Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! It is almost Christmas!

 Merry Christmas Friends! We had a snowstorm last night of at least 6 inches of snow, so a white Western Christmas here in Wisconsin.

❄️December Cubby Shelf Display❄️ Almost all of these are stitched over one.

💗✨Pink Winter Wonderland✨💗 I love pink for Christmas. 🤭Ha ha! Oops! I love pink every day! I have tagged my friends who gifted me these lovely pieces over the years.

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🎄🛠️ Light Up Christmas🛠️🎄by Maria Diaz Designs. 

This pattern can be found in the November 1st 2023 issue of Crossstitcher Magazine. This is Emerson's Christmas ornament this year. 

Perfect for a carpenter, right?! I stitched it as called for, except instead of placing green seed beads, I confetti stitched in the same green color as the called for beads. It is stitched two over two on 32ct Water Lily linen. Emerson really likes it. 😊

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☦🦌❄️December Corner Shelf❄️🦌☦

Our cross stitch group had a Christmas lunch and and gift exchange. Lucky me! Look at this GORGEOUS hanging pocket my friend Barb created for me.

She customized it! It is totally PINK JUST FOR ME!!!! I could not love this more! Thank you Barb. I hung it on my Grandma's china cabinet. And thank you for the precious snowman you made with the nut mix.

My friend Beth loves sunflowers, so I stitched three gifts with sunflower themes for her for our annual Christmas gift exchange.

"Wild Sunflower" by Blackbird Designs was stitched on the called for R & R Creek Bed Brown, but I used 35ct to make it smaller. 

I used the called for DMC and made a lined stocking.

A Christmas Visit by Prairieschooler was stitched on 32ct natural light linen with the called for DMC.

Sunflower Sampler by  pinkernpunkinquilting.blogspot.com/  was stitched with the called for DMC and forgive me I stitched it so many months ago, I do not remember the count. 🤭

This precious sweater ornament was given to me by our friend Robin I love it so much! Thank you again Robin! 💗

"Au salon de coiffure" from the digital cross stitch book America! by Véronique Enginger. 

I stitched this two over two with the called for DMC on 32ct white evenweave. This is a Christmas present for my hair stylist Niccole. 🥰 I see her today and can't wait to gift this to her.

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This the gift give to me by Stasi. It is a nice piece to keep out longer than Christmas time. Thank you again Stasi!🐦

I am stitching on a pattern called The Nutcracker Tree. My goal is to get it finished by Orthodox Christmas, January 7th. I just may do it!

And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."  Luke 1:46-47

I will be back before Western Christmas with one more special post.  Take care and try not to frazzle out. I am trying hard!

Stitching and praying

Vickie

Flossie shamelessly begging from Brian at the table.

We're Back!

 Hi friends! We are back from our 🚂 trip to Cleveland, Ohio to spend some time with our son Jacob and our DIL Kristen. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade. It was built in 1890 and is so beautiful. 

If you care to see more antique pictures of this lovely landmark building, and learn a bit more, see HERE  

This is Jacob and I in The Crafty Ewe stitch shop in Broadview Heights, Ohio. 

He and Brian helped me pick out floss. 😊You can see the BBD pattern book I got and the flosses we chose. I was thrilled to find great linens, and everything was on the Black Friday Sale!

The picture of Jacob and I on the bench is of us at The Cleveland Museum of Art. A gorgeous museum which we did not finish. 

The last picture is all of us at their apartment on the last day. We had a wonderful visit with them. It was cold in Cleveland, but our hearts are still warm now.💗

I finished reading Watchdog by Laurien Berenson on the train ride there. I stitched L-O-V-E by Hands On Design on the train and in the hotel and it is done. I began the audiobook We Solve Murders by Richard Osman on the train and finished it on the train ride home. I recommend it!

I am now scrambling to finish stitched Christmas gifts. 

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  John 6:35

Thanks for stopping by today my friends! Have a wonderful week ahead. Stay warm!

Finishing and praying,

Vickie

Little Henry turned 15 on the 2nd!

🚂 To Ohio And A ✈️ To Hawaii

 Hi friends! We have so many things going on in our family life here. I will share the exciting news with you in just a moment. First let me share the latest finish I have.

💖Nothing Is Impossible💖by My Big Toe Designs. This pattern is found in the 2015 JCS Christmas Ornaments issue. This is the yearly ornament I stitched for and will gift to Jacob and Kristen this year. 💞 I stitched this two over two with the called for DMC on 32ct cream linen. That beaded edge. 🙃😕Not my best by a long shot, but it is done. I have so many ornaments to make up in a pile in front of me, and, well, thanks be to God, Jacob and Kristen are not judgmental of my work, they just love it. I am happy with the beaded hanger. 😉 The backing fabric is dark red.

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SO Brian and I  are taking the Amtrak train to visit Jacob and Kristin in Cleveland Ohio. We are going to my in-laws for Thanksgiving in town here on Thursday for an early lunch and then Madeleine is driving us straight over to the train station. We have a short layover in Chicago and then we will travel overnight. We are going to have Thanksgiving together on Friday. We will go to The Crafty Ewe cross stitch shop in Cleveland over the weekend. 😁 We are also going to the Cleveland Museum of Art. I am not sure what else our son has planned for us.

Our one and only daughter, Madeleine, who is now 26 years old, has been working for The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition as an archivist and she loves the work. What Madeleine has decided to do is get her Master of Library and Information Science. Are you ready for it? AT  University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa!! Yes, Hawaii! The reason she chose this program is that they have a few courses that focus on East Asia and this very much interests her. Also, IT IS HAWAII. She is very adventurous. She will work part time for the school while she is there. She is interviewing next week for a Korean professor. As long as Madeleine works 20 hours a week, her tuition is covered and a bit of the rent money. She has found a studio apartment that has 12 units. All women and a few families live there. It has a security gate and has a mini garden patch of her own in back. She will take the bus to school. 

Would you pray for this young lady of ours? What I have not shared with you is that Madeleine has been dealing with a swollen leg and foot for one year now. Last Christmas Eve she twisted her ankle. The next morning she woke to a swollen ankle. It kept swelling. And going up her leg. She went to the doctor. They did x-rays and ultrasounds and CT scans. A very educated doctor at the medical college in Milwaukee told her she has May-Thurner Syndrome. He told her she needed surgery to relieve the swelling. She had the surgery. They put a stent in her artery, up by her pelvis. This was months ago, before she went away for work to Denver and San Francisco. When she came back she went to see the doctor again for a check up. He was stunned to see that the swelling in her leg was not gone. He thought it would be better or gone. She broke down sobbing. He sent her to another vein specialist who admitted she had them stumped. Madeleine has been wearing compression stockings for months now. This new doctor said she had to wear thigh high stockings. She wore those, but then the fluid just pooled up in her thigh. She told him that and asked if she could wear compression stockings/pantyhose. Yes he said. 

I meanwhile have been going to a physical therapist for my shoulder. I mentioned all of this to her. She asked if the doctor did not mention that she not go to a lymphedema physical therapist? I said, No. I got right on that though. Madeleine asked her doctor for a referral and he gave it to her. She is going to one now and her leg is improving every week. She has to do so many exercises every single day. 😔 Actually the therapist told her today that she has to come to realize that this is a life condition and she has to do these exercises every day of her life for the rest of her life.

What THIS Mom did was look for answers. I thought of something. I asked Madeleine something last week. I said, "Madeleine, did you get your third COVID shot right before your ankle swelled?" She said, "I got the shot at the beginning of November." She twisted it December 24th. 

Now this may be my longest post ever, but if you care to, this is what I found, and I believe this explains what happened to Madeleine. Check this out: Lymphedema If you take anything away from this article it is: Physicians should consider secondary lymphedema among the complications of the COVID‐19 vaccine. Prolonged inflammation in lymphedema patients might compromise lymphatic function and increase edema.

One thing I have desired of the Lord,

That will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

All the days of my life,

To behold the [a]beauty of the Lord,

And to inquire in His temple. Psalm  27:4

Thank you for stopping by today my friends. I realize I gave you a lot of information today. I truly appreciate your friendship. I hope my American friends have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Turkey Talk

 Hi friends! Here we are in November and we are still having mild weather. It is unbelievable!

🦃November Cubby Shelf Display🦃Almost all of these are stitched over one.

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🦃Turkey Talk🦃Stocking Ornament Number 5 by Heartstring Samplery. 

I stitched this one over two on 36 count Light Sand linen with the called for DMC. I lined the stocking with the same fabric as the back, which is a light beige. I adore this stocking!

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I am now working on my finishing pile. I have quite a few Christmas ornaments stitched up that need to be finished up!

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

If you have any book recommendations for me, please let me know!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your friendship.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

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 Hi friends! How are things in your world? The tendonitis of my rotator cuff is improving, but not gone. I continue on with physical therapy, but only once a week now. I do so many daily exercises and stretches now though. Ugh.

We are having such wonderful weather for late October! It is in the upper 70's here! Just beautiful.

My best friend since college, Heather, had a birthday this last weekend and I can show you what I made for her.

💖Old Friends💖 This is a scan of a little girl's drawing (in black & white) donated by Constance van der Griet on Antique Pattern Library. I added the verse. I wish we knew the date the little girl stitched this. That information was not included. I chose something VERY different for this pattern. Kinda funky. I am really pleased with the outcome. I am happy to say Heather is too.😁

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I am stitching away on Christmas gifts. Secret stitching this time of year means not much to show!

Emerson came with us to the Schiltz Audobon Nature Center It is very near our home. It is right on the front of Lake Michigan. We had the perfect day in the low 70's. 

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Romans 8:32

Thank you for remembering me. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. For those of you who are suffering, I am praying for you. I know some of you by name. If you need prayers, let me know by email. I will pray for you my friend.

Until next time,

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Little Henry

 Hi friends! I went to my first physical therapy appointment this week. I received a few stretches and a few exercises for my neck, arm and shoulders, all to help me with this tendonitis of my rotator cuff. I am maybe barely feeling a slight difference. It is too soon yet. I am still taking ibuprofen every day and a muscle relaxer every night to sleep. I am going to the orthopedic doctor this morning in hopes of getting a cortisone shot in my shoulder for the arthritis I have there. The x-ray revealed I have mild to moderate arthritis, so I pushed my doctor for the cortisone. I want this pain gone!

☕Hello Autumn🍁by Hands On Design. 

You can clearly see it does NOT say hello autumn! I changed it! I LOVE pumpkin chai lattes.☕ (The mug is part of the large pattern.) 

I used Cathy's finishing instructions and am so pleased with the outcome. 

This was stitched with all the called for, but I used 32ct Charcoal Grey instead of 32ct Slate, as it was in my stash.

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🐩Henry! In cross stitch! 

This pattern came from drawins.and.pixelins The pattern is called 12 dogs cross stitch pattern set. And yes! You get 12 different dogs you can mix and match their little faces to make them custom. I just had to make Henry's tongue stick out.👅 And I added the yellow bow tie. 

This is Henry 9 years ago!! He was wearing the yellow bow tie I made him for Madeleine's high school graduation party. I know there are a handful of you sweet friends out there who have been with me since then and perhaps you remember this?

This is the back. I lined it with the same material. 💛

This is Madeleine's Christmas ornament. Glad I was able to stitch and finish it while she is still away from home. She is now in San Francisco still working for The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. She will be home in a week❣️

I stitched it with my own choice of Anchor, DMC, and GA Lambswool on the called for 28ct. It sure makes a BIG ornament!

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I am now stitching on my Christmas gift to my exchange partner in our cross stitch group. 

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 11:25

Have a wonderful weekend my friends! Thank you for taking the time to say hi!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie