Six months of needlepointing, each day a steady hand, With Victorian cross stitches, my large opus planned. Thousands of small stitches, so meticulously placed, And twenty hues of tapestry wool carefully spaced.
On this canvas, my heart is stitched in every row, A gift to my daughter, a treasure on her bestowed. I hope she will hold it close and feel the love it bears, My offering of this hedgerow to cherish and to share.
This needlepoint pillow was planned as a gift for my daughter. So glad to have completed it! 🧡
In stitches and threads, a year’s toil unfurled, Ten needlepoint pillows, each a gem in the world. With wool and with velvet, with silk piping so fine, Crafted with love, each design to enshrine.
Alphabet treasures that children adore, Alligators, elephants – snakes galore! Gentle giraffes and bears wearing red bows, Falcons, hedgehogs, and ducks with no toes.
As gifts were given, joy filled the air, Tears of delight, expressions so rare. But scarcely had they nestled in hand, The chorus erupted, a unanimous demand.
“We want more!” they cried, their voices a cheer, For the beautiful stitching, oh so dear! So back to the needles, with passion and grace, More pillows to make for their hearts’ embrace.
I have two large needlepoint canvases almost finished, and had planned to take a break from needlepoint to concentrate on my animal and bird watercolor paintings. But now, we shall see!
In shadows cast by judgment’s weight, I find myself, a bird, sedate. Dreams clipped by critical gaze, An anchor, heavy, in life’s maze.
Each flight of joy, a tentative dance, Held back by words, a stifling trance. But deep within, a yearning stirs, For freedom’s song, no longer deferred.
To cut the chains, to break away, From mainstays holding, day by day. To soar anew, with wings unfurled, Towards dreams embraced, in a boundless world.
So let me sever, let me fly, Bid farewell to judgement’s sigh. For in the vastness of the sky, I’ll find my joy, no longer shy.
Today I noticed that the birds are back in my yard. Spring has come once again!
On Valentine’s Day, the world may sway, With roses and hearts on display. But true love blooms in everyday, In acts of kindness, come what may.
Not in grand gestures or lavish affair, But in the tender moments we share. In simple joys and burdens we bear, Love’s essence found, beyond compare.
It’s in our laughter that fills the air, In quiet moments, hearts laid bare. In comforting hugs, always there, Love’s beauty shines on us, a pair.
Our love is found in the mundane, In whispered words like gentle rain. In steadfast presence, free from strain, A bond that weathers every pain.
So on this day, let’s not forget, That love’s true worth, we shall not fret. In day-to-day acts, our souls are met, In the special moments, love is set.
Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day on the 14th! xo ❤️
Another day awakens, sunlight gently streams, Yet, I lie entangled in elusive dreams. Mountains of tasks, a daunting array, Head heavy with the weight of the pending day.
The dawn whispers of responsibilities vast, A symphony of to-dos, shadows cast. Bed’s comfort tempts, a refuge to stay, But, the world outside demands its sway.
The ache in the head, the burden of thought, Projects loom, battles to be fought. In the warmth of the sheets, a plea is said, To linger longer, and avoid the day ahead.
Ah! If only I could luxuriate in bed for a few more minutes!
In the moonlit glade, a lynx appears, Fur-tipped ears, green-gold eyes quelling fears, A guardian wise, like an androsphinx’s grace, Yet, ponder, do we anthropomorphize his face?
All-knowing aura, mystique in his stare, Yet, does he ponder life with a thoughtful air? Do we project our musings, a human reflection, Onto the lynx, seeking a shared connection?
In the silent forests, mysteries untold, Does the lynx ponder more than hunger bold? Hissing and yowling and screams in the night, A startling assertion of nature’s might.
In winter’s embrace, a lonely man found cheer, A red fox came, a friend so dear.
Exquisite fur, eyes of blue-green grace, Shared scraps, forming a bond in that quiet space.
Yet, in reaching out, a truth unfolds, Wild and untamed, as nature holds.
Teeth bared, a lesson swiftly learned, A cunning companion, loyalty unearned.
I found it difficult to teach my children to be wary of wild animals when so many children’s books, cartoons, and movies – especially Disney movies, portrayed them as cute and cuddly creatures.
In a quiet wood where leaves gently spread, A hedgehog dwelled, his own path he’d tread. Alone he preferred, in solitude’s embrace, Away from his prickle, a solitary grace.
In rustling leaves, he found delight, Playing alone, a lone hedge’s right. Curling in a ball, he’d peacefully sleep, In solitude’s company, his secrets to keep.
One morn, a snowy blanket covered the land, The woods adorned in an arctic strand. Under the sun’s gaze, a serene tableau, Yet, no fellow creatures, no friend or foe.
As he played in the snow, a shadow drew near, Unseen by the hedgehog, it whispered in his ear. In his longing for solace, he returned to his den, Curled up in a ball once more, in dreams to transcend.
Little hedgehog, in the quiet of his rest, Unaware of the shadow, a mysterious guest. Alone, he slumbers, in his dream’s reprieve, In the snowy woods, where secrets weave.
I first learned about hedgehogs from TheTale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, a delightful little children’s book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. Although the protagonist hedgehog interacted with other animals in the story, hedgehogs are known to be solitary creatures – save for mating. I know at least one person who is very much a loner, like the hedgehog, and he seems very content. :)
Satin & Sand 