~ Where am I? ~

Hello Friends & Folk ~
...and a happy Wednesday to us all...

so, the title of this post is 'where am I?'
and truthfully ~ I'm not sure.

I'm here, but not really.
I am in-between this and that it seems...

the 'this' is,
my mom has come to the final stage of her life.
Hospice has informed us that she does not have many more days left ~
I went up to CT see her last month, and she hardly recognized me, or spoke to me.
...'that' completely broke my heart, and has left me empty with questions
about living, dying and the 'in-between'.

While I was there with her, I told her repeatedly how much I love her,
held her tiny hand and cried softly at her side...
I don't know how much she heard or understood, but I feel as though even with dementia,
our hearts recognize each other and will for eternity.

I want to be at her bedside, but I am having a very hard time with seeing her like she is in her condition.
I am in a strange limbo of prayers, memories and requests of a quick and peaceful passing,
and I feel bad for even thinking like that.

I'm torn between getting in the car this very minute and driving 8 hrs without a stop to see her one more time, but I am also having to live my life and be where I am needed here at home.

she cannot answer her phone any longer, 

nor can she hear us if someone holds the phone for her so there is literally no communication there.

I literally jump every time the phone rings, hoping it is, and that it is not... 'The call".

I feel like a terrible person for hoping that mom's transition comes quickly for her,
but then I think that all of her pain will end...
...that she will be with her family that passed on before her.
that she will be at peace.

I'm hoping that my readers will not think of me as a terrible human for the feelings I have.
I am already mourning the loss of her, and I'm sure that many of you who have lost their mothers
felt the same way.

I'm doing my best to keep my hands and mind busy,
but my heart is just not into doing much of anything at this time.

I am forever grateful to my Friends who understand this time in my life...

I feel like an unfinished work,
with loose ends and new starts but not-quite ready to be worked more upon.

thank you for listening....

Blessings from the Farm
~ Lori

~ November came ~

 

 

 

Hello Friends & Folk ~
...and a happy November Friday to us all...

ah November.

“November comes, and November goes. With the last red berries and the first white snows.”
- Clyde Watson

“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.”
- Sarah Addison Allen

the way the light now slants, and how time has both pushed us back and forward at the same time.
clocks spinning backwards, mornings coming earlier...

November is actually my (2nd) favorite month, with it's predecessor being my favorite.
I love the chill in the evening air and the promise of stitching by our piping woodstoves 

while wearing soft, thick socks.

November to me, means:
celebrating my beloved's birthday,

gathering family closer for the Thanksgiving Holiday &

preparing for Christmas and New Year.

...a busy end to a busy year but this month still holds promises of slowing sown & reflection.

I hope your November brings your heart peace & plenty.

In the News:

I've released another one of my cross stitch 'littles',

this one is called "Cookie Klaus" and I think I love her the most.
{she is actually Little Nick's wife, but there are other member's in the Klaus-family,
{such as good old Cinder Klaus hanging out in his red stocking.}

 

 

 

 here is a collage of all of the 'littles' that are now available in my Etsy shop...
top row, left to right are:
Little Nick, Cookie Klaus, Cinder Klaus

middle row, left to right:
Robin Birdwell, Parade Sam & Carrot Top
bottom row, left to right:
Lucky O'Greene, Bees Knees and Witch Hazel

 

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

 

and ~
We are getting ready for our Christmas Open House & Preregistered Stitch In
here at the shop/studio on Saturday December 7th 2024 from 10-4:00

 

please note: the Stitch In IS FULL....
{there is a cancellation list filling up as well} and if any seats become available,

 the folks at the very top of the cancellation list will be contacted first.

we really do try our best to make everyone happy at our events...
it's impossible for us offer  'drop in' stitchers a seat if you have not been registered.
and we thank you for understanding that.

 

see you soon!

Blessings from the Farm
~ Lori

~ Oh October ~

 

 

 

Good Morning Friends & Folk ~
Happy Tuesday to us all!

October is my favorite month....
~ but October came too quickly for me this year, and is zooming away!

our Halloween Open House & Stitch In was wonderful,
thanks to those who came, shopped and helped us!

but I need to slow down a bit now {before December's open house & stitch-in}
and at least try to relax a bit.

I'm stressed.
we are all stressed.

I'm trying to make time again to walk with my beloved in the woods and field,
and hunt for turkey feathers and mushrooms.

I want to bake again, ~ something wholesome and good...
I've been without an oven for quite a few weeks,
{due to wrong mechanical parts coming in, that were ordered incorrectly
for a brand new stove we purchased only months ago.}

Our Shop here at the farm will be CLOSED this coming Saturday October 12th.

I have to travel this week back up to CT to visit my mom in hospice,
a trip that I dread, but will eternally regret if I fail to have the strength to go...
~ due to being scared of what might be the last time I see her.

my bones ache, my heart hurts, and my brain is beyond tired.

kindly keep me in your thoughts,
Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Been a Minute ~

Hey there hi there ~
and a very happy first day of Autumn to us all....

 

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

~ if you have been a long-time follower, you know that I'm an autumn girl.
If you're new here, now you know!

my soul is filled with vines and berries, turkey feathers and mushrooms...
my veins liken to those found on ancient oak leaves,
and I crave walks in the cool, deep woods and weathered fields this time of year.
my ears are tuned to the owls' hoot and the scents of fall 

fill my lungs with an earthy-spice like no other.

 

 ...you can love your springs and summers ~
i'll humbly take the remains of those seasons and slip into a sweater and my old boots

and crunch my way along paths of crispy leaves and stinging frost.

gathering chosen treasures while harvesting sassafras roots
to make syrups for cold-weather coughs and colds...

...the foliage of our sassafras this year is gorgeous.

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

if you're a follower of mine on FB or IG
then surely you have read about the design in the photos below...

'Farmhouse Sweet Farmhouse'

..i'm charting it now.

((( like, right now... I actually stopped for a moment to give my eyes a break
and thought I would post here since I haven't since September 2nd. )))

since designing it and stitching it
(many moons ago, 2003)
and never having charted it, it is a bit of work
~ due to the staining I did to it when I finished stitching it...

thread colors are now hard to make out with older eyes,
plus the staining has darkened even more with age.
and even the bright white aida cloth that I stitched it on has mellowed into a yellow-ish hue.

I'm happy to be sharing this with my followers and friends.
the time just seemed right for it to be shared with those who have requested a pattern for it long ago,
and I love knowing that a fragment of my homespun memories of this old farm
will also warm your homes...

I'm hoping to have it charted and uploaded into the Etsy shop this evening
{fingers and eyeballs crossed}
if not tonight ~ tomorrow for sure.

enjoy your first day of autumn 2024.
walk in the woods, parks, fields or wherever you can outside.

breathe in this new season and exhale the stale past....
🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

 

Blessings from the Farm ~

 Lori

~ hooking for sanity ~

 

 Hello there ~

my helpers are here in the office with me this morning:
Ladybug & Grizzly.

 {look at lady's tongue lol}
Lady will be heading back home soon to see her mom {Hannah}
and brother, Willie ~
who again, is holding his own like the tiny trooper he has always been!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
the pull of the wool has been hitting me hard lately~
I guess the 'ber' months have always been good hooking months for me,
so since it's September......

I started this santa rug a few years ago...
and really do need to finish it now.
{ya think?}
problem is, I can't find the rest of the black background wool that I was using.
oh well., I'll use another....

this one is being worked on sporadically between other projects,

but I can see the finish line since outlining all of my motifs ~
not long before I'll be binding it...

I decided to create a hooking spot in the studio, that will be semi-permanent.
{it will 'disappear' during events & classes}
but I am thoroughly enjoying keeping the wool dust out of my old farmhouse!

those tied bundle that you see on my worktable are from
Diane at Wool-n-Wares on Ebay...
I carry them here in the shop and let me tell you they are PERFECT for anyone wanting to begin a stash or add to your stash-building repertoire
here is her shop link:
https://www.ebay.com/str/woolnwares

~my happy place ~

I wanted to thank all of you for your last comments on my previous post
regarding care-giving, & elder-care and nursing homes.
It's sad to know how many are effected, but knowing we're not alone helps.
 

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori