Check it out.....

My progress on my Down Home ABCs by Jean Farish on the 

Americana SAL blog.

In the meantime, here are a couple of kitty cat pics - Nobu and Furio (I think the latter is trying to suggest a new variegated floss colour).

hugs, 

FNwF and Friday Frolics....

My first Friday Night with Friends and Friday Frolics ... was a bit like Schrodinger's Cat - neither successful nor unsuccessful!  For those of you who are wondering who Schrodinger and his cat were and why I am referencing them - Sheldon from The Big Bang explains it best (or click on the link above).

(TraderVic and I are huge fans of The Big Bang Theory and are quite addicted to the show - it is on repeats here in Oz every night, so we are able to feed our addiction regularly - lol!)

Anyway, I digress - onto the stitching.....

Now, the successful part was me completing a FFO from last year - Wee Santa 2016....

Design: Wee Santa 2016

Fabric: 28 ct Mocha linen

Floss: My own choice of specialty threads

Framing: By me in a Mill Hill frame

My dear friend, Wendy, from my LNS, taught me a neat trick for getting the design to sit nicely when you sew it over the cardboard - you have two lengths of thread and weave them like shoelaces.  It worked like a dream, the stitching is sitting really flat and looks perfect - thank you so much, Wendy. xxxx

Now for the unsuccessful part... in true Friday Frolicking fashion, I chose a WIP at random from my ever growing pile of WIPs, UFOs and BAPs ....

Morning Song by Just Nan, I last posted about it on this post.

So, here is where I was up to before yesterday....

... and after, looking rather more crumpled and not much progress at all!

Design:Morning Song

Fabric: 28 ct Cream or Antique White linen

Floss: Suggested DMC threads

Okay, do you want to hear my excuses?

1. Plait stitch is really tricky to do, especially in a light green - I found it really hard to get a rhythm - there was a lot of frogging happening.

2. It was really, really hot yesterday, so the house was shut up tight with the air conditioner on, the outdoor sun blinds down and the plantation shutters shut - so the lighting was poorer than usual which affected 1. above.

3. Frantic morning video chats with DS2 in Sydney. DS2 video chats me on my mobile:  

DS2: Dad, where's Dad? I need Dad!  (Note: no greeting)

Me:  Why do you need Dad, is everything all right?

DS2: No, our ceiling has fallen down and I don't know what to do! (Note: DS2 is 24 and lives in a sharehouse in Sydney and there were terrible storms in Sydney overnight)

Me (and TraderVic):  Oh, my goodness, was anyone hurt? - Ring the SES (State Emergency Service) and ring the agent.

DS2: No, no one was hurt, we were all in bed (it was 9am), I tried the agent, the office is still shut for the Christmas/New Year break. What is the number for the SES?

Me: Does the agent have a head office or a mobile number?

DS2: No.

Me: (On the computer in Melbourne, remember DS2 lives in Sydney) The SES number is xxxx and the real estate agent's mobile number is xxxx. Ring both of them now. You may be told by the SES that you can't stay.

DS2: We have a back up plan if we have to move out, I'll ring the SES now but I can't bother the agent on his mobile.

Me: Yes, you can, he needs to know, so he can let the landlord know!!!!!

DS2: Okay. Talk again soon.

Me: (later that morning). How is it going?

DS2: Ses came

And said it will be fine

So land lord is getting people to come fix it

Me:You got onto the agent, then? Do you have to move out?

No we can stay

Yep glen is sorting it out

Me: Great, aren't you glad that I found his mobile number for you - just saying! lol! 

DS2: Thx mummy (Remember he has just turned 24!)

(Later that morning I get another call)

DS2: it is still raining and now the living room is flooding.

Me: Have you shifted the furniture? (couch, dining table and chairs, TV, etc.)

DS2:Nah! It is only a millimetre or two.

Me: What if it keeps raining and you don't have contents insurance?

DS2: Nah, she'll be right (very typical Aussie attitude), it's only a little bit of water and rain.

Me: I give up!

I am not sure what else has happened as DS2's mobile phone has now broken down - so I have to Message him via his best friend's phone who is staying with him for a few days before heading back to Melbourne and DS2 starts a new job on Monday. It never ends with your children, does it? lol!

4. Daytime naps needed to be had due to 2. and 3. above and the fact that it has been really hot overnight so little sleep has been had.

5. TraderVic, DS1 and DDIL and I all played a lively game of Monopoly_Melbourne Edition in the evening, which severely cut into my stitching time.

So, there you go, all sound like reasonable excuses to me! lol!

Just to finish off, the cats are feeling the effects of the hot weather, too. Milo and Nobu are engaged in a Mexican Standoff ....

... and Furio has just given up!

Poor furbabies, mind you, they could sleep in the cool, air conditioned rooms but no!

So, that was my first Friday Frolic for the year. Rather an eventful one, now that I think about it!

If you want to see what everyone else got up to for these Stitching events, click on either or both of the links below:

Friday Night with Friends

Kitten Stitching and the Friday Frolics

hugs, 

P.S. Please don't forget to check out my first little giveaway for 2017.

Christmas is Coming, 2016 .... Part Two

My dear friend, Linda, has lent me this book to read for Christmas:

How Mrs Claus saved Christmas by Jeff Guinn

Doesn't the book cover look so pretty with my red and yellow roses?  Together, they make a lovely Christmas display.

On a further Christmassy note, I had a lovely seafood lunch on Sunday by the Yarra River at Waterfront Restaurant with my "Tennis" Group or Mother's Group.  We have been meeting for over twenty-six years now.  We don't really play tennis, we just used to meet as a playgroup in the club rooms of a tennis club - hence the name - but we do get teased a lot about our lack of tennis prowess and playing!

.... and to continue the Christmassy theme, I finished-finished my Baby's First Christmas Ornament - as you know, I am always very anxious about my finishing ability but I must admit, I am pretty pleased with how this one has turned out.

What do you think? Will it past muster?

On another note, we have had the 'cat wars' here as DS1 came home on Friday night (yay!  So lovely to have him home) with their cat, Nobu (DDIL is due to arrive this Saturday).

Best to say that Furio and Milo are feeling a little put out and Furio and Nobu are duking it out for who is Alpha Cat! lol!

Now, guess who is trying to get close to me whilst I am doing some authoring for a publisher??    Furio, of course!

Close!

Closer!

Ooops! Mum has got cross with me and pushed me away.  Okay, I will go stick my head in under the monitor - that should be comfortable! lol!

Okay, that is it for me for now, 

hugs, 

P.S. Sorry, no pic of Milo this post, he is very skittish with the new cat in the house - next time, I hope!

A kitty cat house guest...

As DS1 and his new wife have had to finally fly off to their new life in Roma, Queensland, we have been left with a furry houseguest: their kitty cat, Nobu.  When they are settled into their new accommodation Nobu's pet consultant, Brynne from Jetpets, will organise for him to fly up there, too (now who would have thought that cats would have their own travel consultants?) lol!

Would you like to meet Nobu?

Is there a cat hiding in this wardrobe?

Yes, there is!

Nobu is a very sweet-tempered cat, very friendly and very handsome.

Here he has finally ventured out of the back bedroom and is starting to explore the rest of the house.

DS2 giving him a cuddle.

Furio and Milo have not quite known what to make of this newcomer but apart from a few little hissing episodes from all parties, they are all tolerating each other pretty well.

Not sure how long Nobu will be with us, but I am loving having another kitty cat in the house.  Furbabies are so lovely.

hugs,