Friday, July 10, 2026.....

 Hey...

Thanks a bunch ya'll for emailing me, leaving me comments here on the blog, and all the other things you do to make me smile and know you care! 

I love ya!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks so let's get started....

I'll talk about my stitching first...

I got tired of the "wedding" so I pulled out my "Santa's Wish List" 

I had it started...not far, just about the top 20 rows across the top. Then, I got my "results" from the fair. I was livid - I'll leave it at that. Then, I got really critical on my stitches and how they looked due to the commentary of the judge - and know I am VERY careful how I lay my stitches... so - I pulled them all out and restarted....I have one leaf done on the new start, so I won't bore you with looking at it. 😆

But I will share with you some quilting I've done recently....

As I said in the previous post, Ellie and Joseph is getting married next June and they bought a condo. Joseph closes on it today - July 10 and he will move into it this weekend. 

Ellie of course is not going to let him decorate it as a bachelor pad - LOL!

So she wanted me to make her a quilt runner....

I don't have the girls this week because Katie and Austin are having a small "staycation".

So Wednesday I got up at my usual time and started cutting and sewing, which didn't take too much time...it's the quilting that takes forever....

anyway....here's the quilt runner:

It's made from all Moda this line is from the 3 Sisters - it is quintessential Ellie.

I did Edge to Edge quilting on it - on my Baby Lock Meridian Embroidery Machine (I don't have a longarm). I found, bought and downloaded this sweet quilting design with a bird/flower/nest and feather. I think it turned out really darling 💞

Then in between hooping and re-hooping and waiting for the quilting to get done I used the leftover scraps to make a quick straight line quilted table mat, 

Got them both done in about 12 hours. Whew!

Then Thursday....

hold on to your seats...I had some nice people ask me about Cora's Princess Parade Quilt...

hardy har har....remember I said I wanted it done by her second birthday?! 

Let's all laugh....

Her birthday was Wednesday (July 8) - it wasn't done. 

So now Granny is shooting for Christmas 😂

One block at a time, Sweet Jesus, right? I'll get it done, right? Slow and Steady wins the race?

 

Anyway, I made the Tiana Block (It took me 5 hours...that's about how long each one has taken me) 

They are foundation paper pieced and believe you me there are several little pieces to each block. Anyway without further ado here is Tiana (the Frog Princess):

Notice her background is Lily Pads - get it FROG Princess and Lily Pads....yeah....it made me giddy to come up with that idea 😂and even giddier when I found lily pad fabric!

THEN, 

I got up this morning and I thought....WHY NOT!?

So may I present: Ariel, The Mermaid Princess

She's swimming in....THE WAVES! 

Man this background finding makes me happy 😏

Here they all are so far: 

I've got:

Tiana - Elsa - Anna

Merida - Ariel  - Pocahontas

and

Moana

Completed! guess how many I have left....go on now, guess!

8 I have 8 blocks left. I only  have 7 done...and 8 left. 

Then it is sashing and the quilting and the binding.

One step at a time, Sweet Jesus.

Here is what the original quilt designer model looks like: 

She gave it plain backgrounds, I decided that I wanted backgrounds that played off the Princess represented. I really like mine better (maybe I'm biased 😅). 

Let's see....

I think that's all the crafting I've done. 

BUT... lots of Family stuff has happened:

July 5 - saw me turn 56 - thank you for the emails, cards, texts that so many of you sent me! It  does a girl good to hear from friends!

Cora's Birthday is July 8 and her Daddy's birthday is today! So we had a combined party and here's some snaps of the fantastic day we had:

It was Max and Ruby Themed...if you all know who that is....

so Katie made the Ruby Cake and I made the Max Dirt cake with worms:

We had a great time!

Katie made matching t-shirts for her and the girls and party hats for all of us💖

Here's the birthday kids:

poppy, granny and Cora:

the whole gang:

Cora eating cake like a bunny 😆

Here's a couple of snaps of the Aquarium trip we took to Newport Aquarium:

Then our priest told Austin we should check out The Assumption Cathedral in nearby Covington, KY.

So we did:

We had a really great time and spent some wonderful family time together!

One last thing:

Maisy turned 3 months old on July 4:

Look at that mouth 😂

That's it for today...

next Monday I will be back in the grind and this little flurry of crafting will grind to a halt! LOL!

All my love, 

Vonna

June 26, 2026 - It's Friday!

 Well Hello!

I disappeared....again....

I am blessed to have a very FULL life and a bunch of people that love and need me. 

That often leaves me with very little time for myself, however....

I'll get right to my database dump. Last update was the day of our 30th wedding anniversary on April 27, 2026. Since that time....

Maisy turned one month old...look at her grinning already!

then....she got Baptized...

Her Godparents are Ian and Kamdyn

and here is the parents, godparents and our beloved Parish Priest, Father Dennis...

we love him! 

Granny had cooked all day and we had a big feast with all of our friends and family because if there is one thing that Granny believes in, it is celebrating the most important day of our life - giving ourselves to Jesus!

I served about 60 people and I had: 

Fried Chicken

Mashed Potatoes (I mashed 20 lbs!) and milk gravy

Green Beans

Corn Pudding

Green Salad

Homemade Bread with choice of butter or cinnamon honey butter that I made

-----

Angel Food Cake

Lemon Bundt Cake

Chocolate Chip Cookies

----- 

Fresh Fruit Salad 

Lemonade

Water

It was a beautiful dedication and wonderful time of good food and great family and friends!

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Maisy and Cora took Poppy and Granny to the Indianapolis Zoo...

we buy year round tickets to any local attraction for the grandkids and their parents at Christmas.

The last two years we've purchased zoo tickets for them and the lucky part is:

they have a Family + 2 option and that means occasionally Poppy and Granny can go "free" too!

That was a busy and fun day!

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Uncle Jake got his professional headshots for his brand new job at Eli Lily!

And he is loving every minute of his new job and thriving! 

Jake has struggled in many ways his entire life. I have prayed and prayed and prayed for him. 

I never gave up. 

I STILL pray for him and give thanks too because - boy oh boy, the Lord came through for him!

 There is NOTHING like the peace a mother feels when she sees her baby, who had a rocky road to walk his entire life, settle into a fantastic life. He loves living alone - and think about this - he is 26 and never lived alone. I am so very, very thankful for the blessings showered on us. So thankful. 

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Maisy is two months old now - almost three months come July 4th - and Granny has just completed her 3rd week of full time babysitting. 

Can you say - exhausted? 😂

My day begins at 4:30 a.m. I have found that sitting in the hot tub therapy chair for one 30 minute cycle helps my joints tremendously.....

so it's up outta bed, into my swimsuit and down to the hot tub by 4:45 a.m.

Out of the hot tub by 5:15, into the shower to wash off, then my morning absolutions. 

I am hopeful to have my coffee and in my chair by 6 a.m. at the latest. Then it is drink my coffee, morning prayer and then 6:30 hits and it is HELLO GIRLS!

I've gotten them into a pretty good routine....

breakfast...

load up for our mile walk around the neighborhood...

back home for a little tv time for Cora...

while granny gives Maisy a bottle and settles her for her morning nap...

then it's educational games with granny for Cora...

- we are learning our numbers and colors -

Maisy usually wakes up within 30 minutes or so, so then it is time for our play time outside on our deck that granny has all fixed up for Cora to play while granny rocks Maisy...

by this time it is usually time for granny to fix lunch...

so back in the house for lunch...

then - this is the time granny waits for each day 🥳 - nap time!

Cora has a Tonie box and I put sleepy time bunny on it and it plays relaxing music while Cora cries that she has to take a nap (really it only lasts about 30 seconds because I brook no arguments). 

Baby Maisy drinks her bottle and it is off to sleepy time land for her too and granny will read her book!

a few minutes of peace and quiet. 

When Cora wakes up anywhere from 1-2 hours nap....

it's "Chockly" Milk time with her afternoon snack...

Some reading books time...

more play time...

then about 4 p.m. I let her watch another tv show until her parents pick them up at 4:30-5 p.m.

Whew....

*******

Now to the cross stitching....

I haven't stitched much lately because....well time....I also have been reading constantly on my Kindle. I go through spurts with reading....and I'm in a spurt (I've read 32 books since April 22 - I have been a voracious reader since the age of 5 and I read rather fast). And frankly after the hubbub I have all day some evenings I just want to sit quietly and stare at the wall 😁 

and since I get up at 4:30 a.m. I go to bed at or before 9 a.m. because - TIRED!

Anyhow...I am being completely monogamous to "The Wedding" by Marilyn Leavitt Imblum of Lavender and Lace.

Here's what it will look like (well similar to what it will look like because we changed some colors), when it is finished:

I'm sure you recognize it - as it is iconic and well known

I was this far the last time I posted:

Here's some progression pictures over the last weeks....

(really only a few days as there were several weeks I did not touch it)

So there you have it....

I'm doing everything except the white (yes I know I did the white up top a little - but that was to get me oriented and centered on the fabric correctly...) then once most everything is done sans the beading and the metallics....I will wash it and then put it back on the frame for the gold and beads. 

But....that's a long, long, long time away. 

*******

I entered two pieces this week in the county fair....yeah just two....my stitching the past year has been dismal and my finishing of my projects about the same. Anyway I entered Maisy's Stocking and a ornament. I won't know how they did or the turn out to the fair until next week. I am hopefully going to do a post because I love to share what I see at the fair. 

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Today is a Vonna day!!! Last night I did the weekly flowers at church so that today I could sleep in, stay all day in my night gown and stitch! I've already made lunch (we only eat one meal a day and I eat lunch) so that's done, and the day - after I get this blog updated is - is spread before me as a veritable stitching feast!

I'll be stitching solely on this piece until July 1st and then I'll switch to my grand-daughters' Christmas ornaments - which will be their yearly fun ornament that I choose to reflect what they like/or what age they are plus I always do a Santa for each of them because I want them to remember that their granny loved Santa when I'm gone...

*******

We are just  slightly less than one full year away from Ellie and Joseph's big day.... June 12, 2027.....

here are a couple of their engagement photos:

They are darling....

Joseph bought a Condo for them to live in once married. They close on it July 10 and it is....wait for it.....8 houses from us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe he will live in it until they are married, but if he chooses to stay at his parent's home then Ellie will move into it. That's all open at this point. I don't know who is moving, but someone will live there to keep it occupied because it has been empty for sometime and as we all know a home lived in is better than one that sits empty. 

So folks....

that catches you up on Vonna and family!

This coming Monday the whole family is going to Cincinnati to go to the Newport Aquarium for Cora's upcoming birthday!

I'll try to be back sooner next time...

I just get so involved in everything and everyone around me that I never take time to stop and connect with others. I've almost been off social media for a year. I can say this: I am at peace with that, while I miss to a certain extent having immediate contact with people I shared common interests with, I do NOT miss the hate spewed about on the daily. And I'm learning that people that want to stay up with me, find a way and if they don't well....they were just using me for free tutorials - which I knew was the case and I am finding was about 95% of those that called me their "friend". 

Until next time....

lots of love and big hugs!