A Quote

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living."
--Gail Sheehy

My friend, Milly, Had put this quote on Facebook. I love it. It hit me real hard. These last several weeks I have been in a funk, and I am realizing I have not been growing into the person I want to be. That means I have to change how I live my life and changing is scary. I have gotten used to the way I was doing things that I am stuck. I even didn't realize the harm I was doing. I have been numb for a long time. a friend had asked if I miss having someone and my first reply was "Sometimes." It made me think why I said that and I realize I have been burying my feelings and how lonely I have been for awhile. I don't know what steps I need to take, but I do know my health needs to approve and to learn to like myself as the person as I am now. Right now I do not like myself and I do not know how to do that.

Thank you for listening.

Many hugs,

Vicky

Forever Friends
freebie from Nathalie Cichon-Jardin Prive
Silkweaver Solo 28 ct evenweave
DMC Threads

I had signed up for a Spring/Easter exchange on Lainey's blog. I stitched the two sheep for her, since she loves sheep. The picture below is the items I put in the package.

Here is the close up on the sheep. Lainey has named her Vicky, after me. I am so honored and happy she liked everything.
This picture is the lovely package I got from Lainey. She stitched a lovely bunny and finished off in a hanging pillow. I love how she finished it and feathers she used too. The picture below is a closeup of the pillow. She included a small pattern, milk chocolate bars, a cute bunny ornament, floss, and some material. Thank you so much Lainey!

This picture above is the from Judith of Germany. She was my partner in the First Day of Spring Exchange I had organized in my ILCS yahoo group. I got this a couple weeks ago. There are a couple flower kits and some buttons. Thank you Judith!

Today is my birthday and I turned 41 today. I am leaving for VA later tonight so not too much celebrating. My aunt from Cape Cod is coming down for the weekend and will be here before I leave. I haven't seen her since my Mom's funeral. Plus I injured my back. I was bending over, then I felt something shifted and than shifted right back. I was in the er all day on Tuesday. The medicines I got is working and I can move around better.
I am stitching the Spring SAL but had started over on a cream colored material. I will post pics on my next post. Hopefully I will be done with it soon.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and the bunny brings a lot of chocolates.

Happy Easter!

PS. Heather, from Heather's Stitching Story, is having a giveaway. Just click on her blog name to go see it.

Giveaway

Cross stitch and Cupcakes is having 5 giveaways on her blog. It ends April 19, so hurry on over there to sign up.

Exchanges, Finishes and TUSAL

Cat Lessons for People by Lizzie Kate
14 ct Grasshopper Aida
Crescent Colors, Weeks Dye Works, DMC

I finished Cat Lessons in Virginia. I love how it came out and my friend is going to like it alot. I am going have to get more of this material. Luckly, it is easy to buy and I got get it at my JoAnne's. I am going to finish it into a flathold. The cat material in the background is what I will be using for the finish.

JBW Designs~Country Butterfly
18 ct hand-dyed aida
Crescent Colors Pink Posey

I made this butterfly for my friend in Virginia. I stitched it there and did it in 2 days. I used her favorite colors and I just found the perfect fabric to use to finish it off, and the beads too.

The photo above is a bingo prize, from LeAnn, I won in my KraftersKorner group. I am now hosting the current game and had made it to a tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. LeAnn was, also, my partner for the Spring Fling exchange. The next pictures is the lovely gifts I got from here. She spoiled me with these lovely gifts. Hopefully she will like the gifts I had send her.


Here is my TUSAL jar for April. I am a little late showing it. I have been working on an exchange. I found a last minute pattern to stitch. When I saw it, I had to do it for my partner. I will give the details when she receives and open it. I got her package the other day but I am not opening it until my birthday. It is a Easter package and my birthday is 3 days before Easter and I am not going be home for Easter. I am going to Virginia again and won't be home sometime in May. I just loved Virginia and can't wait to get back down there. I will be taking the Amtrak train this time and its a direct route, so no transfers and cheaper than the Greyhound.
My dad is retiring on May 4. I am stitching something for him. I am debating whether to give it to him before I leave or when I return. I will make the decision before I leave.

Until next time,
Vicky

Giveaways

Rhode Island Stitchers is having a giveaway. I would love to attend their stitch-ins. I haven't been able to find one in Connecticut yet.
http://measi.net/rhodystitchers/?p=122#comment-72

Barbara is celebrating her birthday this month. She is having a wonderful giveaway. Mine is next month and I am thinking of having another giveaway.
http://44mamawsfinishedcrossstitchitems.blogspot.com/

Teresa is having one for surviving the first year of her's husband's retirement, if I read that correctly, lol. She does lovely stitching.
http://teresasheartfeltstitches.blogspot.com/

Virginia!

I was in Virginia for first two weeks, visiting my friends. I had a good time and it went by too fast for me, even though I didn't go anywhere except to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Center in Virginia Beach. I really didnt want to go back home,lol. They have 3 dogs and 2 cats and may be adding 2 more cats when their son comes to live with them. The cat, above, is Sammy. I love this cat, and if I could have her live with me, I would in a heartbeat. She lets me rub her tummy, which is rare for a cat. In this picture, she is on top of my luggage on my last day there. I was packing and she jumped in and curled up. Do you think she wants to go home with me? The other cat, Piper, I was lucky if I saw her every other day. She stays upstairs in her master's computer room. I think she only came downstairs to use the litterbox or to eat. I didnt get any pictures of her on this trip.

This is Zoey, and she remembered me when I saw her in Texas. I knew she would remember me, I am not unforgettable, lol. The first 15 minutes or so, she just wanted me to pet her. She is the princess of the 3 dogs and sometimes acts it too. One morning, really early, I had got up to use the bathroom and I came back and fluff the pillows. Zoey,in return, jumped in the middle of the pillows, curled up and went to sleep, claiming the pillows were hers now. It was cute. In this picture, the bottom of her mouth is pinkish, as you may notice. I fed her some of my watermelon Italian ice and she just gobble it down. Her mommy didnt notice when she got home from work so we will keep it a secret between us!
The new dogs are cocker spaniel and this one is named Ryleigh. She is a barker but very beautiful. When my friends were at work, she would be by my side and follow me everywhere. I was prepping some potatoes for supper, and Ryleigh decided to lay down behind me. I didnt realize she was there and when I moved to put the pot on the stove, I stepped on the poor dog. She yelped but forgave me right away. Dogs are great that way.

This one is called Ginger or sometimes Gingy. She is very sweet and loves to get attention. She would wake me up in the morning to get some loving and would try to lay down on my chest. She must think she is a Shih Tzu, like Zoey, lol. She did this most adorable thing as I was leaving. Genia said it was time to say goodbye to Vicky. Ginger came immediately to me and lick my cheek, her kiss good-bye. It was so sweet.

It is getting late and I am getting tired. I have taken pictures when I was at the Virginia Aquarium and you can see them here with a few more pictures of the pets. I have been thinking of getting a dog soon, but not sure yet. I am doing research and looking at animal shelters. I really want some companionship, and I think a dog will do me some good. Maybe I can convince my friends to breed Zoey, than I will have 50% chance of getting her sweet temperment.

My next post will be a couple finishes I did in Virginia.
Many stitches to all of you,
Vicky

Finish, New Start, and TUSAL

Trail Creek Farm Spring
14 count Purple Rustico Aida
Anchor 1335 and DMC Variations threads

I have a small finish. I am going to Virginia for the next two weeks, and as I was going through my basket to determine which stitching I was going to bring with me, I came across with this very small WIP. It took me only hour to finish stitching. I dont know why I had stop, I think it may have been the colors. I think they are too light with the material. I had change all the colors, which I like them, its just the color of the material.

This weekend I came across a Spring SAL and I had to do it. I dont usually do SALs but this called me. As I was reading my blogs during the week, some my blog friends are doing the SAL too. I am looking forward to theirs progress each week as I stitch this. The material I am using is a linen and the color is a very dark rose. The picture is making this much lighter. If you haven't seen the SAL yet, you can go to this blog.


Like I said, I am going to Virginia. I have packed my stitching. I think I have packed too much, stitchwise, but I will have variety at least. I have a tendency to stitch more when I am not home. I have included the March TUSAL picture since I am keeping the jar home, but I will be saving my orts and putting them in the jar when I get home. It is not a good picture but you can tell more orts have been added.

Next time you hear from me, I will be in Virginia. If anyone knows of a LNS in the Newport News/ Virginia Beach area, please let me know. I am allowed to purchase stash when I am on vacation.

Many stitches to you,
Vicky