She Loved It!😊

Hi friends! I had my last physical therapy session. You know what that means don't you? I gave my therapist,Bridget,  'Super Bridget'! Remember her?

Bridget was so surprised. She said,"Oh my gosh Vickie. I am going to cry. I know you said you cross stitch, but when I think of cross stitch I think of little old ladies. This is art! You are an artist! You made this for me!" 😁

What a great feeling when you go through all the trouble to make a gift for someone and they REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT!! RIGHT?! I always get that reaction from my mother, and don't get me wrong, I am grateful for that every single time, I am! But to have that reaction from a NONrelative, that is priceless!

By the way, since I have been discharged from physical therapy I am to continue working at home daily with my exercises. I am at 80% Bridget tells me from the measurements she took this week. It takes time and work to get to 100%. I am talking about the mobility in my shoulder. The pain is mostly gone. I just suffer very little pain, and that is after I work it hard with the exercises. That is it.

Do any of you exercise daily? I do use the treadmill daily, but I am not used to doing these additional small weight exercises and elastic band/resistance exercises also. What a commitment!

I am still stitching away on the pink sampler for myself to hang in my kitchen. I am one half done now.

The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor is an historical book I read that takes place during WWII and alos during 1989. It revolves around stamp engravers and stamp collecting. These are topics

I have never come across in a WWII novel before. It was a good read. I enjoyed it. It had a good plot twist.
Austria, 1938. Kristoff is a young apprentice to a master Jewish stamp engraver. When his teacher disappears during Kristallnacht, Kristoff is forced to engrave stamps for the Germans, and simultaneously works alongside Elena, his beloved teacher's fiery daughter, and with the Austrian resistance to send underground messages and forge papers. As he falls for Elena amidst the brutal chaos of war, Kristoff must find a way to save her, and himself.

Los Angeles, 1989. Katie Nelson is going through a divorce and while cleaning out her house and life in the aftermath, she comes across the stamp collection of her father, who recently went into a nursing home. When an appraiser, Benjamin, discovers an unusual World War II-era Austrian stamp placed on an old love letter as he goes through her dad's collection, Katie and Benjamin are sent on a journey together that will uncover a story of passion and tragedy spanning decades and continents, behind the just fallen Berlin Wall.

A romantic, poignant and addictive novel, The Lost Letter shows the lasting power of love.

I hope you have a nice weekend my friends. I am so glad you decided to stop by. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog. I appreciate that!

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.  My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:25-26

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Isn't Murphy funny? Poor old boy. He rolled right out of his bed! He laid like that for 5 minutes on his back then finally rolled over and got up. In just a few weeks he turns 15 years old!!🎉

❣️

Hi friends! I stitched up a dozen more hearts to put out in the neighborhood.

I have to say that is another nice thing about living here in the center of our village now. There are many places to put these hearts. They have almost always been found within 24 hours.😊 If you have not come across me mentioning the I Found A Quilted Heart project before you can check it out HERE I have found a LOT of joy in doing this. So far all the supplies I have used have been from my stash. I have made 52 hearts thus far. Maybe you could do this in you neck of the woods too? It's fun! And it brightens someone else's day!💖

I finished stitching up my August Calendar poodle. I have said this before, but I think THIS ONE is now my favorite! She is a cutie. Watch for her the first week of August!

I am now back to stitching that pink sampler(Angel Blush linen and VMSS Rose Pink floss) for me that I plan to hang on my kitchen wall.😍

Here is a question for you. Do you know anyone else who has a pink kitchen? Now I only have pale pink kitchen walls. And my pink and black valance. And my pink KitchenAid mixer on the counter. Those are the "things" making my kitchen pink. I was just wondering if you have come across other pink ladies?

I think you know me by now? I wear pink most of the week. I can't help myself. Really. I just can't get enough. Nope. Like, ever. I have loved pink my whole life.

So this next book I am going to tell you about, that I read is called The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather  Morris. Oh my goodness, is it ever good! I knew it would be. I waited and waited and waited for this one. I wanted it so badly. I am a huge patron of my library. I waited so long for this book because this author is Australian. So it took a bit for this book to make it's way to America AND our library. But I got it!! This is a true story and what a story it is. I could not put this book down. READ  IT!

This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.

“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.

A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

We will be celebrating Emerson and Madeleine's birthdays this Sunday. He is 22 today and Madeleine turns 20 the last day of the month!🎂 We no longer have a teenager!!

UPDATE! UPDATE!
Thank you for every single one of your prayers and well wishes for Scott and Jenny and their son and daughter. Scott is headed back to City of Hope on Wednesday for blood work, heart tests, and chest x-rays. He is scheduled for surgery to have that cancerous kidney removed on the last day of July. Scott has stage 4 renal cancer. There are small cancer nodes in his lung that Scott will undergo treatment for after his surgery. One step at a time here. A workup first in a few days. Let us keep praying fervently my friends!!🙏🙏🙏🙏

I hope you have a stitchtastic weekend my friends! I am so very glad you stopped by. You brighten my day with you comments. Thank you! Here's a ((HUG)) for ya!

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24

August Wreath

Hi friends! I finished the August wreath for the cubby shelf.

Isn't this one lovely? Poppies and forget-me-nots. What a pretty combination. I have already made this up into a pinkeep finish for the cubby shelf. This was stitched one over one with the called for DMC on 25 count Zweigart white Dublin linen.

If you also would like to stitch this gorgeous wreath you may find the pattern HERE

I have been busy thinking up the August poodle.😁I am very happy with her. Oh so cute!! I have pulled my linen and my flosses now I get to stitch her and see if this all works out. Ha!

Who won the Chessie & Me pattern?! Well now. I had a new situation. I never had friends enter the drawing BUT ask to put another's name in the hat INSTEAD of their own name!!  Two of our friends asked for Jenny to have their place instead, so our dear Jenny got entered three times.😊 So you guessed it, our dear Jenny is the winner of the Rose Cottage Sampler pattern. Jenny the pattern will be in the mail to you soon my dear!❤️

Please keep praying for Scott & Jenny my friends! Your prayers are totally helping!! Scott has an appointment with his surgeon on Tuesday at the City of Hope. Let us keep praying and hoping things move quickly and smoothly for Scott and Jenny. Scott needs this cancerous kidney OUT! Thank you!❤️

I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with stitching! Thank you for stopping by and thank you for taking time to comment.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  Johh 15:15

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Super Bridget

Hi friends! Well I have Super Emma, or as I call her Super Bridget all done. I went and bought a white 5x7 frame and I just had to trim up the linen a bit and lay the finished piece in there. I did not have enough linen on each side to properly lace it as I usually do when I frame a piece. So this piece it just laying in the frame, but it looks great. You cannot tell. SO I am pleased.

Here she is, Super Bridget, my physical therapist.

What do you think? I wonder what Bridget will think?! I have been going to Bridget for therapy for 4 months! Can I tell you, I will actually miss her! She is such a nice person. She is just 6 years younger than me and we get along great. I will gift this to Bridget at my last session on the last day of this month.

This is stitched two over two on 32ct white linen using the recommended DMC except that I did not use sparkly purple, I just used the plain DMC purple. And I changed the skin tone to match  Bridget's. I also changed the eye color and hair color.

I got rid of the big needle that Super Emma is holding and made up a fist for Bridget. I added in this verse. I thought it needed a little something.

This is the original Super Emma chart from DMC. Thank you once again Montse for saving this free chart and sending me a copy!

I am stitching away on the August wreath for the cubby shelf.

I have been remiss in showing this lovely gift given to me by our friend Gracie. I am so sorry Gracie. Here I had this pretty ornament sitting right by my laptop on purpose for a week to remind me!

Thank you once again Gracie for gifting me with one of your beautiful creations!

We are still having the hot, hot weather here. My neurologist increased my Topomax yet again. It appears to be helping. I am not having the horrid squeezing headaches daily. Then again, I am NOT outside at all.😥The neurologist's goal is for me to be able to get outside this summer. To be honest, I am scared to do that. It has not worked for me since I got the stupid steroid shot over two years ago in my neck that caused these nasty headaches in the first place! I figure I will just go out when I have to only, and keep the headaches away.

If you missed it in my last post, I am having a giveaway of a Chessie & Me chart. Click HERE to enter.

Thank you for your prayers for Scott & Jenny! Let's keep on praying for those two shall we?💕 They need it! Scott is waiting to go to City of Hope to have surgery. He needs to get his cancerous kidney OUT!🙏

I am really thankful for you all my friends. Truly. If any of you have any need, if you need someone to talk to, I am here for you. You can reach me through my email. If you want someone to pray for you, I am here for you. God  bless you my friends. May you be blessed every minute of every day this week.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.  1Chronicles 29:11

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Chessie & Me Giveaway

Hi friends! Are you surviving the heat? I am by staying inside in the A/C.

Thank you for your sweet compliments on Madeleine's Cowboy Murph pattern.

YES, I am done stitching Super Bridget. NO, I am not sharing a picture of her here today. I will next time once I have her framed. Wanna know why? I am frazzled!🤪 She turned out fine. The saying I stitched turned out fine. I DID NOT CUT MYSELF ENOUGH LINEN TO START WITH FOR THIS PROJECT!!! I have barely  a border left. I am getting creative with framing. I will show you when done. I am going to Michael's today to have a look around. OF COURSE THIS IS A VERY ODD SIZE FINISH! Today is the only day that is not scorching heat.☀️ It is still hot out though. I am hoping to not suffer terribly with a horrid migraine from venturing out.

I have begun stitching the August wreath for my cubby shelf.

A HUGE THANK YOU  to all of you sweet friends for your thoughts and prayers for Jenny and Scott. They need more and more prayers please!! Scott has seen the oncologist, who is working on referrals to get Scott to City of Hope to get his kidney OUT and his follow-up treatment there also.

I was going through some charts of mine and realized I will not be stitching this cute one anymore. I would love to give it to a friend of mine who actually wants to stitch it. Would that be you? I only ask that you be a sidebar follower of mine and that you leave me a comment on this post telling me you would like to stitch this. I will draw the name of the winner on Friday, July 13th. This giveaway is open to any of my friends anywhere.😘

I got another round of the purple orchids. These were given to me by my mother when I got melanoma. I know a lot of you are out in the sun a LOT this summer. Did you know skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States? Over 5 million cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. In case you want information about skin cancer, you can look HERE  I never gave it a thought, until I had that mole that I KNOW the Holy Spirit pressed me to go get checked. It was the tiniest mole. I just had this feeling that would not let go of me for weeks. And so I went to the dermatologist and yes, it was melanoma. Protect your skin. Check your skin my friends.

I am so glad you stopped by today. I hope you have a great weekend! Til next time!

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.  Psalm 34:2-3

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Could You Please Pray?

Hi friends.  Our friend Jenny's husband Scott needs us. Scott has been suffering terrible pain with his back for many weeks. Well Scott had to go to the hospital yesterday. They found a large cancerous mass on his kidney with nodes in his lungs. Friends, do you recall that our friend Jenny has been fighting for her life for three years?! Yes, that is right. Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer in July three years ago and is still fighting it. SHE IS GOING TO BEAT THIS!  Will you join Brian and I in prayer for Scott and Jenny? They dearly need our prayers friends? Please? God bless you. Thank you.



Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Cowboy Murph

Hi friends! Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my last post. I greatly appreciate them. And YOU!😊

We have had nothing but really hot, hot, hot weather here for days! I have been hiding out inside in the A/C as much as possible to avoid migraine headache spikes.

Here is Cowboy Murph all stitched up!

How do you like him? He is a bit different than the rest of my poodles, right? That is because he was designed by Madeleine.😃How did she do? I, of course think she did GREAT!!

I love this cartoon of Murphy she drew over a year ago, and keep it hanging on our refrigerator.

So for July I asked her to PLEASE create a Cowboy Murphy in cross stitch if she could. The hard part is that it has to be tiny to fit in the designated cubby square. She did it didn't she?! A different look, but he does look like our Murphy, and he does look like a cowboy.

If you should like to stitch him for yourself, here is the pattern.

Backstitch with 310 Murphy's mouth.
See stitched piece for placement of b5200 in kerchief, as it does not show up well on chart.

I am still stitching Super Emma. Or as I am calling it Super Bridget. I am gifting this to my physical therapist whose name is Bridget. She looks very much like "Emma". Except her skin is darker. I spent ONE HOUR! figuring out her skin tone, if you can believe that! It is true. I am still not totally happy, but it is the best solution. I also redid her hair. I made that up as I went along.  I am putting in a phrase at the bottom. I will let you see when it is done.😉 Do you chart out entire lines of words when you put in such things? Or do you wing it? I must figure it all out AND  chart it all out. If I don't I will mess it all up. Every time. I will get it off center still sometimes! I am terrible with these things.

I am going to tell you about TWO BOOKS I listened to here since they go together and they were both recommended to me by our friend Carol.  The first one is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye and the second is The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy: A Novel both by Rachel Joyce. I really enjoyed LISTENING  to these. Rachel Joyce is a British author. The narrators were British. Such fun listening. This American learned new vocabulary. The only problem I had with these stories was "certain language"!😮I was NOT expecting such words and repeatedly. Especially in the second book. There was an old woman who needed her mouth washed out with soap!! The stories were great though.
Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. A novel of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise—and utterly irresistible—storyteller.

A runaway international bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry followed its unassuming hero on an incredible journey as he traveled the length of England on foot—a journey spurred by a simple letter from his old friend Queenie Hennessy, writing from a hospice to say goodbye. Harold believed that as long as he kept walking, Queenie would live. What he didn’t know was that his decision to walk had caused her both alarm and fear. How could she wait? What would she say? Forced to confront the past, Queenie realizes she must write again.

In this poignant parallel story to Harold’s saga, acclaimed author Rachel Joyce brings Queenie Hennessy’s voice into sharp focus. Setting pen to paper, Queenie makes a journey of her own, a journey that is even bigger than Harold’s; one word after another, she promises to confess long-buried truths—about her modest childhood, her studies at Oxford, the heartbreak that brought her to Kingsbridge and to loving Harold, her friendship with his son, the solace she has found in a garden by the sea. And, finally, the devastating secret she has kept from Harold for all these years.

A wise, tender, layered novel that gathers tremendous emotional force, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy underscores the resilience of the human spirit, beautifully illuminating the small yet pivotal moments that can change a person’s life.

You are such dear friends. I have had so many of you asking after Brian. He is healing well. He is doing his day job of  currency trading but still cannot return to the bakery, as he cannot lift more than 10 pounds yet. He still cannot lie down flat in our bed. It hurts. The mesh that is in the muscle in his abdomen from the double hernia surgery causes this pain. The doctor said it may take months. He sleeps in the recliner every night.

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

But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.  Psalm 141:8

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

Madeleine's Summer Murphy