First Attempt

I had said that I would post a picture of my finished mat; instead, I have decided to share this photo of my First Attempt at Painting with Acrylics and have to say I enjoyed working on this immensely. My sisters-in-law and I had lots of laughs but I also learned a little about painting which is something I have wanted to do for years but never felt that I would be able to turn out anything that would be recognizable. However, I am proud of my accomplishment and maybe will do other paintings during some down time......I wonder when that will be??????

Still Harvesting

Well, I have been SO busy over the past number of days that I just could not get to my blog. These pictures will give you an idea as to WHY I have not had much of that precious tool.

In between everything else, I did complete my mat and have another piece of burlap sewn and ready to draw my pattern .....it being another Mummers Mat but an INSIDE Scene.

I will post the finished product tomorrow, if all goes well...Have company around again..Family members... Tonight, the four of us are planning a get together to learn how to paint, something I have always wanted to try my hand at. After tonight I may not want to see a tube of paint again. We'll see.... :)

Hook, Hook, Hook

I have spent the last two days hooking my heart out every chance I get. Yesterday we dug the last of the potato crop which amounted to 40 sacks {about 50 lb. bags EACH } Sweat, Sweat. Happy that part is done. Now on to carrots & turnip just as soon as the weather is suitable. Love the rain though... That means I can stay in and Hook..... :) I have to roll the mat once more for a small part that is left. I have 6 more to do before Christmas. Not too sure if I should have made the commitment!!!I will be more careful next time around.....

New Mat

Have gotten around to beginning another mat, this one being a "Mummers Outside Scene". I enjoy hooking this particular one because of the bright colors. As Anne-Marie Littenberg said in her "Hooked Rug-Landscapes" book...."Color has an emotional resonance.....it influences how we feel even if we are unconscious of its effect". This statement is so true...

Turkies and Mona

Yesterday, Sunday, being a nice sunny day {for part of the day anyways}, the Turkies decided to take a long stroll from the barn to the top of the hill to see what life is all about for us in this part of the territory. In one of those pictures it seems that Mona, our guard dog, is kinda shy about their coming up and wondering if they are allowed. In the other, she is trying to get them back to their own abode. However, they were determined to stick around for a while so I had to go out and make sure they went on their merry way. They are so quiet and such beautiful birds. Very gentle....

Publication of my Mat/Story

I had a pleasant surprise today when I picked up my issue of the "ATHA Newsletter" of which I am a member {ATHA meaning "Association of Traditional Hooking Artists"} and discovered that the story and picture of one of my mats that I had submitted some time back was chosen for publication. Needless to say, I am very pleased and want to share the page with you.

Here are two completely different photos for you. One of the promised completed mat named "Resettlement in Newfoundland" and one of today's labour.....Our first Potato Harvest. Yesterday was also a fairly busy day with making "English Bread & Butter Pickles" with the last of the cucumbers.......thought they would never stop growing..... also, 32 bottles of clams. Needless to say, I don't get much time for mat hooking, but after the meal this evening I WILL have a "spell" at the next one which is "Mummering"....an Outside Scene. I will post as I make some progress.

CANNING

Busy day again today. I wanted to share this picture of our day's work which began at 8:30 this morning.... eight hours later this is what was accomplished. No small feat.... My DH and I have a VERY good friend who is always around when we need some help and we are forever trying to do something to repay him in some small way. He was fortunate enough to have a moose license this year and "Got His Moose BY" { A Newfoundland saying for those who are wondering } . He needed some of it canned and so with US having the canning tools was happy to do this for him.....I'm sure we will get a small taste of it..... :) 50 bottles was the outcome......

I am expecting my son, his wife and their two schnoodle dogs later this evening so I will be busy over the next few days....gladly; however, if I complete my mat I will post a picture of it. It is just about finished......

Hope everyone who is celebrating "Thanksgiving" this weekend, has a Good One...

Vegetables

WOW!!! Just couldn't resist sharing these photos of our green peppers with you. This is the first time growing these in our new greenhouse and what a success it has been. Still more there that are not quite ready yet... Not sure if the weird looking one is safe to eat or not....

Moving Along

A photo of the progress of my latest mat "Resettlement in Newfoundland" which occurred in the early 1960's when Government moved people from the small islands in Newfoundland to the main parts of the Mainland so that people could better themselves. This is questioned yet today.

I usually make changes as I go along, as I have done so far on this one..... I LOVE using bright colors as it brightens my day and hopefully the buyers as well.

Other part of our family

As promised yesterday, here are the photos of our two cats....Smokey & Goldie....not too difficult to figure out which is which. Spedo, our six year old is the Gold & White Shih Tzu while Mocha, the two year old is Beigey color with the Black face.....

Tomorrow I will post a progress picture of my mat...

Part of my Family

I would like to introduce you to my two most faithful and trusted friends.... Spedo who is six years old and Mocha who is two years old. I am talking about my ShihTzus. In my opinion, they are the most lovable, loyal, kind, patient little critters on the face of the earth. Wherever I go, they do as well no matter if the trip/walk is short or long. If any of you are planning to have a dog and have children, this is the ideal pet. In tomorrow's post I will show you how much they like their friends, our two cats..

A Day of Hooking.....

Happy times are here again.....Spent this rainy day hooking my mat, an order of one of two, for an Aunt in N.S. The other is a Mummers Outside Scene, which I will get to as soon as this one is finished. I will have to stop and harvest some of the vegetables before long.... Just as soon as the rain decides to cease. Also, the cucumbers are refusing to stop growing this year which means I have to make more pickles very soon as well..... So much for an abundance of food, of which I am very thankful....
Here is a picture of my mat thus far......