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Hi friends! I am still stitching away my piece for Madeleine. That will be done in a few days.

We had a great weekend. I am very pleased to tell you that I am able to be out and about in the sun!😎 We had plenty of Memorial Day festivities here in our downtown village area. We just opened our door and walked down Main Steet. It certainly felt weird to be out on 95 degree sunny day taking in the sights and enjoying a car show! I have been staying indoors for over a year! I am so glad my neurologist moved away and I am now seeing his associate neurologist. He is the one who got me off some medications and adjusted my Topomax. That did it!! I have my life back! Now to just fix my shoulder, right?

I do not even recall how I came across The Letter by Kathryn Hughes, but I read it. It was a different style book for me. I knew the book description said the wife had a violent husband, but I had no idea the author would  go into detail with the beatings  or I never would have read it. Never. I grew up with my mom getting beaten, why on earth would I want to read about that?!? I almost stopped reading the book several times, but I pressed on. I am glad I did. I am sad to say that I actually grew to hate, yes truly hate Rick the husband. I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, in case you decide to read the book, so I am leaving it there.

Tina Craig longs to escape her violent husband. She works all the hours God sends to save up enough money to leave him, also volunteering in a charity shop to avoid her unhappy home. Whilst going through the pockets of a second-hand suit, she comes across an old letter, the envelope firmly sealed and unfranked. Tina opens the letter and reads it - a decision that will alter the course of her life for ever...

Billy Stirling knows he has been a fool, but hopes he can put things right. On 4th September 1939 he sits down to write the letter he hopes will change his future. It does - in more ways than he can ever imagine...

The Letter tells the story of two women, born decades apart, whose paths are destined to cross and how one woman's devastation leads to the other's salvation.

I am pushing on with physical therapy still twice a week for my shoulder. Still doing my daily exercises at home too. This is such the ordeal!😖 I am making progress, it is just so very slow.

I hope you have a wonderful week my friends. Thank you for stopping by. I know the comments are all messed up for everyone, but I am taking the time to check them and to reply to them by copying and pasting the comments to my email so I can respond to you.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  John 3:17

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Jacob

Hi friends! A totally new look here on the blog. I did not know the background disappeared. It went black on me. That will not do. So not me!😉Right? How do you like the new look? My friend Varla gave me this background and I love it! Thank you Varla!

It has heated up here.And so far my headaches are leaving me alone. Then again, I am NOT hanging out in the sun either, but I used to not be able to even be in the sun at all, so this is a huge improvement since the neurologist increased the Topomax. I no longer have daily migraines. Hip hip hooray! Monthly migraines with my menstruals, yes I do have those.

I have news! Fantastic news my friends. Jacob, our oldest is a nurse now!! Yes, he has graduated from Marquette University.👨‍🎓 Woo hoo!🎉 AND once he passes the State Exam, he has been hired and will be working at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. This has been his goal the entire time he has been in university. To be a pediatric nurse.👨‍⚕️ We are very proud of him.

I have a finish to share with you. My June wreath. I will be making it up into a flatfold for the cubby shelf. I just did not get it done in time for picture taking for this post.

I have to admit that I am not wild about this wreath. The designer says these are strawberry flowers. I was so hoping for roses for June, my birth month. Oh well. I really, really like the July wreath!

This pattern is available for purchase HERE.

I designed a June Poodle and stitched her up. All I am saying is, this one is my favorite so far. You'll see.🐩

I read My Mother's Secret by J.L. Witterick. It is a quick read and a good book. Another book on WWII. Before the war, there were six thousand Jews in Sokal, Poland. Only thirty survived the war and half of those because of one Polish woman, Franciszka.
A novel based on a true story, a mother and daughter risk their lives to provide shelter to two families and a German soldier--all unbeknownst to each other--in a tiny two-room house in Sokal, Poland, during the Nazi invasion. 
Based on a true story, MY MOTHER'S SECRET is a profound, captivating, and ultimately uplifting tale intertwining the lives of two Jewish families in hiding from the Nazis, a fleeing German soldier, and the clever and "righteous" mother and daughter who teamed up to save them.

Franciszka and her daughter, Helena, are unlikely heroines. They are simple people who mind their own business and don't stand out from the crowd. Until 1939, when crisis strikes. The Nazis have invaded Poland and they are starting to persecute the Jews. Providing shelter to a Jew has become a death sentence. And yet, Franciszka and Helena decide to do just that. In their tiny, two-bedroom home in Sokal, Poland, they cleverly hide one Jewish family of two brothers and their wives in their pigsty out back, another in a makeshift cellar under the kitchen floorboards, and a defecting German soldier in the attic--each group completely unbeknownst to the others. For everyone to survive, Franciszka will have to outsmart her neighbors and the German commanders standing guard right outside her yard.

Told simply and succinctly from four different perspectives, MY MOTHER'S SECRET is a reminder that you don’t have to be extraordinary to make a difference. You can become extraordinary by making a difference.

This book was inspired by the true story of Franciszka Halamajowa, who, with her daughter, saved the lives of fifteen Jews in Poland during the Second World War. She also hid a young German soldier in her attic at the same time. Before the war, there were six thousand Jews in Sokal, Poland. Only thirty survived the war and half of those did so because of Franciszka.

I am stitching up a fun freebie for Madeleine right now. Wait til you see it! It has one of her favorite animals, and no it is not poodles.

Oh yes, the orthopedic doctor decided it is too early to do a manipulation if he does one. I must keep plugging away at the physical therapy. sigh. This takes soooooooo long.

I thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my blog my friends. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another   
Romans 12:10

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Isn't this wonderful?! This was done by Madeleine. She had to do a four page book for her university class. She made a Seasons Book With Murphy.😊 So I am sharing Spring with you here. Soon you will see Summer.

Woo Hoo! It Is My Unicorn 🦄 Chart!

Hi friends! I have been an admirer of Inga Palmgren's work for quite some time. Are you familiar with her work?  I have desired for half a year an out-of-print book, Christmas Tapestry in Cross Stitch. This book was published in 2009. I have tried and tried and tried to locate this book. No luck whatsoever. Then, I found Christmas Calendar in Cross Stitch by Inga Palmgren and supervised by Yumanashi Hemsloid, also an out-of-print book.This book was published in 2012. I could not find this book anywhere either. This book is basically the first book republished with three additional charts added. And, oh yes, this book is in Japanese.

Well, when I want something. When I really, really want something, I DO NOT GIVE UP! LIKE, EVER!

I remember Priscilla and Chelsea asking on one Flosstube video what my unicorn chart was. Now I had never heard that phrase before. I knew I did not have a chart, but I knew I had THIS BOOK OF CHARTS!

So I put on my thinking cap and I privately emailed our friend yukamikamama and asked her if she could help me to locate this book since she lives in Japan. SUCCESS! She was able to find the book at a store in Tokyo and purchase it, have it mailed to her and then to me, since the store would not ship internationally to me directly.

Here it is!!

Here is a peek inside at a few of my favorites.

When I am going to get to all of these 48 patterns? I do not know! But I will!😍

Thank you once again yukamikamama for your generous help! And the extra lovely, surprise gift that you gave me.

I am still stitching away on the June wreath believe it or not! I made a mistake and had to rip it out. It is hard to stitch while on pain killers sometimes.😒

Which leads me to update you on the shoulder deal. I am still plodding along on the exercises. Ugh. I saw the neurosurgeon on Friday for a checkup after I had the EMG with the neurologist on Thursday. (That was painful!!!) The neurosurgeon thinks I should go ahead and get a manipulation. So we will see if the orthopedic doctor who would do it is in agreement with that when I see him at the end of this month. At this point, I myself want to have it done. I would be under sedation, and it will hurt A LOT, but it would only help to speed up my recovery.

I listened to an excellent book that I highly recommend to you all, We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. I really, really liked that this book was based on true stories from the author's own family.
Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive—and to reunite—We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds

“Love in the face of global adversity? It couldn't be more timely.” —Glamour

It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety. 

As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere. 

An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.

Thank you for your positive comments left for me last time on my Tootsie stitch I made my mom. She loved it! That is why I enjoy stitching pieces for my mom. She loves every single piece I make her and they are ALL displayed in her home.🤗

I will have a finish to share with you next time. These physical therapy exercises have taken up a whole new chunk of my time for over a month now. I do find time to stitch still though.

Have a super day my friends! Thank you for stopping by!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Tootsie

Hi friends! I finally finished the Margaret Sherry cat for my mom.

This pattern was sent to me by Montse (no blog). Thank you my friend!😊I did change a few markings on the cat to make it look more like my mom's cat "Tootsie". This is what the pattern did look like.

You may notice I also did NOT stitch in the whole background. Yes, it was PINK, and SHOCKING!, I did not go with pink. My mom's favorite color is blue, so I stitched this whole piece two over two with the called for DMC onto 28ct Monet Blue linen. (much easier!)

I found the 5x5 black frame at Michael's.

I will be giving this gift to my mom on Sunday when we go over for Mother's Day. It also happens to be her actual birthday.

I do have other Margaret Sherry patterns lovingly mailed to me by other friends. I WILL stitch those up for my mom. Not this year though.😉

I am now stitching up the June wreath for the cubby shelf.

Our friend Vicki stitched up the May poodles from my Calendar Poodle SAL page.

Here is her whole poodle gang to date!

Love them! They are on PINK LINEN!! tee hee!

Okay friends, I read To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear. That's a Maisie Dobbs book, so you KNOW I am going to say I like it, right? RIGHT! I did. I thought it was great. If you have never read the Maisie Dobbs series, why not?! You should!

Maisie Dobbs—one of the most complex and admirable characters in contemporary fiction (Richmond Times Dispatch)—faces danger and intrigue on the home front during World War II.

During the months following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, Maisie Dobbs investigates the disappearance of a young apprentice working on a hush-hush government contract. As news of the plight of thousands of soldiers stranded on the beaches of France is gradually revealed to the general public, and the threat of invasion rises, another young man beloved by Maisie makes a terrible decision that will change his life forever.

Maisie’s investigation leads her from the countryside of rural Hampshire to the web of wartime opportunism exploited by one of the London underworld’s most powerful men, in a case that serves as a reminder of the inextricable link between money and war. Yet when a final confrontation approaches, she must acknowledge the potential cost to her future—and the risk of destroying a dream she wants very much to become reality.

I did see the orthopedic doctor one week ago. He gave me a cortisone shot in my shoulder. It has made my shoulder a little less painful now. I continue on with physical therapy twice a week. I do my exercises at home daily. My frozen shoulder IS making progress. This is a slow thing. I will return to the orthopedic doctor in one month. If he feels I am not making good enough progress, he will do a manipulation then under sedation.

To all of you mom's out there, I wish you a Blessed Mother's Day!

I want to thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment my friends. You brighten my days with your sweet words. Thank you!

Have a beautiful weekend friends!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

May Poodle

Hi friends! It has really warmed up here.🌞We have even reached 80 degrees a few days. Which means we need the A/C here in the apartment. Let me tell you, living above a bakery, is VERY WARM!! We don't pay the electric bill, so I don't mind cooling the place down. Ha!

I want to share the free May PoodleS with you that I designed.

This is a Mother and pup.😊Here is mine all stitched up.

I did use Anchor floss # 369 for the puppy when I stitched this up. I stitched this on 25ct Bo Peep Pink Lugana. It is very pale, you might not even be able to tell it is pink in this picture.

If you stitch these little poodles or any of my free poodles, would you mind telling me or showing me? I would love to see. Thanks.

Here is the May cubby shelf display.

Here is a close up of  that pretty May wreath once again that is now housed in the cubby shelf.

I am still stitching away on the Margaret Sherry cat for my mom. Holy Toledo these MS stitches take loads of time!!

Now I get to tell you about a book by one of my favorite authors, Susan Meissner. As Bright as Heaven was an excellent book. I highly recommend it. It is historical fiction set right during the first world war and it covers a topic I have never seen covered before, so fascinating, the Spanish Flu. And if that is not odd enough the main characters, the Bright family are "undertakers".
From the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life and A Bridge Across the Ocean comes a new novel set in Philadelphia during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, which tells the story of a family reborn through loss and love.

In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters--Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa--a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn what they cannot live without--and what they are willing to do about it.

As Bright as Heaven is the compelling story of a mother and her daughters who find themselves in a harsh world not of their making, which will either crush their resolve to survive or purify it.

I am still slaving away at physical therapy twice a week and doing the exercises at home daily. My therapist says that I have a "rather severe case of frozen shoulder" so she recommended I go back to the orthopedic doctor. I am seeing him this morning. I will let you know what he says. I may have to have a "manipulation". This is where they put you under anesthetic and crank your arm around to give you mobility back or loosen it all up or whatever. Sounds extremely painful. This IS all extremely painful. It has been over a month now. I am making progress, just not great progress I am told.😥If I have this manipulation done, it will take months of time off this grueling process. I just want my shoulder back. I want to move again. Pray for me my friends.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I am so glad you did. You guys are the best! Have a super weekend!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie