Pictures From Sunday's Hook-in at Joan's

Here are the pictures I said would be posted later.  But if you want BETTER pictures and a more detailed post on Joan's fabulous hook-in, go to Kathy's blog, Rugs of Mine...in Time which can be accessed from my blog list.  She did a great job recording the festivities!

Joan and her husband have a flyfishing camp along a nice little trout stream in Adams County, PA.  It's a lovely wooded setting at the foot of the mountains in orchard country.  The hook-in was held in the clubhouse, with the rugs being displayed in the bedroom area.

There were large rugs-

Joan did this one.

Joan did the geometric at the top of the picture.

Isn't this a beauty?

Lots of small  mats-

 

And everything in between-

That's Kathy's rug with the house and the large bird.

I don't know who hooked the gorilla, but it is superb shading!

On Monday I went to the hook-in at the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church in Chambersburg, the Cumberland Valley Rughookers.  Yes!  Two hook-ins in a row!!!

I didn't do much hooking, mostly talking.  I didn't get the camera out until it was too late and half the ladies had gone.  I did get a picture of Joyce's finished cat pillow.  This is her grand-cat and the pillow is a gift for her daughter.

 I am still working on my hook, hand and heart logo.  I know!  It's a small piece in a wide cut and it's STILL NOT FINISHED!

I have been knitting in the evenings, working on a shrug style sweater vest.  My hands have not been entirely idle!

Disclaimer...this post contains no Issues!!!

This post will not contain:
   1.  diatribes on the woes of aging
   2.  the heartbreak of homeless animals

This post will contain:
   1.  our local travels over the weekend
   2.  eating out
   3.  hook-in fun

There will be nothing controversial in this post!  At least not that I know of.

On Saturday Zip and I drove to Mechanicsburg to the PA Fabric Outlet for their 50% off sale.  I've shown pictures of this store in other posts so did not take pictures.  Unfortunately either there wasn't much new to begin with or it got well picked earlier in the week, but the selections were very limited.  I didn't buy much!
Next we stopped at the Korean grocery and got a few ingredients that I needed to cook some Oriental meals. 

Then on to Wegman's.  This store fascinates me!  There is so much of everything!!!  One of my favorite parts of the store is the cheese counter.  Counters???  This is only one of FOUR cases of the same size filled with cheese.  This is the French cheese case.  I love the one called Morbier.  I wonder if it's named for the word 'morbid', as in 'smells like something dead'?  LOL!  It is so good with slices of apple. 

We had taken a cooler along so we could buy fish  and some steak.  Wish there was a Wegman's closer to home.

On Saturday evening we went out to eat with Chuck and Willa to a Bosnian restaurant in Carlisle called Euro Burger.  And this is the signature sandwich.

This was under the heading of 'Pita'.  It's puff pastry stuffed with a nicely spiced ground beef.  They also have them stuffed with spinach and cheese.

Zip got the sausages.  This is the SMALL order which came with the Bosnian bread and the sauces.  The red one is made of sweet red peppers.

The whole experience was quite enjoyable.
Afterward we went to hear a bluegrass band from Red Lion, PA called Laurel Run.  They were a fun, high energy group.  The cute kid who played the bass was a show all on his own!

On Saturday I went to a hook-in at Joan's house in the hills near Ardentsville, PA.  It was her birthday and to celebrate she held a donation event to support her local animal shelter.  Just bring cat or dog food or supplies and Joan would provide the food, drinks and fun.  What could be better?!

So here we are having FUN!

Look at everyone working diligently on their hooking.

Jill can even hook and look cute at the same time!

Joan provided a lovely lunch.  How did I forget to include a picture of the food table???  There was a platter of meat and cheese, vegetables with dip, macaroni and cheese, sloppy joes, and a huge selection of dessert items (including Joan's Gigantic Chocolate Chip Cookies-the best ever!).

It was a fabulous day in a lovely setting along a trout stream.  On the way home through the mountains, I kept hoping to see some good color in the leaves.  Nothing!!!  I think because it had been dry for so long the leaves are going to change directly from green to brown.  But thankfully we are getting some rain NOW.

This is becoming a loooong post and I still have rug pictures to show.  I'll save those for next time.

Another Confession

I am a wimp when it comes to furry ones.  A total softie.  I Love them in a way that does not even translate to other humans.

I got this email from a friend today.  I don't know where it came from orignially and don't know where to get permission to print it.  Whoever you are that started this, I hope you don't mind if I post it here.

It made me cry.

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY. Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

As I was sitting reading this with tears running down my face, Deiter is right there on the computer desk rubbing his head against me.  And I think "OK, who did rescue whom?!"  Zip and I took him out of a cage at a pet supply store, give him food and a home where he can live a hopefully happy cat life and love him as if he were our child.  But look at the joy we have received from his returned love, loyalty and constant companionship.  PRICELESS!!!

My friend Marian and I were talking yesterday and I was telling her about how I wish my elderly Mom would welcome an animal companion into her home.  She complains of being lonely and doesn't like living by herself.  I keep telling her that if she had a cat to talk to and take care of, loneliness would be less of a problem.  She has hearing problems and cats are excellent 'hearing ear' companions.

But the CAT HAIR!!  She always exclaims.  This from a person who cleans daily no matter what!

Marian stated that it's a shame a person would give up the love and affection of an animal because of HAIR.  And I agree!!!

My Rescue Crew:  Tipper, Isabell, Peneople and Deiter.

I'd eat hair for breakfast (and probably do) if it was the only way I could have a cat.

Hair....or Lack Thereof

I've debated for days over this post.  I risk losing all my faithful readers.

I don't want to offend anyone by 'spilling my guts', but I have a problem.

I'm going bald!  Seriously bald.

I'm not a vain person, not high matinence for sure.  But I grew up in the late sixties and early seventies and hair was IMPORTANT.  Long hair and moustaches for men and long straight hair for women.  Now I can give up this notion of the importance of hair.  I'm willing to slip into senior status without kicking and screaming.  I'll go quietly.  But can't I keep just a little bit of hair, ...please???  For old time's sake???

Not that I EVER had Good Hair.

(These baby pictures are also a portent of things to come weight-wise!  EEEK!!!)

Apparently my Mom was not good with hair.  All she worried about was keeping our hair out of our eyes.

Mom!  There's a good three inches of forehead showing!  Nowhere near the eyes!!!

I was about 15 in this picture.  Scary isn't it?  This was back in the early 60's when kids had no control over what their parents did to their hair or anything else.  Kids did what their parents told them.  PERIOD!!!

Mom just loved this one.  She told me I was so lucky to have naturally curly hair and that I  looked just like my Aunt Dolly.   My Aunt Dolly was forty years old!  Moooooommmm!!! 

After I got married I had control over my hair and used straightening perms attempting to calm the frizz.

Here in my mid thirties is probably the most normal my hair had ever been.

Once I hit 40, it was all downhill.  I became severly anemic due to 'female problems' and had to have a hysterectomy.  The hair loss started with the anemia.  I recovered from anemia but my hair did not.

You can see, very thin hair and terrible texture!  Hairdressers look at me and shake their heads in dismay. 

Which brings me to my new blog profile photo.  I am going to start wearing my wig.

I've bought wigs over the years, but enjoyed wearing them about as much as Zip enjoys his dentures.  Not at all!!!  But I think the time has come to bite the bullet and do the deed. 

The strange thing is that I feel just as self conscious wearing it as I do over my thinning hair with the scalp showing through.  A dilemma for sure!  Bag over the head, maybe???

OK, I got that off my chest.  Now can life go on?
Thanks for listening to me rant.

I Love That Cat

All weekend while I was busy sewing, the little guys were runnin wild.  The came flying across the sewing table sending my basket of notions onto the floor and scattering bobbins, pins, screwdriver etc. all over the floor.  They danced on the countertops, dug in the trash can and made general pests of themselves.  Mommy wasn't paying enough attention to them!

Tipper was off doing her best to avoid it all by taking a prolonged nap.

But Deiter, my darling boy, was right there laying quietly behind the sewing machine.  He was not in the way but was close enough so that I could reach out and pet him and we could make eye contact and talk to each other.  He was a calm place in a mess of stress and confusion.  He is a wonderful cat!  A gentle and intelligent giant who is a joy to live with.  (Almost 20 lbs.!)  I love all my cats, and am thankful every day for the gift of their presence.  But Deiter is a special personality.

I had my camera right there on the sewing table.  Every once in a while I would stop, take a sip of coffee and snap a picture of Deiter.

So this is for you, Deiter.  In appreciation.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways.....

I love those three perfectly round black spots.

The big furry paw that reaches out to touch me.

The way you lay quietly nearby whlie I'm working.

Your ears like the perfect inside of a conch shell.

The way you neatly tuck your paws.

That soft plush fur on your forehead.

The cute pink nose.

These big golden eyes.

I love everything about you, Deiter.

I LOVE THAT CAT!!!

Finally Time to Sit Down and Blog

I've been sewing pretty much non-stop since Friday.  I had an order of several uniforms to complete for Brad and Kami's business.  Zip went fishing in the evenings.  I worked on.  Zip went to his family reunion on Sunday.  Alone.  Which is probably a good thing because his family is really into the begats and begots (a list longer than those who came over in the Mayflower!) and I don't have the proper serious attitude for all those convoluted family relationships.  I worked on.

Finally yesterday I ran out of wool twill tape and made a road trip to Needle and Thread.  The weather was warm and sunny which made for a delightful drive down through the Adams County orchards.

The limbs on the trees are so full of beautiful red apples that they seem about to break.

But on to Needle and Thread....  I love this shop!  It's located between Gettysburg and Fairfield and is 'The Best' fine fabric shop in our area.  From the outside you wouldn't even know it's a fabric shop.  Nothing fancy!

But inside!  Whoo hoo!!!  Being near Gettysburg, they specialize in reproduction Civil War fabrics and quilting cottons.  Look at these lovely cottons!

Great for those primitive projects or maybe a special Civil War dress.  They have loads of patterns.
I have to be careful not to drool on the fabric!

And they have WOOL!  The blue, the gray, and the butternut...plus much more!
Here are just a few of the racks of wool.

I love these browns!

The racks of quilting cottons.
More fun than a person should have in a day!

I had a great conversation with the lady who measured out my twill tape.  We discussed the problems of knitting and sewing for larger sized women and how difficult it can be to get patterns to fit properly.  She had on a lovely well-fitting blouse that she had made.  I was sooo envious!  I'm not sure I would have the patience to keep altering the pattern to make it look so good.  But she did give me hope that it COULD be done!

A little sample quilt that was hanging in the shop.  Isn't it delightfully old looking.  More envy!!!

This morning before I started my final bout of sewing, I mixed up a batch of bread and set it to rise.  I have been so hungry for home-made bread, but haven't wanted to heat up the oven while it was in the high 90's.  But the cool morning inspired me.  The bread and the sewing were done by lunch time.

Now I have a little break before the next project.

It's nice to be able to sit down at the computer with a cup of coffee and read a few blogs and relax for a while.  I really need to get back to my hooking!

And finally, here's Penny.  She is such an active little climber, almost like a spider monkey.  We have seen her sitting on the back of the wing chair looking up at the ceiling fan as though she'd like to jump up and take a spin.  Zip and I joke that some morning we'll come downstairs and find her walking upside down across the ceiling.  Well, she's almost there!  What a little imp!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I Forgot!!!

When I wrote the previous post earlier today, I forgot to put in the picture of my new logo.

I guess I won't get suggestions on the colors without the picture!  DUUUUH!!!
Outline the hand in a darker red for more contrast???
And yes, Lauren, I was talking about you!

Trip to the Vet

Time for the babies to have their distemper boosters and the first rabies shots.
Oh, drat!  THE CAGE!!!  Cats hate to be confined!

  

They always seem to know that THE CAGE is bad news!  But they were really good on the 20-minute ride.  No shrieking or screaming or drooling.

They had time to explore the exam room.

Are we becoming the kind of annoying parents who leave their kids run wild???

Check out the cat food and the doggie dentures!

Izzy gets her ears cleaned.

Two hundred beats per minute!  That's normal for a kitten.

I was busy holding the wiggly ones so didn't get any pictures of the injections being given.
Everyone is in good health!
Hugs from the nice young doctor!!!  That wasn't so scary.  Now the kids can go home and take a nap.

I wish my trips to the Doc had such positive outcomes.  I'm dreading the next one.
She's going to tell me I'm TOO FAT!  I KNOW I'M TOO FAT!!!
I'm short of breath every time I do something even mildly strenuous.  I have some major fluid retention in my legs.  The time has come to do it again.  Yes, the weight loss thing!

So yesterday I decided to go back on the Weight Watchers plan.  How many times have I done this before???  Don't even ask!  The good news is that the program really works if you stick to it.  The bad news is that I stick to the plan for a while and lose a nice amount of weight, then get lazy and go back to my old junk-eating ways.  I have this eating-healthy-is-boring mindset that I can't seem to get past.  But what's more boring than a jelly donut every morning for breakfast???

This morning for breakfast I had a bowl of hot and spicy Thai vegetable soup, fresh papaya and a cup of tea.
Papayas were on sale at Weis Market this week.  They are yummy!

We'll see how well having water for breakfast compares with sugar and fat.  LOL!!!

My rughooking endeavors are at a standstill.  I want to make a new hook, hand, heart logo- one that's more primitive and less rigid.  I'm liking the design, but not the colors.  I think I need to outline the hand in something darker.  Why do I have so much trouble with very simple designs when I can make the more complex ones work???  I need Joanne or Lauren to plan this one for me.  They do such an excellent job!!!  So any suggestions are appreciated!