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

WIND, RAIN and WHITE STUFF

Saturday night into yesterday it rained.  Which means woodland lake is back and will probably remain there until July unless I get lucky.  This photo below is to the left back of my property which goes up to the farm in the back.

With that rain came 70 mph winds, I knew they were high but didn't know how high until this evening's news.  Which means there were lots of limbs and branches in the yard.  Oh, and one dead tree toppled.  Glad it dropped behind my shed and not on top of it.

Today I spent over an hour picking up limbs, although there are still more left to pick up.  But concentrated on the front yard and inside the back yard near my birdfeeders.  Tomorrow I'll go out and pick up more limbs, gather up over 300 pine cones and if I'm not too tired will work on the felled tree and vines which held it up until yesterday's wind.

And if this wasn't torture enough, there is another snow storm to arrive Wednesday.  This morning the local weatherman said 6-10".  The evening news said 3-6" which is a better number but would rather have O" snow.

Temperatures (according to the weatherman) are 15* lower than normal for this area, which should be in the mid to upper 40's.  That means another fill of propane will need to be ordered this week as last check I was down to 39% and propane will be in constant use all the rest of the week.

Back to happy hooking on my rug with a glass of Cab; Monday's green salad is made and available when I'm ready. 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

JUST ANOTHER RUG SHOW

I was so tempted to show you what has been hooked so far on Animals Great and Small but fought off that temptation until more is hooked.  Perhaps that will build up a little anticipation for when it is posted.

This is quite a colorful floral and scrolls design, circa 1900.

A horse drawn carriage measuring 23.5 x 43.5 but no date was provided.

A stag lounging in the rose garden, no date but dimensions are 21 x 36.

A simple flower hooked mid 20th century so not copywrite free.  But is is easy on the eyes.

An urn with flower and meandering vine border said to be hooked late 19th century.

This hen and chicks rug was hooked early 20th century and was the inspiration for Barb Carrol's pattern "Purple Peeps".

Two deer hooked early 20th century using silk, wool and cotton on burlap. 

A floral in basket appears to be hooked Waldoboro style.

For feline lovers, cats dressed in green bows hooked early 20th century.

And for the canine lovers I give you Bob and Rose.  Rug quoted as hooked circa 1920 and measures 26.5 x 64.  Interesting that the person who hooked the dog rug went out of their way to hook those + in the background.

That's it for today's rug show.  Maybe next time it will be my present project on display.  

Recently had the urge to grow more sprouts for my salads.  I've had alfalfa and broccoli sprouts and this time I put some of both seeds in my jar.  My favorite are the broccoli sprouts tho.  First photo is the sprouts in the jar.  I usually grow enough for just 2 meals of salad so the sprouts are fresh.  

And now on the salad.  It was a healthy and yummy salad.  If you want to see the health benefits of sprouts you can read about it HERE.

You can order sprouts from Amazon if you don't have a health food store near you.  Since I grow sprouts for one person I wanted smaller jars with drain screen top and purchased them from Amazon too.

Happy hooking.

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com

CAT REDUX and SNOW

How many more times must I re-hook that poor cat until I'm satisfied?  The cat seemed too light compared to the rest of the rug.  Here is the before.

Here is the redux.

Soon the rug will be hooked so that will be the final visual test.  I've hooked the deer on the far left side but want to keep that for the next showing.  This rug has been such fun to hook I'm almost sad it is close to done.

According to the local news Seaford had a total of 7.5" of snow.  Here are a two photos from this morning.  These are of the back yard.  

The snow will melt with rain coming in and might bring back Woodland lake again.  But must say I'm totally sick of the white stuff tho.  Come on Spring.

Joanna T., thanks for you advice.  I didn't see an email attached to your profile so couldn't reply to you personally.  I'll replace this PC with a DELL which will also save me money.  I think this most recent memory card was corrupted by my usb port.  Might have to purchase a new PC before October dang it.  I hate it when things don't work.  And yet I know it will be a struggle and learning curve with a new one.

Happy Hooking. 

Saundra

www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.weebly.com