Enough Already!

 Brussels sprouts in the snow

Another ten inches of snow last night!  We went to bed listening to the sleet pinging off the bedroom windows like bbs.  The phone woke us at 5:15 -- the local school has an automated phone system for school closings and they keep calling us -- even though our daughter hasn't been a student there for ten years!  They called again at 6:00 and at 6:30 . . .   Needless to say, the school is getting a call from me tomorrow when they reopen.

Hallock's Bay, Narrow River Road in Orient

The sun broke through this morning, but only for a little while.  Pete shoveled -- my back is funny today (how convenient, huh?) -- so Cairo could go out and play.  Not.  He hightailed it right back in the house, the little ninny.

Picnic, anyone?

The one good thing happening right now -- my jasmine is flowering.  It fills the whole house with its scent.  Just lovely.  If I close my eyes, I feel like I'm someplace exotic.  Yeah, right.  I can't wait for spring.

Tulip Time Again

 I can never resist the colorful bunches of tulips at the grocery store this time of year.  I need to see a splash of color against the snow outside the window.  Yesterday was bitter -- only 5 degrees for most of the day -- but the sun was brilliant and I could feel its warmth on my face when Cairo and I took our morning walk.  Today is dull, and it is snowing again, and Cairo wanted to hurry home as much as I did.

Cathy of Orange Sink wanted to know if that was my snowman rug pictured in yesterday's post.  Her question made me realize I should be more vigilant about giving credit where it is due.  The snowman rug, seen again below, was hooked by my friend Barbara, the basket maker.  It was designed by Kelly of Kankerdoodle, whose whimsical designs often feature an elongated kitty.

The other rug in yesterday's photos is a Searsport pattern and is, I think, being hooked by June.  The table of wool belongs to Louise, who is a certified McGown teacher.  Even I, with more wool than a sheep farm, couldn't resist buying a few pieces from her on Saturday. 

I am off to get some work done . . . 

Another Successful Hook In

Despite the frigid temperature and the snow that just won't melt, we had a great hook in on Saturday.  I thought I took a lot of pictures, but they were mostly in my head.  I guess I was too busy eating to take pictures, or to hook.  I started yawning after lunch and didn't get anything much accomplished.  I discovered I can't talk and hook at the same time.    Every time I opened my mouth to talk, I put my hook down.  Barbara kept telling me to keep hooking, but it didn't help.

We had quite a comfort food smorgasbord.  I brought shells stuffed with butternut squash and spinach.  Jen brought kielbasa and sauerkraut in the crock pot.  Loretta brought the best mac and cheese I have had in ages.  I had a ten minute debate with myself about what I wanted more -- another helping of mac and cheese or a piece of June's chocolate cake, made from a 1953 McCall's magazine recipe.  (The cake won out -- chocolate always wins with me.)  Lucille brought a chicken and red cabbage dish, Barbara some guacamole and chips.  Susan made vegetarian chili.  There were marinated mushrooms and little balls of mozzarella with tomatoes and black olives.  New hooker Bea brought shrimp salad.  Eleanor made cheesecake.  Sally made a cranberry loaf.  OMG.  We all ate too much.  I was glad Pete was away skiing -- I didn't have to make dinner Saturday night.

We're lucky enough to be able to meet in the basement of the Presbyterian Church in Cutchogue  during the winter.  It is sunny and bright with lots of tables and chairs.  Too bad there aren't any hammocks -- I really wanted to take a snooze after lunch.

We're having another hook in on February 19, so if you want to partake of good food and conversation, gain a little weight and not get any hooking done, join us!

Peconic Ruggers Winter Hook In

More snow this morning . . . .  The phone rang at 5:15 -- an automated call from the school district.  I no longer have a child in school, but that didn't seem to matter . . .  Cairo burrowed under the blankets and refused to budge.  I'm hoping the snow doesn't affect attendance at the hook in tomorrow.  I haven't been hooking at all.  I've been thinking about hooking, and dyeing some wool, but I'm not hooking.  So I'm hoping I'll hook tomorrow.

Here are the details if you can join us:

Peconic Ruggers Hook In

Saturday, January 22, 2011

10 am to 3 pm

Cutchogue Presbyterian Church

Main Road

Cutchogue, New York

Bring a finished piece to display and a pot luck dish.  The guild will supply beverages.

We'll also have door prizes and vendors!

Any questions?  Call Jen: 631-793-3511

Box of Wool From Barb

I received a package of wool from my sister Barb, aka thimblefolk, on Saturday.  What a pleasure to fondle these cheery colors on such a dreary winter day.  These are the colors in my Mosaic Mat, which I now sell in a kit, with a pattern, cut wool, and a photograph.  I guess I'd better get busy drawing off the patterns and cutting the wool . . . . 

Barb has been a busy beaver lately, diving into the dye pots almost daily.  Her wool is selling like hotcakes in our ebay store: thepaisleystudio.  I think the rest of the rug hooking world is as tired of winter as I am so they are buying up her distinctive colors to cheer themselves up.  Stop by to see what she has listed.  If I get motivated (ha!), I'll list some patterns as well.

You can also click on over to Barb's page on The Primitive Gathering if you are so inclined.   She's some sweet Valentines for sale.

Tune In To Tina!

I woke up not only to a winter wonderland, but also to a message from my friend Tina of g.woolikers!  She actually took responsibility for the snow storm which is still swirling outside my window.   She lives in warm and sunny Georgia, which is not so warm and sunny this week.  Anyway -- Tina has started a blog, which you can read and follow by clicking here: g.woolikers blog.  You can also visit her website and buy one of her fabulous patterns by clicking here: g.woolikers online store.

One of my favorite patterns is Winter is a Blast.  Tina hooked the background in a wonderful gold-y mustard-y wool and used that same wool to border the hooked part of the mat and then needle felted swirly snow on to the wool.  She's so clever!  This picture, taken at the Peconic Ruggers show back in October, really doesn't do the rug justice.  The background is actually rich and delicious.

 So: Go visit Tina and welcome her to the world of blogging!  I know she'll have lots of interesting things to say -- about life as well as rug hooking.  And I can tell you from personal experience that she has a marvelous sense of humor and adventure.  When you stop by, tell her Sarah sent you and tell her to give my best to Betty Ann.



And here are some more photos of the snowstorm:

Cairo refused to do his business until I shoveled.

My Umbrella Pine is not happy.

Anyone for a picnic?  This was shot out the back door at 6 am.  It's almost 1 pm here and it is still snowing!

Stay warm and safe everyone.

Blizzard Watch

It's snowing again . . . The weather guys are predicting up to 15 inches out here . . . Will we wake to a winter wonderland tomorrow?

I Made It To The Centerfold!

What with all the hectic holiday hubbub, I forgot to post bout the latest issue of the Wool Street Journal.  It is chock full of fun stuff, as always, but I am extra-pleased with the addition of three pages about the Peconic Ruggers Rug Show held back in October.  I'm happy not only because my guild's hard work is there for all the world to see, but because Clara and I had our very first mother-daughter article published -- my words and Clara's photographs.  

I don't know how Bonnie managed to get these three pages to the printer in time, but she did it -- and I am grateful to her for her hard work.  I'm hoping this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful friendship.  Thanks, Bonnie!

Visit The Wool Street Journal on line to subscribe. Click here: WSJ

New Year, New Work

I'm here!  I was sick for Christmas -- a nasty head cold -- and we were away for New Year's weekend, so I don't have a lot to show for myself.  It's time to put the iPhone down (my husband gave me one for Christmas and I have been playing with it) and get back to work!

I designed a couple of heart patterns for Valentine's Day and need to get the prototypes finished.  I ran out of blue floss, so there's a trip to the store for that in the very near future.  I'm finding the heart a little too bright, even for me, and I may age it with some black walnut tea.  I was thinking of an analogous color scheme in cotton floss for the circle, but this morning I am looking at my hand-dyed wool Medici thread -- Bing Cherry, in particular.  

Some punch needle designs just lend themselves to wool thread.  It is has a warmer, fuzzy look to it and resembles miniature hooked rugs.  The cotton floss, however, tends to produce crisper lines and has a beautiful sheen to it.  Decisions, decisions . . . . .