I'M STILL HERE!

I thought I should call in to say that I'm still here even though I haven't been in touch for a while.
I have been busy with the usual things in life but have recently made a discovery that's taking up most of my time. I've joined Ancestry.com.au and I have to confess that I'm well and truly addicted.
I took out a 14 day free trial thinking that there wouldn't be very much to see. Big mistake, there's literally thousands of entries to read through and it's going to take ages to sort out.
 My maiden name is quite uncommon here in Australia but it seems that every second person on Yorkshire U.K has it for a name! I can't believe how interesting the old documents are with the beautiful hand-writing.
I've even made contact with a lovely lady in Yorkshire. Her husband is my second cousin. It's easy to believe that we are all related in some way. The world isn't such a big place after all.

I'm trying to think positive about the arrival of spring. My blossom tree doesn't look quite like this yet but the daffodils and other bulbs are up and smiling at the sunshine. Still very cold and sometimes wet days to put up with. Oh well, it won't be very long and we'll be complaining of the heat!

Take care dear friends, I will be back soon.

Blessings for now,
Vicki x

GOOD-BYE SWEET NICHOLAS.

 My dear little Nick went to sleep on Monday, July 2nd.
 He had recovered from his big operation and was really well and happy for several weeks but then he slowly began to show signs of illness.
He drank quite a lot and lost his appetite. I just knew that his kidneys had failed so on the Monday morning after he had been sick a couple of times and fainted in the garden, I made an appointment with the vet.
 My daughter drove me there and after tests showed that he was very, very sick and had no hope of getting better, I made a decision to let him go.
 I held his hand while Jenny held me and we said good-bye. I cuddled him all the way home and he's now sleeping in the back garden where he loved to play.

This is one of my favourite photo's of Nick watching out the window. He loved to see people and cars go by and would get really excited when one of the family drove up in their car.

This is a fairly recent photo of Nick and his friend Bella. Nick is in his "pajama's" because he often felt the cold.  Bella loved to cuddle him, particularly near their meal time!

 I have watched as Bella cuddled Nick and her fluffy tail wrapd around his neck like a lovely scarf.

I love this photo too. Nick has his woolly "jama's on.  He was a fashionable boy, he had several coats and pajama's even a very smart red tartan coat that was for "best".

 I have nearly 14 years of memories and photo's but I miss him so much. The house is quiet and neater, I can walk without either tripping over him or having him follow my every step but, oh what I would give to have him back for another cuddle. I'm amazed that such a small dog could fill so much of my day.


           "Bye Nick, be a good boy and I will see you again one day. xxxxx

SORRY I FORGOT TO MENTION...

My apologies for not giving a lovely warm welcome to new friends who have decided to follow my little blog.
Please have patience with me, I promise to say hello more often.

Blessings,
Vicki xx

SMILES AND TEARS.

It's been a while since I last spoke with you.  My little dog Nicholas is back to his normal self again. His operation healed up within about ten days, I couldn't believe just how quick it was from looking awful and painful to now where I can't even see the scars.
 He's much happier, jumping up for a cuddle and wanting to go for a walk and his appetite is good too.  So much to be thankful for and thank-you to all of you, my dear friends, who said prayers and wrote lovely comments.    Nick and I are very grateful.


I have had a very sad few weeks recently.  My dear friend Ruth passed away on April 20th. She had fought a cancer battle for the last 16 years and even though we all knew her life's journey was coming to an end, it was very hard to accept, she was only 61.
 Ruth was one of those people who touched many lives in such a positive way. She was a true Christian person and had love and caring for every-one she knew. I will miss her so much but am thankful that I was able to have her as a friend.

I think our lovely Autumn weather has gone for this year. We were blessed with some of the most beautiful days in recent weeks. Ballarat is a wonderful city in the Autumn, trees in splendid colour,  leaved to rake up for the garden and a special atmosphere of peace and calm.  Now it's just colder and we want to stay nearer the heater and get out all the Winter woollies to wear!

Until next time, take care,
Vicki xx

GOOD NEWS.

Thank-you for your good wishes and prayers for my Nicholas.  His operation went well, the lovely vet Rob, was very happy with it all.
 He was able to get the large lump all out and now Nick is home with a plastic collar on so he doesn't hurt himself and a very sore, stitched up rear end!
He was able to eat his tea with a bit of juggling and he's mostly following me around or lying nearby looking suitably put out.

Both cats are giving him a wide berth, they don't like the look of the collar. Rob said the recovery should be about ten days. We can take Nick for short walks and hopefully he will be back to his old self quite soon.

Life really is good when all the "family" are home and safe.
Blessings,
Vicki x

MY NICHOLAS.

I have a favor to ask.    Would you please think of my dear little dog Nicholas and say a prayer if you wish. He's going to have a big operation tomorrow for a large cancerous lump

He's 13 years old but I hope and pray we will have him to love and spoil for a while yet.
 He's my little shadow, never very far away from me.  He follows me from room to room and just loves to be cuddled and patted.

He loves having a bath and being dried with the hair-dryer.  When he goes outside in the wet weather, his feet get dirty so as I let him inside again I say  "hands and feet",   he sits on the mat and holds his paws up to be wiped dry with a hand-towel.  My daughter usually comes for tea on Tuesday night and Nick sits in the hallway and just watches the door waiting for Jenny to arrive.  I swear he knows what day it is!

Blessings,

Vicki x

WELCOME NEW FRIENDS.

I just popped in to say hello and feed the fish and was so thrilled to see that I had two new followers.
 While I was composing a message to you both you will never guess what happened. A third friend joined my blog almost in front of my eyes!!
To Susan of Minicrochetmad,    Shez from Enjoying Life and Helen who didn't have blog details, a warm hello.   I'm so glad that you decided to stay. I hope you enjoy reading about what I get up to when I should be cooking or cleaning!!!
 I have been neglecting my miniatures a bit lately because I had surgery in my nose a few weeks ago and what with one thing and another, it's still painful to rest my glasses on my nose for long and I need to wear the "specs" for close-up work.  It's much better than it was so hopefully I will be back in business soon.

If you have looked back through my rambling, you will have seen photo's of garden flowers that I hope you have liked. I'm pleased to sat that they are all from my garden and when I take a close-up photo without the surrounding weeds, gosh don't they look great!

Take care,

Vicki x

GOOD MORNING.

I have created a new blog and hope you will drop in to see what I spend my time on when not making mini's.

http://vicki-thespiceoflife.blogspot.com

It's all about my other crafts and hobbies. I love crafting and over the years have certainly been involved in a large variety, cross-stitch, stitcheries, painting, porcelain dolls, teddy bears, card making and the list goes on.

I do hope you will call in and say hello,   I would love to hear from you.

HARRY THE EXPLORER.

I'm sure I've told you about one of my cats called Harry and his ability to climb up onto anything in the house.

I've found him on top of the wardrobes,  book-cases,  kitchen cupboards,  shower recess. In fact anywhere he can climb up to for a better view of what's around and new ideas for somewhere else to climb!

I recently took one of the small drawers out of a cabinet to look at the contents in the kitchen when I heard an odd noise.  This is what I found.

What goes in....

Must come out!

Then I need a little rest just to show you how cute I am.

MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE.

After publishing my last post, I realised that I forgot to show you the photo's of my creation of my daughter's house.   I made this from scratch, it looks just like her home.  The colours are the same but I didn't have the right material to replicate the wrought iron lace-work on the verandah.

I found the lady sitting in her rocking chair and told my daughter that it could be her in the future! 

 She has two cats and no dogs but I think the dogs look very much at home here. I also love the rubber boots, they feel soft and realistic.

There isn't a wicker planter and plants either but when making mini's, we can surely have some say in how we want it to look can't we?