They are stitched over 1 on 22 count hardanger. The trees are adapted from Dale Burdett's Country Tree design (from her booklet DB 132, A Mini Christmas, 1990). I have to admit to stitching this design frequently - it's one of my favourites. I do usually change the tree decorations.
On a sadder note, my Madalyn (14 yr old Maltese Terrier) has been very ill in the past week. Last Tuesday she was very distressed, with laboured rapid breathing, racing heartbeat, and distended abdomen. As I was getting ready to take her to the vet she fitted. It's not the first time she has had a fit, but I have never seen her as physically distressed as she was that morning. I rushed her to the vet's surgery, and she was admitted for treatment of heart failure and pulmonary oedema. They gave her a medications and oxygen, and took an X-Ray which showed her heart was enlarged, there was a lot of fluid in and around her lungs, and also her liver, spleen, kidney, and lymph nodes were all enlarged. The vet was doubtful she would survive the day. She spent the morning in a humidicrib having oxygen, and surprisingly, she responded to the combination of treatment. The vet was negative about her chances of pulling through, but we decided to bring her home on oral heart and fluid tablets, and an analgesic. She was like a little rag doll, but gradually improved, and today she is almost back to normal behaviourally, though her breathing is still fast at times. She goes back to see the vet on Monday, so I'm keen to get his opinion of her progress. I am very pleased with how she is coming along. I hope that now she is on medication for her heart we can keep her heart failure under control. This is the first time she's had a problem with her heart.
This is one of my favourite recent photos of Maddie - it's not the most flattering, but it does capture her charm - or am I just biased?
