Sally's Rugs ~

Here are some of Sally's rugs she had on display.  They are so much better in person 😉

The first three pictures are of a technique called fragments which is a way of hooking that makes the rugs look a hundred years old.  Sally teaches this . . . she purchased the rights from Carole Weatherman who developed the style.  You can only buy a kit if you have taken the class.  **It is top secret** and the technique is not to be shared.  One day I hope to take a class.

This is Lulu Reindeer.  Every loop has been clipped.  If Sally told us why it is called that, I sadly don't remember.

I am working on Love Birds, but mine is the smaller version.  I hope to have a picture to share soon.

Sorry the pictures are so washed out.  The colors are wonderful in person.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

For Saundra ~

I don't want Saundra to have a meltdown while waiting for a post about my Sally Kalin class, so here you go, girlfriend 😁

Sally was a great teacher and the three days flew by.  She is giving us a lesson on different finishing techniques.

Here are projects that were being worked on in class.

I bought this pattern at Cedar lakes rug camp.  This makes me want to hook it!

Two people were hooking the sheep rug . . . one with dark sheep and one with light.

These were the widest hand torn strips I had ever seen.  She said it did not bother her to pull them.  It would have just about killed me!  A proddy border was added.

Saundra . . . this is the Kris star technique you shared on your blog.  It worked out well on the rug.

If my memory serves me correctly, this was being hooked in a 6 cut.  She is a fast hooker!

Two others had to leave early so I did not get pictures of their projects . . . and they were hooking the same pattern.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Summer Solstice ~

Summer solstice is not one of my favorite days.  It means the hours of daylight will begin to get shorter 😢  How can we already be approaching the end of June?  I know, I know.  I often lament how quickly time is passing, but not a darn thing I can do about it except to enjoy and treasure each and every day.

My bags aren't packed, I'm not ready to go.  (Remind you of a song from the 70's 😁 ?)  Oh, except for the wool . . . the important things, right?  Somehow I will get my act together and be ready to head out bright and early tomorrow morning for my Sally Kalin class.  It has been weeks since I have pulled any loops so it will feel good to have hook in hand.

Isn't this just too cool?  What a labor of love!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

A Different Kind of Plant ~

A face plant, that is.  What a klutz.  I tripped over Molly's leash at DSO's last evening and landed face first on the hardwood floor.  Thankfully we made it to the urgent care ten minutes before closing, hoping that I would not need stitches.  The PA determined that glue would do the trick.  She chose a glue she had not used before and was happy that she could see where she was applying it.  She wrongly made the assumption that it would change to clear.  HA!  That did not happen.  It is still purple 😝

Food for thought . . . 

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Stuff ~

When Saundra has no hooking progress to show, she has a rug show.  In the summer when I have no hooking progress to show, I post pictures from my yard.  It has been weeks since I have pulled a loop on my camp rug, and next week I will be starting a new rug in my class with Sally Kalin of Pine Island Primitives.  I chose the small version of Love Birds.

The class is being held in Millersburg, OH, and at the beginning of the week they had hellacious storms go through.  The hotel just had power restored today.  One of the hookers who lives in Millersburg said it looks like a war zone.  Power lines and thousands of trees downed.  Many roads are still closed.  I am very thankful the storms veered south and missed me.  The good news is there was no loss of life.

Around the yard ~

The south side of my house.  Every year the flowering crab (which I planted 15+ years ago) begins to lose leaves in June.  A landscaper was supposed to look at it two months ago and finally got around to it last week.  He gave me a tree service to call.  Well . . . too late to do anything this year.  It has apple scab and needs to be treated twice a year to the tune of $145 for each treatment . . . every year.  Sad to say I will be cutting it down and replacing with a more healthy tree.

My gorgeous clematis I show every year.  Dug from my parents farm.  Too bad the color is so washed out 😞

I am trying to take better care of my roses this year.  I can grow most anything, but roses and I aren't friends.

My neighbor sent me this picture the other night.  Thankfully they were not in the neighborhood to eat my hostas . . .  yet.

And finally.  Molly is having more anxiety issues and does not want me out of her sight.  More on that in another post.  She will "nest" in the plants to try to stay cool.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Flag Day ~

Why is Flag Day on June 14th?  Flag Day, observed annually on June 14, celebrates the day in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first flag.  While its look has changed more than a few times over the years, the American flag has remained a symbol of freedom and justice.

Please pray for this great Land of ours 💔

Poison Hemlock ~

A plant was quickly growing in one of my flower beds.  I didn't think I planted it, but let it grow.  I had taken a few pictures to ask when I went to the garden center, but of course forgot.  I sent the pictures to a couple friends.  One replied it was definitely a weed, the other responded that it was poison hemlock.  Holy hell!!!  I had read an article a few months ago about a gentleman in southern Ohio who was clearing brush.  He quickly became ill and fell into a coma and nearly died.  Long story short, he had been clearing poison hemlock.  After emerging from the coma, he spent months recuperating.  I had completely forgotten the description they gave of the plant.

It's hard to see in this picture, but the hemlock quickly grew to 7'-8' tall.

The flower resembles Queen Anne's lace, though Queen Anne's lace blooms much later in the summer . . . and does not grow this tall.

From the Columbus Dispatch: "One of the most poisonous plants known to man has quietly spread throughout the Buckeye State.

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) has been on the rise for several years after first spreading throughout southern Ohio. The plant was imported to the United States as an ornamental in the late 1800s from Europe, West Asia and North Africa. Wild plants were relatively uncommon until about 30 years ago. Since that time, poison hemlock has elevated its profile from an uncommon oddity to a common threat throughout Ohio.

This non-native plant is among the most deadly plants on the planet, containing highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds that cause respiratory failure and death in all mammals when ingested. It is the plant that was used to kill Socrates as well as the Greek statesmen Theramenes and Phocion."

DSO came to my rescue and carefully cut it down for me, wearing protective gear.  How very scary that it ended up in my garden, most likely the "gift" of some bird.  I am so thankful my friend recognized what it was.  As stated above, it is now quite common on Ohio roadsides.

Colleen, you are a no reply blogger so I cannot respond to you.  Please send me an email so I can reply.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

June 6, 1944

 

~ GOD BLESS AMERICA ~

Around the Yard ~

This is my favorite time of year in the flower gardens.  The spring bulbs are long faded, but so much else is in bloom.  

I was given this old funnel and DSO pounded out most of the dings and found some chain to hang it.  Hopefully the mini petunias (million bells?) will bloom again soon.

Nary a loop has been pulled on my camp rug in many days.  I did get these sunflowers finished and taken to the antique shop.  The $$ will come in most handy for my upcoming 3 day class with Sally Kalin.

I finished one more sunflower today (I am plenty tired of them!!!) to give to a fellow hooker who gave me MANY bedsprings.  I will see her tomorrow at the hook in where I am vending.  It is very small but such a delightful day.  Simply top notch.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren