photo of LE BLEU
Posted by: claire93 on: November 15, 2009
Photo to show that LE BLEU is home, looking like he’s had a skiing accident, with huge bandage on his leg to keep the knee joint from moving while it heals. I’m making him wear the dreaded plastic collar as he’s already tried to undo bandage – feel sorry for him as he hates wearing the collar BUT it’s only for 2 weeks and he’ll thank me for it in the end ^^
Not much stitching going on here of late. Plodding along with part 5 of the Isabelle Vautier Grand Marquoir,; frantically trying to finish last two pressies for the Advent Calendar exchange and also busy knitting a scarf for my daughter.
LE BLEU back home (again)
Posted by: claire93 on: November 12, 2009
More on the LE BLEU saga, which has been going on for more than two months . . . GOOD news of the day is that orthopedic surgeon was able to “unstick” the kneecap where it had dislocated to the back of the knee and put it back in place, and Le Bleu has come home with all four legs YIPPEE ^^
Not so good news is that I get the feeling this part of his convalesence is going to be tougher than the last two month. He’s got the most enormous bandage covering his entire leg and held in place with more bandage around the “waist”. There are so many layers of bandage that it’s almost as rigid as if he had his leg in plaster cast and must feel like it weighs a ton. At the moment he can’t even stand up let alone walk and is adopting a “commando style” method of pulling himself around the floor of his playpen using his front paws. Have no idea how he’s going to manage to hobble to his litter tray, and am already worrying what happens if he soils his bandages (which are supposed to remain in place for the next 2 weeks).
I know I should be rejoicing because there was only a slim chance that the surgeon would be able to repair the knee mechanism, and I AM immensely relieved that I didn’t jump the gun and just tell the man to cut the leg off without giving it a go. But I also realise we’re now looking at a very difficult third month ahead with Le Bleu getting to the end of his patience and the vet’s “Bon Courage!” as I left the surgery is ringing in my head because I know that we going to need lots over the coming weeks. Anyway . . . we’re armed once more with anti-biotics and pain-killers . . . just need to give myself a shot of optimism and we’ll be fine ^^
Photos of Le Bleu tomorrow to show of his bandages . . . looks like he’s had a skiing accident lol.
thank you POMME and photos of Le Bleu
Posted by: claire93 on: November 11, 2009
Lovely Lionel brought me a surprise parcel the other day ^^ a cute mini biscornu from POMME http://jesuismonfil.over-blog.com/ 
she chose the little blue cat design expecially for LE BLEU, knowing that we’re still rather in limbo regarding his dislocated knee. And speaking of which . . . here are some piccies to show exactly how catastrophic and twisted his leg is these days 
yep, that’s his hind left foot right there under his tail 
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and twisted leg seen from the other side 
Had xrays done on Monday to check on the femoral fracture and that’s looking good . . . and have to take him to see orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. Have been told to remove food & water at midnight tonight so that when he goes in tomorrow the surgeon MAY actually decide to operate then and there (all depends on his operating schedule I suppose) . . . but until I’ve spoken to him again I won’t know if he’ll attempt to repair knee or if these are the last photos you’ll see of Le Bleu with all four legs.
“I’ll never be French . . . ” Mark Greenside
Posted by: claire93 on: November 6, 2009
Have recently read this book by Mark Greenside: an autobiographical account of his experiences of living in a small village in Brittany: I’LL NEVER BE FRENCH (NO MATTER WHAT I DO). Absolutely hilarious, with wonderful dialogues in Franglais as Mark discovers all the oddities of living in France. I highly recommend !!!
GRAND MARQUOIR – and the race is on !
Posted by: claire93 on: November 1, 2009
Yes folks, the race is on in this house, between my daughter and myself, to see who finishes Isabelle Vautier’s GRAND MARQUOIR first ^^
Lindashee, stitching in brown and gold on a cream 14 count aida, is in the lead at the moment 
and looks like she’ll be tackling Part six very shortly . . . whereas my version, in green and paler green, is more than four squares behind ^^ 
but I’m still confident I can catch my daughter up and that it’ll be neck and neck in the final straight . . . so don’t forget to tune in for further updates and see who pips who at the finishing post ^^
SOUTH SEAS LACE – happy dance
Posted by: claire93 on: October 30, 2009
I’m having a happy dance gleefully proclaiming “I’ve finished” to anyone who cares to listen to me ^^
My SOUTH SEAS LACE by Debbie Draper (chart published in The Gift of Stitching magazine) – stitched using Pomme de Pin “Water Plouf” threads. Great fun to stitch, and now needs an iron, and a frame ! Not sure how Vikki is coming along with this design as she seems to be side-tracked quilting here http://zenofneedle.wordpress.com/ but Sandra has been going great guns this week and there will be happy dancing in Wales before too long http://mollycaff.wordpress.com/^^
new SAL starting in November
Posted by: claire93 on: October 28, 2009
Anita aka Stitch Creations http://stitch-creations.blogspot.com/ is organising a SAL on her blog, with a design of her own creation : The Pied Piper of Hamelin ![[hamelen.jpg]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ahkKTe5xmaY/StV_R84Qh_I/AAAAAAAABQ0/hsHhf6ud2E0/s1600/hamelen.jpg)
There’s no need to sign up for it – anyone can join in whenever they feel like it ^^ The chart will available in downloadable installments on Anita’s blog from November. And I’m seriously thinking about joining in.
Grand Marquoir – my part FOUR finished
Posted by: claire93 on: October 26, 2009
Okay I know that parts five and six are already available, and that I’m behind on this one ^^ but haven’t given up hopes of getting it finished by 31st December 2009 ! Last night, I put finishing stitches to part FOUR and am going to make a start of part five this afternoon. 
Haven’t gotten round to replacing the gold metallic thread in part one with the lighter green I’ve decided to use . . . but will do that next month (I hope). Main thing is to keep progressing with the next installments and try to catch up. My daughter, Lindashee, is still plugging away on part five (I think she’s done six blocks so far) but she’s on half term holidays for ten days now so I will post her progress report very soon.
South Seas Lace SAL – almost there
Posted by: claire93 on: October 25, 2009
My SAL rotation is slightly out of sink at the moment and Grand Marquoir hasn’t seen any work done on it of late. However my South Seas Lace is coming along in leaps and bounds and, with a bit of luck, should be finished by next week ^^
Here’s how it looks after this weeks stitching 
I have no idea how Sandra http://mollycaff.wordpress.com/ and Vikki http://zenofneedle.wordpress.com/ are doing – they both seem to have gone a bit quiet of late, so am hoping they’ll post some updates on seeing my progress.
Other non-stitching news, for those following the saga of our cat, Le Bleu, with his fractured femur and dislocated knee . . . took him to see orthopedic surgeon on 20th who said that dislocated knee cap has permanently fixed itself to the back of the knee and only way to put it back is to operate (with a low chance of success). He gave us two choices: either to give up on leg now and opt for amputation . . . or to wait a few more weeks to give fracture more time to heal and then let him open up the knee for further exploration. If he is confident he can repair, he will, and if it’s beyond surgery, he’ll amputate.
So basically, we’re back to square one s We’ve decided to give things one last shot and are going to wait a few weeks then go ahead with exploratory surgery . . . and then it will be basically depend on what the surgeon feels is the best option. Le Bleu, in the meantime, doesn’t seem to be too bothered by his bad leg (aside from that the fact that he is having to walk on three). He still has to spend most of his time in the playpen, but we get him out several hours every day for cuddle sessions on the couch and he enjoys our company as much as ever. General health and appetite are excellent . . . and it’s now a question of wait and see for surgery.
HALLOWE’EN exchange: sent & received
Posted by: claire93 on: October 24, 2009
Hallowe’en may still be a week away, but parcels have been sent and received in the latest exchange on the forum Nos Plaisirs Créatifs, so here I am with some more pictures. I stitched for Marie-Line this time and decided to tame my sewing machine to make up a little goodies bag. I stitched a design from Cross Stitcher magazine, and for the shop-bought gifts went for handicraft items rather than edibles: a xstitch kit, a table decoration and some fluorescent stickers. 
and here’s what I received this morning, from Thisa2mars . . . a HUGE bag for goodies . . . packet of sweets and a pumpkin candle holder ^^ 
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