Rory, exchanges, a rak and giveaways

Pictures, pictures, lots of pictures.

What a busy week it has been. To start Rory and I went to our first shows of the year. Four back to back shows. And one show too many. Rory behaved and performed well the first three days. But the judges weren't in our favor so he came home with a third place in his class all three days. On the fourth day there was hope that he might do better since that judge liked Rory's type. EXCEPT Rory decided he wasn't going to behave and began to jump and dance and sit. Everything but stack as he should. I was ready to brain him! (As you can see from some of the photos he does know how to stack properly!) I guess the judge felt sorry for me because he gave us a second place anyway. Maybe next show...............

Then it was time to get back to normal life. Whatever that is. Of course Rory was so happy to be home again where he can run and run and run. And get as wet and messy (within limits believe me.) as he wants. Photo above he is nicely groomed, clean, bathed and stacking beautifully. Photos below after 20 minutes of running in whats left of the melting snow. What a difference!

I did come home to some wonderful mail. Two of my exchanges had arrived. Both those I sent and those that were sent to me! The ones I received are just gorgeous. Both my partners in the HoE Reindeer ornament exchange and the Lizzie Kate exchange sent me some beautiful pieces.

The Lizzie Kate was stitched and finished by Michele W. The reindeer ornament, a PS design, was stitched by Jayne.

And there is more! I was the winner of Joanie's World snowman winter giveaway. Oh my goodness but she spoiled me rotten. I actually received this right before I left for my long weekend but didn't have time to take photos. Can you see all the wonderful goodies she included? And there is more. She also sent some patterns that I forgot to photograph--a Little House, a BBD (Pink House), a Prairie Schooler and another that I can't remember at the moment. She stitched the cutest pin pillow and didn't forget Rory because there was a bag of treat for him. Ones that he actually likes! And believe me he is such a picky eater so that is hard to do.

The piece I stitched for the Lizzie Kate round A also arrived at its new home so here is a photo of what I sent. As well as my HoE Stitch Red exchange. For that one I stitched a JBW pattern and finished it as a pin pillow. There is one more exchange out so I should be able to show you that one next time.

One other surprise in the mail was the sweetest RAK from one of the sweetest ladies. It made me cry. I am deeply touched. Trecie stitched a band for a candle in memory of my Rorie. Trecie has three beautiful kitties and has always loved seeing Rosie's photos. Even though they were few she always dubbed her kittie as Rosie's fan club. Thank you Trecie from the bottom of my heart.

As you can see from these photos Rory is really growing up and looking so well groomed. He made more friends at the dog shows and we met a woman from Australia who just fell in love with him. (I even thought I might have to get a lock for his crate so he wouldn't disappear!) She along with a couple of others took a bunch of photos and I am just waiting to see those. I hope some came out so I can share them with you all.

And now for some giveaway news. I am still planning on doing two but thought I would start things off with this one.

A 25 dollar gift certificate to one of my favorite online stitching stores. Down Sunshine Lane. This giveaway is to say Thank you. Thank you for all for the support and votes you gave Rory in his recent photo contest. Thank you for all the wonderful comments you all leave me. Thank you.

Below are two of the photos that I am giving the artist who will paint his portrait. Aren't they just gorgeous!!

The rules for this giveaway are simple. Leave a comment stating you want to be included in the giveaway. Please make sure your email address can be found by me. If I can't locate your email I can't send you an online gift certificate. Easy as pie.

The deadline for this giveaway will be next Saturday, March 5th. Rory's Birthday.

Until next time......................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too

Another Wooo Hooo, an exchange and TUSAL

It has been another busy week. And it doesn't look like it's slowing down for a while. No rest for the weary as the saying goes.

I know I let you all know that Rory won the photo contest. To those who helped by voting for Rory I can never thank you enough. I can't wait to show you all the painting once it is done. We picked up his prize which included the gift certificate for the painting, a package from Mortons Salts (in a bag with pet safe salt for the ice!) and a bunch of treats for Rory. Rory loved digging in the bag for his treats.

Next up was a full weekend. And Rory's second Match show of the year. (To those who are curious: A Match show is the same as a regular dog show but there are no points awarded. It is more for experience and practice.) So that meant grooming, bathing and blow drying to get ready. Rory was so good at the show. I really do think that he knows what a show is all about. But the Wooooo Hooooooo part of this posting is that............ wait for it............

Rory won Best Adult in Show!!!!!!!!!! The Best. When the judge said "the Irish setter" I stood there puzzled not knowing what he wanted me to do. it wasn't until the others in the ring (a beautiful Great Dane, a Dalmatian and two more) started saying Congratulations that I realized what happened. I was stunned. Flabbergasted. Speechless. Beyond happy. You could have knocked me over with a feather. To say I was flying on a cloud since Sunday is right!! I am soooooooo proud of my little boy.

But wait. The good stuff with Rory didn't stop there. You see my sister and my nieces came to watch us and my one niece brought her son, my six year old great-nephew. Well, he had the time of his life. I don't get to see them too often and this was only the second time that Devin, my great-nephew, and Rory had met. Rory was oh so gentle with Devin who is a VERY active little boy. My niece and Devin came back to my house after the show. Devin and Rory ran and played for two hours. They both had the grandest time. But what impressed me the most was the fact that Rory never once jumped on Devin or knocked him down. That was my fear. Rory would run up to Devin and then around him and wait. You see this was Rory's first real one on one time off leash with a child. He just amazed me. He is such a good boy.

Okay, now for a little stitching. I received my Winter exchange from Ann (no blog). She stitched and finished one of the BBD stockings. It is absolutely gorgeous!! I love, love, love it. My exchange has been mailed but hasn't arrived so no photos of my stitching. I also have two other exchanges in the mail. Maybe by next week I can show you some photos.

I also took my TUSAL photo. I took it on the correct date but didn't download it until now.

And that brings us to today. A short day at work since I need to get home and groom Rory. Give him a bath and blow him dry. The I need to finish packing so we can leave early tomorrow morning for the first big shows of the season. Four days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Irish setter specialties. (90 or more Irish each day!) These are always the biggest of the year. The shows that lead up to the Westminster dog show on this coming Monday and Tuesday. (And no Rory isn't entered in that. Every dog entered is a Champion and Rory isn't yet.) I am looking forward to seeing all my dog show friends and four days of nothing but dogs. Well, I do hope to stitch a little here and there. Wish us luck.

If you have lasted this long and are still here I will let you in on a little secret. March 5th is Rory's second Birthday so stay tuned for a special giveaway. I'm still thinking of what I want to do because this will also be a thank you giveaway and if the magic 300 follower number appears then it will have to be a triple giveaway. Hmmmmmmm. It will have to be something really special.

Details to follow next week.

Until next time................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.

Wooooo Hooooo.

Just a quick note to tell you all that Rory WON!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO

I am so thrilled and tickled to pieces at the wonderful response my blogger buddies came through with. Rory ended up with 430 votes!! You all ROCK!! I can never thank you enough.

I am hoping to pick up part of his prize tomorrow and will be sure to take photos. Actually I have some stitching to share but will do that soon. I just had to share this news first.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

Until next time.............

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.

Rory needs your help

I entered Rory in a Winter photo contest on a local pet website. The main prize is a custom painting which I would LOVE to win. There is also a basket of toys and treats for Rory. But we need your help. The photo with the most votes wins. Rory needs your vote!

All you need to do is click HERE. That will take you to his photo page. Enter your email, click on the five stars, enter the "captcha" code and send. They will send you a confirmation email that you need to click to confirm your vote.

That's it. Easy Peasy.

We know that stitchers are fantastic people so Rory and I hope you can help.

Thank you all so much.

Until next time.....................

Love and stitches
Kathy
and cold snowy licks from Rory too

A brrrrrrrrrrr Monday

Snow, bone numbing cold and more snow. (Only two things warms me up. Rory in my lap and all of your sweet and wonderful comments!) That seems to sum up the past week and a half. I know it is winter but, geez, do we really need this much snow? And the record cold? It was 5 degrees (Fahrenheit) this morning! I didn't even want to know what it was with the wind chill I was cold enough! The only good thing about this morning was that the car started. Unlike Saturday. But that's for later.

Rory continues to enjoy the snow. I tell you he must be wishing for all this white stuff so I can stay home and he can run and run and run in it. Last week I ended up home on Thursday due to a migraine. (I'm fine but the medication side effects are nasty and I would rather be home when one hits.) So Rory got to run and play in the snow for three hours straight! He just loves it. And I could not get him to come in! It also made for a nice quiet afternoon since he exhausted himself in the morning. And they are calling for MORE SNOW this week! Sigh. I don't mind staying home but then I also have to shovel the stuff. And it is only January.

The one thing about snow days is that I do get a bit more stitching done. I have the stitching all finished for my February exchanges. I just need to finish finish them and then mail them off. I hope to get to that this weekend. I have worked a little more on my first Flip'n challenge wip. Here is CCN's Christmas Carols as of January 22.

I started working on another wip for the challenge. This one I originally started about 4 years ago on aida. (My pre-linen days.) Since I had barely started it I decided to change it to linen. I'm not sure if this one would be counted as a start or an old wip but I'm calling it an old wip since it has been sitting in my wip basket for way too long. So here are photos of where it was and where it is now.

Other stitchy goodness: I had two very pleasant surprises in the mail last week. On Friday I received a package from Veronica. I had won her Birthday giveaway earlier this month. What a delightful package. Filled with all kinds of stitching things. Fabric, ribbons, laces galore, a few Crescent Colors, and variegated DMCs (I am already stitching with one of them.), a tatted bookmark that is just gorgeous and a little burlap bag that she stitched on. Thank you so very, very much for everything Veronica!

The second parcel came all the way from Australia. I was next in line for the BBD pattern, Their Song. (I can't wait to start this but need to get the WDW first.) So Gabi sent it on to me. But she also included one of her foot warmers! It looks so warm and comfy. I just need to get some rice to fill it. She included the muslin bag that you fill with rice (or wheat) and heat up in the microwave. Then put that inside the cozy fleecy warmer and insert your cold tootsies. I am picking up the rice tonight! I wonder how long it will stay warm? It would be ideal for the icy morning train ride.

Rory and I had our first show of the new year on Saturday. It was a local match show, a practice show with no points for the winners. Rory is entered in four shows in February but we both need to get our show feet back under us since we haven't been since Thanksgiving. The match show was set to start at 10 am. I got up very early, gave Rory a quick bath and blow dry and by 8:30 am we are ready to go. I go out to start the car and nothing. Nada. Dead as a doornail! ARGHHHHHHHHH!! So I go back in and call AAA (Thank you brother Bill for convincing me to sign up!) I tell them that I really need to be somewhere by 10 at the latest. (That is when the show is supposed to start.) They tell me, no problem someone will be there shortly. 9:40 the truck arrives. Jumps my car battery and gets it running. Thank you. The guy leaves. I called and found that there will be a delay in the show so I am still on time. We get set, in the car and I stop for gas. Only to find that one of my tires is almost flat!! NO! Oh, yes. So I back track to the used tire place. I have to get a new tire! Get that done and we are finally on our way. Thank goodness the show site isn't far. We arrived with about 20 minutes to spare. Rory was a real trooper and performed beautifully! He won the breed and was such a good boy. Me? I was stressed beyond stressed. Maybe that was why Rory behaved so well? No photos because I forgot my camera.

That leaves yesterday. Both Rory and I decided it was a day to rest, relax, me to stitch and him to nap. But before I got too busy with all that it was the perfect day to take some new photos. After all Valentine's Day is coming up and the blog needed a new header photo. So which one is your favorite?

Until next time........................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too.