Gearing up for the 2024 Library Love Challenge

 December 31st always has me signing up for a reading challenge or two.  I have done the Goodreads Reading Challenge since 2017 I have completed all but 1 year meaning I read the number of books I said I would read or surpassed the number. The year I didn't complete was in 2020  I read 22 of 25, which isn't too bad.  You would think with the lockdown of Covid 19 I would have read twice as many, unfortunately for me 2020 was the year of an illness that had me hospitalized several times and without a diagnosis for nearly 2 years.

At the time reading wasn't always possible because I was in so much physical pain I couldn't do much except sleep through the pain. I couldn't concentrate on reading or  recall what I read from page to page so I often just put the book aside.  It was a very long year.

The first reading challenge I plan to join is the Library Love Reading Challenge.  I love using the library its one of the first things I do when I move to a new town, register to vote and get a library card. Our local library is going to see more of me this year for several reasons:

1- I am clearing out many of my books from my bookshelves and donating them to the library. (This is part of my 2024 big purge of personal stuff).

2- I am buying less books this year mainly because I have quite a few new books (more than 20) I haven't read yet and I want to read them before I buy a new book.

3- Using the local library helps with funding for the library and if we want new books and programs we need to use the library.

Here is the link if you would like to join the 2024 Library Love Challenge

https://booksofmyheart.net/2023/12/02/2024-library-love-challenge-sign-up-giveaway/

I mentioned in my earlier post the first book I have planned to read in 2024 is The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl.

My plan is to read at least 25 books for the challenge, but if I go down my to read list on my library page it will be twice as many, but I remove and add books from the list all the time.  My TO READ list changes on my Goodreads page too.

 

The Last Day of December and Planning Projects for 2024

 It's New Year's Eve, the every last day of 2023 with a whole new year of possibility waiting in the wings.

I'm not sorry to see this year come to a close, it's been a year of ups and downs which I sure many of us have experienced.

My first stitching project for 2024 is taking part in Kathy Schmitz's Woven Wreath Stitch Along.  It begins on January 1st.  The project requires the purchase of the preprinted fabric from Spoonflower. There are 3 color choices: blue, red or green.  I chose the blue, though I had the green in my cart too but I work with green quite often so I decided on the blue.

My one change is I am using Valdani 6 stranded floss instead of perle cotton as a matter or personal choice. 

You can find info here on her instagram  https://www.instagram.com/kathyschmitzstitches/  or YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0goemkQd0S4

This is the link at Spoonflower, all you need is a fat quarter, I am not using the coordinating fabric 

https://www.spoonflower.com/en/shop?on=fabric&q=kathyschmitz&availability=ForSale&sort=bestSelling

I am also going to attempt the 2024 Slow Stitch with k3n clothtales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_V7o7DpYeE&list=PLIvsY9XB9IaavqCrqeFaFvZBtQoJD-X4Q

So these are a few stitching projects to start off 2024, I haven't even decided what I plan to stitch this year.  I do need to finish my polar bears. Today I need to wash the stick and wash away product of the  polar bear and then trim around the edges.

Here is a look at both of the polar bears before I cut them out to finish them, I decided not to stuff them.

I actually completed the stitching on the bear on the left, I love these little polar bear ornaments, even though they didn't get finished yet. Today I will be working to get the other one done.  I had to stop stitching for a week because my fingers were so dried out from packing all the those out going orders from the web shops Christmas week my fingers were bleeding. 

 

I'm going to add my blog post over at Kathy's Quilts for the Slow Sunday Stitching, hop on over to see what other talented stitchers are working on. 

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2023/12/slow-sunday-stitching-new-years-eve.html

I'm taking part in the American Cancer Society's Walk 31 Miles in January, I'm walking in memory of my brother in law and my aunt. It's a way for me not only to raise money but a good way for me to get back into my walking routine.  Since I had the spine and legs problems since late spring my daily walking was stopped for several weeks and then when I was finally comfortable walking my walks were shortened.  I miss my daily 2 mile walks so with this charity walk I'm planning 1 mile each day so that by February I can be back to at least 2 miles again. Here is a link to the Facebook page if this is something you want to do and also my page where I will post my daily walking.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/6686097324772727

https://www.facebook.com/donate/811260747426352/6826339254082667/

This is the 1st book I will read in 2024 The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl 

I just finished reading Wintering by Katharine May 

I'm off for a walk at Silver Springs state park and then home to do some slow Sunday stitching.

 I will leave you with my Wishes For a Very Happy and Safe New Year and I hope to see you all here in 2024.

Stitching Polar Bears

 It's been nearly a month since I posted here.  This time of the year is busy for most of us and when you have a retail business things get to be chaotic and exhausting.  I'm beginning to think it may be time for me to admit I am getting a bit too old to handle packing 300 items in a 2 day period.

This weekend I actually took a break from all the business and did some hand embroidery on the polar bear ornament, on Saturday I stitched the first bear 

and on Sunday early evening I stitched the second bear.  Now I have to wash off the stitch and wash away so I can finish.

I saw the polar bears in one of the Slow Stitch Facebook Groups I'm in, as soon as I saw them I knew I had to make them. I purchased the pattern from Etsy shop The Hoop in Hand.  While I was stitching the 2nd polar bear I was thinking to myself these would look great in pink, to my surprise another member in the group made them in pink.

I am still working on the Christmas hand embroidery piece. It is a pattern from BeCoProductions another Etsy shop.  

I am currently reading Wintering by Katharine May, quite a few people have mentioned this book to me and several of my friends are reading it so I thought I would give it a try. I found the first few pages a bit sad so I put it aside until the holidays are over.

I am still having trouble with my spine and legs so after the new year I hope to get another round of spinal injections to see if going out further will help.  I last month I began using the inserts in my shoes and they are making a difference.  As soon as I stood up with the insoles in my shoes I could feel my alignment was better.  I really want to avoid a back surgery so I am hoping the insoles and the spinal injections together will bring more relief.

  

A little winter stitching is underway

 It's been quite a while since my last post, time has moved so quickly I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath.  

After the spinal injections I had in September didn't work as well as we had hoped I decided to deal with the pain while I decided if I wanted another round of injections.  In the meantime I saw a podiatrist to inquire about footwear because I noticed when I put on shoes I feel my hips and legs shift a bit and when I take off my shoes I am sometimes in agony.  I had mentioned this to the orthopedic surgeon and he made an appointment to the podiatrist in the office.  

After seeing the podiatrist I felt a little more confident about putting off the injections for awhile and holding off on the other alterative: surgery.  The doctor gave me a prescription of sorts for custom made insoles for my shoes and also suggest I try some over the counter brands first and gave me a few brands to try. So far I can feel the difference with the inserts in my shoes.  I actually was able to walk over 3 miles my first day of a long walk.  I hadn't planned on that long of a walk but I went right on the trail instead of left and oh my goodness I felt it later in the day, not in pain so much as tired.  

I'm still dealing with the pain in the back and knees and will try the injections again where the doctor will try for a wider area.  If not, another back surgery may be in my future.

I  have some embroidery pieces finished, this one for autumn was from a purchased pattern on Etsy called BeCo Productions:

The Artio Celtic Bear Goddess is for a friend, the pattern is from an Etsy shop called Annetteprs.

I used jump rings for her earrings because metallic thread can sometime be too bulky.  All in all I like the look and my friend loves it.  I forgot to snap the completed piece I made it into a pillow cover.

Also, from Beco productions shop I am currently working on a winter piece.  My fingers ached so much after stitching the poinsettia it would be a full week before I could start on the holly leaves.

Simon has been with me a year as of November 8th, I can't imagine life without him.  He is such a sweet lovable cat. He is loving his winter chalet. 

Yesterday I baked some apple cider muffins for breakfast, not from scratch, Martha White mix, they turned out so good.

Anyway, that's what has been going on in my life.  The online shops keep me busy especially this time of year.  I plan to get in some hand embroidery today and a late morning walk.  

I wish everyone celebrating a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I hope everyone celebrating has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!

 

Welcome Autumn

 The fall equinox aka first day of autumn arrives on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at02:50 A.M. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere.

Yes! Autumn had arrived to north central Florida today, this morning at 7:00 a.m. it was a beautiful 60 degrees.

Despite the pain in both knees I managed a very slow walk in the park, even using the can my footsteps are unsteady.  Thursday morning can't get here soon enough, I'm just hoping the injections into the spine is effective.

Later today I plan to bake some bread and make a batch of applesauce, I have had the urge to spend some time in the kitchen which is rare for me lately.

For now though I am gathering the floss colors I need for a new embroidery project, actual for two, one is for Halloween and the other for Christmas.  Both are purchased patterns I will post more about them once I have things sorted.

Have a wonderful first day of Autumn wherever you may be.

Happy Labor Day!

It's the last day of a long weekend here in the U.S. Labor Day, which has come to signify the end of summer.  Today is also my sister Christine's birthday, in August she moved back north to Pennsylvania. She lost her husband of 27 years suddenly a year ago in June, she sort of drifted through the year quite unhappy until she went back to PA for a visit and laid some of his ashes with his parents.  While she was there she felt at home. In May she started looking for a house closer to me, each house we looked at she just broke down and decided to wait, then in July she told me her house sold the day after she listed it and she found a house in PA and was moving in August.  She said while visiting PA it just felt like home, it's where she spent most of her married life with her late husband, it's  where all her friends live.  We have a sister that lives in the same city and the rest of our family are in NJ and NY.  She has been trying to get me to move with her and believe me it's been tempting.  

Hurricane Idalia blew threw quite easily in my area with some rain through the day, we had more rain during July and the two days after the hurricane.  The super blue full moon was visible that evening which surprised me after all the clouds the hurricane brought with it.

I finished the stitching on the hand embroidered autumn equinox piece, I am quite happy with the results.

Then I added the pumpkin and sunflower buttons and chose the backing fabric so I can finish the piece. Now I need to decide whether to frame it in a hoop, a frame or make a wall hanging.  I never know what I want to do with most of the pieces I make until I complete the stitching.

Originally I was going to have her holding the sunflower which I thought looked pretty good.

Then I placed the pumpkin in her hands and it just spoke to me, I posted the 2 photos on my Facebook page, the results were about the same.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post the pattern is actually a purchased coloring page that I changed the motif in the center from an apple to the goddess figure. The Etsy shop is Owl and Moon Art. I wonder if I should have placed an apple button in her hands.  I plan to stitched the original page sometime soon.   I am linking my post to Kathy's Quilts here https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2023/09/slow-sunday-stitching-1-finish-and-2.html  I may have missed Slow Sunday Stitching by a day but the linky party is still available for a few hours.  

On Thursday, the 7th I am scheduled for an injection into my spine for pain relief, I have been waiting for 6 weeks and believe me I have been counting the hours.  I wonder if  I chose back surgery would I be halfway through recovery by now?  I'm just hoping the injection works, the pain radiates to my legs, especially my knees so walking has become very difficult for me.  Most days I haven't taken my daily morning walks and some days I can barely lift my right foot to put on a pair of shorts.  My GP prescribed a pain killer which makes me sick to my stomach and quite drugged feeling so most days I wait until the pain is unbearable to take one, some days a half pill.  I try not to take anything on the weekends so I can get some reading and stitching in and run errands etc. with a clear head.  Yesterday I drove to the facility where I am having the injection so I know the exact route and I can plan my travel time, my appointment is at 3 p.m.

Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day!

Welcome September!

 Happy September time to share some pretties! Wishing you all a wonderful month and cooler weather. It's been a very hot summer here. Have a great weekend everyone!

The hand embroidery on the Autumn Equinox is complete, the piece has been washed and lightly ironed, later today I will add a few button embellishments and chose a fabric to finish the piece, I have a few autumn prints pieces I am considering.

 

Slow Sunday Stitching with Autumn in Mind

 The weather has just been so miserable and dealing with the pain and waiting for the injection into the spine next month has left me weak and tired.  I haven't had the energy to take my daily walk mainly because I am so unsteady with my footing I don't want to fall.

Yesterday I started a new hand embroidery piece for the Autumn Equinox, I am using DMC Coloris 4511 for the maple leaves and 4510 for the oak leaves. I started out just outlining the leaves then decided to use the satin stitch to show the color changes. So I went back and filled in the outlined leaf. This is a coloring page I purchased and tweaked by adding a goddess in the center.

The two Coloris colorways I'm using are very similar, the green in the 4510 is lighter and there is no brown.

I used a split stitch for the stems and the main veins on the leaves, I like how the leaves turned out but I also liked the outlined leaf I guess because much of my work is done in outlines I just wanted something a little different.  

The actual coloring page was purchased on Etsy Owl and Moon Art the the center motif is a large apple which looks wonderful but I wanted a goddess in the center.

I am also signed up for the Woolie Friends Pumpkin Patch SAL on Facebook it started on July 31st and I just made it in time for the first Free block. Every Monday for 12 weeks a new block pattern is posted and is free to download for a week, if you join and missed the free pattern they are offered for sale at each vendors shop.  

The third block pattern is available tomorrow and today is the last day to get block 2 for free.   

I loved the 1st block so much I purchased the kit from Calico Patch Designs the photo below is the designers finished block.  

https://www.calicopatchdesigns.com/

Here is the schedule for all of the blocks and vendors.

What I love most is you don't have to use wool or purchase a kit, many people are using fabric for the blocks and many are pulling wool from their stash and the creative tweaks people put into their blocks are so different. My block kit is due tomorrow though I am sure it won't arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday since it's in Jacksonville and anything in Jacksonville seems to get stuck there for several days.

In the meantime I am going to continue stitching my Autumn piece all the while dreaming of cooler days in November when autumn usually arrives here in central Florida.  I am linking my post over at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching, head on over to see all the lovely things other bloggers are slow stitching this week.

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2023/08/slow-sunday-stitching_01808149954.html
 

Tying up July with a Slow Sunday Stitching Floss story and the Finished Morrigan.

 I put the last stitches into the Morrigan embroidery piece. I put off stitching her for nearly 2 weeks because I only had two strands of the wool floss I used for the wings left and didn't think I had enough, I ordered more and it came Friday so I finished stitching it yesterday and guess what? I had just enough to finish the piece without using the new stuff. I guess I should have kept stitching instead of waiting believing I didn't have enough floss and it would have been finished. Next time that happens I will use up the last bits I have on hand then go from there.  Here she is before I iron it.

On my search for more of the black wool floss I mistakenly thought I bought it at my local needlework shop, Brick City Cross Stitch, only to discover they don't sell wool floss. I did buy the Black Crow cotton floss there.  Not to make the trip a total waste of time I did pick up a few other flosses because who can resist all those luscious colors. The first group I just thought of oceans, and the second group will be used for an autumn project.  Let me clarify a trip to the LNS isn't ever a waste of time, it's just quite a distance from my home.

 What I should have done was to call ahead to see if they had the wool floss in stock, which would have disclosed they don't carry it and I would have remembered I purchased it online.  I made two purchases the first one for some Weeks Dye Works for the Kaleidiscope I was working on when I came across the Gentle Arts  Black Crow for the Morrigan piece I thought how fitting the name of the colorway so I bought them and added the wool floss to try.  The second purchase was for more of the wool floss when I finally remembered I didn't get it at the LNS,  I also ordered a few other colors of wool floss in lovely autumn colors and a wool blend on the end to try out.

I love the softness of the wool floss. I purchased it at 123 Stitch my go to place when the LNS doesn't have what I need in stock. I love the texture it brings to a piece, the softness of the floss to touch.  You can separate the strands, for the wings I used 2 strands.

I have no idea where I will use the other wool floss at this time only to say I have a few Autumn projects rolling around in my mind and will surely be posting all about it here. In the meantime I am linking my post to Kathy's Quilts here https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2023/07/slow-sunday-stitching_0426548094.html

 

Slow Sunday Stitching, And a Bit of This and That!

 Apparently the L4 has moved out of alignment and is causing all the pain, and I have quite a arthritis in the spine as well. An MRI is scheduled for Tuesday the 27th, in the meantime it's a round of steroids to hopefully reduce the swelling and relieve some of the pain. Anyway it has a fancy name spondylolisthesis.

If the doctor would have listened better a few months ago when I saw him for my knee pain and I described everything that was going on he could have addressed this much sooner and I could have had less pain filled days. I had already told him about a previous back surgery for the L5 for the same reason and this is a pattern with the condition.

On the up side the steroids have helped with the pain and I am hoping that possibly physical therapy could be an option before another surgery, but I know I have been suffering with this for over 2 years so that may not be an option.

My progress on the Goddess Morrigan is moving along slowly when I hit a stand still when I ran out of the Black Crow wool floss I was using for the wings. I had thought I bought the wool floss at

Brick City Stitches, out local needlework shop, unfortunately they don't sell the wool floss.  I did recall ordering from 123Stitch when I ordered a few items for another project.  I was only using the wool floss for texture so I may continue on with just cotton floss in the same colorway by the same manufacturer.   In the meantime I have other project to work on. I joined the Stitch Club via Cozy Blue and have 2 pieces to start, I'm going to iron them today and start on the July Kit 1st which is a lovely floral crescent moon.

I also have the June kit to stitch which in a lovely Moth

I harvested a few basil leaves a few days ago, with the heat and humidity here in Florida basil tends to struggle during the summer so I have been moving the potted plants into the sun every few days and so far it's helping

I chopped a few leaves to toss into a salad yesterday and have the remaining leave in a bag in the fridge to use on some fish tomorrow.  It's a small plant that I haven't transplanted to a large pot yet which probably won't happen until it gets cooler and I can bend better.  I have been thinking about buying one of these raised bed boxes so I can start some plants for a fall garden.  This would give me the chance to get my hands in soil and not have to worry about hurting my back any worse then it is now. I miss having a garden.

Some photos pop up in my Facebook feed to remind me I can actually grow a garden but it's been so long.

This little garden bed I planted a few years ago before I moved into my current house in June 2019, I had a little rose garden along the side of the house.

I do miss gardening, I learned over the years not to plant to late in the season so that I don't lose everything to the July rains and heat.  Now is the time to start some seeds for the autumn and a good time to sit with a sketch book to plan out the next spring garden.  I can dream of getting my hands in the soil, filling up my empty pots and containers and preparing the beds for the winter where I plan to plant a nice raised bed.

I am currently reading Kitchen Witch by Sarah Robinson, a friend gifted me for my birthday, it's a lovely look into folklore and history and a bit of fairytale, I am enjoying it quite a bit.

There are no recipes in the book however, there is a companion cookbook coming out in September which will have recipes. 

I finished reading Soil by Camille T. Dungy, it was a lovely read and really moved me in ways I didn't expect.

Here is a link to Cozy Blue where I joined the Stitch Club I mentioned above.  She also sells some wonderful patterns and kits.

https://cozybluehandmade.com/

I am also linking my post to Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2023/07/slow-sunday-stitching_01634929282.html