Sunday.....

Hello lovely bloggers,

Today for NaBloPoMo, I am going to add to my post as the day goes on:

7.30 am - woken by a happy Furio purring in my face.  He is a great alarm clock

8 am - checking out blogs as it is too early (thanks Furio) to go pick up my friend for our walk

8.25 am - Discover via Rita E's blog Stitch Days about a great new Giveaway from Miss Print, you can check it out here.

8.41 - Having partially satisfied my Blog Stalking reading craving,  I head off to pick up Marie and then on to Prince's Park for our walk.....

..... to be continued.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

10am - Finish walk, Marie and I stop for coffee at our favourite Greek Cafe where we indulge ourselves after all that hard work by sharing a Greek custard cake (in my defence, I had not had any breakfast!)

11am - Stop to buy bread for lunch, some Christmas party invitations and a new diary for 2012:

The outside box cover

The cover of the actual diary itself

Now, aren't I organised?  Actually, my DD has told DH and I to keep the 12th January free for our Christmas present - I wonder what she has in mind? - and told me to write it in my diary, so I just had to go out and buy my 2012 diary.  Isn't it pretty?  The inside has gorgeous photos of the French countryside and French style:

This is just a sampling - aren't they absolutely gorgeous photos - what a lovely year I have ahead of me, enjoying these photos?

... ... to be continued.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox


2.10pm - I have been watching episodes of 'Fringe' and stitching my La Belle Etoile SAL.  Here is a progress pic:  (sorry, not ironed and I can't seem to get that background colour to show up right)

2.27pm - I have given up in frustration - despite the progress pic showing up in iphoto - blogger cannot see it!  Grrr!  I will try again later.

... to be continued...

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

3.35pm - home from the supermarket shopping with DH - always such a joy - NOT!

Still no luck with uploading the SAL progress pic - so annoying - it is definitely sitting there in iphotos but neither blogger nor picasa can see it!

... to be continued...

Hugs, Kaye xoxox


7pm - Getting all dressed up in my glad rags to go out for Malaysian food and a movie with DH, DS1 and DD - we are seeing "Drive".  Has anyone seen it?  I will be able to give you my review in tomorrow's post.

This is probably all from me today,  (thank goodness, you are probably all saying as this has turned into a bit of a marathon post).

lots of hugs, Kaye xoxox

... and we have a winner! ... or should I say, two!

Hello Lovely Bloggers,

I have a winner for my 'Just Because' Giveaway and as I got to 100 followers by the time it closes, I have a winner for my '100 followers' Giveaway, too.

But first, I am going to tease you - you will have to read my whole post to get to the big announcement!

I have finished Part 1 of 'La Belle Etoile', the Threadbasket SAL I am doing.  Here is a pic:

I am really loving this fabric - it is Prairie Green 28 count by Wichelt.  Really easy to stitch and the colour is fantastic.  I am thinking of using it for 12 Dancing Princesses and Jane and the Prisoner of Woolhouse - both HAED.  Here is a better picture of the green fabric:

I have also just had a reading finish:

This was a really interesting piece of historical research which looked at the life and reign of Elizabeth I from the lens of the influence of the women in her life.  If you are interested in The Tudors and historical research - then I can recommend this book.

Well, my baking mojo seems to be back after my sickness - this is what I made for last night's dinner:

Pasta, chorizo and tomato salad (I adapted the recipe from a dish I saw elsewhere)

Zucchini Fritters with Dill Yoghurt Sauce 

This recipe is from my friend Vicky's blog, The Weekend Cook. Please check out her blog - she has some lovely recipes.

The winner of my 'Just Because' Giveaway is.... Linda from 'Stitchin' with my Furbabies'  I am so happy that the random organiser chose Linda's number, she was so keen to win that she made lots of comments to get herself lots of entries in the Giveaway.  Congratulations, Linda, here is just a reminder of what you have won: 

And the winner of my '100 followers' Giveaway is... Wagapapa, her blog is Wagapapa Creations.  Please check out her blog as she is having an blogaversary giveaway.  I am also really happy that Wagapapa's number was chosen by the random organiser as she had just slipped in with a late entry - so it goes to show that it is never too late to join in a Giveaway or competition.

Now, Wagapapa, it is a surprise what you have won - you will just have to wait until you receive the parcel in the mail!  (evil chuckle) 

Linda and Wagapapa, please contact me on KayeDeP@gmail.com with your snail mail address and I will send you your prize.

Well, tonight is my JCS Christmas Ornie SAL with Julie from JulieandYesDearsravings, so I had better get some stitching done.

Love to you all, 

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

Last chance to enter my 'Just Because' Giveway

Hi everyone, 


Just a quick reminder that you have until midnight Eastern Summer Time (Australia)  to enter my  'Just because' Giveaway - you can check it out here.

Also,  as at I am nearly at a 100 followers only two to go  - if I reach 100 by midnight tonight when my 'Just Because' Giveaway closes I will have a second prize to giveaway - not sure what it will be yet but it will be something from my stash.

I will post a progress pic on my Threadbasket SAL - "La Belle Etoile" tonight, probably.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox

Finally feeling much better...

Hello lovely bloggers,

I am finally on the mend.  I had a lovely rest cure in the country, staying in Ballarat with my DU and DA. They coddled and pampered and plied me with the finest French brandy and finally those rotten germs are on the run.  I am feeling almost normal - coughing only rarely, and while I have still got a slight sore throat it is quite bearable.  Thank god!  But, of course,  I am really behind on my work and I have another deadline this week - which I am not going to be able to make.  But I am not going to get stressed about it - there was nothing I can do about being sick!  So, cool, calm and collected will be me tomorrow!


Anyway, yesterday I promised you some photos of the Farmer's Market next to Lake Wendouree, sorry they are a bit fuzzy but I had to take them on DH's mobile.

Dear Aunt

The cool children's playground by the lake -  DH and I used to bring the kids here when they were little.

The next photos are of us having coffee in a converted old house opposite the lake:

DH in silhouette

Dear Uncle

DU again

The next three photos are of a family of swans by the lake.  We have had 11 years of drought in Victoria, which only broke last year.  Lake Wendouree went dry and the swans went away.  Now they are back with a vengeance - they have bred three times this year.

I thought I had better have a stitching update - during my R@R I was able to get some stitching done.  I have started Virginie at Threadbasket's SAL.  Here is my start on part one:

And, here are a couple of old kitten photos I just found on my phone:

Last thing, don't forget my 'Just because' Giveaway, it closes in two days - you can check it out here.

Also,  as at I am nearly at a 100 followers only four to go  - if I reach 100 by the time the Giveaway closes I will have a second prize to giveaway - not sure what it will be yet but spread the word.

Hugs, Kaye xoxox