Heart, Hounds & Hobbies

Celebrating the Threads of Life: Faith, Fiber Arts, Books, Beagles, and Beyond

  • February Stitches & Pages Check-in

    I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt like February just flew by; still, I am very excited for the signs of spring that I am seeing all around. In March I’ll be setting up my hummingbird station and anxiously awaiting their return while also preparing the property for new growth. February was kind of a stagnant month for me, a lot of that having to do with the weather as well as mental and physical health. Yet March brings with it new beginnings for all God’s creation and children.

    Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from the past month.

    First, Stitching

    My focus project for February was Morning Dog by Joan Elliott. This kit was a gift from my husband for Little Christmas, 2021 in remembrance of our sweet hound dog, Duke, who we said goodbye to just days before Christmas. My goal is to have this piece finished before the end of March, while I think I will still make it, I only managed 7 days of stitching on him in February.

    The next piece I worked on in February was also a kit gifted to me by my husband for Little Christmas, just this year past. It is the Happy Camper kit that I started in January. Another 7 days of stitching, mostly just a few minutes at night before bed, and I managed to score a small FFO for the month. It turned out so cute and was so fun to stitch, that I am making another one for my mom with supplies from my stash. I love the colors I picked out for hers!

    Those two were really the only projects I stitched on in February. We did have a few rainy days, during which I worked on my rainy day project: Summer Landscape. Not enough progress there yet to share. Naturally, I also stitched a little bit on my current quilt block: Winter Star, just a little on drives to medical appointments. (Which is it’s purpose.)

    Next Reading

    Unfortunately, my mental health was not that great in February, and so my two focus books were left untouched. For Secrets of the Chocolate House, I am about half way, and with Dopesick, I am still in the first quarter of the book. I ended up returning to the world of The Others by Anne Bishop, and reread the five book series during the month. This set of five books is my favorite ”escape’ when my brain needs a little break from reality. Similar to rewatching favorite movies, I suppose, this series just gives me another world to live in for awhile. Which is what I needed in February.

    February Highlights

    Like I mentioned, February was kinda a ”meh” month, not a lot of stuff to mention. There were a few highlights though, like cute sleeping dogs, Daisy cuddling with Nathan on the sofa, and a really great breakfast at First Watch after one of the many medical appointments.

    That’s pretty much February in a nutshell. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a blessed Spring!

  • WIP Check In 1/24/22

    Happy Monday. Well January is coming to an end and I feel like I’ve had a very good stitchy month. This month included one SAL finish, one small finish, a small new start, and a returning WIP.

    Animal Almanac

    This was the 2020 year long stitch along from The Frosted Pumpkin Sitchery. For some 2020 will be known as the year of the pandemic, for me 2020 & 2021 will always be the year of my cancer/infertility diagnosis and treatment. Thus, Animal Almanac will always mark this stage of my life. Although I did work on other projects, this one pretty much stayed on the frame all the time. When I finally finished it I was so happy because I am also coming to the end of my cancer/infertility journey. I still don’t know how I am going to fully finish this piece, but I know I’d like to do something interesting and unique.

    Spring Flowers

    I recently discovered The Stitch Patterns on Etsy.com and fell in love with the mini art patterns. The first one I kitted up and started was Spring Flowers. Typically, I like to have a steady rotation of smalls that I work on over a weekend or at night sitting up in bed. So many of their patterns fit my criteria for great smalls, that I immediately grabbed the lifetime membership. There definitely will be a steady rotation of smalls for the foreseeable future. This piece took 13 days of bedtime stitching to finish up, my plan is to make my own mini art gallery, I just don’t know where I’ll put it yet.

    Happy Camper

    This weekend I started on a small kit my husband had put in my Christmas stocking, a cute Happy Camper Flag. I managed to get pretty far along, I’ll finish this one up during my bedtime stitching this week.

    Morning Dog

    Next up on my focus list for the first quarter of 2022 is Morning Dog. This piece is challenging because there are a lot of fractional stitches on Aida fabric which can be tough, however I think the backstitching on this piece is going to be both the best and worst part of it.

    Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

  • Daily Devotional 1/11/22

    Verse of the Day

    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” John 16:33

    Read or listen to today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread titled: Escape Or Peace?.

    Reflection

    The word escape often makes me think of a relaxing vacation, getting lost in a good book, or just a nice weekend with husband to “escape” from the stresses of the daily life. At another time in my life, escaping meant turning to drugs, alcohol, and at one time, suicidal ideation, to “escape” things I had done or that were done to me. Both kinds of escaping, though one is healthier than the other, are and were fleeting, temporary, and the latter, harmful.

    Eventually, the vacation ends, the book closes, Monday arrives, and drugs or alcohol only bring more problems and dangers. There is no true way to escape the darkness of a fallen world. What I can escape from is eternal darkness. Through my faith in Christ I can escape the perils of a sinful life and eternal darkness. I can escape temptation and sin by calling on the Holy Spirit. I can escape regret and shame by knowing my Father in heaven loves me. I can escape from anything, into the arms of my savior.


    Share your thoughts & reflections in the comments.

  • Daily Devotional 1/10/22

    Verse of the Day

    “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

    Read or listen to today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread titled: Etch A Sketch Forgiveness.

    Reflection

    God’s judgement is absolute. No one can live up to His judgement, save the Son, Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that God the Father can forgive me of my sins. When the Father looks upon my life, He no longer sees my sin and wrong doing. Instead, He sees a blanket of blood covering my life, given by His Son for the forgiveness of my sins. Christ’s blood covers me & my life, so that I may enter the kingdom of God, despite my sinful nature. Although I can never live up to the righteousness of God, in thanks for the gift Christ gave, I strive to live a life further away from sin and closer to the kingdom of God.


    Share your thoughts & reflections in the comments.

  • WIP Check In 1/8/22

    Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a better start to 2022 than myself. I’ve been sick for quite some time and it has really thrown things off, so I barely know what day it is, let alone what I need/want to get done. Somehow I did manage a little bit of stitching, a little bit of housework, and a little bit of WIP organization.

    Let’s start with my start of the year list. (I haven’t gotten use to the BNS planner yet, so I went back to my ZinniaPlanner to get started.)

    It appears that I am entering 2022 with a total of 18 WIPs. Technically it is 17 WIPs and 1 new start, because Maple Lane is already kitted up and ready to be started. Also included in the list is Fabulous Women in History, but I’m still not sure if I will continue that one or abandon it, so I left it on the list for now. I am also including my smalls on the list; these are typically no bigger than 4” x 4” projects that I work on in between big projects, over a weekend, and/or when I’m sitting up in bed. Currently, I’ve started on some mini-art patterns from The Stitch Patterns on Etsy.

    Sick in bed with Criminal Minds & Spring Flowers.

    In addition to getting my stitching lists and plans figured out, I also got my WIPs organized, physically. For my less frequently rotated projects I got the clear zipper pouches off of Amazon and made tags using card stock and a label punch from the craft store. The WIPs I am more actively working on are in my BitzyBobs from That’s So Kelly.

    Now that I’m all organized my stitchy bug has returned with exuberance, unfortunately I am still too sick to focus on stitching for a long period of time. I actually fell asleep stitching the other day. But I did make some progress on Animal Almanac.

    Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

  • Daily Devotional 1/3/22

    Verse of the Day

    “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” Psalm 145:8

    Read or listen to today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread titled: When Love Never Ends.

    Reflection

    The first step in being able to make & prioritize time for others, is to make time for the Lord. He is always available when I need Him, but do I make it a priority to spend time with Hime when I’m not in need? I set aside time in my day for so many things, but do I set aside time to just be with the Lord; meditate on His word: worship? A good start is my daily devotional time. May it lead to increasingly more time spent with and made available to the Lord, so that I can truly extend that to others.


    Share your thoughts & reflections in the comments.

  • Daily Devotional 12/30/21

    Verse of the Day

    “[Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” Proverbs 3:18

    Read or listen to today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread titled: Better Than Gold.

    Reflection

    It’s so easy, especially in today’s culture, to define success by material and monetary standards. The desire for financial security, for today and the future, is probably the worry that occupies my mind the most. The truth is no one knows what the future holds, except the Father. Rather than worry about temporary monetary concerns, I should spend that energy seeking the Lord. Trusting He will take care of all my needs, as He has done so many times before.


    Share your thoughts & reflections in the comments.

  • Daily Devotional 12/29/21

    Verse of the Day

    “…The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed…” Revelation 5:5

    Read or listen to today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread titled: Lion, Lamb, Savior.

    Reflection: What is your favorite name for Jesus?

    My favorite name for Jesus is the Good Shepherd. In my early adult years, I followed many false shepherds and wandered away from Christ’s flock, tempted by wolves in sheep’s clothing. I am eternally grateful that my true shepherd, the Good Shepherd, sought me out and led me back into the fold.


    Share your thoughts & reflections in the comments.

  • Daily Devotional 12/28/21

    Verse of the Day

    “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear.” Jude 1:22-23

    Read or listen to today’s devotional from Our Daily Bread titled: Great Wisdom.

    Reflection

    I am one who often speaks before thinking. My tongue can be quick and bitter. It is vital, to me, that my words, responses, and actions, reflect who I am in Christ and not my human nature. There will always be those times when my human nature seeps out, but I have no chance of holding it in check on my own. Therefore, I must seek the Holy Spirit to curb my tongue and give me words of love and mercy.


    Share your thoughts & reflections in the comments.