hmmm, hard to decide . . .

I'm rethinking my "Things that begin with P" project for the fair.

I've been wanting to do Pollyanna Pickering's "Circle of Life" with polar bears for a long time. My friend Kathy sent me Pollyanna's new book, Mother and Baby Animals in Cross Stitch, which is a great book if you love stitching animals, for Christmas. So I was set.

And then I found out that the National Zoo's little panda, Tai Shan, is leaving to go back to China next week. I've followed him with interest since he was born back in 2005. Being born in the DC area, we always knew about what was happening with the pandas at the zoo, from Ling-Ling's issues and her inability to have a cub that lived, and so, when this little guy came, he was a new hope. Even though I know he was never ours for keeps, and he's going back to where he belongs, he's a Washingtonian by birth, and I'll miss him. I think my sentiments will be shared by a lot of my fellow DC area residents. I was lucky enough to get to see him a few years ago. The crowds at his enclosure were tremendous; is it remotely possible for one little bear to know how much he is loved?

There are two gorgeous designs of pandas in the Pickering book, one a cub just waking up, the other of a cub and its mother playing together. I'd like to stitch one of them. And one of the things that is so apparent about Tai Shan is how much he played with his mother, and so the latter is a very appropriate picture to stitch as a remembrance of him.

But now, I'm in a quandary. I can only stitch my "Things that begin with a P" project this year. I like the polar bears, I've loved them since I knew the design existed, but there is just something about this panda chart. So I'm trying to figure out which one is the best option for my fair entry.

Hard decision.