Little Gifties

Hi friends! It is mild here this week with a bit of rain. I do not mind though. That means the grass will become green again.

We celebrated our church friend Hosea's birthday on Sunday. Did you know that we have a lunch after every Divine Liturgy Service on Sundays? We do! And Brian and I have really experienced many new-to-us foods this last year since becoming Christian Orthodox. Our church is a Russian Orthodox Church. I have become a HUGE BORSCHT FAN! Matushka's is the best of all! Matushka is the title given to the priest's wife. Did you know that? I never did before last year. So if you want to, you can sign up to provide the meal when it is your special day. Wow! Hosea and his wife Marina are excellent cooks. It is of course still Lent. We abstain from meat, fish, eggs, dairy, oil and wine for all of Lent. Let me tell you it can be challenging to cook for Brian and I. At least for me. I am still new at this! I still cook a separate, "normal" meal for the kids. What do I miss the most? Ask Anne. She knows. It is CHEESE OF COURSE!!! Love cheese! Don't you have to if you are born in and lived in Wisconsin your whole life?! So I have obtained a few new recipes this year. Kinda fun actually.

You may recall our friend Frances sent me pink fabrics to use in my Epic Pink Charm Quilt. I sent her a little thank you gift made by me. A bookmark made just for her. :) I forgot to take a picture of it! duh. Frances kindly took two pictures for me to share with you. Thank you Frances!

 I used a combination of black and white and grey fabrics from my stash. I stitched her initial and a delicate silver cross, one over one on 28 ct white evenweave.

I received more pink fabric goodness! This time it came all the way from California from our friend Annette. Just take a look!

Thank you so much Annette! Now I only need 58 more pink fabrics!

This sweet, little chipmunk lives under our front porch. Shh! Don't tell Brian. I have seen him a few times now, in the morning when I raise the shades in the front room. He comes out and watches the sun rise. Yes! For real. I am sure he is warming up or something. He stays like this for about 4 or 5 minutes. :)

I read The Edge of Dreams by Rhys Bowen last week. A good mystery book. Another Molly Murphy one. I have finished the book of Joshua now in the Bible. I have begun Judges.

I am still working on secret gifts for friends. Cannot show any more at this time. ;)

I saw a new-to-me pain management doctor one week ago. She gave me the most extensive physical exam I have ever had since I fell and was injured 10 years ago. She feels the pain is not under control because it is coming from my left hip not my left SI joint. Well then. I am to get a test cortisone/lidocaine injection tomorrow in my left hip. I am anxious of course. These hurt very much. The pain is deep and intense. I just keep telling myself it is over in one minute. That one minute really stinks though, to put it mildly.  I would appreciate any and all prayers. Thank you so much. The doctor also is weaning me off of Cymbalta. She asked me why I am taking Cymbalta and Neurontin. I said, "Because they told me to!". I guess I do not need to be on both at the same time. I am hopeful. (also nervous!)

Stitching and praying,
Vickie