Is It Really June! Wowzer!

Time sure is flying by again - always I should say! 

The bad news is since again for the past few weeks I have been unable to hook - something so stupid happened one night 2 1/2 weeks ago - I slipped on a grape - yep a grape. Went down hard on a tiled covered concrete floor - I had first thought I had broken my knee - it hurt so bad I saw white.  But I was extremely lucky only got a knot on the knee and the scrape was minimal - My shin bruised a little and swelled with the knee for about a week. My "middle toe" was broken and bleeding - it's still a tad swollen but so much better - just starting to be able to bend it a little and my arm and shoulder were jarred/pulled so wasn't able to lift my arm even to hook for a while!  That is improving every day.

The good news is it could have been worse or it could have happened to someone else who could have been really hurt bad!  So maybe it was a good thing it was me and not one of the older people.

Soooooooooooo.... I decided to go to Grant Street this week anyway!  Felt good to get the hook back in my hand - I used my floor stand with my traveling frame which I think helped me hook - and guess what! I finished the rug for my niece for her wedding! Even got it whipped! (Oh yea - forgot - it's not really done - according to Kathy a rug isn't done until it's labeled! So i have to label it yet!)

So here it is....

This is an adaptation of the antique rug sometimes called "Old Hearts" or "Blue Sam".   I know it's way more colorful than the original but I suppose at one time that rug was colorful!

Once again there were lots of laughs out in Chambersburg this week - Always a fun time and I sure wished I had my camera in hand late Wednesday night when I was at Linda's house but I didn't! When I did have it out at Grant Street I forgot to take pics like usual!

Nothing much else going on here - the "boys" have still been tearing up the house and Quentin will play 24 hours a day if you allow it - he carries his toys around and gives you those eyes - here are some pics from them in a rare "down time" mode this past week...

Jonesy and Riley ...

Weird boy - I think he is totally exhausted from playing so hard - See how big Mr. Q is! Wow is all I keep saying!

Have a good weekend - stay dry and cool!

This and That...And Other Things too...

Well not much has been going on here.  Just getting through day by day!

Last Saturday was the wedding shower for my niece (She's getting married June 23).  It was given by all niece Jessica and the rest of the bridesmaids and was in NJ at Desi's new home.

I drove my Mom down there and of course getting thru Philly to get to NJ was horrible with traffic (took 35 minutes to get 4 miles on the Schuylkill Expressway - also called the Shore-Kill!)  Anyway - we got there 10 minutes late but everything was okay - Desi wasnt' back yet - some of her bridesmaids took her out to get make-up done so the rest of them could decorate and get everyone and everything together.

It was a nice day with lots of food and lots of visiting.  She has an adorable house (wonderful for being only 25!) and has a great start to her new life!   Here are some shots from the day

Actually this is from the night before - Quentin was helping me package Desi's gifts - I found these gift bags with zippers for only a couple of dollars (reusable too!) so I'm surprised when Desi opened her gift he didn't pop out!)

Desi arriving at her shower...

My sister in law (Desi and Jess's Mom) with my other niece (Desiree's sister) Jessica (who was just "pinned" a few months ago and now is an RN at University of Penn)

My pics of her opening the gifts didn't come out because the sun was so strong but this is the "hat" they made with what bows they could scrounged up!  She didn't want to put it on but eventually did and then had fun with it!

Desiree and her Mom (in blue) and her future mother in law Jodi

Desiree with her Grandmother Ruth and her other grandmother (my Mom in pink and black) June

Desiree and Jessica - my two pretty nieces...

Desiree and her 7 (yes 7!) bridesmaids...

So this week I finally was able to do some stitching and whipping - these little mats and pillows I had hooked over a month ago for the PHM update but was unable to finish them because of my hand/wrist - Anyway - I had to work Thursday/Friday/Saturday at the co-op and it was pretty slow - so i got everything stitched into mats and pillows.  These little prim mats have gone to live at the Cinnamon Stick and hopefully will find new homes from there!

On the kitty front - Look how big Quentin has gotten - This was a few hours ago - he was picking on Jonesy

Guess Riley gave him a talking to for picking on his brother...

Riley was "talking" to me asking for more treats...

Like I said - not much going on here.  I'm hoping to get back to hooking on the rug for Desiree's wedding gift this week and hoping to load up the car with all my bags (wonder if there will be room for me?)  and head west later this week!  It's been a while since I've been able to go out so hoping nothing comes up!

Hoping your week is great!

You Can't Keep a Good Man Down

I must say you would never know Quentin had any surgery at all - we were supposed to keep him "quiet" for about 5 days and it was hard after about the third day - he slept the first three days home and now more than a week later he's totally back to his silly self trashing the house, getting into everything, having every toy and piece of paper around the house!

Since he's usually "busy" (riding the swiffer while I try to do the floor, chasing Riley and Jonsey, play with caps and paper, watching the birdies, helping me make the bed, well you get the pic...) I have a couple of shots of him during his "downtime"....(He's getting SO BIG!)

Here he was helping me pick colors for my rug last night...

And speaking of rugs, I decided to put all my small rugs I'm making to sell aside and work on one of the rugs I'm making my niece for her upcoming wedding in June. I thought perhaps if I get really inspired this week I could give it to her as a shower gift instead (it's this Saturday! LOL)

Anyway - her style is pretty much "country" and likes reds, blues, greens, tans, etc.   So being a wedding I remembered this antique rug with hearts called "Olde Sam" I think or "Blue Sam" - I can't remember -some call it "Old Hearts"... Here's a pic of the antique rug...

So here's my progress on my version - adding her name after she's married and also the date - Not sure how I'm hooking the rest - in hit and miss or color blocks or what -  I just sit and hook and decide while I go (Oh and those bright tan pieces will be coming out and replaced with a more muted shade!) It's colorful but not bright - will try to keep it "antique looking" but will definitely have more color!  Someday I would like to hook this pattern in a totally different color palette.

Having been too much of anything - just trying to keep up with the day to day things that need to be done.  Always seems there is something even if it is Quentin bringing me his toy and I go play with him - Now how can you resist that mug!  Jonesy and Riley are always right there with him playing and at times it sounds like the house will be coming down on it's foundation with the three of them rumbling!

Hope your week goes great!

A Pilgrim Sighting!

Well it's a real rainy Sunday afternoon and only supposed to get worse.  Good day to get caught up on things and I'm hoping later to sit and hook!
Last weekend I helped to demonstrate rug hooking at the Peter Wentz Sheep Shearing Festival.  The weather couldn't have been more beautiful.  It was warm and sunny and perfect weather to be outside all day.   Lots of crafts and activities going on and lots of "naked" sheep by the end of the day -  I heard they had a record turnout of over 1100 people!

Of course I didn't take a lot of pictures as my camera froze once again - really getting tired of this! Anyway - did get a pic of my "bee".  Seemed every time I would walk down this one walkway near where we were set-up  this HUGE bumblebee would zoom out and hover and then fly back by the shed - this happened about 8 or 9 times without fail and he didn't seem threatening even with his size.  Finally about the 10th time I had my camera with me and I said "Ok Buddy - I'm taking your picture"  Well doesn't that dang old bumblebee buzz around and pose for me!   LOL  I do believe I made a new friend that day!

Here's Ronnie showing how to make a braided rug and Karl showing rug hooking...

They had us in front of the summer kitchen where they were cooking authentic dishes and between the garden.   We used the garden fence to hang some of our rugs to display...

Wednesday I ventured out to Chambersburg for the Hook-in at Grant Street on Thursday. Totally forgot to take pictures all day until everyone left.  Linda was busy all day working on an overcoat she had to finish by Friday for her "sewing" business.  Kathy was modeling it -

The girls got silly and wore themselves out doing crazy dance moves...(darn  forgot I could shot a video with my phone in time!)

On the home front - I have the best helpers - Riley is a whiz at helping put away laundry...

Jonesy is great at making sure the beds are comfortable!

Quentin has been exempt from any chores this week.  He had his "manly" operation.  He had a hard time waking up from anesthesia but other than that he's doing great.  We picked him up Saturday morning  and he was sooooooooooo happy to be home - I think he purred himself out that day - Last night I found him in the back bedroom totally zonked out and he didn't even flinch or look up at cats do when I walked in! Today he's been napping most of it - well what else is better on a rainy afternoon!   Hard to believe this dude is 7 months old today!

Yesterday the Hunterdon Rug Guild had a hook-in at the Heritage Center in Harleysville.  They had quite the turnout and was nice seeing some old friends and catching up.

My Mom is doing great after her surgery - hard to believe she's walking without the walker and cane after 1 1/2 weeks.  She's off and running almost!

Not sure what the week will hold, but I do know I want to get some hooking done!

Hope you have a great week!

Time.....

Time - where does it go?  It seems only a few weeks ago I was at Grant Street and the doggie Shower!  Well I decided to go the week after as it was Linda's birthday!  It was a great day - All about Linda!   Happy Double Nickels to Linda!  Then I tempted fate and went three weeks in a row - Image that!  This time it was Nancee's birthday! Happy Birthday Nancee!  This week I didn't go (figured I needed to give the car a breather, right?) so I'm sitting here tapping my toes waiting for an update on Kathy's blog so I can live the day thru that! LOL.
In between trips to Grant Street and hanging with the girls out there I managed to finish my taxes - took all day but I did it!  I'm good with numbers but have a mental block with stuff like that!

On Tuesday my Mom had her hip replaced.  Three hours after surgery they had her up and walking - Wednesday if you didn't see her in the hospital you wouldn't know she had surgery the day before - and Thursday she was home.  She is doing really well and came home with a long list of exercises to do 3 times a day and must get up and move every hour.  She was even trying to talk my Dad into taking her to Church Thursday night.  He wouldn't do it - I mean really - she just got out of the hospital - LOL - Amazing how fast they get you going and this is someone that will be 82 in 2 months!  Me, I'd probably still be moaning and feeling sorry for myself - hahaha

So on that note - I will say I am not happy.  For the past two and half weeks my wrist has been acting up - it got so bad my hand and fingers were going numb and then middle of the day yesterday - the throbbing finally subsided - still hurts but its better but I still can't hook - that's why I'm not happy - I've been trying on and off for the past two weeks to hook and have had the time and just can't do it! Why is that - When I'm motivated and have the time this happens! Grrrrrrrr Doesn't my body know I have an update to get ready for for the Primitive Handmade Mercantile group?  Doesn't my wrist know I need to make some small items to try to sell at the Cinnamon Stick to make gas money to go to Grant Street? 

Well anyway - enough whining from me!

So here are some pics of the past 2 1/2 weeks...

Linda's birthday on the 22nd at Grant St...

Dianne's rabbit rug at GS on the 29th...

Dianne's rabbit at GS on the 22nd....

Barb's tote bag on the 22nd... (i understand she finished it! Way to go Barb!)

jenny's rug on the 29th...

Kathy (always with that camera) on the 29th...she's so bad...

She was actually working a bit on the 22nd....

Margo on the 22nd...

Mango's rug (she designed in the Susan Feller class) on the 22nd i believe...

Nancee's rug on the 29th...

Cartoon version of us girls from the Primitive Handmade Mercantile Group....Teresa Miller (who started the group with Robin) Kathy, Carol from Woodland Primitives, and me (who looks like I was on drugs or something!)

Carol and her mother - I believe they came from VA or OH? I can't remember! Sorry!

Amy's Mom's rug (Oh Dear - I'm terrible with names!)  Love love love how she hooked this kitty - the eyes are great....

On the home front, the boys have been enjoying their downtime - Okay - what else is there in the life of a kitty but downtime....

Most morning when it's sunny you will find someone seeking out the sun puddles (As Pat would say!)....

Or snuggling with ones brother....

Or trying to get some zzzzzz'w on top of a the cobblers rack where no one sees you...

Of course you still get embarrassed when your younger brother twists himself up like a pretzel...

Hey you - i dare you to touch my toy....go ahead and touch it - i triple dog dare ya...

Okay fine - I'll just have to amuse myself...Mommmmmmm, I'm stuck....

Okay - leave me alone now - it's toy and me time...

zzzzzzzzzz, i love my toy....

I took the sewing machine off this table and put it in front of the window for Quentin.  He is a little challenged in the jumping department (when he thinks about it) I think he has some issues with his back legs or hips - maybe it's the muscles or lack of - I don't know - he doesn't seem to be in any pain at all but he's extremely "clumsy" as a result - so normally the other boys would jump from the chest next to the window into the window - not Quentin - he kept falling - so he gets a table.    And as you will see - he loves it...

(Someday he will grow into this tail of his!)

Riley's been busy too - Of course he prefers the laptop be closed and all attention given to him in the form of face rubs...

So that's what I've been up to!  Hope you all have had a great week!

Here's some tulips I bought at Trader Joes the other week - so pretty...

And since I had to see these, I'm sharing them with you....they really scared me - LOL Linda and I were in "Wally World" last Wednesday night and they has these plants for sale for Easter.... Okay - was it just the "glitter" that over did these? I don't know - but I know I had nightmares that night - hahahahhahaha

Now to catch up on my blog reading and emails.... and hopefully be able to hook again soon...