Tatooine Sampler

Hi friends! I completed my "Tatooine Sampler", truly known as the August Sampler from 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs by Kooler Design Studio.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Do you know why I am calling this Tatooine Sampler? The two suns on the top. It drove me nuts that there were TWO suns until I thought, hey it can be the Tatooine Sampler, ha! Tatooine is the home planet of Anakin and Luke Skywalker. And actually if you look further down the band sampler, you will spot three more tiny suns represented above the sailboats!! Oh well.

I did leave off the two french knots called for. Not because I don't like french knots. I actually do like them. They just seemed unnecessary to me.

Here is a picture for you to see all my August pieces on display.

I am now stitching the Joyful World SAL September pattern.

Would you do me a favor? Please keep Jenny in your prayers? She is fighting off that super bug with her antibiotics. So far,so good. She needs to get over this infection and back to fighting her cancer. Thank you my friends!

I am so glad to call you friend! Have a great week!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Here In Poodletown

Hi friends! I am almost done with a tiny sampler for my cubby shelf I will share it with you next time. I am calling it The Tatooine Sampler. Ha! You will see why. ;)

I finished reading The Progeny by Tosca Lee. I have never read a book by her before. I have read books by Ted Dekker co-authored with Tosca Lee before. I found out that is quite different. I like a "fast-paced supernatural thriller",but I did not find this book to be one you cannot put down as described. I discovered there will be a sequel to this book. I do not plan on reading it. I doubt that one would excite me either.

New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee brings a modern twist to an ancient mystery surrounding the most notorious female serial killer of all time. A fast-paced thriller for fans of Lee’s Books of Mortals series with Ted Dekker, and BBC America’s hit series Orphan Black.

Emily Porter is the descendant of a serial killer. Now, she’s become the hunted.

She’s on a quest that will take her to the secret underground of Europe and the inner circles of three ancient orders—one determined to kill her, one devoted to keeping her alive, and one she must ultimately save.

Filled with adrenaline, romance, and reversals, The Progeny is the present-day saga of a 400-year-old war between the uncanny descendants of “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time, and a secret society dedicated to erasing every one of her descendants. A story about the search for self amidst centuries-old intrigues and Europe’s underground scene…and one woman’s mission to survive.

 Jacob and Madeleine head back to school again on Monday. Jacob for his senior year at Marquette University, Madeleine for her freshman year at Mount Mary University.  

In his freshman year, Jacob took part in Project Beyond, a Grant Program for increasing diversity in the nursing workforce. He just received a scholarship this year as an underrepresented (male) Marquette nursing student who shows great promise in the nursing profession. There are 125 students in his class. 6 are male students. He received full tuition coverage this year, all expenses paid. :) Wahoo! 

Emerson had a 3 month review at work with the boss, as a carpenter's apprentice. He got a great pay raise! :) 

I am glad you stopped in today my friends. I hope you have a fun filled weekend. 

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

September Hands On Design

Hi friends! I have finished stitching the "A Year of Celebrations: September" pattern by Hands On Design. This is found in the September 2014 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework Magazine.

I stitched this on 25ct New Khaki linen one over one with DMC.

I did make changes to a few of the DMC suggested: Grapevine-801, Clockwork-922, Baby Spinach-471.

I finished listening to Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini on CD. What an excellent book!
 The New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker and Mrs. Lincoln's Rival imagines the inner life of Julia Grant, beloved as a Civil War general’s wife and the First Lady, yet who grappled with a profound and complex relationship with the slave who was her namesake—until she forged a proud identity of her own.

In 1844, Missouri belle Julia Dent met dazzling horseman Lieutenant Ulysses S Grant. Four years passed before their parents permitted them to wed, and the groom’s abolitionist family refused to attend the ceremony.

Since childhood, Julia owned as a slave another Julia, known as Jule. Jule guarded her mistress’s closely held twin secrets: She had perilously poor vision but was gifted with prophetic sight. So it was that Jule became Julia’s eyes to the world.

And what a world it was, marked by gathering clouds of war. The Grants vowed never to be separated, but as Ulysses rose through the ranks—becoming general in chief of the Union Army—so did the stakes of their pact. During the war, Julia would travel, often in the company of Jule and the four Grant children, facing unreliable transportation and certain danger to be at her husband’s side.

Yet Julia and Jule saw two different wars. While Julia spoke out for women—Union and Confederate—she continued to hold Jule as a slave behind Union lines. Upon the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jule claimed her freedom and rose to prominence as a businesswoman in her own right, taking the honorary title Madame. The two women’s paths continued to cross throughout the Grants’ White House years in Washington, DC, and later in New York City, the site of Grant’s Tomb.

Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule is the first novel to chronicle this singular relationship, bound by sight and shadow.

Yesterday was our Murphy's 13th birthday!  As his groomer Mary said, "You're a grandpa dog!" :) Miniature poodles have an average life span of 12 to 15 years. We have owned Murphy for 10 months now.

I hope you have an excellent week my friends! Thank you for stopping in with me. I am so glad you did.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Merci

Hi friends! My latest finish is a French freebie titled 'Mini coer Merci á loiseau'. You can find this chart HERE.

I stitched this one over one on 28ct Ivory linen with VMSS 1840 Heirloom Rose Petals.

This pattern is little, it is sweet, and it makes me think of a daily devotional that I read a month ago. The devotional is about God's Hedge. Restricting circumstances placed by God. As you know, I have been struggling with daily headaches for over 5 months now. There is a poem in this devotional, penned by Madame Guyon, a French noblewoman who was confined to a dungeon for ten years. It really touched me. When I found this freebie with this little bird, I remembered this poem.

A little bird I am,
Shut from the fields of air;
And in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there;
Well pleased a prisoner to be
Because, my God, it pleases Thee.

Naught have I else to do;
I sing the whole day long;
And He whom most I love to please,
Doth listen to my song:
He caught and he bound my wandering wing,
But still He bends to hear me sing.

My cage confines me round;
Abroad I cannot fly;
But though my wing is closely bound,
My heart’s at liberty;
My prison walls cannot control
The flight, the freedom of the soul.

Since Madame Guyon was French, a little French pattern was a perfect piece for me in remembering this whole lesson. The 'merci' or thank you, reminds me to be trusting and thankful that God places hedges and walls to protect as well as to confine.

You can go HERE to read the devotional page yourself.

Good news! We tried another groomer here in town for our Murphy, since the last time was a bad experience. Mary was recommended by our veterinary clinic. He did very well! This woman is very nice, calm and did a great job. She knows the groomer who volunteers to groom dogs for the humane society we got Murphy from. Both ladies agree Murphy has the "Mom Syndrome"(won't allow Mom to groom him without biting me A LOT!) Here is what he looks like now. This is the last time you will see him as a 12 year old. His birthday is coming right up!

Jenny would like to thank you for your prayers! She is back home recovering. Her white blood cells are back to normal. She will remain on strong antibiotics for the bacterial infection for several weeks yet. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers! THANK YOU!!

I have an appointment for Botox injections for my headaches in September. We must wait for the insurance preapproval first.

Have a super weekend my friends! Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

August Hands On Design

Hi friends! I finished the "A Year of Celebrations: August" pattern by Hands On Design. This is found in the September 2014 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework Magazine.

I stitched this on 25ct New Khaki linen one over one with DMC.

 I had a hard time getting those little "things" stitched in 3799 to show up in pictures. What are they? Bugs? Wheat? Dunno.

I am working on a small freebie right now.

I thank every, single one of you who left a sweet comment and who are praying for dear Jenny. God bless you! She is still in the hospital and will be for days yet. Her pain is being managed. Come on white blood cells! INCREASE!!! PLEASE!!!

I see the neurologist tomorrow. I am not improved with the headaches my friends.  Thank you for caring.♥

Have a super week!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Jenny

My friends, I have a request of you. I ask of you that are willing to pray, if you would please pray for my dear friend Jenny. She has had a serious reaction to her latest round of chemotherapy. Please.
Thank you.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help? 
 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.  

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Psalm 121

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

 

August SAL

Hi friends,

I got my August SAL from our friend Palko stitched up this weekend.

I stitched this with DMC 4077, one over one on 25ct white evenweave.

I am now starting the "A Year of Celebrations: August" pattern by Hands On Design.

I finished reading Jane and the Stillroom Maid by Stephanie Barron. Can you tell I LOVE this series?!? It is fantastic! YOU SHOULD READ IT!! I will mention it again, because I have not mentioned it in months, the storylines are based on actual events that happened in Jane's life.

Jane Austen is enjoying August, 1806, among Derbyshire's craggy peaks, sparkling streams, and cavernous gorges. That is, until she discovers the corpse of a young gentleman whose blond curls and delicate features suggest the face of an angel.

More shocking still is the coroner's revelation: the deceased is no man but a maidservant — clad in the garb of her master, Mr. Charles Danforth of Penfolds Hall. Tess Arnold had ruled the stillroom at Penfolds for many years — until she was labeled a witch and dismissed for indiscretion. Was Tess the prey of a madman loose in the hills, or perchance the cast-off impediment to a gentleman's marriage?

As usual, Jane's acute perception and her nose for trouble place her supremely at risk — from a killer who may strike as violently by day as he once did by night....

Thank you for stopping in with me today my friends. I am so glad you did. I thought of a song when I typed this up just now. A special friend I had as a little girl sang it to me. Maybe he sang it to you too? It meant a lot to me back then. I had a rough, early childhood. He made me feel safe and loved. Who am I talking about? Click HERE to find out and listen.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Here I Am

Hi friends! I hope all is well with you. In between the July celebrations of Emerson's Golden Birthday (he turned 20 on the 20th) and Madeleine becoming an adult on the last day of July, I finished my August Joyful World SAL.

I stitched this one over one on 27ct cream linen with DMC and Anchor threads. Quite obviously I made changes. Did you notice? ;) I put in an apricot poodle instead of the border collie. The poodle I used is a freebie you can find right HERE.

I did not have DMC 3078, so I used another yellow I liked, 3822. I used 3348 for the dandelion? leaves. I had to use this lighter green in the grass section for them to show up. I also used two strands of B5200 over one every time white was stitched to make it show up well.

I did not realize I was stitching on 27ct linen until I had a nice start going. I don't know why I had this linen put in with my 25ct linen!!!! ARGH. I hate that. That should be another reminder to myself to ALWAYS check the linen count before beginning a project unless it is clearly labeled. I don't always listen to myself. ;)

I asked the nurse to ask the neurologist if he could increase the dosage of my beta blocker so that I can get outside when it is hot and not be trapped indoors. If I stay in the AC and do nothing, and never use the oven, the beta blocker keeps my headache at a 1. That is not how I can live.I am hopeful with an increased dose I can go outside when it is above 75º and not suffer. The nurse frustrates me. She says how wonderful this is to be at a 1. Yes. It is. BUT I WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

I decided I needed to "test" the beta blocker since I am staying inside and being extra careful to not expose myself to heat. I would like to be able to get out and do things again.  I went for a walk in 78º, then used the oven upon returning home. That did it. And now I suffer. For four days straight. Imitrex and Indomethacin are not getting rid of it yet.I called the nurse and asked for the increased dose. It actually took several calls. I am now on an increased dose. It takes TWO WEEKS for the dose to peak. So, here we go again.

Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.’”
Isaiah 12:2

I am so glad to call you friend! Thank you for stopping in today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie