"Ooouch! Eeeh! Eee-ouch!" And with that I froze.
Mr. Pinker shook his head, walked around the "side by side" to where I stood, and surveyed the situation.
"Hon, you do this every year! Can you sit down?" he asked.
I hobbled to the side by side seat and plopped down with a sigh. There was a whole mess of cholla needles in the top of my shoe.
"Just yank them out! " I said bravely as I squinched my face .
YANK ! PULL YANK! "EEE-OWZERS!" 🥴
Mr. Pinker pulled the needles from my shoe. I then eased my shoe off, and he carefully removed them from the top of my foot.
"Those cholla jump. Remember? " he said with a grin.
"Aaab but they are such gorgeous cacti, and I am quite fascinated with them- "
"How quirky, so pretty and sooooo very prickly!" "Eeek" I screeched as the last needle was removed.
"Just because life gives you a cactus doesn't mean you have to sit on it" - Unknown. 😂
Once "Operation Needle " was complete Mr. Pinker and I continued on our way exploring the backcountry. Mr. Pinker metal detected while I admired all of the prickly beauties that stood so proudly saying "Don't you dare come near !" Underneath one cholla was a plant in bloom.
Bees buzzed all around- what a beauty to behold.
But I was careful not to disturb them - the bees or the cholla which could unleash its needles on me.
Aah but I do love traipsing along in the desert.
ADVICE FROM A CACTUS
🌵Get plenty of sunshine.
🌵 Accentuate your strong points.
🌵Be patient through dry spells.
🌵Conserve your resources.
🌵Wait for your time to bloom
🌵Stay sharp.
One of the projects that I have been working on is my "Hearts " applique blocks ; these have been in the works for a couple of years now. Let's just say this is one of my camping projects.
Anywhooo the simple hearts are appliqued on a 6 1/2" (unfinished) background. I have decided I will need 18 of each color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
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I can now check blue off the list. 18 blocks are complete.
I will work on purple blocks today. Hmmm I wonder what color will Angela choose for February?
Well, Sweeties thank you for dropping by camp for a sweet Saturday visit . May your day be filled with stitchy loveliness and mind those needles. Hee! Hee!
As Always...
Happy Stitching and Quilting,
y'all
Melisa
"Don't let the prickly things get you down. "
Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤
Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo.
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Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!
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🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025 A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025
🌞Time to Dye- 2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric.
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim.
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October 4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed this date.
🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date.
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
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I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needleworkers to meet.
Oh no!!! Attacked by the beautiful but mean and nasty cholla. I hope the pain has subsided now. Ouchie! Actually it's a BIG ouchie.
ReplyDeleteThe hearts are lovely and a delightful project. You definitely packed lots of fun projects to keep yourself super busy. Enjoy your Saturday - stay away from the cacti. LOL Hugs, DarleneJ
Ouch! 🥴 I think stitchy needles are way more fun that cactus ones 😅 🌵 Beautiful heart quilt! I have one on my to-make list and have a bunch of hearts waiting already ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩷
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend! -Alex 🥰
We actually had a couple of those at our house before we moved. Ouch is right! Hope your foot heals! I'm enjoying your pics of your trip. Your heart quilt is lovely - a beautiful tribute to your sister. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there were attack cactuses. Hopefully you've healed up quickly from that encounter. The hearts are really cute. Looks like you've been enjoying lots of stitching time during your travels.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so painful! I like your advice from a cactus - lol!
ReplyDeleteOuch is SO right, Melisa----Danger lurks from those cacti!!!:((((( Hope your foot heals quickly and doesn't keep you from your fun walks!! (Do you know the tune "Put your little foot, put your little foot, put your little foot right there...."? Well, do NOT do it!! )!!
ReplyDeleteI love those hearts--so neat...I am making hearts for my little February fabric journal--they will be freehand cut and wonky (as usual!! heh heh) and raw-edge appliqued. what fun...Yours are so pretty in the rainbow colors...
Take care out there now...hugs, Julierose;))))
My daughter learned the hard way about cactus while we were walking in the desert. I don't know the names but there is one that looks so soft that she decided to touch it, MISTAKE! It wasn't soft and she was picking prickles out of her fingers the rest of the time I was visiting!
ReplyDeleteYour heart quilt will be so pretty when it's finished with the variety of colors, happy stitching!
Though painful for you, I found your cactus story fascinating having only seen cacti in movies basically. SO glad there are no lasting effects. But it looks beautiful too which I didn't think cacti could be. Anyway, love the hearts and I want to make some of those one of these days. Happy Camping you two!
ReplyDeleteOh Melisa, I am sorry you got "needled" again. But I enjoyed your story and the pictures. Your heart blocks look awesome. Happy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteAnd those Cholla are so plentiful in the desert! Last year we saw so many in one spot near Wickenburg that I named it Cholla Town! Hope your foot is feeling better today.
ReplyDeleteWow! So sorry you got stuck. I had no idea there were cacti that would attack you when you got close. Please stay away and be careful! Love your hearts! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh no - ouch! I know about those cactus jumping onto you - my parents moved to the Arizona desert in the late 80s and my dad had an encounter with one. Hope you got all those spines out! They are fascinating to look at, though, aren't they? Your hearts are beautiful in every color, Melisa!
ReplyDeleteI love cacti, but those are very dangerous with their thorns flying!
ReplyDeleteThose heart appliqués are wonderful!! Saturday hugs
Good thing Mr. Pinker is experienced at removing cacti needles. They can be so painful. The desert and cactus are lovely. I am enjoying your adventures and pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe colors of the heart are so bright. It will be a beautiful quilt when completed. You have taken a wonderful variety of projects for your trip. Have a great day. Alicia
So cactus attacks are an every year thing? So sorry, Melisa. It's hard when so many of the desert plants have weapons, isn't it? Another kind of heart came with you on this trip! They are looking very good!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I dont like the sound of cactus needles in your feet. Do be careful out there in the desert. Pretty little heats, heart blocks are a favourite of mine.
ReplyDeleteAttack cacti? Goodness!!! Glad Mr. Pinker was there for the needle removal! Whew! It was great you were able to explore after that prickly incident! Your blue hearts are pretty and sure looked great against that desert background!--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDelete