New Year - Getting Some Wool Dyed

New decade – New Year – New Resolutions – Not!

I’m not one to make resolutions because I’ll only get upset with myself if I cannot follow through. Life has so many choices, detours and “bridge out” signs that you never know what is going to happen. So I am determined to just continue to take life as it comes and hopefully I will make the right choices for me. I’m planning on keeping a positive attitude, take advantage of opportunities (as I have a tendency to stick my head in the sand and life pass me by), stay away from negativity as much as I can, and do whatever I can to help out.

I have also decided to give myself a break – I am going to try to use my time more wisely but hell if I feel like laying on the bed and reading a book, I am determined not to feel bad about wasting the day, same with if I just sit and stare at this box “computer” and get lost on it for a few hours – so what – I am not hurting anyone – so why do I feel bad? And on those lines if I feel like hooking all day rather than picking up the dust rag – then I shall do that! The dust isn’t going anywhere! LOL

That being said – HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

January 1, 2010 would have been my Grandmother’s 101st birthday but we lost her about 2 weeks before her 94th birthday – I still miss her tremendously – she was a wonderful woman and everyone loved her. So I always remember her the first day of the year along with my kitty Sid I lost a few years ago (he was the first kitty my husband and I adopted when we moved into together) This January 1 would have been his 21st birthday! Wow!

My Dad’s 80th birthday coming up on January 6! My Mom had a little get together with a lot of the relatives on Sunday and next weekend will be a celebration with the immediate family. My Dad seemed very happy to have everyone over. I think this birthday is bothering him a bit – but it’s just a number. He had a bad year this past year so we are all hoping this year will be much better for him. When he is well he is extremely active and still has his “mind” so that’s a plus.

The other day I totally took apart the back bedroom and cleaned it from top to bottom – then I walked into my rug hooking room – again how does it get so “junked” up so fast?

Since I was on a roll I decided to keep cleaning – so I totally cleaned that room too – finally am at a point where I feel better about it and hopefully will get back to creating now that I have a clean room.

As you can see – someone is enjoying the newly washed daybed cover and pillows!

And someone else joins in for playtime...
Oh no - Jonesy just completely lost his head over the new clean room!
Now it's nap time - Wonder if they are comptemplating on what I will draw on that piece of linen - Maybe they can come up with something since I'm not sure what I want to hook next!

I'm sure Riley will come up with something in his dreams...

Well today I decided to dye some wool – My stash is low in blues, greens, and neutrals. I have the worst time getting good neutrals and lights – our water is so wonky that I always get different colors. This is why I do not dye wool to get a specific color – if I try to do that then I will get disappointed – so I just try to keep a “stash” to choose from. Today I had some happy results – I didn’t necessarily get the colors I was aiming for but still – some nice colors. I also over dyed some blues and greens with some awful brown and orange plaid I had – woohoo – that ugly plaid is gone and now some of it is some nice dark greens and nice dark blues!

Getting started….

After the clean-up and all the wool was dry…

While I was dyeing my wool the maillady brought me a big heavy box! What a surprise - My friend Ev who lives in Alaska (another wonderful rug hooker) sent me some stuff she's been collecting - I got the biggest laugh out of the "Moose Nuggets" - looks like moose poop in miniature form i'm sure- peanut butter filled pretzels in chocolate and rolled in toasted coconut. Also in there was a stack of rug hooking hooking books, an Moose mug with a "twin peaks" coaster she hooked in beautiful blues, a beautiful punch needle of cats on a tin frmae, some nice cozy warm socks, some gorgeous wool yarn for whipping, some "blueberry" colored wool (not how did she know my blue stash was almost non-existent! Thank you so much Ev - Sure wish she had a blog (yea in her spare time) - She is such a good writer and would keep you in stitches - I so enjoyed her notes pinned to everything! Again Thank YOU!

Hoping everyone is having a good start to their New Year – Wishing you all the best for a healthy and happy year!