a delayed FNSI result

What a week!   I NEED to stop and get off at the next station....just for a little bit!

I'm so sorry our FNSI draw has been delayed but unforeseen things have been happening in our world....and all at once!

I mentioned our bathroom reno was starting......well.......our building crew are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  They started Wednesday and already by Saturday, despite a number of setbacks, they had the bathroom, toilet and bedroom re-sheeted, the bath and shaving cabinet installed and now we're waiting for the tiles to arrive. I've never seen such enthusiasm and dedication to work....they only stopped for a short lunch break after starting at 7 each morning and on Thursday evening they worked through till 7pm as they were drilling the concrete up for the plumbing!  I've never seen such a thing before.

Whilst this was happening, the electricity was on and off a number of times so I couldn't stitch, blog or much else I hoped to do.
....and then on Monday, the fridge decided to have a hissy-fit!   Thank goodness we didn't have to buy another, but we are waiting for parts to repair it.....just add it to the list!

My father in law had another turn on Saturday night so we called the ambulance and he was taken to hospital.  We were there till midnight when he was admitted and he is still in there.  On Monday my MIL and I had an appointment with the nursing home to try and get placement, but that's a looooong process.  Dad's getting more settled but he's still in the hospital and looks like coming home on the weekend.   Mum's had a bit of a rest without him at home but it's unsettling for her too, after 60 years of marriage watching your life-partner disappear before your very eyes.

Sunday we had an appointment to visit our newest members of our family.....  Meet Bailey and Mocha....

 This little pair are Burmese kittens - 3 weeks old and are browns.  My husband has always wanted Burmese cats and we made a pact that after Charlie had passed, we'd think about getting one.  Well, we are adopting two....a little brother and sister born in Finch Hatton at the Bootlace Cattery.    Two, so they can keep each other company.   I was thinking of calling them Bailey and Khalua after two favourite tipples, but could you imagine calling them???  (We had daschunds when I was a child and they were named - Whiskey, Brandy and Shandy..... so I had to keep the tradition alive!!!)  Here is the rest of the litter with mum...

She looks black but she's a dark brown and very relaxed -the kittens take after her! *bonus* 

Can you see the variation in colours?  There are a couple of blue kittens (grey colouring) and three browns...that one in front is our little girl.....just too cute!  We get to pick them up the week after Christmas as they will be microchipped and spayed at 12 weeks.  It's just so exciting!

Yesterday, hubby had to escort a load back from the bush so I accompanied him for the drive.  

I love watching him work.....he can manouvre those huge machines onto the backs of those trucks with the teeniest of spaces to spare without any trouble whatosoever!  

Back to FNSI.....so I did manage to get something done.....not what I planned but as we spent much of the night in with Mum, helping calm Dad, I did get some more of my cross stitch completed....and it took my mind off things. 

It's coming along quite nicely...I've completed the entire right side, now I'm moving onto the left.  Just like quilting and sewing, there was a little 'reverse stitching' happening as it was hard to concentrate fully, but it was still relaxing and "bonus", I got some more completed!

I've been messaging a new blogger whose joined in this month with us for FNSI.  Make sure you pop over and say a big Hi and Welcome to Sue.  Her blog is HERE.  I love the encouragment we receive from each other as bloggers and especially new bloggers.  I can remember how scary and unsettling it was putting myself  'out there' on the web for the very first time!  Sue and I are in the same swap group so I'm loving  being able to see what she's up to.

Our prize this month is a mini charm pack called "Aria" by Kate Spain for Moda.  Such pretty colours, I'm sure whoever wins it will make something beautiful.

 Now for the draw...........
from the 23 friends who joined with me on Friday night and using our Random Number Generator -

CONGRATULATIONS

Christine

I'll pop your prize in the mail and you should get it soon!  Thanks everyone for your patience and for joining in this month.  Next month, FNSI for November (can you believe it!?) will be on the 17th with sign ups on the blog from the 13th  - jot it in your diaries so you don't forget....you know how busy our schedules get!

in the meantime, big sugary hugs xox :o) 

Busy-ness and FNSI sign ups

Yes, it's that time again.....FNSI is THIS Friday Night and my favourite time of the month....where I get to stitch and relax with all my stitching friends.

Don't you love that time too?  A bit of a selfish indulgence, but I prefer to think of it as creative sanity time....or just plain ol' sanity time!

Yesterday I'd planned to get so much done at home, including this post, but a quick trip to Townsville, where my boy has moved, to take him to the eye specialist took priority.  He has a condition called Keratoconus  which he's just recently been to Brisbane to have surgery for on his left eye  (surgery on his right eye was 5 years ago).  Unfortunately he hasn't been able to work since as he works with computers and his eyes can't focus, nor can he drive as he can't see the difference between traffic lights, so he can't even get to work.  This can take up to 12 months to improve so we would love your prayers as we've now found, apart from hard contact lenses, (which cost upward of $1600 a pair and he needs two pairs!), time is the only thing that MAY bring some improvement....or a corneal transplant down the track.

So while I was there, I gave him a hand setting up house.  He and his girlfriend moved about 4 weeks ago for his job, then he had surgery, now he can't work.  While Tiana was working, we thought we'd surprise her by getting the pantry 'built' (well... putting a flatpack together is technically building isn't it?).  As Nick can't read the instructions and finding the screw holes is a challenge, I took on the role of chief constructor!  Pretty proud of our handiwork.....what do you think?

It also gave me a chance to play with my new fur grandbaby.....meet Miss Rosie....

She is the sweetest little doxie-poo....a dachshund crossed with a poodle.  She's 7 weeks old and 900 grams...teeny but boy, what a personality!  She's just gorgeous and yes, I am biased!

I got home at 4 and we went over to see dad-in-law.  He's had another turn and seems he's had a bladder infection.  He's getting more and more confused though and wants to tear down the walls of the house and build new, better ones so he can move his furniture to his house. He's really not sure where he is.   Last night he had to catch a plane but he wasn't sure where to or why, just very insistent....dementia really is very cruel.  He's been off to the doctor today and they've upped his meds so hopefully that will help.

I did manage to get some sewing done last week.....working on Mr B's 'Diggers 'n Dozers' quilt.

It's starting to take shape but I'm going to need to make quite a few more blocks.  Maybe this Friday night?  What have you planned to do for our Friday night get-together?  Join in and link up so we can support one another in getting things done.   Link up is below and remember, one lucky person will win a prize just for joining in!

I'm off to empty out my bathroom.....we've got the builders coming tomorrow to tear it out and start again!  That job I talked about HERE....it's finally taking shape!  I'll share photos later in the week!
In the meantime...don't forget to sign up!

xox sugary hugs :o)