LIFE GOES ON . . .

I have to start by thanking those of you that were so kind and left me messages of sympathy and support on my loss of Buttons, they all meant so much to me and the fact that people not only read my posts but then take the time to leave a message when we all lead such busy lives is very touching.  I have had lots of ups and downs since that day but have found much comfort in the Rainbow Bridge verse and my knowledge that I had a wonderful 10 years from my bunny, my best buddy.

So life goes on!  On the 15th my twin boys turned 13 and now I have 3 teenagers in the house (it can feel like 4 sometimes when DH's around!!)  We bought them new gaming consoles which they very much wanted and in the evening took them out for a family meal.  The following day they went away for the weekend with their church group to a big Christian Youth Camping Weekend in the grounds of a private school not far from us.  The weather was perfect and they enjoyed swimming, sporting tournaments, discos, camp fire food and a couple of very late nights!

School has now finished and now begins the 6 weeks Summer holidays.  We don't have anything particular planned so I guess it will be a chilled and relaxed time for all, we eagerly await the 24th August when DD's exam results will come through, I know she gave her best so I will be pleased with whatever results she achieves.

And now the news I have been itching to share with you:

introducing . . . .

TILLY

This wasn't a decision I had planned to make but for my own personal reasons and something one of my children had said that touched my heart I decided our family wasn't complete without a bunny.  So whilst the boys were blissfully unaware and away at their camping weekend DH and DD took me to numerous garden centres which all had pet shops so I could look at the bunnies but none of them pulled at the heartstrings.

Our local pet rescue centre was being refurbished so the rabbit department was shut down and no-one had any bunnies for rehoming.

So all Saturday night I searched the internet and finally came across a breeder, some 45minutes drive away who had a litter of 9 for sale with pictures posted of each one.  They were all beautiful with very unusual coats apart from one which just stood out for me.  I emailed her that evening to see if we could drive over and take a look on the Sunday morning and later that night she emailed back to say 8 of them had now been sold and only 1 was left . . . . yep, the one that was pulling at those heartstrings!

Sunday morning over we went with me repeatedly saying to DH and DD 'I don't want to be pressurised, it may be too soon and not feel right' and they agreed.  I explained this to the breeder as well and she said I was under no obligation ..... then she got 'Baby Number 8' out of her hutch for us to see .........  a little mini-lop ear doe, 9 weeks old and agouti coloured (same pattern and colouring as a wild rabbit/and Buttons).  Yep, you guessed it, I melted and home she came with us, 1 week ago.

Tilly at 3 weeks old

I've named her Tilly, no particular reason why, it just suited her.  Within 3 days of her being here we each received bunny kisses, lots of lap hopping and the wonderful binkies that all bunny owners love to see!  She eats virtually anything (including your hair) and loves to sit on my lap at breakfast time eating celery.

The children were so young when we first got Buttons and have no memories of all the above gestures so this is lovely for them to experience and best of all it has encouraged them to talk about Buttons and my memories of him doing the same things.

Bunny kisses for Twin II

Tilly made her first visit to the Vets the very next day for her first jab and to be checked over for any problems.  The vet we saw was the one that treated Buttons tumor so I think she knew how special this new bunny was to us, she cuddled her so much I didn't think I was going to get her back again but her reassuring eyes told me that I had done the right thing and that she was perfectly healthy but just needed to put some weight on!  I'm sure when she returns for her second jab next week the weighing scales will definitely confirm this!!!

And finally, what about my Blog?  Do I continue?  If I do, then do I rename it?

I've lost a couple of followers recently, perhaps my ramblings about sad occasions have put people off but going by the number of kind people offering words of support recently I guess followers are willing to share those moments too.  I don't want to change the name, Buttons & Stitches was all about my bunny and cross-stitching and if I keep the name then his memory lives on too, I expect Buttons name will make a continual appearance on posts along with Tilly.  I have done no cross-stitching since that day not because I've lost my mojo or anything, it just hasn't felt right but I will!  I will stitch something commemorative of Buttons, I have kept his food bowl, he had the same one for 10 years, I shall put a church candle in it and stitch an evenweave band around it with words that are special to me and on special days I can then light it and think of Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you to everyone for sticking by me, normal stitchy posting will resume again shortly!!!

HAPPY STITCHING x x x

RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies who has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

MY DARLING BUTTONS xxxx

This is the post I prayed I would never have to write and the words are very hard to find.

My darling Buttons fell ill on his birthday last Thursday and unable to get him to eat or drink I took him to the vets that evening.  He stayed at the vets both Thursday and Friday evening with no improvement and yesterday morning the Vet, after numerous examinations and every attempt to make him well again, found a lump in his abdomen, the tumor had regrown.  My Buttons had done enough fighting and had done so well that my decision was not a hard one, no more suffering.  I loved him dearly.

Buttons now sleeps peacefully.
xxxxx

THE FINISHING LINE . . .

I've been confined to virtually one room most of this past week as the decorators are here again working on the hall, stairs and landing and there are dust sheets, ladders, artex and pots of paint everywhere.
Artex, now that's a horrible word and any of you that have ever experienced it will know about the pungent smell that comes with it and remains until it has completely dried and been painted!  The decorator's tell me that the nearest comparison to the smell is cat pee but not ever having had a cat I wouldn't know but feet and cheese seem more appropriate to me!  Thankfully the weather has been lovely and hot so all windows and doors have been permanently open and fresh air reigns.

So confined to one room what should I do?  I know open that draw that contains all those finished stitches that I occasionally hear saying 'Finish Me, Please!'.

First up ~ Happy Bunny Bunny Day which I stitched a few weeks back but had no suitable fabric for finishing.  An unplanned stop at a Patchwork Fabric Shop found me debating over two fabrics which I thought might match, not sure I bought both and still not sure when making a pillow finish yesterday I used both!  The polka dot fabric is the backing and I found some matching buttons to put on the front :

Next, Heart in Hand 'Summer Bird' which DH bought a new frame for.  HIH added a bee button on their design but I couldn't find one so I stitched a trailing leaf from his mouth (as shown on their other seasonal birds) and added a small flower embellishment at the bottom of it :

Frame hunting at the local Charity/Thrift Shops found a finish for the next one.  This Wildlife Sampler was stitched so long ago I don't even remember doing it but as the hare reminds me of Buttons I have always wanted to frame it and this washed-wood effect frame matches perfectly and now hangs proud in the Dining Room :

 

Last post I had just started a Lizzie*Kate, this was a really quick and easy stitch and again has a pillow finish with backing fabric shown on the heart pegs and matching ribbon:

Lizzie*Kate 'Stitching forever' stitched on 28count white evenweave with my choice of DMC colours

Are you still there?  I've been confined to that room for a long time so digging deep to the bottom of the forgotten draw found this one and again it's another pillow finish :

HIH kit 'Rise and Shine' stitched on 28count Platinum Linen with threads provided (I think!!!)

So, lots of finishing and the sewing machine has been busy BUT I still squeezed in new stitching as well.  I've looked at 'Man's Best Friend' so many times since my last post but I just can't find the enthusiasm for it at the moment.  Hidden at the bottom of the stash box were some little Mouseloft Stitchlet kits which DH bought for me some time ago, they are too small for individually framing so I have decided to make them into a patchwork cushion and have completed 4 of them just using fabric scraps in linen, I shall make up the remaining patchwork squares in some rustic burgundy colours :

and finally a start on 'Washing Day', a Forever Friends design which will eventually hang in the Utility Room and match my own white wicker laundry basket (with so much time devoted to stitching recently my laundry pile is as big as this one!) :

Celebrations tomorrow as someone small, furry and adorable reaches the grand age of 10.  Buttons continues to do well after his tumor and tomorrow will celebrate his birthday with his favs ~ carrots, watercress and green beans (not much of a feast for the rest of us but he'll love it!!!)

HAPPY STITCHING . . .