Threads in for Red Rosies Pink Posies sampler!

Well, on Thursday I fell down about 5-6 steps on the hardwood stairs and messed up my bum and my back. I had just got up and can't see real good with glaucoma first thing in the morning so I missed a step midway down. The doctor said it's because the optic nerve pressure is high but most of the time it's well controlled with eye drops.

 This is the first chance I've got to really get some relief after medicines and a very ,very hot shower. Heat is the key right now. I think I will be ok, but rattled up the spine pretty bad.

 

I've been sitting on my side and yesterday listening to books on Kindle. This morning was really hard to get up but like I said later with heat and some TLC, I'm going to be ok.

 

This afternoon, Mr. Darcy went up to the mailbox and my threads came in the mail for this project/sampler set from Belinda designed for donations to her breast cancer awareness 60 mile walk.

I'm using some 28 ct white linen already in my stash.

I'm making the pincushion first and decided to do 1 over 1 which is challenging for me even at 28 ct.

When I start the large sampler, I will be stitching 2 over 2, just for ease of eyesight. I will probably frame it, not sure yet but I know it will be larger. A larger box is another option.
Here's a look-see~~

It is color therapy for my bum and back. (along with heat and TLC)

These scissors I've had for years. I don't know if you remember when I had a couple that I sold. I kept a pair and thought them fitting for this purpose.

You can see the finished pincushion in the pictures. I will have to say that Blue Ribbon Designs (Belinda) has THE best detailed patterns I've ever seen from a designer. I love the way she writes a detailed finishing instructions, small and enlarged portions of the big sampler in the middle, including 17 pages. I also like the fact that I could help her in her goal for her 60 mile walk (of which she started today I believe)

 

The color Emma's Pink was darker than I had imagined in the pictures online but I still love it.

Just to show you my illuminated magnifying glasses I've had for about 2 years now. I got them on a trip to Alexandria to In Stitches. They have come in handy for times like snuggling on the couch with Mr. Darcy while stitching. Abbie barks at me when I wear them.

 

So I can truly say this has lifted my spirits today I just love color. Any color threads or yarn is good for the soul.

 

We just finished watching the amazing Georgia vs. Auburn football game. I never liked football in my life until my DH came into my life and with his patience, he has answered all those questions I had about the plays, the game, scoring and now we look forward to watching games together. :)

 

We thought GA was going to win alllllllllllmost to the end when a guy knocked the ball out to intercept and the other team just caught it and made a touchdown. Man! The excitement. We screamed so much at the TV to very end pulling for GA until my throat is sore!!! :P

 

I hope you had a great Saturday and enjoying lots of color too,

Jennifer

 

Just a Little Bit Means Alot!

Just to show a quick peak at some yarn I got probably a month ago. It has some little flecks of silver in it.

 Just enough to look a little blingy with the gray and the yarn is really very soft. I'm going to make a scarf with it. It's bulky so going through my bigger needles today.

I love the faintest silver in it.

 

I love that is bulky and I can make up a scarf with a free pattern from Ravelry.

 

I also love the dark, gray cashmere color.

 

I will probably use a 13 needle. Although the needle is large the little specs of silver, make it the prettiest!

 

I hope if you are having a gray day, that you will find something even if tiny to sparkle your day.

Till later!
Jennifer

Twisted Tuesday~~~a Twist for Lemons

Some days I have deep introspection and retrospection. I awoke out of a dream three nights in a row now, dreaming about my dad, my daughter and my son, all in separate dreams. It's funny how there are some things in life that are for certain. Like love. God's love. A mother's unconditional love. (and taxes and death) but in simple processes such as releasing items that remind me of good memories from the past, it's really hard, but in time, necessary. I have clung to hope as most do. Never, ever give up hope.

Although I think our lives are lived in thirds, maybe fourths for those fortunate, I can't believe I'm in the 50-85 age group that TV commercials advertise things for. It's actually, mind-blowing when I think about how time flies so fast. I think of how I can spend the last third to make the most difference in the world and bless others. I am in no way perfect but I do have love to give.

This blog means a lot to me for sharing our interests, our hopes, our dreams, our lives and, because for example, it connects me to my adult children. There is a connection in the heart that forgives, but never forgets. Well, in most people who have a loving heart. I know when I see Olympia, Washington on the ticking at the bottom that my daughter must be thinking of me or she would not be drawn to this blog still.

It stumps my mind how people who say they love you, yet, do not show any love at all and honestly I've come to learn a lesson that some people, just cannot receive love. They don't think they are worth it, which is such a waste when they could be releasing that love. I know from experience it takes more energy to hold love in. This I know for sure.

Tuesday Twisted thoughts:

:: A parent's love, never goes away. It's there for the taking. It's a deep connection that no one can ever take away no matter what.

:: You have to BE a parent before to understand the first thought.

:: Giving away things, doesn't mean giving away love.

:: Money can't buy love

:: Love comes in many forms during life. It's whether we recognize it sent from God or not that makes the difference. And man, does it ever make our journey better when we recognize it's from God.

:: God gave us a guide on what real love is in the Bible. No one of us is perfect, but all of us have free will to follow that kind of love or turn their back on it.

:: I choose to follow that kind of love in Corinthians. At this age, I've learned to grab the real love and to remember the lessons I learned from the fake love given to me in the past.

:: God puts people, key people, in our life in answer to prayer and seeking the truth, for protection, for hugs, and for the kind of love that is genuine.

:: I'm glad I recognized that love from a real God-driven man the day after Christmas 2011. It was so different, so welcomed, so blessed, so refreshing, so comforting and so real.

:: There is no man or woman that can take the love I have for my son and my daughter away from me. No one can take away the memories of raising them, loving them, protecting them, birthing them, rocking them to sleep, keeping them warm, and hugged.

:: I am blessed to have dreams about my son and daughter where they tell me they love me, because only HE understands that hole in the heart that is put there when your children choose to cut you away like a stranger.  God knows the timing when we need to be reminded and it wakes me with a smile in the mornings. In the meantime, we are stretching and growing our patience and our hearts.

Today was one of those awakening days from a night full of sleep, not knowing why, but having dreams about my family. I thank God for those nights when he gives those dreams to me to help me remember that real love.

I'm blessed to wake up to a very understanding husband, who shows the love in his heart, which shines then to reflect in my own. I have good days and bad days with dealing with some trauma I have been through in life but it's remembering the real love that I've been blessed with that grounds me back.

Today, with all the cold wind and the assuredness of Winter coming on, I'm approaching the Winter season of my life too. I am prepared with the help of my Father God. He knows what is in store and he already knows how our lives will be lived. I hope that I live the rest of my life with the strength, the love, and the joy He gives me. Only for the taking if we want it.

 

I put a note on the side bar if you want to be a prayer partner. It's something that I've felt led to do. There are so many including myself and everyone who go through things and sometimes feel alone, when we are not. God explains about a cord of three strands in the Bible.

 

I so want to go on a medical missions for a long time now but with finances I just cannot do it. My heart has been pulling at this for a year. One day I believe I will be able to.

For now, I wish to start a prayer group, stitchers or not and I will be making a FB page for this. Through the holiday season especially, it's very hard and depression can worsen for many people. Do not feel alone.   I will post daily encouragements briefly and prayer requests can be left and praise reports. It's a closed group on FB but if you want to join it's pretty simple.

 

Trust me, I love to read encouraging thoughts and I know this is something that can make a difference to both of us. To all of us, all over the world.

 

As we enter this season of family and good-eats, and memories, let us seek peace and good-will just as we would expect from others. The Golden Rule is the best if we could only strive for it.

 

 Although I know deep inside, I'm not all I should be, THANK GOD, I'm not where I USED to be!

 

Just click on my pic below and it will take you to

 

Daily Sunshine Tea

 

This is a closed group but I welcome all new members!

 

Daily Sunshine Tea

Life is 1/2 unsweet lemonade and 1/2 sweet tea. This is the recipe for a most refreshing drink I frequently have for my lunch. There is actually a restaurant where you can order Sunshine Tea in Augusta Ga. I ate there for lunch for years until I moved up in the mountains. I couldn't think of a better name for a positive group. See you over there!!!  A small drink a day will refresh you!

 

Jennifer

Fanny Price's Pocket Pouch

I started knitting in a smaller gauge, thinking I was making a scarf; and then in mid-weekend changed my mind. Thought at first it would be a scarf but after watching Mansfield Park movie again and reading some Jane Austen, I thought this would be perfect made into a small/medium size pouch with calico lining. I have so far finished the knitting and the hand-seaming and put some vintage lace through the top. I plan to put a small snap under the flap for closure. Here are the pictures so far. I've still to sit by the fire tonight and hand sew in some calico fabric for the lining.

 

Fanny Price's Pocket Pouch

It's a colonial blue yarn. I think it's perfect for those special letters and writings like Fanny Price so loved in Mansfield Park! 

 

You know she loved writing for Edmund!!!

 

 

As I was tapering the flap, I made 2 slots for the lace to thread through. Tied a sweet bow and imagined the days of Fanny Price, taking one of those English walks to think about her writings and a place she could tuck away special ones.

The wood stove is warming us by the sofa and I got a really good deal of a floor lamp on sale at Joanne's crafts for 50% off and free shipping. It's a lot larger than I imagined! The Ottlite in it is VERY bright so my eyes now are welcoming some cross stitching.

 

This weekend my sweet mother-in-law showed me Red Rosies and Pink Posies design for a small donation on Blue Ribbon Designs (Belinda)'s blog. I fell in love with all the pink in the sampler and I would encourage anyone if you can to run over to her blog and get to her Susan G. Komen's 3-Day Benefit for Breast Cancer research for the pattern with the donation. It includes a box-top sampler, quite large and Needlework smalls with detailed finishing instructions, 17 pages long when I printed it out. I LOVED the large graphing for my vision. I've ordered the threads called for and can't wait to get started on this one. When the threads arrive I'll show some pics. I will be using linen in my stash. I will use about a 23 inch square cut size for all of them together.

 

On the homestead front, we've had our first Pumpkin Pie yesterday with homemade vegetable soup and pasta salad. It was indeed yummy for the tummy!

I'm glad there are leftovers for tonight. Pumpkin Pie and Coffee make a great breakfast, by the way. :P

So it's definitely looking like November and closer to Turkey season. On our back porch we saw a large doe deer and her 3 fawns. The doe had a black back of which I've not seen that kind since living here. Mr. Darcy said when you see deer get that dark on their backs, it means the winter will be very cold. I think he is right because tomorrow night it's going to be in the low 20's with freezing rain/snow mix predicted.

 Through the windows I peaked out on Saturday and saw these strutting around the front.

Not one but four!

So you reckon they know it's almost Thanksgiving and we need a turkey for dinner??

 

I've seen 5 at the time out here crossing our driveway and by the house several times. They are brave souls indeed.

 

I hope everything is looking cozy and warm at your house. It's that time of year to stash, stash, stash and then knit, stitch, knit, stitch away the long dark evenings for the Winter.

 

 Warm and cozy ,

Jennifer