The highs and lows of June

The second day of the second half of 2024... How did that happen? It seems as if just yesterday I was putting away my Christmas decorations. July, here in the United States, is filled with flags, fireworks, family, fabulous foods, and fun all celebrating the most important thing: freedom! I know my July is going to be very busy with three trips down to the Washington, DC area to help care for my grandson for a few days (first time he'll be away from mommy and daddy overnight--wish me luck!), celebrating three family birthdays, and helping out with my grandson as my oldest son recovers from surgery at the end of the month. Busy, busy, busy... I doubt there will be much stitching done this month, but that's okay. The family memories we'll make together are much more important. 

I did manage to get two new things finished up in June. I have a brand new patriotic piece called "Americana Sampler" (by Plum Pudding NeedleArt). This pretty chart was given to me by my Instagram friend, Trinka, last year. It is stitched on 40 ct. woodland brown Newcastle using the suggested colors except for the green and red which I changed to  GAST "Schoolhouse Red" and Classic Colorworks "Pine Needle."

"Americana Sampler" by Plum Pudding NeedleArt

I went back and forth on how to finish this piece, but eventually decided on simply framing it. I did add a trio of red, white, and blue star buttons to the very top. The frame was one I had purchased from Goodwill years ago and I thought the vintage look of it meshed well with the old-timey look of the woman's garb.

A wonderful new addition to my patriotic decor

Below is a closer look at the pretty detailing on the frame...

I especially love the red, white, and blue bunting!

Of course, my other finish is my latest Christmas ornament for the month of June for the #12in24ornamentstitchalong that I host over on Instagram. Isn't it a cutie? This is "Santa, Please Bring Me" by Homespun Elegance. I purchased the chart way back in 2008 when it was first released, but, for some reason, hadn't yet stitched it. I struggled stitching this on 28 ct. country mocha Cashel linen with two threads. I just hate stitching with more than one thread, but in this case, the scissors charm would have been too large if I had stitched him on my normal 40 ct. linen. Santa's beard and the trim on his coat were supposed to be done with Rainbow Gallery Wisper  thread for a fluffy appearance. But I just didn't want to struggle with it (stitching is supposed to be relaxing after all!) or purchase it. I substituted good old ecru DMC for the beard and DMC 3862 for the trim on the coat and think it looks just fine. I also changed the color of his bag to DMC 844 and added little red berries to the tree. The bottom border was changed to a simple green (WDW Blue Spruce) and ecru.

"Santa, Please Bring Me" by Homespun Elegance

 

I finished this Santa into a simple pillow with handmade cording and two tiny spools of DMC 221 attached on the ends. The scissor's charm came with the chart and I added a wee gold star to the top of the tree. I also omitted the date as I don't like to date my ornaments. What do you think? I think that the very last item on Santa's list is something we could all use more of, don't you? Even though I'm retired now, there still don't seem to be enough hours in the day to stitch as much (and as many!) things as I'd like. How about you?

I'll take everything on this Christmas list, please!

Giveaway time... I always like to pass on charts that have been given to me, so how about a little giveaway? Would you like to stitch the Americana Sampler by Plum Pudding NeedleArt? This is a pdf chart (already printed off) that I will send to one lucky winner who follows the guidelines below: 

If you would like to win the giveaway for this chart, please follow the guidelines below:

To be included in the drawing for the Plum Pudding NeedleArt chart shown above, please...

1) Specifically mention that you would like to win it in your comment 

2) Be a follower of Stitching Dreams (in my blog's sidebar on the right)

3) Make sure to leave your email address in your comment if I don't already have it

4) Answer the "Getting to Know You" question below.

Getting to know you...  For this month's "Getting to Know You" question, I'd love to know where you purchase your cross stitch materials. Are you one of those lucky ones who has a convenient local needlework shop? Or are you like me--you live in a barren desert when it comes to cross stitch shops. Sadly, I have to order everything from charts to threads to fabric online. It's especially hard to determine exact fabric and floss colors by viewing them on a computer screen, isn't it? I usually purchase my things through 123 Stitch or from various Etsy shops. In the good old days, there used to be at least three cross stitch shops nearby, but now the nearest one is almost 1 1/2 hours driving distance. I hope all of you who have access to a local shop know just how lucky you are! Let me know what your cross stitch buying options are... I'll post the winner of the "Americana Sampler" chart next time I blog, so stay tuned. However, if you're really in a hurry to stitch this sweet sampler, there is a sale on it on Etsy right here!

One of the best parts of summer for me is the wonderful fresh fruits that are in season. We ended up with a huge amount of peaches from The Peach Truck this year. The fruit in the first delivery (three weeks ago) wasn't up to their standards, so they promised to give everyone who ordered a free second box of peaches--in other words, 25 pounds for the price of 12! Here they are ripening in my sunroom and just waiting to be made into some delectable breads, desserts, and of course, just eaten plain. I've already made one batch of my favorite peach cobbler recipe and I know more are in my future. I posted this link before, but for any new readers, here is where to find Iva's Peach Cobbler recipe. YUM!

Our entire sunroom smelled like fresh peaches!

And then there are the blueberries. Our bushes have been producing a bumper crop this year. Unfortunately, the berries that weren't fully under netting were quickly devoured by the birds. We went to my son's community garden two weeks ago and picked even more! They're so easy to freeze and use all winter long. I quickly whipped up a new-to-me recipe for Blueberry Pie Bars from Sally's Baking Addiction. Will definitely be making them again (although I may use less lemon as my husband thought it was a bit much). 

Blueberry Pie Bars with freshly picked blueberries

An unwanted visitor... Unfortunately, when I went blueberry picking at my son's community garden, I picked up a very unwelcome hitchhiker! A few days later, I felt a little bump on my left ankle and looked down thinking it was some sort of growth. When my husband looked at it closer... sure enough, it was a teeny, tiny, tick--and it was attached to my skin, sucking my blood. UGH! Ticks have become a huge problem in the northeast and upper midwest here in the U.S.--especially the blacklegged (Ixodes) deer tick--the carriers of Lyme disease. Pennsylvania has been deemed one of 16 "high incidence states" by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) here in the U.S.  For those of you not familiar with Lyme, it can be truly debilitating if not treated in one of the earlier stages. 

The deer tick embedded in my ankle and after being removed. It was only the size of a poppyseed, but can carry Lyme Disease which brings terrible effects if not treated early.

My husband (who also just found a tick on his own leg this morning!) was able to remove it fully with sharp tweezers and we sent it away to a lab for analysis. The results came back positive--the tick was carrying the bacteria that transmits Lyme disease. Even though my tick was just a nymph, I learned that nymphs and female ticks have the highest likelihood of transmitting the disease. After contacting my doctor, I was put on doxycycline for ten days as a preventative measure and it seems to be working... I've been on it for five days and have had no signs of Lyme disease so far--phew! Just a reminder to all who live in deer tick infested areas--check yourselves (and your pets) very, very carefully after being on the grass, in the garden, or hiking through forests. To read about removing ticks, click here. To read more about Lyme disease itself, click here. Sadly, this has made me a bit afraid to even venture out into our yard or garden. Not an experience I want to repeat...  Do you have deer ticks in your area? 

I'll leave you with something just "a little bit" cuter than that horrible tick... This sweet bunny was  sitting by the sidewalk peeking out at us through the tall grass when we visited my middle son's apartment on Father's Day. Such a sweet little face!

Peek-a-boo!

Hope July is good to each of you! Do you have any fun plans with friends or family? A special trip or vacation, perhaps? Wishing all of my U.S. friends who are on the road or in the air for the 4th of July, safe travels! Thank you, as always, for visiting me today. I do appreciate each one of you (and your sweet comments and emails) so very much! Bye for now...

Happy 4th of July!