Jonathan

 Hi friends! I took the advice I received from you all and I stitched up my retreat piece. I am not going to share that quite yet though. 😉 Today I am sharing the birthday gift I have made and framed for my brother Jonathan. 

Jon started a very large vegetable garden this summer, so I thought I would represent that. 😊 He is even wearing his signature overalls and his yellow garden crocs. I stitched this two over two with DMC and VMSS 1795 Tarnished Gold on 30 ct WDW Guacamole.

This is what the frame looked like before.

I found it at Hobby Lobby and paid $4 and change for it. Perfect!

I am now stitching the August monthly pattern.

Well friends I now have asthma. I had COVID last month and my breathing just was not getting better. I had tightness in my chest and shortness of breath after I used the treadmill. My doctor prescribe an albuterol inhaler to used before I used the treadmill. That helped, BUT I still had the tight chest  afterwards all day and into the night. I called my doctor and she prescribed Flovent. I tried that. Oh man! This made me SO dizzy and nauseous! For hours and hours. I am waiting for my insurance to approve another inhaler now. 

Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream tell the story of four generations of women in one family who are all searching for their God-given place in the world. This historical Christian fiction spans decades and continents to explore not only the sacrifices mothers make for their daughters but also the very nature of unconditional love. Very well written books! Just loved them!

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  John 15:7

I am seeing a pain doctor today. I am still suffering pain in lower right back. I did try the physical therapist a few months ago. She gave me several exercises to strengthen my back, core and abdominals. I am supposed to get up every half hour from sitting. I do these things and I still have this horrid, seizing back cramp, nerve pain thing that happens every day and night in my lower right back. The only thing that takes it away is sleep. I wake up every morning and it is gone. Thanks be to God. I am hoping this new pain management doctor ( my previous one moved to the other side of the state) can help with a shot or a procedure of some type.

I hope you have a nice weekend my friends! Thanks for listening. 

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

State Fair

 Hi friends! Brian, Madeleine, Emerson and I went to the State Fair on Friday. Wow it was hot! We had a good time though.  We ran into my in-laws at the entry gate! We had a very nice day with them.

An excellent historical novel that begins before WWII. Sofie von Meyer Rhodes is married to Jürgen, a brilliant rocket scientist who eventually is recruited by the Nazis once they come to power. The problem is that Sophie and Jürgen are not into the new thoughts and ideas being pushed by the Nazis, even though their children are being indoctrinated by the Nazis. This is definitely a book that shows the complicated side of the average German during this time period. Would you join the Nazis to prevent your own children from dying when their very lives where threatened?

I have finished my cross stitch Jonathan! 😁I have to get a frame for it. I need to get to Michaels. That is my first stop for small frames. If that does not work, then Hobby Lobby. Once it is framed, I will show you.

I am now starting to stitch a very special piece. I designed a special retreat pattern for my local cross stitch group, The Cross Stitcherhood. We are gathering at a local library. A different one than we usually use monthly. We were going to go to Country Sampler for the day and have a stitch day there. Jeanne who owns the shop, changed her mind and no longer made it available for us to do that. The back room is the only place stitchers can sit and stitch. That is where she originally told Barb we could sit for the day. Well, it is filled with merchandise and she does not want us in there with it. 😒 We get that, but are disappointed. So we came up with this idea instead. We are having our own retreat at a local library for an entire day on the 24th. I designed a pattern for us and am giving it to the girls on that day. I told them what flosses and linen to bring. It will be fun. I would like to wait to stitch it until that day, but I think I should get a head start so they can see it. I am telling myself that at least! 😂😛 I really want to start it! And truly I want to make sure one part works out correctly. That's okay, right? Tell me that's right!! I don't want to be a cheater! IF you are on Instagram, that is the day that we are doing a new start in honor of Leanne, Barb's best friend, also our friend who was in our stitch group. Dear Leanne died from breast cancer back in January of 2022. You can also do a new start that day and honor Leanne. 😊 Use the hashtag #leanneslegacy on Instagram.

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."  Luke 14:13-14

Are you also suffering hot, hot, hot weather?? YUCK! I think only Marly likes this.

I hope you have a wonderful new week my friends! Thank you for stopping by.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Heading Into August

 Hi friends! Another hot one today. 🥵 We are headed to the State Fair today. I did look online, and I saw that I won a Fourth Place Ribbon for this guy. Remember him?

I entered him in the Stuffed Animal category. Our State Fair does not have a punch needle category. I will ask Brian to get a picture of me with little punch needle Henry at the State Fair today. 😁

Here is the 🌻August Cubby Shelf Display🌻 Most of these are stitched over one.

🍉🐝🍉🐝🍉🐝🍉🐝🍉🐝🍉

✂️Grandma Annie's Sewing Basket 🍅by our friend Melisa Thank you dear Melisa❣️ 

✂️Needle & Thread🍅I love these both. I knew they would look great in my cubby shelf.🥰 I stitched mine on 40ct lambswool linen and I have never stitched two over two on 40ct before, but I did it this time! I wanted it to stand out in the cubby shelf. I think it looks alright and not messy? I used DMC and VMSS Baby Pink.🤩 I did change almost every color given. I wanted that basket to be the color of my own Longaberger sewing basket. I used the satin stitch for the spools and French knots for the pin heads.

✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️🧵✂️

I am now stitching a birthday gift for my brother Jonathan. I am creating it as I go. It is him in the garden. He started a very large vegetable garden this year. Unfortunately he is not able to finish with the gardening. He has been in and out of the hospital four times since he contracted COVID on Memorial Day. He has permanent lung damage. He almost died two of his four visits to the ER. His skin suffered such a severe inflammatory response, he now has to have IV infusion treatments every two weeks that last 4 hours each time. They are extremely expensive. Jon is on 14 daily medications! Would you please pray for Jonathan? Thank you my friends. I appreciate this very, very much. And I hesitated to do this, but, I will. Jon is very, very active in the bluegrass community. He is part of a bluegrass band and is "The Chicken Man" in the bluegrass world. I am giving you the link to Go Fund Me that the bluegrass community set up for him. If you want to check it out, do so HERE

Linda you are the winner of the embroidery chart. I have emailed you. I will get that out to you soon!

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.  Psalm 119:114

We have a going away party to attend tomorrow. Our niece Maddie is going to move to Florida to attend college. An outdoor BBQ, and it is going to be 90 degrees. Ugh.

I hope you have a lovely weekend my friends! Thank you for stopping by!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

July's Delphinium

 Hi friends! I have a finish to share with you. 🐞July's Delphinium🍉by Cottage Garden Samplings.

I stitched this one over two on 40ct lambswool linen with DMC, and VMSS. I changed the colors of the lettering a bit. 

I am making flat finishes out of all twelve months and mounting them with a magnet to this finishing piece I got from Hobby Lobby.

🌞🍉🌞🍉🌞🍉🌞🍉🌞🍉🌞

I am now stitching up one of Melisa's charts for the cubby shelf. 😁

 I came across a hand embroidery chart in my craft bin last week that I have had for years. I have come to realize that I am never going to do this! It has never been opened. 

I am offering this as a giveaway. This is open to any of my sidebar followers around the world. Just mention it in your comment that you would like the embroidery pattern. I will draw the name of a winner on Monday, August 5th.

📚This is the second book in the Mitten State Mystery series. I read the first one because the cover featured cross stitch, as this one does also! VERY misleading. I figured that out with the first book! Isabel is not a cross stitcher. She is a knitter! That being said, I do still like the series. They are cozy mysteries. Isabel is a charming character, very likable and smart. She has now gotten her private investigator's license. I especially like these books, because they take place in Michigan on the coast of Lake Michigan and constantly refer to Wisconsin. I find it funny that the "bad guys" come from Wisconsin and very often, Milwaukee! HA! Love it  when I recognize places and buildings and boats and things. 

Our Emerson is part of the local Leiderkranz, a German singing society that is just for men. He will take part this Sunday in the mostly German spoken Mass at Germanfest down at the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee, where over 120 people from different singing groups will perform during the Mass. Every other year, there is a Catholic Mass or a Lutheran Service. (Emerson is Lutheran.) Emerson has been studying the German language for several years now. He also attends a local Lutheran church once a month that has a German Service. His interest in German would be his heritage. Brian is 100% German and I am 25%. If you care to, you can check it out here: 🥨 That is a wonderful benefit of living so close to downtown Milwaukee. All of the many, many festivals every, single year! Love it! And concerts I went to when I was much, much younger with my girlfriends. Good times.

Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.  John 9:31

I decided to test out my lungs, and walk on the treadmill yesterday WITHOUT using the albuterol inhaler first. It works! I do feel just slightly out of breath afterwards now, but not the tightness in my chest I had a few weeks ago and much more out of breath. AND I can walk back at my usual pace and 15 minutes at a time again. My cough is decreasing daily. I am still spitting up phlegm daily, but much, much less. 

I am so glad you stopped by today my friends! Your comments brighten my day. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I hope it is not too hot by you. It continues to be hot here. Not for me!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Snow Tree

 Hi friends! I finally took the time to do the finishing on Brian's Christmas ornament.

🎄Snow Tree from Christmas Tree Collection VI by JBW Designs. 🎄  I tried to finish it in the same way it is displayed on the cover of the pattern. 

I used Vonnna's tutorial on rusched ribbon and beading. I fear the ribbon got a bit away from me. 🥴 Well, next time it will be better. Good thing Brian loves whatever I make. Hey, I do not think it looks bad enough to redo! 

I stitched this with the called for threads, two over two on 28ct ivory linen. Thank you for this pattern Gracie!💗 The little angel charm is from you also!! 😁

🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄🌲🎄

I am now stitching up my monthly pattern for July, July's Delphinium. So pretty!

 

📚 This was a great read my friends. As you know, I usually just read "real books" when I am on the treadmill, and this book was so good, it had me getting on the treadmill and staying on! That's a good thing!! 😉😄 This is an historical novel that is set in 1947 in Washington DC, with the main characters being a young, successful black business woman and a white Southern Senator. They are drawn to each other, and of course, well, interracial love is not exactly well accepted during these early days of the Civil Rights Movement. I am not going to give away any more my friends. I read an advanced copy of this book. The book just came out this month. Look for it! Angela writes clean books. We should support such authors.

I have gotten back on the treadmill daily. However, I suffer from shortness of breath and tightness in my chest after walking not even at the pace I used to (which is not that fast) and for only 15 minutes at a time. I went to see my primary care doctor. She said my lungs are clear, but gave me an albuterol inhaler to use before the treadmill now. It helps. I have to do it every time. And I walk 3 times a day. 😞 I am still coughing up phlegm all day, every day. I am to take Mucinex every day until this stops. She said COVID coughs with or without phlegm last 6 to 8 weeks usually. Ugh. We do not know if I will need the inhaler after that.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.  Psalm 34:18

Yucky hot here. Near or above 90 daily. Hope you are managing to stay cool my friends.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a nice weekend! I appreciate your friendship!

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

Angel

 Hi friends! I have a finish to share with you.💖Et encore un petit ange💖 

This is a free pattern I have had printed off for 5 years from mamou.over-blog.net! It is a Christmas angel I have made up into an ornament for this Christmas for my Mom. She is simple and sweet and I think she is darling. 🥰 I think Mom will too. All supplies are from my stash. The backing fabric is from the late 80's. I stitched her two over two on antique white linen with 816 DMC.

I am now stitching up Brian's Christmas ornament. Are any of you working on Christmas stitching?

📚Over the past few months I have been reading all three of these fun, light reads. I hope the authors (Juneau Black is the pen name of two female authors from here in the Milwaukee area.) continue this series. I was going to label these as clean reads, but then the third book included several swear words. A wolf character, who appears only in that book, has a loose tongue. Hoping this does not happen again in a future book, as these are truly enjoyable books. You can see above, the author's note from the last book. I shared it with you since it gives you a great idea of what the books are about.

I went to urgent care today. Got tired of being short of breath. The doctor prescribed a cough medicine and an antibiotic. I have bronchitis. 😒Guess that explains why I cannot breath with with any light exercise at all. Feels like breathing through a wet sponge. 😟Hoping this will kick this COVID in the 🍑!!!

My brother Jon is on a LOT of medication, (he is diabetic) but seems to be managing his breathing at home alright now. He has to use a nebulizer to help administer the medication.

 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  James 1:12

Thank you for stopping by my friends. I hope the rest of this week is a nice one for you. Take care now.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie

A Couple Finishes

 Hi friends! This is Colonel Sammy a free pattern from Notforgotten Blog

💖🤍💙I am happy I got him done, if only a day after the Fourth, considering I am dragging a bit, and napping daily. I changed every floss shade on mine. I used DMC and stitched mine one over one on 28ct mystery blue and mounted it on this sweet miniature board I had in my stash from Hobby Lobby.

🐝💗June's Honeysuckle🐝💗by Cottage Garden Samplings. 

I fell very behind on getting this done during the month OF JUNE, but I am glad it is done now. I stitched this one over two on 40ct lambswool linen with DMC, and 'Gypsy' Artiste. I am making flat finishes out of all twelve months and mounting them with a magnet to this finishing piece I got from Hobby Lobby.

I am now stitching an angel for my Mom's Christmas ornament.

Brian, Madeleine, and I have all tested negative. We continue to have that nagging cough though. I still have fatigue. I am napping when my body tells me to, and taking it day by day.

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

How are you my friends? Healthy I hope?

I hope you have a wonderful, new week. I am joining the land of the living once again this week. We went to church again on Sunday morning. Monday I once again go to my physical therapist. I have been seeing good 'ol Leigh for my back pain, but cancelled my appointments for two weeks because of COVID. AND I am finally getting into the PA of a pain doctor on Tuesday. I wish it were the actual doctor, not the PA, but I actual have seen this PA in the past, through a different doctor, so I am familiar with him and comfortable with him. I saw him for my migraines quite actually. Still neurology, but a different issue. 

Thank you for stopping by my friends! I appreciate your friendship.

Stitching and praying,

Vickie