Bye bye Miss Pumpkin Pie

You can't see me, but picture me, if you will, breathing a huuuuuge sigh of relief as I sit here sipping some heavenly java. Whence the relief? Well, first of all, this morning I handed in my second Blazing Little Christmas story after a couple of days of dangerously crazy translating. One more story to go (to be handed in next Monday) and then this little old lady is off on her hols to Germany. My second reason for sighing blissfully is because after months of internet deprivation, I am finally online, officially, legally and hopefully, forever. Which means I can blog my little socks off and visit you lot too. Isn't that marvellous? Within reason, of course. I still have that darned Christmas story to finish.

There's not a whole lot to tell you, actually. I could bore you to tears with tales of my patch, but I decided not to go down that road again, unless I'm really bursting to tell you something exciting. But I've discovered not a whole lot of people find growing pumpkins exciting. Every time I mention my gorgeous patch to people who love me, they go glassy eyed and shrug their shoulders and look at me as if to say that they love me regardless. So, no more pumpkin stories. Stitching stories are what you're all waiting for, I gather, so stitching stories is what you'll get.
I'm sure you've read about our wonderful Stitch & Bitch day over at Harmien's last Thursday? It was indeed as fabulous as the other girls proclaimed, and two of us bitchies came bearing gifts! Rachael brought coffee of the yummiest kind from her local Starbuck's, and Barbara actually found the time to stitch us all some beautiful gifts. Of course, mine was beautifullest of all, and here it is:



Barbara changed the colours the design called for to my favourite blues. She knows me so well :o)))) And the backing fabric, girls, well...I say fabric, but that doesn't do it justice, really. It's a piece of antique lace, featuring a plant I promised I wouldn't mention here anymore. Here's a pic of the back. Notice the prop? (Sorry, I can't help myself, I'm that proud).

In between translating steamy love scenes and visiting friends, I also found time to do a little stitching and finishing of my own. Here's the latest addition to my needlework set:

The owl is just a tiny element from a wonderful chart by Abbey Lane designs, called All Things. I usually use the chart for the cute birds that are perfect for filling up empty spots on Neighbourhood RRs.
Here's my needlework set in full, as it is now:

It's really starting to look like something, isn't it?

It's only ten in the evening, so I think I'm going to do a little more work on Judith's Neighbourhood. I've completely lost track of who's sending whose to whom and when they´re supposed to be sending it, but the date of July 15th is firmly stamped on my brain, somehow. Should be doable.
Ha! Ever the optimist...

Time for some more coffee, methinks :o)