REPORTING IN

Hi everybody, it's me again.

I know I have been away from the blog for

a long time but my mom has not been feeling

well and I must stick to her side like I'm glued 

there.

As you can see I look fit and

I am afraid I am loosing my 

girlish figure in my old age

(12 plus yrs.)

 Now that winter is here the wood

stove is going again and I love

to toast my hind parts.

A month or so ago we had the first snow fall of

the season.  It was a real surprise to everyone.

We NEVER have snow in October.

Mother Nature must have been having a

bad hair day!

 Here I am on the deck steps looking forlorn

because it is so cold out.

I am missing summer when I could stay out

for long periods of time and take sun baths.

I haven't told you about my summer yet.

It was a relatively quiet summer.  Mom

and I stayed home a lot and enjoyed the

deck and the wonderful sunshine.

I only had two encounters!

One was a garden snake, about 12 inches long,

I shook him and shook him and

then I flung him to another part of the yard.

I am a mighty hunter!

The second encounter was quite different.

This guy was BIG!

A black runner about six feet long and 

quite fat.

Mom cane out with her trusty weapon, the leaf

rake, and moved him along to another part

of the property.  Just didn't give me a real chance to

show how brave I am.

Since the weather got cold I have been spending

a lot of time practicing my "poor dog" look.

We had one interesting episode last week.  Richard, Sheri and

Traci were here on Saturday.  Richard and Sheri

had been down in the family room, getting things ready

for Christmas.  When they came up to the kitchen they

saw a mouse on my water bowl.

The nerve of that guy.

Richard tried to catch him - but what do men know about

catching mice?  Once he ran he was a goner.

The girls screamed, mom jumped, and

I was very good.  When Richard told me to drop it, I did.  

Nasty thing!

I caught another one on Monday morning and

now I think the house is mouse free.

My big job now is waiting for Santa.

I have been taking advantage of the living room

chair and mom's computer table to

watch for him.  Guess I just have to be

patient a bit longer.  I have a very pretty

stocking with my picture on it

and it is hung, with care, and ready to

be filled.

I'm glad to report that mom is feeling better.

She still is having trouble walking because

her leg is numb but she does make herself

walk but she still can't do stairs.

We have dispensed with most of the Christmas traditions

of the house, and will be having a simple repast

instead of everyone's favorite dishes.  Mom just

doesn't feel she can cook all of that food.

She will be making her famous Shrimp salad and

Pumpkin Pie is already in the freezer.

Today she baked a batch of her spiced nuts - it

made the whole house smell like Christmas.

We are looking forward to having the whole

family with us this year.  I'm sure that Santa

will be his usual generous self and that

all will have a good time.

Mom and I want to wish all of you a very merry

and blessed Christmas as well as the best

of health and happiness in the new year.

Don't forget to tell your family how much you love them.

That will be the most meaningful gift of all!

Until the next time, take care of yourself, I will post again as

soon as I have more news.

Eloise (and Doris, too)

THE WEDDING

On Friday, November 4th at 6:30pm

Miss Brandi Nelson

and

Mr. Curtis Harbaugh

we married at the Courtland Mansions in

Hagerstown, Md.

Brandi is my grandson's oldest step child

and therefore my great grand child!

They were married in the courtyard of the mansion

Mother Nature provided us with a beautiful

sunset that gave a pink glow to everything.

Just lovely

Starting down the aisle

The groomsmen and best man waiting for the bride 

Approaching the alter

Brandi's sister Lisa, the maid of honor

Saying their private vows to each other

An overall alter scene 

 First dance for the bride and groom

First dance with Richard

Tasting the cake with lots on the face!

Finding the garter

Danyel, Brandi's youngest sister, and 

her significant other.  A beautiful bridesmaid and a

handsome groomsman

Three beautiful bridesmaid's taking a break from

dancing

I have purposely saved this picture till last.

It is a very special picture.

The bride and groom are exchanging two colors

of sand so that they can never be parted.

This was the most beautiful wedding I have

ever been to.  Mother nature provided us with

the beautiful pink glow that lit up the

courtyard.  The girls were all beautiful and the

groomsman all young and handsome.

The dresses were absolutely lovely.

No candles were used in the ceremony.

They were used only to light up the aisles.

All of this beauty

and

the bride was the only one that could not

see it.  She is blind.

Needless to say I am very proud of

this young couple and of their mother and

step father.

I have so much to be thankful for and I realize what a lucky person I am.  My family is the most important thing in the world to me and I thank God each day for them.  I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and count your blessings.

Doris

SECOND TIME AROUND

Well blogger has done it again!

We are simply at odds with each other.

I do wish whatever "knot" he has up his %$#@

he gets rid of soon.

In addition to loosing everything I had typed yesterday

I also have lost over half of my previous postings.

Since I still am unable to leave comments

I guess blogger and I are really at odds!

However, I was anxious to post so that all of

my blogger friends would know that

I am still alive.  I have been going thru a bad spell of 

depression but am much better now.

AN OLD HOOKED RUG

I gaze upon an old hooked rug

Three generations scaling,

Mosaiced with lots of colored stuff

That gave an eerie feeling.

I know one pattern near the edge

Was cut from Grandma's satin rare,

The brown stuff patterned like a wedge,

Was Uncle John's first little pair.

That bit of scarlet on the right

Was Grandpa's very gayest tie,

And when he wore it he would say

"Inside this makes me feel knee high."

And poor Great Grandma's special dress

Made by a famous Paris house,

In little patterns here and there

Run in and out like a gray mouse.

You know it really seems to me

We ought to tread with care,

Perhaps we ought, I wonder now

Kneel on it with a prayer.

Author:    Constance Kemper

From: The Dreams Beneath Design

By: Pearl K. McGown

I have been researching some items

for my classes and came across this poem

and it really touched me.  

I wanted to share it with all of you.

As the holidays approch, I hope that each and everyone of you has more than your share of things to be Thankful for.  Be sure to tell your family's how much you love them.  I feel that we don't use the word "love" with out families often enough.

Until the next time stay safe, keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart!

Doris

AN OLD HOOKED RUG

IT'S OVER! (Officially over)

Summer and Fall are definately over!

SIX (6) inches of snow on Saturday

Can you believe that in October????

No more fried green tomatoes from our garden

 One of the joys of the Maryland summer

 These are from the last crab feast of the year.

Just last Sunday the whole family met at

Gilligan's crab house on Pope's Creek to

celebrate the marriage of my grandaughter Victoria.

So sad to think that we have to wait another

year to pass before we get to enjoy these lovely

creatures again.

\HOOKING

 Just a few more pictures from Lancaster.  A few of

my favorites.  These very large Poppies caught my eye

 I think this is my favorite of the whole show!

Look at the love in that dog's face.

A wonderful hooking job

1. 

 Imitation of Paisley

A very interesting piece

 I know I showed this piece before but I wanted to

refresh you memory because I want to show the

picture below.

What a terrific hooking job this face is.

So expressive, beautiful yet sad

Of course, I bought some wool - how could I not?

I think that we all have wool "itis"

 Some of the wool for a new piece I am

planning to do.  I should be ashamed of myself.  You

would think I don't have any wool

OR

Any projects started and in the "not finished"

category.

Oh well, gives me something to think about while

the snow is melting!

I hope all of you that went to Lancaster has a wonderful time.

I'm sure that it will be a long time before ATHA comes

to the East coast again.  It was good to see so many folks that I knew and to be able to spend time with Lauren who came all of the way from Ohio.

We had a delightful lunch together.

If you read her blog "Rugs and Pugs"

how about sending a small check to the Ohio Pug Rescue during

this holiday season?  This is an all volunteer organization

and all of the money goes to the "dogs."

I hope all are warm and cozy - so many without electricity

in this area.  Do take care of yourselves.

Thought for the day -

Everyone who says they have only one life

must not know how to read a book.

 Unknown

Doris



MOMENTS IN TIME

IT'S SHOW TIME

Yes indeed, it surely was show time.

The Biennial held in Lancaster, Pa. this past week

was surely a winner.  Frankly, I have never seen so many people in a hotel lobby before.  Speaking of hotel's, The Eden is a beautiful place and we had wonderful accomodations.

The pictures for this blog posting are just to wet your appetite to see more.

 A few shots  of the shoppers - sorry they are fuzzy but

so many people all moving around.

Traci, Joan and Barb looking at wool in one of the booth's

 More talking about what wool to select - did Joan make up her mind?

 This hooked piece says it all.  Hooking is an art!

The following pictures are of some of my favorites in the show.

In another blog posting I will tell you more about our

activities but I wanted you to see some of the

hooked pieces first so that you can begin to enjoy the work.

This picture "stole the show" = it was beautifully hooked.

This closeup's of the man's face says it all - the hooking

was wonderful

 

 This piece was hooked by Joan Strausbugh (spelling)

I believe I have a better picture of this rug which I will post later.  My computer has a mind of it's own today.

 To me, this was one of the most spectacular pieces in the show.  The Lion's face was beautifully hooked and the mane was prodded!

Look at the beautiful colors in the mane.  The prodding was quite high and very nicely done.

I hope that this litte bit did wet your appetite.  I will be telling you more about out activities and showing more pictures.  According to my camera I took 75 pictures but I promise not to bore you will all of them.

I would like to acknowledge my friends that made it possible for me to attend the biennial. THANK YOU Sunny and Traci.  Eloise also thanks you!

Thought for the day

Beauty is not in the face.

Beauty is a light in the heart.

 Kahil Gibean

Doris

A LESSON LEARNED

Unfortunately, my lesson learned was on a beautiful rug pattern designed by Pearl McGown.  The name of the pattern is "Maturity."  I still think that it is one of the most beautiful rug patterns

I have ever seen.

The rug is room sized (9 x 12)  I had planned it for my dining room.

I no longer live in that house and of course, this rug

will never be completed.

The picture above shows a portion of the rug that has

been hooked.

 This pic shows what happens to rug backing when not properly

cared for.

 Look at this mess!  This is what happens when sun and heat

get to a pattern backing.  This did not happen overnight.

This is the result of several years of laying in the sun.

In addition, I folded the rug instead of rolling it and

the creases deteriorated more quickly than the rest of the backing.

I have decided the thing to do is cut off the unused portion of the

pattern, and just simply hem the piece.  I will than use it as a visual aid

for my students as they learn to hook flowers.

The following pictures speak for themselves.

I thought I would share than with you in case you are struggling

with hooking flowers.

 A lavender Dahlia  with lavender leaf.

 A dalhia of a different color with bud..

 What a mess!  However, there is an example of the

back of a rose.

 Rose with buds

 A better view of the back of a rose.

Yellow is one of the hardest colors to use in a hooked rug.  I don't think this rose is super good but it is the one example I have of a yellow rose with blue green leaves.

 Lavender Tulips with blue morning glories.

 Another Tulip - slightly different color.

 A two toned Lily

 A different type of Morning Glory with bud

 Full blownMorning glories with buds.

A stilll different Morning glory

I hope that I haven't bored you to death.  I have been looking

at the wreck of this rug for several months now

and it has been on my mind to share it wilh you.

I hope you like what you see.

I am still unable to leave comments.  The minute I preview them they disappear,.  Also if you have the small pop up window for

your comments, I am unable to certify who I am

and blogger insists that he./she know who I am.

I would like to say hello to Julia, Courtney, Nettie, Lauren,

Cathy G., Moosecraft, and all of my other blogger

friends

Quote of the day -

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf

is a flower.

Albert Camus

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

Doris