Garden From Above

Before I went to the hook-in on Saturday, I wanted to take something to show.

I haven’t hooked a whole lot in the past year, so I decided to step on it and finish

the little rug I started when I took a workshop with Heather Ritchie earlier this

summer.

I’m so glad I took the time to finish it for the show!

This is one of the most FUN rugs I’ve hooked in a LONG TIME!!

It’s representative of our back yard and garden from above….mainly it’s fantasy, but I just love

how it turned out.

The sparkly blue represents our swimming pool, and the dark green plant that sticks up is an agave

plant….the little white flowers with the pink centers are the dogwood trees in bloom.

I’ve got little sculpted bushes and red hibiscus….

This is just pure whimsy!

Black eyed Susan up in the right hand corner.

I finished the back by simply turning under the backing and whipping it down with upholstery thread.

It’s not the most neat job by any means, but honestly, I “can’t be bothered”….I think that is the key phrase

to getting things done…..I learned that from Heather Ritchie (the saying) and I think it helps me get more done

and not get too caught up in the details that really don’t matter (to me, that is)

 

“I no longer have patience for certain things,

not because I’ve become arrogant,

but simply because I reached a point in my life

where I do not want to waste more time with

what displeases me or hurts me.

I have no patience for cynicism,

excessive criticism and demands of any nature.

I lost the will to please those who do not like me,

to love those who do not love me and to

smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those

who lie or want to manipulate.

I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense,

hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise.

I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance.

I do not adjust either to popular gossiping.

I hate conflict and comparisons.

I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I

avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities.

In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal.

I do not get along with those who do not know how

to give a compliment or a word of encouragement.

Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting

those who do not like animals.

And on top of everything I have no patience for

anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

~José Micard Teixeira~

Hiking the Nature Center

Is it hiking if you are wearing tennis shoes?  Well, it’s definitely more than just walking!

Sunday morning I went to the Nature Center and hiked the trail twice to get in my 5 miles for

the day on my FitBit.

What a beautiful way to start the day.  Normally, when I go out and walk, I take my iPhone and

listen to Jillian Michaels podcast….I just love her…if you want to download her free podcasts

just go HERE ….she talks about way more than diet and fitness….I swear, listen to her, you’ll fall in love!

 

On this day, I just unplugged and walked.

Such a wonderful day, in a wonderful setting.

I’m quite enamored with tree roots, so don’t be surprised if you see more pictures of tree roots

as we go along here.

Most of the trail is shady with sun shining through the trees.

I also have a thing for fallen trees with odd lichens growing on them…..so interesting!

Other parts of the trail are out in the open and you walk on these boardwalks.

Some of the boardwalks cross little streams.

Some of the paths are composed of rocks….that’s why I call it hiking….you have to pay attention to

where you are walking.

Climbing a stony path…

Beautiful moss covered rocks.

More interesting tree roots!

More fallen trees with lichens the size of dinner plates!!

 

Here is a tree that is standing with the same fungi…..so cool!

I don’t know that this goes anywhere, but in my imagination, it’s a little cave entry to a secret forest world.

You can take a little 1/10th mile detour and sit in the photo blind to try and photograph wildlife.

I arrived too late for there to be too much action going on….

The bees were about the most active thing I saw, give or take a few squirrels.

Most of the leaves are still green, but I did find a little bit of color near this bridge.

Not sure what kind of bird house this is…..it was really big!

I did see a little turtle family sunning themselves on a log….have never been so excited to see turtles!

What a great way to spend 5 miles!

Modern Moose

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I have a love of bright colors!

Perhaps one day, YEARS from now, my rugs will be soft and faded, but for

now…..they’re bright!!

I think this pillow will go in our lodge themed room, but the lighting in there

is not the best for photography, so I’ve photographed the moose pillow in

my girly room, sitting in my hooking chair.

I’ve had this moose pillow hooked and bound for quite some time now, but I just really don’t like

finishing things and having to put them together……

I blogged about the moose HERE, way back in March!

I took this to Saturday’s hook-in and diligently stitched on the backing and then gave it a little retro

twist with the bright yellow thread…..I’m happy with how it turned out!

I plan on hooking more pillows in the future….I’ve got several big rugs and I just don’t think I have room

for more…..pillows….well, you can always find a place for them!

Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook-In

Saturday, Dulcy and I drove to Warsaw, Missouri to attend the Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook-In.

In my opinion, it’s one of the best hook-ins in our area! Patty Wallace and her crew from Saltbox Primitive Woolens really do a 1st class operation!

Beautiful rugs on display and gobs of top notch vendors!

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Here are a few of MY favorite rugs from the show!!

This was a really LARGE rug…..love how whimsical it is and the happy colors!

I just love nature rugs and I thought the sky in this was really pretty.

The picture just doesn’t do this rug justice….the colors were perfectly vintage hued….sweet!

Carolyn Snider’s rug….I can pick out her work a mile away…..always has that old look to it!

Another one of Carolyn’s rugs….isn’t it funny how after you’ve hooked with someone for years, you

just KNOW their work?!

Love this rug….it’s so “Frank Lloyd Wright”!!

Perfectly Primitive!!

My grandparent’s raised pigs, and as a girl, I had a pig collection, so of course this one caught my eye!

I know there must be a story behind this rug….

I had a collie as a girl, so this one is extra sweet in my eyes!

Just look at that background…..beautiful!

This was another BIG whimsical rug!!

 

As I said, there were many wonderful vendors!!

Everything from handspun yarns…..

from Black Sheep Wool Designs

Wonderful wools from Nola…..who brought her President Rugs!!

There were socks knitted from an antique sock knitting machine….

All of this was in a setting where you could look out the windows as you were shopping,

eating, or hooking and see the beautiful lake…

Dulcy and I took a little time away and went down to the lake to paint and sketch a bit….

 

I didn’t get any hooking done, but I did stitch the rest of my moose rug and have it finally

finished into a pillow…..I’ll share that with you soon!

Enjoy what’s left of your weekend and thanks for stopping by.