I just had to tell you...

It's been a dull old day - not at all like summer!  Temperature has barely reached 20C (average for this time of year around 26/27C).  For a long time I had promised myself I would sort out all of my embroidery threads and 'catalogue' them.  Today was a great day to do it.

As I was sitting at my kitchen table sorting and winding and labelling I heard a bit of a commotion outside.  Got up to look and saw the funniest antics I've seen in a long time - just had to tell you!

Over the past week or so there's been a family of magpie birds around the yard.  Mum and possibly Dad - with 3 big babies.  I say big because they look big - but they're still getting food from Mum as well as picking around the garden.

Three youngsters were having a total scrap!  I got my camera and got a few shots!  They were more like puppies or kittens than birds.  I was laughing to myself so hard!

One of them found an old corn husk in the compost heap and was playing with it like a dog would a bone.  Sibling arrives on the scene and tries to take it away.  No way, Jose!  First baby runs quickly to my laundry trolley and hops up into the peg basket.  Deposits the husk in and picks up a red peg.  All the while the other two siblings are trying their best to antagonise and get up to the corn husk.  Eventually when the three of them were back on terra firma, another little tussle ensued.  Biting each other's tails, rolling on backs, pecking, pecking!  Oh it was such a delight to watch!

I stood there at the kitchen window and hubby joined me - thoroughly entertaining!  Eventually the scuffle broke up and they continued their meandering around the garden.  I looked out a little while later as it seemed quiet and one of the babies had fallen asleep on the fence. So cute!

Love all of God's creatures!

Anyway I did manage to get all of the floss sorted and even ended up with a bag of duplicates.  Felt satisfied that the job that I'd put off for so long was done.

Blessings!

PS (sorry about the spacing of the photos. I don't seem to be able to do anything about it this time)

ANGEL CROSS STITCH

Haven't decided what kind of frame to use for this little treasure - thought I'd post the pics meantime. (excuse the fact that it's not quite square in the pic)

The 'A Is For Angel' is a design by Sandra Cox Vanosdall and is stitched on 28 count Summer Khaki Cashel Linen. I enjoyed stitching this little piece but found the fluffy 'Wisper' thread used for the lower edge of the angel's dresses rather difficult to work with. Two strands were used for this area and I though it rather thick however 1 strand would probably not have been effective.

The little keyrings were fun to do and very quick. I purchased them in a kit form at Balmoral Castle while in Scotland recently and I especially like the little "Heiland Coo".

Blessings!

TWO FINISHED STITCHINGS - FRAMED

Grandchildren are Special is a Dimensions design which I bought many years ago as a kit and stitched periodically, but never finished completely as there was always the possibility of another little one coming into the family. Once I was reasonably sure that 6 would be the limit, I finished it off . That was 2 years or so ago and have only just had it framed.




Heirloom Homecoming Sampler, design by Thea Dueck, is my first attempt at multiple stitches in a piece as well as hardanger. I was very nervous about cutting the threads for that but it did seem to be OK once I got the 'hang' of it. I was rather sad I wasn't able to purchase the little heart buttons and the mother of pearl rice beads to finish it off but despite trying a number of places, wasn't able to locate them so just went ahead and had it framed without. For people who don't know what the actual pattern is, they probably won't be missed.

BULL BY THE HORNS?

Well - at least scissors cutting thread!

I did it - I 'bit the bullet' as we say here 'down-under'. (In other words I gritted my teeth and did it - even though I was nervous of making a mess of it)

Here's the result.