So slow

I know you are probably getting so tired of seeing the same rug over and over….believe me, I know….it seems like the series of garden rugs are taking me forever to complete….this one especially …..I think it’s all of the color changing that I’m doing.  Hook 3-4 loops of one color and then change to another color….I like the effect that it’s having, but it just seems to go so slowly.

I’m thinking that after I finish this rug I’ll take a break and do something non-floral for in-between….I think I just need a break.  That is the thing, for me at least, when I work on a series of rugs or chairpads or what-have-you, I look at it as 1 big project…..it’s hard for me to celebrate being finished until they are ALL finished.

I’m getting closer to the end of this one….perhaps a couple more evenings or early mornings of hooking and I should be finite!

I’ve entered a group on Rug Hooking Daily

Visit RUG HOOKING DAILY

called the “Forest Secrets” challenge

the challenge for me will be not sharing what I’m working on with you here on the blog.  We are to be finished by the end of July….right now I don’t see that as a problem….I have a wonderful idea for a design in my head….now just to get it down on the linen and start hooking it!

Raindrops

A Spring Rain by Raymond A. Foss

The world is wet today
luxurious, damp, drenched
drops hug the leaves,
anoint the still budded lilac blossoms
before their blooming
rich purple and plum
made richer by their watery skin
New leaves under the weight
droplets heavy, hanging
bowing the white pine needles
undersides exposed to drink
drink in the morning
hushed in the rain
temperature near the dewpoint
sprouts of just planted flowers
eager from the parched soil
new puddles bloom too
on the ground, the driveway
collect and gather
without the smell of summer rain yet
tears splash and spread
silent shimmers, heralds, messengers
in the spring rain

A few good things

The luminosity of this cow painting by Diane Whitehead available on eBay.

A recipe for “guilt-free chocolate cake”…..I made this earlier in the week….it’s chocolate-y without the guilt…..I liked it, but I still say I’d rather have a small bite of something REALLY decadent, than a big slice of something that is just “ok”……but swimsuit season is on it’s way!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 2 egg whites
• 1 egg
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix and cocoa. Combine the egg whites, egg, water and yogurt; add to dry ingredients and beat well. Pour into a 10-cup fluted tube pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

New paisley cushions for the front porch bench from Cynthia Rowley….nabbed at TJ Maxx for a song.

Fenway Park ivy…..greening up around the front door.

Bright umbrellas in the garden

Garden statuary

Tree peonies in bloom

Rug hooking in the news (click on picture to go to article and video)

Another article here (click on picture to read article)

Bleeding

….hearts, that is.

This trilogy of garden rugs seems that it will never end, but I did get the bleeding hearts stitched and hooked onto the rug….now just the background to finish….perhaps this weekend?

What makes for a great hook-in

Great conversations

Hooking with lots of natural light

Demonstrations (Carolyn from Cricket Street Wool demonstrating how to add a braided border to penny rugs)

Lots of good food! (2 long counters and another table we had to set up to accommodate all the food everyone brought)

Works in progress

What makes for a great hook-in for you?

Boathouse Hook-In

Saturday was the 2nd annual hook-in at the boathouse…..the weather was nice, but not SO nice that you wanted to be outside for the entire day….there was a little chill in the air.

What a perfect day to sit inside and look outside over the lake!

There were many embellished rugs……from sculpting….

….to buttons and sparklies and hooking with soft and fuzzy yarns…

…..chenille accents…..

….yarn stems and vines….

….more alternative hooking materials….

……a beaded border (hooking every other loop a different color)...

Think these pics are yummy? Just wait…I’ll have more for you later this week…..that’s all I have time for today.

Too Beautiful

It’s been much too beautiful outside to be inside blogging…..80’s….I’ll return this weekend.

Can’t wait

They are coming back May 27th……can’t wait!  I love these girls…..I guess I see a little of myself in all of them.

Bang-bang

Sunday I got tired of my hair…..this “growing it out” business is for the birds!

(artwork by Bella Pilar)
…I got so frustrated that I gave myself bangs…

…..straight-across bangs….I got out my fabric scissors and cut them over the bathroom sink.  Do you do things like that…..just take things into your own hands?

Garden Adventures

Saturday, we headed to “Garden Adventures” in Nixa, MO.
We came back empty-handed, but there were lots of beautiful plants and trees and shrubs to look at.
I’ve found that I really love to photograph plants and flowers…..I think it’s the color combinations…..

Pansies are always a source of inspiration….I like how they range from red violet to blue violet and then they have that striking yellow in the middle.
I love these “black” pansies….

“Garden Adventures” is nestled in the hills….it’s a really beautiful spot.

Looking at plants and trees also reminds me that nature has so many odd ways of displaying color…..like this tree with the red branches……red twig maple?
They didn’t have a lot of geraniums, but the ones they did have were beautiful.

Enjoy the remaining weekend,
Tammy