Back Home . . . Once Again

On the way to the Fall Fling, we stopped at one of my favorite antique malls.  Still a high quality shop, but not as good as in the past.  There were a couple items that tempted me, but I left empty handed 😞

The Fall Fling in Troy, Ohio was great fun as always!

Vendor booths with so many wonderful items for sale!

We stayed at a BnB.  Check out this cathedral door in one of the bedrooms.  (Oops.  Didn't realize that my reflection was in the door.)  Each of the doors upstairs had that additional molding on the top third of the door.  I started to ask the proprietress about it, but we got sidetracked and I never did get an answer.

Check out this amazing sunset.  Gotta love mother nature.

Next post I will share some of the projects being worked on.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Adios Once Again ~

I feel like I just got home . . . oh wait I did . . . and I am taking off again.  I wish the get aways were not so close together, but I must take advantage of fun when I can.  Tomorrow I am off to the Fall Fling, about three hours south.  It is a two day hooking event put on by the Wooly Horse, Rustic Eweniques, Jo's Folk Art Fibers and Ali Strebel Designs.  Three of us are driving down together and will meet up with several others.  Our first stop will be to one of my favorite antique shops ~ where I hope I don't find anything I can't live without 😁.

I'm sure many of you have read about Saundra's hook along.  She has posted a few pictures on her blog.  It's hard to believe that Nancy has already finished hers and it is wonderful!  She gets the overachiever award for sure.  

I did get mine started but not a whole lot hooked so far 😞.  But hey, it's a start and hope to accomplish lots more at the hook in (though I usually don't!).

Last night I pulled a few more loops.  Normally my go-to favorite size of worms is an 8.5 (8.5/32"), but after hooking most of the dark outlines in a 10 (10/32"), the 8.5 felt miniscule!  And to think many hookers use a 3 cut (3/32") and some even a 2 cut (2/32" ~ dental floss to me) . . . oh, my.  But they can get detail and shading that I cannot.

Our weather here in northern Ohio has been beyond beautiful (though sadly no rain).  I have worked a bit cleaning up the gardens but have so much more to do.  It's a never ending task.

The other Nancy ~ whoever you are ~ can you please send me your email address?  I would love to be able to respond to your comments.  They are much appreciated.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Woolen Memories ~

Sometimes the stars align just perfectly.  When we decided on the get away to western Massachusetts, I wondered how far Nancy lived from where we would be staying.  HOLY MOLY!!!  I discovered she was less than an hour away and I knew she wasn't that far from Woolen Memories wool shop.  I have hooked a few of WM patterns and have admired many more.  Nancy had mentioned what a cute shop it is.  Thankfully DSO didn't have a problem with me abandoning him for part of a day.  So . . . Nancy and I met up in the Big Y grocery store parking lot and headed to Woolen Memories.  

Sandy was just a delight to meet.  I was in absolute wool heaven.  She has some of the most primitively dyed wool I have ever seen.  And patterns.  The shop is small but packed full of wooly goodness 💞

That table in the back was loaded with bargain patterns that may have had a slight boo boo in transferring to the linen.  

I couldn't resist this Santa from that pile . . . and I see absolutely nothing wrong with him.  Will I hook him before Christmas?  Of course not, but there is always next year 😁

A few more pictures around the shop.

The picture does not do the wools justice.

Nancy on the left and Sandy on the right.

I also purchased the pattern hanging on the wall.  What a fun pattern to use up a few worms!

This was a smallish pattern that I absolutely loved.  Sandy hooked it so old looking.  I am considering asking her if she will enlarge it for a camp I am attending in January.  Just a thought.

A big thank you to Sandy for opening the shop and to Nancy for taking me there.  I resisted purchasing any wool because I was afraid if I started, I would not stop!  You can find Woolen Memories on Facebook or etsy.

Yesterday I decided to dye some wool to perhaps use in Saundra's hook along.  I used her old patina recipe to dull down some wool.  I used the two tablespoons of dye mix like Saundra said she did, but it didn't seem like the color was changing, so I added two more tablespoons.

Wool before ~

And after ~ (not in the same order)

Great recipe, Saundra!  Thank you.  All the wools will work well together except for the piece that started out gold is still too gold.

I decided to dye another pot using just the two tablespoons of dye mix.  I didn't take a before pic, but used many of the same wools.  I just can't get an accurate picture of the results, but just believe me when I say there is a difference!

Now I better get busy on that hook along pattern that Saundra so graciously provided.  An update is due tomorrow.  You can read about the hook along here.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren 

Hey, it's good to be back home again ~

Remind anyone of a song, or am I showing my age 😁 ?.  Our trip east was a good one, though we should have taken an extra day or two.  We packed a lot of fun in just three days.  Over the five day period, DSO said we traveled 1,600 miles.

I will give you the Reader's Digest condensed version of the trip

Norman Rockwell Museum . . . 

Not your typical Rockwell painting.  He painted for the Edison Mazda lighting division of General Electric.

Sculptures by Rockwell's son Peter.

On his tongue, it says "Peter made me".

The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge . . .

An iconic New England church . . .

Hancock Shaker Village . . . 

Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts . . . 

Monument stairway.

Can I now say I was on the Appalachian Trail?

Gorgeous views from the base of the monument.  Yes, we stayed at a pet friendly resort 😄.  Ernestine is a great traveler.

Sturbridge Village . . . 

I'm not sure why, but I only took a couple pictures.

Carriage ride . . .

We also took a drive to Wareham where DSO bought his hotrod kit almost six years ago, and a trip to Woolen Memories which I will share in my next post.  You can see/read some about my visit there on Nancy's post.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Miscellaneous Stuff ~

I am still meeting myself coming and going, but by 8AM tomorrow I better be ready to go!

Yesterday was the Ft. Laurens Rug Hookers annual hook in.  What a class act they are!  I continued my many year losing streak by not winning a door prize nor a raffle basket.  Maybe next year 😆

The only pictures I took was of this rug but did not get the name of the hooker.  It is HUGE and she is changing it somewhat.  The pattern designer is Lois Roy and I know in the past she could be found on Facebook.  The background around the motifs is absolutely wonderful.  I do wish I could hook a background like that.

I had planned to be good and not buy any wool . . . and I succeeded, though I was gifted a 1/4 yard of gorgeous hand dyed wool.  I was bad, though because I bought this fun box from Chrisi Koehl of Rustic Eweniques.  I have a couple of her other boxes but just couldn't resist this one.

I was NOT a happy camper when I went out and watered this morning.  The da** deer finally ate my begonias . . .

 

. . . and my New Guinea impatiens.

Or should I just be happy they waited until October?

Do you think Harper has settled in with her new mom?  This looks like one contented puppy!  My heart is happy for her.

So what's going on with blogger?  Views seem to be returning to normal.  I went from over 6k views to "only" 4196 on my September 27 post.  My October post was down to 158.  Algorithms changed once again?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Will be back upon my little get away return.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Meeting Myself Coming and Going ~

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think retirement could be this busy!!!  I wish I didn't need to sleep but I am one of those persons who needs at least 7-8 hours a night.  Preferably more, though I rarely get it.

First off I want to let everyone know Harper is doing great and bonding with new mom.  Harper has already learned to use the doggie door and made a brief attempt to play with her bulldog sister Ethel.  Oh, that does my heart good.  The house is so quiet, but just not a good time to get another foster.

Monday I went and visited friends Sue and Sheila.  We did hook-y stuff and drooled over Sheila's rugs!  It may be a good thing they don't live closer because we could probably get in lots of trouble together.

Both Sue and Sheila are participating in Saundra's hook along.  They got their pattern on linen.  Mine is already done, but I may change the center hearts.  I have not yet pulled any wools 😖  Sadly no time for hooking.  I believe my pattern is about 33" x 22".

I am crazy busy trying to make "things" for a consignment order that will be taken to a rug camp in a few weeks for the camp store.  Kris graciously takes my items each year.  Every bit helps supports my hooking and antiquing habits.

Monday DSO and I are heading to western Massachusetts for a few day get away.  I am hoping we will see some fall color!  I am also getting together with Nancy for lunch and a trip to Woolen Memories.  Nancy and I have been blog friends for many years . . . and I have hooked 2-3 of Woolen Memories patterns.  You can find Woolen Memories on Etsy here.

The following week I will be heading to southern Ohio for a few days of hooking fun.  Perhaps then I can start on my hook along rug!

This morning's walk was a bit chilly, but the day will warm up nicely.  I would love fall if winter did not follow.  This guy was hopping from stone to stone not far from the shore.

Isn't this a hoot?  I had pulled the hose to the opposite side of the sidewalk and this is what I ended up with.  Honest Abe?

Better get started on my day!  In addition to making a few things, I really want to attack the dust bunnies so I can come home to a half way clean house.  I know that darn cleaning lady won't show up while I am gone 😡

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren