Blue Moon and the End of a Decade

Tonight, there will be a second full month in the same month and this phenomena is known as a "blue moon". This doesn't happen very often and of course, it is the end of the first decade in the 21st Century.

I am very happy to be celebrating both these events. Ten years ago, it was a different story for me as I was starting my battle against a health monster. It was hard, it was frightening and it was the most intense time of my life.

Looking back is always easier than looking ahead as you know the outcome. Since that time, I have lost friends and family to the same monster; Mary Ellen, Mike, Kim, Donna and Martha. And I think of fellow bloggers Jane and Sherri who are now taking on the same battle.

I am grateful every day of my life and I will be celebrating and remembering all my dear friends and family this New Year's Eve and always.

Christmas Over for Another Year

Well, I stayed home and enjoyed myself on my days off. Having finished the Santa's, it was back to the Icons of NL project.

Here is the second to last of the icons, an Orca whale and her baby. Living in the middle of the North Atlantic, whales, porpoises are certainly all around us. I can remember two autumns ago, watching the porpoises put on a little show in the bay. Jumping, twisting and playing. Better than any show with animals in captivity.

One more icon to go and then, the top border to complete this project. And already, thinking of the next one.

Merry Christmas to All

With everyone so busy and no time for blogging, we wanted to wish all my friends and family a special and warm Merry Christmas.

I have enjoyed meeting so many new and wonderful people, connecting through our mutual love of all things fibre.

Anne Kirby, Cathy G, Kim, Phyliss, Lynne from Jersey, Shawn, Jennifer, Wendi, April, Gene, Cindy, Deanne, Jane, Mary from BC, Corinne, Dulcey, Heidi, Sherri, Tammi,Cara and Pam, Urve and all the people who drop by to have a look.

You have all made my rughooking life special and I think of all of you as friends.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Love and Blessings,

Julie,P, Maddy the Jack and of course, the birds, Henry and Lily!

Reflections

This is the scene on Sunday morning from my deck overlooking the beautiful Humber Arm of the Bay of Islands.

Gorgeous reflections which always remind me that we should reflect on the past year and give thanks to the Creator for all the gifts and challenges we have had. Sometimes, I marvel at how fast time passes and wonder if I am on the right path to the place where I am supposed to be headed.

Everyone, sensing their own mortality, dreaming of Christmases past and future. Reflections of lives lived.

Newfoundland Christmas

This is a lovely presentation of NL Christmas and there are certainly some ideas for rugs here!

Don't shop, Adopt!

I always believed that hOOkwOrM would maintain its overall interest in rug hooking and stay clear from any political or personal opinions. But it is at this time of year, that I strongly urge people to consideration adoption of pets and not purchasing.

I have had six beautiful dogs in the past 25 years and I used to obtain my pets through breeders and/or pet stores. There were my two Doberman, Babe and Bonnie, my two mini schnauzers, Heidi and Pepper, my first Jack Russell, Weezie and now, my second Jack, Maddy.

Weezie was my first rescue dog and her life, a tragedy of abandonment and starvation. We only had this darling dog for five years and lost her to kidney disease likely as a result of her earlier malnutrition.

Maddy has never been mistreated but she was just "too much" of a Jack Russell for a senior in Lewisporte. She is almost three and has turned out to be a beautiful and intelligent little darling and we love her very much.

With so many abandoned animals in our communities, consider not shopping, but adopting a suitable pet. These are two lovely pets available at our local shelter.

The Answers!

First, before the answers to the latest NL Quiz, here is the view from my deck looking out to the Bay of Islands.

Can't you see the bay? No, neither could I and only this morning, were the lights across the bay visible. We have had continual snowsqualls since Wednesday.

Now, the answers.

1) Jig house: A boarding house for mariners which usually sells illegal alcohol.

2) Pampooty: Kim's answer was the best ever but pampotties are soft shoes for children, usually made of hide.

3) Gut Foundered: One right answer from anonymous...so very, very hungry.

4) Lassy Bug: This is a Ladybug and when you catch a ladybug, a child says the poem...lassy bug, lassy bug, give me some lassy (which is molasses). And when the ladybug leaves a brown spot on your hand, you got your molasses. (Or at least, a dirty hand!)

5) Toutin: Another right answer from anonymous, fried bread dough from the French word, toutin which is pancake.

I think I enjoy these quizes a lot especially the answers!!

Another Newfoundland Quiz

Here it is as per the many requests, another Newfoundland Quiz to test your ability to define NL language.

1) Jig House

2) Pampooty

3) Gut foundered

4) Lassy Bug

5) Toutin

Good Luck with this one and everyone, enjoy the weekend and take time for yourselves!

It's Here!

Well, the snow has arrived this morning with such ferociousness! And I suppose that it had to happen some time.

Here is the first of the small gifts, a table mat. I put on a black felt backing and will make the tag tonight. It is a good thing as it will be given to a co-worker tomorrow in our gift exchange. I have a day or so hooking and the other 3 will be finished and ready for whipping etc.

Oh me nerves, the days are flying by!

Christmas Scenes

This Christmas scene embodies the Christmas Spirit of days gone by.

Most of us are busy this time of year with ideas of gifts, shopping and baking. I finished the first of the Christmas mats and steamed it last night. Tonight, I will finish it off with a felt backing and a tag.

Hopefully, I will complete the hooking on the final one and start the whipping of the other 3. I am guessing that by tomorrow, we will be buried under by a snowstorm coming from the East.

What's Going On?

Well, the time flies at this time of year and I don't really seem to be getting much done. I did zigzag around the Santa in preparation for their completion. As I am giving one away this Friday, I am working on the whipping of the edge.

Hopefully, I will have a picture to post of the completed mat. Christmas hosts a whole lot of opinions and feelings, doesn't it? The stores are so busy with shoppers and screaming children, I try to keep away.

I don't know if Christmas will ever hold the charm and sweetness of days gone by.

From rain to snow!

Ignore the date stamp on this picture as it was borrowed from a technically challenged person who doesn't know how to change it to 2009.

It rained all day and on the way home from the dayjob, it started to snow and the temperature dropped.

I said good morning to almost 15 cm of snow this morning and drove to work in 4 wheel drive. Newfoundland! How quick the weather changes.

Put it this way, poor little blogger Maddy was chest deep in snow for her morning outing.

My Favourite things to do!

Hello all you peeps! My mommy has left for the day and I have decided to try out this machine thingy.

My name is Maddy Petunia Brown and I am two years old and they call me a Jack Rascal , whatever that means.

I would like to share my top five things to do.

1) Squeek my squeeky things especially when the tv monster is on.

2) Sleeping and getting enough rest for my evening of running around with my squeeky things.

3) Sitting beside mommy when she is doing that hOOking thing and then, quietly, grabbing one of the little wooly balls and making mommy run after me. Loads of fun!

4) Being very picky about foods and turning on my heel when any food is presented with my nose held high...this one drives them nuts! You expect me to eat that! Just like a cat!

5) Going in the big truck and sitting up high and watching the road for mooseys. I used to hate this but now, I love it and want to go everywhere.

Well, I better go have a nap to rest up for this evening's fun.

licks, snuffs and hugs

from

Maddy

Coming Along!

Well, I am coming along with the small table pads for Christmas gifts but I definitely overestimated my completion of 10 by Christmas. Anyway, I will have to improvise for sure!

Weather has been unusually warm but we went from 15 C to about 5 today and with some snow activity. I guess it won't be long now before IT comes to stay.

Answers to the NL Quiz

I am still laughing at some of yesterday's answers to the latest NL Quiz. Here is a picture from the Grumpy Goat with Mummers in the design. Here are the definitions.

1) Mummers: A person who dresses up like a fool and participates in Christmas activities. Although, this isn't done very often anymore, people used to disguise themselves and go from house to house during Christmas, putting on a little dance and expecting a drink of something, in return.

2)Ugly Stick: This is a homemade musical instrument usually topped with a mop head and has lots of bottle caps and bells to jingle. It is usually made out of a skinned tree branch and is 4-5 feet height. It is then tapped with a small baton and bounced up and down to the beat of a song.

3) Mamateek: A Beothuk winter wigwam. Beothuks have been extinct for many years in NL.

4) Sod: A cap or a flat hat.

5) Quat: Just like it sounds, to crouch or squat down.

More to come in the future as NLers have their own unique vocabulary, thats for sure, b'y

Newfoundland Quiz

Here is the next NL Quiz for all you Mainlanders. Let's see what interesting definitions we get this time.

1) Mummer
2) Ugly Stick
3) Mamateek
4) Sod
5) Quat


Stay tuned for the definitions later in the week.

Whirlwind Weekend!

Not the weather fortunately, just the business of the weekend. Cleaning, vaccuming, dusting, playing cards with friends, making sausage and blueberry jam and grinding up the last of the moose. Oh yes, and a little rug hooking for good measure.

Taking a rest this Monday on the day job!

Seed Catalogue Therapy

What should be in the mail box last night on the way home. The Stokes Seed Catalogue. The garden gods must have heard my whining and tears about the weather and the darkness.

So I had a good read and circled some potential choices for next year's garden. I will be making some changes as any good gardener does; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but at least, the gardener hopes for the best!

Garden Withdrawal!

I am having serious garden withdrawal. Last night, on the way home from the day job, it was almost dark by 4:45. Between the H1N1 pandemic, lack of sunlight and too busy a schedule, I think I am starting to look forward to seeing some seed catalogues in the post.

I still hook at least for a half hour or so everyday and almost finished the second Santa this morning. I saw this beautiful quilt on someone's blog, and thought it was a great idea for a rug. Interesting the way the four seasons are presented.

In the Distance

These are the Blow Me Down moutains which are in the distance. They are beginning to be covered in the horrible white stuff that falls this time of year.

It was a beautiful day yesterday and unlike my dear rug pal, Anne, only got my ten minutes in rug hooking or so. Still a few jobs to do outside and we weren't going to pass up a day with warm sunshine and calm winds.

By the way, anyone wonder why they call these mountains, Blow Me Down?