Thank you for stopping by! It was another busy week with more doctor appointments, gatherings with friends and various sewing groups. Toward the end of the week I caught a cold, hence today's late publication. I'm taking care of myself and know I'll feel better soon. Mama tells me it takes a good 7 days to feel right as rain, so I'm looking forward to that.
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you've had a fabulous week! It's so much fun for me to imagine you all reading this weekly post in a comfy chair with your favorite beverage! This week I was very active with doctor appointments, a sit and sew with my Colcha Embroidery group, a fabulous meeting with my Latinx Book Club, lunch with friends, and I even had a hair appointment! I've met some of my reading and stitching goals, finished some behind-the-scenes goals and rested! Please let me know how your week was in the comments!
I sure appreciate your visit! This week was full! Last Saturday was Be Sew Creative Sit and Sew where I made significant progress on my granddaughter's ornament. On Sunday my eldest grandson came over to help with yard work and my granddaughter is taking inventory and labeling Daddy's books from San Diego via the Dewey Decimal system. In planning my own goals for this week, I totally forgot that it was Fall Break for my grandbabies! I had three wonderful days with them! I hope you all had a fabulous week reading, stitching and finding joy!
Thank you for stopping by! Saturday was our first Flower Box Friends (see Fiber Fun) class at Be Sew Creative in Las Cruces, NM and it was awesome! I found my slow stitching people! Rejoice! After a brief lesson and discussion, we sat for two hours stitching, visiting and sharing tips! Oh such joy! Though I've been hand sewing since a child, there's still so much to learn and friends have great tips and tricks to share.
This week I have Sit and Sew at Be Sew Creative, stitching with my Colcha Embroidery Group and then another fun filled class with my Flower Box Group.
I finished another audiobook by Jojo Moyes (review below) as well as some read reads from NetGalley and my local library.
I hope you enjoy the memes, song, and answers to LeeAnne's questions this week. Relax, grab a cuppa as you read on! Long ago, I created a playlist on YouTube of some of the songs I've shared in the past. Then I forgot to keep it up. 🙄 But, I remembered and it's updated. I hope you enjoy it!
Take good care and, as Daddy used to say,
"Make memories; it's later than you think."
HERE'S A WORD
I member a time in my life praying, "God, I know all things work together for Your purpose. And I know you are all things to me, but, well, You knew my birth mother. How was that a "good thing" and where in Your Word does it say You are my mother?" As I searched my Concordance, I found this verse. It has comforted me since then.
I love God's simple answers, don't you?
He replied, "You know what NOT to do as a mother. Whatever feels natural as a mom (nature vs. nurture), do the opposite."
I also realized, abused children find each other. As a teacher, within the first few hours of the first day of school, the Holy Spirit would help me discern which of my students were being abused. I made sure that the rest of the school year they were surrounded with extra love, cuddles and positive reinforcement. For roughly the next ten years after I left the field, one particular student would call me every New Years Eve.
Then He brought Romans 8:28&29 to mind:
Please know this:
You are loved. You are not alone. You are being lovingly prayed for.
FIBER FUN
I broke down my "To Dos" into three categories: Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines. FoF represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics. FBF represents the Flower Box Friends BOM
Last Week's List
1. Finish
- Make this Cabana Mesh Tote Partially Done. I forgot to get fusible fleece...ug. Here's the progress I've made.
- I'm looking forward to finishing this potholder and perhaps making more! Not done. I'm planning on finishing them this evening.
2. Focus
- FoF BOMApplique last week's hexagons ✔ Last week's hexagons are finished! Yay! I even bound an extra one!
Here's my progress thus far!
- As my granddaughter's Christmas ornament is a surprise, I'm sharing progress on my private Instagram account: @miaismine22.
- FBF: Begin stitching the pieces of the Bleeding heart block onto background. I'm also going to check out my seed bead stash to accent the blocks. I may have to pop into Hobby Lobby to complete this task. Oh bother! 😉✔ Done!
3. Prepare/make a kit
- trace, cut out & press the pieces for the next block of Flower Box Friends, the Poinsetta. ✔ Done! I believe seed beads will be a beautiful accent for this block as well.
4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!
This Week's goals 1. Finish - Cabana Mesh Tote and potholders🤞
2. Focus
- FBF: I'll be optimistic: Finish stitching the pieces of the Bleeding heart block onto background.
- As my granddaughter's Christmas ornament is a surprise, I'm sharing progress on my private Instagram account.
3. Prepare/make a kit
- reaquaint myself with my already started ornament for my eldest grandson
- Xmas Table Runners
4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!
LITERARY LIFE
I love how my focus has increased with the "Finish, Focus and Prep" methodology I use with my Fiber Arts. Consequently, I'm going to apply that to my reading life with a bit of a twist. The categories will be "Finish, Focus and Next".
This should help with my "Backburner Reads" which are books I started, enjoyed, but lost focus.
***** Only I Can Save Them by Imogen Matthews is a definite 5-star read inspired by the true story of Rudolf Breslauer and his family's experience in the Jewish concentration camp, Westerbork. Breslauer was a talented photographer who was forced to take pictures of each prisoner for documentation purposes. He later began secretly documenting the atrocities he witnessed. Little did he realize how important his work would become.
The dual timeline is about the actual time the Breslauers spent in Westerbork as well as the retelling of their lives by his daughter, Ursula. She now has a completing different perspective on her father's actions. Perhaps this is a lesson for us all: have more empathy and understanding.
Matthews wrote this story with compassion highlighting the cruelty that comes when one's view is of racism, hate and destruction. Her book is at once difficult to read and inspiring for one to have the courage and foresight to do what is right in the face of great adversity. This is a book that will stay with me for years to come.
Thank you to Bookouture Publishing and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book for an honest review.
***** The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes was engrossing which surprises me as I'm usually not a fan of romance books. But Moyes' books are the exception! What happens when circumstances combine to separate two soul mate couples? What happens when trust is broken?
I may not agree with the some of the events in the story, but Moyes' did such a great job that I stuck with the book. Recommend.
DNF
I stopped listening to this book due to the coarse language.
I do have a question for you to answer in the comments:
What is your favorite reading ambiance?
Does the format affect your choice of ambiance?
My alltime favorite reading ambiance is in my study/library/slow stitching room with soft lighting for eBooks and a bit brighter for hard copies. I usually multitask while listening to audiobooks.
MAILBOX MONDAY- is a gathering place for readers to share books that they
added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.
I picked up this book at my local bookshop.
I picked up both hard cover and audiobooks at the library.
LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Colorhelps me consistently find the joy in every life. She also provides a prompt for us to use. This week's prompt is: Do you have a good gingerbread type recipe to share? Or what is your favorite gingerbread style food to eat? I did have a great recipe for gingerbread cookies, but have since lost it. I do remember thinking they were so easy to make. I love gingerbread cookies!
I found this brain exercise on Instagram, and indeed, it is challenging!
LOL! My 11 and 9 year old grandsons did it easily.
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you all have had a fun week! This week I started back up with water exercises at our local pool which was very relaxing and healing. I've read, stitched, and pulled out my planner again. The later was an excellent starting point to remember, what my goals were earlier in the year.
Oh what a week it has been. We've been in San Diego with some members our family. My husband and I will be heading home tomorrow and begin picking up the pieces of our lives again. I haven't accomplished a lot of goals, but have started a shawl for myself and am experimenting with sock yarn to make a summer/fall shawlette.
Thank you for stopping by! I've decided to conclude our study of verses for those with faltering faith this week and begin our study of Darien Cooper's devotional written for Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard'snext week. The intorduction and especially the preface alone were so encouraging!
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. My son-in-law surprised us Saturday morning with a big, delicious breakfast—eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, green chile with meat, fresh fruit salad, and coffee. Yum! We spent the morning listening to the grandbabies share about their lives, and my eldest grandson even gave a presentation on the three-castle kingdom he created in Minecraft. It was wonderful.
Hello There, Welcome! I'm so glad you're here today! As I shared last week, my precious Daddy has passed away. He is greatly missed - it feels so unreal. I continue to draw comfort from Psalm 23. Thankfully, I can distract my mind as my subconscious continues to process this tremendous loss with machine sewing, which requires all my concentration.
Hello There, As you know, my daddy has been ill for some time. Sadly, my precious Daddy passed away earlier this month. People have called to share their memories of him. Now the stories he used to tell me about his life they bring me comfort and joy. As soon as my husband is feeling better, we will be going to San Diego.
Hello There, Thank you for stopping in today. I'm so glad you're here. This week has been tough, but God has given me strength to study His Word, sew (which has been so helpful), read a bit and even find a bit of joy. I hope your week was nice and that you have a great week!
Thank you for stopping in! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week. This week was the last day of time with my grandkids until their next long break. I’ve enjoyed having them this summer and am eager for our next “Ama Day”. They call me “Ama” and the days we spend together are “Ama Days”.
Thank you for stopping by! It’s been a great week with grandkids, friends, fiber arts, and reading. My husband’s still under the weather, so I’ve been taking on errands and tasks he usually does. I’m grateful for his help since his retirement.
We’ve had a lot of rain, and for the first time, our Organ Mountains look vibrant and green!
Thank you for stopping in! Well, I broke one of my main blogging rules: I always save my posts on a backup post just in case. Guess what happened? Yup. I didn't, and it's gone! Well, the second time around might be better!
Thank you for visiting today! I missed posting last week as we were in San Diego visiting Mama and Daddy. Daddy is now in hospice, but I'm aware that many people live for years at this stage, so I'm still praying for a miracle. Thankfully, except for the expected decline, they are stable. I'll take stable any day of the week!
This summer is a roller coaster: fun with grandsons, quick after summer school visits from my teen-age grandkids, ever more frequent trips to San Diego, fiber hobbies, reading - life is full. My older grandkids are attending summer school to advance their graduation date. They come in hungry, happy, full of news and hugs. I love the chaos!
We are now on our last treatment option for Dad. But he is responding well and full of life, though much weaker. A dear friend of mine takes in our fur babies whenever we go to San Diego. She wrote, "Anything to make sure you see your papa." I wept with gratitude and joy.
As I re-read Psalm 22, my heart leapt within me. I hope you are also encouraged as you read it. I almost finished all of my fiber goals. Reading has slowed down to be with my "babies", though the oldest is a foot taller than me and my granddaughter is about 8" taller! I found some great memes on Instagram and my son-in-law sends me some as well - especially when Daddy is struggling.
Take good care and as Daddy says, "Make memories, it's later than you think."
HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith. Here I will share a Scripture about these topics. No judgement, only love.
Those of us who are in, are just coming out, or remember their own desert experience can certainly relate to verses one and two. It may feel like "When I Fall" by Katy Nichole.
I remember feeling this way, and now, with my Daddy's diminishing treatment options, this is my cry. The big difference is on the other side of my year of a desert experience, I know God is here with me. I came out of the desert stronger in faith, more patient to wait on the LORD and more trusting. God wastes nothing, not even our tears, our confusion, our anger, time in the desert. And you will as well.
My heart leapt when I read the final verse of Psalm 22.
Our spiritual ancestors saw how God moved in their lives among extremely difficult circumstances. And verse 31 states they will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn: HE HAS DONE IT! A people yet unborn is us and our descendants! Their testimony to us states: HE HAS DONE IT!
Take heart my dear reader, He has done it. Until then, He gently saves our every tear in His bottle.
I pray for you to be restored, healed and know this:
You are loved. You are not alone. You are being lovingly prayed for.
FIBER FUN -I've decided to break down my "To Dos" into three categories: Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines. FoF stands for the Fields of Fancy BOM I’m participating in, using Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.
Last Week's List
1. Finish
- I have this plastic box filled with small and not so small prepped items to finish. Every week I pull one or two out and finish them.
This week I pulled this fabric with which I intended to make bowl cozies. I've only made one and would like to make more! DONE✔️
A friend gifted my daughter and I the Creative Grids Bowl Cozy Template. Coupled with this tutorial from Shabby Fabrics, the project was a breeze. Now I understand why so many of you all make these!
This finished advent embroidery bauble patterns by Liz at Bluebell Love should be a quick finish. PARTIALLY DONE✔️
Ahhh, yes, famous last words - "should be a quick finish". To finish off a hoop-framed hand stitched project, I use thread to gather the extra fabric on the back of the hoop and add a felt backing with a hand embroidered label. The first label looked messy, so I started it over. Here's my progress.
Prep Atlas Zipper Case #3 (last week I meant Atlas Zipper Case #3) - DONE✔️
And here she is! I decided to use lighter colors for this one, but I will definitely be spraying it with Scotchgard.
3. Prepare/make a kit- The next month of Fields of Fancy Not even touched!
4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!
This Week's List
1. Finish
- This week I pulled these small orphan blocks from my Garden Snails Quilt by Bayside Quilt Shops. That's my husband's head sticking out! 😍Quilters have the best husbands!
I plan to embroider a quilt label and attach it - finally!
2. Focus
- Finish the label for the advent embroidery bauble patterns by Liz at Bluebell Love
- Kristina at Center
Street Quilts has a five day sew along on her blog for the Atlas Zipper Pouch which I am using
as my Focus. My plan is finish Day One for both pouches: quilting the fabrics.
3. Prepare/make a kit
- The next month of Fields of Fancy
4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health! This summer the deadlines are even "softer"!
LITERARY LIFE -
CURRENT READS
As with fiber deadlines, reading is on the back burner as I take care of my grandsons! Oh, they grow so quickly! Time with them is precious.
FINISHED
***** If The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is on your TBR, I suggest you read it now. Mr. Escobar writes this true, dual timeline work of art with eloquence, heart and objectivity. This reader could only react with tears, horror and respect for the parents who gave up their children to spare them from certain death during the Holocaust. He wrote about one determined lady spent 25 years finding each of the 108 children to inform them of their identity and the great sacrifice their parents made.
As a descendant of immigrants, this book was a double-edged sword. It was reminiscent of not so long ago in the United States when our government was separating immigrant children from their parents.
I listened to this audiobook as my father, a Korean War veteran, was in the hospital fighting for his life and later as our family cared for him during his recovery at home. Aware I missed important aspects of this book, I did something I've never done: After finishing it, I started immediately started listening to it again. This is the third book by Mr. Escobar that I've read and I will continue to read his works. Highly recommend.
Thank you HarperCollins Focusfor providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they
added to their shelves or E-reader the previous week. These are all books I picked up at the various libraries for which I have cards: El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM and San Diego. SD kindly issued me a card as we pretty much live there as much as our home base. 📚
These are books that have come in from NetGalley for an honest review.
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.
I got ahead on my prompts, so instead I'll share these reading memes I loved as well as a few my son-in-law sent me.
I do have a question for you to answer in the comments: 
