HATS AND OTHER THINGS . . . . .

Yes, indeed, I awakened at 4am and put on my newest Mickey Mouse T-shirt, my dark green bath robe, without matching shoes (didn't paint my toenails) and attended "The Wedding!" I knew it was formal and did the best I could. I must say that both the bride and bridegroom looked wonderful. Her dress was simply elegent. The most beautiful grown I have seen in years. But Oh those hats!!!!! Have you ever seen anything like them before? Cocked over one ear or purchased on the back of the head and hanging precariously. After seeing that style, I have decided that I will stay with WalMart for this seasons headgear.

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In the meantime, I have had a busy two weeks. I often don't update my blog for I feel that I nothing to say. Several Friday's ago I attended a hook-in at my friend Barb's house. This is a social group, friends living in the tri-state area that try to get together once a month to hook, exchange ideas, and eat the wonderful goodies we all contribute.

This is Barb's rose project. She is working for her teaching certificate from the McGown Guild and this is one of her homework assignments. It's really lovely.

Tracie has laid her table runner out on the floor to see how it is coming along. This is a long, narrow piece that is really lovely. The colors are soft and antique looking.

And here is the runner! She started this piece in a Cynthia Norwood workshop held last November and is doing a wonderful job on the piece.

This piece is being done by Jill. She also started this in the Cynthia Norwood class. It is jill's first experience using a wide cut. She is doing a really nice job of this with soft coloring.

This is our friend Linda working on her snowmen bodies. She is starting early to make a number of Christmas ornaments. My oh my, to be so organized!

This is our Jill working on her piece. She will be leaving us in June and going to live in Japan for 2 years due to her husbands new job. We will sorely miss her - she is a wonderful member of our group.

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I also attended the Cumberland Valley hookers this past Monday. It is the first time I have been to this group in several months due to my illness. I was very glad to see everyone again and I am afraid that I didn't get much work done - to busy talking! I know that Pat (Hook,Hand and Heart blog) has already posted pictures of this event but I have a few different ones.

Here is Ann working on her large Pansy. I think this will be a seat cushion or a mat when she is finished. It is a beauty.

One of the ladies is working on a checker board. Sorry I can't remember whose piece this is.

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On Tuesday last week I taught my regular Tuesday class. Ellen is back home from Texas and we were all glad to see her. She had "show and tell" of the pieces that she worked on when she was away. She attended some classes with a teacher living nearby and had a number of things to share with us. Also Elinor had attended a Pam Bartlett workshop and had things to share with us as well as the project she worked on in the workshop. All in all a good day and a good lesson session.

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On Wednesday I attended my Pearl McGown Guild Chapter meeting. These are my oldest hooking buddies and I really enjoy this small group. Our numbers have dwindled over the years due to moves and deaths as we all get older however, we are all avid hookers and many of the ladies have there work shown consistently in Celebrations. This is the group that gives me inspiration and helps me to keep hooking even when my hands say "no more."

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In the mean time spring has arrived. What a wonderful time of year, however we also have had terrible rain storms and high winds.

In spite of it all the bulb garden that we planted around "Mr. Tree" last year has bloomed and looked lovely. A sure harbinger that summer is on the way.

And the Magnolia tree was lovely this year. Blessed with more blooms than ever until the last rain and wind storm. When I sit to the computer and look out the window this tree is in my line of sight. What a lovely view.

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I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend. Richard is here and I hear the lawn mower going full force. Time to sign off until next time and get a bit of year work underway.

Doris

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to me!

Yep! it's my birthday. I was born on April 15, 1999. I'm twelve (12) years old today. I cannot believe it. I don't know where the time went. I was born on a farm where the owners both worked full time away from the farm, raised cats as well as Jack Russell Terriers, and left us to our own devices every day. The only other pup in my litter was a boy! He was much bigger than me and managed to get all of the food. Boy, oh boy, I was very skinny and as they say, high on my legs. My mom thought I was the ugliest puppy she had ever seen. When her daughter, Kristen, brought me home, she couldn't believe what a mess I was.

Look at me now - I'm beautiful. I used to have to steal any food that I got. But when I went to live with the Aymar' even tho they had Molly, Lucy, and Beau, we all had separate bowls and I got plenty to eat. I did keep stealing my own food for a long time but I am over that foolishness now. I haven't posted for a long time because my life has been very placid. No illnesses, no strange critters in my play yard. We did have some snow this winter but not as much as last year. It did seem colder to me this winter and everyone but me had a cold.

Here I am sitting on the deck steps in the snow watching the birds. I sometimes try to catch them by leaping up in the air but they are very quick to take flight.

Last week mom and I were out on the deck and this is what we saw in our pasture. The whole herd had come to munch on our newly growing grass.

There are 12 deer in this herd. We see them often. I am so good when they are in the pasture. I never bark or try to scare them away - they are so big compared to me!

I am patiently waiting at the back storm door for mom to let me in. It has been warm enough this past week for her to leave the kitchen door open and I can smell what she is cooking. Boy, oh boy, she cooks chicken, and other goodies for me. The Vet says that for my age I am really in good shape. It's true that my girlish figure has gotten a little "bulgie" here and there, no ribs showing on me, but the vet says that my diet is a good one and I agree with him. It tastes really good to me.

This is my "poor dog" look. It is the one I use when mom puts her shoes on. In the house she wears slippers and I know that when the shoes go on she is going to leave me. I have perfected this look and it gets her every time.

I know you have seen this picture before. I hope you don't mind that I am posting it again. I am still up to my old tricks, trying to give mom a laugh every day. Ths crazy picture is one of her favorites so I thought on my birthday I would make her laugh again by showing it.

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In closing this post, I want to say a special hello to all of my friends in blog land, Eema, Peanut, Loocie, and of course, Miss Millie. I hope all of you are well, appreciating the good life, and keeping the barks and laughs coming. Until next time . . . . . . . .

Eloise

BLUE AND GRAY RUG SHOW

Each month at the Blue and Gray Rug Hooking meeting one of the members is responsible for giving us a rug show. This month it was Doloros's turn. Enjoy!

All of the above rugs were our show plus

many that I didn't get pictures of.

This is a rug in process and it is being

hooked by Brenda

Brenda just finished this lovely pictorial

This dog rug was hooked by Joan. Note the

interesting border

This is not a hooked piece! It belongs to

Thelma. It is worked like a penny rug

would be done - all applied pieces and

absolutely adorable.

I always enjoy not only the rug show at Blue and Gray but the companionship and the willingness of all of the ladies there to share their knowledge. It is a group that is a pleasure to attend.

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I will be attending a local hook-in on Friday so look for more rug pictures next week. This is really an area that is in to rug hooking in a big way .

Doris

The Storm - - - -

Last evening a little after 5 Eloise and I went out to the deck to look at the sky. A storm was coming. The sun was setting.

At the horizon it looked like the sky was on fire The firey sun thru the trees

This black cloud immediately above the sunset

A frighting and awesome sight.

Doris

FEELING GOOD . . . . . . .

When I awaken Tuesday morning I really felt good! Hooray, hooray! It's been a long haul. When I went to the doctor's last week I complained about my lack of energy and always feeling tired. His answer was that I had been ill and I was no longer twenty-one. DUH! I knew that! So, feeling well I decided that I could accomplish something.

First thing I did was take my pot of sour dough

out of the frig, put it on the counter to warm.

Tuesday evening I set a sponge to rise

Wensday morning the sponge has risenEarly Wednesday morning I gathered the

ingredients for sour dough honey bread and

using the special honey that Sunny had given me

I proceeded to make bread. I meant to take

pictures of what I was doing but got

so engrossed I forgot. However, above are

the four loaves of finished bread.

This bread has a wonderful texture and

is really yummy just as is or toasted.

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In the afternoon, it was so warm and sunny that I spent some time walking around the front yard. Yep, it's beginning to look like spring. The grass is green, the Magnolia tree is full of buds just ready to burst and the peonies are beginning to peep thru the earth.

Just a few pictures of some of the early

flowers that are blooming.

sorry I couldn't get pictures of my Jonquils.

They are absolutely beautiful. We had a

very windy day and they are facing downward.

Ah! Spring.

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The weather today is beautiful, strong sun and a warm breeze. Eloise is outside taking a sun bath on the deck and all is well with our world. With good energy, good vibes, good bread to eat and beautiful flowers to see, what more can a girl ask for?

Doris

HOOKING IN -

About 10 days ago I went to a hook-in of the social group that meets monthly in the homes of it's members. This past month Beth R. was the hostess. It was the first time I had been to her charming home. It is situated somewhat up South Mountain and the view from the dining room windows is awesome!

Barb, Jill and Beth -

Jill and Barb have just returned from their second

year of Teacher's training held at Cedar Lakes,

W. Va. Jill is treating us to a presentation

that she was required to give as part of her

training. It involves a geometric that she

hooked.

Here she is showing us the geometric.

A close-up of the piece. This piece is hooked in secondary colors, green, purple and orange. The shades of the colors used makes all of the difference. To further complicate things, Jill had to use dip dyed mateials. I call this a job well done! The ribbons twinning thru the geo are wonderful. Here is Barb working on a rose - one of her workshop projects. Joan is working on a wide cut oriental. She had taken a workshop in this facet of hooking the week before and is well along on this rug. It was a cool day and we all appreciated the warmth and the glow of the fireplace.

The following rugs were hooked by Beth and

adorn her home. This rug is mounted over

the fireplace.

I believe this rug was on the floor in front

of the fireplace.

This rug was hanging on the wall. I could not

photograph all of the rugs in this lovely

home but believe me when I say they were

all well done and interesting.

In addition to hooking, we had a lovely luncheon. It is always nice to have friends to hook with. The companionship and the wealth of shared knowledge is priceless.

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I do think that spring has finally arrived. I have jonquils and and some miscellaneous bulbs blooming and I am beginning to give some thought to how the yard looks and what needs to be done. Looks like it's time to mulch, mulch and more mulch.

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I am working again on my pictorial and I hope by the next posting I will be able to show some pictures. Until then keep the hooks moving and do enjoy the spring.

Doris