Calendar Poodle SAL

Monday, July 2, 2018

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

24 comments:

butterfly said...

What a great stitch ,well done to your daughter.
So happy to hear Brain is slowly getting better.

Manuela said...

Cowboy Murphy looks great. Great Job from your daughter.
I'm glad to hear, that Brain get better.
Enjoy the week.
Hugs, Manuela

Marilyn said...

The July Poodle is cute, Madeleine did a great job.
Hope your hubby feels better soon.
Have a great 4th!!!
Marilyn

Isabelle said...

Hi Vickie, wow !! your Murphy cow boy is too cute !!!
I am so happy that you feel better ...it is really great for you :) I hope your hubby will be recover very soon.
I wish you a very lovely day,
Hugs from your french friend,
Isa

Mary said...

Vickie, I'm happy to hear Brian is recovering and hopefully he will become much more comfortable in the near future. Cowboy murphy is cute but I LOVE Madeline's Summer Murphy!! She should illustrate and write a cute childs book with him, those glasses on his are adorable!

I'm in awe you stitch while you listen to books. I get lost in the book and lose count. Your great at doing 2 things at the same time! Stay cool, it's brutal here in NY too!

Stasi said...

Cowboy Murph is cute--your daughter did a good job! Glad to hear Brian is healing...slow but sure. Recliners seem to work great for times like this; they are usually so comfortable!

Robin in Virginia said...

Cowboy Murphy made me chuckle. Your daughter did a great job. I am glad to hear the update on Brian's recovery. I look forward to seeing 'Super Bridget' when you are finished. Stay cool, Vickie!

Annie said...

I called mine 'Super Hannah'. I guess everybody renames them for the recipient. I definitely chart any changed wording before stitching, but I still end up frogging and re-doing! 😉

Cowboy Murphy is adorable. Great job on charting with so few pixels to work with.

Nice to hear your husband is improving. Sending good thoughts for continued progress.

Jenny said...

Good Morning Vickie ❤️

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Madeleine’s version of Cowboy Murph! He is just toooo adorable for words! I think he fits in beautifully with all of your other poodles! Hmmm I see a mother/ daughter design team....When I add words or phrases to a piece I have to chart it all out...every last piece of it. If I try to wing it I am always off...sighs. Even if the chart calls for personalization and a space is already set for it I still chart it out...lol.

The books sound delightful! Right now I am back in Mitford...lol! Can you believe there are two I haven’t read? I meant too but then moved on to something else and forgot....chemo brain...that’s my story and I’m sticking with it!...lol😂😂

I hope you have a good week my friend and can enjoy some Fourth of July celebrations. It will be unbearably hot this next weekend here and I am dreading that...sighs...maybe 111....

I am sending lots of hugs and love your way with lots of prayers as well!

Vicki said...

Madeleine's design of Cowboy Murphy is delightful! She is very talented. Poor Brian, I hope his recovery continues to be swift and complete. Does Main Street decorate for Independence Day?

MartinaM said...

Hi Vickie,
We are now also very warm, we have 28 degrees - wonderfully warm.
Cowboy Murphy looks great. And is a nice little pattern. Perfectly implemented.
I also like to make changes, so I can always do something different and vary.
Brian, I wish all the best that it will soon be better.
Big Hugs to you, Martina

gracie said...

Madeline dis a super job! So glad Brian is doing well. As for skin shades, someplace in my files I have DMC skin colors if you are interested I will locate them and share it with you. Stay out of the sun!

Purple Pixie Dust said...

I am glad to hear Brian is doing better. It will take time, hubby had the same. Your daughter's Murphy is great. Stay out of the sun have a great 4th of July. hugs

RJ said...

Cowboy Murphy is adorable. Great job by Madeline.

So happy to hear Brian is recovering well Before you know it he will be in the bakery once again.

Great book reading. Have a super fourth. RJ@stitchingfriendsforever

moreofhim said...

I love cowboy Murphy! I finally have figured out what I want to stitch the poodles on and dyed the fabric pieces a couple days ago. Now all I need is the energy to get my needle and threads out! lol

Those books sound good. I'll have to check them out.

I sure hope Brian can sleep in bed soon. You just sleep better in bed. I understand his pain, though, and don't blame him for trying to avoid it. I'll be praying it subsides.

Thank you and Madeline for the adorable chart!

Blessings - Julie

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

What a great design your daughter made,Cowboy Murphy is brilliant.
I hope that Brian's discomfort eases.Lying flat in bed has not been an option for me either for the past few months,in that respect I understand his difficulty.I am glad he found a way to cope with his pain at night.Thinking of you both,Vickie.

Barb said...

Cowboy Murph is just adorable!! Glad to hear Brian is doing ok even though the healing takes time. When my DH had Rotator Cuff surgery he spent 6 weeks in the recliner. Stay cool and headache free hopefully!!

Linda said...

She did a great job. He is adorable Vickie.

Linda

Julie said...

Madeleine did a great job with Cowboy Murph and you did too with the stitching.
I've read both Harold Fry and Queenie, enjoyed them both, a very good talking point at the book group the subject was.
cc

Carol said...

Aww... love the cowboy poodle with his hat and red and white bandana! Madeline did a great job :) I sure wish I had even an iota of her drawing talent...

And yes--I chart out the words when I do a saying or name on a piece as I like them to be centered.

Oops--so sorry about the language, Vickie. I read these and I don't think it hits you as much reading those words as when you hear them. But, I'm glad you enjoyed the story lines anyway :) I honestly wouldn't have recommended them if I had known there was so much bad language and I really do apologize...

Margaret said...

LOVE Cowboy Murphy! Madeleine's art is wonderful! And yes, I love those two books -- so good! I didn't remember the language though.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Cowboy Murphy is so cute! Great designing.

Good to hear that you learned some new English words and not just profanity! I had a customer enquire about some audio books today and they were rather too expensive. I offered to phone her up and read the book to her if she paid me LOL

Hope Brian feels better soon and the weather cools for you too.

Brigitte said...

Oh my, how sweet this little cowboy looks. Great designing by Madeleine.
Good to hear that Brian is healing well. But it must be hard to always sleep on the recliner instead of in the bed. But this will pass, too, and soon, I hope. Wishing him all the best.

Astrids dragon said...

Madeleine did a great job designing Cowboy Murphy, he's cute!
Glad to hear Brian is doing well, although I know about sleeping in the recliner, but not as long as he'll need to! And yes, stay out of that heat!