Parallel worlds, polar shifts!

Even main stream media is now talking about parallel worlds, polar shifts and preparedness and that frightens me. A couple of us stood in the hall this morning talking about the strange weather, earthquakes, and the unsettling they have in their souls.

I worry about the future sometimes in the quiet of night or while pulling wool in my latest project. But as my Mom says, the future will take care of itself.

I am thinking of a theme for our rug hooking group at work. A small project that we can all work on together and bring out our own level of uniqueness.

Do you have any ideas that might be fun! Let me know! More fun thinking of rug hooking than polar shifts!

Bound!

I don't believe my rug hooking projects are completely finished until they are bound and steamed. So this week, I completed the yarn binding on both projects and steamed them this morning. I can finally declare both bound and finished!

No more talk about the weather but I can finally say that after receiving 265 cm or 9 feet of snow since January 16th, 2011, we have had a break and hopefully, the end to winter!

Signs of Spring?

Or has this poor, lonely robin been caught in a wind and blown to the West Coast? This weekend was spent in long hours of snowshovelling, plowing and cursing at the weather we have been having.

Since the sacrifice to Url in January on Marble Mountain around the 9th of January, we have had non stop snow events. I wonder if there is a snow cessation sacrifice to some sort of obscure Viking diety?

On a brighter note, I noticed a couple of chickadees scoping out my birdhouse for a little love nest, so indeed, we are on the downside of winter!

Happy Valentine's Day, dear Hearts!

To all the wonderful people in my life, a moment to reflect how loved we all are and how special, not just today but everyday!

Holy Cow, Batman....

it's Harry Potter and the Holy Crapper! This another one of my crazy ideas for a gift to a Harry Potter fan. A toilet seat cover with none other, than Harry Potter pointing his wand!

I think that I have learned that there is nothing you can't hook!

Nowhere to Go but UP!

Well, I am sure that everyone is tired of snow stories but here are some more pictures. In about 16 days, we have gone from none to lots. My inukshuk, Gabrielle is holding up snow on her shoulders. The garden buried under a mountain of snow.

Most of the weekend was spent on snow removal but I did get my new project outlined and on my wonderful Cheticamp frame. It is going to be quite large and hopefully, I will have some pictures soon and less on the snow front.

Happy Ground Hog Day!

Ground Hog Day is an annual event to predict whether or not, there will be six weeks more of winter.




This is a nice picture of Corner Brook looking out towards Seal Head. No visible ground hogs.






Oh wait, I think Mikey spotted one. Hey, Mikey?? Where did the ground hog go??

Clogging Along

I have had a couple of questions about those wonderful felted clog slippers on where to get the pattern etc. I found a free pattern at www.knittingatknoon.com and just look for the knitting pattern for the family of clogs. There is another website at Fibre Trends but there is a nominal charge for the download.

Well, I keep hearing how "exciting" it is to turn a heel when knitting. I didn't find it exciting but quite frustrating. After watching youtube videos and the videos from the Knitting at Knoon, I attempted the turn. I had to reverse knit several(read many, many) times and was ready to throw down the towel. But this morning, enjoying my coffee before hitting the shower, I had an "ah ha" moment, and turned the heel. Now, onto the gusset!

Hearts and Flowers!

Happily, I am not posting any winter pictures nor doing any complaining about the weather. Hearts and Flowers came off the Cheticamp frame last evening and now, I will cord and use whip stitching to finish it off. It is 20 x 36 and done all in wool yarn.

On the weekend, I started alittle side project of Felted Clog Slippers. I first was inspired by Phyliss' work at Rughooker and decided to try out my first pair. I will certainly need help from some experienced knitters as I have never worked on circular or double pointed needles, or ever turned a heel. Could be interesting!




This is a picture of the finished slippers.

Repeat After Me?

Think of happy spring thoughts? It's not working!

This is the view from yesterday and it is so hard to imagine that only two weeks ago, we looked like this.





Makes you want to curl up with a good book, some rughooking and not come up again until spring!

Winter is Here!

I think western Newfoundland is paying for all the gloating we did up to two weeks ago about how warm it was and how green it was. WAS is the operable word! Winter is definitely now here!

It was a slow start to Monday as we had a blizzard overnight and my truck was surrounded by a meter high snowbank. But I did make it into the DAY JOB safely although, abit late. I was able to transfer one design on linen and started another one which is destined for the Cheticamp frame, so it's large. Only one more flower square to do on the Hearts and Flowers mat and then, abit of the border and it's coming off the frame...hooray!

Pictures are definitely in order for the next post!

Some Days

It has been one of those odd weeks, when everything and nothing happens. Maybe it was not only Blue Monday but Blue week. The middle of the winter when spring seems so impossible and far away.

The week was filled with a truck that wouldn't start, snow deep in the yard, slow drives to work with knuckles gripped on the steering wheel, wool projects barely looked at, meals with too many carbs and not enough veggies, a silent treadmill but finally, today, a sunny day with a blue sky!

Some days you are the statue, and some days, you get to be the pigeon!

And it snowed!

Well, we finally had a good dump of snow today and Maddy had lots of fun on the deck before it was shovelled. Now, Maddy is not too tall, so it wasn't that much.

Maybe winter has come to western NL!

More Pictures

This lovely lighthouse was Alice's first attempt at rug hooking. She also designed it and it is hooked with wool yarn on Scottish Burlap.




This is Alice's second mat. This Santa was a quick Christmas gift and one of my own designs from last year.

Wings to Fly!

When I started my hooking group once per week at lunch time, I had no idea how it would go along. There are only three of us but we meet every Wednesday in a small corner of a mill accounting office. This mat is Maureen's very first mat and not only did she hook it but designed it herself. It is a large mat of approximately 30 x 30 and is hooked on Scottish Burlap. Isn't it gorgeous?









This is Maureen's second mat, again she designed it and used a variety of wool strips and wool yarns. She even sculpted the lady bug and bee. although the picture doesn't highlight them very well.

I remember only a few months ago, how hard it was for Maureen to feel comfortable with the hook and making sure her stitches were pulled up and no puckering on the backside of the mat. Now, the student has wings to fly on her own!

A New Twist to Hook!

Santa was so thoughtful this year and sent three wonderful books. How did he know? Anyway, one of the books was Jane Halliwell Green's latest book. She does a nice job of explaining "pixelating" but nothing does it better for me, than a video.

One the most frequent questions new hOOkers have is about the direction of stitches. I like Deanne's approach, let your hOOK dance against your mat and let the stitches twist and turn!

January 2011

Well, what little snow we had last week, is almost gone today. It is beautiful and mild, and once in awhile the sun pokes it head up. Up early this morning and put away all the signs of Christmas. By this time, I have had enough and now, to crack on without any holidays until Easter.







Remember my hearts and flowers rug. I only have nine more squares to finish and it is done. I started it last year but as my Cheticamp frame is in the rec room, in the basement, I only work on it during the winter. When I rolled it ahead this week, I had no idea how many squares were left; I estimated 15 or 3 rows but was happily surprised to see only two. Once it comes off the frame, I will be doing a corded and whipped finish as this little rug is destined for floor duty!

Good Bye 2010, Hello 2011

As the new year blossoms, may the journey of your life be fragrant with new opportunities, your days be bright with new hopes and your heart be happy with love! Happy New Year! - Anonymous

That'll Do !

Look at the gorgeous skeins of alpaca wool that I won from Andrea in Ohio of That'll Do Farm. I don't remember how I found Andrea's blog site, but I did take serious note of her name of her farm.

A friend of ours from Nova Scotia had a grandmother who used to use the phrase.."that'll do" all the time and we now have made it part of our vocabulary from time to time.

Thanks Andrea, your wool will find a nice home here in Newfoundland!

The Day Before

How fast time goes and now, it is the day before returning to the Day Job. Where did the week go? Oh yes, shopping, cleaning, visiting, eating, eating some more and of course, hooking!

Right now, we are getting some snow from the Nor'Easter that hit NY city and points south, but it was truly a green Christmas which doesn't happen very often. And today's snow, will be followed by rain. It could be a mess for the drive into work tomorrow. Oh well, thank goodness it is a short week and I am off again on Friday!

Merry Christmas to All!

The good thing about living in Newfoundland is that we don't have to be politically correct and wish each other generic, non-sectarian greetings like Happy Holidays. Nor do we have to call a Christmas tree, a holiday tree.

I am enjoying the time off work and out of the stores. I also received a nice little gift of three books; two hooking books and one, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Thanks to Deanne's new book, I have learned that even the most challenged artist, can be taught to draw. Well, at least, that's the plan.

Merry Christmas to all!

So this is Christmas?

Right now, it is blowing hard and my little house on the side of a mountain overlooking the Bay of Islands is holding tight. I am off the rest of the week, having to use up the last of my outstanding vacation days. The old use it or lose it corporate mandate; so I am using it!

I didn't take these pictures but borrowed them from other people in the Corner Brook area. But as they say, a picture says a thousand words and these speak volumes on our weather. It is a bit frightening to say the least. We are either going to have another great (snowless) winter or we are in for a big dump in February.

Christmas in the Harbour

This is certainly not Christmas 2010 as it is green in Newfoundland. The warmer than usual waters of the North Atlantic are keeping this province warm, windy and snow free.

While all around us, people are suffering one of the worst starts to winter 2010. My dear Mom has used her snowblower more this year than all of last year.

I have been hooking and today is the final meeting of our little hooking group until the new year! I hope to have some pictures soon to show you how well they have done.

Climate Change!

We must be experiencing the dawn of climate change. It has been mild and not one snowflake in sight. Not only has it been mild enough to wear spring coats, my garden feels like it is going to spring to life once again.

No wonder I love pansies! One hearty little pansy soul has come to life, transplanted by the wind along the borden of the garden. We all have our fingers crossed that the mild weather will continue!

Where in the World ...

..........is Gail? She has immigrated to the Bay of Islands and here she is protecting our harbour.

On my trip to the Mainland in November, I was able to spend some Christmas time with my dear mother. As we were packing, she kept saying, don't forget Gail? I thought she had lost it but soon enough the mystery was revealed.

Gail is one of her Christmas nutcrackers that she wanted me to take along to the island. And her name is Gail for a reason known to all Coronation Street fans.

Don't you think she looks like Gail Platt?

Come Dine With Me Canada

I started watching Come Dine With Me (UK) and loved it. It was with anticipation that I waited to see Come Dine With Me (Canada) only to be sorely disappointed. It is horrible and I am not sure why?

No accents? Could be that the Toronto twang is affecting my enjoyment after spending some years in Ontario?

Not too boozy? Could be I have grown used to the UKs snockered dinner parties and miss the fun of drunken guests?

Terms of Endearment? Could be as I have now grown used to such terms as starter, main and pudding etc?

Recipes? The Canadian menus have been boring and one served a gazpacho as the main last night?

Whatever it is, I hope W channel puts back on the Come Dine With Me (UK).

Magical

Last night, just before leaving the office, I had a strange occurrence. I don't know if you want to call it an out of body experience but it was indeed, magical. In a blink of an eye, I was whisked to dinner as if a spell was cast. No preparation, no dishes, and exactly, as I wanted.

Then, it happened again, I was instantly transported to a warm, dark place with nice smells of popcorn and snacks. Already satiated by dinner, I declined but was happy in my decision. Before long, it became even darker and in front of me, appeared......



Harry Potter!

Here we were among others in the same age bracket watching the second to last episode of Harry Potter and not one child present. What truly amazes me about this story is how well crafted the entire books have been. If only I had thought of it first!

Facebook!

*¨*•.¸¸♥.•*¨*•☆☆•*¨*☆•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸.•*¨*•☆☆•* Put this as your status if you have the most BEAUTIFUL ?????? ♥ in the world!! xxx oooo •*¨*•.¸¸♥¸.•*¨*•☆☆•*¨*☆•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸.•*¨☆•*¨*•.¸¸♥.•..*¨*•☆☆•*¨

I do have a Facebook account; however, it is mostly for playing an addictive game called Bejeweled. I only have a handful of facebook friends but I marvel at some of the posts on the "wall". Private information, rants, slams and cute ones, like the one above.

HELLO?? If you don't want your identity or house robbed, be careful what you put there. Our little lunch group met yesterday and I didn't think to bring my camera to post pictures of the progress. One of the group has already finished the first project and is onto the next. I gave a lesson in finishing and binding and it ended all too soon.

I didn't take yesterday's pictures but borrowed them from a local person. Happily, the snow is gone and it is quite mild.

Wordless Wednesday

Time and Tide

Well, this is a picture looking out at the barrens in Port aux Basques Thursday morning when we just got off the ferry. I see a rug in this picture. It was 12 degrees and a warm wind greeted us back to the island after being away for three weeks.

I had to take my outstanding vacation before the end of the year, so this called for a trip to Montreal and Toronto to see family. A very pleasant visit with my mother which of course, always ends much too soon!

I didn't take along any rug hooking and I missed it very much. But, I did make a stop in Amherst to spend abit of time choosing wool for future projects at Deanne's studio.




This is a picture taken this morning with snow under Maddy's feet as she looks out from the deck. Yes, there is a skiff of snow this morning and it is chilly at minus 2. Time and tide waits for no one and this is especially true in this part of the world.

Thnigs I have Learned So Far!

I have learned a lot since this Grade Two picture was taken around 1960. Some of those lessons I have to take several times and some only once.

Here are some of those lessons;

-No one is an expert on you, except YOU!
-Angels inhabit human form.
-Never let a machine know you are in a hurry.
-Dogs understand love better than some people.
-Keep your brain young by learning something new.
-Never, ever tempt fate.
-Happiness is all around you, be open to it.
-Goodnight kisses are very important.
-Truth is simple and peace is a choice.
-Life goes on with or without us.
-Never confuse your career with your life.
-Stuff becomes a burden over the years.
-Life is precious and fragile, it should be cherished.

These are just a few things coming to mind right now. What have you learned?

Remembering!

I have a great love of birds and came across this picture of hummingbirds which I think was taken in Florida. We don't have hummingbirds in NL, nor do we have cardinals, another of my favourite aviators. Of course, on the other side, we do have puffins, gannets, grosbeaks and many others.

What makes this picture special is that it is an actual picture taken by P's daughter on her vacation. Aren't they sweet?

Today, is Remembrance Day and as my father was a WWII veteran, I always think that if he didn't make it back from Europe, his children wouldn't have had our lives to be grateful for. Remember all veterans today.

In Flanders field the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Sense of Humour.

I am always receiving these funny emails from friends and coworkers. Most, I must be truthful, I don't even read especially, the chain emails or anything with a religious overtone. But this is one I kept as it made me laugh.

Sometimes, I don't think I have a sense of humour at all. Someone tells a funny story or a joke, and I just stand with a blank look on my face. It's not that "I don't get it"; I just don't find it funny.

I think that I have a sense of humour somewhere, but where is it?

Somewhere Else!

I am currently reading Deanne's new book, Inspired! Sometimes, I can actually hear Deanne speaking the words on the pages. I thought I was the only person who found beauty in the Tantramar Marsh.

The Tantramar Marshes is a National Wildlife Area on the southern part of the Isthmus of Chignecto, which joins Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and the Canadian mainland. It is the site of the historic Battle of Beausejour, the final chapter in the long battle for Acadia by the British and French. Immediately after the battle, Beaubassin was the site where the British chose to begin the Expulsion of the Acadians from the Maritimes in 1755.

I have driven past the marshes more times than I can count, on my way to Quebec and Ontario. I often want to stop and savour the openess of the space, feel the history on the winds and see the beauty in something where others do not. To stop, and see beauty in the details and not at 100 kms an hour through the car windows, on my way to somewhere else.