Close Ups

Well, well, I guess Danny thought he would outdo his cousin, Bill, with the heavy rain and high winds. I guess we criticized Bill too much because he was so mild, so Danny decided to sneak in without too much hoopla...:) and Da,da,loads of the wet stuff....

I said yesterday I would post a couple close up pictures of different sections of my mat to show the materials that I use. I didn't have much luck because each pic. I took was very light and justice is not done to the area that I am trying to get. So I decided I would post two for now and probably later today will see if I can get another couple. Here goes!!!

The speckled grey is 100% wool, the other greys are sweatshirt. As you can see, a small amount of white is showing because the back of the sweatshirt is white and when you cut the end, a small amount will show but that is ok, at least for me. I oftentimes turn the material so that I get a diffetent color/effect from whatever I am using at the time.
The Blue is fleecey material {100%polyester} with a completely different material in between {look closely, the darker blue} and the Pale blue separating the green is t-shirt. Again, the other greens are just a combination of whatever bits of shirts, pants, housecoats, whatever, I have already cut up for other projects.

As you see, I am not Great at explaining. It wasn't a gift I received. Hope this helps, though

.OOps!!, just realized I don't have a picture of the finished rug here yet and so you can't see what I am talking about with regards to the "GREENS". I will post the full mat tomorrow as I have it finished now. Just the sewing of the labels, blocking, etc. to be done now....

Third Attempt

Showing the progress of my Third attempt at "Women Spreading Fish To Dry in Outport Newfoundland". This is an order that I received last month after the First one of those that I did, sold at the "AME"[Annual Members Exhibit"]at Devon House.

I have used fleece, sweat shirt, t-shirt, 100% wool, specialty wool and some yarn {for hair} so far in this mat. I am ready to roll this in order to complete the last12" x 24" piece that is left. After that, on to others that I would like to enter into other Exhibits and to complete some orders that I received in the Spring... Busy times.....

VERY EXCITED

I am very pleased to say that one of my mats "Women Spreading Fish to Dry in Outport Newfoundland" was chosen by The Craft Council of NL.'s committee for the Cabot 400 Exhibition at Devon House which will take place on Sunday, August 30th. I am posting the picture of it once again because I am very proud of it. This one seems to be a popular one as I am hooking one of the same scene for an order I received last month. Coming along slowly but surely.:) This is the little write-up I did on this mat for the Cabot 400 Committee that will be viewing and possibly buying it for the new Museum that will be built in Cupids, NL. in 2010 this coming Sunday:


"The inspiration for this mat came from stories told by my mother.
The men would bring in the fish---split, wash and salt it and then
leave it to the women to dry for sale in the Fall of the year. Some
was kept for themselves for food for the winter months. My mother
told the story many times of being pregnant and on the beach spreading
the fish when labour pains came. She worked until the pain caused her
to fall on the beach and friends had to take her home---walking a fair
distance and uphill to our house where a midwife was waiting for her
to give birth.

I have hooked ten or more different Nfld. Scenes, each coming from
memories, stories or my love for NFLD. I like to tell stories with
each mat that I hook; therefore, each is an "Original". All my mats,
with the exception of two that were custom made, are done in a
Newfoundland Theme. Some of my work can be viewed at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44410&id=595981236&l=c51090b96c

If anyone of you are interested here is a link to the information about the "Cupids 400 Celebration
http://www.cupids400.com/english/index.htm

After Hurricane Bill

Hurricane Bill was kinder than expected although he thrashed my flowers [especially lilies] so much that the yard is filled with different colors of petals today. I have to say I was terrified because of all the hype in the media and from our adjoining communities. I looked this morning to make sure my fingerprints weren't in the bottom of the chair I was sitting on. I couldn't relax to hook and the tv was constantly going off because of the oncoming rain. By 1:30 everything was as calm as in the morning before. We have had more wind and rain without any warnings. It reminded me of waiting for a loved one to pass away. Well, Bill did the same thing. It may seem that I am not thankful; surely I am but I could have done without all the terror...
Here is a photo of the wild water around the rocks today. That was the worst of it I think; the surge in the waters....

Hurricane Bill

Well, would you know----Hurricane Bill finally arrived spewing his venom on my beautiful flowers that were so very precious. So pleased I rescued a few of my lilies for a table decoration. In the morning, I am sure there will be none left to salvage as the winds are sooooo high.

Spent some time at my hooking today but didn't get as much done as intended. I feel I won't accomplish much tonight because I am expecting the power to go any minute.

Back to Hooking....

I am so happy to say that I have my burlap sewn down, pattern drawn and ready to put into my frame for another few days of rug hooking. Even though it is the same pattern as before, "Women Spreading Fish to Dry", I am very anxious to get to it. I miss it very much when I am busy at other things and with having company around, I cannot content myself to do any hooking. Company left this morning and now there is a three week lull before more arrives.... :)

We are waiting for Hurricane Bill to lunge on us but hoping that he will not be as nasty as predicted. The media seems to blow things out of proportion {no pun intended} and let's hope that is what they have done this time but it is great to be prepared. So tomorrow will be a Super day for me with my rug, hook and materials...plus, my doggies at my feet.

Excited Children

This morning we had a visit from my brother-in-law and his two grand-children who were interested in gathering some fresh vegetables for Dinner. The little ones were sooooo excited because they live in a City where gardening is not done around them. It brightened my day to see the delight in those children's faces. Am happy to share a few photos of this and you can see for yourselves what I mean..

My Thoughts

Today as I was blanching more broccoli and preserving the green peas for the winter months my thoughts rested on the Fishing Community of Lord's Cove where I have lived all of my days. It saddens me to think of the demise of the Cod Fishery and the decline in population over the last few years. Just a few years ago the population was approximately 500 people; today there are less than 200 living here. How communities are fading in our Outports is a scary situation; however, there is nothing we can do about it only live our lives to the fullest. I feel I am doing that.
I want to share a photo of my hometown with you. The boats on the water are a thing of the past.

The Joy of Gardening

I haven't posted for a couple of days only because I have been so very busy with the vegetables that are growing like crazy. All the veggies seem to be ready earlier this year and probably it is because of the super warm weather we have had over the past while and night temperatures are exceptional for our area as well. The rain has begun here tonight and according to the forecast, it will continue for a few days. Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to get my mat frame set up again and get to some of the mats that I have committed to do. For now I am posting two pics.---one of another harvest of cucumbers and the other the result of them; that being Bread & Butter Pickles. I would be more than willing to share my recipe......

Beauty

These pictures depict "Beauty" even though they may be different from one another. Each of them gives me peace and enjoyment. It doesn't take much to make one content sometimes; it's just that we don't put enough time and/or energy into noticing them.
Thus the saying:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Wonderful Time of Year

At this particular time, I cannot think of mat hooking because the crops are flourishing and I need to get all of them either blanched or canned to preserve for the winter months, and indeed into the summer of next year. I want to share a picture of some of our cauliflower that has done quite well even though we had plenty of wet weather in the past two weeks; however, for the past two days it has been delightful...Great to be Alive and Well.....
Am busy today with making Million Dollar Mustard Pickles. Hope to post a photo tomorrow.

Back Again

Those days are soooo busy, I cannot seem to get to my blog at all. I have completed my mat,2 in total, and have sent them off to the Craft Council of NL. and have my fingers crossed that at least one will be chosen for purchase for the new Museum in Cupids for 2010. The selection will be made and displayed at Devon House on August 30th. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can be far enough ahead in my work to be able to attend. The vegetables are growing like crazy and I am blanching, pickling....like crazy..That is a good complaint, I guess.

Here is a picture of my second attempt at "Women Spreading Fish To Dry in Outport Newfoundland"

Reaping the Harvest

Have to post a picture of those beautiful Cucumbers that has been our first try in our new green house. They are Super and still plenty of more coming along as well. Watch out pickles, here I come!!!. It will have to wait until next week though as I am trying to finish my mat and then get my house in order for guests on the weekend.

Partly Finished

I didn't realize my second project for the Craft Council of NL. was coming by so nicely. My sister-in-law suggested in the past that if you are to be involved in crafts, you have to treat it like an ordinary job and that is what I have been doing for the past while because I am trying so hard to get two mats completed to see if they will be suitable to be bought for the new Museum in Cupids, NL. I have so many other things that I need to tend to but that will have to be on hold for another day or two. The weeds in my garden are flourishing......:) :)

My Team Mate

I've been thinking of adding this picture to my blog but because I am not photo happy, as you can tell by looking at this shot of me,{looks as though I have my eyes closed} Ha, Ha... I have delayed doing it. But to be fair to my teacher and mother-in-law, Mary Ann Kirby, who is into her 92nd year and in a Senior's Home, I felt I should do this because where do we see this from a woman who was 91 years old when this was complete?? It was done in a few months and is done is size 24" x 36". She cut ninety per cent of the materials by hand{as I do myself} told the lady, an employee, who designed it for her exactly what she wanted drawn on it and hooked Most of the mat herself. Needless to say, the entire family is very proud of her. This mat will be displayed in the Recreation Room where she lives. The idea for the mat that I am holding ,designed and hooked by me, came from a photograph of HER husband and his crew members with a full load of cod fish in 1971 .I haved named this mat "When Cod Was King at the suggestion of my husband. She was very pleased that I hooked this particular one, of course.

Recipe

This morning I made some "Marinated Carrots". The recipe was given to me by my daughter-in-law, Leigh, and I tried them for the first time last year. Delicious!! I am trying to use up our left over produce from last year's crop. I decided to share this recipe and photo with you.

Ingredients:
5 cups carrots, cooked and sliced
1 med. onion, chopped
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 tin tomato soup
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp. worchestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt

Directions:

Slice and boil carrots for 15 minutes...Drain...Boil rest of ingredients in medium saucepan for 5 minutes. Add mixture to carrots; stir well. Simmer in sauce for few minutes just below boiling point. Place in mason jars.

Hope you will try this and enjoy it as much as our family does.