TANGLES !

Have you ever gotten tangles in your hooking?  I've gotten my knickers in a twist before 😊 but don't normally get them in my hooking.  Yet I'm getting those tangles twisted up now.  You see, since I've stopped cutting off loops at the top like I normally do ~ then change my mind, pull out the loops and am stuck with a short piece of wool good for nothing but a snippet.  So I've started keeping the length of wool under until I see if it is going to work.

Problem is when pulling out a loop I pull out something attached to it and end up with more of a mess because it pulls out more wool.  Obviously not a very smart way to work on a rug.

So I've got to change that and start to keep my wool strips cropped.  Have been going rather slowly on my precious boy but I'll eventually get there.  Here is what my boy looks like now.  Remember, this is NOT what I see in person ~ the camera lies.

The background makes him look very deceiving because it is the light green right next to what is the shine on Ben's black hair in the photo.  So perhaps I need to change that grey shine out for the black wool rather than trying to copy the photo.  Here is that photo.

Perhaps it is now the time to draw a SMALL to play with between the down time with my boy.  Or guess I could just clean up my wool room.  UGH such a boring task, lol.

Saundra

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Time To Switch Projects

Thank goodness I'm ready to start my Black Kitten Mat.  It is patiently waiting for me on my frame, I've cut some of the background wool and pulled out my worms for the rest.  Well, okay, I did cut some wide cut primitive black but not much as there is a bag of various colors and strip sizes that would be great for the cat.

So the cat picture will be by my side when I finally sit down, the background wool is in the smaller basket and the worms are in the plastic container and in the bags.  And  yes, my loyal companion Ben will be to my right and by my side all night long.  See those white dot eyes?

By the way, Ben was acting as my protector last night when the horrific storm came up.  I knew the storm was coming but he heard sounds outside before I did and thought he had to go to the bathroom so let him out back.  He bolted out the back porch door and started barking like an attack dog. 

It was then it dawned on me the storm might have developed into a tornado.  I live in the woods and could now hear snapping and thrashing of debris coming thru the woods behind me.  So started screaming Ben's name so he and I could go into a closet to be safe. Seems that as quickly as the worst wind came up it soon departed.  But Ben would not let me out of his sight.

Had a lot of tree debris to pick up this morning before I could cut grass (yes, the new mower works again) before the next onslaught of rain and summer storms starting again tomorrow afternoon.  Most limbs and leaves I picked up but this was too heavy and needs man power.

They may look like easy limbs to drag but they aren't.  And, there are several there which has a lot of weight with healthy leaves...used to be healthy. 

And here is the look of the Man Cave Rug as it is folded away for a bit.  I'm at a comfortable place now to play and have fun hooking.  There is still some dark wool which needs to be pulled out around the pool balls, also need to get the word MAN centered properly.  But hey, I've still got almost 6 months before it is due. 

And for those of you who many not know, my big boy Ben was adopted at the age of 3 years 7 months.  I've had him 3 years now and he is wonderful.  His only fault is fast moving vehicles as he was a car chaser.  Ben is never let loose and thanks to my ex has a fenced in back yard that he can enjoy.  Ben still gets his walks daily because no family member likes to see the same scenery or smells every day.  Just love my boy Ben.  Think pet adoption.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saudnra

Murphy's Law

A couple years ago during the hottest part of July my AC went out and had to have a brand new heat pump installed to the tune of maybe over $3,000.  Ben and I suffered for a couple days until we could get relief.

Well guess what?  Now I've no heat ~ Hey ya'll it is winter here.  This is my heat source right now.

I have a heat pump with propane second stage furnace, expensive heat but much warmer heat than the heat pump produces with frigid temps.  They work in tandem so when the ground air gets below 39 degrees all the heat pump would give me is cold air.  Therefore I had to have a second source of heat ~ propane furnace. 

Called my serviceman today who came, worked on the unit for quite a while.  My furnace is 18 years old and could not be revived...it is dead and he showed me why.  If I keep it and do Band-Aids there might be a fire.  So it is time to replace it. 

AH, so you are thinking.... what about the heat pump?  Nope, it won't work either since they work in tandem and heat pump sends a signal to the furnace that it is too cold out here for me to heat her house.  So it won't work either.

Ben must feel my anxiety because he will NOT leave my side.  I was on the computer (he was in this room by my feet), I went to the living room to take a picture of the space heater and he would not leave me.  So this is the picture I took.

And yes that is a propane fire log fireplace you see to the left.  Uh, Murphy's Law again.... when I turn it on the smoke alarms go off.  Even had the service man look at it too and he doesn't understand why it is happening.  So my man Ben is my guardian. 

Yes, there is an issue with him with wanting to chase cars which drive fast.  But  that is his only issue.  I want to tell you that adopting him was a most wonderful thing.  He makes me feel safe even tho he doesn't bring in any income to help pay for all this.

I've put an electric blanket on the bed under the quilt, it is plugged in and will turn it on when I go to bed.  Have closed all the doors to upstairs and rooms nearest outside walls which I don't use so what heat is built up with the space heater can be saved in the living area.  Not to worry, I'll turn off the space heater before I go to bed.

I will close my bedroom door because this side of the house will be warmer than the bedroom area, another outside wall on two sides.  Brings back memories of when my brother and I stayed with our grandfather on occasion.  Pop-pop only had a wood burning heating and cooking stove in the kitchen downstairs.  OH, plus no indoor plumbing, only a hand crank pump in the pump room.

 

My brother and I would sleep upstairs without heat but would be swallowed up by a feather mattress and thick blankets and quilts on top.  I doubt we could even have moved during the night with the weight on us.  When we awakened we would run downstairs like we were being chased by a mad wolf to put our butts close to the stove to get warm and await fresh eggs and bacon or scrapple that he had made.

Have also my hoodie sweatshirt and turtleneck ready to go tomorrow so there is no looking for clothes to wear while in the cold house.

 

Thank you GOD for temperatures slightly warmer tomorrow and not in the teens like we've had.  So Ben and I will survive this. Didn't get more leaves raked today since I've been so busy and tomorrow is rain so no leaf raking.  NOR, did I get my runner finished.  But at least it gave me something to b!#ch about and keep me from stressing too much about no heat or what my allergies might be.

 

Have a great weekend and hope you accomplish more hooking than I have achieved the last few days.

 

Saundra

Close to the Finish Line

Well, maybe not the final finish line for the binding part.  But all that is left now is the candy stripe and one corner on the antique adaptation Cherries and Candy Stripe to be hooked.

For such a small mat it seems to be taking me forever to finish this piece.  Maybe because I want it on my table so badly but also dang dentist/doctor appointments.  Oh, add in the ice laden roads so longer travel time to and fro.

Tomorrow I've another dental appointment in the morning AND an allergy test in the afternoon.  More on that tomorrow.  Amazing the changes the body and immune system makes thru the years.  I just might be allergic to a an item on the healthy food chain.  Hope it isn't so.

Have a great evening everyone.  My boy Ben is to my left side snoring and his feet are wiggling.  Hope he is having a nice dream.

Saundra

Moving Right Along

The Ali Katz rug whipping is in the homestretch, the Folk Art Horse mat is all hooked and now needs binding so it is time to put something on my frame to keep me occupied between now and Sunday when I leave for camp.

And just WHAT is that pattern I'm moving right along to?  That would be the cute snowman pattern JOLLY that I purchased from Star Rug Company last year.   

Ben must know something is up because he won't leave my side.  I'm at the computer typing and he will whine (cry, complain) in the living because he wants me in there with him.  When I don't comply he comes to me.  Must say it is great to have dog that loves the companion of his family.  Particularly so with a Rottie (who gets a bad rap) and again particularly since Ben was 3 years 7 months old when I adopted him.  Isn't he a handsome hunk of dog?

And Ben would be right, there is something going on.  Lately I've had several doctor visits and tests so have been in, out and about.  But as far as he is concerned I was absent to him.  Then tomorrow morning I'm having a lump removed from inside a vastus medialis muscle on my right thigh.

This is going to put a cramp in my otherwise healthy and active life.  Am still going to rug camp leaving Sunday and hopefully will be fully functional for normal activities.  Guess it is a good thing it is happening now since there will be someone here to care for Ben and give me a break for camp.  Thank goodness this lump will be GONE tomorrow.

Have a great evening everyone.  I may not sleep well tonight but will tomorrow after they sedate me.

Saundra

Dilemma's of a Dog

Oh to have a life of a dog and their worries.  Poor Ben is beside himself with the stress of having to find a hiding place for his newest chew stick.  He walks around the house crying because he just knows someone is going to break into the house and steal his bone.  

He even tries to hide it from me I think, and I'm the one who gave it to him for gawd's sake.  So he walks around crying from one room...... 

To another room........

To another room....

.....  and yet another until he finds a satisfactory place.  But oh this is a long tedious process for a poor dog to handle.  So here he is trying to bury it in one of his mats in the living room.  

And then it finally ends up nearest his 'regular' living room mat in front of the window so he can keep a watchful eye on encroaching squirrels onto his property as well and an eye on his precious chew stick.

Oh but he is a funny boy.  When he has it hidden in another room and I happen to get up for some reason he immediately runs ahead of me to be sure it is still safe.  But with it right there in the living room he can always keep a keen eye for any wannabe chew bone thieves.

Uh, you guys don't see all the wool dust and umbrella peeking out behind the end table do you?  Nah, didn't think you noticed.  Well before I get back to hooking on my project, guess I'd better clean up my previous mess.

Thanks for stopping by.

Saundra