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Monday, February 7, 2022

Busy Needle, Still Mind

Picking up needle and thread and creating a design lets me go into a special place in my mind. In some ways, I fight guilt, as many think of it as an indulgence or a useless art. But anything that allows your soul to rest and your mind to think of beautiful things cannot be a waste of time! Sometimes, every stitch is a prayer. Other times, I don't know where my mind goes. It just wafts away on billows of memories. I actually have the sensation of moving through time, in both directions!

ice on red berries winter xmas 2022
Nandina berries with ice during our cold snap

I love much about modern life, especially things like heartworm medicines for pets and the internet, but I miss that time is not given for handicrafts. I am glad that I have rescued pieces of lace and bits of quilts and other handmade goods from yesteryear. These things speak deeply to my heart. 

Here is a peek at my Valentine's Snowman. I'm sewing it into yet another "pinkeep" or "cabinet tuck" or "mini-pillow," whichever term you care to use. It will be finished by morning, because this is one of those doze-sew-read-doze kind of nights. 

Snowy Valentine Cross Stitch Snowman Chart

We had a bit of snow here, mainly in the mountains, but we in the foothills got some, too. I gathered some of it because it's very good for houseplants. "Poor Man's Fertilizer," the old-time farmers called it. The ivy in the bathroom enjoyed it very much and is putting out leaves from the boost it gave.

Organ Mountains, Las Cruces 2022

I drove up to the true beginning of the mountains and got a few snapshots. Gosh, haven't heard that term in awhile. "Snapshots."

I have the mantel decorated for mid-winter. It is quite plain, but in person there are touches of red that are very cheery, including the little wooden mushroom to the left. In the fireplace, a Holy Candle always burns. I took an entire bag of candles to Mass on Candlemas (Feb. 2nd) to be blessed.


Some of the nandina berries I plucked before the snow and ice came.

I should probably dig out more Valentine's decor. 

I hope you are all well and well-content during these wintry days. Even our Florida blog friends got a shocking blast of cold air!

I am very slow to go around to the blogs, and I apologize. I love to read them and to pray for my bloggie frens, but am still a bit down. 

Kind regards,

Holly, the Olde Dame

31 comments :

  1. It is really good to see a blog post here! That bowl of berries is a perfect touch!! I did not realize that snow was so good for houseplants.
    Glad you are feeling so much better and on the mend.

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    1. Thank you, Anni! Did any of your gators down there get "cold stunned?" Or any of the turtles? When I was down there a few winters back, the turtles had to be pulled out and warmed, poor things.

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    2. Yes, turtles were rescued. I haven't heard anything about the alligators tho.

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  2. so glad to see you post and such lovely pictures too. My grand is being taught to hand stitch in her art class this year. I think that is a very good sign of things. And she loves it
    cathy

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    1. That is wonderful to hear! Now a new generation will be able to hand stitch. A skill for a lifetime!

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  3. I've missed you so much, Holly! I am glad you are back! Such lovely pictures! I love the snow picture as well as the ice on the berries. But your fireplace scene is just lovely! And that bowl of berries is beautiful!! I love your little snowman valentine. So sweet. You are talented to do that. I do not find that kind of work relaxing at all but rather stressful, so I can't do it, but I enjoy what others do and appreciate their talent and patience. I am a "lefty" and find needlework, etc., very awkward so I learned early on to choose other things to do to relax and be creative. Like sit here and write to you. I hope you are feeling well. Thank you for visiting my post. I always enjoy hearing from you. God bless you my friend.

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    1. My son is a lefty! It is very hard to do certain movements with the left in the lead, so to speak. But being a lefty sure doesn't slow you down in making your home beautiful and especially your wonderful Secret Garden. Thank you so much for your comment; I cherish it!

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  4. sorry you are still down a little and hope you get back up soon. the berries with ice are gorgeous as are the ones by your beautiful fireplace. I love the greenery hanging down. keep on doing your needlework, what ever gives you peace and joy you should do

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    1. Thank you! I love dropping by your blog to see your latest "snaps" and funny commentary!

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  5. You are very talented to design your own little snowman cross stitch. It's just lovely and I love your red Nandina berries, so pretty and decorative.

    I also love to keep my hands busy with needle work but lately it's been mostly crocheting and rug hooking.

    I'm sorry you are feeling down and hope that you'll soon feel uplifted. God is always near. Keep on creating your beautiful little works of art.

    Hugs,
    Julia

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    1. Thank you, Julia. Yes, God is always near. As one of my favorite new hymns says, "I am here, standing right beside you!"

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  6. Oh, there's just so many things I love about this post, Holly. Mostly the touches of red around your fireplace. I think your sewing is an art for sure, but a lost art, which not many people do any more unfortunately. My dear Mother was a great seamstress, and sewed many of my clothes growing up. Your Valentine snowman is delightful, and it will be a cute pillow when finished. I'm glad you got a bit of snow, and I did not know that it was good for houseplants and such. And the icicles hanging from the red berries - that is a beautiful photo. The foot of the mountain photo is so pretty also. Your mantel is charming, and the red berry plant really stands out. I've seen the Holy Candles at the Dollar store and have bought them at times. The greenery dangling from your mantel looks really nice too, what a great idea. And Yes, I remember the word "snapshots" well. ; )

    Have a very good February week, Holly. I'm so glad your sewing brings you peace.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you for coming by, Sheri! I always love to see a comment from you, always so thoughtful. The greenery on the mantel is two Hobby Lobby fake garlands that were marked down 90%! Got them 3 years ago and they are holding up well. I just hose them off now and again.

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  7. The picture of the ice on the nandina berries is prize worthy!
    I love your Valentine snowman! Will he be a pattern?
    Your mantle is very festive ;-)

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    1. I am making the little snowman into a chart - that is the hardest part for me, to chart what I have stitched!

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  8. Ah, I feel like I could have written your words on stitching. Did you see you caught a bird in flight? Beautiful!

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    1. I didn't know I had the birdie in the photo until I got home and uploaded it! I think I must have scared Mrs. Birdie!

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  9. This is beautiful, Holly. I enjoyed reading that you have created and designed this Valentine snowman. I also like that you find and save bits and pieces of old scraps to use in your sewing.

    Even YOU got show. Love your beautiful fireplace, too. Glad to see you posting again, too.

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    1. Thank you! As always, I love visiting your blog to see your constant amazing creativity.

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  10. I hope every day you are a little better. That is how I'm coming along and I accept it and do a little more every day. I did two loads of laundry today!
    I think your mantle is quite red enough for St. Valentine. And snow is poor man's fertilizer. How long since I heard that!

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    1. Joanne, you do so much in a day! And after such injuries. Amazing. I love the latest towels on the loom. You have such an eye for color.

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  11. Hope you are getting better. Love your Valentine snowman! I also love Nandina berries. Janice

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    1. Here the birds do not eat them! Back home they would eat them, and the pyracanthas. But here, they just persist on the bushes until summer shrivels them!

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  12. I love your fireplace and mantle.
    Thank you for sharing the desert snow with us. :-)

    Keeping you in my prayers. Be well my garden friend.

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  13. It's so wonderful to see you post again. I hope you are mending and feeling better. You've been on my mind ( and heart).
    I love the nandina berries in the basket and that picture of them with ice hanging down is amazing. You really captured the spirit of winter there.
    I did not know that snow was good for houseplants. My Mother would use melted snow water to wash her hair and mine. She claimed it was good for them and it certainly seemed to leave our hair very soft and manageable.

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  14. Hello Sweet Friend.... I share your despondency of spirit unfortunately and attribute at least some of it to the "blahness" and cold of this time of year. I am willing to share that excuse with you if you like for what little good it does. ❤️ In any event, know you are in my thoughts and prayers. And please never feel guilty about stitching. God gave us that gift to be used...and, for some of us, it is He gives it as a healing gift. What a sad place this would be, indeed, if we did not have the comfort -and beauty- of stitches, hooked loops, papercrafts and the like. That photo of the Nandina berries and ice is just magnificent! (You are fortunate your fur friends don't eat the ones you rescued and brought home...mine would make a beeline for them.) And the photo of the snow on the mountains (not to be confused with the plant LOL) is just so majestic...love the hawk (??) in flight...and how the snowy branches pop from the front of your "snapshot." Hugs & Prayers ~Robin~

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  15. Dear Mary, I love your "busy needle" - and your thoughts about embroidering! And the photo of the iced berries - beautiful!!
    When my son was very small, I started cross stitch - I made a long family tree - with Danish cross stitch thread, and no template, you had to count every single stitch. I made a long calendar for Advent (you can see that on my blog, post 7 December 2016 "A stitch in time", last photo ), and am so happy to see that and a huge canvas with the alphabet now hanging in the room of the triplets.
    Cross stitch was "allowed" - telephone or reading during the time son was small not - evidently the child experienced that my attention for him was less engaged than while reading...
    I did it as a sort of calming therapy too. After two years I stopped as suddenly as I began.

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  16. Dear Dame, how are you? I hope much better. Oh those berries are pretty. I'd never heard that about the snow, I suppose snow near mountains may be cleaner or healthier than city snow. Interesting fact none the less.

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  17. Some people find stitching useless. I have heard “what do I do with it when I am done”. People don’t understand the joy of the process. It isn’t useless or time wasted. It is therapy!

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  18. Just wanted to come over and wish my special blog friend a Happy Valentine's Day! Have a sweet day, Holly.

    ~Sheri

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