Licenced to thrill...

Some of you may recall that I got my learner driver licence last year. Well, today I passed my practical test and can now drive on my own. Yippeee! I didn't mention it on my blog earlier because I was so nervous. OH kept asking me all weekend if I was OK because I was so quiet, and pale looking at times! LOL. But I passed, and the testing officer even told my OH that he wished more drivers drove like I did. Phew!

One of my sisters sent a congratulatory helium balloon to me at work after hearing the good news. Here's Tess checking it out earlier (she's not usually so brave!).



And double yay, my thread arrived from Karen at Dragonfly Dreams today. I can highly recommend the friendly and speedy service. And of course, I couldn't just buy one skein of thread - that wouldn't have been much fun to receive in the mail. So I bought Miss Mary Mack too - can't wait to stitch this one!

Hatched, dispatched & I didn't see a thing!

... that's the butterfly I'm talking about. Glad it made it, but bummed I didn't see it!

Progress on Ladybugs and Bumblebees was halted last weekend when I ran out of one of the main colours. Of course, nowhere in NZ that I could find stocks 'Cottage Colours'... but luckily I managed to find a stockist in Australia. It should be here very soon.



So I picked a UFO to work on while I wait on it to arrive. I thought that Woodland Santa deserved some attention, so I'm plodding away on that.



We were to expect a 'polar blast' this weekend. Well, I took this photo in my backyard today and if that is a blast from the Antarctic... then bring 'em on! lol. Yesterday was exactly the same. Sorry to my friends in the South though, who really are suffering the effects of the wild weather.



This was a photo I took earlier in the week out of my lounge window. We had a flurry of pretty rainbows, so I couldn't resist taking some photos.



I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I was doing some genealogical research. I have made contact with four distant relations (I found them online) - and amazingly, one lady lived in the same English village as my late Great Uncle and actually knew him and his wife - but never knew they were related until she got in contact with me!!! Amazing!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Friday again!

Thanks for your well wishes for my new job (so far, so good) and all your other nice comments lately.

Here's my progress on Ladybugs and Bumblebees. I just adore this design and the pretty colours it calls for. It's really cold here at the moment, so it might be a good weekend to sit and stitch by the heater!

Ladybugs and Bumblebees progress

In between bouts of my new obsession (genealogy) I've been doing some stitching on Ladybugs and Bumblebees. It is a really enjoyable pattern to stitch. I'm using 'Limestone' 32 count Lugana... and it doesn't slip around in the Q-snaps which is great!



I was offered a new job on Thursday, accepted on Friday and start on Monday. It is still at the same firm, but is far more advanced than what I have been doing - so while I'm excited at the prospect, I'm also quite nervous. They particularly wanted me for the role, and think I'm capable of doing it - oh how I hope I don't disappoint them!! Anyway, I think I will celebrate with some new stash (any excuse, eh!?).

Hope you're all having a great weekend!


P.S. - Just after I published this post I went outside to check how the chrysalis was doing. I had given up hope really because there didn't appear to be any change for a long time, so I was really excited to see that the butterfly wings have formed and have colour!

Cat-astrophe

Thanks for the advice you have all given me on using Q-Snaps (and for your comments on my RR). I might start enjoying using them now!

I bought a basket the other week. The intention was to keep my current stitching project in it, in my stitching spot (ie. the lounge). But you have to be quick around here...



I think this is Giggsy's victory look!



In order to get my stitching mojo back, I'm going to start this design (Ladybugs & Bumblebees by Country Cottage Needleworks) this afternoon. It is one of my favourites.

Sorry I've been so quiet lately

I hate to say it but I am glad to see the back of my Hello Neighbour RR for now. I'm sure it was just a psychological hurdle, but it just seemed to go on and on and on...





I would love some advice on Q-Snaps. I got some last Christmas, and the fabric slides around in them and I can never get the fabric sitting straight - I find them a real pain. BUT I'm sure it's just me using them incorrectly, as I know many stitchers are very fond of their Q-Snaps.

On Thursday night OH became a citizen of New Zealand. Here he is in the Mayoral chambers doing his affirmation.



A child screamed through most of the ceremony, and the dinner at a nearby restaurant was ruined by ghastly service... so it wasn't the greatest of nights. However, he's a Kiwi now and that's what counts. We had some laughs too though - someone asked if anyone wanted their photo taken with the Mayor before he got his gear off! They meant his Mayoral robes, of course. :0)

This week I've resurrected one of my old interests - genealogy. In the space of a few days I've gone back to 1678 on one line of the tree and made contact with some not too distant relatives. Great stuff. I highly recommend the ancestry.co.uk website for anyone else interested in their family tree. Some parts cost, but you can still search for a great deal of information without handing over any money.

Well, must go as I'm picking my sister up to bring her up here for the night. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend (long weekend for Kiwis - yay!).