My Gals!

After a frustrating morning driving downtown I needed some relaxation so picked up my hook to finish my gals. They are ready to hit the shops - them rug hooking shops of course that sell gads of wool in all the most beautiful colours. Now on to the background. Thought I would do a paisley sky a la deanne fitzpatrick. By the way this is her design. I just love her big boned girls. My last UFO to get done and then.....
got lots more new projects/ideas stacked on the shelf - ready to have wool and hook taken to them.

Have you seen Susan Quicksall's designs from Holly Hill? I am sure you have in the various rug hooking magazines. She is amazing. Just ordered her dye book - these use Prochem, which I have not used as of yet so that will be a new adventure! There is a colour I have seen which is gorgeous - vergis.

So sorry for all you folk having rough weather down south. I think it should be me, up here North of you, who should have some of that snow - but I would be happy if it held off until December 20th.  

Happy Halloween...Joni

Road Trip - New Hampshire

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to visit my favourite wool store - Dorr Mills. It's about a 3-1/2 drive from Montreal to there, through some lovely mountains. The leaves were at peak colour that Saturday. This is just a snapshot of what we saw.....

This is where we eat every time we go to Dorr. They sell the best fish and chips in town!

The boy, and the ever present eagle.



I don't know the name of this bush, but just outside the doors of Dorr there they sit - absolutely brilliant red!




As we drove hrough the backways we encountered this town, which had the most amazing parade of characters. It was such fun to see them all positioned. Of course we stopped the car - held up traffic and took pictures along with a few other passerbys...



Just love this one!



This grouping was hilarious....




Don't you love the teddy...



This one had us chuckling..



..and don't you see the little puppy peeking out from behind the postman.



On the way home - a pic of one of my favourite red barns that will make it into a rug someday!

Mittens and Purse.. What I am Working on

This is a wonderful purse pattern by Loretta Moore from Hooked on the Lake.  Everything is included except the lining. She has a very nice selection of some primitive purse patterns. They are easy and fast to hook and I am just about to start putting it together. I want to get it finished this week because next weekend I will be going to the Glebe Community Center in Ottawa where they are holding a fibre fest. Loretta will be there as a vendor. I am hoping to bring it as a fait accompli!

This was a recommended site by Loretta of another rug hooker who designs these great mitten kits. This is next on my to do list. These are not normally my colours, but I find it is sometimes a good thing to pick up a kit in colours that are outside of your comfort zone. It's a great exercise in hooking with them and getting comfortable being outside the box. These are from Tish of  Tishkits.

and what are you hooking these days....... goodnite, Joni

Thinking of...........

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'.

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.

I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.

I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.

I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness,

And be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.

My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house ...

There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.

I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand,

I can enjoy the warmth of the words.

I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many.

My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house ...

I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.

I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves.

I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be

I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.

I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.

If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house ...

I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...

Knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.

If I am ill, I will be doctored.

If scared, I will be calmed.

If sad, I will be cheered.

No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought.

I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house ...

I will belong.

I will be home.

- Author Unknown

Miss you.............



Road Trip - Bountiful Apples

Today on the spur of the moment my sister and I decided to go on a road trip. What a perfect day it was - warm and sunny and where could we go and what could we do..hmmm October - of course APPLES! So off we went!

We ended up going to Mont. St. Hilaire. To think it is only a 40 minute drive  and I have never been there. There are loads of apple orchards there - seems like the soil around the mountain is very suitable to apple trees. Makes for some very happy apples. red, plump and juicy!

We were not the only ones to get this brainstorm idea. Loads of families were making the trip. 

Many of the orchards even had farm animals to pet, swings etc. and picnic tables where you could bring your own food. I had no idea it was such a whirlwind of activity. One family had quite a set up with wine and hot meals! Then there were the tractors pulling beds full of people out to the orchards eager for their picking adventure. We of course headed to the baked good venue - hot apple pies, breads, and piping hot apple donuts with a swig of apple cider (non-alcoholic - driving of course).

After our shopping spree we headed to Otterburn Park just the next village over from St. Hilaire for some lunch. We found a wonderful little charcuterie owned by a chef who sells meats and also makes the most wonderful sandwiches on fresh mini baguettes.  After placing our order and drooling over the displays of food we hopped in the car and headed north along the Richelieu river for a place to stop and eat our bounty.

We found a beautiful little spot in another village that kindly had a little area of picnic tables right by the river and had our little lunch watching the ferry crossing and the occasional boat cruising the river.  After another visit to an orchard on the other side of the mountain where we had fresh apple fritters sprinkled with icing sugar - pure heaven - we head home. What a perfect fall day spent in the countryside. 

My bounty: homemade apple pie, apple bread,  ginger and lemon bread, croissants, almond croissants ( which I am just about to sink my teeth in), apple jelly and fruit ketchup.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

My Beautiful Boy - May 6, 2003- October 1st,2011

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone

here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills

for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There

is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and

comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and

vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong

again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times

gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small

thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be

left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one

suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent.

His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group,

flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally

meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.

The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the

beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your

pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...