Dormouse's Diary

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Lots of Triangles

I've just spent the day sewing together all the scrap triangles left over from my MIL's quilt.




There don't look anywhere near as many now they are sewn together. I hope there will be enough for the border. I suppose I should count them rather than just sewing them and hoping for the best.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Sunny Morning

The sun was shining beautifully this morning and walking the dogs was a real pleasure. Unfortunately it had to be a fairly short one because Sophie was holding her leg up from time to time. She hurt it running around like a mad thing, back when it snowed. It had seemed to have got better but she's hurt it again somehow. The muscle at the top of her hip seems to be really bunched up again. If it doesn't improve over the next couple of days then she'll have to go to the vets.

Despite the occasional twinge she had a wonderful time trotting round and sniffing at everything.




Teazle, as usual, was far too interested in the fact that we were trying to photograph her and kept rushing over to investigate. Out of about 20 photos, this is the only one that actually shows her. All the others are of empty grass where she had been.




We are so lucky to have such beautiful places for dogwalking, right on our doorstep.


It still feels strange to only be walking two dogs. Bracken was the one who wanted to play and he would chase the girls until they played with him. They seem very subdued without him there. I miss him too. He loved to chase balls and sticks and would spend a lot of the walk running back and forth to us, whereas the girls are off sniffing in the bushes and doing their own thing.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Quilt for MIL

I've been very, very slowly working on a bed quilt for my Mother in Law. She gave me free range of her stash and I got to chose the pattern and do the hard work.

Looking through her fabric it was very quickly clear that she favoured blues and so I decided on the Star Struck pattern I'd seen on Quiltville. Thank you Bonnie. I've been wanting to try this pattern for a long time now, so this was the ideal opportunity.

For once everything came together without drama or stress, which made a nice change. Hopefully the border won't play up. I am planning on using the left over triangles in it, so there will be ample opportunity for things to go wrong.

Here is the top so far.


Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Lanzarote

We had a wonderful time in Lanzarote. The weather was very sunny and breezy so I didn't get too hot but it was warm enough to sit on the beach or swim in the hotel's pool. Had to be a little careful because we all have skin that burns easily and with being winter pale and the breeze stopping you from feeling hot, it was far too easy to get burned. I got sunburnt feet in about 3/4 hour out shopping. The boys really enjoyed themselves and Y managed to get over his fear of water and played in the pool all week. He even got so far as going underwater and managed to swim a little bit. We've promised him that he can go to the local pool at weekends to keep it up. It's a huge step forward. He's always refused point blank before and even the remedial swimming class he did at school didn't help at all.

The Hotel was really nice and very friendly.




We visited the Jameos del Aqua.


The pool is home to weird little white crab/crayfish things which apparently are unique to this cave.








We also took a trip to the Timanfaya National Park to see the volcanoes.




Admission includes a coach trip through the lava fields which was spectacular. It looked like somewhere on an alien planet.





There is also a restaurant which cooks the food using the heat coming from the volcano!


It sits right at the top and is completely circular.

This gives you the most amzing view ever while you eat your lunch. The food is good too.



Finally, while I was downloading these pictures I looked at the photos from the last time we went to Lanzarote. The boys were SO young.


Monday, February 23, 2009

Wedding Present and Jean's Green Quilt

I used up a lot of scraps making this fleece backed bed throw for my friend's daughter's wedding. As always I left making it till the last minute and then it was a real panic to get it done in time.



A while ago now I promised pictures of Jean's Quilt and then promptly forgot again. While we were on holiday I found the photos of it were still on the camera. This turned out so beautifully that I really hated having to part with it.