Old Freebie is being offered again!

Love this freebie! :) This is by The Stitcherhood
I have stitched this one myself....

you can find it again HERE!

Have a wonderful day everyone,
Louise

My week :)

Butterflies

Baking~chocolate meringue bars~yum!

Baked kale chips

Sewing~pretty pillowcases with Susan Winget design fabric..ooooohh! Bluebirds!!

A pretty rose from my neighbors garden :)

New bracelet! :)

Our bird Andy hiding up in the window curtain ~ silly boy!

Me and my Girl=LOVE!

My neighbors pretty pond~

And her baby Snowball :)

My Baby Charleston!

I wish for you a beautiful week!

Louise

Test and Help!

This is a test post. I can't figure out how to post pictures
From my iPhone without them being sideways, even if
I email the picture to my desktop computer and save
It in my picture documents.. The picture looks fine on
My desktop computer but then when I go to post on my
Desktop the pictures are always sideways! I want to be
Able to take pictures with my iPhone instead of my camera
Sometimes! I have downloaded the google plus app on
My iPhone , now to figure it out! If any of you bloggers
Out there have encountered this problem and know what
To do about please post to me and help me out. Would love
To be able to blog from my iPhone without having pictures
Come up sideways! Thank you!
Louise :)

****Edited to add.... I now Dow loaded another App for blogger onto my iPhone ...I think I am slowly figuring this out!! This picture seems to be upright... 

Now let me try a picture of my baby...

Sir Charleston!!

Isn't he a doll!!

We love him to pieces!!

Thank you all for your responses on my last post. I really appreciate it. I will have lots of updates in my next post! :) make sure you read the new post below this one too! Some neat pictures :)

Raggedystitches and 

Blessings!

Louise

A New Day!

Thank you to those who stopped by and so graciously left sweet comments for me. I cherish every one of them. It means so much to me that you would take a moment to say hello.

I feel like a miracle has happened! Yesterday and today I have felt WONDERFUL! I want to scream it from the mountains! I think I needed a long time to heal from surgery. I am hoping that is the case anyways.
I picked up my crochet hook yesterday and started working on crochet Squares Of Love for the Military Blankets again..

I stopped by my dear sweet friend Luanna's house recently...I love to sit with her on her front porch!
I love to hear her stories of days gone by, her work in a button factory (I think that is so fascinating!)...
This is her front porch that we sit on...

Here is Luanna! My sweet friend who will be 92 years old in September. Doesn't she look fantastic!

I just love spending time with my sweet friend! I recently asked her about the mill that is sitting to the side if her yard because it is so fascinating to me.!she told me all about it. This is called a molasses mill! I had never seen one before in my life. She told me how the molasses would be ground up then they would cook it till it was hot and melted.

Here are some pictures of the mill that is in her yard but is no longer used. She tells me that many people stop and ask if they can take pictures of it!

I stopped in to a local second hand shop called "Grandmas Attic". Love looking around at all the treasures in there! I saved a beautiful stitched piece, it is now hanging and looks so beautiful in my dining room...

I also picked up a chair that the owner said he bought at an estate sale from a farm. The chair looked old, but I was not sure? It is solid wood, and perhaps it is handmade. It sits in my bedroom in a corner and looks lovely there :)

My daughters senior picture proofs came in the mail. How can it be that our baby is now going into her senior year of high school?! Our little Raggedy Ann loving little doll is now a young lady, that is so beautiful and we are so very proud of. Where have the years gone? Our little miracle from heaven! I cannot wait to receive her pictures in the mail. She is so excited to start her senior year. I have already bought her one of her graduation gifts...it's a surprise. Not very expensive...but wait until you see!! I just could not resist! 

That's all for now, lets see how this post goes...

Started the other day on my desktop, but

Pictures were not working right side up

Be usage they were taken with my iPhone,

So now I have finished up half of this

Post with my phone and also putting the pictures on with my phone too using

Blogger for iPhone. Wish me luck !

Hopefully not too many typos! Small keyboard on the iPhone!

Blessings!

Louise xo

Hello it's me!

Hello out there....
Been thinking about deleting the blog...not sure though.
Just not as interested as I used to be. I do so much Facebooking these days, and looking around on Pinterest! I even started up a twitter account..but twitter didn't go very far. lol
I thought I was getting better but have been having a rough go of it. Today though I actually felt pretty great!
I got through the surgery well enough...but then the pain would not go away. Then tests were ordered..I think I had about every test under the sun...barium CT and nuclear scans...endoscopy and other scopes...
I am still not 100 percent, but the doctors cannot seem to find out why I am still feeling pain under my ribs and in my back..this should have gone away with taking the gallbladder out.
Oh well, I am glad however nothing serious was found. On to healing more I suppose. I am trying to learn to eat in smaller amounts more frequently..that seems to be helping. Seems that many of my friends are having many health issues these days right along with me...I have been praying mighty hard for so many! I know God is listening.
I haven't been doing too much on the crafting front.
I did make one baby blanket, but forgot to take a picture before I mailed it out! Oh well :(
Not keeping up too well!
I hope the recipient likes it for their new baby and hopefully she will take a picture that perhaps I can post for all of you to see.
I did bake an apple cake yesterday..again, forgot to take a picture. I am really slacking aren't I?!
Well,...I did work on sprucing up the blog today...do you like it?!
Yes, I am ready for FALL!!
My favorite time of year..but you all knew that!
Time to start dinner for my wonderful husband..and must clean Sir Charleston the bunnies cage out..
I must post some newer pictures of him for you soon...he is darling!
Blessings to you!
Louise

Gallbladder Surgery and Finished Stitcheries

Hi Everyone!
I am back from surgery!
It was a little harder than I expected it to be. I guess not everyone's recovery time is the same, and I am still very sore. I had my surgery on July 2nd of this week. I was pretty nervous, but knew that if I ever wanted to feel better I needed to have it done.
The hospital is a fairly new facility, the staff, nurses, and doctors were all very nice. I tried to convince the nurses that I couldn't have the IV in my hand (because it hurts so much!)..but that is where they prefer to do it..so I had no choice. The surgery is an outpatient procedure, and I was able to go home pretty much within hours of when it was performed.
I could have stayed longer to rest..but looking at my husband sitting there, I felt bad for him, I knew he was bored. lol
They had given me pain medicine, so I was pretty much able to get myself up to be put in a wheelchair to get to the car to go home.
I did need to hold onto a plastic bag for the ride home though, I felt very naucious! I am sure from all the anesthesia. A total of four incisions where put into me for the probes. The biggest probe was placed in my belly button. That is where the camera was put into me so they could see to operate. The cut is still so very sore!!
I am not allowed to touch that bandage until this coming Tuesday, then I can take that one off.
I can shower, but cannot submerge myself in a tub until the doctor says ok.
I am feeling weak, and I noticed I have already lost weight. The greatest pain is in my upper chest and right shoulder area from where they pumped carbon dioxide into my body to blow up my stomach for better viewing while they operated to take the gallbladder out.
I have only been able to sleep on my back , which hasn't been very good sleep...up until last night. I was able to sleep on my side last night without too much pain thank goodness!
I have some bruising, which is to be expected, after all, using probes poking around in my stomach is not normal!
I pray that healing continues and that I will make a full uneventful recovery. As of this morning I am feeling naucious again, I only take pain medications at night time now for sleep. I take ibuprofen during the day.
After tonight I will be stopping pain medications.
I will have to be careful with my diet, although I have been pretty careful in the past year. I will have to do a trial and error and hopefully I won't have any issues now that my gallbladder is gone. I was given a list as a guideline to follow.
Someone made me laugh when I showed them the paper I was given..they asked me "What is left to eat?" Very FUNNY!! :) But so very true. I guess not much. :)
Here is the paper I was given...

One of our sweet neighbors brought us a casserole of food, which was so helpful. There certainly was no way I could have cooked.....We were so very grateful! I was also very surprised when flowers were delivered to my door from an old friend back in New York, sweet Marianna! Miss her and love her so much! Aren't they pretty!

A surprise RAK package came in the mail from dear Linda Lee of Cross N My Stitches !
She hand knitted a beautiful cloth and added bright sunshine colors of floss, dove soap and a very special bluebird pin (for happiness!)...many know I LOVE bluebirds! Thank you so much Linda for brightening my day!

Before I went in for surgery, I completed a cross stitch for wonderful new neighbors who had just gotten married. They are the sweetest young couple! I just need to find a frame when I feel well enough to leave the house....This is "Two Shall Be One" By Lizzie Kate Designs

After my surgery, on July 4th, as I rest in bed, I was determined to stitch up a small design for the holiday. I worked all morning, noon and night on this one and was able to finish it. Such a cute design.
"Land That I Love" By Lizzie Kate Designs...

Well, I must go, I cannot sit at the computer any longer, being as I am feeling very ill again.
I hope one day soon this feeling passes. Thank you all for thinking of me with love, prayers and well wishes. It is very much appreciated. I look forward to the day I am 100 percent well again. I am trying my best to remain positive, but when I am feeling as sick as I am today, it is kinda hard, but I will be ok.

Blessings to all!
Louise xo

helloooooo

Just a quick note to say hello! As most of you know I have been not feeling well lately. I decided to finally make the trip to the doctor. I was sent for a couple of tests. I had stomach pain on and off. Couldn't figure out what was going on with me, I just knew I didn't feel quite right.
On a visit a couple of weeks ago to see our Sailor Son, I was in so much pain after we had lunch, then the same after dinner. I could barely move to stand and walk. I had to just sit there and rest till I could finally get up. I thought I was going to go crazy with the pain in the middle of my chest! I know my Father had heart disease, so I was fearing the worst.
Turns up that my gallbladder is working at only 50 percent of what it should be.
Spoke with the nurse on the phone about the results.
Sounds like the only option will be surgery which I soooo do not want to do.
I have an appointment on Thursday. Will update soon!
Pray for me! I am scared :(

Louise ...who is shaking in her boots!

30th High School Reunion

Well, the invitation for my 30th high school reunion has arrived. Will I go? I don't think so.
I have already re-united with many old classmates on Facebook. The world of social media has brought me back in touch with so many people I used to go to high school with. Sometimes it is a good thing, sometimes, it is not.
Do people really change? Perhaps some lose hair, many gain weight.
Do their personalities change from their high school days??....
I was sort of quiet back in school, and had my own little group of friends. I remember so many cliques, the girls that would make you feel uncomfortable as you walked down the hall..as if you did not fit in with them, so you would never be a part of "their group".
Not that I ever really wanted to be, but I never really cared for the way some of the kids acted back in high school. I guess I was a little more mature than most. I had my own things to deal with at home, the family issues, and I found different outlets.
Sure I liked to go out dancing late at night...but I also played guitar and sang in church every Sunday.
I had a few girlfriends that I can honestly say were best friends as I grew up...we did grow apart at different stages in high school..branched out and found new friends...but we always stayed in touch.

 I accepted all the friend requests from old classmates on Facebook and thought it was so neat to see what they looked like now and how their lives were going.  It didn't surprise me all too much that the ones who seemed to have perfect lives in high school now have lives that are falling apart...
only because, I now realize we are all human. We all have the same feelings, emotions, issues, family problems, and no one is perfect. Except our God of course.
So many are still looking for happiness....... not seeing that they have happy things right in front of their eyes.
They talk of waiting for this happiness, and asking when it will arrive. Never looking in the present moment, and cherishing any little blessing that God has given them already. They criticize and are just plain miserable. Many never speak of God, but yet expect miracles in their lives.

I have come to realize that people never really do change. You are who you are. Even from a very young age. I started to realize that I have nothing in common with most of these people I graduated high school with. They are still who they are, and I am still the same me. Perhaps this is why we never hung around each other back then, and I can see we still have nothing in common now. We have all moved on with our lives, but for the true friends that kept in touch over the years since high school, and they mattered, well, they did keep in touch. That is just what I had done..the ones that I stayed close with all these years are the ones that have so much in common with me, and although we live in different states we will always be friends and close in heart.

So, for me, I don't believe I will be attending a reunion for high school. I am very content with staying close with the friends I have kept all these years, and the new ones I have made since then. I feel very blessed and know how precious true friendship really is!

I am curious to know if you had gone to your reunions?
I did attend my 10th reunion, and it wasn't any different from high school. People don't change!


What's your story?


Louise

Christian Cross Stitchers

Looking for a nice place to visit to post about your love of cross stitching? Have a strong faith in God and are Christian?
Do you belong to Facebook?
Look no further! Christian Cross Stitchers are a group of wonderful stitchers who share their love of faith and stitching all in one place!
Come join us for chatter and stitching about what we love most, our hobby and our faith!
Christian Cross Stitchers

I have just added an event to the group.
Do you crochet, or perhaps sew?
Would you like to let our wonderful military know that WE all do CARE about them?
I am a military Mom myself and I have decided to join in on this wonderful event...
to Crochet Squares of LOVE for our Soldiers!
More details on our page. Come take a look..perhaps you might feel a tug at your heartstrings to
want to lend a hand...
we will send squares to other Military Moms to put together into blankets of LOVE..these blankets will
be sent to grieving Moms who lost their sons or daughters in battle, they will also be given to wounded soldiers, or be given just because we CARE about our military.
They protect us, serve us, and are always there for us. God BLESS our military HEROS!
I am a military Mom myself and I am very proud of my Son who is serving in the United States Navy.

If you don't crochet, that's ok ....you might perhaps think about sewing a pillowcase if you sew.
Or perhaps buy a skein of yarn to give to someone who crochets to make some squares. Every little bit helps!
Thank you for even considering this.
If you are not able to do any of the above, perhaps you can pray for our soldiers, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, they all need our prayers, God hears each and every one of them!
Thank you!!

I wish you all a blessed day and hope to see you come by our Facebook Group.
We would love to have you, it really is a group of wonderful friends,
Blessings!
Louise xx

Red, White, and Blue!

I have decided to go up into my sewing loft and get something done this morning. I took out the table runner that I started piecing together before we moved back to North Carolina last year.
I am binding challenged (although I really wanted to put binding on this one!)...I will have to have someone teach me all over again..for some reason that lesson never stuck well with me.
It's the corners that get me every time.
Anyways...this is my finish for today. It came out a little bit crooked, and not perfect, but I remind myself that only God is perfect. I like it, crooked and all. I love the Red, White , and Blue!
I have been waiting for quite some time to put this on my dining room table. I don't know why I waited so long to finish this piece. There is no pattern, just pieces I cut up and sewed together...

sorry, don't know why I cannot get the picture to go right side up...I took the picture with  my iphone..it was fine when I took it. If any of you can give me tips on that I would appreciate it.
I need to get sewing more on some other projects I love when I see my finished pieces, it inspires me to do more!
I want to sew another doll soon. I have something in mind....
I hope you all have a wonderful day. It is a beautiful day outside today, looking forward to the weekend, although I will miss my Son terribly on Mothers Day. :(

Louise

Crochet and WIP's

Hello again...warmer weather is finally here. Only a couple more weeks before school is out for the summer for our girl.Can't wait to spend the days with her! That's if she doesn't sleep all day...teenagers have a way of doing that! :)
I haven't been too productive lately on the crafting front...
I did start crocheting Blooming Granny Squares though...thinking of making a throw blanket.
I used a pattern from a wonderful book titled The Granny Square Book. Click on the title for the link to Amazon and you can take a look at it.
This was the first design I tried to make and it came out really well!
Here is what I have done so far...

They are lots of fun to make and VERY addicting! I enjoy sitting with my dear husband in the evenings while making them. Love all the colors so far! I am using "I Love This Yarn!" brand from Hobby Lobby, but I also have some other off brands thrown in the mix. Great way to use up scraps :)
Many cross stitch WIP's of course, as always...
Roots and Wings...which I am having lots of trouble with the chart being as it is in color. I made a working copy to write on for the areas that I have finished..I mark them with a line of pen...

A chart titled "Winds of Change" which is very appropriate with having to let go of my dear Son for the Military! (US Navy)...

Also stitched a little more on "Rabbit Folk" by Notforgotten Farm. In memory of our dear sweet bunny Peter Rabbit that we lost last year :(
The fabric was coffee stained I believe, I had won this piece from Notforgotten Farm.

Can't finish up a proper post without giving you updates on our dear Bun Charleston! He is doing well and we found out his favorite treats are celery (especially the leaves!), fresh spinach, raw oats, almonds and apple bits. Such a silly boy! He will not let me pick him up to hold anymore, he is very fiesty! Although he does not bite, he likes to roam the house and he will come over to us for petting :)
Love him to pieces!

Raggedystitches and Blessings!
Louise