Slightly belated Friday Night with Friends...

Oh dear, I forgot to sign up for FNwF this month but that doesn't mean I didn't have a stitch-a-thon on Friday night.  TraderVic and DD were at the footy, watching their beloved Richmond Tigers win whilst I was home watching Season Four of 'The Tudors' (natch!) and stitching (double natch).

I worked on this lovely red bird, a freebie which I found somewhere on the internet (sorry, I can't remember or I would post the link). I managed to get heaps done on Friday night and then Sat arvo I finished it - yay, another Happy Dance.  That reminds me, I must do some blog housekeeping and get my Happy Dance list up to date.  Anyway here is my latest finish:

I really like the lace-like back stitch, although it was a bit of a challenge to ensure that I stitched it correctly.

Red Bird

Freebie design from somewhere on the internet

32 count cream linen

Valdani Hand-Overdyed Thread Colour #43


UDATE: Thanks to Terri from Chocolate for Breakfast; Stitching for Lunch - I can now give you the link to the Red Bird pattern.  It is a freebie from Gazette 94 and you can find it here.  Thanks so much, Terri, I hated not being able to give credit to the generous designer.

Yesterday was DS1's 25th birthday, I look at this fine young man and I feel so proud but I also wonder where all of the years have gone? It seems like only yesterday he was just a little boy.  At his request we went to a chinese restaurant in Fitzroy called "Old Kingdom" for Peking Duck, reputedly the best in the city (even better than that at the legendary Flower Drum restaurant in Chinatown).  You have to order your duck/s when you make your booking.  For the first course, the chef brings out the duck and expertly carves it at your table as you make up your own Peking Duck pancakes - so light and flavoursome. Second course is a noodle stirfry made with the rest of the duck flesh whilst the third course is a broth made from the duck bones.  It was absolutely delicious although you have to like Duck!

I was all set to take photos but I only managed to squeeze this one shot off before I was ordered to put the camera away (they are all camera shy).  So, here is DD trying to hide behind DS1's present and DS2 pulling a funny face!

And, of course, I cannot sign off without some kitten photos:

Milo guarding the clean washing or just a soft nest to snuggle into?

A sleepy Furio (I woke him up trying to take the photo) dappled in the sunlight in one of  his favourite possies, the top of my stitching chair.

Lastly, I just want to say a big hello to all of my new followers, it is lovely to have you visit my blog, 

hugs to you all,