Merry Christmas everyone!

It is almost here and I can't believe it.....are you ready???? Only about 5 more days and counting and Santa will come to our houses, that is, if we have been good! I have sure tried to be this year, hope I have, anyway, I am praying! Hope you have too!!!! lol I am going to tell you what I would like for Christmas....is that ok? Then you can write back if you like and let me know what you would like too! I really can't think of anything I want for Christmas in the way of possessions. I know that if I had a wish, it would be to have my bills paid off so that I could be able to do more for others. I would like my children to all be happy and at peace with the Lord and themselves. Some are, some aren't right now. My prayer is that next year too, will be so much better for everyone than it was this past year.

Have you finished all your shopping? We finally have!! Thank goodness! The malls haven't been as crowded as the usually are around here. I have been surprised. Everything has been on sale too! That is a good thing for everyone. Our grandchildren are soooo excited. (We are too)! I just love this time of year, don't you? We have already had snow too...almost 5 inches! I hope it isn't going to be another year like last year! WOW....this time last year we had over a foot of snow. I had major cabin fever....

I have been cooking, have you? So far I have baked lots of different cookies and fudge. I wanted to give you a fudge recipe. It was my sister-in-laws. It makes 5 pounds of the most wonderful fudge and it is sooooo easy. You will LOVE this fudge!! PROMISE! So here goes....

CHOCOLATE FUDGE

5 CUPS SUGAR

2 STICKS BUTTER OR MARGARINE

1 CAN CARNATION CONDENSED MILK

Cook above until it comes to a rapid boil, stirring all the time, then cut down heat and boil 8 minutes more. Take off the heat.....add one (1) jar marshmallow cream, three (3) small packages nestles chocolate chips and one (1) lbs. cut up pecans (optional). Stir til mixed up and pour into butter greased 12 x 16 pan. Makes 5 pounds.

Merry Christmas to all and God Bless You,

Nancy

Hi!! I am so excited about this time of year! Even though all my children are grown and I still am feeling that empty nest syndrome --which I don't think I will ever get over --- I LOVE this time of year with all the excitement! Especially the MUSIC! I love it when they start playing Christmas music. Doesn't it just put you in the mood and take you right back to your childhood. I remember growing up when it seemed there was a Santa Clause on every corner in our downtown. Now we don't shop in downtown any longer...just shopping malls and it doesn't seem as exciting as walking the streets of the city with all the lights where the Santa's were ringing big bells and in the BIG stores children were lined up just waiting to sit on his lap. Of course, that isn't the real reason we are to celebrate Christmas because it is Jesus Birthday. Even though this "Free Chart" I have done for you does have a Santa Clause on it....please remember the true meaning of what this season is all about and what we are truly celebrating....the Birth of our Lord. Without Him we wouldn't be able to give those wonderful presents to our loved ones and friends or have any wonderful things. So as the season approaches, I hope you will take time to step back and not get caught up so much this year in what you can spend on each other but more in what you can give from you heart. Those things that are truly remembered. For memories are really one of the only things we can call our own.

Be Blessed as Always,

Nancy

Hi,

Is everybody getting ready for Thanksgiving! Well, I know everyone isn't because lots of you aren't from America but if you are...then you are thinking about what you are going to do for dinner in the next couple of weeks and who you will be eating with and where and what and all that good stuff! Trying to please everyone is a chore sometimes especially in this day with blending families. I know we have that in our household. Not that it is a problem but it is just trying to arrange the dinner(s) so that it doesn't interfere with everyone else's dinner(s) and especially since the children are grown and all have their own families and such. WOW...is that enough to make you tired without even cooking and cleaning...just thinking about it!!! lol We have 5 children...my husband had 2 when we got married and I had 3 so we are blending!!! Now we have 6 grandchildren.... WE LOVE them all and they are all wonderful! We have a house full here and I absolutely am in heaven when they are all here....I wouldn't have it any other way! I only wish they would stay longer when they are here. I get soooo excited before they get here I can hardly stand myself. Is that silly or what and they all live in town and I see them all the time! You would think they had come from far away. I just love it when they are all here. I think I still have empty nest syndrome to tell you the truth. I tell my husband that all the time. There is nothing like having children around....big or small to keep you alive! Anyway, I LOVE this time of year...it just seems to bring life back into people, don't you think? I hope you are taking this time of year to really think about all the wonderful things you DO have to be thankful for....we are SOOOO blessed! You know, regardless of how bad things are in our lives sometimes....if we look around, there is always someone that has it worse and we can be thankful that we are who we are and where we are and that the Lord has given us what we have. Because things could be worse for us. The most important thing in this life is family....love yours today.

I have a little sampler for Thanksgiving to give you called "Give Thanks"....hope you enjoy! Governor Bradford celebrated the first harvest in 1621 -the first Thanksgiving for the Pilgrims. Please add your own initials anywhere you please.

Be blessed as always and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

God Bless You Always,

Nancy

Hi!

Hope everyone is doing well!! I cannot believe it is already November...only 51 days til Christmas!!! WOW....have you started your shopping. Some of you are probably so organized that you are already through. I have bought ONE present. I guess that means I have begun....hehe I have a LONG way to go with 5 children and 6 grandchildren and their spouses and such! On me...it will get done because I LOVE this time of year. But not because of all the presents but because of who's birthday we are celebrating!! Our Lords. With all the hustle and bustle it is so easy to get busy cooking, cleaning, decorating and doing all the really fun things and not so fun things around this time of year but still forget from Thanksgiving til Christmas what we are really supposed to be grateful for. Not only our great Nation and all we have here...even though we are going through a hard time right now...somehow, with the Lord's help, our Nation will overcome. We need we get on our knees and thank the Lord for what we do have! Just look around...you will see. It isn't that far away from you. Blessings are everywhere....you just have to open your eyes and see them.

Here is a Free Chart for you....."Good Tidings Mini Christmas Sampler". I hope you enjoy it. I will have more later...Do come back soon.

Be blessed,

Nancy

Hi!

Hope you are enjoying this wonderful weather....boy we can tell fall is just around the corner! Doesn't time fly....it was just getting to be summer and now we need to start Christmas shopping. WOW!!! I love this time of year! Around here we have sooo many trees and they turn the most gorgeous colors...they are wonderful! We live close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and it is heavenly to ride on and look at each year! Every year too, there is soo much going on with apple butter making and so many craft festivals around! It is so much fun. Really puts you in the mood for fall too! The only thing I don't like is having to put on heavier clothes...yuk! I still like my sandals and capris....wish I could wear them all year long! Oh well, guess you can't have it all, can you! hehe

Here is another little chart for you...enjoy! Just something for fall! Hope you have a great rest of your September....

Blessings to you as always,

Nancy

Hi Everybody!

Well, summer is almost over...wow!! I just absolutely cannot believe it! School is back in most places and all the children are happy...aren't they??? At least some of them are for right now with their new backpacks, notebooks, pens and such! But that usually doesn't last very long....then comes the boring homework and the running them here and there and to bed early and on and on!! Ours are all grown now but doesn't seem all that long ago that I was in that routine and running around like a chicken with my head cut off!! I miss those days.....VERY MUCH!! Now I just run around like a chicken with my head cut off for other reasons....like---LIFE in general. Because there is, it seems, always something, as my Mother used to say, something in life to keep you busy! Now we have grandchildren and the children which are grown that are all living around us and....well life just keeps on happening and going and going and going.

I read something the other day on a Church billboard that really struck my heart and I have thought about it a lot ....it was: Life has a LOT of choices, Eternity has TWO! I know I have made soo many choices in life, some good, some bad. Haven't we all. But the one choice we all need to make is the one for Eternity with the Lord. This is the one that probably concerns every parent and grandparent also for their children , that they will make that decision. Psalms 127:3 says Children are an heritage of the Lord. Mark 10:14 says Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. I know how much the Lord loves our children and grandchildren. You are blessed if you have a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, brother, sister. Love them...cherish them.....have fun with them....enjoy them....tell them about Jesus. Treat them as Jesus would treat them.... you will be blessed also.

I have designed this little Sampler called: School Days....make it up as a sampler or pinkeep. I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful day!

Blessings always, Nancy

Hi everyone.....

How is your summer going? Hope by now you have all been on your vacation and had a great time! Has it ever been hot around here! Probably in your neck of the woods too!

I have been listing new cross stitch charts and punchneedle patterns in the Ebay store today....there are just more and more beautiful designs coming all the time! It always amazes me! The Lord has given us all a talent and I hope you are using yours. Each of us is so special in His eyes. I have designed another free sampler for you. This one is called "Faith Comes By Hearing". It is taken from the Bible Scripture Romans 10:17 -faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. I do hope you will enjoy stitching it and meditate on the Word as you are stitching it as to what Faith means. Please change the color of floss to whatever color you prefer and if you want to use a different fabric.....linen or other size aida cloth, please do so. This is for you to enjoy!

God Bless You Always,

Nancy

Hi!

Hope you all are having a fabulous 4th of July!! Half the year is over and it doesn't seem possible....it will be Christmas before you know it again. Summer is just flying by. We went to a wonderful state park yesterday with our children and grandchildren for a picnic and had the best time. Of course, I forgot to take the camera and so did everyone else! I hate that sooo bad when I do something like that. It was on my list of things and then I went right off and forgot it. I wanted to take pictures of my grandchildren in the Lake...they were soo cute! They are 8, 4 and almost 3....well, I have the pictures in my mind! Can't take those away...at least not right now, anyway! hehe I really hated to leave, we were having such a great time...I just wanted to hold on to the moment. I know now how my Mother used to feel when we would all leave. Those times are so precious. You don't get that many. We think we do...but when you count them in a year, there really aren't that many because all our lives are just too busy, aren't they. We should have more! I hope you are enjoying your family and friends today and this weekend. Make the most of every single minute. God has blessed you with today so enjoy it and don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself....

I have designed another cross stitch chart for you...hope you enjoy it. I am calling it "A B C Country Sampler".

As always...I pray the Lord will bless your life each day with happiness, health and joy! Please do come back again and visit often. Be happy today with yourself and your family.

God Bless You always,

Nancy

Hi Everyone! Hope you are having a wonderful start of your summer! Boy is it hot here...been in the 90's all week....wowie!! I am sooooooooo enjoying it though after all the snow we had this past winter. I hope you enjoy this little sampler....a Patriotic one for July 4th!! Even though everyone that looks at the blogs out there is not an American...I hope you can appreciate that we do love our Country! I pray that the Lord continues to bless America, protect our men overseas and bring them home soon! I pray too, that you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

God Bless You all,

Nancy

Hi!

As I designed this chart "Love Bears All Things" which comes from the Bible scripture, 1 Corinthians 13: 7...I had to do a lot of thinking about the fact that it is such a strong part of a verse. Afterall, how can Love bear ALL things...how many of us can say our love has beared ALL things in this life! But yet, the scripture says we are supposed too! And that is just PART of it.... We know our Lord's love for us will never fail us. Most of us feel that our parents would not have failed us with their love as we were growing up. Yet, when we are grown, our love seems to be conditional at times toward others. We may have been hurt by another and put our guard up. My prayer for you today is that your love will continue to grow for your family, friends, enemies, everyone you come in contact with and most importantly, The Lord God. I hope you enjoy this cross stitch as much as I have enjoyed designing it. I pray, too, that your Love Bears All Things as the Lord commands in this life for YOUR good.
God Bless You Always,
Nancy

IDEAS FOR TODAY:
Reach out and be a blessing to someone today
Do one act of kindness anonymously
Contact family members and let them know you LOVE them
Read some of your Bible
Make a Prayer list
Smile MORE (Even if you don't feel like it)

Hello again!

What a beautiful spring day! We have had a lot of rain this past week but it sure has greened up everything....the Lord has a way of taking care of our landscape, doesn't he... We have been working in our yard...buying flowers to put out and just trying to get things looking better after such a hard winter. It seems there is never enough time to get done all the things you want to do. The weeks are just flying by. My Mother told me this would happen! lol

My good friend gave me the most delicious coconut pie! Do any of you like easy?? Well, this is a self-crusting Coconut Pie....it is sooooooooo wonderful! It even gets better on the second and third day (if it lasts that long) lol. Here goes....I hope you enjoy it as much as we have:

(REMEMBER ----IT MAKES IT'S OWN CRUST)

COCONUT PIE:
4 EGGS, WELL BEATEN

1 1/2 CUPS SUGAR

1/2 CUPS FLOUR

2 CUPS MILK

1 (7 OUNCE) PACKAGE COCONUT

1 STICK MELTED BUTTER

MIX ALL TOGETHER AND POUR INTO A GREASED 9" DISH PIE PAN. BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 45 MINUTES OR UNTIL SET IN THE CENTER. IF USING A GLASS DISH, BAKE FOR 40 MINUTES OR UNTIL SET. NOW JUST ENJOY!!!!!!

There is so many wonderful blogs now! Wow...it amazes me at all the talent we have on the internet! I hope you all are checking around and seeing them. I am still seeing more and more.

I am still working on my Rug Hooking too. If you didn't know...this is something I took up the end of last year and I LOVE it...so I am new to Rug Hooking but it is sooo much fun. Cross Stitch is my HEART but Rug Hooking is just such a wonderful art and I love the Primitive rug hooking. I am now on my 4th "rug". Of course, none of them are large. They are small ones but still....I am proud!!! lol lol. If you haven't done rug hooking...give it a try.

Have any of you done Punchneedle???? If you haven't you should. It is so much fun too! Now, I do sell a lot of the punchneedle patterns in my store and they are absolutely precious. They are like little miniature rugs....soooo sweet and it is easy, fast and fun to do. Very addictive!

I have designed another free cross stitch chart for you. Hope you like this one. I love the scriptures from our Holy Bible and this one is taken from Proverbs 24: 3. Please add your own initials on it. I will have another one for you pretty soon....

Have a wonderful rest of your week....

God Bless You All,

Nancy

Hi!

Can you believe it is May already!! Where does the time go.....it seems you get up in the morning and then you go to bed. lol I absolutely LOVE this time of year. It is my very favorite time because I can get warm! I stay so cold all the time and finally it is nice enough outside that I can warm up. (Probably because I am getting older) but you didn't hear that! hehe

Anyway, I want to wish all Mothers out there a wonderful, glorious Happy Mothers Day tomorrow. I hope you are treated well by your families...loved and spoiled by them! It is a special day for you.

Here is another FREE chart for you. I do hope you enjoy it. April Showers Sampler. I am hoping to sell charts in the near future.... please look for them. I will always have Free Charts too!

Thank you for stopping by my blog! Please write back when you get a chance because I love to hear from you too.

Be blessed by God Today!

Nancy

Hi everybody!

I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday Afternoon.....It is so pretty here with 80 degree weather. We have been working in the yard some and enjoying what the Lord has done for us. It is Strawberry season in our "neck of the woods" and boy are they good! Our daughter and her fiancee just picked at a farm 20 lbs. of strawberries and made freezer jam! yummie!!!

Here is another free chart for you....."When This You See" Ornament or Sampler. Please enjoy ...just don't reproduce or sell please.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and I hope the Lord has enriched your life today with laughter, family, health, friends and love!

God Bless You,

Nancy

Hi!

Samplers are just about my favorite cross stitch, I guess,I started ...really .....stitching when I was about 18. Just the stamped cross stitch, you know they had all the pretty samplers out, or maybe you don't know but they did. There were some really pretty ones. Anyway, I got hooked...so to speak. My sister-in-law, it was her fault, really! She had the prettiest Colonial looking home and loved to decorate with all these samplers and I was so young and planning to get married....YES married. I was going to go to college but then, fell in LOVE!!! You know what happens, then I learned about needlework and starting stitching away and have been stitching every since....and that was 40 years ago. The needlework market has changed a lot! It had a hard time for a while but it is reviving itself and women are loving to fill their homes with samplers, primitive cross stitch and folk art designs. I love cross stitch as much now as I did then...it gets in your blood!!! You know, you go on vacation and the first thing you do is pull out the telephone book or google where the nearest cross stitch or needlework store is and tell your husband you have to go there and you PROMISE you won't spend much!! (and then you do!!! hehe) I actually have stayed up all night before cross stitching because I wanted to just finish a piece of needlework....have any of you done that??? Even, for a while, when I would get "burnt out of stitching" I would still be thinking about stitching!! lol I have bought duplicates of charts and my stash of floss and fabric is endless and I am sure it doesn't match some of yours! lol lol

And I have a needlework store!!!!!! What does that tell you..... am I addicted? Yes, but I think it is good! I can put it down. I have put it down. I will put it down. It isn't a problem. I promise!! If I WANT TOO!!! But I don't....

Is there an AA for Needleworkers?? just kidding.

I say all this because I think the LOVE of needlework has been around for centuries. It was around when the Lord was alive when they made tapestries and robes and beautiful headgear with embroideries and it will be live on until the Lord comes back for us again! As in Proverbs 31: 13 -14 and 22-23 says: She seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands and she makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. I thank the Lord for giving women the desire and ability to do needlework and husbands that are understanding and love what we do and appreciate what we do. It truly is a gift, so enjoy your stitching today and everyday. Have fun and pass it down from generation to generation for them to enjoy just as those before us have done that we can enjoy and look at and have the history and think back on those earlier times of their lives and what it must have been like for them. We can only imagine!

Here is a picture of one of the samplers I did back in 1977...called "The Chase". I was 28 years old when I completed this sampler. I love it....still one my all time favorites!!

I am going to add a free chart today also called "When This You See". I hope you will enjoy it. Please come back to my blog often and chat. I love hearing from Needleworkers. I am still learning how to blog and how to do the "whole" blogging thing so come check back often....I love cross stitch and samplers so if you like them too...then, we have a lot in common!

Have a terrific Sunday afternoon!

God Bless You,

Nancy

Hi again,

I can't believe how fast this month is going by!! My Mom always said that time flew the older she got and I know that is soooo true. It seems I just get up in the mornings and it is time to go to bed again. lol

I have another chart for you....Glory to God Quaker Sampler. I love the Lord so much and He has done sooo very much for me in my life...I give all the Glory and the Praise to Him! Without Him I am nothing....I hope you will enjoy stitching this up. I will have more charts soon!

May the Lord richly bless Your life,

Nancy

Hi,

Some of you have ask for the stitch chart to my Forget Me Not Sampler...I had intended to include that with the design when I first put it on the blog but didn't. Sorry! So here it is for you. Thanks for reminding me!!! Hope you are having a great day! God Bless You, Nancy

Hi Everyone!

I think Spring is finally here...with the winter we have all had it is great to have some wonderful warm weather! It feels so good on your face when you go outside and look up at the sun! I just love this time of year. We are buying flowers for the backyard and starting to put some out. I see that Lowe's and Home Depot around here is stocking up! The prices seem to have gone up some since last year but I guess it is like everything else, right! It just keeps going up and up.....Our grass has gotten really green, that is soooo nice too! I don't know if my husband thinks so since he is the one that mows the yard and it is growing like crazy.

By the way, if any of you haven't seen the movie The Blind Side yet...I highly recommend renting it. We just saw it last week and it is a terrific movie! Wow, Sandra Bullock plays such a wonderful part in that movie and it is just an awesome story! Soooo inspiring...an true!

Well, here is another little free chart for you. Hope you enjoy. This would be great in a spare bedroom, den or just anywhere you want your guest to feel welcome.

As always, I hope the Lord blesses you today and each day,

Nancy

Hi Everyone! Hope your Easter weekend is starting off right!!! I hope you will enjoy this free Easter chart I have done for you! Please be safe this weekend.....I know there will be lots of traffic on the highways....enjoy your families and I pray you will be able to spend a lot of time with all those you love! Remember that Jesus died for our sins and He is Alive forevermore....Praise His Name.....

God Bless You,

Nancy

Hi Everyone,
Here is another free chart for you...called Faith, Hope, Love Sampler......just add your own initials anywhere you want them on the sampler. I really enjoyed making this one up for you. I pray you all have Faith in the Lord, hope in the future and Love in your heart!
I plan to have, very soon, some charts for sale, so please be on the look for them if you like my charts....
I will also have more free charts here too.....
Looks like it is going to be a rainy weekend here in Virginia....Hope you are going to have a wonderful weekend where you live. Please give someone you love a hug today and let them know they are loved by you....it will bless them and you too!
Love to all,
Nancy