Wee tiny leaves and frogs

Nope, I didn't go on a nature hike.  I've been stitching for the last two evenings.

On Tuesday, I spent my evening working tiny, tiny, tiny leaves (cross stitch over one thread) on Morning Has Broken.

I have been asked why I don't work in hand and sew because it would go ever so much faster. Quite frankly, I don't like the way my stitches look--they're just prettier to me when I keep the fabric taut and stab. So I will plug away at my turtle's pace. Besides, there are times when stabbing linen quite possibly keeps me from stabbing something (or someone) else.

Last evening, was Journey's turn. It is quite possible that I should have gone to bed with my book. It is quite possible that I should have cleaned a closet. It is quite possible that I should have baked a cake. In short, it is quite possible that I should have spent my evening doing anything but stitching.

There was a frog invasion.

Those little filler motifs, you may be able to see, change direction. For some reason, when I got to the bottom of the section, I just blithely stitched them all the same direction.  I could understand doing that when I started out--I don't always look as closely at the directions as perhaps I should--shocking, I know--but not after I have spent the previous hour and then some changing the orientation of every other motif.

I was starting on the compensating motifs along the sides when it struck me that something looked not quite right. It didn't take long to figure out what it was. For a brief moment of sheer insanity, I thought about just leaving it.

Of course, it would be the only thing I would ever notice about this design if I did--so I invited the frogs in and ripped and restitched.

Tonight I pull out Eve in the Garden of Eden, which has not been touched since winter. It may take me my stitching hours to figure out exactly where I am.

Or maybe I'll take my book to bed, or clean a closet, or bake a cake.