Smashing pumpkins

Before I start, I have to warn you that there is only one link in this post while there should be about five. I started looking for the links, but then I found I didn't have any more time. Sorry ladies!

I do love you all, you know. You´re all so optimistic and hopeful that my pumpkin plants will actually morph into pumpkin pumpkins! All the tips about how to keep them dry, how to make them grow... I must say I don't see it happening, but there you go. Today, I planted the last batch of pumpkin plants in the garden. It had been raining all day, but when there was a dry spell around two this afternoon, I decided to dash back home and put the buggers in the soil. Of course, what do you know, I get the pumpkins and the gardening tools out, along with the potting soil and what have you, and it starts raining again. So while golf ball sized drops of rain pelted on my bare back (due to my T-shirt being a tiny little thing that, in all honesty, shouldn't be worn by over-twenties, let alone over-thirties or near-forties) I gave my last nine pumpkins there final resting place - for the time being. And now I have to admit I would be a little disappointed if this was it, if I couldn't enjoy the fruits of my labour around Halloween.

Speaking of Halloweeeeeen, remember I wanted to start a Halloweeny chart? To keep myself in a pumpkin-y state of mind? I found the one! I have Judith's Neighbourhood Round Robin here, and she wanted us to stitch Maryse's houses. Guess which one I picked? Right! October. Thus mixing business with pleasure. In all fairness, I would have chosen my birthday month (November) if that one hadn't already been stitched by someone else. Here's my start. It ain't much, but at least it's proof that I am actually stitching.

You may be wondering whence the title of this post originated. I mean, you've read about the pumpkins (again! Sorry, it will be a while before I get those out of my system). Unfortunately, the 'smashing' bit has nothing to do with pumpkins, and everything to do with the fact that I parked my car against a Volkswagen Golf this afternoon. Rather forcefully. Why is it that I managed to cruise around the country for seventeen years without even hitting a fly, and that lately I've been involved in one crash after another? Perhaps I should concentrate on driving a bit more. You know, rather than thinking about stitching, growing pumpkins, wondering which book to read next. Maybe reserve those thoughts for more appropriate and safer times. Oh, fortunately for me, it was only my poor Chevy that was hurt. The Volkswagen has a severe limp, but it will live.

Good grief, but I am rambling today, and there´s precious little rambling about stitching. Admit it, you think so too! Well, just to please you, I started and finished a little scissors´ fob today, too.

This is a fun primitive Quaker freebie by the wonderful Aury. The shape of the backstitched line around the bunnikins is a bit weird, but while I was backstitching all around it in a straight line, I noticed the fob was going to be so big it would be better suited to adorn my garden shears. Hence the curve. Hope it helps. Now for the finishing: I haven´t decided how to go about it yet. Shall I use one of these fantastically fabulous fabbies,

or do you think it would look better with a stitched back? Slap a name on the lad, initials, date, that sort of thing? I think I'm going to ponder all the possibilities over the weekend. I have the weekend off, because today I handed in the first of my Harlequin Christmas Special stories (entitled 'A Blazing Little Christmas') and I deserve a break. This break will involve family visits and munching 'poffertjes' in a lovely little town called Laren. And hopefully, I'll do some stitching too.

Have yourself a blazing little weekend! Until next time :o)