NWA Hook-In

Saturday, I rode down to Eureka Springs, Arkansas with Dulcy of Dulcy’s Doorstep

to attend the NWA Hook-In.  This is the first year I’ve attended as it usually falls on my anniversary.

Here are a few of the rugs that were on display……I didn’t take pics of all the rugs….these

were “MY FAVORITES”…..under each rug I’ll tell you why.

I have a picture from our garden of a peony flower and I’m wanting to hook

it in a similar style to the one above…..this rug is INSPIRATIONAL to me, plus

I love, Love, LOVE the colors!

The picture above and the picture below sparked a HUGE discussion between

Dulcy and myself on the drive back home….we might have something in the works…

you might not hear about it for a year, but I’m letting you know we have something

simmering.

On the rug above, I like the mix of the reds with a hint of that violet color.

I also like the sparkly eyes….this rug has an air of mystery about it.

Once again the rug above has that sparkly touch to it, I also love the sky!

What can I say, I love animals….I like the vivid fox against the stark grays

of the trees and sky and snow.

This dog pillow is just downright sweet! I swoon over the fringed edges!

The only thing that could make this rug better is if it was University of Missouri

Incredible colors, beautiful sky, shagged trees, the brick pathway….this rug was

just truly amazing!

I always gravitate towards the geometrics….just plain fun!

Another great rug…..looks antique….I don’t know if it has a name, but I’d

call it “dinner plates”

Again, another geometric….love the colors in this one!

I have a soft spot for rabbits….super sweet! The bunny against the

stripy background just WORKS for me.

I’ve always loved this rug design….I believe it’s based on an antique and I

really like the soft, muted colors…….despite the fact that I tend to hook BRIGHT

rugs, I still enjoy looking at the soft muted rugs too!

If you told me I’d take a picture of a rug with scrolls, I would have told you,

“you’re nuts!”, but I love the colors in this one!

This is just adorable! Look at those letters….see all the color changes….

brilliant!

Another rug that is just too cute! I love me some embellishing! Those flowers

and ladybug buttons and bee buttons and ribbon…..cute, cute, cute!

I also have a soft spot for deer, moose, etc…..just so soft and lovely and

antique-y!

Cool prodded comb on this rooster! The beaded beauty line, the colors, the

outlining with the houndstooth….YAY!

Another sweet sheep! I guess hookers always have a soft spot for these

creatures!

No a/c

This is what happens when your a/c goes on the blink……..

The dogs are hotter than we are, so Kenny took them for a dip in

the pool yesterday afternoon.

Cleopatra is NOT a swimmer, so he lets her out at the edge of the pool.

Lonnie, however, is learning to swim this year.  Not so much learning to swim,

but learning where to get OUT of the pool.

Stay cool!

P.S. Since I wrote this post (I started writing it on Thursday), Kenny has bought me a window unit for

our bedroom….I love that man! Guess that’s why we’ve been married 16 years today.

Happy Anniversary to us!

This is SO EASY!

The last few days when I’ve gotten off work it’s been around 92-95 degrees…….the first thing I want to do when I get home is put on my swimsuit  and the LAST thing I want to do is heat up my house with the oven……..

Here’s a great side dish that goes well with whatever you are cooking on the grill, be it steak, burgers or mushrooms!

When something is simple it can go fancy or casual…..

This is so easy, you’re going to KICK yourself for not trying it sooner!

We’re addicted!

Grilled Hearts of Romaine

All you REALLY need are romaine hearts, olive oil, salt and pepper…..and a grill……or a saute pan.

Never had hearts of romaine?  They look like this…..

Out of the bag, they look like this….

Now that you have them out of the bag, cut them up the middle, lengthwise….

We tend to be big eaters at our house and each person gets 1/2…..that seems to be plenty….

Brush them with olive oil…

Yes, those are hot dog buns in the background…WHITE hotdog buns….some days I cave!

Tonight we are having this with burgers and chicken brats.

Okay, brush them with olive oil….both sides….

Now that you’ve brushed them, plop them on a hot grill….cut side down….

 

Yes, we have a pool

…..yes, we have an ELECTRIC grill….it’s small….there are just two of us…..

three halves of romaine….we have company.

When the halves start to wilt a bit turn them over….

These are not super charred….I like mine wilty on the outside, but a bit crisp on the inside….probably

grill them about 2-3 minutes per side.

When done grilling, put them on your plate, cut side up…

I like to sprinkle mine with kosher salt, fresh ground pepper….then top it off with a little feta cheese and tomato!

Kenny likes his with actual salad dressing and onions as well…..dress it like you like it!

Enjoy!

Coloring outside the lines

This came in my e-mail this morning from the “Good News Network”

“Aelita Andre is a Russian abstract painter who has already been compared to Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Jackson Pollack -- and she is just four years old.

Her parents both paint as a hobby and from the start gave her all the canvas and tubes she needed to express to her heart's content. Anyone who watches the little girl paint can tell she loves to fling the colors and tell her own stories.

The surrealist painter had her first show when she was one year old and has another show in New York on June 4.”

 

My question, is this surrealism or accidentalism?  Either way, you can tell she enjoys herself and thank goodness her parents let her “go for it”!

Below is an interview when she was 24 months old!

I spy

 

….a rabbit…….look closely……

The point……

Me trying to keep up with the chase…..

:)

How many of you start off your day like this?

Do you have a favorite blog that is not on my sidebar that you think I need to check out?

If so, let me know!

It’s going to be a glorious day….

…..the sparrows are in rare form today…..chirping,

busy catching bugs to feed to their babies and collecting

grasses to replenish their nests.

Kenny suggested that I change from “Skip To My Ewe” to “Weeping Sparrow”……

” ”Weeping Sparrow” just sounds kind of depressing and sad.” I said.

“no, no”, he replies……” ”Weeping Sparrow”…we have all of these weeping trees

AND sparrows in our garden…”

I’m thinking about it…..

What do you think?

I’ve googled the symbolism of the sparrow and here is

what I’ve found….

I must say I like it!

All too often we take the little Sparrow for granted - small though she may be,

she is certainly powerful. It is her slightness in size that gives her advantages.

She reminds us we do not have to have the big stuff (cars, houses, etc.) to be

important, and we do not have to have the loudest voice in order be heard.

Some keywords/symbolic Sparrow meaning s include:

• Joy
• Inclusion
• Creativity
• Simplicity
• Protection
• Community
• Productivity
• Friendliness

Sparrows derive power and protection from their numbers. Always in a clan,

they move in clusters, eat in clusters, and are always content as such. This

can be quite intimidating to some would-be predators. Safety in numbers

is a lesson the Sparrow has to share with us.

The Sparrow is ever vigilant in her goals. She is always bustling for her food,

foraging for her nests, and gathering for her young. Fastidious and productive,

the Sparrow is a reminder that idle hands (and idle minds) should be avoided in

order to live a full, healthy life.

She is a master of flight, and camouflage, and as such the Sparrow teaches us

to use our creativity to get around in life - think outside the box, and be creative

in solving our problems.

from “What’s your Sign”

The sparrows make their nests in the ivy on the edge of

our sunroom as well as around our back door…..I don’t

know how many  nests there  are, but it is always a bevy

of activity and chirping.

 

Mornings like this are perfect for walking barefoot through

the garden with a cup of coffee in hand.  Sparrows chirping

in the background and dewdrops tickling your toes

.

 

The lilies are strutting their stuff like showgirls in Vegas.

I don’t know the name of this flower, but it does not want to be

restricted to the flower bed…..

Lonnie loves to lie beneath the tiger’s eye sumac…if he’s

not in the house, this is where you will find him.

The hostas are bigger than ever this year!

The Dutchman’s pipe vine is out of control this year as well

It has ventured past it’s arched trellis and is growing up into

the trees!

Hope your day is glorious!