I gave it my best shot!

I didn't go down without a fight.  In fact I'm still clinging on to some small hope of a quilting miracle.   This is how my design wall looks tonight....

The reason it's bare is not because Macs Christmas Quilt is finished.   No... it's here...

Cast aside in the corner in serious need of an iron.

I did finish stitching the Alien applique.   I also finished the last of the three panel cartoon strips and made good progress on the final two panel one......

...only the dog applique and a bit of block assembly to go and I'd won.  So close and yet so far! 

I think the box of tissues and the EU Cough Lozenge Mountain in the above pic might be a clue.   I caught a stinking cold last Sunday.  At least that's what I thought.  It knocked me for a six all week.  You know it's bad when you find yourself staring at the same cobweb in the corner for 4 hours straight.... without blinking! 

I finally ventured out to do the Christmas food shop yesterday.  Couldn't quite hold out long enough to get everything so went back out this morning.    That's when things got even more pear shaped.     Suffice it to say I had a bit of a 'Funny Turn'  caused by a bout of volcanic coughing on the pavement outside the Post Office.  Very embarrassing. 

Thanks to Sue (who works in the Craft Shop) backed up by my Mum delivering an epic lecture on caring for my health.... I was persuaded to go right to the Doctors Surgery.       Boy do I have egg on my face now!   I'd argued with the both of them that I was fine... I'd had worse..... etc...etc..  and it turns out that was a lie. I have.... pneumonia!!    How the heck did that happen!!

Good news is I've got some bug busting pills which should fix me up fine......

And just in case they don't work..... I've got a tub of GU Rocky Road to fall back on!   Well... it's the best excuse I can come up with for buying it.   Just a shame I can't actually face eating it....yet!!

You might have noticed that the 5th block of  In My Garden BOM arrived this week.   I'd planned to start that as my Christmas treat.   Hummm... could still happen.    Dear Jane is up there too.  I'm two thirds through  Block A2..... so if you are visiting from Janiacs Unite....  I am trying... honest.

There's a couple of balls of blue wool up there too.   I have an urge to knit an elephant.... in one piece.  I signed up on Craftsy for a Susan B Anderson workshop called Wee Ones - Seamless Knit Toys.   I watched a little of the lesson and low and behold...... I discovered what I was doing wrong with Short Row Shaping when I tried to work a heel that way when I was knitting socks.   I consider the cost of the workshop (on offer right now) worth the money at twice the price for that revelation alone.

Who knows... I might have quite a knitted menagerie in here by the time I can remove myself from my recliner to sew again.

OK.... I'd best be getting back to my chair.... Dr's orders you understand!! :)

Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas preparations and looking forward to a wonderful family day.

Take care and have fun.....
See ya soon

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Josie  X