I really haven’t gone fishing.
I wish I were fishing!
Do you remember this guy? He was such a fun project! I called him The Blackwork Fish, and if you’re curious about how he came to be, you can read all the articles about him – and see his progress – in the Blackwork Fish project index.
But all of that is really beside the point!
By the time you read this today, I’ll be checking into the hospital for a while for a little bout of major surgery, followed by a recovery period.
So, I’ll be completely unavailable for at the next seven days, perhaps longer.
This includes email correspondence (I’ve got an auto responder on my email – you won’t hear from me personally, I’m afraid) and all comment moderation on the website. If you leave a comment, it won’t show up for a while.
I have a couple blog posts pre-scheduled to keep you entertained and to give you a bit of a stitchy fix, though. I hope you enjoy them!
Thanks to all for your kind notes over the past couple weeks while I’ve been working towards this point. Your encouragement, good wishes, and prayers are much appreciated!
Thank you, too, for your support over the years. I’ve grown really attached to my Needle ‘n Thread friends, and I’ll miss you while I’m gone!
So sorry to hear that surgery is needed, and hoping for a rapid recovery.
I only discovered your website recently and have found in it it a wealth of information, advice, and inspiration. Your archives will keep me busy, but I will be looking forward to your return, never fear.
Praying for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
I know you won’t see this for awhile but I must say, that even as you go in for surgery, your sense of humor is alive and well. Your comment “I’ll be checking into the hospital for a while for a little bout of major surgery” made me laugh. Only you would think to call it ” a little bout of major surgery.”
I do hope the surgery goes well and that you can find some enjoyment and peace during your recovery time. We’ll be on pins and needles (sorry for the bad pun) to hear from you again. Take care.
Dear Mary,
I will be sending some healing prayers your way. Get well soon. We ha ve lots more stitching to do.
Elaine in New Mexico
Wow. Mary, you are a treasure to the online embroidery community. For everyone of us that tells you how much we appreciate you, there are several more who are silently agreeing. Lots of good luck and get well soon! Also, how you have a good project to stitch while you recuperate.
Alex
Mary, greatest good wishes on a great outcome and a steady recovery! we’ll be thinking of you and looking forward to your return. BUT please don’t rush it! give yourself the time to be really well before you plunge back in. We’ll still be here for you.
Best wishes and prayers go with you.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. You will be missed!
Good luck, Mary!! You will be in my prayers and I will miss you til you’re back. Don’t hurry though – you’ve given us PLENTY of projects to keep us busy (I’m thinking about those darn hummingbirds).
Good Luck and a speedy recovery, Mary. Best Wishes, Karolina P.
Dear Mary, I wish you all the best for your health.Do come back soon! Internet without your wonderful posts is half the fun. Although I am not commenting very often it does mean a lot to me to read you.
Hugs ! x
Good Luck! and I hope you have a speedy recovery!
All my best wishes that the surgery goes well and the recovery is smooth and easy!
Mary,
My prayers are with you . Speedy recovery.
I wish you a comfortable and quick recovery, followed by a recuperation full of stitching! I’ll be thinking of you.
I hope your surgery goes well, and best wishes for a speedy recovery. We will miss you!
God bless and keep you Mary.
Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery. I’ll be praying for you — or just sending you kind thoughts, whichever you prefer 🙂
Dear Mary,
I realise you won’t get this message until you get home from hospital, but I just wanted to send hugs and sympathy for you during your treatment and recovery, as well as appreciation for all that you do to make Needlenthread such a positive and helpful space. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with unpleasant health issues. I wish you all the very best for a complete recovery and that you are back in your happy place with a ‘needlenthread’ in your hands before too long! Just take things one step at a time! You take care. 🙂
Kathryn
Mary, My thoughts and prayers go with you as you go in for surgery and I shall be praying for a good recovery for you. God bless. Sincerely, Louisa
Delurking to send good wishes for a speedy recovery…
You are on my personal health and wellbeing list…this is a list that gets chanted every morning at service along with a standard chant to wish for the wellbeing of the folks…all folks really. I know you are being well taken care of..enjoy the rest(if you can get any)
While you won’t see this for a while, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery.
Dear Mary,
I will be thinking of you and will remember you in my prayers. Wishing you to have a speedy recovery.
GOD BLESS!
Kindest regards
Anna-Maria
So sorry to hear about your surgery. Take your time we will be here when you feel up to it.
I wish health, an easy hospital stay and a quick recovery for you. You will be missed. I love reading your blog and learning from you. You’ve inspired me to take the needle up again. Get well soon. I’ll be praying for your health.
Keeping you in our thoughts, Mary.
Your health comes first.
bon courage , I hope all go good
Prayers that all goes well and you have a speedy recovery.
Mary,
May God be with you during this time. I will say a novena for you.
Best Wishes
Carolyn
Praying that all is well.
Blessings
Dear Mary……many prayers for you my sweet lady……thanks for all your work and fun things you have given us…I will be looking for you when you return….have some much needed rest and I hope someone will be spoiling you with lots of love,flowers,movies,books etc…take care…..Trisha
Hello Mary,
Wishing you a speedy recovery and looking forward to your being back in the saddle soon with your perky, fun personality! 🙂
Best wishes for your good health,
Roxanne
Hope all goes well with the op and recovery
Hugs xx
Dear Mary
You dont need to publish this, but I’d like to wish you “All the best” I’ve had 4 surgeries in the last 2 years. 2 minor, 2 major. The worry before each was intense, but afterwards I shouldn’t have worried so much.
I’m sure everything will go well, but do remember to take it easy, I tried to do too much which probably set me back a bit.
Hugs and don’t stress about us here!!
Julie in Australia
Mary, hope you have a speedy recovery. We’ll miss you.
Dear Mary praying for your “little bout of major surgery” to be successful and speedy recovery. Very thoughtful of you to line up posts for us while you will be recouping in the hospital.
Hi Mary – be well, rest mightily, convalesce in comfort and come back healed and happy. We’ll still be here when you return, and will be overjoyed to celebrate with you once this health challenge is over. In the mean time, please do not stress over writing back, posting, or even stitching. All the best for a quick return to 100% – Kim Salazar
Good luck with the procedure and hope you have a speedy recovery!
Well Wishes and Energy!
Hope the op went well and you are now feeling more comfortable.
I wish you a complete and speedy recovery.
Sent with my prayers and good wishes
Mary, you will be deep in my toughts.And I’m sure everything will go fine, we will be all here waiting for you. BIIIIG HUGS !!
Good luck with everything! Here’s to a very successful surgery and a very fast recovery. 🙂
Thinking of you and wishing you all the best.
God speed, Mary. Your fans and I will be thinking about you this week.
Best wishes for a quick recovery!
Dear Mary: You must know that some of us, your faithful followers, have had or will need a ‘little bout of major surgery’ at some time or another. We are all with you and can empathize with you in this challenging time. You have brought us so much pleasure in the past years with your dedication to hand embroidery, it is now our turn to take care of you. We are all sending prayers and good wishes for your speedy recovery. Please take your time and rest! We shall be here when you return.
Oh my, “A little bout of major surgery”. Your outlook seems positive, as will be mine. You are my favorite, favorite blogger. I was writing to tell you this, (again!) because I can’t contain myself. Thank you for your fabulous work, and now, best to you in your recovery.
Lori in Oregon
I wanted to wish you get well wishes. We all will miss you but you take care.
Take all the time you need but don’t too much, too fast.
Hi Mary,
I hope by the time you read this message you’re recovering comfortably after your surgery. I picture you reclined amongst cushions with some equisit embroidery in your hands The hospital staff ‘popping in’ to admire your work.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and back to your blog inspiring us all, soon. xx
Thank you for your awesome newsletter. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Mary, I hope you recover quickly. Just take good care of yourself, we will miss you
Dear Mary,
A Thanksgiving Thank You for sharing your enthusiasm and talents with us!
We continue to keep you –and those you love– in prayer.
God Bless!
Molly
Dear Mary,
I wish you excellant medical care and a full speedy recovery. You are a blessing to many people and you are missed on here in cyberspace through Needlen Thread.
Dear Mary,
so very sorry to hear this bad news, but your so very positive attitude is wonderful. My good wishes and prayers are with you. I do so enjoy your emails and they have helped me so much especially your videos. So, instructions from those who have learned to love you,Please get well soon and don’t rush things we will happily wait for your recovery. And always to remember that He loves you. My love, Myrna
Dear Mary wishing all the best in your recovery, be kind to yourself and don’t overdue things. I had the same surgery in May and it does take time and you will be very tired for a bit. Put your feet up and let family baby you, enjoy planning your next projects and all your sewing catch ups. Look forward to your daily news once you are ok. Kind regards Pauline
Oh, Mary, the same day I checked into Reno VA for umbilical hernia surgery. Was driven home through a snowstorm a week later. Incision about 8 inches long making a cute little turn around the belly button. Vicodin turns anyone into a zombie! It’s difficult to sit up out of a chair, much less out of bed! Maybe you discovered the special music and flowers channel C.A.R.E. that runs all night, which I’d found helpful before. When at 2 a.m. I asked a nurse if the moon was full, she answered, “I have no interest in the moon!” A darling from Mauritania later confirmed that it was full. CBS 5 a.m. news did a little feature, it was that beautiful. I did meet some amazing people, heard stories. A worker told me about being locked in a closet, an abused and hungry toddler. A golden light came through the door and someone with wings said something he couldn’t understand and left . . . a plate of sugar doughnuts and a big glass of milk! . . . By now I trust you also are home and wearing your own long-enough nightgown with no gratuitous ventilation. I am enjoying catalogs, even the silly ones, between naps. For me, sitting at the computer is comfortable! Remember, Mary, that “better ‘n’ better” is a natural law. The hardest part is over. Love, Mimi
I’m behind in my blog reading and am just now seeing this. So sorry about the surgery – hope all is well and that healing is well underway by now. Take care of you Mary!
Dear Mary
You are strong and I am very sure that you will win and come out as strong as ever.
Women are born strong and we learn to fight.
you will be a part of my prayers.
So sorry to learn of your illness. God bless you. I’ll pray for you for a speedy and complete recovery
As a longtime fan of your ongoing gift of encouraging hand needlework to passionate stitchers, I found great humor in reading your Valentine poem yesterday. Your impeccable command of the English language remains untouched in “polite-speak” to its recipient who “dances” through lovely verse all the way to the surprising tell-it-like-it-is ending…what a sense of humor…thank you…finding laughter in this crazy world refreshes the spirit…..Jo-Celle Strom
🙂 Thanks, Jo-Celle!