Hooking Fever

Sometimes it seems that I get focused on one type of project and don't do a thing on anything else.  It has been that way with rughooking this month......and it has netted me two finishes.  Both of them were longtime UFOs, so that is great.

Semper Fi is blocked, bound and labelled.  Ordered some neat wooden checkers to use to play on it from Amazon.

Next is Albany Sampler....from 2007.....blocked, whipped and bound, and labelled.  Ready to be hung after I take it to Caraway in June for the rug show.

And, finally, I pulled this rug out of the UFO bin and started to work on it.  It was started probably four years ago at Caraway with Jeanne Benjamin.  The pattern is Lion and Lamb by the late Patsy Becker.  I absolutely adore it, but kind of got hung up on the leaves and stuffed it into the back of the closet.  I worked on it a bit the other day and I think I am heading in the right direction.  Would love to get it finished in time for Caraway this year.

Lots still going on around here.  Gardening, yard work, birthdays and end of the school year stuff for the grands.  And I have been feeling a bit lazy lately.  Don't know what is up with that, but hope it doesn't continue!  I need to get motivated again.

GRATITUDES

A long afternoon nap on the back porch swing.

Reading a really good book.

Mother's Day with my daughters and families.

Take care,

Jennie

More Birthdays

Macy has celebrated her birthday several times this month.  On the actual date of her birthday her parents took her to Atlanta to eat out, shop and spend the night in a hotel (one of her favorite things).  She took her new American Girl Doll, Sage, along with her to enjoy it all.  Note that cute smile with both upper teeth missing!

Ashley and Macy at Magiano's

Macy and Sage

And Robert is now fourteen.  I can hardly believe it.  He is taller than I am.  We celebrated his birthday last night with a family gathering at his favorite Japanese Steakhouse, Tokyo.  And, of course, he had one of my strawberry cakes.......it wouldn't be his birthday without one.

Robert and Christi

GRATITUDES:

Birthday traditions.

Family celebrations and all of the chaos involved.

A good night of sleep.

Take care,

Jennie

Stewing

Last week Blake decided to make Brunswick Stew in his father's black wash pots.  For anyone who has never done this let me assure you that it is quite a ritual.  And it takes a couple of days and a lot of patience.  I think that it is a very Southern thing and I know that in Georgia, every area has their own rendition of how stew should be made.  Ours was Turin, Georgia style......and it is very good in my humble opinion!

John, Blake and Becky........stirring and stirring and stirring.

Yum!!

And Poppy, supervising of course.

GRATITUDES:

Keeping old traditions alive.

Teamwork.

Take care,

Jennie

May Intentions

I am afraid that my May To Do list looks dismally like my April list.  Not to say that I didn't finish anything...........just not much.  And I did work on some things and get them close to finishes.  But my BOM list.......sad.  So, I have much catching up to do this month and very good intentions.  Of course, there is the yard and the garden......it is Spring.  We shall see.

All of the blocks are done for the K. Schmitz blackwork calendar wallhanging and I really hope to get it finished this month.  I will start binding the Checkerboard hooked rug tomorrow night at our monthly hooking night.  Albany Sampler got the last loops pulled up today, so I should get it finished this month also.  I haven't touched the woven scarf and I really don't lack much on it......maybe I will weave it off this month.  Patiently Waiting has all of the wool appliqué finished and is awaiting it's backing; that should prove easy enough.  The knit shawl is something I started last month and I am making progress on it....it is easy to pick up and work on while I am watching TV.

In the BOM category I am only up to date on My Family Redwork...... I have to do some piecing on them before this month's meeting.  I haven't touched any of the other BOMs and am not quite sure when I will I regret to say.  My intentions were much better than this.

I did have a couple more finishes for April.  The first one is this cute prim pincushion from Lori Brechlin.  The back is wool embroidery, the front cross stitch.  I stuffed it with lavender and crushed walnut shells and it is too cute.

The other one, also a pincushion, though I made it into a door hanger, is Bluebird Pincushion by Primitive Gatherings.  As I have mentioned before, I am a great fan of birds and bluebirds in particular.

So, there we go.  Time to get motivated again!!

GRATITUDES:

Wild birds, especially bluebirds.

Grace.

However many more days I may be blessed with.

Take care,

Jennie

Good bye April

With April in its last hours,  I am faced with the reality that my April TO DO list looks rather sad.  I will report on it this week, along with a revised list for May.  Hopefully things will slow down a bit and I can be more focused........but, there is the yard and garden, and I can't do it all.  Maybe I just need to be more realistic in what I think I can finish during these Spring months.

There was enough warp left on the Spring twill towels to weave off one more after I took the four for Easter off the loom.  This isn't a great photo, but here it is.  My next project is going to be a Rep Weave kitchen rug. I hope it turns out well.  Weaving a rug is something I have really wanted to try.

Today was the last day of Good News Club.  I can't say that I am sorry.  I am glad that I volunteered, but I am also glad to see it coming to an end.  The children really enjoyed their party and it was nice getting big hugs from them as they left this afternoon.  My prayer is that at least some of them benefitted from what we tried to share with them.

Christopher is playing his first year of T-ball and he is doing a great job.  He can hit the ball and understands running the bases.  He also goes on the field alone.  Good job, Christopher!!

The flowers are beautiful this time of the year.  Just hope we continue to get rain throughout the summer.

GRATITUDES:

The boundless energy of children.

Unexpected hugs.

The companionship of sweet daughters.

Take care,

Jennie

Unwelcome Visitor

A couple of days ago I filled the two hummingbird feeders with nice, fresh nectar for the three little fellows that have been frequenting our back deck.  The next morning, they were totally empty.  I knew that three tiny hummers couldn't possibly empty those two feeders........but I dutifully refilled them and returned them to their places.  And this morning..............

Yes.........totally empty, again.  We checked for leaks, but no.  However, on closer inspection we noticed these on our pollen covered deck.....

Looks as if Mr. Raccoon just might have a sweet tooth.  We will set up a humane trap for him tonight and see what happens.  He just might find himself relocated to a more wooded area if we are successful.

Today was Spring Cleaning at the chicken house and run.  It turned into pretty much an all day affair.  Thank goodness we had good helpers.   We also did a little chicken maintenance......Vet Rx on everyone's combs and their semi-annual spraying for mites.  In addition, Snowflake, who is a feathery cochin, got a much needed feather trim and bath and is no longer stinky, although she is still broody.
She was forced to spend quite awhile off the nest today, but as soon as her feathers dried she was back in nesting position.  Blake has dubbed her "Sitting Bull".

I have to say that I think the flock was less than impressed with the whole ordeal......and we probably won't get another egg all week long!  They did get some melon as a special treat afterwards, so maybe they will forgive me.

GRATITUDES:

A clean chicken house for our little flock.

Spaghetti cooking in the crockpot.

A nice, hot shower after a day's work.

Take care,

Jennie

Lost......

The rest of April.......just lost.  I don't know.  Running around to classes and events, working in the yard and garden.  Just stuff.

My April list is not looking so good.  I have bits and pieces of a lot of things in various stages of near finishes........and other things not even touched.  I will report in later on all of that.

Blake and John have been working feverishly in the garden and everything is coming up and looking great.......peas, beans, okra, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, peppers, you name it.  I would show you a photo, but it is raining buckets today.

The girls have been giving us 4-6 eggs daily.  Tomorrow, weather permitting, we will do Spring cleaning at the chicken house and yard.  I don't think that the girls will be particularly thrilled.....especially Snowflake, who has gone broody.  She is still getting off the nest to eat, and we are retrieving her eggs.  No chicks here!!

Yesterday I started working on a summer shawl (Azzu's Shawl, a free pattern on Ravelry) that I had bought the yarn for a couple of months ago.  The yarn is very organic looking, casual jeans accompanying type stuff.........It is Berroco Linsey (a pretty tan/white color), which is 64% cotton.  Very soft.  I am not a great knitter, and got off to a difficult start (I must have started offer 6 or 7 times)....but I have finally gotten it.  Today, instead of going down to the sewing room, I sat in my chair, listening to the rain, watching "Lincoln" and knitting.  I enjoyed the rain and the knitting.......the movie, not so much.  I don't know what I was expecting, but it was a little too political for me.......I wanted a more personal story.  Oh, well........

GRATITUDES:

Spring rain.

Lazy days.

Soft yarn moving across beautiful wooden knitting needles.

Take care,

Jennie

April Birthdays

April is THE birthday month for my family and friends.......and we enjoy celebrating.

On April 5th Dillon celebrated his 14th birthday with a trip to Six Flags.

Dillon and Christopher

Christopher turned 5 on April 6th and celebrated with a party at his home last Saturday.  His theme was Jake the Pirate, and we gifted him with a Jake sleeping bag and bed tent.

My dear friends from high school, Pete, Peggy and Carl all had birthdays within the same week as mine.  We got some friends together and had lunch at Sprayberry's to honor the occasion, as has been our tradition the past few years.  It is nice to be able to celebrate with pals from so many years ago.

Since I was out of town on my birthday, we had my family birthday celebration last Sunday at Christi's.
I chose my own menu and Matt and the girls prepared it.........along with an ice cream cake from Bruster's with yellow layers, caramel and chocolate turtle ice cream.......yummmmmm.  Being together as a family is always a special gift.

On the 17th, John was 33!  I baked a strawberry cake for him and, once again, we had lunch at Sprayberry's (his choice).

Macy celebrated her April 26th birthday (she will be seven) a bit early with a trip to American Girl with her best friend, Susan Grayton (whose birthday is the same as mine, the 8th).  She got money for her birthday and purchased this year's American Girl Doll of the Year, Saige......and, of course, some vital necessities for her wardrobe.

April 20th would have been my father's birthday........his 101st.  Hard to believe he only lived to be 59. I have already outlived him.  I think of him often........of things I would like to share with him and things I wish I had asked him and said to him.  I guess that is just the way it is when you lose a parent.

May will hold some special birthdays for us, too........but nothing like April!

GRATITUDES:

Birthdays.

Friends and families to celebrate birthdays with.

Old memories.......and making new ones.

Take care,

Jennie

Rhonda's Rughooking Retreat

I am behind on my posting, but will start with sharing all of the great rugs that were worked on at the hooking retreat I was fortunate enough to be invited to.  Rhonda has been sponsoring this retreat at the Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport, TN for several years, and this year, thanks to dear friend Kathie, I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation.  We drove up, stopping by Roswell, to pick up Deste, on Friday, April 5th, and spent the next three days doing what hookers love best.......hooking, eating, laughing and shopping for more wool (thanks, Sheri) !!!  The accomodations were lovely and the weather was beautiful.  The fellowship was even better.  Rhonda does an exceptional job organizing this hookers' weekend.

Here are some of the great rugs the girls were working on:

Becky finished hooking this wonderful cabin with proddy flowers.  The strips are all hand cut at 1".  She started this large rug with Betsy, from Heavens to Betsy.

Georgeanna started this rug last year at Caraway with Anita White.  I just love the colors in it.  It is perfect!

And Nancy almost finished this gorgeous pineapple rug that she had started in a workshop with Eric Sandberg in January.  I love the way each pineapple is a tiny bit different.  And the striking red/orange 

fabric is actually paisley.  The pattern is by Sheri Bennett.

The talented Cathy worked on three projects.  The cat mask is a project for Teacher's Workshop this year........where Cathy is anticipating finishing up her McGowen's certification.  Way to go, Cathy.

Diana continues to work on her interesting Family rug, which can be viewed two different ways.

 Gail started this striking runner on Friday, hooking with a 3 cut, and was nearly done by Sunday night.

Kathie made great progress on her rug for her new bathroom.  It is a pattern by Eric Sandberg, started in his class in January.  Great rug!

Sheri drew her own pattern and pulled from her wormbag to make this visually appealing rug.  She dislikes how close the border is to the body of the rug and plans to rework that.  As always, Sheri's color choices are exceptional.

Katie drew her own pattern and started hooking these cheerful little birdhouses.  I love her color choices.

Mary worked on this adorable Lori Brechlin design.  She has the cutest bunny face, don't you think?

Robin was hard at work on these sweet little pictorials.  She is making fourteen of them for a friendship block exchange!!!!!!

Deste started this handsome creature recently at Barb Carroll's.....it is one of her new designs.  Deste really stuck with it and got lots of hooking done.  Everyone was in love with her background choice and the colors in her horse.

Rhonda got tapped to do this rug for Teacher's Workshop this year.  As you can see, it is 20" x 30".  She started it on Friday and got this much done......using a size three cut.  Her hooking is so perfect it looks like velvet.

I finally finished Semper Fi by Polly Minick.  I had ordered it several years ago, and started it a few months ago.  It is ready to bind!!!

I also got quite a bit done on Albany Sampler by Susan Quicksall.  I had started this one in a class with Susan at the 2007 ATHA Convention in New Orleans.  I got one bird and a blue flower finished at the time, then packed it away.  By the end of the weekend all of the motifs except the berries (because I ran out of wool on them) were done.  As usual, I really like it and don't know why I never went back to it.  It is nice to have this much done.

Georgeanna and I both celebrated birthdays over the workshop weekend and were pleasantly surprised with our own individual birthday cakes and a little impromptu party.  And, no, I am not sharing our ages :-))

As I am sure you can tell, it was a great weekend, and I am already looking forward to going back in the Fall.

GRATITUDES:

The beautiful Smoky Mountains.

Laughter.

Birthdays.

Wool.

Take care,

Jennie

The Wall

The Vietnam Wall has a very special meaning for us.  Blake served in the Vietnam War when it was so very unpopular.  It was a difficult time for America, and particularly for all of those young men and women who served there bravely, only to return to America and be so unappreciated.  Our generation.
So many losses.

Last week the Estes family visited Washington, DC, and made a trip to "The Wall".  I love this photo of Robert and Sara Ashley at The Wall.

GRATITUDES:

The United States of America

All of the brave young men and women who have, do and will so selflessly serve this country so that we can enjoy our freedom.

Blake, who was one of those men for many years.

Take care,

Jennie

Theda's Rug

Several months ago one of the members of our hooking group unexpectedly lost her husband.  She had faced other losses in her family that had been devastating prior to losing Dan, but has been an inspiration to all of us.  Her faith has sustained her during these difficult times and she lives the word "Hope".

In memory of Dan, we decided to hook a very special rug for Theda.  One of our members designed it, including much symbolism.  The names of the children, Theda and Dan were hooked so that they showed on the back, but not the front.  The group members contributed financially and by hooking on the rug.

At this week's meeting we surprised Theda with "Love's Legacies".  There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

GRATITUDES:

Hope.

Friends.

Take care,

Jennie

Family Easter

This post is a few days late, but wanted to share our annual grandchildrens' Easter photo.  Easter is the holiday that we have our blended family all together to celebrate.  There are seventeen of us now, and with the seven grandchildren, it is all lots of fun.  Good food, Easter egg hunt, baskets and fellowship.  We thank God for our family and the opportunity to share this day with them.  Most of all, we thank God for the gift of Grace through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The grandchildren.
Bottom row (L to R):  Sara Ashley, Macy, Jackson, Colten, Christopher
Back row (L to R): Robert, Dillon

GRATITUDES:

Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Freedom to worship.

Family.

Take care,

Jennie