~ And Finally...

after really lagging behind this month, I have finished my November onrnament in my SAL with Sandra. This month we stitched the With My Needle pin keep from the JCS Ornament 2006 book and it is the 4th in a series of five designs from this designer. Next month is our last ornament and will be the 5th and last one in the series. I just can't believe how quickly this year has passed and it seemed no time since Sandra and I started our little stitch-along.

Here is Sandra's version ...

and my version ...

I have finished something else which is for a Christmas gift so I can't show that as yet. Another little gift I have finished recently is this little pincushion. You may remember the three gorgeous pincushions I received as a gift from my DF Mary back in July. Well this is a similar one I made for my friend, Shirley.

It was fun to make.
Apart from these bits and pieces, progress has been a bit slow on any other WIP's this month. Oh well, there is always next month.
I recently received my lastest pair of Ginghers which are called Sarah. Of course I had to have these as my first Labrador was called Sarah. She was a very beautiful girl and we had her from the age of 10 weeks until she went to Rainbow Bridge at the age of 15 and a quarter. She grew up with the children and was a very special part of our family. "Run free sweet Sarah"

I can't remember where I first saw this picture but look at these little darlings. Too cute but I really hope they were there only for a split second to get the photo and someone underneath to protect them!!!!

~ Empty Nest Syndrome ~

Well, they have flown the nest and boy was it scary. Not just for the babies but for DH and I as their 'birdie grans'.

Yesterday, I just happened to see them both sitting on a branch at the top of the nest and couldn't believe my eyes as the day before they were still inside the nest albeit getting rather big to fit. DH and I just watched as they both preened their little feathers and kind of fluttered and flapped in the tree getting further away from the nest. One went but I didn't see him leave and then the other little one was left and started crying. It was heart wrenching as he cried and cried and so did I :(( He tried flapping and fluttering but just didn't have the courage or strength to take off. DH and I were getting quite distraught too and couldn't do anything although instinctively you just want to help. Mumma bird came back and was flying back and forth and I think trying to encourage her little one to take off. Finally after a very long time he kind of fluttered and hopped with Mumma encouraging and staying close by and fluttered part way around the garden all the while with DH and I watching in trepidation.

Amazingly, I found No1 birdie sitting in a tree nearby but he seemed to be the stronger of the two and appeared quite happy but no 2 was still causing us concern and I think by this stage was just exhausted and spent the afternoon in a bush with Mumma fluttering around close by. I was concerned as to whether she would continue to feed him now he was away from the nest but Sandra, you were right. She has continued to be close by and we are happy to report this morning have heard and seen baby with Mumma still nearby. We worry about the neigbouring cats and predators but now the littlies who we have become quite attached to are out in the big, scary, real world and there really is nothing we can do.

Hope you make it little ones and have a long, safe and happy life. Every time we see one of that particular honey eater now in our garden, we will be wondering if it is one of 'our birds' :)

PS We will leave the nest there for you just in case you feel inclined to come back to use it again and thanks for sharing this wonderful experience with us .

Not a lot I can show you this week in the stitching department but I am quietly working away in the background on a few bits and pieces. My SAL with Sandra this month is not making much progress but I must get onto it as Sandra already has her version stitched and probably assembled by now as well.

There is an oldie that I still love and is quite appropriate I think given my 'birdie' post today.

It is Prairie Schooler "Prairie Garden"'

My Shadow, thankfully continues to be in good health without any further seizures. Here is the handsome fellow today :)))))

I had seen this gorgeous picture a long time ago somewhere but came across it again today on the Legacy Embroiderers board. You may have already seen it but isn't it just so special !!

That little boy looks a lot lot my little boy......well, he is 34 now but when he was little:))) I just love that.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the
flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is
come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
~ Solomon

Until next time.....

OH MY GOODNESS!!

I have to edit my last post to add some good news!!

We have just been out to take a look at the little one and lo and behold.....both babies are side by side in the tree!! How wonderful is that. About 20 metres away from their nest. All is quiet now and No2 is happy to be joined with his nestmate.

~ This and That ~

The babies continue to grow but are causing us some concern as the nest seems to have tipped on an angle and we are unsure what to do. We are concerned for the safety of the little ones but fear if we start to intervene by trying to adjust it, Mrs Bird may not like the fact that we have handled things. What to do ?? Such a dilemma. I know that in nature this is what happens but we are concerned about predators and also the fact that the babies might fall out!! We did manange to get a photo this week and although a bit hard to see, here they are...

Well....we decided rightly or wrongly we had to do something as the babies were on the verge of toppling right out. DH tied the nest up and poor Mrs B was quite frantic and let it be known but we couldn't let anything happen. The babies are quite vocal now ~ well tiny, tiny little chirping is coming from the nest and I can just see two little beaks wide open waiting for mumma to come back to feed them. It is really hot here today so hope they don't get too hot out there. Oh dear, this really is quite nerve wrecking.

I can now show you my finish that I spoke about in my last entry. It was a gift for my dear friend Mary's birthday which is today and I know she has now received it. I didn't want to show you in case Mary happened to drop by my blog and see it.
Anyway, "Happy Birthday Mary" and hope you are having a lovely day.

I stitched an Indigo Rose design ~ Mary's Pin Pillow for her which I thought was appropriate because of the name. I changed the colours from the original design and stitched it with Thread Gatherer and Gloriana Threads both called by the same name ~ Dried Roses. I love that name as it seems to just perfectly describe the colour.

This week the posty brought me something nice too. My new Gingher's arrived. I now have Roberta design added to my collection which brings the total of my Ginghers to eleven pairs.

My beautiful shadow is here at my feet as I write today and is more special and loved than ever (if that is at all possible) after giving us a very scary experience the other night. I won't go into detail as I find it really hard but he gave us a big scare and although the vet suggested a 'wait and watch' approach, it seems he may have had an epileptic seizure. We have found out it is quite a common thing in dogs and we hope this might have just been an isolated incident.

"Love you big boy"

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

~Anonymous