Project up-dates

I have completed the ornaments for the Learning FA Christmas exchange but you'll have to wait for photographs because I want to do a group one :)

I decided to redo the edge of my mini quilt for the Postcard Pizzazz exchange. It looks a whole lot better. It is straight but brainless me decided to photograph it on a cushion !!!!! Don't know what I was thinking.
A good chunk of my time this week has been spent working out my handout for the genealogy conference tomorrow. 3 pages now done and printed. I present after lunch so I hope everyone manages to stay awake :) The centerpieces for the tables are currently living in our sun room. We stuffed gift bags for everyone this morning and got the conference room set up.

The new winner is ...... and an update on Lucy

Dotti is now the new winner of my cross stitch giveaway. Please send me your mailing address so that you can receive your gifts. I have heard from Dolores and Lola.

Update on Lucy. She had her surgery and we are waiting for some test results. She appears to have some heart/lung issues. We should be able to get her home this evening.

Now Friday night. Lucy is home and asleep. We moved her doggie bed into the living room so we can keep an eye on her. She is currently sporting a belly wrap which has to stay on till the staples are taken out. She also has to wear a cone round her neck when we leave her by herself. We go back to the vet on Monday to have her wound checked and hopefully get the results back.
Thanks to those of you who have enquired about her.

Local Life - Frist Center for the Visual Arts

http://www.hellonashville.com/Articles/Attraction/98/The_Frist_Center_for_the_Visual_Arts_always_something_new_to_see.Cfm
This is a wonderful building that opened in 2001. It is located in what was originally the main downtown post office and much of the original Art Deco detailing has been kept or enhanced.
The kid in you will enjoy the Martin Artquest Gallery which is the children's interactive area :) Personally I looooove it !!!!
The galleries in the center are well laid out and local schools are actively encouraged to take tours (under strict guidelines i.e. no touching the exhibits.) My favorites are usually the smaller ones upstairs.
Current exhibits are Twilight Visions, Georgia O'Keeffe and Her Times, and Thomas Hart Benton in Story and Song.
Main web page -  http://www.fristcenter.org/site/default.aspx

Surgery

Our darling Lucy is having surgery today to remove a tumor from her chest. While running tests on her yesterday the vet discovered that she has heart problems.
"Eskies" are fabulous dogs and can live to the ripe old age of 20. Lucy is almost 7. The photograph was taken by Kristina for a class project.
Since I have to hang around the house today I'm going to try and finish up some of my swaps, small Christmas presents, packages for mailings and my presentation for the genealogy seminar on Saturday.

Scots Corner - The National Dish

My wee nephew loooooooves Haggis and eats it by itself with great gusto. I on the other hand am somewhat iffy about it but have eaten the full meal on occasion. (I think it's been about 3 times since I left the sainted motherland.)
When you read the recipe you might see why I have issues:)
Since I cannot bring myself to even type the thing up I'm sending you somewhere to see some pictures, even a YouTube on cooking it. http://tipdeck.com/how-to-cook-haggis Be warned one of the pictures looks like a giant slug.

Then head off to a fun story (or six) about this mythical beastie http://www.electricscotland.com/haggis/

In the course of my wanders round the WWW I discovered that the first recognizable recipe for Haggis was written in an ENGLISH cook-book. Oh nooooooooooo ....... My ancient ancestors would roll in their graves. (They came from France and also ate their own version of haggis.)

Some pithy writer has stated that if you take the oatmeal out of the recipe you are left with American hot dogs. I don't think so !!!!!!!!

Speaking of writing - The New York Times has an interesting article www.nytimes.com/1986/01/05/travel/fare-of-the-country-haggis-history-and-humor.html written initially from the perspective of an Englishman to a tourist before heading into the meat of the dish.

Giveaways alert

I've heard back from Lola thus far.

My other two winners have till Friday.

If I have not heard back I will contact the "in reserve" person from each of the drawings.

Blog of the week - Lady of the Floss

My flower of the week goes to Gabi.
I've been holding off spotlighting this blog because she has been working on a piece called "Coming to Water." It is now finished and back from the framers and is stunning. Scroll down her blog to see the progress from start to finish. It took a while which is not surprising.
Gabi lives in Australia though is not originally from there. Her blog has many fabulous cross stitch projects highlighted there and we are both members of the yahoo group I Love Cross Stitch.

So head on over to http://ladyofthefloss.blogspot.com/ and meet another Scorpio girl :)