Drumroll...

Well, there's been a kink in my schedule and I'm still here in Halifax :o) So...I've had to make do with that I have here and I apologize that there are no pictures :o(

There were 40 entrants so I cut up the hotel paper into little strips and wrote down each one's name. They were folded up and placed into a Ziploc bag that I had. Luckily, DH came back early and drew the names of the two winners :o)

And who are the winners....

JOLENE!
You are the winner of the first surprise package!

LORI-ANN!
You are the winner of the second surprise package!

I hope to get them out to you by the first of next week. If readers are curious as to what they won, hopefully Jolene and Lori-Ann will post pictures on their Blogs when they get their packages ;o)

I want to thank everyone for entering. I'm sorry I didn't have something for everyone :o( I DO want to thank you for reading and leaving wonderful and witty comments. It always makes my day :o)

Don't worry though because there's another event coming up soon! Keep your eyes peeled for the bright orange sign...

Odds & Snausages?

The puppies were born! Last night, L had to take momma to the vet to deliver the babies. The first baby was breech and the second had its front legs in the wrong position. Poor momma had a very hard delivery but everyone is okay :o) There are two males (one red and one piebald) and three females (two reds and one piebald). I got to see pictures of them already and they're just butterballs. L said I could come over sometime next week. I can't wait.

This past week, I did a bit of finishing. Do you remember the Stitch To Win (by The Prairie Schooler) that I stitched? Well, I found some fabric that I think goes very well with it. I made it into a pinkeep/ornament and it's on the fabric that I used for the back of it -

Of course I couldn't find any breast cancer fabric to match but I'm happy with this compromise. What do you think? And here I have it pictured with my new pumpkin jar that I bought -

Pumpkins are popping up everywhere because DH bought me this light -

I luv it :o)

On Monday, DH and I went to Lunenburg and I found a shop there that is going to carry my pictures :o) She was very impressed with them and took 15. It's on a consignment basis but at least I have my work out there. I did get some disheartening news last night though :o( I had applied to get into a craft co-op but since they only had one spot (I didn't know this), I didn't get in. I am doing some research about opening my own shop online so we'll see what happens.

Tomorrow I'm driving to the big city to meet up with DH. He's been there training and I guess he's got a really nice suite so I'm going to be staying there for a few days :o) I figure I might as well take the opportunity to relax. I've got my stitching already packed and I'll be bringing the computer as well. I'll also be driving to Moncton and back on Sunday so I can celebrate my grandmother's birthday :o) Unfortunately travel is not as easy as it was before.

Anyway, please remember to enter your name in my Blogoversary/50,000 Hits giveaway! Just scroll down a little bit and you'll find all the details there. And remember, I'll be drawing the names and announcing the winners on the 29th :o)

Btw, check out Tammy's Blogoversary drawing that she's going to have! There are some awesome prizes there :o)

Blogoversary/50,000 Hits!

I can't believe it! I'm a week away from my third Blogoversary and just posts away from reaching the 50,000 hits mark. WOW! I had no idea that I'd find so much to talk about for three years. LOL! The good thing is, you've endured me ;o) I'm very honoured to have readers out there that enjoy my Blog because it's a little piece of me that I get to share with you all. I've met a lot of wonderful friends this way and I'm sure I will continue to do so.

To celebrate these two events, I'm holding TWO giveaways. What exactly? Well, I'm going to be bad and keep it a secret ;o) Let me just say that the Blogoversary gift has been made by me and it will 'contain' some goodies. The 50,000 Hits gift has a really unique item by La-D-Da (at least I think it is because I've never seen them anywhere so far).

So...here are the rules and PLEASE read them thoroughly!

1) In order to enter the Blogoversary giveaway, you must be a regular reader and commenter of my Blog. This is to thank those that have been with me on a consistent basis :o)

2) In order to enter the 50,000 Hits giveaway, you must be a Pumpkin Stalker, whether you're one already or you become one now :o)

3) In order to enter these giveaways, you need to leave a comment, on this post only!

4) There must be a means to contact you if you are the winner.

5) And finally, your comment must indicate which giveaway (or it can be both if you fit the criteria above) you would like to enter.

Whew! I hope I didn't make that too complicated. On September 29, I will announce the winners. Good luck everyone and I hope you'll enjoy this celebration with me :o)

**Update** I'm sorry I confused you all, and myself! I didn't mean 50,000 Posts. I meant to say 50,000 Hits. Believe me, I'm not THAT chatty ;o) And btw, I have achieved it!!!!

Tour For The Cure

Today I went to visit the Tour For The Cure bus since it was in a nearby town -

Pretty, isn't it? :o) They had some great information, although I knew most of it but it would definitely benefit those that don't. One thing I did learn though is to find lumps in my breast. I didn't come across that with my breast cancer so I had no idea what to look for. They had fake boobies, nipple and all, and you had to find the lumps in them. I was wrong on a few tries and I guess that's what so baffling; are you feeling an actual lump or just breast tissue? Now I can understand how women can be so confused.

When I left, they gave me a little gift -

I love what the 'Do Not Disturb' sign says! LOL! Since Gagnon is a big sponsor for the Tour For The Cure, they included some of their Fruitfulls. For those of you who haven't heard the name Gagnon before, they are located in St. Stephen, NB and they're a huge candy maker company. I got to tour their facilities one summer and it was DIVINE seeing all that candy and chocolate :o)

Well, I went ahead and did something stupid. I was in Zellers the other day and I spotted this -

Bernat has come out with a limited edition yarn to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. I, of course, decided to pick up a few balls. Why? Because I 'just need' another hobby? Ha! Do I crochet? No. Do I knit? Not in a 'long' time. I'm a sucker ;o)

And off I go with my yarn, a crochet hook and needles. Thankfully, I have a neighbour who has generously offered her help if I need it. I also found a Learning To Knit book in my pile of things. Why I have it there, I have no idea. LOL! So what am I going to knit? It's going to remain a secret because I'll have to see if a) I can recall how to knit and b) that the final product actually looks like something decent to share ;o)

Before I go, I see that I have some new readers and I welcome you to the Pumpkin Patch :o) I love reading my comments. It really makes my day. I also want to let you know to keep your eyes peeled for my Blogoversary/50,000 post. There will be some surprises so don't forget to tune in!

Ninth Finish For 2009

I bet you thought that I haven't been stitching ;o) Actually, this became my car project when we drove to NB and back. Here is Frog Biscornu by Casey Buonaugurio -

And here's the bottom -

I hate to say it but I never thought this project would end! I don't know why I felt that way because it's really not a large or complicated pattern but it just seemed to take forever. Do you ever feel that way?

I stitched Froggy on 25 count white Lugana and I'm glad I did. I don't think I would have been happy if it came out smaller than it did. It's just right to sit on my stitching table next to the Orts bag that Cindy made for me :o) Even the colors match!

I made a few changes along the way. I know I feel confident with my French Knots now but I didn't relish the idea of adding 56 of them :oP (They are placed at the ends of the frog's feet) It was bad enough that I had to add 8 of them for the bee's eyes, which btw I changed from DMC 167 to DMC 310. I also used DMC 310 to backstitch the frog's eyes instead of using DMC 167. And the final change I made...I cross stitched the hearts all in one color of green. They were supposed to be two colors of green but eh, I guess I preferred solid at the time ;o)

I received a bit of stash the other day :o)

Anita sent me some skeins of Valdani threads and some 36 count linen. I might as well use it now while I can still see! LOL! I also found the September 2009 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework (can you believe it Ranae!). I almost passed out when I spotted it! I can't tell you how hard it is to find cross stitch magazines around here.

I was also excited with another find -

See that beautiful fabric? I've been hunting for something like that for a few years now. See that tin in the picture? The fabric will be used for a project using that tin (thanks Irene!). What will it be? HA! I'm not telling :o)

Another Duncan 'Tail'

Duncan, our Australian Cattle Dog, is a funny old man. He's got his quirks but then don't we all? LOL! But Duncan can make you laugh or smile right when you need it most. Is that a quirk or a knack?

Duncan has never been a chewer. We used to give him toys and bones but all he would do is just walk around with them in his mouth or they'd be left on the floor. About six years ago though he changed his ways and began burying his bones.

Now when I say bury, I don't mean that we have holes all over our yard. No, Duncan is not that energetic. His idea of burying is placing the bone on the ground and then nosing whatever dirt or debris that is close by over it. Like I said, he doesn't put his whole heart into it ;o)

Duncan is also very paranoid about someone finding his treasure. If he even senses that you're watching him, he'll dig the bone back up and move it. And he'll be watching with his sideway glances just to make sure he's safe. It's pretty funny to watch.

Yesterday, DH and I were doing work outside. While I was in the garage, I found a rawhide bone and decided to give it to Duncan. At first he paraded around proudly with it in his mouth. Then, his eyes started darting back and forth as he assessed his surroundings. I ended up going back to work so I lost sight of him.

About ten minutes later, DH comes in the garage and announces that Duncan finally buried his bone...in the shit pile DH had created in the corner of the property! GG! I guess this time Ducan has made sure that his bone is definitely safe ;o)

Today I Had My Fill...

Of Doxie love that is! Yes, I did say Doxies :o)

If you read my previous post, you'll remember me saying how fate seemed to be playing a part in my life. Well, after today, I know it really is. Let me explain...

Last weekend I was on the internet and I decided I would just do a search and see if there were any Doxie breeders close by. I didn't have my hopes up because when we adopted Brie, there were very few in The Maritimes. To my surprise, there were at least three in NS that were breeding smooth haired minis.

I went to the first website and found out that they were about 2.5 hours away. Her dogs were beautiful and so I emailed her. The second website led me to a lady that was living only ten minutes away from me! I emailed her as well and anxiously waited for replies.

Both women answered me and were very understanding of my loss. It was nice to talk dogs with both of them. During our emails, I came to find out that they both knew the breeder that DH and I adopted Brie from. The lady close to me even stated that she had one of her dogs. She gave me her phone number and invited me over to meet the dogs.

So that's what I did today :o) When I walked in the door, I was surrounded by minis of all colors. There were reds, piebalds, a black and tan and even a chocolate. It was little B that caught my eye. The breeder had just bought her from a breeder in BC. She was just a pup but full of that Doxie badness that I love so much. A lot of what she did reminded me of Brie. What I didn't know was how close to Brie I really was...

I knew ahead of time that her black and tan came from the same breeder that Brie came from due to her registered name. When I inquired about how old she was, the breeder looked it up and told me she was born on April 11, 2004. I lost my breath. Right before me was Brie's full sister. The same sibling that I saw when we picked up Brie and actually, the one I originally picked out before Brie decided to pick me.

Is this fate? Something lead me to this woman and her dogs. There's a litter due on September 23 (our wedding anniversary) and I can't wait to see the puppies :o) I'll just leave it at that and take it one day at a time like I was asked to do...

Has It Only Been Ten Days?

There are moments when it feels like it was just yesterday but then there are moments when it feels like it's been months. The pain is still raw but I was slowly starting to come around...until last night that is. Let me just say that I believe fate is playing a part with a plan I have but it was not well received by DH :o( Hopes have somewhat been crushed but as promised, I am going to take one day at a time and we'll see what happens.

Since DH went back to work and I have the days to myself, I feel a bit lost. I've been puttering around the house, trying to fill my days with something productive rather than sleeping all the time. It's been hard but I've been pushing myself so that I avoid that 'depression hole'. Believe it or not, I've been so desperate that I've actually been looking for some part-time work! As of right now, I've applied to two jobs.

On the photography front, I went to one of the local museums on Tuesday and they took 12 of my pictures, but on consignment. She was really impressed with them so I was happy to hear that. Since this is the end of the tourist season though, I'm not sure how well I'll do there but at least I have my foot in the door for next year. I also contacted the gift shop at the local hotel to see how things were going and they've sold around four of my pictures so far. Not bad for such a short period of time :o)

Poor Duncan has been very lonely since Brie left :o( In a good way, it's gotten me/us walking again. Duncan put on a few more pounds when we left him at the kennel so it's not only good for us but good for him as well. I think he's got to lose around five pounds. As for me, I went up four pounds and I'm determined to get rid of them. I told DH last night that I don't mind gaining a bit of weight, if it would just locate itself in the right areas...like my ass!

You may have noticed that my Blogoversary is coming up soon. Stay tuned for a wonderful giveaway in celebration of my THREE years of Blogging :o) Wow, hard to believe. What's even more amazing is that my counter is getting very close to the 50,000 mark! I figure that's enough for another celebration so keep your eyes peeled.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support. Over the last three years, I have met some amazing Bloggers that I now consider wonderful friends. You guys are the best and I'm very thankful to have you there :o)

How Many More Tears Can I Shed?

Obviously not enough because they still keep coming :o( Every night I've been crying myself to sleep as I think about how empty our house seems without our little Brie. People say that it does get easier with time, and to a degree I know that it will, but it still doesn't change the fact that the pain is raw. So raw. And to know that Brie is not there to lick the tears from my face anymore just kills me from the inside.

DH and I had taken Brie to our vet back in New Brunswick to do the awful deed. Dr. B is a compassionate soul; very understanding of our situation and had done everything he could along the way in order to help Brie live the best life since her operation. We sat down and talked to him before we actually went through with our decision and I know deep down that it was the right one for her.

Since then, I have been beating myself up about this whole situation though and how I treated Brie in the past. I hate the fact that I would scold her or yell at her when she did something wrong or just something that would irritate me. I hate the fact that I was the one that made the appointment and that I was the one that held her as she died. It was making me feel like the biggest betrayer and a complete failure to Brie.

But last night I realized something. I realized that it was much easier to remember the bad times and to focus the anger and hurt towards myself. MUCH easier. DH kept suggesting that I try to remember all the good times we had together but that's where the problem lies. Every night when I close my eyes, I want to erase those wonderful images from my mind because my heart literally feels like it's breaking because I know I will never have any of them again :o(

Gone are all the games of tag we played around the kitchen island. Gone are all the nights we cuddled on the couch together. Gone are all the walks and shopping we did. Gone are all the travels we did to Maine. Gone are all the Christmas mornings where Brie would find her gifts under the tree and rip them open. Gone are all welcome homes.

Brie was special in so many ways and she made a great impact on a lot of people, myself included. Our family seems so small now. Duncan misses his little sister and we're doing our best to give him extra attention. I've been overwhelmed by the heartfelt kindness you all have showed and I do want to take the time to thank you. Right now DH and I continue to grieve in private so I won't be answering any emails or commenting on any Blogs for awhile. I hope I don't lose any readers because of this but I won't be gone forever.

There Are No Words...

DH and I did the unimaginable today and had our sweet little girl, Brie, put to sleep :o( Even as I write this, I still expect to see her on her bed, looking up at me with those big beautiful brown eyes.

For those of you who are new to my Blog, Brie was our four and a half year old Miniature Dachshund. In July of 2008, her vertebrae collapsed onto her spinal cord and rendered her partially paralysed. Without much thought, DH and I took her over to PEI and had her back operated on.

Over the past year, we had seen her take great strides. With her excellent attitude and strong will, she walked and even began going up and down stairs again! Unfortunately as that got better, her incontinence got worse :o(

Why do some people and/or animals come into our life for such short period of times compared to others? When we brought Brie home, DH and I expected that she would be part of our life for at least a dozen years or more. She filled our hearts with love and planted a smile on anyone's face that met her for the first time. There was never a mean bone in her body.

There really are no words. We'll mourn in silence and feel comforted knowing that Pickles and Buddy were there waiting to greet Brie into her next life.

Eighth Finish For 2009

Surprise! Can you believe it???? This is my third finish for the month! Yes, I have been very bad and I have wandered away from my current WIPs. Smack! But with all the new Halloween patterns coming out, I felt like stitching a Halloween piece. I knew exactly 'witch' one I was going to do and as I merrily stitched along, I watched Halloween H2O. Seemed appropriate ;o)

This is Stitchie Witchie by Brooke's Books Publishing -

Isn't she cute? I had gotten this piece of Silkweaver fabric (28 count Opalescent Lugana) last year and knew immediately when this freebie came out that I would use it for her. It's called Abracadabra :o)

Now I ran into a few backstitching problems along the way. First off, one ply of white did not show up well on this fabric for some reason. I was quite disappointed. I tried DMC 647 and got the same result. Finally I went with two plies of white and I'm satisfied. The other problem was her nose. Again, it wasn't really showing up well and I didn't want to use two plies on her face. I dug out DMC 435 and used that instead and I think it works just fine :o)

I want to thank everyone who left comments on my previous post. This is a huge venture for me and it means a lot that I have so many wonderful friends supporting me and inflating my ego ;o) Seriously though, I love reading each and every one of your comments. If you just lurk, please take the time to say something. I won't bite. LOL!

I've also had a few people email me about how we faired with Hurricane Bill. To be honest, all we got were heavy rains and wind. When it was over, I never thought much more about it until DH returned from work on Monday night. Apparently there was some damage nearby and today I ventured out to see what happened. This 'was' a road -

The ocean is on the left side and there is a pond/lake on the right. The storm took this road out completely -

I have no idea when they'll begin fixing it. I haven't heard anything.

I was continually keeping my eye on TWC (The Weather Channel) and there were numerous warnings to stay away from the water due to storm surges. What really bothers me is they were showing video footage of people taking their SMALL CHILDREN to the water's edge to watch the storm. WTF? WHY? Why would you, if you were of sane mind, take your young child into a potentially dangerous situation? This really gives me chills after seeing the above damage. I don't think I will ever fully understand why people do such stupid things...

Snap!

Well its official...my status of photographer has been achieved! On Saturday, I sold 15 photos to a gift shop at a popular hotel down the coast :o) They loved my stuff and felt that it would definitely sell.

This is such a positive start to my pursuit. I realize that not everyone is going to like my photos and I accept that. I'm just hoping that the people who do love it will outnumber those that don't ;o) LOL!

Now there is more footwork to be done! I've got lines on shops, craft co-ops, flea markets and craft shows. Busy, busy, busy! But this is supposed to be a good thing right?

Dunna...Dunna...

Dunna...Dunna...

Dunna...Dunna...Dunna

Dunna...Dunna...Dunna...Dunna...

Sound familiar? It should be if you've ever seen a Jaws movie ;o)

Today, DH and I went to Seafest. What is Seafest? I'm not 100% sure. This was the first time we've ever gone to one. After observation today, I'd say it's a festival with entertainment, food and...shark fishing!

Now, I've never seen a shark before and this really intrigued me. Having grown up watching all the Jaws movies, I've always been sandwiched between fear and great interest. One good reason why I will not swim in the open ocean. LOL!

I hate seeing anything harmed but I was just like a kid because I wanted to see a real shark close up...and I did! This little guy is called a Blue Shark -

I even got to touch it!!!! The feel of the skin is hard to describe. DH says it's like sandpaper but to me it's like a pumas stone.

We arrived at a good time because there were two boats that came in with their catch. I've uploaded some pictures into a Picasa album but I will warn you, some of the pictures may be disturbing :o(

The top contender when we left came in at 330 pounds! This was a Mako Shark. I just can't imagine trying to real that sucker in, especially while it was still alive :oS Nope, no thank you.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Not only has it been hot weather wise but I managed to find a hot little find the other day :o) My in-laws had been here visiting from New Brunswick and since it was their first time here, DH and I took them to Mahone Bay on Wednesday to show them the area. Somehow I managed to miss this little store each time we've been there but on that day, something told me to go in and I'm glad I did.

What did my wondering eyes see? Needle felting kits!!!! I can't tell you how excited I was :o) They had all kinds by Woolpets and I had a hard time deciding between the pony and the bunny but in the end this is who won -

It does say easy so I hope I have enough experience to pull this little guy off. So now I'm torn between stitching and needle felting. LOL! DH says that I have too many hobbies. Is that even possible????

I love fun things :o) Who doesn't? Check out these t-shirts. I guess you might have to have a fishy sense of humour to appreciate it though. LOL!

Seventh Finish For 2009

Sorry, it's not Birds & Berries! I was bad and started another project. This was a small one so I figured it was okay ;o) Here is Stitch To Win by The Prairie Schooler -

It's hard to tell from the picture, but I stitched mine on 28 count Waterlily Jobelan. I thought the white was too stark and once I pulled the floss colors, I knew immediately what color fabric I was going to use.

I want to finish this as a little ornament and I thought I had some matching fabric for the back but it's too bright :o( I'll either have to dig a little further in my fabric stash or go see what I can find. Ideally I wanted fabric with the breast cancer ribbon on it but I may have to change my mind in order for things to work out.

So...if you check out my Goals For 2009, I only have TWO projects left to complete and then I have achieved my goal by 100%!!!! Since there are only two ornament sized pieces left, I know I can do it ;o)

Today I had a rotten day because I had to go see the dentist :o( I have to admit though that Dr. R is awesome and I'm really lucky to have gotten in with him but I still HATE going and I still HATE the needle. Okay, I got THREE needles. To top that off, some of the work he did was quite deep and he warned me I was going to be sore when the freezing came out. Great! I'm going to be popping pain killers for the rest of the afternoon :o( How's that for whining? LOL!

Take a look at Sharon's Blog and see who was in the neighbourhood for dinner ;o)

MVP

MVP...usually what's associated with Most Valuable Player but I like to refer to it as Most Valuable Patient :o) In this case though, I'm also referring to my Mitral Valve Prolapse. Early yesterday morning, DH and I drove to the Big "Town" where I had my Echocardiogram. My new Cardiologist, Dr. C, wanted to check up on my heart since it hasn't been done for a number of years. He was hoping this test would be good enough so that I didn't have to swallow that damn camera again >:o(

The results came back positive in that I'm still in the "moderate" rage (the rating system ranges within low, moderate or high) and my heart is working alright even though it's got a bum valve ;o) I got to do the usual fun stuff like watch my valve on screen and then seeing how much blood got regurgitated back. The woman doing the test was telling me that things have come a long way since I was diagnosed back in 2005. If I was rated a high moderate at this point, my valve could be repaired. That works for me! I'll take repair over replace any day :o)

When we returned home, we picked up the mail and I was so excited because there was a package there for me. It was my birthday order from SNT -

Ahhhhh... It was pure bliss going through and touching my new stash. It's been a long time since I've seen a decent haul. The Crossed Wings fabric is just gorgeous! Expensive but gorgeous! Thank you girls for making this happen :o)

I've been a little bad and started a new project about a week ago :oS I really have to examine my head again and see just how many holes I have in there... This is my start of Birds & Berries by The Prairie Schooler -

It looks a little bland right now but I hope once I get the leaves and berries put on there, it will spruce things up a bit.

That leaflet contains four bird patterns and I'm going to stitch them one on top of the other. I hope it will look good when complete.

One last thing before I go, check out Jolene's current giveaway! Now who doesn't like Jane Austen? Good luck!

Nothing But Blue Skies

This was my day today -

Absolutely beautiful in every way. The sun was shining, the temperature was hot but there was enough of a breeze off the water to make it enjoyable :o)

Since moving here to Nova Scotia, I still can't get over the fact that I have beaches just minutes away and sometimes I fail to take advantage of that. The beaches around here all have pure white sand. When your bare feet first hit the hot crystals, they sink down deep, wrapped in warmth. Then, as you walk towards the water, the cool compact sand awaits to cool off your tootsies.

I don't think there is anything better on a hot day than wading in cool salty water, with the waves lapping up against your legs. The sand underneath your feet almost comes alive, like liquid, as it pours away from below your feet, just as if you were standing in actual quicksand. It's such an odd sensation but almost soothing.

When I venture out on one of these journeys, this is when my inspiration really hits. The television, telephone and computer are all left behind and what you are left with is just nature itself. I just can't see enough of the things that surround me. I know some people must really wonder about this odd woman and her camera, who seems to be taking pictures of nothing. Good thing I don't have the two idiots in tow! LOL!

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to vote and giving me your input about naming my photographs. Things are really coming together now :o) Unfortunately I cannot post any of the pictures until I can get them watermarked. I do apologize to those that are interested :o(

In the end, I have decided to name each picture and the name will be placed on a label, attached to the backboard form. I'm still up in the air about my signature but it "will" be on there somewhere. Now off to write up a little bio of myself and that should wrap everything up :o)

Opinions Please!

Okay, I'm going to let the monkey out of the bag. He's been in there far too long and plus, isn't that cruelty to animals? ;o)

Seriously though...over the past month, I have been getting my photographs together in order to sell them :o) I'm going out on a limb and I'm going to expose a part of me that only few get to see. Nerve racking...yes. I'm not sure how they'll do but I've got to start somewhere, right?

I've done the math, bought presentation kits and spoken with a few shops. As I write this, I'm putting the final touches on getting everything together but I'm stalling. My problem? DH thinks that my photos should have names. I'm going to sign and date each picture on the bottom right hand corner of the mat. He believes the name should go on the bottom left hand corner of the mat.

I can see his logic when it comes to some of the pictures. Like...the church in Mahone Bay. Very famous for photos. But then we come to my other pictures that are classed as art. They don't have names and nor do I want to give them names. I want them to speak for themselves. But this is just MY opinion as the photographer.

So...I'm asking, pleading, begging for your help :o) On the right hand side of my Blog, I have placed a survey that is set up for a 24 hour period and I want YOU to vote. Even if you don't leave me comments, at least give me a quick answer to this troubling question. Just think, if you were the buyer of my photography, would you want each individual picture named?

Thank you :o)

Julie & Julia

DH and I went to see this movie on Friday afternoon :o) We'd been waiting for this to come out. DH was the one that brought the movie to my attention, so for his birthday at the end of July, I bought him the book. He seems to be enjoying it because every once in awhile, I'll hear him chuckling. Unfortunately he didn't get to finish the book before he saw the movie but he was okay with that.

They did an excellent job of paralleling the lives of the two main characters. Check out Julie's real Blog! I learned a lot about Julia Child too. There were many things I never knew about her. I didn't even know that she was married! And what can I say; Meryl Streep did a brilliant job of capturing Julia. DH says there is so much more in the book and you get to know the characters a lot better. I'm next in line to read it ;o)

There's something fun about going to a movie on a weekday afternoon. Not only were there very few people there but we were in one of those awesome theatres with the comfortable seats. To top that off, I even got my slushie!!!! Do you know how long I've waited to have one of those???? Pure bliss...

Did I happen to mention that Stanley Tucci acts as Julia Child's husband in the movie? Stanley Tucci. Tucci :o)

Sixth Finish For 2009

That's right! Beach Cottage by Country Cottage Needleworks is complete -

So pack your bags girls because the sand and ocean await you :o)

This was such a fun design to stitch. I'm going to have to dig in my stash to see if I have a frame to fit. That would be the most economical way. I know I have a few frames but what are the chances? LOL!

Since DH and I have moved here, the beach and the ocean have become a big part of our lives. The dogs love going to the beach and acting like complete idiots ;o) Duncan will venture out into the water only so far but little Brie still has her great swimming skills although she doesn't use her back legs while doing so. After she gets out of the water, she runs up and down the beach like a lunatic. LOL! I'm not sure if she's trying to warm up or if the water was that invigorating. You should see her belly though! It went from pink to almost black. Yup, our little girl LOVES to lie in the sun.

The other night I noticed that we are consuming a lot more seafood in our diet. And how could we not when we can eat this whenever we want -

That is one huge bowl of soft shell clams :o) Yum! Shelling and cleaning them is not so fun but boy they taste good. DH has also brought home fresh scallops and fish. We still eat red meat from time to time but not as often as we used to. Chicken still remains high on the list but I'd say it's second to seafood now. I guess that's a good thing.

Well...SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT! Stargazer brought home a first from the Exhibition!!!! On the back of my entry tag the judge wrote "Excellent work". I feel like a proud momma :o) I'm not sure if they have a Grand Champion for cross stitch here and since we didn't go to the Exhibition during the week, I wasn't able to see. That's okay though because I'm happy with the results :o) Unfortunately my photography didn't do well but like DH said, you don't know what the judges were looking for and I went out on a limb with my entries.

It's going to be another scorcher of a day :oP Yuck! The dogs and I just might be hitting the beach again. What a hard life. LOL!