Its raining cats and dogs  today. I have been browsing through my photos and found this celtic fish mat. I have been thinking that I should try to hook another fish rug. Maybe I can plan one now.I am almost finished a rug except for the whipping. Ah,I  always hate finishing off the rugs........A lot going on around here at home........Our son just left for a job in Oregon . I think he will enjoy it.I have never been out there but am told it is beautiful......I am planning my holidays in Canada  now. There is a sale on flights .Flying has become so expensive and you have to take advantage of any sale that is out there....I will be there in July .......There is always plenty of things to do and see in NL.. I will be stopping to see my 2 grandsons in Ontario .......Wish we lived closer....It should warm up tomorrow.It is cold today ,not your usual Iowa weather ........I guess walking is out but I can do the chores that I have been avoiding ......Not much happening..........So rain rain go away.........Its Memorial  Day weekend and it should be sunny and warm............

I finally finished the paisley. I like it but the ornge red tail gets lost at the edge.I guess I may have to think about fixing it up a bit. What to do?I am coming along with the Salt cod/Grandfather mat.I am working on the beach now......Grandfather and Uncle Joe are hooked in tshirts and I think they look very primitive.I may have to go back and work on their faces.......Just heard that I am in the exploring texture class at the Newfoundland Rug camp.Ya!!!!!and so is my friend who I meet ther. Actually another NL rug Camp friend is in the class as well. So lots of great people .We should have fun..Can't wait.I do need to plan something for that.

I still need to get to the Decorah school stuff. I plan to use a story that my husband told our sons when they were young. It was a bedtime story telling time for them and they have fond memories  of Bench the Leprechaun.......I will hook a front and back cover .I need to get working on it.I always have lots of ideas and I will be with Sharon Townsend who is the perfect teacher . I was planting and cleaning up the flowers for a few days now. Got the bulbs in ,Glads and dinner plate dahlia .Hope they come up.......I missed my walk yesterday so after my pot of tea I will try ......I always have my Canadian orange pekoe Tetley Tea in the Tim Hortons Tea pot. Just the right size.......I did hook on Saturday with the Altoona Library group...We have certainly grown.........The person who organizes this asked me  to go to Bed <bath and Beyond for a bit of shopping. I wonder how the trunk organizer worked our E.Thanks E ,I enjoyed it .Maybe you will read this..........I may have to get one myself.........So no matter whatever else is happening in my life I can always garden and hook which is  relaxing and fun.............I do need to whip the rug .....Paisley.....Maybe an orange red ,,,,,,,a bit of colour for the edge..........Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day!!!!!!!!!!

Pottery Barn Rugs: Creating Our Hand Knotted Wool Rugs | Pottery Barn

Painting is done .......most of it .........

I spent the last week painting the living,dining and two bathrooms. It looks good and the colour was croissant. Thanks to my friend June for motivating me to do this. When the guy at the paint store mixed the paint i noticed it was a combination of black,maroon and yellow. Must be a rughooker thing .dye pots and all......I have not been hooking much but am at the beach on the grandfather rug........I guess I will try a bit tonight. I do need to finish the trim in the bathrooms .After that I thought about painting the den/t.v. room. May have to wait for fall.....i will get back to my walking today and that healthy eating plan I am on........We just got a new storm door .....finally.....The cat can't bring dead things in now..........I just saw a book from canada that I may want to read /short stories High speed and crow by sheila McClarty. Great review . It is not available here so I may have to get it in Newfoundland for my summer reading. Can't wait to go and I still need to plan that as well. It will soon be June and I need to get a design planned for the Decorah Camp. I have decided to do Gervs'Bench stories for the Grandsons....Just need to get myself moving on it. Anyway, the weather is nice.A walk today and maybe I can plant the dinner plate Dahlias as well........well why not............My son told his Grandfather once that he was lazy. Dad who was a hard worker said that was not a good thing...He was not a lazy person...........Funny the things you remember.........I will not be lazy and will get to the flowerbed today...........

Happy Mothers Day Ride.........

Mothers Day ride . Earlier today I went on a Windsor Heights Mothers Day ride from Colby Park .My husband organized it and about 12 people showed up. We all rode as far as the river and back. It was a nice sunny day.I took a few photos along the way and have posted them here. The  group talked about doing a once a month Sunday ride .Sounds good. I was admiring all the work done in the park and the nice community center .I met another rughooker from  this area a while ago and we talked about getting together for hooking. I may call the center to see if they would let us use a room once a month for hooking. It might be a good idea and what a nice spot ......Something to check out.........I have hooked a few more salt cod and hope to finish them off tonight. Happy mothers day all..........I guess I misssed the horses we passed ,must post the picture.....Beautiful horses enjoying the sun...........

This was one of the first rugs that I hooked. It is one of my favourites and I love the story that it tells. It is from two photos of my grandmother and father. the first photo is of Grandmother standing next to the wheelbarrow with flowers and a cake in each hand. The second photo was a photo of my father pushing the wheelbarrow to the Garden Party with Grandmother walking behind him.There is a tradition in Newfoundland/Garden Party Day where the community raises money for the church and community.There will be wheels of chance ,pony rides, and family oriented activities.There is always a cold plate dinner that everyone goes to......Sometimes it is a hot turkey  but I remember it was always a cold salad plate as a child.....Lots of childhood memories. I do try to get out to the Garden Party in st. Marys where my father came from. Beautiful place .Always an enjoyable time................

JUST Go Hook It - Rug Hooking: Le CAKE-EASY & CEREMONY

JUST Go Hook It - Rug Hooking: Le CAKE-EASY & CEREMONY: " Chocolate biscuit cake there are many versions of this , Williams favourite cake and one of 2 for the WEDDING , floating around on..."

Grandmother Halleran

This is a photo of my mother ,cousin and Grandmother. It was taken at the family home in St. Vincents,Newfoundland,Canada where Mom grew up. The other photo of the hooked rug was a rug that I hooked of Grandmother carrying water. It was a gift for my Uncle Joe. I don't remember a lot about my grandmother . She passed away when I was a baby.The story that Mom told was that Grandmother was taking care of me one morning. She was in town and my mother went out shopping.After Mom got back Grandmother became ill and passed away later that day. Mom told me that my grandmother loved to have fun and was an easygoing person. She always talked about the wonderful gardens that she planted  and growing up with her brothers and sisters. I do remember my grandfather .I often spent time around the bay with my Aunt and cousins.My Aunt cared for Grandfather and I remember that he loved  his pipe ........Lots of wonderful memories ,playing outside,cubby house, and going down to the shop and walking to church on Sundays with my cousins......A beautiful place where people go to watch the whales summertime...I always manage to visit each summer and I have fond memories of St. Vincents.........

How do I use the Blogger Reading List?

How do I use the Blogger Reading List?

I remember when My Grandmother used to come to Town in the taxi and stay with us. This is a photo of my father and Mrs.Lil .The people in the community that she lived in called her Mrs.Lil. Grandmother was a hard working woman,she was a local midwife,ran a boarding house and was a woman who contributed much to St. Marys ,SMB.I met someone a long time ago who had studied to be a nurse and talked about my grandmother and her reputation as a wonderful midwife ....I do remember visiting her in the retirement home where she spent her later years. I would always bring After Eight Mints which she loved. I have a beautful photo of her when she was young taken in Boston .......Such a wonderful Grandmother. Well ,I guess I should Blog about my maternal grandmother tomorrow. Mom told me so many wonderful stories about her. She had a story about Grandmother Bonia .Mom and Dad were visiting and Grandmother was cooking dinner. She asked my grandfather to go out to the cellar and get a few potatoes . He was reading and said in a few minutes. He continued to read and after awhile decided to go out to get them. Grandmother looked at him and said she had the potatoes in the pot boiling . She had already done it and they were nearly cooked. I remember the homemade butter.....and all the wonderful goodies............Next blog Grandmother Halleran........A sunny day here and a walk for sure.............I did hook a great rug of her The Garden Party which I must post....Dad was pushing a wheelbarrow full of goodies with Grandmother behind him......

Gratitude In Grief: You're Just Like Your Mother...

Gratitude In Grief: You're Just Like Your Mother...: "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln Growing up, I often ..."

Grandfather Halleran and Uncle Joe

I have been working on this for awhile. I hooked Grandfather and Uncle Joe with recycled t-shirts . I decided to hook the sky with some of my dyed wool . I dyed some a few days ago to finish the sky. I plan on finishing the hill soon and then I will move on to the salt cod.and the beach. This is from an old photo and I have hooked it before.It was one of the first rugs that I hooked with rags . I am hoping to donate this to the museum in the community that mom was from .I hope it turns out well .......I love the flowers that I bought . It will soon be time to start digging in the garden.......I guess I should start looking for a few interesting plants to add to the flower beds.........My spring flowers are staring to fade. They did well this year.A beautiful day here so I hope to fit in a walk later..........Bring on the sunshine!!!!!!!!!