Yikes! My hands want to retire! Psalm 16:5, Fiber Fun, Literary Living

 Hello There!

    Welcome back! Thank you so much for dropping in.  This week was a bit unusual because I actually spent way more time at my cutting table and at the sewing machine than doing handwork. Normally, my hands are happy to give me a couple of hours of slow stitching every day. Lately, though? There’s been a full-blown rebellion! 

    My hands have officially informed me that three factors are causing pain:  

Psalms 15 Who may dwell in God's tent? Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in today!  It has been a week - thank God it's a new week on Sunday!  I was able to spend an afternoon with my oldest grandchildren.  The following day my granddaughter came over for the afternoon.  We made Jalapeño Poppers.  She actually taught me now to make them!  They were delicious! 

 
During my regular Friday night call with my

Psalm 14:3-5: God is in Our Company, Fiber Fun with Hexagons, Literary Life, Finding Joy

 Hello There,

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. Today, I’m looking back at where my blog began by linking to my [first] and [second] posts. These archives begin the documentation of my breast cancer journey—a time that was

Psalm 14:2, Fiber Fun, Literary Life: Liar's Dice, Finding Joy in Journaling

 Hello There!

Thank you for stopping in for a visit! I skipped posting last week—life happens, right?—but I ended up accomplishing twice as much on my goals - for the blog and behind the scenes.  The rain here has been beautiful, leaving our desert plants looking fresh.  My husband and son were away on an overnight trip, and while I enjoyed a quiet morning for studying and writing, the house felt a bit too lonely without them. I was so glad when they returned!

Psalm 13:5 God's Devotion, Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 Hello there!

Happy Fourth of July to all of you who celebrate!  It has been a quiet week as I continue to recover from surgery nine days ago.  I have spent much of my time crocheting some cowls, reading a couple of books,  sleeping and occasionally watering our garden.  I've been eating comfort foods, but, starting today it's back to mostly healthy eating.  

Psalm 13:3 "Consider me and respond, O LORD...", Fiber Fun, Literary Living

Hi there!

I hope you've all had a fabulous week! Yes, I actually had my surgery yesterday, but I was able to post this because most of it was pre-written. Luckily, the surgery was done laparoscopically, so recovery is fairly easy. I'm hopeful it stays that way.

Psalm 13:1 "How Long, O LORD?", Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There!

Thank you for stopping by! Whether you are enjoying summer or a completely different season across the globe, I hope you are staying comfortable. Here in Southern New Mexico, the heat is no joke. I’ve been fleeing the heat by going indoors by 10:00 AM, stepping out only for my absolute favorite things: my reading and fiber arts groups.  Well, I also step out for my responsibilities like medical appointments and purchasing fresh produce. I’m drinking so much water I feel like my eyeballs are floating!

Psalm 12:6-7 , Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 Hello There!  

Wow, it has been two whole weeks since my last post! I honestly thought I’d be blogging while in San Diego, but we were just too busy making memories. From exploring local gems with Mama—complete with a perfect afternoon sharing cheesecake at her home—to discovering new spots with my DH, we completely immersed ourselves in the local scene.

Psalm 12:3, Fiber Fun and a video! Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

    Welcome!  I hope you are doing well today!  This past week was so busy! I had a couple of gatherings with friends and a few doctor appointments. The friends were fun; the doctors... not so much.

Psalm 12:1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

    I hope you're having a blessed day with joy, peace and love!  My week has been filled with writing, studying, playing with fiber arts, reading and a bit of time with friends.  I did have a different kind of day on Tuesday.

    Our school district honors bilingual students by offering them the opprotunity to graduate with a Bilingual Seal added to their diploma. 

Psalm 10, Fiber Fun - or not? Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There!

I hope you had an amazing week!  We're going to several of my grandson's baseball games each week.  This weekend will be filled with his basketball games.  I love having this time with my family while the weather is still cool enough to attend.  Heat is my kryptonite, so soon I'll just be hearing about his baseball games rather than attending.  

I finally had some time at home to play with fibers and read. 

Psalm 9: 13-14, Literary Living, Fiber Fun, Finding Joy

Hello There,

    Thank you to everyone who stopped in last week!  It was fun to guest host Melva's Link Up and meeting so many wonderful people!  Thank you, Melva, for this wonderful opprotunity!  And thank you to all of you who linked up!    

    This week was jampacked with obligations every day - sometimes two or three in a day!  This weekend will also be full.  Thank God, most of these activities were fun!  As I wrote this post, I was surprised how much I did accomplish.  Usually things look worse in my head than the actually are.           

Psalm 9: Part 3, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

    Welcome, and thank you so much for stopping in! Has Spring sprung in your neck of the woods? Here in Southern New Mexico, we have had a mix of hot, cool, and perfect temperatures.  I'm finding recovery slow going, probably due to a sinus infection developing a few days after I was diagnosed with strep.  Talk about a 2 for 1!

    This week, I am happy to guest host Melva’s (from Melva Loves Scraps) Sew and Tell link-up. You will find the link at the bottom of this post.

Psalm 9, Part 2, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you so much for stopping in!  I sure hope you all are doing better than I am.  It's my birthday weekend and strep throat decided to crash the party.  I've been miserable, but am hopeful the coming week will be better.  My husband, who is an amazing cook, made me a big pot of delicious chicken/vegetable soup!  It's so soothing to my throat.  Thank You, God for antibiotics, my wonderful husband and chicken soup!   

Psalm 9: Part 1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

     Thank you for stopping in for a visit!  I hope you enjoyed last week's Parade of Behind-the Scene-Projects!  Every so often, I'll take a break from "our regularly scheduled programming" to bring you updates on those projects.  For now, I'll be sharing on Psalm 9 and a finished flimsy!  You'll also find a book review and some joy.  

Psalm 8 Part 1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in today!  Lately I've noticed a change in my mindset. While I enjoy my current fiber projects, there are so many hidden gems and long-lost UFOs I am also working on and want to share with you!   

Next week, you’re invited to a 'Parade of Behind-the-Scenes Projects' to see my hidden fiber arts collection!   I'll share my progress via an occassional "break from the routine" posts.

Psalm 7, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you all for you sweet comments on my new header.  I was playing with blogger's layout and decided to go for it! 

Psalm 4: Part 1, Literary Living, Finding Joy

  

Hello There,

Thank you so much for stopping by! It has been a creatively productive week with progress made on most of my goals. On a more personal note, I’ve begun reading a few books on grief. I know many of you are also walking through loss, just as I am grieving my daddy. They say it gets easier, but the pain never completely goes away. 

My most valuable resource during this time is the Bible.  The Touchpoint Bible in the New Living Translation has been invaluable.

Last week, I was recommended two books that have helped me immensely: Healing After Loss by Martha W. Hickman and A Time to Grieve by Carol Staudacher.

One vital lesson I learned from Staudacher is that 'some survivors try to think their way through grief'—and that is certainly me. I’ve realized that we cannot analyze our way through this process. It is a journey of the heart, and as she wrote, 'The brain must follow the heart at a respectful distance.'"

Grief isn't always about the death of a loved one; sometimes we are grieving the death of a dream, a relationship, or a home. The list is endless. Whatever you are facing, let your heart grieve. You are not alone. Ask God to join you, to comfort you, and to heal you as you walk this road. At the end of each day, try to write down three blessings you experienced. They are always there—you just have to look deep for them.

Oh, and a snappy song helps as well!  :)

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

"Make memories; it's later than you think."

HERE'S A WORD

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible.  Then I make a list of them.  I'll follow the same format here.

Psalm 4 ^a

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

1Answer me when I call to you,

my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2How long will you people turn my glory into shame?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods ^b c

3Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

4Tremble and ^d do not sin;

when you are on your beds,

search your hearts and be silent.

5Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

and trust in the Lord.

6Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

Let the light of your face shine on us.

7Fill my heart with joy

when their grain and new wine abound.

8In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, Lord,

make me dwell in safety.

There is so much in Psalm 4 to praise God! First of all, let's look at our list of all He does for us:

• answers us
• gives relief from distress
• He's merciful
• sets apart the godly for Himself (wow!)
• hears when we call
• He's trustworthy
• fills our heart with joy
• makes us dwell in safety (keeps us safe)

May our hearts fill with joy as we read Psalm four!  Praise God He hears our prayers when we are in distress and sends us relief.  He is never early/late.  I sense Him sending me relief for today as my fingers fly over the keyboard writing.  In His great mercy, His timing is perfect as He answers our prayers!  He sets us apart as His own and hears our calls.  We can trust Him to answer our prayers in His timing as He is trustworthy.  He fills our hearts with His joy, consequently giving us strength!  What a conclusion to Psalm four:      

Psalm 4:8 ties in wonderfully with Psalm 3:5. When we are distressed, sleep often evades us; perhaps it would serve us well to memorize these two verses for those sleepless nights. We can sleep—and truly rest in Him—because God keeps us safe and sustains us.

I found such encouragement in Psalm 4 this morning. May you also be encouraged, and feel free to pass this peace along to your loved ones and those around you! Blessings to you!

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 - no finishes planned

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding the above hexie and start on the appliqué for the next Done!   I really missed this project. After experimenting with various needles, I’ve settled on the number 11 straw needles. They are thin, extremely sharp and easy on my hands.

- Gengar cross stitch - fingers crossed - finish another 15%  Done!  I finally figured out to stay within the 10" x 10" square while stitching and my mistakes will be minimized or at least caught before they turn into bigger mistakes.  

- QAYG quilt - find the loosey-goosey joining stitches and reinforce them; this will take a bit to finish Not done.  Poor little quilt has been languishing this week.  Perhaps next week we'll make some progress on!

- FBF:   

3.   Prepare/make a kit
Do some new year organziation in my sewing room - I don't dare show you the before pictures! Done! I've made serious progress and am looking forward to completing the final touches next week!

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

This Week's goals

1.  Finish - no finishes planned

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie and start appliquéing the next 

- Gengar cross stitch - fingers crossed - finish another 15%  

- QAYG quilt - continue to find the loose joining stitches and reinforce them; this will take a bit to finish

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  start making the blocks

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- continue re-organzing my sewing room
On a side note, last summer I picked up this Singer sewing machine. According to the seller, was made in Great Britian in the 1960's. She'll be going in for a much needed spa day as her last one was in 2023.

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

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week. 

Here's what I've picked up this week. 

ereaderiq.com I'm starting to post these titles on Instagram on the day I acquire them as the deals are short-term.

Click on photo for link to summary

Hoopla:  None

Kindle Freebies:  None

Libby:  

Deb at Readerbuzz featured this book.

NetGalley:  None

Purchased: 

PaperbackSwap:  None

Gifted: 

Reviews

***** Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a book that should be read around the world. Throughout history and even today, governments have used/are currently using children as pawns to control their parents. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please find a copy and read it—then read it again. Oh, and librarians are the heroines. Naturally, they are. During my childhood, librarians were my heroines, too. I rarely add a commercialized summary to a review, but for this book, it is necessary.

"Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic—including the work of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left the family when he was nine years old.

Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change."

***** Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan centers around a humble, kind hearted, hard working husband and father, Bill Furlong.  As Christmas nears, he makes a stunning discovery at a convent - a horrible situation involving a girl.  What should he do?  How should he respond?  What about the consequences of his actions?  If I could meet Bill Furlong in person, I'd give him a huge hug...well, maybe not...but I'd want to!  This book is a best seller for a reason.  Highly recommend.

FINDING JOY

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  Here's her prompt for this week:  Do you like puzzles? what kind? jigsaw, things like rubiks cube or slide puzzles, written ones like crossword or sudoku ?  I do like puzzles!  I like the easier bookish, beach landscapes, floral and Mexican culture jigsaw puzzles.  Word find puzzles are also fun. 

Here's some quilting memes you might enjoy.  

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mondays

Mailbox Monday @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Tuesdays

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

Thursdays

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Matthew 6:33, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

  

Hello There,

Welcome back! Are you settling back into a normal rhythm now that the holiday rush has faded? One of my favorite parts of the year is that quiet 'in-between' week from Christmas to New Year’s. For me, it’s a time for rest and reflection. After being "freed" from quaranting in my bedroom, I'm eager to get settled back into my home office.  However, I decided to leave my devotional materials in the cozy corner I created in my bedroom. I managed to tick off most of my goals, finish two great audiobooks, and watched a couple of movies. This week, I’m taking a short break from our study of Psalms to share some thoughts on one of those films. I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments!

Psalm 3, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate your time and visit!  This week my son had the terrible after-COVID-migraines.   Last night he showed signs of improvement and even asked for pizza!  I think we may start with homemade chicken soup.  LOL! 

So it’s been a pretty quiet week around here—lots of reading, sewing, and playing my Township game. I definitely set a timer, because that game can be surprisingly time-consuming. My grandchildren are thrilled that I’ve finally joined them in an online game, and they’ve been patiently—and very gently—showing me the ropes.