SAL Update

A quick update on my iStitch SAL - this is part III completed.  I am really enjoying this SAL even if I am a little behind.  Part IV arrived into my inbox today and I plan to work on this tonight at quilt group - yes I know it's not a quilt, however I don't have the time to go looking for and organising something more quilty for today.
I also have progress to share with you on my Best Friends SAL - this will have to wait as I have yet to photograph it.  My stitching has been limited to these two projects recently, hopefully that will change shortly.
I'm still (im)patiently waiting for my engagement ring to be returned from being re-made - 2 weeks down possibly 4 more to go.  Still I know that it is worth waiting for!
GB1 seems to have settled into A Level studies quite well, he was so fed up and restless by the end of the holidays that he was beginning to wear everyones' nerves!  We are so very proud of his acheivement with his GCSE exams - 6 A*, 5A & 2 B - who wouldn't be proud?  We're certain that he will carry this on through his A Level studies too.
GB2 is now into his final year of GCSE studies, he's not a naturally studious person and often needs a nudge to keep on top of things, however we know that he will do his best - mostly because we will make him!
LM & I are mostly back into the swing of work, albeit that mine is still on a temporary basis - oh for a Euromillions win & retirement!
Mum is still recovering well from her hip operation and should be released from hospital towards the end of this week and moving into a new residential home.  We're all looking forward to not having the restriction of hospital visiting hours, especially Dad.  Hopefully Mum will settle into the new surroundings quickly and enjoy spending the days with Dad and any other visitors who drop in - there are certainly plenty of them.  I'll be one of them on Friday
I shall leave with a this - somebody told me today that there are 95 days till Christmas!

Kate

iStitch SAL etc

Just a quick update on one of my holiday stitching projects.
This is Part II of the SAL that Carol is currently running.  I was a little late submitting my picture so have just received the chart for Part III today, and I am planning to stitch it this evening at Tuesday Stitching Group.
You must forgive me if I am a little quiet on the blogging front - my Mum had another fall while we were on holiday.  One hip replacement later & fingers crossed that the recouperation continues well.  There's planning afoot this week for physiotherapy to get her mobile again ~ hopefully the upright kind of mobile.
There should have been a family gathering this coming weekend to mark my Dad's 90th birthday ~ I'm not sure what will happen at the moment as I'm quite certain that Dad would prefer to have Mum by his side to mark this fantastic milestone. 
Last weekend was a LM (I may have to re-name him FM - Fiance Man!) family gathering to celebrate his Parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary.  A fabulous time was had by all ~ some more than others I have to say.  We were able to catch up with people we don't see often enough, particularly the two who travelled from Australia.  Lots of people were desperate to see my engagement ring, unfortunately it is still with the designer being re-made to fit!  So they had to content themselves with the picture on my phone ~ as I have to, one week down, possibly still 5 to go before I get to wear it. 
I haven't had a proper look at the photographs from the weekend yet but I should be able to show you the cakes that LM had made for his Mum & Dad at some point ~ they were brilliant and very well received.
Hope you've all weathered the storm safely.
 
Kate

Ta Da!

Haven't had one of these moments for a while ~ well apart from my proposal news!

This is my finished Summer Holiday Exchange piece from the Needlecraft Haven Yuku Group.  Not that we have exactly been having much flip flop weather this summer in the UK!
Stitched on 25ct Floba with the recommended DMC threads which were all sent to me by my secret partner - the reveal is coming up on the group very soon.
I'll show a picture of what I made this into shortly.

Kate

I Have A Little News To Share

Yesterday, while I was here my LM proposed!  We had a lovely day wandering around different places on the Ile de Re and just before we set off back to our temporary home in St-Jean-de-Monts he took me to sit where we could look over the harbour wall and hear the water lapping and asked me to become his wife. 
The sun was shining and the vista was just perfect ~ he's been keeping this secret for some time and decided that this was where we should be.  We visited the Ile de Re  about 3 years ago, again while staying at St-Jean-de-Monts, and fell in love with the whole island.

And didn't he do well choosing a ring too ~ I love it!  We need to go back to the jewellers to have it re-sized when we get home ~ which will be all too soon.  This was secretly packed along with a bottle of champagne ~ we won't be bringing that home!
LM took a video of the moment when he asked my Dad for his blessing so as you can imagine there were a few tears when he played this for me yesterday.  The GB's are with us on holiday and are both delighted by the news ~ GB1 has decided that he will be planning the wedding!
I'm off to enjoy my last few days of French life before we all have to return to the world of school and work.

Kate

PS  I have been stitching too.

It's Raining Again!

Anybody remember that Supertramp song?  Very fitting for today in my part of the world ~ typical UK Bank Holiday Weekend weather!
I hope that whatever you are doing the rain doesn't spoil it for you.

Kate

Tartan Lovely Ness

I first saw these when LM and I were in Scotland with the TVR Club back in April ~ loved them immediately.

Recently I had an email to say the Ness were having an online sale so I thought I would just have a wee look.  I'm not really keen on buying shoes online when I have no experience of the makers sizes.  I took a gamble though and it has paid off ~ last night I walked around the house for an hour or so wearing them, looking down at the tartan gorgeousNess of them and they fit perfectly. 

 I have a dinner date with a few friends tonight and I'm trying to work out what to wear that will allow me to give my new footwear their debut ~ little things!  Speaking of dinner ~ it's a final get together for four of us who worked together before Jen disappears off to Italy for her wedding next week.  I'm looking forward to it.

Hope Tuesday is good to you.

Kate

Kind Words, Flowers & Memories

My latest temporary assignment drew to a close on Friday last week.  Fortunately I have been asked stay on for a while longer to carry out some system reviews and report my findings & recommendations.

To mark the end of my "watch" the MD organised a little thank you ~ these pretty roses were part of it.  I was very touched by the kind words and gifts ~ I've really enjoyed working with the staff there.

Now I have to admit to having a wee irrational phobia where roses are concerned.  When we were young we walked with Dad to visit Grandma & Grandpa each Sunday morning while Mum was busy making lunch and baking.  Often when Dad's roses were in bloom he would cut a bunch to take for Grandma ~ I remember one time when I was carrying said bunch of roses that an earwig came creeping out and I have associated roses with this ever since ~ silly or what?  Our Sunday morning visits were memorable for other reasons too as we were always treated to fizzy orange, cheese puffs and chocolate teacakes while the grown ups were having their cup of tea. 

As gorgeous as these roses are I couldn't keep them at home ~ my Mum has always loved roses so she now has them in her room ~ they brought a smile when I visited on Saturday, I can only wonder at what her thoughts were ~ I bet she wasn't thinking about earwigs though!

My weekend has been full of allsorts ~ shopping, ironing, opticians appointments, organising and wondering what the week ahead will bring.  GB2 has a birthday to celebrate, GB1 has exam results to collect, we have dentist appointments to attend, new glasses to collect and general busy-ness to sort things out for the return to school in September.

Have a good week.

Kate