Chicken and Fish

I remember years ago one of my fellow parishioners telling me that she was back on a diet."How's it going" I asked. "Fine she says but my mother (who lived with them) is walking around muttering "chicken and fish, chicken and fish".
This week I celebrated my 53rd birthday and received the news that my cholesterol was through the roof and I needed to do soemthing about it. Lettuce and water was the first suggestion. Ha, Ha. My doctor has a sick sense of humour. With the help of my friends I have embarked on healthy living and I've got to tell you it's a drag. No more chocolate ( at least temporatily) lay off the desserts (hence the fruit and lack of birthday cake) wah, but I have to tell you that things are looking up and I am sleeping better and feeling better than I have felt in a long time and it's not that difficult. Yes, I have to have some self control but I think I have it in me. For those of you thinking on embarking on this course my suggestion is do it. You'll feel better in the long run and cheat only when really necessary.
Enough of that.
Friday was our monthly hook in and we had a blast. Not as many people out for the summer but it was well attended and we even had Elaine drop in and vist us from Thunder Bay. What a treat! I'm feeling intimidated. Although I got off to a great start my piece has alot of grass and alot of sky and I don't feel like I'm making headway. I drew in some flowers(out of boredom) and they will look nice in the landscape of my rug.
We missed you Janice.Although you were unable to attend we missed you and hope your Hubbys' retirement party went off well.
Pam challenged us to a trading card exchange with a sample of the trading cards she had made. I'm not sure how many picked up the challenge but remember they are small and you will be able to finish them. Janice had done some lovely ones at our Wednesday hook in and added beads and fancy threads and I could see myself challenged (God help me I think I'm taking something else on). The day was full of laughs and Betty explained what "clean up in aisle four" meant. lol
Barb Powers is off to Africa with St. Peters and they are buying medications to take with them that are hard to get there so I thought it only fitting to give the money we had collected so she can hand it over to the people in charge of shopping for medications. A worthwhile endeavor. Barb, have a great time in Africa. I know it's not a conventional holiday but you're doing a great thing.
We are quickly coming up on the Prince Edward County quilt show on the 11th and 12th of July and the girls and I are working hard to get ready.
Fabrics are rolling in daily and we hope to have a great show.
Cliff has the rug hooking frames done and on display in the shop for any of you that would like to see them. Cecile has commisioned him to do a quilt ladder to display her quilts. Funny how I could ask the same thing and perhaps not receive a yes quite so quickly. mmmmmmmm
Well I'm off to work at the flower shop shortly. All computer updates for the HST must be done and I am the go to girl. lol. If they only knew.
Have a great weekend ladies and gentlemen. John that one was for you.
Mary Anne

Puppies Galore

For those of you who stitch on Thursday mornings with us you will all know our local Labrador breeder Judy Frost. Judy has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of puppies ( two litters actually) and one has delivered 11 beautiful yellow labrador puppies. She brought them by for a brief visit after being to the vet and they are sooooo soft and cute but I know they will grown into dogs. lol. They will not be as big as Sheenas dog Lincoln but they will not remain puppies. Still, if I didn't have Jasper I would seriously be looking at these pups. If I am able to get a picture I will post it.
I have had a very busy week at Andjareenas with quilters seeming to get ready for upcoming shows, purchasing their backings and battings and working furiously to finish in time for the shows. Lots of tourists in the area already and it is wonderful to hear their feedback on our shop compared to others they have visited on their journeys.
Rug hookers were out in full force this past Wednesday but we missed Janice as she was off to Trent for the week. Hope you girls had a great time and come back energized and not to tired out after your week of festivities. lol. Cliff has managed to get the gripper strips on the new frames and I will have them in the shop next week for all of you to see. I will also take a picture of them for the blog and then if you are unable to get into the shop at least you will be able to see them. Someone has left behind all their precut strips organized neatly in a bag and I'm not sure if they belong to Pauline or Margaret. It appears to have some of the blue
wool that Margaret was hooking with . I don't have Margarets email to if anyone is speaking to her or Tina Cole please tell them it is at the shop in my storeroom.
I had 149 helmet liners for the troops picked up on Friday by Rosemary Kirby for the Christmas Baskets for the troops. If you know any group that might be interested in knitting they can go to the Estelle Designs website and download the pattern. Rosemary has been collecting them from our shop for this area and they will ship them from this base to Ottawa. We are trying to reach a goal of 4000 and with your help we will.
I'm off to the garden to cut brush and clean up my yard. Have a great day.
M.

Lincolns gone home

Well, we experienced our first overnight visit from Lincoln, Sheena and Kurts dog. OMG.
What a handful. This dog is taller than me when he stands on his hind legs and I had to break it to my daughter and son in law that he wasn't very well disciplined. You should know better than to tell parents that their child is not very well behaved. I'll practice that. I have six months.
I didn't realize how old our Jasper was until Lincoln arrived. Lincoln was looking forward to playing and Jasper was just not interested. I never saw him snarl and bark so much in my life. He is usually a very quiet subdued dog. Gilmour has finally come out of Travis's bedroom and his hair is no longer standing on end.
Life is back to normal or at least as we know it.
Off to plant in the garden
M.

This week.........

I t was a busy week at Andjareenas Place with our knitters turning out in full force as well as the Rug Hookers. Now, Betty I know you were there to stitch as well but the stitchers let me down this week. They're down with colds (not from me I hope) and just generally busy. Linda, I want to know why Mike didn't offere to take me to see the Chicks. My favorite and he's always offering but not this time lol. And the Eagles too. If I could figure out how to put the frown in this line I would. lol
As I am sewing and pleating dresses for smocking there is Christmas Fabric arriving in the back door. This year I am glad to see it arriving so early as I expect to have a "run off my feet" type of fall. The plan is to get working on those Christmas gifts early. We'll see. We haven't reached the first day of summer yet and I'm already talking about Christmas. Yuck.
Fabric has been arriving all week and I am really excited with some of my purchases. Fall yarns should be arriving in the next couple of weeks for those of you who knit all summer. The knitting group certainly keep pumping out the projects .
For all of you Hookers at Trent this week and Blue Mountain, hope you are having a great time and thinking about those of us at home working. Don't lose sleep over it , we'll  be pumping you for information when you return.
Cliff and I are dog sitting this weekend for Sheena and Kurt. Lincoln the Labrador is coming to stay with his Grandparents and if we are very good we might get him again. lol. Jasper is anticipating his arrival and Gilmour is looking for a bed to hide under.
Have a great weekend  everybody.

Here's Lincoln the puppy at 6 weeks. He's huuuuuuuuge

M.

The Graduate

Congratulations Janice! No one is safe now that I have figured out how to upload your photos. Bad Betty beware you could be next. Janice's ensemble is a lovely Laurel Burch apron with a kitty kat hat and sceptor because she was the queen for the day. She is wearing a lovely lei around her neck provided by Bad Betty. You can find anything in the dollar store.
Hope you had a great afternoon on Wednesday. Thanks to Betty for keeping us all on a diet with fruit and a very light strawberry and whip cream cake. I think I will soon have to bring in workout equipment if we keep it up.
Cheers to all
Mary Anne