Patience and Prudence

←This is Patience she measures in right now, before borders, at 64" X 78". She has all but emptied out my bin of 3.5" square scraps. Hallelujah! This was a great stash/scrap buster! Fifty 8" squares of every shade and hue. Im glad that I stuck with this one, it makes me happy. Patience has a baby sister, too:

This is Prudence↑. She's made with the leftover HSTs from her big sister; she measures 25" X 38". (Since one definition of "prudence" is: "skill and good judgement in the management and use of resources" it seemed to be the perfect name.) Isn't she cute? I do plan to add borders to Patience this week. But, you know how it is... things keep coming up, we'll see. I used to keep up with this blog, it's a wonder to me now how I ever did it. I'm not making any more promises to get better about posting. Speaking of things coming up:

Ta-da! Quiltdivajulie has been posting pics of her glorious Amaryllis bulbs. Here's ours... it's always fun to watch these emerge and climb high before bursting into glorious blooms to brighten the otherwise bleak winter days. Every day there's a visible display of progress and growth!

Dad had this photo sent to me. I told him that I wanted to see his smiling face but he told me to "get over it". Even in his current situation he's kept a great attitude and sense of humor. That's a blessing. The pillow that he is holding here was presented to him by his nursing team last week. It is made from a jacket that belonged to my mother. 💖 As sad as I am that Dad is no longer at home I am comforted by the fact that this facility is staffed by such loving and compassionate individuals that they would do something like this for him!  Acts of kindness such as these make a huge difference in the lives of those that they're caring for!

I'll close today with this picture of Lynnleigh, we spent the day shopping with her today to celebrate her 13th birthday! Yes, THIRTEEN! I know. sigh.  We're no strangers to birthday shopping trips throughout the years but they're no longer to the American Girl store. Sigh. So, what did the birthday girl choose for her outing? We shopped for books, craft supplies, accessories, a pullover, skin care items and, naturally, we just had to end our special day out with an ice cream sundae! It just doesn't get any better than that!

Life is Good!

So, It's Been A Year...

Mom died a year ago this morning. There are constant reminders. When I first entered the kitchen this morning a photo of her and Lynnleigh greeted me on our electronic frame. That gave me pause, I drew a deep breath and then smiled. Then there are the cardinals... I saw two yesterday. There are constant God-winks. I miss you, Mom. 

It's all good, the reminders are comforting to me. Life goes on; one day at a time. 

We made another trip up to New England to check on Dad, this one was more challenging, weather wise. He's doing okay, it's a day at a time. He enjoys talking on the phone and visits from old friends. This past year has been hard on him, he's lonely and his health issues have taken a toll. While we were away I needed to keep my hands busy in the evenings. 

This little Primitive Santa slowly took shape.

Once the roads up north were finally cleared a beautiful landscape was revealed. 

This is my favorite building in Laconia, NH; the public library. Isn't it beautiful?

Once back home again, the trees went up...

The house was decorated. (Note: newly cross-stitched pieces were finished and framed~ nothing fancy, DIY, Amazon frames).

...and Christmas sewing is underway. Whatever gets done, gets done. 

There's always next year, right?

So, it's been a year. 

I'm still here and it's Christmastime once again.

Life is Good!

Busy Days!

We're in a hot and humid weather pattern right now; no surprises there, indoor activities during the heat of the day are the norm around here. I finished quilting up "School Spirit" and was able to score a pretty piece of red solid for binding when I visited a cute quilt shop in Greensboro, NC on Friday. We were there to watch Lucy Ann swim in the Age Group State Championships (lane 7, below).

She did quite well; so well, in fact, that she's swimming in the Southern Zone Age Group Championship meet in Orlando next week! This has been her dream for the past three years. We couldn't be more proud of her dedicated, ambitious, determined spirit!

I managed to get this wall quilt finished and hung on the side porch for July...

...and completed the stitching on a pin keep for this month, too. This is Patriotic Quaker by Lindsay Weight of Primrose Cottage. I used the called for floss colors and stitched over two on 32 count lugana linen. I love these patterns, each little element is fun to stitch on its own. You can see lots more of these by clicking on the hyper link above. I'm currently stitching another one, Quaker Fruit Salad. 

Between her swim events on Sunday Lucy Ann and her Mom came by for a few hours in the afternoon. Our son and Gregory were already here, Gregory is rebuilding a car in our basement. It's impossible to believe that they will both be earning their Learner's Permits this fall! The six of us enjoyed lunch together while these two almost-fifteen year old cousins entertained us all; it was a rare, impromptu, get-together that is still eliciting smiles. (I never knew she had my phone, I only discovered this photo later in the day. A souvenir for the heart ❤️).

While we're on the subject of "impossible to believe", guess who turned 17 years old today? Yep, Mason! Those of you who've been part of this blogging community with me from the beginning may remember this day. Sigh. 

Most recently, later in the day, after the hottest part of the afternoons have passed, I've been enjoying some stitching out on the porch where the light is just perfect. This is the afore-mentioned Quaker Fruit Salad.

The Dahlias are so pretty in the garden right now, the more that I cut the more they bloom!

The Crape Myrtles flanking our driveway are putting on quite a glorious show this year too. I mentioned those of you who've been part of the blogging community with me from the beginning... my very first post, (←linked here) July 13, 2006, was on this same subject!

As much as things change, there's comfort in what remains the same.

How's your summer going?

Life is Good! 

Stitch By Stitch...

My last post was entitled "A Day at a Time", certainly days are rocketing by as the year end approaches but I struggle with a way to measure the passage of time in any concrete fashion; it's a seemingly elusive thing. Certainly I can look back at work that's been accomplished and recognize where time has been spent; perhaps quantifying it in stitches helps. I kind of like that! In the evenings over the last few months, stitch by stitch, I've completed "Strawberry Manor" by Theresa Kogut. I suppose I'll frame it eventually; but, for now, finished is good enough.  

Moving on, I've nearly completed this "Moonlit Garden" sampler from Blackbird Design's booklet "When Leaves Fall". I had a moment of panic the other day when I got this far and realized that I had used up all of the hand-dyed floss called for to complete the lettering on this one... with only two words to go! My panic was relieved at the discovery of not one, but TWO(!) skeins of this very color in and among my stored floss. Oh, happy day!! All my slow stitching happens in the evenings in front of the television. Stitching on 32 count linen in the dim light of our TV space had become increasingly challenging.  

That was, until I found the best solution! Along with my OTT floor lamp I found an LED magnifying light to place on the table beside my chair. It is absolutely and totally fantastic. 

This is the lamp from Amazon, I purchased it with some birthday money that my parents had sent to me. I called to thank them shortly after putting it into service and assured them that their gift is being used and appreciated more than they'll EVER know! I can't recommend this lamp highly enough. The base is heavy and substantial, it stays put even when the gooseneck is being flexed, pulled and contorted to the best viewing angle for me. It's also convertible to a floor lamp, if needed. All I can say is that this product is worth every penny! I could be a spokesperson for the company!! Ha! That's all for today, I've got two more words to stitch this evening; betcha can't guess what they are!😉

One day at a time, 

stitch by stitch,

and sew it goes...

(Hey, maybe those words should be stitched into a sampler!)

Life is Good!

One Day At A Time

Its been a while, I know that. Time marches on, one day at a time, and before you know it a month (or more) has passed! Suffice it to say that the days have been busy ones, and it's all good. I'm going to hit the highlights with loads of photos here, simply as a way to catch up. It's good to be back! Augie is now two years old! That hardly seems possible. He was proud to receive a blessing from Pastor at an outdoor service honoring St. Francis last month. 

The birthday boy with his new toys.

Augie isn't the only one celebrating; both Lucy Ann and Gregory have each recently observed their 14th birthdays!  Those of you who've been longtime readers will remember (seemingly not that long ago!) them as babies, see what I mean about time flying by and losing track as the days evaporate one into the next?

In the studio: a memory quilt for my SIL is s-l-o-w-l-y taking shape on the design wall, it's going to be made up entirely from her husband's shirts. I hope to have this one pieced, quilted and ready for Christmas.

My side-kick thinks that the bin of deconstructed shirt pieces is a comfy spot especially for him. 😬

Nope, I don't think so.

🎂

 I'd like to wish a special friend a very happy birthday today! 

She shared with me yesterday that she was born on the very day that 

Herbert Hoover was elected; here's hoping your day is a great one, Mary! 

Life is Good!

What a Difference...

...a year makes! Our little Augie is all grown up! It hardly seems possible that he's been with us a year now. It sure didn't take him that long, though, to train us. 

The best seat in the house isn't a seat at all; he's the resident "hearth hound"!

He's filled our hearts and home with pure, unconditional love over the past twelve months.

And in other news around the house, (I'm trying to catch up!) the Christmas Cacti decided to put on their show a month early, I suppose they're Thanksgiving Cacti instead.

My parents sent this, a Swiss Cheese plant, when I broke my wrist at the end of August; it's already doubled in size! Have you ever seen one of these before? It was new to me.

These treasures were gifts from my mother, they belonged to her mother and are at least 100 years old. The smaller, clear glass cake plate is also a pedestal style, I tipped it up to show the detail. I'm so grateful for these and can't wait to use them for Christmas entertaining. 

I was privileged to be asked to create paraments for Advent for our sanctuary at church.

They were dedicated and placed into service this past Sunday. 

We watched this movie recently, if you like happy endings like I do, you'll love it! ⭐⭐⭐

I've got this pretty piece under the needle currently; this top is one of MANY (in the 100's!) left behind by a lifelong quilter who passed away last year. Her daughter is donating them to charitable causes, I'm honored to help her bring them to completion as blessings to others. 

So, back to "what a difference"... how about twelve years? Augie's not the only one growing up at the speed of light. Mason is driving now, he's not four anymore; and I tried SO hard not to blink. Sigh. 

Life is Good!