Look what was in my garden this morning

A lovely king parrot.  He was at the birdbath when I saw him first, but by the time I found my camera, restrained the dog, and got thesecurity door opened quietly, he had ventured down onto the ground.  What a lovely way to start the day!

WIPocalypse Progress Post, September

Another month gone - truly, I am having great trouble adapting to the speed at which this year is passing.  Less than three months to Christmas ... already I am surrupticiously sorting out my Chrismas boxes and making decisions about where I will place my Christmas things this year.

I am pleased to say that things have settled down a little in my house, and it's not as bad as I thought it was earlier in the month.  My partner's Mum has fnally accepted that her car is gone, and though she's a little down, and often puzzled about why the car  isn't there, she is adjusting to her changed lifestyle.  She still forgets she has Alzhemers Disease, but has found a hostel she likes, and has decided that's where she wants to go - eventually.  'But I'm not ready yet' is her catch cry.

I've just come home from my Dad's 90th birthday lunch.  He seemed to enjoy himself, and spent most of his time watching and talking with his great-grandchildren (Miss 2 and Master 5).  His gifts are still unopened - I've left that for another day, as he got quite tired (as I did!) and needed to go home to rest.  I noticed he ate very little, but he did manage to drink two middies of old (beer), so that probably accounts for some of the tiredness.  My lunch was delicious - lovely light pan-seared gnocchi with roast pumpkin, sage, and kalamata olives.  I really did enjoy it. Good freshly made gnocchi is an absolute favourite of mine, and this one was so light and tasty.

I've stitched nothing but Christmas ornaments this month - OK, the truth is I've stitched nothing but Christmas ornaments since I finished my HAED Jolly Old Fellow in late June.  I'm working through my stitching list, and have only a few ornaments left to stitch now.

The last three I stitched were all the same basic design, from LA's Christmas Caboodle leaflet.  I framed these three in star-shaped gold-cloured frames.  This is the last one I finished (last night):

This one is for the latest member of my extended family - my sister's grand-puppy (the odd shaped pale shapes in the stocking are meant to be bones, and I included a ball as Miss Tilly loves chasing a ball).

Here are the other two little stockings, which are Christmas gifts for the children of my new neighbours:

 

 

 

And here are the other ornaments I finished this month:

 

 

 

 

I did credit the designers in earlier posts.  The 'Christmas is Love' designs (stitched for former workmates and long-term friends) is by Sam Hawkins from the '50 Santas to Cross Stitch ' book.  The angel design was charted for plastic canvas as part of an Advent calendar, and is by Barbara Mock.

 

 

 



Two more little Christmas gift ornaments

My favourite Christmas design for children - from LA's Christmas Caboodle leaflet (1986).  This pair is stitched on 22 count hardanger, one thread over one.  As usual, I changed all the colours and some of the design.  It may not look like it, but the designs are in gold coloured frames.

OK - who broke the mirror that had my name on it?

There has to be some explanation for what's happening around me - the universe is throwing blows at me and mine!  I know it's not nice to whinge, but that's what I feel like doing right now!  Here's what's happening in my life:

• My partner's mother was diagnosed with early Alzheimers Disease, which is progressing very quickly,, and this week we had to take her car from her as her drivers licence was revoked.  Because of her poor short-term memory, she forgets that she has Alzheimers, and that she has lost her licence, so everytime we have to confront her with the facts it is like it's the first time she has heard it, and she grieves each time.  It's heart-beaking - and I know it's going to get a lot worse before too much longer.
• My Dad (who has dementia and has been in care for 2 years, and is about to turn 90 this month) is spiralling down into a depressive phase, and is so very sad that he has attempted self-harm (again).  For several days he refused food and medications, but at least he is eating now and taking some medications, so I'm hopeful he will continue to improve.
• I got a headcold that led to sinusitis, then asthma, then bronchitis, and it just won't clear, and  I feel miserable, and my head pounds everytime I cough (which is often!).
• Tree roots pushed on the wall of the pergola, weakening the structure, and causing it to become so unsafe that it had to be pulled down.
• The long-term tenant in my rental unit left without notice (for medical reasons), taking only his clothes and valuables, and leaving the unit full of possessions and furniture (but in a clean state).  It turns out that he was an avid op-shopper and hoarder, and he lived in the unit for 12 years.  I have spent weeks emptying the unit and cleaning it.  In doing so, I discovered that charity shops are extremely particular about what furniture and donations they will accept.  Things that seemed to me to be very usable items in good condition were unacceptable to some charities, but acceptable to others - the trick was working out who would take what!
• It sounds as though my car is developing clutch problems - I know the symptoms, as the clutch was replaced just 60,000 km ago (seems very recent!)
• A hive of bees moved into the cavity brick external wall of my loungeroom, and I had to call a pestman and have them removed - now I feel like a bee murderer.  To make it worse, stray bees keep returning to the hive (now sealed up) flying around aimlessly looking lost.

I'm sure it will seem better in the morning - if I can get some sleep between coughs.    I think I'll go out and buy a lottery ticket tomorrow -  I think I'm due for a change of luck.

I've popped back in (sleep being elusive tonight) to add a pic of the two Christmas ornaments i've just finished up.  These are for two friends and workmates who are regular Christmas visitors.  The design is by Sam Hawkins, from his '50 Santas' cross stitch book.  I added the holly and beaded borders. Actually, the picture doesn't really do them justice - they look much prettier in reality - or is that my bias showing?





Angel ornament finished

This is a Christmas gift for a gorgeous little girl who will turn 2 just before Christmas.  The Angel chart is by Barbara Mock - from her 1999 Dimensions booklet "Santa is Coming" #301.  It is charted for plastic canvas, as one of the ornaments on the Advent Calendar.  I changed all the floss colours, used beads for the wings, and added the stitched and beaded borders.

My next project will also be a Christmas Ornament, but I haven't decided on a design yet.