Rub-a-dub-dub

....cranky poodle in the tub! Mom says company's coming so I had to get a bath.





So NOT impressed. (but I do smell like fresh flowers)

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Doing stuff

A day off.  A big yellow sun shining in the sky.  A cup of coffee on the deck.  All good things for me today.

That is how my first day off began.  I went downtown and stopped in to visit a few friends, got my 2nd coffee fix from Flow Lifestyle Boutique, then grabbed a great Hummus and Chicken Toastie sandwich from the Art of Eating Deli, and retired to the deck again.

I had a nice cold Bud Light (just in case I got dehydrated ya know) and my Kindle for an afternoon of reading and relaxing.  Hmmm, battery low on the Kindle.  Well, I had no choice but to fully recline on the zero gravity chair and have a nap.  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!

Later this afternoon, I thought I should do at least one chore so I replaced the door knob and lock on one of the doors.   Since our beloved handyman Clayton passed away a few months ago, I don't have someone to do all those little chores.   I'm actually quite handy, but if you can get someone else to do that stuff - why do it yourself?

I have tools and I know how to use them BUT I pick and choose the types of chores or fix-it tasks I will admit to being able to do.  Basically if I have to get dirty to do it - forget it. 

No crafting today.  It was just too nice outside.   I hope Day Off #2 is just as good as today.



Thursday thoughts

It's hard to concentrate all day when Thursday is your Friday.  Yep, today was the end of my week :)   I have 4 days off........in a row. 

I was so excited you would think I had 4 weeks off instead of days!!  But it has been so busy at work that 4 days off.......in a row is like a PARTY!

And the last hour before vacation is always so painful.  I think I counted down each individual minute. 

Yesterday was the first of my fresh vegetable delivery from the farm co-op I joined.  I did it last year and just loved it.  Fresh vegetables, locally grown, organic - perfect.  This weeks delivery was full of lots of salad greens, swiss chard, pea shoots and strawberries.   I ate the strawberries for lunch and tonight made this tasty salad.  I added a little smoked salmon and threw in some blueberries.

It's amazing how much better this tastes than the stuff you get at the grocery store.  I had never had pea shoots before but they were tasty and I am told them are great in a sandwich or wrap.  Maybe tomorrow. 

Chats on the Porch

It has been too long since I have joined the Farmhouse Chats on Patrice's Porch.  This seems like a great week to jump back in.  I wish I had a carrot for Wendell but I'm hoping he will accept an apple instead.

I'm hoping Patrice's porch is covered as we have had torrential rain all day.  But sitting in a nice covered porch with a mug of coffee, listening to the rain fall will be just fine.

Here are this weeks questions.

1. What's your favorite day of the week? Why?

Well, usually it depends on what is on my calendar at work.  Any day with too many meetings scheduled is not a good day.  But in general I would have to say Thursday is my favorite.  Mom has adult day care, which she seems to enjoy and I usually get to go out to lunch (without having to cut up someone's food)

2.   Do you have a blog? Please tell us the name of it and how long you've had it.

Well, obviously this is my blog :)  I started it in July 2009.  I'm glad Patrice asked this question, so maybe I won't forget my anniversary next month.

3.   What's the last book you read? If you're not a reader, please tell us about the last movie you saw.

I just started reading The Hunger Games.  I'm not too far into it yet, but hopefully this weekend I will get lots of reading time.

4.   Do you ever doodle with a pen or pencil while something else is going on?

All the time now.  Last year I took a workshop on Zentangle.  I love it.  When I am sitting in work meetings for hours, the entire border around my agenda's are covered in zentangle doodles.

5.  Tell me about your bathroom towels. What color are they? Do they all match?

I have a bit of a thing for shower curtains.  I change it every couple of months and then coordinate the towels.  Currently there is a bamboo thing going on and beige and white towels. 

Don't forget to go visit our Hostess for these chats - Patrice from Everyday Ruralty

Red

I thought a red background on my flower rug would really make it pop. So I went looking for a couple of different shades and textures. Of course I got a teeny bit carried away and ended up with a bag full of wool, yarn, slub, and a couple of different ribbons.




This is just a sample of my lack of self control. Katherine, who works at Deanne's, (aka The Mocker) was helping me pick. Even draping skeins over my neck. I think she needs to be re-named The Enabler. I don't need encouragement to over-buy rug hooking supplies. I seem to have that skill mastered :)

I'm going outside my comfort zone with this mish-mash background plan. The rain soaked weekend gave me an opportunity to get hooking.






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Sweet Friday ride

This was my mode of transportation today.



Not a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon. Good times, good friends, a few nice shots and a cooler full of beverages in the back of the cart.




FORE..........

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From head to toe

It won't take you long to realize I had difficulty coming up with a fascinating blog post tonight.  So instead you get this one.

My pal Robin (AKA The Cranky Crow) asked how my new fella was doing.  I introduced him here.  He is doing wonderful and I think it is almost time I suggest he needs a little haircut.  What do you think?

Speaking of haircuts - I am having a bit of a bang issue.  I painstakingly grew out my bangs last year and last week in a particularly bad hair day, I had them significantly trimmed.  Now they are just long enough to hang in my eyes, yet just too short to tuck behind my ears.  Now that is frustrating! 

Since this post is titled head to toe I should tell you the other stupid thing I did.  Last night I decided instead of a pricey professional pedicure, I would just re-paint my toes with that hot red nail polish.  I was in a hurry and in a poorly lit room.  This morning, in the stark light of day, it looks like the ends of my toes got caught in a meat grinder.  Seriously!  Might need to splurge on the pro pedicure after all. 

For those of you who suffered to the end of this post, I appreciate it :)   I'll do better next time!

Progressing

It's a wrap on the weekend again.  My migraine did not return and I was able to enjoy this nice sunny weekend.  What has been a rare treat lately - an entire rain-free weekend! 

I have even made some progress on the abstract flower rug.  I think I have passed the point where I usually give up so you might get to see an actual finish on this one someday!  In fact, I think my original idea has expanded a bit, but before I go into any of that detail here - lets wait until I get a little further along.  (Just in case)

Since relaxing was the theme of this weekend, I thought I would close this post with a picture of the Queen of Relaxation.  She works so hard all day, following the sun spots around the floor, stretched out on all her glory, basking in the heat.   It is exhausting work, or so she says.....

Can't you just hear what she is thinking?  "Mommy I'm tired, please rub my belly".  What a life!!

Ends with Y

I have been quiet all week.  My Grandma used to say if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything.   So I thought of that often this week.

The week can be summed up with words that end in Y........

Grumpy, Crabby, Whiney, Bitchy (yes, I said it), Witchy, Moody, Yucky, Busy, Crabby (yes I said that one twice)

Then I took Friday afternoon off to relax and try to get back to normal.  I had plans!  Then by 2pm a mild headache had turned to migraine.  Spent the rest of my afternoon off in bed.  Arrrrgh!

By this morning I felt better and decided I needed to find another happier Y word to start my Saturday.  A quick trip outside to find.....

DAISY

A happy word that ends in Y. 

I may have turned the corner :)



Straight ahead or sideways?

Sometimes when you start something you have no idea how it will end.  Will it run smoothly (like the delusions in your head) or go sideways mid way through?   (sideways is most likely)

I finally decided on my next rug hooking project.  And ironically, that piece of wool I showed you in the last post, will not be anywhere in this rug.  Go figure huh!   It will avoid the cutter for now and live to see another project.

I was looking through some old photos I took last summer of some flowers and one of them was always one of my favorites.  It is taken from the back stem angle of the flower, not front on.  So I thought I might try and hook it.

I have this dream of hooking one great abstract rug.  I have tried a couple of other times and given up early on.  The partially completed messes are stuffed behind one of the sofa's, hopefully never to see the light of day.

I'm not sure what possessed me to try again.  Even now as I look at it, I am lost.  I am going to keep going (for now).   I'm sure every abstract project looks bizarre in the early stages.  (Right??)     It probably was a stupid plan to try and get re-inspired with a frustrating project, however I am trying to hold on to the notion that this rug will not go all sideways in my head.  

In the event, after a few more hours of hooking this week, you never see this rug again (or ever hear me mention it again) - you will know it has joined the other flops stuffed behind the sofa.

Soggy Saturday

After 5 long workdays, the weekend finally arrives.  And what happens??  You wake up to rain, rain and more rain.

That put a crimp in my plans.  No backyard, no sitting out on the deck, no barbequing.

I woke up with this desire to hook.  I haven't felt much like starting a new project.  But then the mental nagging started.  I "should" be doing lots of other things - housework, office work, etc. 

So I wasted so much time arguing with myself, I ended up drinking coffee with baileys and laying on the sofa reading all afternoon. I did finish the 3rd book in the 50 Shades trilogy.  (blush)  I think my next book choice will be a little more serious :)

I have this piece of wool that has been taunting me.  I have been hoarding it, waiting for the right inspiration.

This is a crappy iPad picture but the wool is very rich and pretty.  But I don't have a clue want to do with it.  All I know is I want to cut it up and use it.

Any thoughts?  Something simple and primitive?   Hookers Block......what a pain!



My new fella

You know us single gals,

we are always on the prowl for a cute guy.

I thought I would introduce you all to my latest guy.

We just met last week and he has already moved in....

He's a really looker isn't he?

I always wondered about those studious looking bald guys.

At first I thought he must be real smart because

people always say

"grass doesn't grow on a busy street"

But then today I noticed a few sprigs of green hair

sprouting up

Sorry the pic is a bit blurry, but trust me - it's green hair.

I'll keep you posted on "our relationship" 

He's not much of a talker but

he sure is cute!

P.S.  This was the craft done at Mom's Adult Day Care last week.  He should soon have a nice crop of hair to show you.



Weekend Update

It has been another busy weekend.  Friday evening was our town's Relay for Life event.  A few friends and I went down for a couple of hours to join in the festivities.  It is always a wonderful event full of laughter and tears.  I have yet to watch the Cancer Survivors walk their victory lap without tears streaming down my face. It is such a moving sight. 

Our little community has a lot of spirit.  Relay teams fund raise and hold events for months leading up to the night.  I am proud to say that $184,000 was raised for Cancer reasearch and support!

Saturday I decided I should finish up some UFO's.  I have several rugs that have been hooked for a long time, waiting to be bound.  Why is it so torturous to complete that task??  This particular rug has been hooked for over a year or so.  (Shameful, I know)

She is a Deanne Fitzpatrick design and is currently for sale in my Etsy shop. 

This only rug has been hooked for a couple of months (see, this one didn't take years to bind) and is also listed on Etsy. 

Since I was on a roll, getting jobs done I have been putting off - I also updated my iPod playlists.  I was getting bored with what was on there.  Plus it's summer and you need some fun driving tunes.  An eclectic mix including lots of classic rock with the Eagles, Queen etc.   You know, the kind of tunes that make in easy to get a speeding ticket.

What is it about classic rock tunes that makes your gas pedal foot heavy?  Or is it just me?

The finshed result

Well, I have finshed up the little projects I showed you last post.  I think I may have over-hyped the project!  The little snaps I collaged were actually not part of a single rug.  They are little hooked mini-pillows filled with dried lavendar buds.

A local business downtown (owned by my friend Stephanie) had offered to sell some in her Boutique.  So I gave her a few a while back, thinking she was just being polite and never expecting them to sell.  Well, who would have guessed it but she sold some!!

And then......asked for more.......YIPPEE!   So yesterday I delivered some more and re-filled her little display.

So, the next time you are in Downtown Amherst, stop into to Flow Lifestyle Boutique and grab one (or two).  :)

Now that those are finished I am wondering - What is my next project?