Not much to say, really. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate on stitching - I think the frogs have parked under my stitching chair! And even reading is a problem. If I could just shut my mind off until I know something definite, how much easier that would be.

Hobenlinden

On Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow,
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

But Linden saw another sight
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.

By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
Each horseman drew his battle blade,
And furious every charger neighed
To join the dreadful revelry.

Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
Then rushed the steed to battle driven,
And louder than the bolts of heaven
Far flashed the red artillery.

But redder yet that light shall glow
On Linden's hills of stained snow,
And bloodier yet the torrent flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

'Tis morn, but scarce yon level sun
Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun,
Where furious Frank and fiery Hun
Shout in their sulphurous canopy.

The combat deepens. On, ye brave,
Who rush to glory, or the grave!
Wave, Munich! all thy banners wave,
And charge with all thy chivalry!

Few, few shall part where many meet!
The snow shall be their winding-sheet,
And every turf beneath their feet
Shall be a soldier's sepulchre.

Thomas Campbell
1777 - 1844

The battle of Hobenlinden took place in December 1800 where the French defeated the Austrians.

Well, I turned the poppies into a birthday card, with the addition of some candy stickers and off I went to help my friend Betty celebrate her 50th! A lot of Fisheries people showed up - we met while she and I both worked there - plus some spouses so about 20 of us took over the upper level of the Crest lounge and enjoyed a good meal and a lot of laughter. Betty got given a nice mix of silly and serious gifts and a wonderful evening was enjoyed by all.

It was a nice distraction, as the possibility of breast cancer has reared its ugly head once again. I have been referred to Terrace to check the "something" that was found on my 1 year post-cancer mammogram - they have a machine that does 3-D images. Once they pinpoint it exactly, there will probably be another biopsy. And so the waiting game goes on. 10 days and counting!

Had a couple more finishes. This bunny - a Bucilla kit - I was working on before I concentrated solely on the Chinese wedding piece and I just had to finish the tail and do the back stitch and long stitch. I'm not 100% sure how I'll finish it, but I think it would make a cute pillow.

Just a little card that was the free kit with The World of Cross Stitching magazine, Issue 27. I think I need to pick up some small stickers and brighten it up a little. Managed to finish this in one afternoon of stitching.

Hoping I can get back to my rotation now and have some updates for the beginning of November.

Well, my personal computer has died and guess where the pictures of my time away are? Right! So I'm using the Sisters' computer to keep up with things, but it has some limitations.


I finished the Chinese Wedding piece I was working on and it came out very nicely.



Josie was very pleased with it when she picked it up, so that was good to hear.

Well, I've been away from home (and computerless) for 2 weeks. A proper post is coming as soon as I download the pictures from my camera.

Another day with sunshine coming through the windows, so the cats and I are happy, happy!

Spent a little over an hour this morning working on Sisters' books. Now I'm up to date again and everything should be okay while I'm away. Mind you, this is on top of the almost 7 hours I spent on Friday. The filing really needed to be re-organized and I did that. Rather monotonous and defintely time consuming, but will make a great difference now. I had set the original system up when I first started working at Sisters and didn't have the same understanding of what would be required. Ah well, live and learn.

Have a few things to do on the computer, than back to stitching. The man of the couple is completed and I have some of the woman's headdress. I would like to finish that this weekend and start on her gown. I would love to finish this piece at the retreat next weekend and get back to my rotation and the new birth announcement project.

England in 1819

An old, mad. blind, despised, and dying king,
Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow
Through public scorn, -- mud froma muddy spring, --
Rulers who neither see, nor feel, nor know,
But leech-like to their fainting country cling,
Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow, --
A people starved and stabbed in the untilled field, --
An army, which liberticide and prey
Makes as a two-edged sword to all who wield, --
Golden and sanguine laws which tempt and slay;
Religion Christless, Godless -- a book sealed;
A Senate, -- Time's worst statute unrepealed, --
Are graves, from which a glorious Phantom may
Burst, to illumine our tempestuous day.

Percy Bysshe Shelley
1792 - 1822

Well, my mouth is almost back to normal - just the occasional twinge. What a relief!

We've had 2 days of sun - almost a record for this summer. And 3 days ago while there was no sun (cloudy) it was hot and muggy. And that is NOT a complaint. It was SO good to feel the warmth. Yesterday the cats spent their time sprawling out in every patch of sunshine they could find.

To _____________

One word is too often profaned
For me to profane it.
One feeling too falsely disdained
For thee to disdain it;
One hope is too like despair
For prudence to smother,
And pity from thee more dear
Than that from another.

I can give not what men call love,
But wilt thou accept not
The worship the heart lifts above
And the Heavens reject not, --
The desire of the moth for the star,
Of the night for the morrow,
The devotion to something afar
From the sphere of our sorrow?

Percy Bysshe Shelley
1792 - 1822