Checking In

Just checking in. A few people have asked how I've been. I've been dealing with major depression since my last post. I wish I could say that I'm doing better, but I'm still in a place I can't describe. A place of silence - a place where I have to struggle for words.

This has been quite a year. It seems that it just won't settle down. 

So much has happened - some of it you all know about because we are all living it.

Some of the other happenings in 2020 --

An elderly couple was shot at the Veteran's Cemetery which is just separated from our neighborhood by a wooded area. The shooter hid in that area resulting in a lockdown of our neighborhood and a very long gun battle with police. Which we could hear from our house. Such a sad, surreal day.

Back in August we had very unusual weather for Delaware as a result of tropical storm Isaias. Three tornados, one that did a lot of damage in our neighborhood. It came through our back yard and across our deck. I know this because I was so stunned at what I was seeing that I watched it until debris started hitting the house. Sadly, just two doors down, they lost their roof and the back part of their house. So many homes uninhabitable in our neighborhood and I believe they said over 200 trees down, a lot of big, beautiful pine trees. We were extremely fortunate, just some minor damage to our siding.

But without question, the worst thing this year has been finding out that my father is sick. He probably doesn't have more than a year left in his life. My father and I have always had a complicated relationship - one that has gotten better over the years, but I feel like this has just about done me in. I have cried so many tears. It is such a sad thing for me and a frustrating thing in that he won't follow any of the instructions from his doctors.

I find myself wondering what will be next but at the same time trying to live in the present - focusing on finding the good.

I've visited blogs and read blogs now I just need to find the words to leave a comment. Working on it.

Hope you all are well and finding ways to get through this time. Take care.

Just want to add - I'm not sure what is going on with Blogger. My post keeps disappearing and then reappearing. 

Life

Life has changed as it does and I'm still trying to find my way - even after almost six months now. I just don't have the interest or energy to compose blog posts. That may change but until then I'm so glad that many of you are on Instagram. I would like to try and begin visiting blogs again - I miss seeing what everyone is up to.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit. And if you are so inclined you can find me on Instagram

Welcome November

Several weeks in...

World's slowest stitcher award goes to me. Maybe I just lost my enthusiasm for these little designs somewhere along the way. And I know - a little out of season now that we are in November. 🙂

I chose four of the five designs from Plum Street Sampler's Stranded Jacks.

I've seen quite a few people stitching Friends of the Hart also by Plum Street Samplers. Fall colors are some of my favorites, and I think this piece has some of those lovely, vibrant colors in it. And of course, that cute squirrel and fox.

I'm trying to decide between 36ct PTP Sand or 36ct PTP Wren. You really can't see much difference in the two linens in this picture, but I'm leaning toward Sand.

I came across this frame while out with my daughter and would love to find something to stitch that would fit it. I think it is a pretty frame, but I would probably (maybe) change the color.

✹✹✹✹✹✹✹✹

Stepping back in time a few weeks I celebrated another birthday. This one wasn't a difficult one because for some reason I thought I was fifty-seven all year - so you know, I was kind of used to it. 🙂

The birthday plate held a slice of delicious cheesecake, and my husband knows I expect a sunflower - no matter the occasion - my favorite flower. ❤️

The day we celebrated was a beautiful, warm day - to start. We drove to dinner in a raging thunderstorm, and the next day it was winter.

And now there is snow in our forecast this week - approximately a month earlier than we usually see it. I'm not ready for it.

Finally, thank you, those of you who read and comment and to those of you who just read. It's nice to have you stop by. And for those who have inquired about my hearing - thank you! Nothing new to report on it and there are just too many other things going on right now to pursue it any further.

Take care, and I hope to see you soon.

Mary Applewhite 1855

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came-

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.🍁🍂🍁

- George Cooper

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Mary Applewhite 1855

Gigi R 

B Is For Books / Bingo and Blackbird Designs

It was an excellent summer for reading. And not difficult to complete my bingo card - it was fun to play along just to play along - thank you, Mary. 🙂

Five Stars
Only Child
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Light of the World
The Bean Trees
Plainsong
The Sun Does Shine
Shutter Island
A Prayer for Owen Meany

Four Stars
The Woman in the Window
The Cruelest Month
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Color of Bee Larkham's Murder
Black Water Rising
Station Eleven
Rosemary Remembered
The Night Circus
Good Omens
Kindred

Three Stars
Gray Mountain
Autumn
Iron House
The Essex Serpent

Only a couple of two-star books - pretty good.

❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎❇︎

From Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day - Darling Buds Of May by Blackbird Designs.

I want to thank everyone who visits my blog - whether you read and comment or as the majority of you do - just read - you are all very much appreciated!!! And welcome to my new followers!

Worry

This summer has been a bit of a rough one for my family and me. About a month ago, I lost the hearing in my right ear. Not gradually (I don't think) but suddenly and completely. Still trying to get to the bottom of this little mystery as well as my continuing blood sugar problems. I've spent a lot of time in freezing waiting rooms and too much time worrying. Intellectually, I know that doesn't solve anything but why is it such a hard habit to break?

So, this week I've been making a concentrated effort to get my body back into some of my old routines in hopes of breaking this habit of worry or at least whittling away at it a bit. I'm really not supposed to go out on my own, but I've so missed my walks. And I decided it is just too beautiful outside and summer is slipping away so quickly that I can't not take my old body out into the morning (minus the singing). 🙂

Hope all is well in your world!

Knitting / Reading

First, thank you, Jo, for sharing the fix for receiving comments! Yay! I felt a little discombobulated, especially when receiving comments on older posts.

What can I say about this bit of knitting?

It's bigger than it looks.

It's gotten me over most of my fears about knitting (just about all of the things I fear most that can happen while knitting - including having your cat take off with your yarn somehow caught around his leg - have happened and I managed to figure them out).

It broke my frustration meter (that third lace panel - what happened?! Mind you it is the same lace panel I knit twice before with no problems. I had to take out a few rows - very tedious - and not fun at all!!) Everything is fixed now, thankfully!

I've come a long way. Once upon a time, I would have ripped the whole thing out and moved on. There was no way I was going to do that! I took this with me on my trip with my daughter, and there are a lot of good memories knit up in it. And a lot of time invested in it.

Shouldn't take much longer, although I've thought that before. Because I want to start this.  I wish you could reach through the screen and feel the yarn (if that's your thing).  🙂

I've been making myself wait. Why??!!

Just need to make sure Bernie has gone nighty-night first because he is fascinated by the yarn swift.

Reading has been slow.

This wasn't quite the haunting tale I had hoped for. Still not a bad story. It filled the "That you want to read because of the cover" box for book bingo.

But this was just what I hoped it would be. Lots of laughs. I wonder about the minds of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. 🙂 And it filled the "With more than one author listed on the cover" box.

I'm looking forward to getting away to the beach (or since we go to Ocean City, NJ, I suppose I should say the shore) this weekend. I'm feeling in need of a long walk with the sound of the seagulls and crashing waves for company. Hope you all have something fun/relaxing planned for the weekend!