Hooking Along!

As you may recall, I have started a hooking group at the Day Job. We are quite small, only four, myself included but we are having a great time.

Here are two of the rugs in progress. I am absolutely impressed with the original designs and the imagination of these two projects. The lighthouse is done all in yarns and the fishing rooms, in mixed media.



I am currently back working on the Hearts and Flowers that I started last spring. It is in the rec room on my Cheticamp frame and now, with the cool, rainy weather, I am back in the house with the woodstove to keep out the chill!

Raclette Weekend

This was another wet and windy weekend which was perfect for raclette grilling. I used our new raclette grill for the first time on the weekend and had a fun time. It is the "new" fondue technique of the 70s and 80s and if you haven't tried it, here is what it is.

Raclette is a Swiss Cheese dish that has been popular for centuries. There are different opinions about who started it. Some say shepherds in the mountains, other say it was the grape harvesters in the vineyards of the Valais region of Switzerland. No matter who, fact is that after a hard days work, they gathered around a campfire and held the cut surface of their local cheese against the glowing coals. As the cheese melted, they scraped (french: raclet) it off onto potatoes and pickles, thus coming to bear the name "raclette". Everybody agrees, that it took place in the Valais region of Switzerland and that the original cheese was made there.

Today there are countless varieties of healthy meals each person can prepare while sitting together at the dining table around an indoor grill. Sharing stories over drinks while creating personalized dishes on a racette grill or with a raclette melter is an activity everyone will love. And you’ll be cooking with your friends, not for them.

I didn't have a theme raclette but had a selection of cold cuts, cheeses, pickles, potatoes, and eggs. It was great fun!

You've Got Mail!

One of the disadvantages of living on the edge of North America, is slower mail services. And to add on top of that, we have had ferry problems, so snail mail over the past two weeks, became even slower snail mail.

But today, I got mail from my dear friend Cathy G of Orange Sink(the reason for the name was revealed today). Her lovely pattern arrived with a special handmade card and a picture of the completed Autumn Trio.

Thank you so much Cathy! It will be a privilege to complete your pattern.

Answers to Friday's Quiz

I had a great laugh as usual with the answers from Kim. But here are the real definitions to Friday's Quiz.

1) Tallywack: A rascal or a scallywag

2) Garnipper: An extremely large biting mosquitoe.

3) Whinker: A wicker or neigh from a horse.

4) Shuck: A cloth covering on a mitt or a boot.

5) Rightify: To correct, recitify or make right.

The weekend went back in a flash as usual and weather has not been good with lots of rain and very few days of sunshine. Busy getting ready for the snow to come; garden has mostly been put to bed and still a few things to do.

Time for Another NL Quiz!

One thing about living in Newfoundland is certainly getting used to not only the accent but words that I have never heard before.

Many people always comment about my "Ontario" accent which comes as a surprise as I don't think I have an accent, let alone an Ontario accent.

But here we go;

1) Tallywack

2) Garinipper

3) Whinker

4) Shuck

5) Rightify

Put on your thinking caps and by the way, have a great weekend.

Courage!

Did I hear the supper bell?



Back off, Buddy!



I just had to post these two pictures. They made me laugh outloud today in the office. With so much saddness in the world, it is sometimes hard to find something heartwarming or just plain funny.

When humans put their minds to it, we can be so inventive and courageous; like watching the Chilean miners being lifted one by one after 69 days of imprisonment in the copper mine.

Or just having fun like these little dogs, and living in the moment.

Where Have You Been?

GRRRRRRR! I changed internet providers and even gave myself a couple of days extra, just in case. So when I tried to set up the new account on Friday, I was told that my hook up to the internet would require a service call which was going to be five days away. Oh no, no internet for FIVE WHOLE DAYS!

That would mean a long weekend with no blog pals, no email to my mother, no listening to internet radio and my favourite radio program, Coast to Coast, no new recipes, no encyclopedia, no Facebook, no online banking, no online shopping,no netflix... How could I survive it?

I did survive but how dependent my life has become on something I didn't even use much a few years ago. Pretty scary!

Captain Cook's Lookout

On my journey around town this weekend, I went to the Captain Cook lookout which has an amazing view of the Bay of Islands. Captain Cook was the first to map the island of Newfoundland prior to making three voyages to the Pacific. It was on his third voyage that he died in the Hawaiian Islands in a fight.

Enough of the history lesson, the view is spectacular!

Marbleous Mat Makers!

What a busy weekend! I know that there is a rug hooking group in Corner Brook but because of the conflict between the Day Job and the time the group meets, I have never been able to join.

This weekend, the Marbleous Mat Makers, which must be a play on words between our gorgeous Marble Mountain and the group, had a demonstration of their mats. I was extremely impressed with the quality and artistic ability of these rug hookers.

With permission, I took some pictures of the display rugs, but these pictures pale in comparison to the actual mats.




And to top it all off, I won one of Cathy of Orange Sink's blog prizes!

The Winner of the Icons of Newfoundland!

My donation to the Bay of Islands SPCA raised over $1700.00 which will go directly to the new building fund. Pictured here are Isabel Power (shelter volunteer) with Kim Taylor of Pasadena (Rug Winner).

This rug was designed by Anne Kirby of Lord's Cove.

A Bundle of Sky

I had to order some wool so I can complete the Three Little Houses. I received my bundle of sky from Deanne and it is so cute, I don't even want to unwrap it. Deanne always adds abit of artistry to everything she does.

The Three Little Houses is my wool strip project, having only used wool strips and maybe, a bit of fleece for texture.

My Little Town!

This is an aerial view of my little Newfoundland town, Meadows. This view is approximately in the middle of Meadows and my house is at the beginning of the town and not in the picture.

Meadows is one of six communities on the North Shore of the Bay of Islands, approximately 15 kilometers from Corner Brook and has a population of 600 homes.

I thought you would like to see this picture which I borrowed from our town clerk!

OMG!

I returned to the Day Job this week on an easeback schedule. OMG! (Oh, my God), I am so busy catching up with the changes, I had to have a nap this afternoon. But, all in all, it is good to be back.

I had started a small rug hooking group before my leave of absence and if I find time, I will be restarting the group in the next few weeks at lunch hour. I hope to have some pictures to post on the hooking projects.

Sheltered from the Storm

I took this picture while in Long Point which is near Twillingate. This tiny little fir tree clenched against the cold North Atlantic winds and sheltered by five million year old rock. What an example of silent strength and the survival.

It was my first day on the Day Job after being off for six months and by the state of my office, I think I was missed.

Blue Nose Mat

I am trying to complete a number of sample hooked mats using a variety of background fabrics and wool. This simple mat of the Blue Nose is done on linen with 100% wool yarn and ribbon for the flag.

My next small sample mat is going to be on primitive burlap and using only t-shirt material. Should be interesting as I have never used this type of material.

I am in the process of obtaining some wool from Deanne for the sky on the Three Little Houses, so I will be finishing off that one, hopefully, soon.

Restful Time in Twillingate

In preparation for the impending return to the Day Job, I took several days rest in a small coastal community of Twillingate. A lovely cottage by the sea and several days of quiet and peace helped me get myself in perspective.

I didn't even work on any hooking projects but certainly saw lots of inspiration in the sea, the fishing sheds, the smells and the friendliness of the people.

People all over the world pay millions of dollars to have vistas like these which we see everyday doing our everyday things.

Deanne is right; happiness is wanting what you have!

Where did the Summer Go??

I have been away from my blog for so long, I almost forgot how to post etc. Since the last post, almost a full month has passed me by.

Due to medical problems, I had to make a trip to Toronto to get it sorted and happily, I am feeling a bit better and will be going back to the Day Job soon. Oh yes, I didn't tell you that I haven't been well enough to work since the end of March.

Thanks for the concern from my dear blogging friends! As John Lennon once said, Life happens, when you are busy doing other things.

Progress on Mat

The weather in NL has been cool and unsettled with lots of rain. This has allowed me to work on my rugs. Here is the progress on Three Little Places. I am still getting used to pulling wool strips but it is coming along.

Garden Pictures!

Sadly, the garden is starting to peak in its blooms and colours. I took these pictures this morning while everything was still damp from yesterday's rain.

I can feel the changes even though they are subtle; more dew in the mornings and cooler nights. Blue jays have returned from the back country and the robins have stopped their egg laying.

Three Little Houses!

You may recognize this style as a Deanne Fitzpatrick pattern and you would be correct!

When I first took up rug hooking, I had purchased some #8 wool strips on eBay but never used them. So when I got one of Deanne's patterns, I wanted to use only wool strips on this project.

I started out using wool yarns, so I was quite used to yarn as opposed to wool strips. I must say the change to wool strips is taking some getting used to. I have watched Deanne's new video several times for some tips and hints and this has certainly helped.

I have had to make a few changes in my hooking technique but I am enjoying the different look of the wool strips.