HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Canada Day wishes go out to all my Canadian blogging friends. Here's hoping you spend a relaxing day with family and friends celebrating our Canadian heritage. As for me, I'll be working. That was my choice this year since my DH is away this week . When the work day finishes I'll be joining my son Dan for some Canada Day festivities in Cornwall provided that the weather holds out. Last year we tried to get close enough on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to view some of the Mounties Musical Ride (as seen on the left) but it was nearly impossible to see anything with all the crowds. This year I'll just settle for the fireworks display.

I'm afraid I don't have much to report on the stitching front. There hasn't been an awful lot of time for stitching these days and my progress has been pitiful on what little I've finished. By the time I'm finally able to pick up my stitching each evening I find that I'm too tired to concentrate and it isn't long before I put it aside. With summer's arrival I'm much more likely to be found outside gardening or reading in my gazebo after supper. Work continues to be hectic and I love to just sit and enjoy the outdoors when I return home. I've taken up the camera a lot lately and been snapping pictures of birds in the area.

For the past few summers we've had a pair of cardinals, Mr. & Mrs., visiting our feeders. This past week they were joined by Junior. At least that's what we've been calling him. As you can see in the picture, his colours aren't fully developed yet. He gets quite put out when Mom and Dad take a turn at the feeder and leave him sitting to wait on his perch.

I've also been enjoying visits from the Cedar WaxWings. They usually show up between 8 and 9 in the evening to gorge themselves on berries in the neighbour's tree. At one point yesterday there were as many as 1o of them fighting for the treats. I love their eye masks that make them look like bandits.

Our home renovations are slowly getting started. Remodelling the kitchen isn't something that I wanted to rush into. Add to that the fact that it takes me forever to make up mind about some things. After weeks of debating a plan has finally been decided upon and the cupboards will be ordered next week. I don't expect that they'll be ready until August but in the meantime a wall is coming down between our dining room and kitchen to open things up. I'm thinking that maybe I should have taken holidays when all this was finished so I could really relax. Too late now!

With everything that's going on here right now I haven't had much time for the computer. I miss checking in on all of you and promise I haven't forgotten about you.

Next post I should finally have a pic of my progress on Nature's Beauty. It's been slow going because I'm not very good at working with linen. My eyes play tricks on me when it comes to counting and the frogs love visiting. I really do prefer evenweave even though I love the look of the linen. Any tips ladies to help me out?

Time to sign off and head on up to bed. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday and for all of my American blogging friends.... Happy 4th of July!