I received a lovely package from Koalascout! Looks like Agatha had a fabulous time in Georgia


Agatha was returned with a lot of souvenirs from her travels. Jewelry sets in blue and purple (her twin Ursula is purple); name charms for Agatha, Ursuala, and me; crocheted blankets for Agatha and Ursula; travel bingo games; scrapbooking stickers; flavored popcorn from the Scouts (Koalascout's son is in Boy Scouts); a mug from Krispy Kreme; and a photo album of all her adventures.


Close up of Agatha in her jewelry and sitting in the mug


Close up of the other jewelry and charms.


My favorite pictures from the album. Cherry the pup is so cute!

Thanks Koalascout!

Mel and Tom went to a San Francisco Giants game for my birthday today!  Here's Mel in front of the Willie Mays statue outside the stadium. We won the game 8-1!!!

Mel and Tom headed to the California State Fair today!

Astride a golden bear just inside the Fair gates.  Holding on for dear life...


This calf is 1 minute old - born literally 1 minute before this picture was taken. We just happened to wander into the animal nursery at the right time to view this little miracle. I'll spare you the birthing video...


Can you spot the koalas among the flowers and plants at the entry to the California Garden exhibit?

Mel and Tom joined me for one of the most important days of the summer for me - the Wimbledon Mens Final!!!! Up bright and early at 5:30 am on a Sunday!  And although the ultimate outcome wasn't what I would have liked, it was entertaining and that's what really counts, right? RIGHT?! RIGHWJasjkGAAAHHH!!!!!.. I'm ok...anyways, here is a picture...

Oh hello, gallery. How did I miss you for 10 pages?!

Mel and Tom are here in California, visiting from Georgia, but the most exciting thing I've done so far is go to work! We're doing a bit of a re-arrange, so my cubicle is completely empty.  That just means Mel and Tom will have to help me redecorate 


Hanging out with Agatha's twin, Ursula.


Can you spot the koalas?


Of course, climbing the lamptree!

Just sent Agatha (in blue) off to koalascout =)

My questionnaire hasn't been accepted yet, but I'd like to make a LV specifically for this swap.  Here is Teddy who may be going if I don't get my act together in time:

I received from Laural yesterday 

Here's my jaunty little snowman! He is so very dapper with his little scarf.

On a leaf:


Naked!


With a pouch Laural made and a penny for size reference 


I love my jaunty snowman!  Thanks Laural!

One of my good friends just got married this past weekend after a whirlwind romance and this was the gift I made her and her new husband.



Her boyfriend (husband now) proposed in a very unique and totally unplanned way. They were having Chinese food one night and after dinner in the parking lot he very gently slipped something into her hand and whispered, "Will you marry me?" She looked at what he had given her and it was the fortune from the fortune cookie he got from dinner and it said, "Answer just what your heart prompts you." She, of course, said yes and the rest is history

They are a very hippie type of couple - beards and flowers and all that, so I wanted to do something they would like. I looked forever and ever for wedding-themed patterns that would work and wasn't too cutsie or formal but there just wasn't anything that matched their style.  After running out of time I found a pattern for a non-wedding scene in the Mary Engelbreit Cross-Stitch book that would work, but I had to make some changes to tailor it to the purpose and make the figures look more like them. It came down to the wire and I finished it about 30 minutes before leaving for the wedding   I know the framing looks messy and you aren't supposed to put it behind glass, but I was too rushed and didn't really know how to do it any other way!

I received a super awesome package from ~Glenda today! She claimed me for art, but sent so much more - Thanks Glenda!

She sent me beautiful fabric in batiks and metallics, and two embroidered pieces that I'm going to make a cuff out of Also tea, bookmarks, and a notepad that closely matches a dandylion stationary set I have.

But the crossstitch art is really amazing! I had this one my wist and Glenda matched the cat to look just like my kitty, Nova! I love this so much  Now I'm going to put a frame on my wish list to go with it.

What a wonderful package - thank you so much, Glenda!



Shameless fat cat shot for comparison: