of music. There are many great composers but he is the greatest. When I'm feeling blue his music magically can lift my spirits in no time.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Saturday, April 25, 2015

V for Vikings (A to Z Challenge)

If I would say they are my heroes it wouldn't be the truth, the truth is that I'm fascinated by them.
The Vikings explored the northern islands and coasts of the North Atlantic, ventured south to North Africa and east to Russia, Constantinople, and the Middle East. They raided and pillaged, but also engaged in trade, settled wide-ranging colonies, and acted as mercenaries. They reached North America way before the Columbus and set up short-lived settlements in  Newfoundland, and Labrador, Canada. I'm dying to go there and some day I will just jump in the car and go. And I love current TV series Vikings - how could you not not be impressed by Ragnar?

So long my friends,
Evalina

Friday, April 24, 2015

U for Uma (A to Z Challenge)

Have you seen Kill Bill with Uma Thruman? In this movie she was amazing. She was playing the Bride and since the Bride did not have a name I called her Uma. And Uma the Bride is my heroine for today. She was betrayed by the team of assassins and took a beautiful revenge. She was smart, beautiful, brave and a great worrier.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Thursday, April 23, 2015

T for Tarzan (A to Z Challenge)

Did you know that the story was written in 1912? I never read any of Tarzan books but I loved all movies.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

S for Sobieski (A to Z Challenge)

Jan III Sobieski, great worrier and the greatest king. He is the one who saved Vienna from Turks and, as the story goes, even today his name brings shivers to Turks.

I came across the site with a lot of info about my hero. If interested you can find it here.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

R for Robinson Crusoe (A to Z Challenge)

Gosh I was so madly in love with his lifestyle in my young years. Life on the exotic island far away from civilization appealed to me a lot. Despite all hardship he mastered survivor skills.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Monday, April 20, 2015

Q for Quixote (A to Z challenge)

Actually his name is Don Quixote. He is a knight from La Mancha in central Spain who decides to take up his lance and sword to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked. An awesome book full of hilarious adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Saturday, April 18, 2015

P for Pippi (A to Z challege)



As a headstrong little girl, Pippi was my heroine. I longed to live in a castle with a horse and a monkey, and live life on my own terms. So what if the plot was weak? The object of the story was to portray a way of life that many girls yearned to live. Her name made quite a good mantra, when recited while avoiding cracks in neighborhood sidewalks. Inside every child is a lighthearted rebel, just like Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends,
Evalina

Friday, April 17, 2015

O for Oliver (A to Z Challenge)

Oliver Twist had a huge impact on me. He's an orphan who, constantly abused, finally runs away and goes to London for there he figures he'll never be found. 
The story is more than a compelling tale: it is biting social commentary, attacking the terrible conditions that the English masses had to endure in the first half of the 19th century; it is especially critical of the unfair Poor Law.
I've seen a few versions of Oliver but, to tell you the truth, I didn't read the novel yet... I guess that will be my project for the weekend.

So long my friends,
Evalina


Thursday, April 16, 2015

N for Napoleon (A to Z Challenge)

Napoleon, one of the greatest military strategists in history is my hero. He took over the reins of the French government and saved his nation from collapse.  In 1802, he established the Napoleonic Code, a new system of French law where he forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified. Now, over 200 years later is still applicable.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Gifted Gorgeousness SAL

Time of our monthly update! Dear Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is hosting lovely SAL, click here to check it out. Here is my progress:

last month

 today (colors are showing much better in this picture)
So long my friends,
Evalina

M for Maggie (A to Z Challenge)

Yes, very controversial figure and disliked by some (definitely by socialist and communists) but my hero. She was the first female Prime Minister of Britain. When she was elected England was in a time of economic and political turmoil, with the government nearly bankrupt, unemployment on the rise and conflicts with labor unions. This brilliant woman cut social welfare programs, reduced trade union power and privatized certain industries. Thanks to her Britain was strong again. 

There is a lovely book by John O'Sullivan: 'The President, the Pope and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World'


So Long my friends,
Evalina

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

L for Lech (A to Z challenge)

I'm trying to keep my posts short during this challenge but today I want to share with you Polish legend that is very close to my heart. I think that it takes place over 1200 years ago. My hero Lech was killed in the battle in 805. Gniezno was the very first capitol of Poland. Enjoy!
Many, many years ago, even many centuries ago, there lived in Polish lands a Duke named Lech. It was long, long ago, and some say it was even before the time of Alexander the Great. Be that as it may, in the land of Poland there was yet no town of Warsaw, nor of Krakow, nor were there any large cities in Greater Poland. The country was wild, with few people; men lived together in small communities, greatly fearing the savage Goths who invaded them from the west and the wild Huns who came in from the east. Death and desolation came in the wake of these invaders, and the peaceful, agricultural Slavs were obliged to become warriors, that they might defend their homes and families from destruction.

Lech was the first Duke of Poland. He it was who first established a Dukedom on the soil of Poland and assumed the leadership of the western Slavs. He united the tribes, and from the time of his reign, Poland developed and grew prosperous. Better strongholds were built to resist the raids of the savage neighbors, the fields were tilled and hides were cured, and with the arrival of more settled times, men grew more civilized and turned to the making of pottery, agricultural implements and furniture, the pattern and style of which has changed but little, and even today utensils can be seen in use, very similar to those which were used in the time of Lech.

In order to ensure the defense of his country against invasion, Lech kept a strong army. The army was well equipped, well trained and vast. It covered itself with glory and indeed the name of Lech, its captain, became so famous throughout the world, that his fiefs were called Lechici, and the Muscovites often called the Poles Lachi, and the Turks named Poland Lechistan, or the country of Lech. His power stretched over so wide an area of country that the Hungarian Lengyel also almost certainly comes from Lech.

The Duke was in every way an outstanding man. He was very tall and broad shouldered, and such was his strength that he could wield a battle axe which ordinarily took two men to lift. He was handsome, with fair hair, blue eyes and well defined, aquiline features. Not only was he a fearless warrior, he was also a wise ruler and, unlike most men of his stamp, had a taste for learning. He had this in common with most princes: he loved hunting, and his leisure was generally devoted to the sport. As in battle, be led the field, and always claimed the first stroke at bear or boar, when the beast was brought to bay. He had a true, brave heart and valued courage in another, be it man or beast.

Lech also loved falconry, and had many goshawks and peregrine falcons, some of which he had trained himself. He had tried to train a young buzzard, but the bird, after giving great promise, had died. The Duke had expressed the wish to train an eagle, and though his falconers had advised him that it was impossible, he still persisted in hoping that he might capture and train a young golden eagle, for he thought that it would be swifter and stronger, in the flight after its quarry, than any goshawk.

One fine spring day, the Duke and his court went hawking. A goodly company set forth from the castle, each one mounted and each dressed in the green hunting habit which Lech had commanded should be worn by all those who joined the chase with him. The Duke rode at the head of the cavalcade, with his favorite hawk on his wrist, closely followed by his Master of the Hunt. He seemed to be in thoughtful moods, and paid little heed to the conversation which was taking place around him. Then, without preamble, he gave his bird to the Master of the Hunt, saying curtly, "I would be alone," and, setting spurs to his horse, he galloped off. His company was surprised and troubled, but no man attempted to follow the Duke, for sometimes he was given to strange moods and at such times it was better not to approach him.

Lech urged his steed forward, he knew not why, but feeling an irresistible desire to reach a hill which he espied in the distance. After galloping a while he reached it, and, reining in his steed, looked around him. At first he could discern nothing, but soon, he perceived a nest, perched on a rocky crag. It was the nest of a white eagle, who sat with her young around her. She was a noble bird, with curved beak and powerful talons, and wings to bear her aloft in strong and graceful flight. This was the eagle that Lech had dreamed to possess; this was the bird which would make falconry a delight, which would rouse the envy of every prince in Europe and beyond. He resolved to capture one of the young, take it home to his castle, and train it with all the care and skill at his command. What a rare prize this would be! What pleasure lay in store for him if he could but obtain one of those eaglets!

He leapt from his horse and climbed towards the nest. The white eagle watched him intently, while her fledgelings, surprised by the approach of a stranger, crept under her wings. Lech shouted and waved his arms, thinking to frighten the bird from her nest, but she stirred not. The Duke came nearer and put forth his hand, and the eagle, with a swift movement, pecked at him as though in warning. But Lech heeded her not. Reaching for his dagger, he held it aloft, so that the bird must wound herself if she approached him too near. With his other hand, he again attempted to grasp one of the eaglets, but the mother bird was upon him once more and this time, neither prince nor bird escaped unscathed. Lech persisted; he ardently longed for one of the eaglets and was loath to abandon a prize which he thought he could capture with ease. The struggle continued. Lech, using his dagger more freely, was making desperate attempts to approach the nest. But he was beaten off by the sharp beak and powerful wings of the mother. The eagle had been wounded several times, and blood was staining the white feathers with dark, crimson splashes. She defended her nest and her freedom and the liberty of her little ones. The Duke's brave heart was touched by this unyielding defense and by this noble courage, and the sight of the blood which trickled down the bird's white breast made him ashamed of his desire to deprive of its freedom the offspring of so valiant a mother. He turned away abruptly, and descended the hill, deep in thought. A brave bird, who spill her blood for her freedom and for that of her eaglets!

Then Lech sat down at the foot of the hill and looked at the scene before him. As far as his eye could reach stretched the fair lands of Poland, his country that he loved with all his heart. Would he not defend her, just as the eagle had defended her nest? And the thought came to him: let that brave, white eagle become the badge of Poland; let her be the token of freedom for which all those worthy of the name of Pole should shed their blood, and the eagle's blood be the symbol of bravery. Poland is immortal; so shall the White Eagle be immortal. Thus, to this day, on the shield and banner of Poland, is blazoned the white eagle on a crimson field.

And the place was pleasing to the Prince. He loved that hill where he had found the eagle's nest and which still bears his name. He took his counselors to the spot and showed it to them, saying, "Let us build our nests here, as do the eagles." So a castle was built, and then a city, and it was called "Gniezno," which in the Polish of those days, meant "nest." And in those far off times Gniezno became a fair city, and was the capital of Lech's Dukedom, lying on the hillside which bears his name.

The White Eagle has always been on the banners of Poland and when, as has occurred many times, Poland has been attacked, her sons have defended her no less bravely than the eagle who long ago shed her blood in the defense of freedom.

Compliments of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America

So long my friends,
Evalina
 

Monday, April 13, 2015

K for Karol - (A to Z Challenge)

I bet you would never expect to see him here, eh? But he is my hero as he helped ordinary Poles and East Europeans banish their fear of Soviet Communism, convincing them that liberation was possible. There is much more to be said about this great man but I admire him for bringing hope to our hearts and, in a way, set us free from Soviets.

I have this lovely chart in my stash and I hope some day it will be stitched.

So long my friends,
Evalina


Saturday, April 11, 2015

Joan of Arc (A to Z Challenge)

There is many written stories about Joan of Arc. My favorite is the one by Mark Twain. When we think about Twain we usually think about Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn. Well, this time he wrote about a girl. He spent twelve years doing research and then beautifully set down the story of Joan of Arc in a way that only a master storyteller could. What an amazing young woman she was!  Joan was kind, gentle, true, patriotic, devout, humble, compassionate, courageous. Reading this book made me want to meet her, and more, it made me want to be like her.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Friday, April 10, 2015

I for Icarus (A to Z Challenge)

There is something we have in common, we both love flying! When I was a little girl I didn't play with dolls, I was making plain models. When I was 15 I joined gliding club and by the age of 16 I was a gliding pilot.
Even though his efforts ended tragically Icarus is my hero.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Thursday, April 9, 2015

H for Hercules (A to Z Challenge)

Son of Zeus, paragon of masculinity, the ancestor of royal clans, champion with an extraordinary strength and courage who made the world safe for mankind. Yeah, I like him and he is my hero - myth or not.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

G for Gerda (A to Z Challenge)

Who wouldn't like to have Gerda as a friend? She is innocent, strong and her friendship is unquestionable! She goes on the mission to save Key and she doesn't stop until her mission is accomplish.
Gerda and Key are characters from The Snow Queen by Christan Andersen, another great tale from my childhood.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

F for Freddie (A to Z Challenge)



Yep, he is my first male hero in this challenge. Freddie Mercury. I love his music and his voice. Despite over 23 years have passed since his death, he remains one of the greatest artists we will ever see..







So long my friends,
Evalina

Monday, April 6, 2015

E for Evangeline (A to Z Challenge)

Today my hero is Evangeline. her story you can read here. She is my hero because of her love for Gabriel. Separated by Brits she dedicates her life to searching the continent for the man she loves. In Nova Scotia there is Evangeline Trail and I hope, some day, I'll be able to visit that beautiful place.

So long my friends,
Evalina

Saturday, April 4, 2015

D for Dolly (A to Z Challenge)



I'm not a country music fan but I love Dolly. I love her as an actress, as a song writer and as a woman. She is another beautiful example of 'rags to riches'. She is the one who encourage me to quit my 9 to 5 job...




So long my friends,
Evalina