Pink and Poodle Gifts, For Me?!? Wahoo!

Hi friends! I received a surprise gift from our friend Julie. More pink fabrics for the Pink Charm Tumbler Quilt. Awesome! I now only need 29 more pink pieces of fabric.

Sweet Julie also sent me THIS!!!

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Check out the adorable Suzy's Zoo poodle card! Just for me to use. Well Julie, I must keep it. I must. This is how I will "use" it. It will be on display in the Poodle Display Case I have shared here before. I seasonally rotate poodle cards for a SUPER display. Ha! Well, that is what I think and believe. ;) Julie made me that beaded bookmark for my Bible. THAT is awesome Julie. She also gifted me that Tin Needle Box. Julie and I both share a love of God, poodles and pink!! She has two toy poodles also. I know right?!? ;)

I have been getting garden work done in my new way. Sitting on a low foot stool and working for 20 minutes at a time. I can just barely not increase my pain IF I stick with this plan.

Of course my garden helpers are always there to assist. ;) Did you know this was our state flower? These grow wild down our street in a handful of people's lawns.(And of course in many, many other places throughout the state!) I asked a neighbor for one.(I am not a thief!) She said sure. She thought it funny. Thought this was like asking someone for dandelions. Well! I think NOT. She said I had perfect timing, as her husband tries to kill them off every Spring.  Live long and prosper little violet.

Well, off to work in the garden for the second time today. Maybe not even for 20 minutes though. I just can't pull it off anymore. The sun is shining and it is mild, so I shall enjoy myself. I shall!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Stitching In The Dark

Hi friends! We are still below freezing at night here. No seedlings set out yet.

Our friend Christina(no blog) received the gift I made up for her. She shared pink goodness with me for the charm quilt.

I used fabrics from my stash. The "C" and the spool are stitched one over one on 28ct white evenweave. The sweet, little spool is a freebie you can find right HERE.


This is the latest pink motif I have stitched on my chocolate linen.

Very hard for me to see with our overcast days this week. And stitching at night on this linen is impossible for me. Until I thought of putting my Mighty Bright light BEHIND the linen. This works! Maybe you all knew this and I am a dunce. Don't know. Just happy to have time to stitch on this again.

 I got the second poodle groomed. :)

Still reading the Bible every day. This has left me with no time for fiction reading. That's okay. I have time for that, soon I hope.
 

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

One Lovely Blog Award

Hi friends! Our friend June has given me the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you dear June.
 

The purpose of this award is for bloggers to nominate fellow, mostly newer, bloggers that they wish to recognise. The goal is to bring attention to blogs that we think are "lovely" and enjoy reading. We hope others will enjoy reading these blogs also.

In order to accept the award, the nominated blogger must follow these rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you & link back to them in your post
• Share seven facts about yourself
• Nominate 10 other bloggers for the award

1.  I am a Christian. My husband and I are members of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

2.  My favorite color is pink. My bedroom was painted pink when I was born. It is painted a very pale pink right now. :)

3.  I was 5'11" til this last year. Degenerative disc disease has made me 5'10" now.

4.  I love poodles. I had a silver toy poodle as a little girl. His name was Julio. My Daddy named him that after the Paul Simon hit, "Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard."  (I thought the song was talking about my Julio. Hey! I was  three when this song came out!) We have two toy poodles now, Mabel and Henry.

Groovy Julio in his rhinestone collar and hat

5.  We have three children, all living at home still. Jacob is 20 and is attending Marquette University to become a nurse. Emerson is 18 and is attending Concordia University-Mequon. He will go to trade school this fall to become a carpenter. Our youngest is our daughter, Madeleine, she is 16. She attends our state's largest Catholic High School.

6.  The only time I have left our country was many, many years ago with Brian. We crossed the border into Tijuana, Mexico. We were there one hour. If you have ever been there, you probably agree with me that this experience to another country does not count.

7.  My mom, dad, myself and three brothers all have green eyes. Thought that was normal til I was an adult. Two percent of the world's population has green eyes.

If you are not familiar with these ladies I am nominating, check out their links by clicking their names.
Frances
Carolien
Rosey
Maija
Von
Kate
Laura
Ann
Yuko
Paisley
One poodle is groomed,one to go.

Shampoo, Blow Dry and Cut

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

My Pascha Stitch

Hi friends! It will be rainy for several days now. Best that I hide inside. The rain drives up the pain levels. So I am busy grooming poodles.

I can finally share pictures of a gift I gave last month. Our friend Marlene  is doing mission work with her husband right now. My little gift arrived in the mail two days after they left. :( But she has received it now.

Thank you again Marlene for your adorable and generous gift of pink fabrics for my charm quilt.

Last Saturday evening, we took the three children to their Lutheran Church Service as we usually do. The reading from the Bible that their Pastor preached on was Acts chapter 3. I cried like a baby. Here is the main part of the reading:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.  Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God,  they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Okay, if you are not in daily pain for 10 years, and restricted in activities you want to partake in, this probably does not make you cry. YES, many, many people in this world have it so very much worse than I. Tim, with cerebral palsy, was sitting two pews in front of us that night. We have watched him grow from a young boy to a young, disfigured man who depends very much on the care his parents are still giving him. I watched him during the Pastor's sermon on this text. He also was deeply affected.

♥♥♥

I did finish my Pascha/Easter stitch on Saturday. I plan to finish this off into a pinkeep.

This is stitched one over one on 32ct Baby Lotion linen(a lovely peachy pink). I used my own colors, DMC 760 and 761. 

Christ is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

This is an older freebie you can find RIGHT HERE. Have a look around the site. There are very nice freebies for us. :)

I hope you have a marvelous week my friends!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

A Gift From A Friend

Hi friends! We have been having lovely spring weather here. I have bee working in the garden every day. I am able to work for 20 minutes at  time, usually once a day. If I were to exceed this, I would pay for it in increased pain levels, so I am good. ;)

We bought pink pansies a few days ago. :) My favorite.

I received a total surprise package in the mail. Our friend Trace sent me fantastic vintage and new crafty buttons. She had posted several times about her button finds. I had told her I have a small collection from my Great Aunt Ethel.

Thank you again Trace.

Is anyone else excited about Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens coming out at the end of this year?!? Sorry, I am!! I still remember seeing Star Wars for the first time at the Southtown Cinema in West Allis. I was 8 years old, and I was in l♥ve. Yep! Twitterpated with Han Solo. Yowza! ;)

Yikes! I got a bit distracted there girls. Moving on! Here is a picture of an African violet I have had for at least 10 years. I got it to match this handsome rooster planter. The planter was my maternal grandma's.

I completed another gift for another stitching friend this week. It should arrive any day now. I will share a picture with you once our friend receives it. :)

I will be back next time with my completed Pascha/Easter stitch. Stitching it completely over one on 32 count linen is slowing me down. Well, and Spring is a busy time in the garden.

May the Lord richly bless every minute of your every days.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Art By Madeleine

Hi friends! Maybe you noticed I changed my little profile icon last week? I still like the little stitchy me, but I LOVE the new icon you will see next to the comments I leave you. This is a painting our very talented 16 year old Madeleine has made JUST FOR ME!

Awesome or what?!? I call it Cucumber and Pickles. Ha! Inside joke. Madeleine and I come up with cutesie nick names for Mabel and Henry. One of Henry's nick names is Pickles. While she painted this I exclaimed, "Look at Pickles!" She said, "Yeah, what does that make his mom in this painting? Cucumber?" Yep! Isn't baby Henry adorable? Squee!

So yes, Emerson is not the only one talented at painting in this family. We have encouraged art with all three children since they were tiny. I was always artsy. I am so glad they are also. She does not even have art class this semester. She just paints at home for fun. :) Next year she is taking Advanced Placement Art, just as Emerson did his senior year in high school. This gives her college credit for an art class, like he received also.

Madeleine has several paintings in the 80% done state. Drives me wild! Just as the above painting still needs a background! That's okay. The best part is completed. ;)

Here is another she painted a few months ago. Cool huh?

 There are many more! I have permission to share these two. Ha! She doesn't know what it is like to be a proud mama. ;)

♥♥♥

Our friend Christina (who does not have a blog) sent me some lovely pink fabrics. 

She also included that sweet birdie ribbon. Thank you again Christina! I now need only 35 more pink fabrics for my Epic Pink Charm Quilt!

I STILL do not have my Easter stitch completed. sigh. Well I have NOT been up to no good! ;) I have been sewing a few headbands for Madeleine, making more gifts for friends, planting seeds indoors, clearing out garden beds bit by tiny bit and grooming poodles.

No, he cannot! This Cooper's Hawk landed on our back fence.

Have a super day my friends! There are a few of you I am praying for. I did thank God for ALL of you today!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Bookmark!

Hi friends!  Christ is Risen!
 
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

We attended our first Orthodox Pascha Service. Not for the faint of heart. ;) Ha! The Reading of the Acts of the Apostles, the Resurrection of Our Lord began at 10 p.m. The procession(around the church, in the dark with our candles), Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy then began at 12 midnight.This was followed by the blessing of the Easter/Pascha baskets. I went to bed at 4:00 a.m.

Our friend Barbara gifted me with pink fabric last week. I made her a bookmark. Barbara told me,
"Vickie, I received the very sweet bookmark today in the mail.  I opened it and saw the letter B and thought how nice that you had done that.  Then I happen to turn it over and saw my baby and just flipped out.  If I use it as a bookmark, it gets hidden so if you look on my blog you'll see I'm using it to hold my cross stitch needles and that way I get to look at it more often.Thank you for thinking of me and I'm glad you like the pinks."

Sweet Vallie. Stitched 2 over 2 on mystery teal 28ct linen. This is a freebie you can find HERE.  Do you like the gold collar I gave her? 

I found the perfect fabrics to coordinate with the linen, all from my stash. I matched Vallie's bow to the fabric also. All DMC used.

I used DMC 4210 for the "B". It matches the fabric colors very well. :)

Ham dinner tonight. tee hee! Real butter on my homemade Russian Kulich bread too. :)

I have finished reading Ruth and am reading 1Samuel.

Would you please join me in prayer for  our friend Jacquie? Click on her link to read about her current, serious medical condition. Jacquie is in much need of prayer. We love you very much dear Jacquie.♥

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Now there's an Easter hat for you!!

Blessed

Hi friends! Brian and I will be going to our first Orthodox Good Friday/Holy Shroud Service today at noon.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
Isaiah 53:7

You may recall our sweet friend Annette gifted me with pink fabric for the Epic Pink Charm Quilt. I sent her a small gift. I forgot to take pictures. She said I could use hers. :) Thanks Annette!

 
I used a sweet, pink fabric from my stash and 32ct Angel Blush linen. I stitched the "A" with DMC and the cross with silver DMC. Both are over one.

I had hoped to share an Easter stitch with you today. Not done. It is over one on 32ct. I have felt for a long time this incredible urge to create many pieces one over one. I would love to start an over one frenzy. For right now it is the Easter/Pascha stitch. Then I will be making a few more gifts. :) Tiny stitching and a cool idea will have to be on hold for now.


Stitching and praying,
Vickie

(A cute "basket" full of puppies. Not for the correct holiday though. Any of my friends know what this says? I do! ;)

Rejoice!

Hi friends! A Very Blessed Easter to you! We are off to the Lutheran church with our three children and my MIL in a bit. Then home for a bit. Then off to my mom's for Easter lunch and our Easter baskets. tee hee! Our Orthodox Easter/Pascha is next week.

I received another special envelope in the mail. This one was from our friend Barbara. Look at these lovely pink fabrics she has gifted me with!

The fabric at the two o'clock position has very funny "three blind mice" that Madeleine has insisted I fussy cut for the Epic Pink Charm Quilt. :) Thank you again Barbara! Now I only need 50 more!

You may recall that our friend Carolien also sent me some pink fabrics last month? Well she has received the small gift I sent to her all the way over in the Netherlands.

Why yes, another bookmark. ;) I am happy to say she likes it!

 

I stitched this cross with DMC silver thread and the "C" with DMC 4065. I used 28 count white evenweave

and stitched both motifs one over one.

 And who do we have here? Why this is little Fietje, Carolien's cat. :)

This sweet little kitten is a freebie pattern you can find right HERE. Is this not a precious kitty from Wichelt?  I changed the colors to make this kitty Fietje. I used DMC and stitched this two over two on 32 count mystery linen. It is a lovely light teal or waterlily kind of color.

I had the perfect piece of teal silk ribbon to tie around Fietje's little neck. :) Love this pattern. This will not be the last time I stitch it!

My pain level has gone down. It seems to be the same as before the cortisone shot. Good, but not good. Ya know what I mean? Not noticing any improvements at this point.

Stitching and praying,
Vickie