To Everything There Is a Season and Purpose

Hello and Yes.....it's been awhile, 18 months or so since my last post. For the last 13 months I have been recovering from a major car accident. I was on the interstate on January 16, 2018 going to a new job that I know I would have loved for sure when my life changed in a crash. I don't remember much of the first 3 months except getting a concussion again a month later falling down stairs from vertigo. It has been a tough year but I'm so much better now. I had to go through months of speech therapy to basically learn how to speak again. It left me with a TBI and stuttering/stammering. Needless to say that was very isolating but I've since on most days sound normal again but if I'm tired or anxious I still may stammer or stutter.
At the TBI center I went through alot of memory work and still make it a point daily to exercise my brain using apps, games, reading, knitting, writing, etc.
For a long time I wondered why on Earth would God allow this to happen but then I remembered that everything happens for a reason and I may never truly know but............I do know whatever it is God will make it for the good!
Being grateful is top priorty!

Things I learned from the experience:

• life is short. Don't take one day for granted.
• God allows things to happen for a reason. We have to trust Him to heal us and prepare us for the next step in life.
• Persistance is crucial. Its 2 steps forward and 1 step back.
• We are stronger than we think we are.
• Don't take speech for granted.
• Make lists, and more lists
• write everything down!
• not everyone will understand but that's ok.
• do everything your doctor tells you. Everything.

I could go on and on but to keep it shorter, let's just say I'm lucky I'm alive. Although the journey is long, I have been through most of it. I'm more aware of things that matter. People that matter and those that really are draining.

The cross stitch bug is biting me again lately. I'm frequently torn between knitting and cross stitching samplers. I love both!!!!

I also started an ebay business last Summer that is doing quite well. 

I'm in the process or organizing a knit group. 

Alot going on but I'm so ready for Spring!!!!! 

And ummm........flipping through some ideas online and considering moving this in our kitchen for functional use. Found a really neat You Tube video of kitchen decor and functional use of the Sellers Hoosier cabinet that would work well in our house too and allow me to use the flour sifter in the middle (built in) and the extended ceramic top for baking needs.

Yep, this may just get a new purpose in the kitchen.

I think Mr. Darcy did a good job at refinishing this cabinet years ago.

Here's to new purposes on a Monday!!! ✍

A Mysterious Tiny Stitching Sampler Framed and Birthday Box Goodies

Making a final box of handmades for a special friend's birthday. 

I unfortunately couldn't attend her special 90th party as it was in June when I was having complications after my shoulder surgery. However, she knows I am sending her a gift. And I hope to see her soon when I am able.

 Her daughter and I were very close, like sisters growing up.

We reconnected the week of daddy's funeral and I was so glad we did. I miss the family alot.

Her mother was like a second momma to me growing up. She had all the attributes I would strive for in being a momma. She listened many times on her front porch and we would talk for hours.

She baked the best cakes I've ever eaten in my life. She was just as much a friend with a listening ear after school and at that time I so needed.

She was truthful, gave much needed wisdom throughout my teen years and the nicest ever. Her and her husband had 5 children. The first 4 boys and then a girl.

Her daughter was a bit younger than me but we grew up together like sisters.

I felt so honored to be invited to her 90th birthday party. I was so disappointed I couldn't make the 4 hour drive.

I still am in contact with her daughter again and we just started talking like we never had lost connection. I guess you could say she is one of Kindred Spirits.

I knitted these up at different times.

Today while rambling through my finishes but not yet "finished" in my stitching studio, I found a tiny one over one sampler I made in 2011. I can't remember the designer. Maybe one of you can jog my memory so I can give credit where credit is due.

I wish I also knew the fabric because it's a very pretty muted deep red.

I think it was supposed to be a pin keep because the other side of the pin keep I finished with the year 2011 (when my vision was better) was on the back also finished.

So I got a new frame from my stitching stash that I've had a while. It's about 2 x 3 in and framed it.

I thought it would be sweet to add to her box.

I have a knit scarf for the Fall and Winter, some local Shea butter soaps, 2 of the silk/bamboo facial cloths for the bath, and one all cotton dishcloth for the kitchen.

I tied them with sweet ribbon from my studio.

And added this framed piece I hope she will like.

I thought the frame was perfect. I believe this frame I got from Hobby Lobby for storage for finishes like this.

On the home front

Mr. Darcy and I have had a busy 10 or more days. About 2 weeks ago went to the eye doctor and had pain in my left one with glaucoma and a corneal problem. To make a long story short, I've been through 2 amniotic tissue transplants from 3 donors.

I had to go every day since then to the doctor for them to check it.

The second one placed because the area was not completely healed on Thursday.

This one didn't do well at all. My body I guess rejected it. By Thursday night hubby was calling the eye doc after hours and he drove from his house 2 hours away and met us at the clinic at 9pm. I had the most pain ever and couldn't tolerate any light at all without feeling like having electric shocks. Even sunglasses didn't help. I developed uveitis evidently. He removed the disc but had a hard time. My cornea was swollen and not getting oxygen. To a dark room with dilating drops twice a day for past 3 days until tomorrow. Also oral antibiotics, steroid eye drops (couldn't be helped even though making glaucoma not good), and dilating drops twice a day.

For the last 2 days, following all the medications and steroid drops, it's getting much, much better.

I can see the computer better with UV glasses though.

I'm so not a person to just lie down in a dark room but I had to.

I'm so glad I'm better. I hope tomorrow's visit I can stop dilating my eyes twice a day.

That is the second uveitis flare I've had. It's pretty much an autoimmune reaction. Was told to eliminate anything or anyone stressful 2 weeks ago when this started.

Working on that!

I hope to mail off this box tomorrow and get a good report from the eye doc.

I will probably he said have to go to a corneal specialist in Atlanta again for a check.

I think the worse part is losing vision in my left eye to be legally blind in it.

I'm so thankful I have 2 eyes.

Mr. Darcy has planned a much needed vacay for us soon. Hotel is booked.  He thinks I need a reprieve from alot of things happening at one time in the past year. 

I can't say I don't agree.

Just will make sure I pack a hat, sunglasses and my vitamins for energy!!!!!

I hope you are having a good Sunday and a healthy one.

I'm still listening to audio books all Ann of Green Gables. Audio version came in handy this past week.

To all my kindred spirits,

Jennifer

More Thoughts on Fiber Arts and Health Benefits

Hey dear friends!

I had a question about the book I reviewed on the previous post by Betsan Corkhill, Knit for Health and Wellness that prompted me to share a bit more information that can apply to cross stitching as well.  Excellent question!

 As a lover of cross stitch myself as well as knitting now for the past 5 years, there is a website that the author promotes called Stitchlinks and Stitchlinksplus. I'm still reading through these and they have good information as well as the book. There is great information about the topic and she mentions that this applies to other needlecrafts as well.

click on this:

http://www.stitchlinks.com/quotes_and_comments.html

and look at the bottom of the list where cross stitching is mentioned.

Personally, I do believe that the book is helpful for anyone in the fiberarts, However, if you do not knit at all or not interested you may want to explore Stitchlinks site and also go to Amazon and click on the book to read the first part of the book.
Similarities of both include:

the portability of the craft
picking out and choosing colors, textures
choosing to stitch/knit in groups or alone
the ability to make things for others to pay it forward
switching between projects
the process of creating
the movement of our hands/fingers
the effects of all fiber arts on our mental and physical health
and many more

Also click HERE   and in particular  HERE to find that cross stitching is including as well as crochet or other needlearts to the health benefits.

I love to watch both knitting and cross stitching podcasts on You Tube. I mentioned Kristy Glass as she interviews alot of people and she is just soooooo good at it. She also loves fiberarts and can personally testify that knitting in her life and crocheting has helped her with a particular medical event that happened a few years ago.

I think we are all so fortunate to find that crafters of fiber are generally very caring at heart. I have found this to be true with few exceptions.

Even though I knew that even in World War II, the military used knitting or stitching with soldiers who were recovering or coping with PTSD, I was intrigued by this book with anything medical because that is my career.

I personally know for a fact that cross stitching helped me cope with some pretty severe life incidents in the past and I still love it. 5 years ago when I learned through a Crafsty.com class how to knit and still learn many new things on You Tube, I have knitted through extremely stressful situations and found it to be calming.

If you click on the website for comments about cross stitching, I think we all can relate to how helpful sitting down to our particular craft can be.

Here is a quote amongst many on the site as an example:

Found an old cross stitch kit i'd started before daughter was born and found that by concentrating on this i could find some relief from pain. Started stitching to give as presents to friends and family and found it gave me back a feeling of self worth.


I  hope your week has been peaceful. My physical therapy on Wednesday showed much improvement my PT said since the prior Thursday. I go three days a week. Pretty sore on the day and night after but in the long run, I'm keeping a positive attitude that some things just take time to heal.
This morning I went in for my session of PT, still pretty doggone sore but the therapist measured my progress and said even in the last 2 days, I have progressed even better.  I think that starting yoga again has helped overall and exercising 3 times a day now as required for rehab has got me looking forward to incorporating exercise in my daily life again.

I had to stop and think. Hmmmmmm  I wonder if that 4 hours of knitting yesterday helped?????  :)

Tonight, I'm in pain but I know that it will get better and some pain is necessary to reach the long term goal.
So on PT nights, I rest and watch podcasts, pray and go to bed hoping each day gets better.
Monday I have another post surgical followup.

As far as what I'm working on in knitting right now and for the past 5 weeks, I'm 3/4's finished. It's a pretty special piece for me and will share it in the future.

As far as cross stitching, I'm getting Mr. Darcy this weekend to put my floor stand up again and go through some WIPs I've had for quite some time. I enjoy both knitting and cross stitching so I wish some days had 40 hours instead of 24!!  I do know that at some point I will be selling all 40ct linen due to my vision loss with glaucoma. I feel best to stitch with 28 or 32 linen.

Thank you to all for being so kind.

Till later,
Jennifer