Good Night Irene

Ok, so, not a terribly original post title, but we did survive this hurricane up here in NH!  And, without a generator.  We have grand plans for a generator.  We gave the carpenter guy some good money to build the great shed which will house the generator.  But, we didn't think we'd need the generator until winter.  So, it's on the list of things to buy when I actually have a paycheck again! 

We lost power for about 30 hours.  When we lose power, we lose the stove, the lights, and water.  It's not pretty.  I actually went into my workplace with the most disgusting hair today and no make-up.  I didn't do the make-up, because it takes water to wash off make-up...more water than I was willing to sacrifice. 

Gus and I went down to the main drag here in town this morning...about 2 miles from the house to get coffee.  They had power!  I pulled up and the nice lady asked me how I was.  I told her I'd be better with some fresh brewed!  She said, "You have no power, right?"  Thankfully, she filled me up with a large coffee which kept the caffeine headache away.

But, to really rub salt in the wound, you could hear other people's generators running all night and all day!  It was sad.  So, I spent the day finishing my rug.

I just love this rug.  It hooked up so fast.  And yes, I did have a picture to do some color planning with, but I used wools that I had.  I realize that this puts me at two rugs which need to be bound.  I guess that's what I'll be doing this weekend at the first Wool and Goods Hook-in.  I can't wait. 

School starts, sort of, on Thursday with an Open House.  My room is actually in pretty good shape and I'm really excited to start.

Hubby went to pick up some pizza...I just couldn't cook on top of losing power for so long!  Hope everyone is recovering from Irene's wrath!  Take care!

A Quick Hello

I've been so busy getting my classroom ready, I haven't blogged much.  I'm trying to keep up with the blog reading, but my comment amount has certainly dropped--sorry about that!  We're gearing up for Irene here in NH and though we don't have the generator yet, we've stocked up on water, candles, batteries, and flashlights.  I'm making a yummy bean and ham soup tonite, with some peach crisp, using fresh local peaches. 

Last week, I went to the wool sale at Wool and Goods.  I mostly wanted to up my wool stash and I found some nice wools.  Here are some of them.

Afterwards, I checked out a primitive/antique shop nearby and found this great cart to put into my studio to store wool.  My studio is really on the back burner right now, but I have lofty plans for the fall.

It has wheels on one end, so you can move it around. 

I started a new rug...I know, I haven't bound the flower basket rug yet!  It's a pattern from Payton Primitives.  I'm having fun hooking it.

I went to my favorite antique store today and found a little fall decor.

Everyone is bracing for Hurricane Irene.  We took in the outside furniture and even my two little tomato plants I have in pots.  We rely so much on electricity in this house...our well, stove, lights...I hope we don't lose power...or at least not for long.   We are getting a shed built this coming week and then we'll buy our generator, but for now, we're vulnerable.  I'm more worried about my boys.  They live in the Boston area and bicycle to work.  I called both yesterday to play the worried Mom card.  I'm the type of gal who wants her people all under the same roof.  But, they are smart and will make good decisions. 

Have a safe and sound weekend folks.  I really am planning a lovely giveaway, probably next weekend.  Stay tuned.

Further Feathering of the Nest

Wow!  What a day!  Pouring rain from 5 am with no let-up, but Tom took the day off so he could help me bring my school stuff into school.  We made five trips, mostly bringing in the heavy boxes, two bookshelves, and a couple of plastic bins.  We met two of the school janitors and made friends with them, which is always important!  My room is smaller than my last one, but clean and cheerful with fresh paint and a shiny waxed floor...no carpet!  My last room had wall to wall carpet that was easily 20 years old.  Everyone in the building had respiratory problems and had to go to the asthma and allergy doctors at least once a year--me included.  I hope this year it'll be better!

I'm a bit less stressed with the bulk of the stuff in there.  I have more, but felt it would be best to unpack a little, see what's what, then bring in the remainder slowly.

On a more fun note, I did indeed buy the little hutch.  Tom and I went over yesterday and he agreed that it would look good in the dining room.  And it does!

  I also finished a little bird mat.  It's from Black Oak Wool Company in Penn Yan, NY.  I got it on Craig's List for $20.  It was a kit, so wool and all included, even a hook.  Not a bad deal.  It hooked up fast.

I just got my pattern for Halloween from Payton Primitives and pulled out my wool stash to see about color planning.  I think I've got enough to get started.  Next weekend, Wool and Goods, my Local Rug Hooking store is having a yard sale...so I might find some wool there for that project, too.  It'll be a nice thing to look forward to before the week ahead, where I'll be setting up the classroom, and then the race will be on!  Hooking until then!

Rugs and Jam

I think I've lost whatever skill I had with creating titles for posts.  Rugs and jam don't usually go together, but this week, rugs and jam are what I've been busy working on.  I finally finished my flowerpot rug.  I have to thank Pat at Hook, Hand and Heart for giving me some advice on steaming and dealing with major lumpiness.  I emailed her in a panic because the rug was seriously rippled.  I was near despair...you know, when you realize that the hobby you love may not be the best choice for you because you hook tight enough to choke the life out of each strip of wool.  Anyway, to the rescue comes Pat, who forwards pictures to her friend Doris, and together they encourage me to steam the living daylights out of the thing.  I decide to actually do a bit of reverse hooking in some of the bulgier spots.  Between the reverse hooking and steaming...success.  But when I say steaming, I mean spraying sections with a fine mist and wetting the towels pretty well.  And lo and behold...the rug lies flat!  You'll have to ask Pat to forward the lumpy picture, because I surely will not post it here!

I will bind it with a tan binding tape and then finish that off with a slightly darker brown wool yarn. 

My other endeavor this week included my first try at jam making.  Well, actually not my first.  I tried to make strawberry jam years ago, without the use of pectin.  You know, the kind you have to boil forever and try to see if it will sheet off the spoon.  Well, the kids were little and together we picked all the berries at the berry farm, carted them home, and Mom decided to boil jam.  And boil it.  And boil it.  Well, you know where this is going, don't you?  Yes, I discovered jam jerky!  It wasn't a good thing.

I like pectin though!  Only boil for a minute and then pour into the pretty glass jars!

They even set correctly!  I used the blackberries I picked from the yard.  I hope they taste as great as they look!  I could get into this canning thing.  We have a pick your own peach farm nearby and I think I might go get some next week and try peaches!

I am working on another little rug piece that I got as a kit on Craig's List.  It's almost finished and I'll post a picture when it's done.  I also had the good fortune to win a giveaway prize from Sharon at Moosecraft USA.

I was so happy to win!  I love the book.  It's perfect to curl up with and dream about hooking!
I'd like to welcome all the wonderful new followers I've collected over the past couple of weeks.  It's been booming!  I'm nearing that 100 follower mark and can feel my first giveaway brewing!  Stay tuned.

Sock Genius

I love a knitting project that makes me look ultra talented.  I like people to think I can do multi-colors and different pattern stitches.  But, I also like to keep my sanity.  So, I found this:

If you love a Fair Isle pattern, run, don't walk to your nearest LYS and pick up a couple of skeins of this...because, if you know how to knit--not even purl--just knit, you can do this:

Yes, indeedy...the yarn creates the pattern.  So, choose your most mundane sock pattern and you'll be so thrilled as you knit, and knit, and knit, while the pattern emerges before your eyes.  And yes, you'll be known as "The Sock Genius".  What could be better?  BTW, each sock knits out of each skein in the same pattern.  Now, that's something!

I have to say I took advantage of my dear friend, Judy, who came to visit me in the new house from MA.  I showed her the socks and she didn't believe that the yarn did the work!  I had to unravel several feet from the ball of yarn to prove my point!

We had a wonderful day.  I got up really early and cleaned.  Then put together a quiche with broccoli, tomato, and cheddar for lunch.  Made up a batch of pesto to freeze for later.  Then Judy arrived and we headed out to the local antique store.  I saw a wonderful hutch for the dining room that I could get cheap.  Now, I just need a way to get there tomorrow to pay for it.

I did leave with this, however.  I seem to be in a crock rut.  Is there such a thing?

Isn't it nice?
I have to say, I'm loving it up here in NH.  When we drove up after the jaunt to the antique store, our wild turkeys were out on the front lawn.  It was such fun to show her some of my local wildlife.
I feel fall in the air.  I just ordered a pumpkin/Halloween pattern from Payton Primitives.  I can't wait to hook it!

Please check out the Wooly Red Rug giveaway on my sidebar.  She has some wonderful dyed wool to share with you!

Have a wonderful evening!

A New Blogger Worth Checking Out

Hey all you rug hookers and primitive lovers.  I was doing a little blog hopping and found a new blogger who does some wonderful rug hooking.  Check out her site...Eagles Nest Woolens...you won't be sorry.


She launched her blog in May and only has a few followers.  I know we can make her feel welcome!  Her rugs are lovely and her latest post is full of wool!
Enjoy!

Blackberry Bounty

I knew I had blueberry bushes on the property here, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a wealth of blackberry bushes on the border of the lawn.  I found some early black raspberries, but the blackberries took a long time to ripen.  The blueberry crop was a bit disappointing, but I think it was due to the lack of rain.  Plus, many of the bushes are in deeper shade.  But, the blackberries have produced, and then some!

However, sometimes you have to try to get past this:

You've got to click on this picture to get the full effect!

I've been picking everyday with the plan of turning it all into blackberry jam to have for the winter.  Might have to sneak in a blackberry crisp as well!

I'm averaging about two cups per day.  I like to go out early in the morning, while it's still cool.  It's become the best part of my day...despite the nasty gatekeeper and the scratches I'm getting from the thorns! 

I bought my first shrub for the yard.  It's a butterfly bush with deep purple flowers.  I started to dig a hole and plant it, only to discover that underneath a mere three inches of topsoil, I have loads of sand.  So, I picked up some bags of compost to add to the soil.  I'll have to go slow with the gardening, beefing up the soil in the beds as I go.  Makes me long for chickens even more!  ~Grin~