Tuesday, June 17, 2025

IT'S TIME FOR ...

It's time for a rug show me thinks, as it's been a minute or two since the last one.  All or most all of these rugs are still listed on the auction site as they were recently found.

A robin surrounded by a circle of leaves and 8 point stars in the corners.  Dated 19th century and dimensions of 18 x 31.
A ram with checkered background early 20th century, 24.5 x 39.
Another bird but this time with hearts.  Said to be hooked late 19th to early 20th century.  It measures 18 x 33 .
Lovely floral with scrolls dated March 1871.  It measures 33.5 x 46.
Described as "Felix the cat" it has directional hooking.  Said to be hooked early 20th century (16 x 20) and possibly suitable as a friendly Halloween rug me thinks.  Maybe even draw a mouse in there for Felix to play with.
Three tulips with dimensions of 17 x19m was hooked late 19th to early 20th century.
Tobe has been sold previously as I'm sure I posted the rug before.  But is up for auction again.  Measures 25 x 39.5 and hooked late 19th century.
Finally, a fearless male lion hooked early 20th century (29 x 47.5).  And yes, Robin, I saw it.

With that, think it's time for the mike drop.

Happy hooking.

Saundra


Sunday, June 15, 2025

IT'S NOW OR NEVER

Tomorrow binding the chicken rug will begin during The Five news program.  So thought if I didn't tweak it now it may never get done.  This is yesterday's post photo with camera #1.
And with camera #2 this is what you see.  I usually use camera #2 but since the red didn't show up well with the combs and wattles went with #1.
Since I didn't care for the spout looking thing, yet wanted to add that feature since it is in the antique decided to tweak it a tad before binding.  So this is the way it looks after the changes and photo taken with camera #2.
Perhaps I'd never have given the rug a second thought once it was put on the floor and walked on.  Perhaps I'd never have wondered what it was Robin saw that I didn't.  Not wanting to take that chance I made a couple changes today.  Now there is no hesitation on binding tomorrow during The Five TV show.  If you hate binding too, join me with your choice of beverage and we pals can suffer along together.

Happy hooking and binding.

Saundra

Friday, June 13, 2025

CHICKEN PAIR HOOKED

The last loop was pulled on the chicken pair antique adaptation last night.  It has been steam pressed and awaiting binding which will probably occur during The Five beginning next week.  Could take a couple weeks for me to complete the arduous task but that's okay.  Little by little it will get done.
Frankly I'm not so pleased with that 'spout' looking thing above the bowl of food.  I tried replicating the antique but obviously didn't succeed.  Below is a view of the antique plus a treat for cat lovers.
Meanwhile I'll keep myself occupied with the scrappy Shaker horse until something new and shiny piques my interest.

Happy Hooking and hope everyone had an uneventful Friday the 13th. 

Saundra

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

MY SCRAPPY HORSE

 Lauren and Sue started their two-day class with Jenny Smallridge in her "scrappy" class yesterday.  Everything I see from Jenny's and Jo's classes are phenomenal and wish she taught a class closer as I'm not about to drive to Ohio.  Check out Jenny's web site at Wooly Horse.  And drop by to see what Sue and Lauren accomplished on their wonderful pieces.  Lauren will eventually post her photo I'm sure.

As I love horses, that was my project and this is all that was accomplished since I didn't pull a loop until 3 p.m. yesterday.  No, I wasn't in a 'virtual class'.  My participation was in spirit with Lauren and Sue since I would have loved to be there in person. 
Below is the 1884 Shaker rug I'm adapting for my pattern.
This evening I'll pull a few more loops on the horse and tomorrow I'll finish the background on the chicken rug.  Well, that is after laundry is done.

Happy hooking. 

Saundra

Monday, June 9, 2025

RANDOM RAMBLINGS

Yesterday afternoon I listed some wool yardage for sale on Facebook.  Number 1, 2 and 3 have sold so far.  
Also today, someone asked if I'd draw the following pattern for them, said yes and gave a price.  Actually I saw her initial inquiry about getting a pattern drawn on FB so told her to think about it and to even contact the other people who offered a solution so she could compare.  Would be happy to do it for her but want folks to be happy with their choices.  She responded and tomorrow I will draw this patriotic chicken design for her, sweet, eh?
Was so hoping to have my chicken rug done by today because Lauren (Rugs and Pugs) and Sue (Vernon Junction) are going to embark on another rug hooking event and I wanted to join them long distance by doing my own design using alternative textiles.  Am sure I'll not get this remaining background all hooked by the end of today.  Lauren says I'm a fast hooker but I'm not that fast.
And finally, the casualties of having a roof repaired.  I live in the woods, have no gardener as I'm it.  Back in the day I used to get on my hands and knees, pull weeds and mulch.  Now when I'm up to it my yard work is doing what is most important at that time.  So you won't be seeing any lovely gardens that my other blogger mates share.

That said, here are a few casualties and I'm doubtful the daylilies will bounce back and for sure the Bleeding Hearts are gone for this year.
More injured daylilies; actually I took several photos surrounding the house but when you've seen two photos of struggling day lilies you know what the others would look like.
One of my cement drain splash blocks was cracked as the wagon wheel ran over it.
And since it rained on Friday this the what the truck and wagon did to my yard.  It's an eyesore to the normal weeds that grow in my yard but soon enough the weeds will fill in those mud spots.  Below is the side yard.
And here is the front yard.  Moss tends to be the weed that grows most here.
I've still work to do tonight and tomorrow ~ draw a pattern and ship some wool.  Finishing my chicken rug isn't looking hopeful.  Happy hooking.

Saundra

Saturday, June 7, 2025

ROOFING DAY 2, 3 and 4

The house was completely shingled after day 3 but I was so over the noise of nail guns, footsteps on the roof, outside music and people talking that I couldn't stand to do a post.  The thought doing that just made more noise in my head even after they'd left for the day 😵.  

Tho the new roof was done, they came back today, the 4th day, to install the leaf filters.  Wish I had taken a before picture of the debris collected on what was there before, but didn't.  So now my son won't need to come each spring and fall to clean the gutters out...hopefully they will just slide off now.

The front of the house in a pre-rainy Saturday.
Garage view ~ The owner of the company will come back to pick up unused plywood and shingles you see on the ground and to get his check.
Something else they did was remove a huge limb which was hovering over the house.  In this before photo below you can only see the thinner dangling limbs resting on the corner of the house on the far left.  
No longer will that happen again, he trimmed a few limbs for which I'm very grateful.
Thank goodness there will be peace and quiet and in the morning don't have to worry about getting my shower and dressed early.  Bet I sleep like a baby tonight.

Saundra


Wednesday, June 4, 2025

NEW ROOF DAY 1

Yesterday afternoon the contractor and employee dropped off the shingles and other supplies they'd need.  Today the worker bees arrived around 7:30 a.m. and didn't begin to depart until 6:30 p.m.  That's a full dang day of hard work. 

This morning I went outside to exchange greetings and give the sunglasses I'd found among the supplies.  There was a young woman among them and I asked if she was climbing on the roof too.  She said "yes" and smiled.  I smiled back but said she was crazy; all laughed.  Must say she worked minute by minute along side those men as hard and long as they did.  You go girl!!

Most of the area is cleaned up of the shingles and debris from what came off the roof.  Am confident the rest will be gone tomorrow.  Here are a couple photos at the beginning of the day 11 a.m. before most had been scrapped off of the old roof.
view from front porch

view from back porch

Here are photos of the day's accomplishments and some debris which will be removed tomorrow. 
view at back of house

view from garage side

side view of front which has been mostly cleared

Robin emailed asking about my sanity after day one.  Told her I thought I was going deaf since I could only hear the click of my fingers on the keys at the computer.  A task and expense which was way over due and I'll be glad when the next two days are in my past.

Saundra




Monday, June 2, 2025

TOOK ME A WHILE

Mother with Fishbowl was finished and final changes made August 2023.  So why did it take me so long to put it on the wall?  Maybe because I was unsure where to hang it, or emotionally I wasn't really sure all changes were done.  Anyway, Mother is front and center in the living room where I can see her every day from my hooking spot.  You can see the August 2023 post where I point out the last changes made HERE.   
Arrangements had been made to have my roof replaced and first deposit made over a week ago.  The contractor said depending on when he could get the dumpster delivered and equipment purchased he would start either today or tomorrow.  No dumpster was delivered nor workers showed up today.  So perhaps the noise of footsteps and nails will begin tomorrow.   

Happy  hooking.

Saundra


Friday, May 30, 2025

THE CHICKEN PAIR RUG

Before hooking the roosters comb and wattle decided to take a photo with another camera to see if the wool used in the hen really does work.  I can see the red well enough so won't opt for a brighter red.  It is an antique adaptation after all.
This is how the previous photo with another camera appeared and which was my cause of concern.  So no need to swap out the red.
Since yesterday was an unusually clear day thought I'd better cut grass before last night's storm and today's rain ... yes, again there's rain.

Saundra

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

RAINY DAY RUG SHOW

Don't know how your weather is where you are, but it is dreary, chilly and rainy here.  So for your enjoyment I'll do another rug show then I'll hook the day away on my chicken rug.

A floral hooked mid 19th century with dimensions of 33.5 x 39.5.  A tad too ornate for me and would require narrow cut so isn't something I'd hook but I do admire the beauty of the rug.
Perhaps faded, is this folky design with a Greek bottom border.  No date was provided but measures 28 x 42.
The animal in this next rug looks like a gazelle to me.  Dated between 1920-30.
I have no information on this nice horse rug found on an antique show posting.
At first glance I couldn't identify this next animal.  But the auction house said it was a bear and was hooked in the 1920's (36 x 42).
A geometric with a hooked in date of 1931.  It measures 18 x 36.
Basket of flowers dated 1920's.
As much as I love horses I've no desire to hook a horseshoe.  Perhaps it is a way to focus on the horse and supposed to be good luck but I find them distracting and unappealing in a rug.  This is from the estate of George Fernald, Chatham, NH.
A tan horse hooked 19th century (28 x 40).
These pups with hit and miss border are cute, me thinks.  No date or dimensions.
And finally for you feline lovers, cat and kitten hooked late 19th century measures 25 x 30.5.
That's it for this show.  So now I'll work on my rug.  Yesterday I was getting bored with the chickens and thought briefly, like a nanosecond, to put Ezra's Farm on the frame.  But that got vetoed immediately and chose to stick with the chickens.  Happy hooking.

Saundra


Monday, May 26, 2025

MEMORIAL DAY

As you celebrate this Memorial Day weekend, remember the reason we have this holiday.
Saundra

Saturday, May 24, 2025

PAT'S WALL

The Eagle rug hooked for the office/library has been up for a few days  now.  Actually it was planned to hang among some of the memorabilia of E.C. Patterson's (PAT), military service.  Here is a wide shot of the wall.
Here are the photos closer.... 
On the far left are two prints of paintings done by President Dwight Eisenhower given to Pat as Christmas gifts.
On the right side of the Eagle is a signed photo (not autopen) signed by John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.  Next on top is a Certificate of Service to the White House signed by the infamous LBJ, below that a photo which includes Pat and others saluting President Eisenhower and De Gaulle.
Below is another photo of Pat, his Presidential Seal and Presidential Patch.  Also his father's pocket watch, one of Pat's childhood toys and flag.  FYI, Pat was my step-father and a wonderful husband to my mother.
My son has Pat's medals and ribbons and a few other items but told him he'd have to wait for these.  Plus, I have non visible memories of stories Pat shared of his experiences on the White House staff, at Camp David and deployments.  We miss you Pat!

Saundra