Ever Blessed

I finished this up a couple of weeks ago but thought it was a perfect stitch to share for today. A day when we, here in the U.S., especially feel "ever blessed."

 

 "Ever Blessed"

Heartstring Samplery - Beth Twist

30ct. Creek Bed Brown by R&R

a variety of DMC threads with a couple of overdyed

While stitching on this, I was wondering about the date and initials on the original pattern. Then it became so clear that it had to say this year, 2013, and our family name had to be on it. Two thousand thirteen has been quite a year for us. While the highs have been extra high, the lows have literally scraped the bottom. I can't say I felt "ever blessed" through all that. There is nothing easy about life's trials. But in my head and heart I still have to believe it to be true --- regardless of my feelings, regardless of my circumstances. I have learned to a greater degree from going through those things how "ever blessed" I really, truly am.

This year I am ever blessed by knowing His grace and mercy in a deeper way.

Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or not, how are you ever blessed?

Please tell me and I will enter your name for a $25 gift certificate to one
of my favorite places to order, Needlecraft Corner.
If a non-stitching friend wins - a $25 g/c to Amazon.
I will pick a name on December 2nd.
No need to "advertise." This is just for you faithful friends and followers : )
'Cause I am ever blessed to know you!

Victoria 

Widows and Kiddos Weekend

It rolls around every year.
You know, that weekend before Thanksgiving when men pack up their blaze orange garb and head for the woods to provide. When most of their wives head to the malls or craft sales. When this particular wife loves nothing more than staying home, hunkering down with some good movies and some fun projects.

This year I told the chili peppers they needed to make a list of what they wanted to do for the four days. My chief intention was so that when they came around bored and asked me what to do, I could just direct them to their lists. It worked perfect-they never asked because they already had ideas.

Fun stuff on there!

The Treasure Hunt on top of the lists is something BNH started 18 years ago. (Remember that one Auntie Lisa?) He writes up clues which sends the kids running all over the house until they get to the treasure, a box filled with resale puzzles, snacks, sticker books, a game or craft or whatever else he finds to put in. It is totally his deal and he does an awesome job of providing things to keep the kids occupied for the weekend.

My oldest girl came and spent the weekend with us too as it was her first "widow weekend" as well. The silly thing put "eat sweets" and "letters to Santa" on her list. So the peppers had to add that to theirs as well. No letters were written as we don't celebrate Santa, but we ate some pretty tasty gluten-free monster cookies!

And we made some fun projects too.
My littlest guy's Creatology Christmas house:

Bracelets made by my sweet 8 yr. old:

A beaded drape that goes over a plain globe ornament made by the newlywed:

Stitching for me:

 I started and finished this one in a day - quick and fun.

I just need some trim to put it together.

 

Bedford Falls

The Sampler Girl

30ct. Creek Bed Brown by R&R

DMC threads

 

 More work on Mary's Sampler II



And Needleworker got some attention too.

We all enjoyed being together and just chillin'. Speaking of chillin' our men were literally doing just that as it was -3° F on Sunday morning where they were. Brave souls! Feels more like January here than November.

I was kind of sad to see the time end as I always enjoy the weekend and its change of pace. Looking forward to next year already : )
Until later,
Victoria

A Most Blessed Day...and It's Not Over Yet!

I believe that every day with all its good and bad is blessing. But some days come along with extra goodness. Today is one of those days.

A good part of today's blessings started over 4 years ago. I met a very special lady at a homeschooling conference. She was there giving a talk about GraceWorks planners and how to make the best use of our time for His glory. I was already familiar with GraceWorks but just needed a "reboost" on using the materials. The talk was encouraging and I found the vendor's booth and spent considerable time there choosing what planner sheets I wanted to use. I took way longer than I needed to because I just enjoyed talking with her and her daughter. I remember going back to their booth later in the day saying that I wished I lived closer to her because I'd like her for a friend. That was a so-not-me thing to do! I told my husband that I hoped I hadn't seemed weird about that, but I had just felt a connection with her in many ways.

Eight months later on a boring, winter evening, I looked up GraceWorks and its blog. Poking around I looked at the "about me" and saw that Tricia had two other blogs. Well, you know how one thing leads to another when you're online. Before I knew it, I was viewing The Stamper's Stitches blog. Oh, cross stitching. I used to do that before I had all these kids. Wow! Look how the patterns have changed since the 90's! They're so pretty and way less backstitching. About a month later I dug out an old stitching piece and began to finish it. I lurked about on blogs for about a year before starting my own. And here I am today - back to stitching and meeting all of you.

And meeting Tricia again! I had been praying about meeting her for some time and today was the appointed day. If I even try to express what a blessing our time together was, I know it will come up short. Meeting halfway between our houses for coffee, we talked cross stitching, blogging, schedules, families, special diets, and learning about what grace really means. When I had thought back years ago that we had things in common, I found out today how even more so that is true. If she hadn't looked at her watch, I think we would still be sitting in Starbuck's sharing, laughing, and shedding a couple more tears.

Earlier I had sent her a chart to stitch for Christmas in case our meeting didn't work. Here is the sweet gift she made me. I love it!

Thanks again, Tricia, for your friendship, the pillow, and our time together. It was a gift from above! I sure hope a road trip will be in our not-so-distant future! : )

When I got home after 2:00, more blessings were in store for me. My oldest girl had come over to teach school this morning and get lunch for the chili peppers. There was a delicious smell coming from the oven as they were baking a gluten free pumpkin applesauce Bundt cake with a maple frosting glaze. Then she tells me that she cleaned my bathrooms and did 5 loads of laundry. Oh, my!

But that isn't all. She invited the peppers over to spend the night with her and her husband. My two oldest sons are both gone for the weekend. This is the first time in I don't know when that BNH and I will have the whole house to ourselves for the evening and part of tomorrow morning. He has no idea so I need to go hurry and get ready for a blessed evening as well : )

Wishing you a most blessed day too!
Victoria

Cold Weather Happenings

Hey All!

How is everyone?  Thought I share this quick pic out my kitchen window.

Ready or not winter is on the way.

My oldest son just told me it is suppose to get down to 16°F tonight.

That is soooo cold!!

My youngest kiddos were watching the rain turn to snow this morning and cheered when it was finally sticking to the ground. As for me, my head is still somewhere in October. I keep thinking I want to stitch one more autumn piece. I probably won't start one as I am trying to keep up with knitting the Christmas afghan gift for the newlyweds as well as work on the stitched ones I have started.

 

I did finish the Ever Blessed SAL last week. Walmart had no purchase-worthy fabric, so I will pop out tomorrow to the quilt shop for $2 Tuesday for all fat quarters.

I will post that one when it is completely complete.

 

I did get a chance to try dyeing some linen with black walnuts.

I used an old knee-high nylon and put the walnuts in it.

That way I didn't have to strain the liquid after boiling.

 Next time I will put in more walnuts for this amount of water. It didn't seem to be a deep enough stain.

 This is antique white linen, the top one is dyed.

This is Charles Craft tea-dyed linen with a piece of it walnut dyed on top.

The lighting wasn't the best when I took these.

The tea-dyed fabric looks richer with the walnut stain added to it.

All in all the results were so-so.

 I do think that I liked the results I got from tea and coffee that I tried earlier this year better though. It gave a mottled effect.

I just read what Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler said about dyeing fabric.

She is right about what acid does. I wonder if there is acid in the walnut stain?

Anybody know?

 

Well, time to start a warm fall to winter dinner here -

Butternut squash and freshly harvested venison loins.

(My oldest son got a 14 pointer with his bow Friday night.)

Maybe some cranberries and apples simmered with cinnamon and brown sugar too.

 

Keep warm and be blessed,

Simply Victoria