An Afternoon with Mari

Here's something new, the morning was spent on the computer. For Santi it was working on her new design sets and for me it was email and working on some of the photos I've taken and a little work on the Trunk Show CD photos. Liese said that she was going to add more photos to the folder but I don't know when she's going to have time to do that. She's working on her Fairy Land design set. She only has a couple of blocks left to do. I know the ladies on the list have been waiting for a while to get these designs. I know how hard it is to get something done with people breathing down your neck!

Mari invited us for lunch yesterday. She is such the hostess! Mari answered the door in her apron. Now, you might think that the apron was embroidered but it was one of our "work apron", not the pretty aprons that we don't want to ruin! Imagine that! My mother was the same way with the apron I made her. She rarely used it because she didn't want to get stains on it. (Which part of "I can make another one" didn't she understand???). The table was laid out beautifully.

After lunch Cara and Liese gave me the grand tour of Mari's garden. It was so beautiful and lush with flowers and so much green! The last time I saw a garden like this was at a botanical garden and I almost believe that Mari's garden was much greener! Mari's husband, Horst, has over 50 varieties of fuchsias growing on the property. Mari said that one day it became a passion for him. I did upload just a few of the colors that I saw. I have never seen nor did I know how many different sizes or colors of fuchsias!

After we said good bye to Mari, it was back to the office. Santi spent more time on editing the Sunflower designs. (She worked well into the morning getting them ready to test for final edits.)

Peter got home from work about 5pm and went directly for his 5 mile bike ride. He said he would be back in a minute and I couldn't resist throwing in the statement that the stop watch was running! Since we had a full lunch, Santi and I weren't ready to have supper when he returned home but he's pretty easy going. On busy days for Santi, he has no problem making dinner. He listens attentively as Santi explains the issues she's having with her designs or her software. Understand this though, machine embroidery is a totally new experience for him. He will patiently wait as Santi explains the problem. I think she is just talking to herself because many times she is able to figure out the answer as she "discusses" it with Peter! The only thing Peter can do is stand there so patiently as she goes through it.

Peter and Declan have a wonderful relationship. I watched him play with Declan when we were at Badplaas last weekend. Declan loves his Opa (O-pa). Peter is about the only one who can keep up with him! We all know how toddles love to run and how much energy they require to keep up with them! Peter has no problem with keeping up with him! One thing I can say is that this family is very supportive of each other. They know they can depend on each other when they need to. Santi takes Declan on Friday's so Liese can work undisturbed. Liese's mother-in-law also has a day with Declan. This Friday Santi said I have a job, to chase Declan so she can continue to work on her sets. Declan is just adorable and has a great personality. Of course being 18 months old he's learning how to say "now". He has a good understanding at his age of what "no" means and he knows how to use it! He's not a screamer unless he's chasing Cara's miniature Schnauzer's, Iris and Roxy, around! The "girls" are about 4 1/2 months old now. They are old enough to know that a toddler plays a little rough with them!

Santi hit the floor running for the computer first thing this morning. She didn't get as far as she wanted to with the Sunflower last night. She just upgraded her software and as we all know, upgrades come with bugs! She's working on sorting out all of the issues now but it's taking her longer to digitize because the software just doesn't cooperate. We've all been there and know the frustrations involved there!

I'm the "keeper of the list" while I'm here and I'm not talking about the groups. There is always so much to do that you lose track of it. So as I sit here and work on my own projects, I keep track of the "need to do" things. And like at home, everytime I take one thing off of the list, I need to add 3 more :)

I'm going to close for now and try to get more work done and more photos uploaded...