Look who's back.......

Picked up Rose from the boarding kennel this morning......she was very happy to see me......and I her!!  She jumped in the car and settled down..she wasn't going anywhere but home!  Once we got here she checked out the house......drank from every bowl / watering can available.....chased the magpies off the back lawn (I think they had settled in while she was away.......)....and then jumped up on the old church pew at the back of the house and gave me a big grin.....(well that's what it looked like anyway!)

The rest of the day was spent making sure she could see me at all times.........

It's nice to have her home!

'Til next time......................Lorraine

Finders Keepers.......

Found...1 mojo.....lurking with intent (to sew) in my sewing room.......don't know where it came from....or who it belongs to ....but finders keepers....and it's mine.....all mine (insert evil laugh)......

FInished this week:

Kansas Troubles block for CW Legacy quilt -

....then Texas Tears from Barbara Brackman (block four) - and I am keeping up so far! These are 8" finished blocks...

I heard on Friday that a little guy who is heading into hospital on Monday loves earth moving equipment/cranes etc.....so I made this pillowcase for him .....(this is the Rolled Pillowcase Pattern from Jeanne M Butler - Rainy Day Quilt School )  it went together really quickly and I like the enclosed seams.......I think I will be making more of these!   I hope the little one I made this for gets some comfort from it while he is in hospital....and afterwards as well.

Summer has arrived here.......can't complain really as we haven't had many really hot days...the next few days are going to be around 40C so perfect weather for staying indoors and stitching....well for tomorrow anyway....better go to work on Monday......will leave the mojo home on ice!

This morning I picked up Mark, Terri and Lexi and we headed off for a grooming day!  I don't have any "before" pics of Lexi but this is how she looked after a session of combing/brushing and a bath........

...and here she is with her Mum - Bella......

Rose wasn't so keen to pose with her Mum, Ruby............she had had enough by then and just wanted to get down off the grooming table........so this is the best pic we managed - Ruby is thinking...."I thought I was rid of these pesky pups...and they keep coming back......how very annoying..... "

...but Rose was happy enough to pose on the lounge once we got home.......look at her....all brushed and bathed........

It's been a big week....and by the time I got home at lunchtime today I was ready for a nanna nap...so watched a movie....then had a sleep...then stitched for a while....and made some dinner.  Ventured out later to water the garden and that pretty much took care of Saturday! 

Gratitudes: A/C

                    mojo to stitch

                    did I mention A/C!

'Til next time.............................Lorraine

The Festival of Loz.....................

I have always loved my birthday and have dubbed it the "Festival of Loz" as I like to stretch the celebration out for as long as possible...this year it began on Sunday with lunch for family and friends........and has continued during this week...culminating today ..........my actual birthday........thanks to everyone who emailed, phoned or sent messages via text or Facebook.....it was wonderful to hear from everyone....really made my day!

Last night was the work Christmas function........which turned out to be a fun evening.......followed up this morning with breakfast with some of the girls I work with.......then lunch........oh...and of course work in between!.......Lunch again tomorrow with those who couldn't make it today.....I did say I like to make the "festival" last! 

The Sunday lunch has in the past been a BBQ...but the theme for this year was "'70's food".....this meant a 70's curry....remember the beef curry with sultanas and pineapple (this one was made by Ian and came straight out of a cookbook of the era and bought here in an authentic orange Monier crockpot!)..then of course there was tuna mornay, apricot chicken, cocktail franks, meatballs and lots of stuff on toothpicks......note the tablecloth..........a true relic of the time...................

......trifle for dessert.................... 

I borrowed a couple of punchbowls and whilst the non-alcoholic punch was pretty easy to put together there was considerable discussion on the ingredients for the "adult" punch.....I have no idea what went into it in the end...but it was excellent! 

Rhiannon checking to see it was ready for consumption............

Ah.....Cheryl.......a true gal of the '70's...........

Rhiannon and Terri........

 Mark and Rhiannon........

....and no blog post (or party) would be complete without Rose.......seen here with Ian and Cheryl......

Shane....(eldest son) with his three boys.........

So all in all it has been a great week........and today I was spoilt with flowers........my boss made the comment my office looked like a funeral parlour....I prefer the term florist shop myself.......

Just the best day!....and look at that....it's midnight......birthday 2010 officially over :(  ......but wait - the "Festival of Loz" continues tomorrow....and probably into Saturday....but from Sunday on I had better concentrate on Christmas......which has somehow just appeared from nowhere...LOL......the tree is up...the cakes are baked.......a bit of shopping still to do and I will be ready.

'til next time............................Lorraine

More Rose.....

This is pretty much all about Rose........LOL......yesterday she and Lexi had a play date while Mark and Terri did some major works in their garden........I think they had a good day!

Have loads on at the moment ......so may not be back here for a while.......

Til next time.................Lorraine

Rose has had a busy week.....On Wednesday night she graduated from puppy class and is now in "learners" class......then this morning she was excited that instead of being left at home when I went to work she got to come in the car with me......I went to work via the vet clinic..........which she was still excited about because she loves all the girls there.....well.............maybe not so much now!  I decided when I bought Rose that she wouldn't be having any puppies... so today she went in to be spayed and while she was 'under'...microchipped as well.....

She was pleased to see me when I picked her up this evening.....and is very quiet now.....but should be back to her old self in no time......!  Here she is earlier this evening when we first arrived home.......

Look at that face!  I have a collar to put on her if she bites at her stitches....so far so good.  I have a weekend at home planned so will be playing 'nurse'.......and maybe getting some stitching done.......

This week hasn't been very productive as far as stitching goes.......have been too tired at night to do anything.....I have been to the gym every morning at 6am though....followed by a walk with Rose most mornings ....so by the time I get home from work I am ready for a sleep!

I hope to be back later in the weekend with some stitching updates.......but for now it's bedtime for the little patient (and me!)

'Til next time................Lorraine

Log Cabin update.........

Since I made the big statement yesterday about getting on with the Log Cabin quilt that I started last week at the Patchwork Apple I thought I had better get cracking........I stayed up late last night.........and got the cutting done so all I had to do was chain piece this morning........so got up.....and dressed in my very best stay-at-home-all-day trackies and jumper ......I bought the sewing machine out into the dining room/kitchen area (because I can - Rose doesn't complain about stuff like that...)......along with the heater.......then got right down to piecing those little suckers.......I did take a break to do a couple of loads of washing (always helps to have clothes to wear to work)....put dinner on for tonight........vacuum the floors (didn't bother to wash them as with Rose in and out and the wet weather it would have been a waste of time....)...did some ironing...caught up with a friend on the phone......and by this afternoon I had the top together.......My assistant is just checking the position of that block to make sure it's ok.......

Yep.......it's fine......good to go......

I have to admit that I didn't spend any time with alternate layouts.......and possibly there are some fabrics that shouldn't go next to each other....but I am happy with the overall look.....a couple of borders and it will be done.....I have run out of steam today though....so  they will have to wait until next weekend.

'Til next time...................Lorraine

Ok..Ok.....I spoke too soon.................!

Winter has decided to go out with a "bang"....and yesterday and today we have had some wild weather which is supposed to hang around a while longer.......Yesterday I was at work and little Rose was home alone for her first ever thunderstorm!  She was pleased to see me when I got home - when I opened the front door I could see her waiting (not so patiently) by the back door.....not very wet.....she had obviously been in her kennel and sheltered......but just enough so that she looked a little bedraggled.....a nice dry towel and some cuddles and she was as good as new!  The power went out for a while around lunchtime ......which meant of course there were no computers or phones.........and since I had bought a sandwich to toast ..and obviously the sandwich maker was out of action.......it was a good opportunity for a couple of us to find a place that had power and eat out!.........having a "big" lunch also meant I didn't have to cook last night!  The power to the office was restored pretty quickly and with that the computers were back so it was back to work..............

So my pic from the other of blossoms with blue sky has been replaced by this......

...and this.......

These pics were taken around 3pm..so it's quite dark out there.........I like the rain.....and don't mind the cold.....but am not a fan of the wind.......the garden next door is white with blossoms which have been blown off their tree.........

The girls came over for stitching today...I was out and about early shopping for food.....I made a Cottage Pie....no pics....it went too fast!  After lunch we even did some stitching.....a rarity for us I must say.......we usually spend the time chatting and eating with very little stitching being done......but here is proof that today was different....

Joyce was knitting....Amanda (obscured) started a birth sampler cross stitch and Cheryl was reverse-sewing some redwork she wasn't happy with.....Rose was happy to be on the right side of the door today and spent the afternoon getting cuddles and sleeping (it sure is a dog's life isn't it!)......

Cheryl bought hot chocolate sachets and marshmallows.......which went down a treat!

Last night when I got home I finished block F in the Gardener's Journal quilt....which (if I am not mistaken) is the September block...yikes ...I am ahead of schedule!!  Woo Hoo!

........and today I made a start on the next block......I think I only have a couple more to do and I can put the top together.......joining the Stitch-A-Long group has kept me motivated....thanks Chooky! 

I also spent some time last night "sorting out" my jelly bean jar.....LOLOLOL......all the big jobs eh??  I am not a fan of black jelly beans and everytime I put my hand in the jar I got black ones.....not any more.....!

Sorry Amanda...I meant to give the black ones to you to take home.........!

While I was doing the jelly bean sorting Rose amused herself with a stick she bought inside (actuallly this was one of several she bought in).....it was soon in a number of smaller pieces spread around the floor........well a girl has to amuse herself somehow when the weather is so bad!

Hope your day has been productive and fun.......I am going to set up the sewing machine in the lounge room and stitch Log Cabin blocks .......some people have made all theirs.....not mentioning any names.......!!  So watch this space for an update on my progress...there I have put it out there...now I have to deliver..!!

'til next time..........................Lorraine

Civil War club.....2

Today was the second meeting of the Civil War club at the Patchwork Apple...there are a few CW clubs happening there at the moment.....check out Jane's fantastic finish here - certainly something to aspire to......we are working on the first in the series! 

Kris and I managed to finish one block today.......weren't we diligent!!  That's mine on the right ....Kris' on the left.....Kris decided to do hers in "reverse" ......there's always one isn't there..... :)  I am really enjoying this CW journey.........

After the morning class at the Patchwork Apple I came home and collected Rose and we went to watch the local footy - she loved the outing - it was tiring for a little girl though......

.....having to have a little nap now.........don't you love the curls on that ear!!!

Oh I almost forgot.....while I was having a little break from stitching my CW block today I wandered out into the shop for a browse......couldn't pass up this new offering from Barb and Alma of Blackbird Designs......... will be sitting down with this and a cuppa in a minute .................

I made a big call when I started my CW journey....that I would make the red/white blocks and another set in a different colour combo.....which Jane reminded me of today........so I better get cracking hadn't I....!!

I am planning a sewing day tomorrow......I should get out in the garden and get rid of the weeds......and if the sun shines I might just do that for a while......I am sure Rose will be a big help.  Most nights this past week I have managed a bit of stitching on my GJ blocks......need to get some pics for Chooky tomorrow.....August is done........and I am working on September.....!

I can't finish this post without wishing Rhiannon a Happy Birthday.......27 today.....where have those years gone.....?  Hope you have had a wonderful day Rhi.......xx

'Til next time.............................Lorraine