May 11: A Mother's Day Blessing, Finding Joy in Bikes and Sewing Notions

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping by! Happy Mother’s Day! My husband and I celebrated Mexican Mother’s Day yesterday and had a lazy morning on the patio.  This afternoon my grandbabies and daughter came to visit.  We transplanted Aloe Vera cactus into various pots for friends and family. 

This week was busy with errands, visits, and my granddaughter’s basketball championship games. Next week will be even more active with a day trip to Albuquerque, two days with my oldest grandson, a day trip to El Paso museums, a sit and sew, and more basketball championship games and a football game!

My parents are doing well, and we’re enjoying this time of respite.

I hope you enjoy this weekly post and continue to visit!  

HERE'S A WORD - A Mother's Day Blessing for you!

For those of you whose mothers or children have passed away, today can be a day of grieving.  I looked for a song to honor your precious loved ones, as well as perhaps provide comfort to you.  I hope you can also find the happy memories in your heart and be comforted.  You are a precious child who is being prayed for today.  I wish I could erase your pain.  Hugs to you.  

FIBER FUN  

I've decided to break down my "To Dos" into three categories: Finish, Focus, Prep and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.

Last Week's List

1.  Finish - Atlas Zipper Case by Center Street Quilts not done

2.  Focus - Catching up with the Fields of Fancy Partially Done!  I'm going to follow the lead of a fellow club member and change the year to my wedding anniversary year.  Once this embroidery is finished, I can add the bamboo batting the backing fabric and bind the hexagon.  

- I've continued work on my unnamed quilt that I wrote about last week.  It's the Got Scraps? This week was definitely not done

3.   Prepare/make a kit - prep Month Two of Fields of Fancy. Partially done. 

4.  Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!  

This Week's List 

1.  Finish - Finish the embroidery piece above, then start and finish my granddaughter's ornament; I'll be sharing the pattern I chose on my private Instagram account this week.  If you'd like to see it, just send a follow request on Instagram!  :)

2.  Focus

-  For Month 2 prep for Fields of Fancy (FoF BOM),  I just need to trim the appliqué pieces, cut the backing fabrics, the bamboo batting, the backs of the hexagons and embroidery piece.  

- Make four circles for Got Scraps, the quilt I shared last week.   My friend and I will be getting together this Friday, 🤞

3.   Prepare/make a kit - Green hearts for the Connecting Hearts EPP SAL.  I've chosen and cut the fabrics.  Now to glue baste them and start stitching!  Great road trip project!  

 

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!

LITERARY LIFE -  Via current link ups, I found Mailbox Monday at I'd Rather Be At The Beach.  So, next week I'll be sharing the books I've brought in so far for May.  The link up looks like fun!  

CURRENT READS - The Body Keeps the Score, When God Breaks Your Heart, The Names of God and Liliana's Invincible will be slow reads as some of them are devotionals, are dense reading or are difficult subject matters.  Thus far, I highly recommend these books.  

FINISHED

***** Long Island (Eilis Lacey, #2) by Colm Tóibín continues Eilis' story 20 years later and right off the bat, wham!  A situation in Chapter One will drew this reader in.  The last chapter concludes with answers and a cliff hanger.  I am of two minds with this book as a running theme of unfaithfulness to one's partner is throughout.  Tóibín does write about the painful consequences and how it can affect so many people.  Recommend.

***** The Bitch by Pilar Quintana was as described, a "disillusioned no-nonsense" read that left me dumbstruck, sad and thoughtful.  It is a rarely portrayed look into the lives of an impoverished life of a woman and the dog she loves as well as peeks into her community.  The end left me speechless and sad, but the many deep messages in this book are worth the read.  Highly recommend. 

***** The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris was another fabulous WWII novel based on fact that kept me listening whenever I could to see what would happen next.  The main and minor charectors will steal your heart, surprise you and find their way.  The way Wood shows their strength, wisdom and  intertwines their lives is amazing.  I look forward to learning more about this author as well perhaps backreading her works.  Highly recommend.

FINDING JOY - LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use.  

This week's prompt is: Do you know how to ride a bike? When did you learn? Did you fall and get skinned knees?  Did you ride with other kids? Ever ridden a two person bike?  I learned to ride a bike when I was about 6 years old.  I didn't fall because I learned with training wheels, then with two wheels.  I don't remember riding with other kids, but I have ridden with my husband and son.  Oh!  A two person bike has been on my bucket list.  This wish was inspired by this song that I learned to play on my organ.  Perhaps you've heard it?

Pictured here are many of my favorite sewing notions and more.  I love one of my hand sewing chairs.  It reclines and has a ottoman that is perfect for Chloe to lay on.  It's also great for napping!  The light is perfect for hand stitching and has four settings.  I use the bright settings for sewing and the soft ones for reading.  The case you see on my chair is perfect for FoF project.  The next picture shows a net over my 60 wt thread.  This has saved me so much time!  The next photo is my magnetic needle minder from Adventure Needlework.  I know we usually place them on our hand embroidery fabric, but it works nicely on my lamp stand.  No more losing needles!  

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I will joyfully read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

I'll be linking up to 

Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mailbox Monday  @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps 

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Off the Wall Fridays at Creations Art...Quilts...Whatever

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

 Links are highlighted or in the sidebar 😉🠆