A Baby Shower

A gloriously sunny day, with a cooling breeze. Very busy this morning with Lorraine and I readying the house and food and the garden furniture sorted for the baby shower for Beth. Julie, James's mum came over early to help, as did Beth's old friend Laura. Lorraine collected Pat and Maureen and lots of Beth's friends began arriving. 

The men -- Patrick, James's brother Lorrezo and old friend Callum and I went to the Old Boot while the ladies did shower stuff. Callum kindly gave Pat and I a lift in his car. We had a bite to eat and a couple of drinks, before heading back when summoned by the ladies. 

A cheery scene greeted us, with Beth's pals from Uni, Eliza and Emily as well as Laura and old Brighton friends like Amy Tamplin, and Lene, and Erin, and Amy and Neris she'd acted with in Vagabond Skies and probs a few other things. Julie's sister Mandy was there, Callum's wife Chloe, and Beth's auntie, Heather and of course Maureen too. They'd been playing strange games, and making clay babies and eating lots of lovely food. 

When us blokes returned we opened some bubbly too. Then big reveal for the secret project Lorraine had been working on for some time... Lorraine had commissioned family and friends to make a square in a quilt representing a children's book. When we were in Scotland Sam finished one too.  Lorraine made a square of Little Rabbit Foo-Foo, which was one of Beth and Sam's favourite books when they were little. She then sewed them all together -- from all the friends and Beth's dad and stepmother, cousins and friends to make a quilt. Lorraine patiently taught me satin stitch, stem stitch and long and short satin stitch and I did the The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  Turns out Lorraine's a skilled and patient teacher and I was quite pleased with the result.

I took a this group photo and Lorraine took a snap later of James and Beth with the quilt. My square is second row centre.