A Little Stitching and a bit of this and that

 Here we are saying goodbye to the month of July, wow this month sure went by in a flash, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll stay healthy in August I'm sick of being sick, so far the last 10 days of July were pretty good with me regaining more of my energy. Friday was a beach day for me so I slathered on the sunscreen, packed up the cooler with a few bottles of water, grabbed the beach chair and off I went to soak in the sun, walk along the waters edge and just rejuvenated my soul.

I made very little progress on my hand embroidery stitching this week but a little bit of stitching is better than none. I will link up my post to Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday stitching, 

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2016/07/slow-sunday-stitching_31.html

I spent most of my free time this week reading, writing letters and doing the household chores.

Currently I am shopping around for a new bike, before I moved to Florida I had a racing bike for events, I had purchased two other bikes when I lived in apartments, and both were stolen right out of my screened porch area. After the second theft I didn't bother buying a new bike and just used the upright cycle at the gym, but recently I've been wanting to bicycle again and I have a garage I can store the bike in so I'm looking for something basic. 

We have a wonderful park nearby with a wide paved trail that is ideal for riding a bike it would be a great place to get my stamina up and get in a better workout.For me when I don't move I can't drop pounds. I was feeling so sluggish when I was off my daily walk, I figure a bike would not only help drop off some pounds and build muscle, it can help me with the vitamin D deficiency too since I will be riding outside. It can't hurt right.

One of the items I picked up this morning is a few Jamba fruit & veggie mixes, this morning I made the Red Fusion, I like these as a meal which I usually added a 1/2 serving of cream of rice cereal, oatmeal or an egg.

I want to by a juicing machine or a magic bullet machine because my blender doesn't really blend the fruits and veggies well; yet it works fine with just liquids, so for now I use my hand immersion blender with works just fine,  August is going to be all about me getting healthy and resuming my fitness routine and losing the pounds I gained while I was sick. I see my doctor early in August and I have a few questions and concerns to address to keep me on the stay healthy and fit path.

Stitching update

I am slowly stitching along on the Hocuspocusville Quilt block there is so much to stitch it seems to be taking me forever. I have just started the door on the bottom of the house and only have this little corner to finish and the house will be completely stitched, then I need to tackle the tree and the long sign.

working the door

block 8 unstitched

I completed the hand embroidered goddess Morrigan for the 13 Goddess Challenge last night  it was a bit of a hit and miss in my eyes.

The Morrigan is often depicted shape-shifting into a raven/crow, or else wearing attire crafted from raven feathers. The Morrígan is a goddess of battle, strife, and sovereignty from the Irish mythology. She sometimes appears in the form of a crow, flying above the warriors Taking the form of the death raven announcing death, or the banshee predicting it with shrieks.

She is the 5th Goddess I have made using hand embroidery, the challenge is actually on week 9 this week so I am now 4 goddess behind, they are waiting in different stages either sketched, waiting to be traced onto fabric.  I don't always follow the suggested subjects: 

Week #1: RUSSIAN

Week #2: CELTIC or NORDIC

Week #3: JAPANESE

Week #4: SEMITIC

Week #5: NATIVE AMERICAN

Week #6: EGYPTIAN

Week #7: HINDUIST

Week #8: ROMAN or GREEK

Week #9: SOUTH AMERICAN

Week #10: SUMERIAN/ BABYLONIAN

Week #11: AFRICAN

Week #12: AUSTRALIAN or POLYNESIAN

Week #13: CHINESE

I tend to go where my creativity takes me, when I did do a goddess from the subject list she was usually out of order,  This week I will be working on some of the 4 goddesses waiting for stitching.

I will be linking my stitcheries here:

https://timelessrituals.blogspot.it/2016/07/13-goddesses-challenge-week-9-south.html

http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/07/25/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-68/

Stitching on Sunday

It's been a crazy week from getting a blow out last Saturday on my way home from the beach, finding out the spare was also flat, calling the tow truck, to ordering 4 new tires on Sunday and having them put on Monday only to have the mechanic call to tell me they had to order another tire because one of the new ones went flat while taking it for a test drive and running over a big nail.  By Wednesday I had my 4 new tires and a big headache, still tired from the cold earlier this month I just wanted to lie down for about the week.

Instead on Thursday morning I headed for the beach, the one place I know I can regain my sense of peace and balance.  It is the main reason I want to move closer to the beach the 90 minute drive is tedious.

I did get some hand embroidery done this week and will continue with my hand stitching today for so much needed Slow Sunday Stitching and you can bet I will be hooking up at Kathy's Quilts here is the link click on over to see what other talented bloggers are hand stitching today.
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2016/07/slow-sunday-stitching_24.html

No surprise I am still workling on block 8 for the Hocuspocusville Quilt the quilt shop, I made quite a
bit of progress this week.

Witches Stitches Quilt Shop

While running errands a few days ago I stopped at the library to pick up a book by Stephen King titled Finders Keepers only to find out it is part of a trilogy so I dropped in to pick up the first book

Mr. Mercedes, I wasn't planning on reading a trilogy but since I have the third book, End of Watch, on reserve which I didn't know was part of the set until I did some research I figured I will go ahead and read all three. I loved Stephen Kings older novels but after Rose Madder it was hit or miss and too often a miss, but every now and then one of his books grabs me in like the older novels. So far it has held my attention.

Since my miserable cold early in the month I fell behind on my 13 Goddess so I have a few of those in the works. I will give you a partial peek at the next one I just finished tracing her onto fabric and will crayon tint before I begin to stitch her.

which goddess is she?

And here is a look at one of the projects I have been working on from my bin of projects from the past. All the pieces for the Sun Bonnet Sue were cut and waiting to be appliqued onto the block for about 20 odd years which really gives this piece vintage appeal.

Sun Bonnet Sue

Last week I was puttering around the kitchen and threw together a tasty vegetable lasagne which turned out quite good, I used broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, corn and peas and instead of a tomato based sauce I used an alfredo sauce.

Still here but out of sorts

 The start of July was not kind to me I woke up on the first with plans of celebrating my 61^st birthday only to find I was not feeling well (ugh) I was running a fever of 102 and just felt miserable. My son came down with a summer cold a few days before and sadly I think I had it a few hours later the fever still at 102, nasal congestion and coughing would confirm it. I picked up the phone to cancel my hotel reservations at the beach, brewed a cup of tea, grabbed my quilt and headed for the sofa where I would sleep on and off for nearly a week. I was so miffed I was just feeling better after seven weeks of illness in the spring.

The weather during the first 2 weeks was hot, hazy and humid, with temps at 99 for 3 days running so I was kind of glad to be house bound, except on the 4^th the AC decided it wasn't going to run and tripped the breaker. I had to reset a few times but all seemed well and the repair would be here on the 5^th, mind you I had just had this problem addressed in June. Luckily I keep a few fans in my garage just in case.

Well the cold or virus passed after two weeks though I am still so tired, last week my son and I went to the beach for a few hours just to soak in some much needed sunshine and fresh ocean air and to have a belated birthday lunch. On the way home my tire had a blow out and wouldn't you know it the spare was flat, one of the things I failed to check when I bought the car oops! Triple A towed the car home, on Sunday I ordered 4 new tires for my car, Tuesday while the mechanic did the test drive one of the new tires hit a nail or screw and now I am waiting for a new tire to replace the new tire. UGH! I know this is nobodys fault but what the heck. During the entire episode from the initial blowout to the flat in the new tire I remained cool and calm, my blood pressure did not rise and I did not rant for hours, Its just one of those things. 

A new Goddess for this weeks challenge

Once again I have decided to stray from the path of the suggested theme for this weeks goddess and I chose to do the Cailleach her themes are balance, cycles, rebirth, overcoming and winter. Her symbols are snow and blue items. In Scottish traditions, this is a blue faced crone Goddess who blusters with power throughout the winter months. She brings the snow and cold until the wheel of time turns toward spring on Beltane (May Day)

hand embroidery done

The Cailleach Bheur was a blue hag, said to frequent parts of the Scottish Highlands. Associated with winter, she was reborn on every All Hallows Eve and returned to bring the winter and the winter snows. She carried a magical staff, which froze the ground with every tap. She was also guardian to animals throughout the winter, and returned to the earth by turning to stone on Beltane Eve. In other traditions she changes into a young maiden, suggesting the changing phases of an earth goddess. Her sacred trees were the holly and the gorse bush, under which she traditionally threw her staff before turning to stone.

Once again I chose a Celtic goddess deciding once again to hand embroider my goddess using a subtle blue for her skin, she is crayon tinted on 100% cotton fabric with embroidery done in 2 strands of cotton floss. Here she is crayon tinted before the hand embroidery was started.

crayon tinted

and here is the Cailleach right after she was removed from the light box waiting for the next step.

off the lightbox

You will notice I added the two spirals to the piece to represent the ever moving circle of season and the swirling snows of winter.

I will be posting this over at https://timelessrituals.blogspot.com/2016/06/13-goddesses-challenge-week-5-native.html  as part of the 13 Goddess in 13 Weeks challenge.

I am a day late but I am also linnking up over at http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/06/27/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-64/

Now I am off to the gym and hopefully as I was promised yesterday the new replacement mailbox will be put in this morning, but in all honesty I don't think it will happen let me be wrong.

One of those Weeks and slow stitching

It's been one of those weeks and I'm glad its behind me, it started off well with mild temps and dry air, my flowers were all blooming, I was in and out of the mechanics shop with an oil change and new wiper blades, I renewed my gym membership for another year and the newest branch of my bank opened five minutes from my house, so far pretty good until this:

Yes that's my mailbox, mangled and laying in the dirt thanks to one of my neighbors from the group home next door who once again decided to attack this time the mailbox and again his caretaker stood by and watched the entire incident without doing a thing unless talking on her cell phone counts.

The house next door is a group home and this one man has attacked 3 times in the last 3 months, the last incident had him punching and banging on my car, the first incident had him trying to force his way into the house, when he couldn't get in the door he punched my son in the stomach.  Being compassionate people we didn't press charges for assault as the man is mentally retarded we had hoped he would have been given a better caregiver. The second incident he was issued a tresspass warrant and we were told nothing more could be done because of his diminished mental capacity, well incident number three with the mailbox was the last straw.  I was told this same person forced himself into the house next door and still no arrest.

I called the state of Florida social services department to make a formal complaint with my concerns which made the criteria for endangered or neglected adult so an investigator should be out to check up on the home to make sure all is in order and this week I will see an attorney to inquire what more can be done or should have been done. I want to know what about my rights? I do know one thing for sure I will protect myself from physical attack at all cost, stuff like the mailbox can be replaced.

So this week I had great need to do some slow stitching, for this Slow Sunday Stitching I have my hand embroidery on block 8 started and I could feel some of the tension slipping away as I stitched.

Why don't  you click on the link for Kathy's Quilts and see what other bloggers are stitching this Sunday, https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/slow-sunday-stitching-anniversary.html Kathy is celebrating the 4th year of Slow Sunday Stitching, when I came across her site through another blog I couldn't wait to link up what I was working on. I find myself wanting to stitch more so I have some little tidbit to share each week.

What I am stitching this week.

Yesterday I was busy with Summer Solstice activities that I forgot all about posting my entry for the 13 Goddesses challenge found here:
 https://timelessrituals.blogspot.com/2016/06/13-goddesses-challenge-week-4-semitic.html

I have once again moved away from the suggested prompts for this week my muse wanted to go in this direction so I have chosen the Mother Goddess as my choice using a very simple drawing to portray her. (No she isn't the one I posted the other day).

The Great Mother Goddess  was considered a life-giving, creative, wise and protective Goddess who shaped the Earth, provided us with abundant food and gave birth to all things.  Around the world, the Goddess was called by countless names – Isis, Sarasvati, Venus, Athena, Inanna, Pele, Changing Woman, Corn Maiden, Pachamama, Ostara, Baba Yaga.  Her titles included Queen of Heaven, Mistress of the Animals, Our Lady, Holy Mother and Mother of God. She was celebrated as Queen Bee, Lioness, Swan and Owl; Wheat and Rice; Sun, Moon and Morning Star.
She was honored at sacred rivers, holy wells, mountains and deep within caves.  Her festivals were marked by the turning of the seasons.  Equinox.  Solstice.  Planting.  Harvest.  First snows.  First fruits and flowers.
 
Women held prominent roles in ancient society. Seen as the embodiment of the Goddess, women were honored as Priestess, Queen, Judge, Midwife, Medicine Woman and Warriors. Our crafts were held sacred and our work was highly regarded. Women created weaving, pottery, poetry, cave art and metalwork. Women preserved and prepared food as well as healing herbs, incense and perfumed oils.

Today our soul’s yearn to express and to be creative. The things we make with our own hands are sacred and vibrate with our personal energy.  Our creativity is needed. Our art is important. Every other part of life is healthier when our own creative life is fertile.

I'll share a favorite quote:  "To sew is to pray. Men don't understand this. They see the whole but they don't see the stitches. They don't see the speech of the creator in the work of the needle. We mend. We women turn things inside out and set things right. We salvage what we can of human garments and piece the rest into blankets. Sometimes our stitches stutter and slow. Only a woman's eyes can tell. Other times, the tension in the stitches might be too tight because of tears, but only we know what emotion went into the making. Only women can hear the prayer." ~ LOUISE ERDRICH, Four Souls

Moving on this week I finished block number seven and will begin number 8 for the Hocuspocusville Quilt, I have more blocks completed now than I have to complete and that gives me such a great

block 8

 feeling of accomplishment.  At times these blocks have been a real challenge on my physically with the bad circulation I have in my hands and fingers some days I just can't put in a single stitch and other days I sail right through, I take advantage of those days.  I will post at Supermom No Cape a day late for the linky party but I'll be there stop on over to see what other bloggers are working on this week.
http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/06/20/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-63/

This week will be a sit and wait week, today I am waiting for air conditioning service tech to come out, last week the AC fizzled out so after the repairs I set an appointment for maintenance,  tomorrow my car needs to have the oil changed and I have various other services I will be waiting to have done. It will be a great time to write a few letters, catch up on reading and put in a few more stitches in one of my projects.  I have two more goddesses in the works, my muse is working overtime this month and I get more ideas than I can sketch or note.