Xena - our lovely Xena

Its been a terrible couple of days for me - I have lost my boxer dog.

Xena was very lethargic yesterday and took herself outside (she's a couch potato and hates to go out). She spent the day lying on a couch on our deck and when my son got home last night we took her to the Vet. I couldn't take her before because she is too heavy for me to lift.

The Vet felt she was bleeding internally and probably from a tumour. Boxers are notorious for tumours.

He worked on her last night trying to get a drip into her but her veins had all collapsed and we left her there thinking she may not last the night.

I got a call from the Vet this morning to say she had rallied a little was was able to stand and so I went back down to talk with him.

He felt there was something bleeding internally and so he suggested an exploratory op to find out what it was and if it could be fixed. He just rang me to say she had a massive (bigger than his fist) tumour on her liver and some secondary on her spleen and lungs. There was nothing they could do - the tumour was still bleeding and so they let her go.


Rest in peace Xena - we will miss you so much bubby girl.

Hair

For the last forty years I have had long hair; very long red hair. Last October I decided to get it cut. I have avoided it for years because I have very curly hair and the length makes it manageable. I was able to sit on it; it was that long. My natural hair colour was a dark auburn and over the years the grey has taken over.

I found a picture of a style I liked and armed with it went to the hairdresser. They all decided I should change the hair colour to suit the grey growth and added 25 foils also!! He didn't give me a chance to change my mind he just cut it off at my shoulders then proceeded to style it.

Anyway, I loved it and so did everyone else. Since then I have gone back to have it recoloured and cut at least 8 times - funny how you never go to a hairdresser and now I am there all the time!


The other thing is each time I get a different cut and style. At the moment it is pretty short and very spikey. The first cut was shaved into my neck and a mass of curls on top. I just love the fact I can have a new style every couple of months.

I know my mother would be pleased - she always wanted me to get my hair cut - she felt it was too long.

I still love long hair and I do miss not having it but I feel younger with it short and all my family likes it and that's all that matters.

Appliqued roses

I have been working on the next block for the online BOM.

Last month was appliqued and this month continues the theme. I designs a small wreath with flowers (sorry the photos not crash hot) that is a bit more involved than last month's design.

I also wanted to give some of the girls who would be interested a bit of a challenge so design this rose block. It needs a bit of thinking when assembling the pieces and you could use as many shades for the flowers as you like to get it more life like.

I did a little free motion embroidery on the leaves for veins and to give the 'picture' a little texture.

I am happy with the result and hope the girls like it too.