Tennessee ~

Our first stop on the Tennessee trip was at the Ellington Agricultural Center and Brentwood Hall.  This antebellum mansion is the home of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.  I was fortunate to know someone who works on the grounds and was able to give us a personal tour.  It pays to know someone :)

This "someone" is Carmen who I met a couple times in Ohio and just last week saw her at the Woolkeepers hook in.  I sort of invited us to her house and she was the hostess with the mostess, giving us a tour and feeding us a yummy dinner.  She is a cross stitcher extraordinaire, excellent hooker, quilts and who knows what else.  Oh, she also designs cross stitch patterns.  Carmen, Wink and I thank you and hubby for your hospitality!

I'm embarrassed to admit how little I know about the Civil War, but this trip has inspired me to learn more.  The Battle of Franklin was fought there on November 30, 1864.  In just five hours, there were nearly 10,000 casualties in its wake; 2,000 dead, 7,000 wounded, and 1,000 missing.  You can read more about it here. 

The Confederate Monument, also know as Ship, or our Confederate Soldiers, is located on the grounds of the Williamson County Courthouse in the County Seat - Franklin Tennessee.  Installed in 1899, it is an Italian marble statue portraying a single Confederate soldier atop a tall column and base, intended to commemorate contributions of the Confederate States Army.  

On August 17, 2017, a petition was circulated calling for its removal.  Another petition to keep the monument was also started.  Both petitions had thousands of signatures by late August.  Franklin's city administrator said the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act prevented the city from removing the monument without the consent of the Tennessee Historical Commission.  As of December 2018, the issue was in litigation.  I personally am against removing the statue.  History should not be erased.

Carnton, seen below, was used as a Civil War Field Hospital.  You can read  more here.

On the grounds, the family cemetery houses two distinct sections.  In one are the graves of McGavock family members and friends.

The other portion has many crudely marked graves.  It is believed this is the burial place for some of the McGavock slaves and later laborers.

Throughout the cemetery stone columns marked how many from each Confederate state were killed.  

The Rest Haven Cemetery is located in Franklin.

Also at Rest Haven Cemetery.

Thanks for coming along on the first days of our trip.  More to follow.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

One Down, Three to Go ~

Woolkeepers Hook In, held annually in Danville, IN, is so much fun.  About 30 vendors selling a variety of items.  Mostly hooking related items, but also baskets, soaps, altered art, punch needle, applique patterns and more.  My sales were so-so, but I did too good a job supporting the other vendors :)

Melissa's and my booth.

I even remembered to take a few pictures of other booths.

I will be vending three more times this fall.  Almost too busy, but I must support my hooking/antiquing habits :)  I have three hooking classes at the beginning of October (OMG ~ 3 new rugs) and had chosen 2 of the three that I will be hooking.  I saw this one in the booth of Heavens to Betsy and fell in love, so this is what I will be hooking in Caroline Twigg's class.

This evening, I will be heading to southern Ohio to meet up with college friend Wink and tomorrow morning we will be heading for Franklin, TN, to spend a few days.  I hear it is a wonderful, historic town.  Kris Miller is having a rug camp there in October (that I am not attending ~ boo hoo ~ maybe next year).  Hopefully I will have lots to share upon my return.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Discombobulated ~

Tomorrow before the crack of dawn Melissa and I are heading to Danville, IN, to vend at the Woolkeepers hook in.  I thought I had my act together until last week when I realized that the hook in was this Friday eve and Saturday.  I knew the dates, but somehow it just did not register.  Today I am a crazy lady trying to get a few last minute things finished, organizing, packing and all the other good stuff that goes with vending.  

I have a hooked finish :)  Finally finished Diamonds in the Rough, a pattern by Woolen Memories.  The finished size is about 23 1/2" x 29".  I may coffee stain a few of the diamonds that look bright to me. 

I probably won't get to start binding for a couple weeks.  My trip to Franklin, TN, with college friend Wink, has been rescheduled for next week.  My head still feels about the same, but I know a concussion (though mild) can take time to heal.

My brother took this great pic of my frog the other day, but sadly I haven't seen him recently.  I was hoping he'd stick around. A little washed out, but you can really see the green on his face.

I had another visitor in my yard the other day.  I think he's trying to mimic the colors of the sedum.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

September 1 ~

I, for one, am not happy for it to be September :(  I do enjoy fall . . . it's what comes after that I really hate don't like.  Since life goes on whether I like it or not, Happy Labor Day.

I finally have a finish to share.  Actually the stitching was done a couple weeks ago, but never got around to posting.  It's a pattern by Lori Rippey, 1776 Patriotic Eagle.  You can find the pattern here.  When I cross stitch, I prefer stitching samplers, but knew this would be a perfect Christmas gift.  I don't think I have ever done so much frogging.  (I had to ask why it's called frogging.  It's because you rip it, rip it, rip it.)  I was often one thread or one X off.  Thankfully I would check often so didn't have to frog large areas, but had to do it often.  The design being so symmetrical did not allow for error. 

Speaking of frogs, this little guy has been hanging out in my little pond for a few days.  A first for me.  I hope he sticks around.  Hard to see, but he has a green smile.

I've been so busy getting consignment orders of my jewelry completed, that until a few days ago did not realize that the Woolkeepers' hook in was this next weekend.  I knew the dates, but it just didn't quite register.  Now I'm frantically trying to get things made/finished up.  September and October are crazy busy months.  

I am close to finishing the rug I started at my Millersburg retreat early in August.  I've used 99% worms and small bits of wool (just cut wool for the basket) and I have not made a dent in the worm farm.  I do believe they multiply while we sleep.  Ignore the extra line.  I was going to reduce the size of the top to match the size of the bottom, but then the diamonds would have been too wonky.

I'll leave you with this gorgeous sunset.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren