Happy Birthday, Barbara!

My rug hooking guild, the Peconic Ruggers, had their monthly meeting last night.  Each month we have a raffle.  For fifty cents, you can buy a chance for a basket of goodies provided by the person who won the month before.  Because she won last month, Barbara the basket maker turned rug hooker brought the goodies -- a very clever birthday cake make of wool -- complete with candles-- and a pattern of a cupcake. And what was this clever girl's inspiration?  It was her birthday!  And she turned down dinner out with her husband to come to our meeting!  Can you tell she's hooked on hooking?

Happy Birthday, Barbara!  You are one in a million and a great asset to our guild.

I'm All Tweeted Out

I received two emails this week notifying me that someone had hacked into my twitter account and was sending sex spam to all my followers.  I was not alone.  I did everything they told me to do -- changed my password, disconnected my connections -- but it happened a second time.  So . . .  I deleted my account.  I wasn't a very good bird anyway and I doubt anyone will miss me.  If you received sex spam from my account, I am sorry.  Now you'll get it from someone else!

What I Loved About the Olympics

Those green bouquets given to all the winning athletes
                                          (you can read about them here)

The fabulous nubby hand-knit Aritzia sweaters worn by the flower bearers

The Moscow State Chamber Choir singing the Russian national anthem at the closing ceremony

 Canada . . . such an amazing country . . .

However, I'm not so sure about those dancing maple leaves in the red plaid kilts . . .

Tax Time

I am getting all my income tax stuff together today.  Not my favorite thing to do -- especially when I've had a sleepless night.  My Million Dollar Mutt is sick again.  Poor Cairo not only has to deal with allergies, but he also is sick to his stomach, has a fever of 104, and may have fluid in his left lung.  He is at the doggy hospital having an x-ray and getting intravenous fluids.  I have to call to check on him late this afternoon, but he will probably spend the night there.  He was so miserable on the examining table he didn't even growl at the vet when he took his temperature. 

I am lost without him.  He always barks at the postman so I know when the mail has arrived and our morning walk is my primary exercise for the day.  Not to mention he keeps my feet warm at night. . .  I miss the little guy.

My Winter Treat

I love Grenfell rugs.  I love the clean, modern look of them and the immaculate, evenly hooked rows of old stockings.  They are my all-time favorites.  I am lucky enough to own two of these prized specimens of Canadian handwork.  One, a map of Newfoundland,  I won on eBay nearly a decade ago.  The other, two sailors in a boat, is a new auction prize.  I wasn't in the market for another old mat, but when I saw it I couldn't control my bidding finger.

 For more information of the mats of the Grenfell Missions, read Paula Laverty's wonderful book, Silk Stocking Mats: Hooked Mats of the Grenfell Mission.  You can visit her website here: Grenfell Hooked Mats

President's Day

This rug is just amazing -- and just perfect for President's Day!

Elizabeth LeFort's United States Presidential History

The Blizzard

The blizzard was actually a bit of a bust for us.  Only about 9 inches of snow fell and the winds weren't too bad.  I'm marveling over the amount of snow the mid-Atlantic states received.