IT'S ALL GOOD HERE and BLOG AWARD

Life holds so many simple blessings, each day bringing its own individual wonder.  John McLeod 

I have been prompted to own up to my absence from blogging... and it is all good news,  I was given the date for surgery to have my second cataract done, the only pressure was that I then needed to finish a piece of embroidery early and get it posted  away before my hospital trip as I   was aware it would be some time after that before I would be stitching. Surgery was Tuesday of this week and I am enjoying the improvement, no looking out through fog in one eye, I now have two good eyes, a blessing I am very thankful for. I am able to work for short times at the computer as it is possible to alter the size of the print.  My glasses are no use to me at present and it will be 6 weeks before they are changed... patience needed which I lack at times, so I continue to hide behind a pair of dark glasses and try and keep occupied.

     Thank you Gracie for nominating me for a blog award, that has given me a challenge,   Gracie's blog is Pins, Needles and dragonflies and you will find a message there most mornings to read and enjoy if you have not visited her blog before here is the link

I  understand the rules of this award is as follows-

The purpose of this award is for bloggers to nominate fellow, mostly newer, bloggers that they wish to recognise. The goal is to bring attention to blogs that we think are "lovely" and enjoy reading. We hope others will enjoy reading these blogs also.

  In order to accept the award, the nominated blogger must follow these rules:

·         Thank the person who nominated you & link back to them in your post

·         Share seven facts about yourself

·         Nominate 10 other bloggers for the award

     Seven Facts about my self.

     I grew up in the very far south of New Zealand, at Ocean Beach, attended a small country school and we went to school by train, and also when we went on to attend secondary school I attended Southland Girls High School

    I worked as a florist first in Christchurch and Invercargill in the South Island of NZ later in New Plymouth in the North Island and then in Melbourne Australia. Flowers have always played a part in my life through my work, my garden and my embroideries.

   

    Married Paul in 1953 and we had 49 years together, our family is a daughter Jan and son Barryn both were born in Melbourne. Jan is the head teacher in a country school near Stratford which is about the same size school as the one I went to. Barryn is an Architect in Wellington.

    I am a Christian and serving my Lord is very important to me, and I take a very active part in the Church I belong to.

   A third Generation Embroiderer both my Grandmother and my mother stitched, and I am very proud that two more generations of embroiderers have followed me.

   I collect Beatrix Potter china animals . Peter Rabbit and 42 of his friends sit on my welsh dresser.

    the  first one Johnny Town Mouse was given to me for my 21st birthday, and I think the mice are

    my favourites.

   I own two houses, Groatieburn Cottage where I live which was built in the 1880,s, we gave it its name the same as the house my great grandfather built in the 1970's in Ashburton in the South Island, my other house is much smaller, a lovely Doll's house that Paul built for me a replica of an 1890's house built to scale and is in the front room of the cottage.

   The 10 Blogs that I nominate in no special order are-

     Margaret   Margaret Blog
     Maggie   Back Country Wench
     Cindy    Cindy's Cross stitch ornaments and projects
     Diane    Didi's beaded Goodies
     Angela  Hooked on Stitches.
     Emma   My creative Corner
     Rowyn  Rosie Kiwi
     Karoline  Karoline's Corner
     Jo    Serendipitous Stitching
     Mouse  Tales of a stitching Mouse.

It will be a few weeks before I can hope to be stitching again meanwhile I will enjoy visiting everyone's blogs and catching up on your news.

HAPPY EASTER

A little late posting this, here is my Easter Egg tree I think I will need at had another 6 eggs before next Easter. We have enjoyed lovely sunny weather for the weekend and I had Barryn and some of his friends here for the first couple of days. They had come to climb the mountain as a memorial to Paul, who never did manage that last climb there that he talked about doing with Barryn. The Mountain as seen on the top of my blog has no snow on it at present and they managed the climb in good timeand were home for dinner that night.

I have more photos close up ones of some of my eggs on my other blog

 I hope you all have a happy and blessed Easter.

RABBITS AND MORE RABBITS

 This year I had to come up with something different for the family for Easter, last year's Easter Eggs looked great BUT I am told the chocolate was disappointing,

The suggestion that each person gets a block of their favourite Chocolate would solve that problem but not very exciting for Easter !! a google search found this  link to some punch art Rabbit packaging and I adapted the idea to wrap a block of Chocolate and this is the result

having made one .......like all rabbits they quickly multiplied and I hope the family like these

...........and two more for the Wellington Family who arrive here tomorrow on a short visit.

Tonight I will decorate my Easter Egg tree and post photos during the weekend and  share what I have been stitching for the month of March.