Rebecca, yes, the picture is of our Sheltie. Her name was Cassie. We lost her last summer - she was having trouble urinating and the vet thought she had kidney stones. They tried to put a catheter in to drain her bladder but couldn't get it in. They decided to do surgery - go in through her bladder and try to remove the stone that way. However, when they got in to her bladder they discovered, instead of kidney stones, she had a huge tumor in her bladder. A tumor like that can't be removed - so we had no choice but to have her euthanized. I still cry sometimes when I pass the vets' office. Cassie was such a sweetheart - a beautiful doggie. She wasn't that old - only 9 - should have lived several more years.

I put the picture up as my avatar as sort of a memorial to Cassie. She was actually our son's dog but was very devoted to me - always laid at my feet under the computer desk, or sewing machine, or wherever I happened to be. I still visit her grave down in the orchard and talk to her and all our other doggies that are buried there.

Nola

Thanks for letting me know Oknana had the confirmation tracking and it stated that they had arrived in your home state and was to be delivered today, also have the same tracking for them as when they are returned back to me. Most likely will have forgotten about it by then.

Nola and Rebecca, I rec'd both pkgs today!!! They are beautiful!! Job well done ladies!!

I bet the postlady that delivers our mail is itching to know what is arriving from all over to my house! She once said she can't wait to see what WH I am putting on my door, because she likes them all. This is so fun!!

Well, both of my knees are bruised and swelling now. Tried to keep them off the floor today. I had wanted to sew, and got started and had to stop to help DH with a project. I won't be doing anymore running with the grands during their stay with us! I used to could run, what happened. Nothing but about 35 years added!! LOL!
Keep those blocks a coming ladies! Love 'em!!

Glad the blocks arrived OK. Oknana, I know what you mean about running. Back in high school the only girl I couldn't outrun was an exchange student from Sweden. Unfortunately, back then they didn't have girls' track or cross-country - if they would have had those, I could probably have won every event. But all they had for girls was intermural basketball, etc. - and I was horrible at anything that involved eye-hand coordination due to my bad vision. At home I used to race myself - I'd run from the barn to the lower field to bring in the cows - I'd time myself every night trying to beat my own record (I did this barefoot, jumping cow patties all the way! ) Sad to say, the best I can manage now (45 years later) is a slow waddle!!

Nola

Oknana,
Oh I'm so glad you received the jars, now I can relax. I worry about things getting lost in the mail & not meeting my obligations. This was so much fun can't wait for the next swap.

Nola,
Thank you for telling me about Cassie, I'm so sorry for your loss. I too know how difficult i is loosing a beloved pet that is a member of the family.

Rebecca P

Dorene, I finally got some beige-y fabric today for the backgrounds. I was going to use button fabric, but the background on that is also beige, and the buttons grey, off white and brown, so very BLAND!! I think I will use birdhouses, OK? I hope to get them cut out in the next few days. It's supposed to rain on Tuesday (though one never knows!!!), so maybe I can get them cut out at least. Just need to find a lid colour fabric.

Gerda

I love bird houses so cool.

Birdhouses sounds great Gerda!! Thanks for letting me know!

Oknana,
I have my blocks completed. That jar lid was a pain. I made a bunch of jar blocks a few years ago with a different pattern and I know they were much easier. I don't understand why something so simple was so difficult. I hope they are okay.
Anyway, I have them ready to mail, but my DH is in the hospital in Boise again. So, between 125 mile trips, I will mail them as soon as I can.
Thanks,
Vicky

Ooooohh - a can filled with birdhouses!!! I hope I get one of those in my swap! I'm planning to hang my wallhanging above the buffet in my dining room, and my dining room is decorated with birdhouses - so that will fit in perfectly!!! Don't have enough wall space in my kitchen to hang anything - too many doors - 5 doors open into the kitchen along with 2 "pass-through" openings. Guess I could hang one on a door, but I'm not crazy about doing that - so the dining room it is!

Nola