Since last we met ...

I've been busy!  Here's that rug I finished, "The Flying Gardener".  I really love her and want to give it to my grand daughter but don't know if she'd like it.  But I also would like to keep it for a while to enter in the fair next year.  Decisions, decisions ...

"The Flying Gardener", a JuJu Vail design.  Been hooking on this rug for more than a year; it was WAY out of the box for me because I usually choose more muted colors ...  Plus, it's pretty big, too!

We enjoyed lunch with my brother Don and his wife Nancy around the first of the month.  Went to Greencastle to Almost Home.  It was a good lunch and a great visit.  While we were there about a bazillion old Ford Model T's and A's went through.  We were all distracted (except Don, who had his back to the window) by the stream of cars going through on the highway!  I wish you could have seen all of those old cars!  W. talked to a couple who came into the restaurant to eat, and they said they were traveling as a group and headed to Rockville.  You know, that Covered Bridge Festival is going on there right now ...

The Holy Hookers had their first meeting at Select Insurance in the conference room and we had a great time.  I think it'll work!  There were 5 of us I think.  We think more could easily fit in and even spill out into the front room and/or hallway!  It was fun.  And good to catch up on what's going on with Jane & Deb!  However, the daytime group -- not so much.  I was the only one to show up at the library in September and yesterday it was just Margo and I.  So I'll give the daytime group till the end of the year then probably pull the plug.  It was a good idea but ...  Hey, I really do enjoy the time away from distractions here at home, where I can just sit and hook and get a lot done!

We had a good visit to Michigan to visit Ray, Gloria and Veronica.  We watched a soccer game (and they won).  W. & I are impressed with the improvement in play that just one season makes.  The team is doing well.   Ray took us to a nice brew pub in Hastings for my birthday lunch while we were there.  (Oh yes, I did have another one on the 7th ...)  I've gotta say, Gloria is a most excellent cook!  We had two amazing dinners at their house!  (And I'm not just kissing up.)  On the way there we stopped in Kalamazoo and I got an 8-dent reed for my loom so I can change the look somewhat on my next run.  The trees were changing up there and it was a beautiful drive home.  We took a detour through Bluffton and visited with Mom for a while, getting home LATE Sunday night.  She is doing really well and was in good spirits.  Here's a pix from the soccer game.

That's our little #27!

Also went to another Hoosier Hills Guild meeting and the Jolly Homemakers met, too.  It keeps me hoppin!  Made a big fruit tray for the church men's breakfast but was told only 9 guys showed up!  (frown)  Jeff and Jane came through and we met in Bloomington at the Trojan Horse for dinner Saturday night.  Another birthday celebration for me!  All in all, I've been busy.  Best news, I get to scratch "paint exterior doors" off my to-do list!  When I get those flower beds cleaned I can say I'm ready for winter.  Sign .....
 

The view from our front porch ... fall is here.

Have a blessed weekend! 

Painting, dyeing, etc....

These past few days have been full.  Want to start by showing you a little lapel pin I made.  I based it on an applique pattern I saw in a Maggie Bonanomi book, adapting it to make a lightly stuffed pin.

I pinned it on this denim shirt to give you an idea of how he looks ...

I've been hooking, too, and finally finished a rug (I don't know what to call it but it's a woman watering her cats) that I've been working on for about a year at least.  Now I can start hooking something new!  Also, thrown in there, I've been painting.  Painted the garage door on the house and the man door on the garage.  Gotta still do the big garage door over there.  We are painting the doors a dark red/brown.  AND I cleaned my work room ... YEAH!  And Wendell is cleaning some at the garage, too.  I guess we're getting ready for autumn.

I also spent a little time dyeing wool with marigolds.  Will add a "page" at right on "how to dye with marigolds" as I have time to pour the pix in here ...  It is fun to dye this way but takes time (waiting, waiting, waiting).  I think I'll try dyeing with tomato leaves and vines, too; supposed to make a nice green even though it's sort of fugitive.  But I really needed the yellows.  The greens?  Not so much ... we'll see.


We finally got over to Madison.  It was just a beautiful day and I gotta say this is my time of year!  I love the blue, blue skies and the clear air.  We walked the whole downtown and stopped at a few interesting shops.  Wendell did spend a little time sitting on benches, waiting for me, at some places.  But all in all he did good!  (LOL!)  My favorite place was the Galena Garlic Company where I got some interesting olive oil, smoked paprika, and a Greek meat rub.  Also found a cute little enamel saucer (it's shown in the Uncle Sam picture below) at a antique store I could only describe as a jumble!

Of course you gotta go see the Lanier Mansion when you're in Madison.  They have refurbished it since we were there last.  I should have taken a picture from the porch, facing the river, which is to my back in this picture ...

Here's an Uncle Sam whirligig Neil White made.  I LOVE it!  (the little enamelware saucer I mentioned is holding the candle)

This weekend I think we'll go to the Made in Greene County event at the WRV High School.  Second year for it and we didn't make it last year.  But we gotta get up early for the best things so I'll set the alarm.  Hope you have a good weekend, too.  And let's all pray for rain here in Indiana!