The loss of another great pal, car booties and WIP

Im sorry, I know its something upsettingly personal, but I made a hard decision today, on behalf of my collie cross dog.
And as many of you know, it hurts like hell ~ that last act of love you make for them.
Not least because he was such a gentle, lovely dog and my close pal.
He'd been ill for a long time now with Cushings and he finally gave up last night, I could see it in his eyes.
He told me the time had come.
He'd been found in a neighbours garden 15 years ago and he was about 10-12 weeks of age I reckoned at the time.  
The kennels we housed rescues in then, had a Parvo outbreak and he would surely have been at risk there, so he stayed with us, ostensibly until the outbreak was cleared.

Then a week later, we got news that the father of my children had died from a heart attack, aged only 40....
Although he had already left me, we all three, lost him all over again that day.
So the pup stayed with us and became a part of our family and helped us come to terms with things.
The children called him Rocky, although he never fulfilled his butch name, afraid of all manner of louds bangs and nosies. Whatever happend to him in his early weeks, left its mark on his courage bless him.

He fell in love with my adult orange roan Cocker Spaniel, and they became unseperable. It was a joy to witness.
When I lost the Cocker to old age, our Collie cross furry bear, became a gentle companion in his own right.

Now I have just one dog, who is going to need alot of attention, since he
feels the loss too....another rescue, another soul in need of hugs and comfort.
This year I have lost several good friends.
Life can be a bitch at times ..............

Although today has been sad.........yesterday I had a pleasant trip to a huge car boot at Bridlington, taking a friend along for a jaunt.
Take a look at this wonderful teacup, which I didnt buy but I thought was such fun!

It was for sale at £3 although did have hair line crack in it, but even so.......what fun!

Its a good job I took Jean ( jeansmuse.blogspot.com) along with me!
She spotted all manner of goodies for my Topic Boxes at work that I missed and she managed to male me spend very little of my money LOL
I'm indebted Jean, thanks!
It was she who spotted these first .......... cotton edgings, 25 metres each and coincidentally ideal for my current stitching project. Although I probably wont use the edges themselves for it.
At £3 each........well I couldnt NOT buy them surely?

Which brings me onto the current WIP, that called to me, to get stuck in...
Although I was going to use vintage Laura Ashley fabrics originally...I have no way enough, but am making a start anyway and adding similar weight cottons as I go.
I have a desing on a piece of paper somewhere...safe...when I find it!
But its another of my seat of the pants ideas so it will evolve as I stitch and may organically alter, as I gather rectangles, squares and circles together.
Im hand stitching at the moment, so I will see where it takes me.......and keep my eyes open for old Laura Ashley floral cottons in charity shops, jumble sales and car boots.

 Now I look at it, Im not sure that apple circle is going to fit in....but never mind lol

 I have also unearthed some eco dyeing that has been steeping for a while now...well, a week or so.
Although they look abit like well roasted beef joints............these are euc bark, euc leaves and an assortment of flower heads, that were simmered in a wizardy brew.
I cant for the life of me recall what is in the brew, its been added to and topped up with rain water from time to time.
So it will be interesting to see if anything has survived the process at all!
Possibly not!

Watch this space lol