November 30, 2025

 What am I doing on this last day of November?

Well I’d like to be putting up my Christmas decorations…but since that’s out this year, I’m doing the next best thing! While it blows and snows outside I’m sitting all warm and comfy in my fuzzy nonslip socks, my nightgown and my big fuzzy purple robe - snug as a bug with the fire flickering, hot beverage at the ready and my brand spanking new needlework stand on my lap - stitching away!

You need to know about my Needlework Table/Lap stand…

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE

November 29, 2025

Well I had a finish!

Teresa Kogut’s

“Snowday Buddies”

And here is the backside 

And…when you can’t sleep because your hip is bothering you - you get up at 4 am and finish it 😂

This round ornament features:

 (A LOT of stitching 😂 I thought I’d bang it out in no time, Took 3 days) handmade triple color cording, a jaunty bow and a snowflake charm. 

The snowflake charm was rustic prim, I painted it white. 

 Today a snowstorm is headed to Indiana…

It’s already very cold (28 degrees) and there is a Severe Winter Weather warning. 

We have groceries - honestly I’m getting back on my eating plan today so groceries isn’t really needed - but we got ‘em! 

I’ve partied enough with food over the last month. 

I’m gonna scoot outside to get my sidewalk laps in this morning before snow comes. Do my PT exercises then head up to my recovery room and get into some stitching and Christmas movie watching. 

We aren’t going to put up decorations for Christmas this year 🥹 because of my hip surgery recovery. 

❤️ But Christmas is really in your heart and I try to keep it there all year long. ❤️

I want to thank those who have found me and leave/send such positive and encouraging words. 

It soothes my heart and brings a smile to my face. 

😊 thank you 😊 

     

November 25, 2025

 It’s been two weeks since my last post and tomorrow marks 3 weeks since my total hip replacement surgery. Last Friday (16 days post surgery) I finally got my bandages off my leg. My incision looks good…I mean a little gnarly, but good. I also was given an x-ray to see how my prothesis looked. 

There it is folks. What you are looking at is a miraculous, life changing thing, that took me out of excruciating pain, the loss of mobility and frankly deep depression and despair…. to mobility and health again. I am doing exceptionally well. My physical therapist has said I am way ahead of schedule. I’m walking at least 1/2 mile as of today and each day I add a few more steps. I do my exercises religiously. I am feeling good, and really have very little pain. I quit taking my prescribed post surgery pain meds about 10 days post surgery. I do take them if PT causes me pain, but just at nighttime so I can relax and actually sleep. Other than that it’s Tylenol Arthritis and I’m good to go. I thank each of you praying for me and wishing me well. The Lord has surely walked this road with me and for that I am grateful. I will never take mobility for granted again. Thank you! 😊 

On to my stitching, The “Thanksgiving-ish” start I talked about in my previous post was: 

“Harvest Moon” by Annie Beez

Stitching on 28 ct linen 

2/2 Gentle Arts as called for 

Then I remember that St. Nick’s Day (Dec 6) - his feast day (which is a Remembrance Day for him and his life) - an important day for a Catholic of Germanic descent is fast approaching. For St. Nick’s day you leave your shoes out for St. Nick to fill with coins, candy and small presents. For my kids our tradition was: St. Nick brought their stockings filled with coins, candy, new Christmas jammies and their cross stitch ornament for the year and left them at the foot of their bed. We are keeping the same tradition for Cora, but he takes her stocking (that stays at granny and poppy’s house) to her house, leaves it at the front door and knocks real loud for her to find it. St. Nick doesn’t have her ornament stitched yet…so (s)he better get going! 

Cora’s 2025 ornament is: 

And her stocking was previously stitched right after her birth and was used last year for her very first St. Nick’s Day and of course at Christmas too! 

“Marie’s Stocking” by Shepherds Bush

Here is granny’s signature at the bottom: 

Friday was a big day! Katie and Austin found out they are having another little girl! 

She looks exactly like Cora did in her ultrasound, except Cora wouldn’t open her legs to let us know if she was a boy or a girl 🤣 this baby sure did, clearly! 

So granny needed to order a stocking and she did so last evening at Shepherds Bush…the ladies there are always so kind and just get everything you need in one swoop. 

I have the chart, charms, threads, linen and complimentary fabric for piping, backing and lining all coming to my door soon. I chose “Martha’s Stocking”. 

I’d like to have it done by Christmas because Santa has some things on his sleigh for this little girl at Christmas time and wouldn’t it be sweet to stuff her stocking for her Mama to open?!

 (I will reserve for secret what her name is, I can tell you it isn’t Martha) 

Today a funny thing happened….my good friend Joanie told me that I get a lot of things done. Clearly she didn’t know all that I’ve started in the last two weeks. 

Let this picture trail, tell the tale: 

 

Hey Joanie  …..I’m not executing like you think I am 😂🤣

Well….I think I’ve chattered enough today. 

But before I go, I’d like to offer something. In many ways, I squandered an opportunity for offering my suffering up before my surgery. I tried to carry my cross, but I failed in many ways.. I lost hope, got depressed, cried….Therefore, I’m dedicating my recovery time to Biblical Study, fasting and prayer for mankind. I am praying for those in need and praying for my enemies that my heart softens towards them and that in turn my prayers will soften their hearts toward kindness to others.

If any of you need my prayers, please email me (link in bio or fill out the contact form in the sidebar top right of page). You don’t have to tell me detailed info, if you like you may, but a name and general intention or just a name to pray over is fine for God knows who and what their needs are. I will write names (and intentions) in my prayer journal and I will pray for them unceasingly. One of my goals in life is to be a harbor of peace, kindness, love and compassion toward my neighbor. To fulfill what God has called me to do - be a light, sharing his light. That is what my faith and my God asks of me, and I need to do better, be better.

With that I’ll close, on the near eve of the thankful, grateful, blessed day….

May each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day! 

We’ve already celebrated this past Sunday as a family so other families could be visited and celebrated with. Thanksgiving day for me will be quiet and filled with a lot of stitching! AND all done in my jammies- that is like a little slice of heaven to me!

Lots of love to all until the next time! ❤️

P.S. Some have asked how to leave comments: you must sign into Google. Then leave your comment. I have comment moderation on, for obvious reasons, since for some reason lots of people like to not be nice and share kind words. 

I noticed recently some of my previous friends have found me. I hope more friends do. I will not be going back on social media, I’ve been asked about that too. Everything over the last 20 years that I created and shared is gone. Deleted. It got to the point that the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. I tried for years to make lemonade out of the lemons thrown. Futile as I was always damned if I did and damned if I didn’t with many people. I could never please them all and it was emotionally and spiritually exhausting to be judged and always found lacking, always having to defend myself, to explain myself three ways to Sunday. I never had that problem with blogging, but had it consistently with social media.

I love sharing though and I will be keeping this new space filled with what I shared there: my stitching, crafting, life and family photos. If that appeals to you, I hope you’ll stay ❤️ 

Big Ginger

 This past weekend, I think, because my days are all mixed up between drugs and not going anywhere 😂

 I started: 

“Ginger” 

By Stacy Nash

She is from Stacy’s Animal Crackers series and an exclusive class for the 2025 Jingle Bell Ball. 

I kept seeing her as one of my “large size” weighted stand ups. 

So I found some 20 ct. Red Pear linen and I’m stitching her 1 over 2 using perle 5 cottons. 

Today, I slipped the last stitches in Ginger: 

She is about 9.5 inches tall. She will make a darling stand up. I want to stitch her small too, and I will another day…. But today I am feeling “Thanksgiving-ish” so I pulled something else out from my stash. 

Sadly I wanted to start WTNT’s Thankful, Grateful, Blessed…I have it kitted, all ready to go….BUT I can’t find it and I don’t walk well yet so I decided to just grab something else kitted and ready to go. I’ll share an update of what my choice was another day when I share a progress update.

I’ve decided I’m going to use this blog like I used to use social media, to share my stitching, my crafts, my life, my family photos and the like. There are still plenty of lovely people still doing blogging and I find it a more genuine, kind, friendly platform than social media. 

Here’s a couple of photos of my Cora: 

I know she’s ours, but ain’t she cute?! Granny loves her so! 

Hip Recovery day 7: 

One week ago today, I wasn’t feeling so swell. Today, I am happy it’s not day 1 😂 

Actually, I’m doing really well. Each day I think I improve, get stronger. 

I’m not using my pain pills through the day anymore. Only at night to help me sleep. Sleeping helps healing, so as long as I’ve got them, I’m using them to help me sleep.

Keith returns to work tomorrow, so I’ll be alone all day. He’s packing me a cooler of drinks and food so I stay in my recovery room. I’m terrified of falling.

Of course Austin will be at his house 5 doors down, if I need him. It’s his week with Cora.

Keith, Katie and Austin are rotating caring for Cora for the next 3 months while I recuperate. 

See ya next time ❤️

Needle Punch

My Sew Cherished punch needle project is all punched and ready to finish 😊

Designer: Sew Cherished

Design: “Merry Christmas”

Punched with: Valdani perle 12

I use an Ultra Punch needle and Smart Punch needle.

My preference is Ultra Punch (used to be called a “Cameo”) I have several of the Ultra Punch needles and load them up with threads so that when one ends, I just pick up the next punch needle and go to town. 

I think I’m going to finish this one as a flatfold, with dark red cording surrounding and some rusty jingle bells.

Won’t be finishing it anytime soon though because of my recovery period from my hip replacement surgery last Wednesday.

Surgery went fine. My anesthesiologist didn’t get my spinal block placed. 

I personally think he was running late, couldn’t get it after 10 sticks (I have a beautiful colorful photo of my spine with 10 holes in a line going down my back) He gave up trying because my surgeon was waiting on him.

 Because I didn’t have the spinal block that lasts anywhere from 24-36 hours, I didn’t have pain control at all. When they tell you that you were moaning and sobbing coming out of the OR, you remember waking up in the recovery room sobbing….that’s not a good sign of pain comfort levels. 

After an hour though, I was under control pain wise. Thank heavens! 

Check in was at 6 am. Surgery began at 7 am. Surgery was done at 8:30 am. I was awake around 9:30 am. 

Sitting in chair by 10:30 am. Walking at 11:30 and on my way home at 12:30 pm. Walking upstairs to my recovery room at 12:45  pm and in my bed by 1 pm. 

Yeah, fast. 

I’ve been doing well though. I am not having the miraculous feeling of no pain that I’ve heard from many people yet. But, I’m hopeful. 

My first PT appointment was yesterday. That was brutal. 

I’m doing all my exercises every day. I’m walking with a walker and going up and down stairs. Icing my thigh and hip routinely. 

At least I’ve been feeling like I can craft again 😊 

Thank you for all your prayers, notes, cards, gifts….

I feel like a queen. 

And to leave I’ll share a picture of Cora and her parents 🧡

Home

 My Mom made it through surgery yesterday.

She was supposed to be there at 6 am for check in and surgery at 7 am. 

They got her in and right back to prepare her.

There was a snafu with the anesthesiologist, he stuck her spine 10 times trying to get her pain block in.

Sadly he gave up and we think that the surgeon was waiting and he knew it so he didn’t try anymore.

She rolled into the surgery suite right at 7 am. The surgeon said that it is scheduled as 2 hours but typically if there is no problems it would be 1.5 hours. He was out telling us at 8:30, the surgery was over, successful and that Mom’s vitals were spot on throughout the entire surgery. 

Thank you, Jesus!

We couldn’t go see her until she was awake. At 9:30 they came and got us. 

We could hear her crying as soon as we got into the recovery area - she was in a Day Surgery Center, so lots of people, but we could hear her sobbing. The nurse said she was moaning and crying coming from the surgery suite to room and that she woke up crying. 

Since she didn’t have the pain block as they were counting on that for her pain control, they were working trying to get her pain levels down. She never opened her eyes when we came in and had her hands over her face, tears falling. Upsetting to see her like that because she is always so strong. 

Finally they got her calmed down and she slept some more, but when she woke up she was crying again.

She was sick to her stomach too and of course vomiting. 

Finally they got her pain under control, mostly, and they made her get out of bed and sit in a recliner. Just changing to the recliner seemed to help her, it was round 11 am.  

She fell asleep again in the chair. 

When she woke up they asked if she could try to walk  to the restroom.

She did it….I was shocked. It was 12:30.

By 1 pm we were in our car coming back to our house. She got upstairs into her recovery room Dad made for her in their bedroom, she has a twin bed with rails to pull up on and a lift chair. 

She is on a lot of pain meds and her recovery is one that is going to be harder for her because she didn’t get the pain block in her spine that would have helped 24-36 hours with dealing with pain. 

She’s been walking to the restroom all night, everything is ok. We wish she wasn’t in so much pain.

We make sure she has her ice packs on all the time, she is taking her meds and sleeping in snatches. 

Please continue to pray for her. That she gets into a place of less pain. Although we understand it will likely be 7-10 days like this, then start to get better.

Thanks for caring about our Mom!

Halloween Finish and Grand Ideas

And….we have a Halloween finish 🐈‍⬛🎃 ON Halloween! 

“Vintage Cats”

By Teresa Kogut 

Stitched on 20 count Weeks Dye Works linen 

1 strand of pearl 5 cotton (DMC and over dyed Weeks as called for) over 2 threads of linen

She measures about 11 3/4 X 6 inches

She will be finished into a weighted stand-up.

I want to also finish her partner

Stitching him in the same style, on exact same fabric, and make weighted stand ups. My idea is to enter them into the Holidays at the Fair category next summer. But for now, I’ve had enough of stitching orange and black and am going to move on to stitching some jolly things. 

My friend Joanie over at her blog Joanie’s World

and I are having a little stitch along ❤️ we chose the guy above, but we are both in Teresa’s Patreon group…and there are some mighty fine designs that she released today so plans may change…as they are wont to do with a couple of needleworks addicts 😂

I also loaded up my Jingle Ball Class project from Stacy Nash. 

“Ginger”

Isn’t she darling? 

I want to stitch her twice 😂 

One time large for a stand up and one time tiny like her regular cracker size. In fact, truth be told, I have a *perfect* Longaberger Basket that I’d like to put ALL the “Animal Crackers” and ALL the Teresa Kogut Santa’s, the cats, some others, stitched small like the Crackers….

BIG IDEAS….but I think they’d be sweet sitting in the basket on my hearth for my grandchildren to play with. 

So anyway…chose and bought a piece of 20 count and a piece of 35 count Week’s Dye Works Red Pear linens. This isn’t the called for fabric, but according to the model photo it is extremely close in color, I believe. 

So I have the big  her loaded up and ready to start. 

Wednesday is inching closer….

And only the good Lord knows how well I will tolerate my anesthesia and subsequent recovery. 

But I hope I tolerate it well and can be stitching along happily on my holiday projects.

The holidays are going to be pretty lean for me. No heavily decorated home. Maybe just a visit from my kids for Thanksgiving. Unknown about Christmas yet because I have no idea how well I will get through my 8 weeks of PT. 

BUT….I do know one thing. I will feel better than I do today. My surgeon and all his staff have assured me of that. Sadly…Thursday my last X-rays taken of my hips showed very much more, markedly worse in fact, deterioration of both my right (operative hip) and my left (non-operative hip). 

It looks like I will be traveling this road again next year for the other side. 

One step at a time…

Closer…

I’m closer…to a lot of things, but particularly on my Vintage Cat. 

She’s all outlined and now the fill in begins. 

Honestly I like filling in, I used not to like it but now, I use it as a time of reflection and prayer. 

Not to mention, IF I get a chance to stitch when Cora is here during her nap time, I can easily pick it up and go without worrying about counting and looking at patterns. 

“Vintage Cats” 

By Teresa Kogut

Stitched on 20 ct Tiger Eye Weeks Dye Works Linen 

1 strand perle 5 cottons over  2 threads linen

I’m also inching closer to my surgery date.

Yesterday I scheduled my anointing with my priest. It used to be called Extreme Unction or Final Rites, but now it’s called “Anointing of the Sick” and is called for in the life of a Catholic during serious illness, frailty and before surgery and procedures. It is given to impart the Holy Spirit to bring strength, hope, peace and healing to the person. I’m going to be honest…I’ve had a rough year physically, I need hope and peace, healing and strength. I know these gifts are available to me everyday, but as a Catholic, tradition and ritual is normal and it is soothing and brings comfort. I’m glad I have it available and scheduled. Last Rights is now more distinct from the Anointing of the Sick and includes confession and Viaticum (final reception of the Eucharist) for those who are imminently dying. I will go myself to confession one last time before surgery and receive the Eucharist at mass next Sunday. 

 

 

Quick update on “Merry Christmas” punch

Swinging in to share a quick update on my Sew Cherished “Merry Christmas” punch needle project. 

Here is the punching side. I’m using Valdani 12 perle (2 strands) to punch. 

 

Here is the pretty side:

 

I really do love how it looks. I’m thinking (if I can find one) 

Finishing it on an old book of  “the night before Christmas” wouldn’t that be cool? 

And here is a quick snap of my baby girl:

I babysit her every day 6 am - 4:30 pm 

She’s a sunny spot in my day although she is exhausting 😂

And now that I really can’t walk well we are pretty much inside all day. Hopefully that will all change by the first of the year. 

Sunday Punching

Saturday, after a failed attempt Friday evening, I signed up for the Jingle Bell Ball . I really like the shopping, I don’t do the people mingling, but shopping is a big thumbs up.

 I wanted to take a couple of classes. I decided to take Teresa Kogut’s Punch Needle class. Which when buying the ticket gets you the ability to watch her punch needle tutorial. I’m always up for brushing up on a skill, learning other people’s techniques. 

So because I’ve been thinking a lot about punch needle, I decided I needed to drag out my stash for this needle craft. I’ve loved this design by Sew Cherished for a year or so, bought it for my stash, so pulled it out this morning after Mass and got started. 

Here’s the backside (or the side you actually punch on): 

Here is the front: 

(Remember when punching…it’s sort of like painting, it gets better as you go….it always looks rough in the beginning .) 

Here’s the pattern and how it will look at the end:

I like punch needle and whenever I haven’t done it for awhile it takes me a minute to get back into rhythm. 

I punch “tight” I like a dense pattern look. 

This weekend was Katie and Austin’s (my daughter and son in law) anniversary of their first date 8 years ago. Last year I babysat an infant Cora. This year toddler Cora got to go hiking with them in Brown County Indiana  it’s about 20 minutes from our house. 

Since I’m retiring from finishing, I cleaned up my craft room. 

Cleansing. 

I’m making a lot of positive changes in my life. Making my footprint smaller, tightening my inner circle, giving myself time for me. Cutting out negativity, and there is a whole lot of that anymore. God never gives you a cross to carry without you gaining some insights. This whole downward slide with my hip has taught me lots. One of the most important things: time is fleeting, use it wisely. Cherish my health. And those who are negative and offensive cut out of my life. I’ve tried for years to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Making myself feel bad at mud thrown at me by negative, grasping, jealous people. No more. 

It’s freeing. 

That was my weekend - it was great! 

2 1/2 weeks before my surgery. 

One funny side note, I have to walk with a cane. And I still sometimes stumble - that’s how bad I am. 

Anyway at Mass this morning a lovely man - 91 years old, John, who is friends with my family….

Looked at me and said: I’m in better shape than you are. 😂

Sadly, he was right. 

A Little Update

Here is a small update on my “Vintage Cats” by Teresa Kogut

As you can see I finished the face and am moving along on the neck ruffle. 

I didn’t mention last time, but on Joanie’s cat she opened the eye, instead of having it winking. I did the same on mine. I like it better open than winking. All I did was stitch the eye on the right side backwards, if that makes sense. 

Again mine is stitched on Weeks Dye Works 20 count linen in Tiger’s Eye using one strand of perle 5 cottons over 2 threads of linen. 

I will be making mine into a weighted stand-up like Joanie’s in THIS POST. 

This week has been filled with doctor’s appointments - lots of them. Today I have my “joint class” which I assume they will be telling us what to do and what goes on, before, during and after surgery. 

I just hope they don’t show us an actual surgery, I don’t really want to know what goes on, just get my new hip in there so I can start feeling better. 🤞🏻 

Let me tell you, whomever may be reading: NEVER take your mobility for granted. I have been struggling (really struggling) going on 2-3 years. I see that now. I’ve lost weight (55 lbs, I have more to lose). I’ve done it on my own. I’ve gone 6 points down on the BMI scale. To me that’s huge, but none of the providers I’ve seen act like it is a big deal. I’ve done it on my own, no help, no drugs just me counting food groups and calories. I was able to exercise up until this time last year. From then on out it has been sporadic and then none at all since June. 

This is sad: I don’t even know what it feels like anymore to not be in pain. I am not on pain medication at all. I take Tylenol and Celebrex which that one is for inflammation, not pain.

I hope I find out by the beginning of next year, what freedom from pain feels like- after my surgery and after my recovery. 

Long Weekend Stitching Update

 

I got quite a bit of stitching done over this long weekend on:

“Vintage Cats”

By Teresa Kogut 

I’m stitching mine on 20 ct Weeks Dye Works Tiger Eye linen

1 strand of perle 5 cottons over 2 threads linen 

They will be stand ups.

Here is the cover photo of Teresa's models: 

 I’m having a complete hip replacement Nov. 5.

I’ve been in quite a bit of pain for a long time. 

I’m ready to feel better, as I can hardly walk and when I do….

Severe pain.

Tomorrow, I start all my pre-op appointments…let’s all hope I pass them all so I can have my surgery. 

And my husband has to escort me to the first two tomorrow and he asked me go out to lunch after! 

Hurray! 

I’ll let you know where we went next time 😊

Vintage Cats Start

New Start today in celebration of a long weekend and because I wanted to: 

Teresa Kogut “Vintage Cats” 

Here is their cover photo 

And here is my start on the female kitty: 

I’m copying my friend, Joanie (previous post) using 20 count linen by Weeks Dye Works in Tiger Eye.

I’m using perle 5 cottons and stitching with one strand over 2 threads of linen.

I feel I had a really solid day of good stitching! 

I’m retiring from my finishing business and really happy I have only 1 package left! 

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 

Soon I’ll only have to worry about keeping house, caring for my grandbaby and living life. 

I feel lighter knowing I won’t have deadlines and endless work hanging over my head. 

🧡 Cora went to the pumpkin patch today 🧡