I checked over my stitching last week and discovered that I'd
miscounted on the placement of the bone, and it was off by half
a stitch. I suppose that I could have left it, but it would have
tainted my pleasure in this piece when it was done, so I ripped
it out and re-stitched it. I am satisfied. My first Lizzie Kate
project. Love the colours in this one.


I started another project from the same Lizzie Kate leaflet
as Bone Appetit, this one called Bippity Boppity Boo!! I
only have the lettering and a fancy button to put on this
and it will be done. The same threads used for Bone were
used for this piece as well.

My first time stitching with Weeks Dye Works threads too.
Is it my imagination or do you find that these threads fray
at the ends and split the thread?? Threading the needle
with them is a real pain. I guess if I use them more often
I'll get use to them. But I think that I prefer Crescent
Colours.


I was naughty, and ventured into the world of Ebay a few
weeks ago. I bid on, and won, a pile of Shepherd's Bush
and Lizzie Kate charts. They arrived this week and I've
been enjoying just looking through them and dreaming.
I only have one other Shepherd's Bush chart, also won
on Ebay some time ago, and I'm looking forward to
stitching something of theirs.


The Lizzie Kate charts in the pictures above and below were
also a part of this Ebay win. Some of them I will keep to
stitch, and others will be passed on. I like that there are
designs here for both Easter and Christmas, as well as for
every day.


I also ordered some threads from Stitching Bits and Bobs
for various projects (not pictured) and I ordered a few
Threadworx threads as well, just because I love them so
much. Just look at these colours!! I think they are just
gorgeous.

The Dinky Dyes chart in the above picture was also a
part of this order, and came with the silks needed to
stitch the design. A very pretty design. Just hope I
can stretch the threads provided (not complete skeins)
to last through the whole design.


Mom is still in the hospital, and has been diagnosed with
C-Defacile (pardon spelling) which is an infection that
causes diarrhea and can be quite serious. She's responding
well to treatment, but will probably not be allowed to
move to the rehab centre until she is clear of the infection.
Since entering hospital at the end of August she has lost
14 pounds. The nurses have her out of bed for little
walks around her room (she's quarantined because of
the infection) and she sits up in a wheelchair for
awhile each day.

I've gotten very behind in my blog visits and commenting
this week because life has been getting in the way, as it
tends to do. I developed the cold that my DH passed on to
me, and although it hasn't been as bad as some I've had, it
has left me feeling very drained and tired when combined
with work and trips to the hospital.

And after five weeks of going to visit Mom at the hospital
every night, or day in the case of weekends, my DH has
suggested that it's time to cut back a bit, before I end up
in hospital with her. So reluctantly I've agreed to start
going every other night during the week. We'll have to
start doing that anyways when she's moved to Rehab
because it'll be too far to go to every night.

This is the draw back of being an only child....or one of
them. There is no one else to share the visiting with. I
feel sick about Mom not having someone visiting her
every day, knowing how long and tedious those days
can be. And being sick I'm taking a chance visiting her
as it is, although I don't go near her, keep my face
covered, and use the hand sanitizer religiously.

Adding to the stress, I've applied for a job opening at
work which would make me officially full time. Right
now I'm working full time hours while being seconded
to a position while someone is on maternity leave. I
had an over the phone interview today. Was my
brain functioning enough to handle something like
that?? Ha! Do I really care?? Not so much.


Last week I chose to read a book based on Egyptian
history which was a wonderful, well written, well
researched read. I saw Michelle Moran's book Nefertiti
mentioned on several blogs this summer and it sounded
good, and received good reviews, so I added it to my
TBR pile. And it lived up to expectations.

Many of us know about Nefertiti because of the magnificent
bust that was found many years ago of her. She was the
consort of, and may have been crowned Pharaoh alongside
her husband Amunhotep. She was greatly beloved of the
Egyptian people and adored by her husband.

The book tells of the lives of both Nefertiti, and of her
younger half sister Mutnodjmet who are the daughters
of Ay, a powerful vizier in service to Pharaoh. Nefertiti
is married to the young, arrogant Amunhotep and soon
becomes adored by the Egyptian people for her beauty
and her charismatic style. As ambitious for power as
she is beautiful Nefertiti strives to hold her husbands
affection and his favour, while diverting his attention
from any and all rivals.

Mutnodjmet, by comparison, is not the great beauty
that her sister is, but is keenly observant and intelligent.
She does not desire power or wealth, but wishes only to
find a home and a life of her own, preferably away from
the increasingly dangerous and unstable rule of
Amunhotep.

Mutnodjmet falls in love with a general in Pharaoh's
army, but their union is opposed by Amunhotep who
fears and hates the army, and by Nefertiti who wishes
to keep her sister close by her side to help her stablize
and bolster her position. Torn, Mutnodjmet must
choose between the expectations and responsibilites
of loyalty to her family, or to fight for the life that she
desires and the man that she loves.

This is one juicy read. A fascinating time in Egypt's
history, when the obsessive dreams of one man
threatened to destroy a nation, and the intrigues and
power struggles within the court were as complex as
the moves in a deadly game of chess.

Michelle Moran has filled her book with richly
detailed descriptions of life during that time period,
which adds greatly to the narritive and she brings
that world to life on every page. I enjoyed this one
very much and look forward to reading her next book
which is called The Heritic Queen. Oh boy!!


My first mammogram experience turned out to be a positive
one. I had a great technition who explained everything to me
before we got started and who was thorough but quick as
possible during the procedure. I got a clean bill of health as
a result of the test, and don't have to go back for two years.

As Cathey might say, the girls got a bit of a workout, and there
were a few moments of discomfort but I gritted my teeth and
got through it. And the piece of mind is worth the price.

A shout out to Dani who did the Run for the Cure on
Sunday. She RAN the entire race and raised over $700.00
for Breast Cancer research. Congratulations Dani!!

Deb, L.J. Smith has written many books for Young Adults
and about 10 years ago I read a series that she wrote
about Vampires. I enjoyed them but they were fairly
light reading. The stories in the book that I just got
appear to be better written, judging by the quick flick
that I did through the book before putting it in the
TBR pile downstairs. We'll see if they live up to
first impressions when I do read them.


As you can see I've decorated for Autumn. These are
pictures from the livingroom. It's been cool around here
during the past few weeks, and we may see frost tonight.
But by the weekend it may warm up to almost 70 degrees.
That would be so nice. A bit of Indian Summer.

Thank you everyone for your kind remarks about
Cottage Garden. They are very much appreciated.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Thanks for
stopping by. Take care.