Can Ya Help Me?

Hi friends! How are you all today? How glad I am that you stopped by. You left such nice comments last time. Thank you!

The sampler I began for myself last week came to a screeching halt!! I always begin my stitching in the center of my linen. Well this time I started in the upper left corner. I THOUGHT I measured in enough and down enough. NO, I DID NOT! BOO!😖 I scrapped that and started all over again. Good thing it is a small sampler. Still, I was a quarter done with it! RATS!

Here is a lovely  bouquet Brian brought home for me just because.

I check out quite a few magazines from our local library. Quilt Maker is one of them. In the May/June issue I did a double take when I turned the page to read a story completely about cross stitch! The article is titled Teaching Miss Baby by one of the regular quilt designers, Wendy Sheppard. She talks all about how she has been teaching her young daughter since an early age to cross stitch. The article shows a few of her daughter's finished pieces.

If you have access to this magazine, read it! Or you can check out her blog HERE
UPDATE! UPDATE! 
ONCE AGAIN OUR FRIEND MONTSE HAS SAVED THE DAY! SHE HAS STITCHED THIS CHART HERSELF! SHE SAVED THE SUPER EMMA PDF AND EMAILED IT TO ME!!! HOORAY FOR MONTSE!!
Does anyone out there have this pattern?

It was a freebie two years ago from DMC. I cannot find it online anywhere to print any longer. I was wondering if anyone printed it? Can you send this to me if you are done with it? Or you do not need it? I want to stitch it!! Super Emma looks just like my physical therapist Bridget. I am almost done seeing Bridget. Please can anyone help me?!

That's it for today my friends. I am back to hiding out. Me and summer do NOT agree. Increased medicine does not even work for these migraines, so hiding from sun and heat is the best thing. PREVENTION!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23

Have a beautiful week my friends! YOU are LOVED!❤️

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Pumpkin Farm

Hi friends! I have finished Pumpkin Farm for Jacob.

I showed you the pattern cover here on the right so you can see the changes I had to make. Not only color changes, but design and placement changes. Things have to change when you are stitching this whole AotH series one over one!! As long as I get the name and birth year to fit in each block, I am happy.😊

I made many, many substitutions of the called for DMC.  The suggested DMC does not look at all like the pattern picture.

This is all stitched one over one on 25ct cream Dublin linen.

The next block to stitch in this series is Evergreen Lane. I spent almost two hours yesterday trying to find the right flosses!!🤪 I am still not happy with the house colors.

I am now stitching a small sampler for myself that I have wanted to stitch for months. I plan to hang it in my kitchen.

Here is one more of my poodle planters filled with pansies. I thought it just had pink ones. The yellow was a surprise. The picture is dark. Sorry, cloudy day.

I have been eagerly awaiting The 49th Mystic by Ted Dekker, one of my favorite authors. Are any of you Ted Dekker fans? I do not recall any of you mentioning that you enjoy Ted Dekker books. Anyways, I received the audio book from our library and immediately listened to this. While I did enjoy this, I must say I did not find it super awesome. For all the hype it received, I thought it was going to blow me away. I was surprised it did not. First time I was slightly, and I do mean slightly disappointed in a Ted book.
Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams.

They are wrong. In the small town of Eden, Utah, a blind girl named Rachelle Matthews is about to find out just how wrong.

When a procedure meant to restore Rachelle's sight goes awry, she begins to dream of another world so real that she wonders if Earth might only be a dream experienced when she falls asleep in that reality. Who is a simple blind girl to have such strange and fantastic dreams?

She's the prophesied one who must find and recover five ancient seals--in both worlds--before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, both worlds will forever be locked in darkness.

So begins a two-volume saga of high stakes and a mind-bending quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward. 

Ready? Set?

Dream.

I am almost done with the oral steroids from the neurologist. I have been tapering down with those. He has my Topomax increased now. My headaches are now very low. I hope they go away like they were for several months. Maybe that is only to be during he wintertime for me. I am scared to try out the sun again.

I am so glad you stopped by for a visit today. Your comments brighten my day. Speaking of comments! If you need help fixing the comment mess on your blog, our friend Jo had a post the other day letting us know all about the fix to this! Just CLICK HERE FOR HELP  Thanks again Jo!

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:12-13

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Winner

Hi friends! How are you? It has been VERY hot here. I hid out inside mostly this weekend. Stitching, reading and doing my shoulder exercises.🙄 I am getting there! Madeleine was helping me with some of those exercises last week instead of Brian while he recovers from his hernia surgery. Those exercises Bridget had trained  Brian to do. It is a family affair to get Mom better! Ha!

So I finished the July wreath for my cubby shelf. I will be making it up into a flatfold soon.

I stitched this one over one with the called for DMC on 25ct white Zweigart Dublin linen. I like this wreath very, very much! You can find the pattern RIGHT HERE It works out great that the colors of the French flag are the same as the American flag.😊Read more from the designer HERE

I have the July poodle done. Or should I say Madeleine does! Madeleine drew a Cowboy Murphy over a year ago. Just a small cartoon that hangs on our refrigerator. It even made the move with us and hangs on this new fridge here. It is just a cute drawing she did. I love it. I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted a cross stitch of that. Well guess what?! Now that I am having a YEAR OF CROSS STITCH POODLES.... July is Cowboy Murph. I asked her to do it, since she is the original artist of him and it needed to once again fit into that tiny square space I am working with! She graphed it out. I have yet to stitch it and get it charted onto Stitch Fiddle. That will be this week.

Guess what I decided to get back to stitching now? Pumpkin Farm by BBD. Good grief. I actually had to get some dust off of it. I kid you NOT! I PLAN to finish that block by month's end. Maybe we will not hold our breath. 😳

The winner of To Thee My Heart by Erica Michaeals is our friend Mary ! 

The Secret by Kathryn Hughes is the second novel written by her. If you recall, I told you her first novel, I could barely read. It had the domestic abuse in it. I am happy to say this did not have that. This was a very good story.

Mary has been nursing a secret.

Forty years ago, she made a choice that would change her world for ever, and alter the path of someone she holds dear.

Beth is searching for answers. She has never known the truth about her parentage, but finding out could be the lifeline her sick child so desperately needs. When Beth finds a faded newspaper cutting amongst her mother's things, she realises the key to her son's future lies in her own past. She must go back to where it all began to unlock...The Secret.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

Thank you for stopping by today my friends. I am so glad you did! I hope you have a great week!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Stitchin'

Hi friends! Thank you for your well wishes and your prayers for Brian. His surgery went very well and he is recovering fine here at home.

Let me show you what I stitched on while I waited for Brian during surgery. I had kitted up all of the paper punched animals I had very inexpensively purchased from Hobby Lobby.

I chose the owl to stitch up for my mom's husband. He likes owls. I wanted to get this done for Father's Day and send it in the mail with his card for this Sunday. Which I have done!! This is stitched with the recommended DMC and I lined the back with white felt.

I did not even get this finished while I was waiting during the surgery! What I did not realize ahead of time was that you need to stitch with three strands of floss. And guess who brought a number 26 needle? It took me forever to thread that! Once I got home I switched to a number 24 needle that our friend Stasi sent me last year in my very own needlebook. Thank you Stasi! That made a world of difference!

The barn wood frame for Bertie & Gertie came!

Our dear, sweet June has sent me a birthday gift. She knows me so well. She ALWAYS sends PINK and she ALWAYS sends POODLES!

THANK YOU SO MUCH JUNE! I am in love with those patterns!! Ha! I had a good laugh over that Merpoodle!! I adore that poodle done in Turkey stitch! So cute! I will definitely be stitching up those kitties for my mom also.

I am back to stitching my July wreath for the cubby shelf.

I have mentioned to some of you individually in emails, but not here on the blog that the days following  that lovely hike out in the park with the family, I suffered terribly. My headaches have returned with a vengeance. As in, I have the nasty, daily migraines once again.😢

The neurologist has me on a steroid pack of prednisone and we are increasing my Topomax once again over a two week period. Oh I hope and pray this works. I tell you, the sun and I just do not agree. That was a short few days of fun in the sun I enjoyed. The neurologist wants to be able to get me back out there. I just want my head to NOT feel like it is being squeezed in a vice all day every day. That would make me very happy once again.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friends! I will be hiding out mostly. It is hot here.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.  Galatians 6:9-10

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

🐩

Hi friends! I went to my Mom's for my birthday celebration yesterday. Always a good time with family and chocolate cake!🎂

I never did show you what Brian gave me. He asked what I wanted. I told him. I mean, hey, I have always wanted silver poodle earrings and I saw these and 😍!

Now the crazy poodle lady is complete, right? If you too should want silver poodle earrings or maybe silver collie earrings, or dachshund earrings or cat, or duck, or goat, or, or... GO HERE  The silver jewelry is made by Stick Man Jewelry, an Esty shop, in Montreal, Canada.

Our friend Vicki stitched up the June poodle. Here she is.

And here is her whole poodle gang thus far.

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson was recommended to me by our friend Beth and I am so glad. What a good story. I just really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend reading it.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A novel to cure your Downton Abbey withdrawal . . . a delightful story about nontraditional romantic relationships, class snobbery and the everybody-knows-everybody complications of living in a small community.”—The Washington Post

The bestselling author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand returns with a breathtaking novel of love on the eve of World War I that reaches far beyond the small English town in which it is set.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST AND NPR

East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England’s brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha’s husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent saber rattling over the Balkans won’t come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.

When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking—and attractive—than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing.

But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape and the colorful characters who populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha’s reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.

I am still stitching up my July wreath for the cubby shelf.

I spent a whole $3.57 of my birthday money (TEE HEE) at Hobby Lobby and got this bit of stash that was all on clearance.

I have a pattern to give away. My long time followers will recall me stitching this for Brian several years ago. I have inserted a new piece of silk gauze within this pattern for you. This pattern WAS used by me.

If you would like this pattern you must be a follower of mine. You must leave a comment on this post telling me that you would like this pattern. I will draw a name for the winner on Monday, June 18th.  This drawing is open worldwide to all of my followers.

Would you please pray for all to go smoothly and excellent healing for Brian? He is having a double hernia repair surgery this afternoon. It is a day surgery. I will be taking my cross stitch and an audio book with me while I sit in the waiting room. He must take four weeks off of his work in the bakery. He lifts hundreds of pounds of dough every night. He will continue his financial trading work here from home without a problem. Thank you for your prayers!

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

This birthday card was drawn by Madeleine :)

49

Hi friends! Today I am 49. wOw. How did that happen?

Here is the poodle display board for this month.😍🎂

I have a finish to share with you finally. The piece I have been working on for Madeleine at her request. This is a freebie you can find HERE  Sroll down. Back to February postings. This is a design from Twin Peak Primitives. Thank you ladies!

Madeleine chose the linen and learned what a floss toss is.😊She chose all DMC colors except for the barn red, that is VMSS Special Berry. I stitched this two over two on 29 count Cashel raw linen.

Isn't this cute? Madeleine has a thing for goats.She named them Bertie and Gertie. Ha! We need to get a frame for this yet.

Madeleine, Jacob, Brian, and I went for a one hour hike on trails in a park near our home the other day.🌲AS IN, I WAS OUTSIDE THAT WHOLE TIME FOLKS!!🌳 WOO HOO!☀️FREE AS A BIRD!🕊️ Well, wearing my sunscreen, so I don't get melanoma again, but otherwise free from migraines! WOO HOO!

Off to start my July wreath for the cubby shelf.

"The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever." -Psalm 37:18

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Stash

Hi friends! No, I do not have the finish to share with you today. I am soooooo close to a finish. I do have a bit of stash to share with you. I spied this book on ebay very cheap so I snatched it up!

There are many patterns by Gerda Bengsston and Ida Winckler also within.💕

I have plans to get these patterns stitched up ?this year?

My dear friend Jenny mentioned she was reading The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James, and I realized this was a book I missed reading! So I got it from my library and read it. Oh is it good! I must say, I was leery of the author's ability to write a book within her own book that was supposed to be a long lost Jane Austen book. I doubted that the writing style would match that of Jane's and the quality would be poor. I was pleasantly surprised.
The minute I saw the letter, I knew it was hers. There was no mistaking it: the salutation, the tiny, precise handwriting, the date, the content itself, all confirmed its ancient status and authorship…

Samantha McDonough cannot believe her eyes--or her luck. Tucked in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year old poetry book is a letter she believes was written by Jane Austen, mentioning with regret a manuscript that "went missing at Greenbriar in Devonshire." Could there really be an undiscovered Jane Austen novel waiting to be found? Could anyone resist the temptation to go looking for it?

Making her way to the beautiful, centuries-old Greenbriar estate, Samantha finds it no easy task to sell its owner, the handsome yet uncompromising Anthony Whitaker, on her wild idea of searching for a lost Austen work--until she mentions its possible million dollar value.

After discovering the unattributed manuscript, Samantha and Anthony are immediately absorbed in the story of Rebecca Stanhope, daughter of a small town rector, who is about to encounter some bittersweet truths about life and love. As they continue to read the newly discovered tale from the past, a new one unfolds in the present--a story that just might change both of their lives forever.

Since I no longer have a garden, I miss my pansies the most! They are my favorite flower. So I bought some and planted them in my poodle planters and placed them on our window sills! Here is a picture of one planter with very dark pink pansies.

More physical therapy today with Bridget. Then stitch, stitch, stitch! Tomorrow Brian can work on me here at home!

Thank you so much for your many, many kind words on my little Mabel pattern.

I hope you have a fantastic week my friends! Thank you for stopping by.

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.  Proverbs 15:1

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Mabel

Hi friends!  Let me share with you the free June Poodle pattern I designed.

Do you remember who this is?! Yes! This is Miss Mabel.

She is getting ready to blow out my birthday candles on my birthday cake. It is my birthday month, so I thought, June just has to be Mabel and a birthday cake!! And of course on PINK linen.😉

I stitched this two over two on 25ct Medium Rose Dublin Zweigart linen with DMC.

I apologize for how hard it is to see the birthday cake here below on this pattern. That is because of the B5200. Please refer to my stitched piece with the pink linen background.

Mabel's eye is a french knot in 3371. Her nose is a french knot in 310. The wicks of the birthday candles are backstitched in 3379.  The row of roses on the cake are french knots made with B5200. The bottom of the cake is a row of backstitching in B5200.

All of the Calendar Poodles are available for you on the top of my blog. Just click on the tab labeled Calendar Poodle SAL.

Here is a picture of the June cubby shelf display.

I do believe a few of you have also read The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa? I was happy to find a new topic, for the WWII era. The St. Lois is an ocean liner that carried 900 passengers that were mainly German-Jewish refugees bound for Cuba and denied entry. The U.S. and Canada turned them away also. I liked this book. I did not love it. The author wrote in a strange style that was supposed to be from the little girl Hannah's perspective, but I found it hard to believe she would refer to her mother as "The Goddess" and her father as "The Strongest Man on Earth". It got on my nerves right away.
A young girl flees Nazi-occupied Germany with her family and best friend, only to discover that the overseas refuge they had been promised is an illusion in this “powerful and affecting” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel, perfect for fans of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See, and Schindler’s List.

Before everything changed, young Hannah Rosenthal lived a charmed life. But now, in 1939, the streets of Berlin are draped with red, white, and black flags; her family’s fine possessions are hauled away; and they are no longer welcome in the places that once felt like home. Hannah and her best friend, Leo Martin, make a pact: whatever the future has in store for them, they’ll meet it together.

Hope appears in the form of the S.S. St. Louis, a transatlantic liner offering Jews safe passage out of Germany. After a frantic search to obtain visas, the Rosenthals and the Martins depart on the luxurious ship bound for Havana. Life on board the St. Louis is like a surreal holiday for the refugees, with masquerade balls, exquisite meals, and polite, respectful service. But soon ominous rumors from Cuba undermine the passengers’ fragile sense of safety. From one day to the next, impossible choices are offered, unthinkable sacrifices are made, and the ship that once was their salvation seems likely to become their doom.

Seven decades later in New York City, on her twelfth birthday, Anna Rosen receives a strange package from an unknown relative in Cuba, her great-aunt Hannah. Its contents will inspire Anna and her mother to travel to Havana to learn the truth about their family’s mysterious and tragic past, a quest that will help Anna understand her place and her purpose in the world.

The German Girl sweeps from Berlin at the brink of the Second World War to Cuba on the cusp of revolution, to New York in the wake of September 11, before reaching its deeply moving conclusion in the tumult of present-day Havana. Based on a true story, this masterful novel gives voice to the joys and sorrows of generations of exiles, forever seeking a place called home.

I am almost done with the piece I am stitching for Madeleine.

Brian came with me to physical therapy yesterday! Bridget taught him three different techniques to use on my shoulder. We will see how I progress now. This whole process takes so long to get back the mobility in my shoulder.

Have a super weekend my friends! Thank you for stopping by! Thank you for your comments. Please do not be discouraged by the whole blogger comment mess. I am reading all of your comments you leave here.

With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

I still miss her so much.