AH! MORNING SHOWER and COFFEE

Oh boy this morning shower was wonderful after not getting one yesterday with no electricity.  And a treat to have coffee this morning while doing my thing on the computer.  Already looks like it's going to be a delightful day.

Now to my accomplishments ... make that lack of, or at least a snail's pace when it comes to binding Animals Great and Small.  Hooking this rug was a joy with every loop pulled.  Binding is another matter and in order to completely finish the rug am only willing to allot an hour a day (during The Five TV news show) to work on that task.  So basically only two sides are done ~ one long side and a short side.  Will bind again today during The Five with a glass of wine to ease the drudgery. 

The new rug on my frame might endure set-back but will wait and see.  This first photo shows the flowers too dark and not how it looks in person.  

Another photo taken from a different camera, again not what the dang rug looks like in person.  But at least you can see there are flowers and buds.

This is the wool used and a piece I'd considered ugly before, but thought it might do the job for the big flowers and the buds.  Once again not depicting the true colors.  Will hook a little more and finally decide the fate of the flowers.

Yesterday the wind was still howling and local news said the sustained winds were 45mph.  While I did get most of the mess cleaned up around my deck, it was scary being outside with strong winds with me under and around trees.  Couldn't wait to get back safely inside.

Saundra
www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

WHAT A WAY TO START A DAY

Yesterday brought heavy hard rain and forceful winds all day up to 50mph with higher gusts.  While hooking I heard a THUMP so knew a limb had fallen onto my deck.  And thankfully power was still on when I went to bed.

But at dark O'clock when I woke to go to the bathroom it was pitch black and had to feel my way there.  Had no idea what time it was.  Then daylight came and still didn't know what time it was as there was no working clock and my iPad was in the kitchen.

Got out of bed, checked the iPad and it was 6:40 am.  Couldn't take a shower, no hot water.  Couldn't make coffee, no water and no electric.  The house was getting chilly but it usually is when I wake up until the heat is increased.  Finally about 9 am the power came on and could eat my oatmeal but missed my morning coffee in tandem with the internet fix.  In checking the thermostat the temp in the house was 59* so turned up the heat.

And my task today is to remove these limbs and those others around the yard.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com 

WHAT I'M WORKING ON

Some of you may wonder which rug was chosen as my next project.  This choice may shock you, as it did two of my gal pals.  I decided to do something a little different than another horse rug, although they are my favorite animal to hook.  Deer Torsos was my pick ~ below is the antique and will show you my progress in a couple days.

Before drawing the deer pattern on linen I did start my 'plus one' since I couldn't decide what to hook.  It happens to be the same design Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) is working on.  And this is all that was accomplished on Ezra's Farm before making that decision on the deer ~ yup, a horse.

Today I'll resume my slow binding of AG&S during The Five news show. I took the weekend off from binding, hey, don't want to overdo it 😁.   Friend Robin (Cranky Crow) and I have shared long distance bind-a-longs at that time and as you can see I've still quite a lot more to do.  Perhaps if Lauren gets Ezra's Farm completely hooked today she will join us.

Happy hooking ~ or happy binding.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

RUG HOOKING CHIT CHAT

There may be a pattern order from a customer after the weekend.  A week or so ago she reached out showing me two antique rugs she was interested in.  One was a beautiful red bird with red flowers.

We chatted about sizes and then she contacted me saying she was interested in this floral antique instead.  Since she was leaving Wednesday (past) for an antique show I suggested she confirm which she wants when returning home this weekend.  After all, she just might see another antique rug she likes more and I don't want to draw anything on linen for naught.  

So now lets get to the elephant in the room ~ I need an antique fix since Animals Great and Small is all hooked.  But am having a difficult time finding a rug that makes my heart skip a beat.  Yes, I do have a 'plus one' which I've started but want a project that I'm excited about.  Here are the ones I'm considering.

Have hooked a number of Magdalena designs but not this Double Rooster rug.  If I do this one it would go on my kitchen floor.

Then was gravitated toward this antique Chicken Pair to go in that spot.  

Was still eyeing this horse rug.

This Deer Torsi, a 19th century hooked rug also caught my eyes.

I cropped the busy border off this antique horse rug previously shown, which is also in the running.  

After all that, I've made a decision.  Now I have a 'main event' and a 'plus one' guest when needed.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

SPRING DECEPTION

Look what I saw yesterday.  The spring signs are all over the yard.  But just 9 days ago it was 29* outside when I started to clean up around the fallen tree and wisteria vines.

A few more spring teaser shots.

Here in Delaware we are experiencing a spring deception because while it has been quite mild the last few days it is going to get cold again.  And who knows, it could even snow in March.  HERE you can see a couple photos of the Blizzard of 1993.  So it could happen ~ hope not though.

Worked more on cutting away at the Wisteria vine and this is what the area looks like now.  But don't let this fool you.  There's much more on the other side of the tree in the background.

Was working on the low hanging fruit until the dumpster got filled again and before the rain starts today.  The white vines in the background will need to be sawed off as they are too thick for my lopper and my upper body strength.  When this dumpster gets emptied next Wednesday I'll concentrate on the hanging vines to the left of the picture.  Those vines extend up the limb on a tree to the far left which you can't see.

Now to go pull a few loops on the plus one which you'll see in my next post.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

MISC. CHIT CHAT

For a couple seconds I thought about making the title "All work and no play" but I did get to play in the wool later in the afternoon.  For almost two hours my time was spent whittling away at the Wisteria vines since the weather was mild.  This is the first photo I took after the wind storm.  Lots of Wisteria vines.

Below is how it looked after my whittling.

I know, no noticeable difference.  But look at what was put in my dumpster which will go out tomorrow morning.  It is almost full but wanted to leave enough room to put real trash in it to camouflage the garden waste.

It will take many more hours to cut and remove those potentially invasive vines as I will only be able to remove those seen above ground.  So am sure the Wisteria will live to see another day due to what is underground.

It has been so cold these last few weeks that I went through $768 worth of propane delivered January 8th.  Yesterday (2/24) was the new delivery and the price per gallon had increased by 30 cents.  Yet at the gas pump gasoline has dropped below $3 per gallon here.  Guess the increase in propane usage is that 'supply and demand' theory.

In the afternoon it was time to play with wool.  Well, guess cleaning up the wool around the hooking area isn't really what I call fun.  But is fun to see a finished rug that was a pleasure to hook.  And took a photo with a hank of Ali Strebel yarn which is what will be used to whip the edges.

Notice this hank has all the colors which appear in the rug.  I've had this hank for a while as it was purchased along with a couple others when in Ali's class.  So it is finally making its debut and will be perfect.  The rug has since been steamed and ready for whipping.

Am still looking for a major project to hook.  After area is cleaned up where I hook, if I haven't found a 1st string antique, I'll start the 'plus one'.  Meanwhile, at 5 p.m. while watching The Five you know I'll be binding this rug.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

A LITTLE HELP FROM A FRIEND

This blog post was handed to me by follower/friend Lady Locust who suggested it's been a long time since I hooked a 'structure', house, etc.  I began to wonder myself so looked thru photos of rugs I've hooked and sent her a list.  Then the lightbulb lit up that this should be my next post.

Actually I have had thoughts of hooking a row of log cabins but that never materialized.  Perhaps if I wasn't so lazy I'd draw one up.  Meanwhile, here are some rugs and mats I've hooked with some sort of building on it.

These aren't in any special order but some might spark a memory.  The first photo has two small structures in it and was a pattern swap with Briarwood Folk Art.  She wanted my Frost Sheep and Birds pattern and I chose her Big Dog Hollow pattern.  Nice fair swap and neither of us had to spend money except for postage.

I drew the Deer with Blue House, an antique adaptation.

Another antique adaptation I drew and hooked was Cottage and Apple Tree.

A small mat which was my contribution in a swap on Yahoo Rughookers before Facebook came along.

This next rug inspired me because Evelyn Lawrence mentioned she was to teach at Sauder and her subjects were to be designs by Harriet Powers (quilter) and Granny Donaldson's cow blankets.  So I asked Evelyn if she'd be interested in taking something I hook of Harriet Powers' designs as a sample for her class.  Of course she jumped on the invitation.

It is my interpretation of the 500 Mile Betts block in Powers' Bible Quilt, and I gifted the piece to Evelyn who has it in her personal collection.

A Day in the Country is a design by Tonya Robey.  The colors look washed out, sorry.  Good grief, hard to believe this was hooked in 2015, where has this last 10 years gone??

Early Farm Scene which is in private collection, sold 2024.

Below is Long Island Farmhouse which is a Lucille Festa Design.

When hooking a Tonya Robey design to be in one of her "Inspirations" booklets she drew this design and I hooked a dark chicken.  But....

.... it was hard to see so reverse hooked and changed it to a white duck, lol.

There was a row of houses in Lori Brechlin's Nantucket Broom Ride which is sold by Kris Miller.

Below, using various motifs available, I designed the rug which was named Puppy Love.

Rainbow Cabin is a design by Barb Carroll and located in one of her booklets.

A Karen Kahle design has many cute slanted cabins in her Small Flowerbox pattern.

In the distance are two structures.  This was a Spring Challenge organized by Kelley Belfast one year.  My daffodils were proddy and a real bell on the sheep.

Oh what fun this next pattern was to hook.  It's name is Windy Day and Cushing sells the pattern.  I should have had it out a week ago when the wind was horrific but March is just around the corner and will pull it out.

My design named Ox Farm has a house in the background.

And finally, another Lori design named Merrie Oct. 31st.  You can see I opted to not put 31st as I might want to keep it out more than one day.

Well kids, that's it for today's trunk show.  Anytime you get a hanker'n to pull my chain and give me an idea, please feel free to do so.  Thanks Lady Locust.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

THE HUNT IS ON and PSA

As I'm real close to being done with Animals Great and Small thought I'd hunt for the next favorite thing to hook.  I do have a smallish pattern drawn but want to see if there is something more exciting to hook. AG&S set the standard high.  The horse rug below has been on my watch list for a while and always get denied the spotlight.

Also like this 1809 hooked rug but wouldn't do that busy border as there is still plenty of interest on the inside.

The double rooster below is reminiscent of a Magdalena and could put it to use on the kitchen floor.

Guess for now it will be the smallish already drawn pattern.  But stick around because I'm fickle and just might find 'the one'.

Now for the PSA.  For you bloggers do you ever go into the belly of your blog and check your 'comments'?  They may or may not show up in your previous posts.  However, I don't want to take a chance the infiltrator/spammer may have a virus or could be snatching my personal information.  Yesterday I had a few comments from one spammer, not a rug hooker, and deleted a few spam messages.  

This morning I found these, and that is just what the eye captured on one screen, and scrolled way down to see even more. 

Wish I'd kept count of how many spam comments this Hunn person made but it took me several minutes to remove them and guess probably had over 100 to remove.  

Back to work play on my rug project.  Happy hooking on the frigid day.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

ANIMALS GREAT and SMALL UPDATE

I'll be sad to see this one finished as it has been a constant source of fun, even after reverse hooking that big cat.  I was tempted to not show it today and hook the heart first, but it has been a few days since giving you an update.  

Today wasn't all playing with wool.  After breakfast I went outside to continue cleaning up after the horrific winds.  Decided to start with picking up pine cones so I wouldn't trip while trying to maneuver around  the yard work.  Hmm, below is a photo taken of some pine cones but they aren't showing up well. 

I was outside maybe 20 minutes before my hands hurt from the cold ~ it was 29* outside and I have Raynaud's.  And of course don't want to take a chance on getting frostbite so went back in the house.  I did manage to pick up 100 pinecones tho.

After lunch went back outside, picked up another 81 pinecones, trimmed some of the Wisteria vine and picked up more limbs until my hands began to hurt again.  Here is another photo of the felled tree and vines are from the invasive Wisteria which needs to be eradicated.  I wasn't too smart thinking that would be a great idea to plant.  And doubt I'll have much success in getting rid of all the vine as there is plenty rooted underground I'm sure.  

Sadly another winter snow storm will be here tomorrow into Thursday.  I've heard 6-10", then it was 3-6" so at this point guess it will be a 'wait and see'.  Guess you know what I'll be doing ... yup, hooking.  Hope you have something to keep you occupied as that white devil arrives.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com