~Hello, It's Me, ~

Ben, (aka here as Shadow ~ mum's shadow that is!!) ..... Just dropping by to say hello as our friend Mimi mentioned to my mum that I hadn't made an appearance here in a while. Mummy said she was right that I hadn't and so yesterday, mum and I did a bit of a photo shoot.

I don't know if you realise this but it actually takes a fair amount of sleeping and lying around to look this good so that is probably why most of the photos mummy takes of me are when I am working on doing that. Anyway, it was a lovely winter's day here in the sub-tropics yesterday and so I made the most of my 'work' outside in the sun. Here are a few shots to show you just how hard this is. Mum said she liked how the shadows from the Frangipani tree are over me. The tree of course has no leaves on it just now and I think it just looks like a big monster.

You can see in these photos that I got sick of 'posing' and needed another little nap.

Mum said, to tell you that I do like to be active sometimes and recently when we had our friend to stay, they took me to the beach and I had a really good run and a swim. I like the water.

That same day, mum and her friend decided they were going to have a coffee at a cafe that was near the water and to test me out to see if I could be a good boy and behave while they did it. The coffee place allows doggies to be there if they can behave. Well, I am sure mummy didn't think I would but she kept giving me little treats which kept me happy and I was good (wasn't I mum???) Well, there was one incident that mum said reminded her a bit of "Marley and Me", I didn't take off with the table like Marley did but I did almost pull mum off her chair when I wanted to greet another dog that I saw there. Anyway, we had a lovely time at the beach and cafe.

Just to finish off, I want to show you what I have to endure sometimes and let me know what you think.....


This is me last night when mum thought I might be feeling the cold a bit. She tucked me up with a blankie. I didn't really like to say anything as I didn't want to seem ungrateful so I just let her do it. Us Labradors like to please you know.
So thanks for visiting our blog. Mum and me love to have visitors so drop by anytime.

Bye for now.

"Labradors [are] lousy watchdogs. They usually bark when there is a stranger about, but it is an expression of unmitigated joy at the chance to meet somebody new, not a warning."

~Norman Strung

~ Christmas in July?? ~

Hello, I am still around but have been a tad busy recently. Not too much to show in the way of my stitching although I am still plugging away on my current SAL which I have to say has got a little behind recently as I have had a friend visiting and we have had lots to catch up on and by the time evening came around - well, I only seemed to be able to managed a few stitches before I could feel my eyes becoming heavy!! Oh well, I will be racing to catch up this week. Can't have Sandra getting way ahead now can I LOL!!

I have something very beautiful to show you though. My visiting friend was asked to bring me a gift from our mutual very dear and long time friend, Wendy (NZ). Now you may remember me showing you back last year of the beautiful Christmas stocking Wendy had quilted and beaded. Well look who was the lucky recipient of one of these masterpieces.

Not only did I receive the stocking, Wendy also made me the beautiful wine bottle cover as well. My photos just don't do these justice as the hand quilting and beading is just superb. The Poinsettias and Holly berries are so real looking. The stocking is lined with gorgeous green and gold Christmas themed fabric and the back of the stocking is corduroy velvet. I hope you can click to enlarge and see the detail. I love them dear friend and feel so special that you made these for me. Thank you!!

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson