How the Concert Began...

How exciting this must have been for those who were there! Brings tears to my eyes...

The boys did a smash-up job and Jason did them (& his Dad) PROUD!

TODAY is the DAY...

... I sure wish I was in London! I am definitely there in spirit, though...man oh man...the concert has begun! London is 6 hours ahead of my time zone, which means they are clearing the stage for the 'boys' as I type this. There is a song-by-song blog on NME if you'd like to check it out. The website is jamming, cuz so many of us are accessing it. Try this link NME. OR, better yet...go to Steve Sauer's blog...lemon squeezings. I know I will be glued to this computer much of today. Here are a few photos from yesterday's rehearsal, which I read was absolutely AMAZING!!!! LED ZEP ROCKS!!!

photos by Ross Halfin...click on his name to see many more...they're awesome!

More later!

Hookin' & Stitchin'....

As some of you know, 90% of the Christmas gifts I am giving this year will be handmade. Been working on the pillows (see below) and I also plan to do some stitchery pieces. I know...why do it ahead of time when one can wait til the last moment???? Anyway.

Here is my FIRST stitchery piece. Yesterday I learned there will be an ornament exchange at the clinic party this coming Friday...YIKES! But, since we're all vets or techs, I felt a cat would be a safe thing to stitch. Besides, this cute pattern is from Kelley Belfast and she does primitive cats so much better than I do primitive dogs! I did the 2007 freehand...am thinking I should have graphed it out...hahaha.


Anyway, I am quite proud of this...took a few hours...the stitchin itself measures 1 7/8 x 2 1/8 inches...32 count primitive linen (over 2 threads)...reallllly small. No wonder I had to use my magnifier on my lamp! I'll find some prim fabric for the backing and then will age it all with a special recipe I have for that purpose (cinnamon, coffee, vanilla).
AND, here is the 4th and final pillow...all hooked! Still need to make the 4 of them into pillows, but heck, I have a few weeks yet to do that. {grin} This is showing much darker than it is, but otherwise the snowman is way too bright...would blind you, methinks! This snowman comes from Kelley Belfast's Merrie Wynter booklet of patterns. Cute guy, hey?


Now to sit and do nothing...yeah, right.

Led Zeppelin playing at O2 Arena tomorrow!

The countdown continues...tomorrow is the big day! Led Zeppelin plays at the O2 Arena in London! Hope all goes well for those who were able to get there...and that they have a fantastic time! I will be anxiously waiting to hear all about it.


Here's a link to take the tour of the O2...it is awesome...and HUGE!

Snow...

...and lots of it...ugh. I may have to move to my summer home...this driving on ice-covered roads for 1/2 hour is not going to be fun!

COUNTDOWN...

ohman, I am soooo envious! In 5 more days, thousands upon thousands will descend upon the O2 Arena in London to see the one-off gig of LED ZEPPELIN!!! The chatrooms/forums/email lists are FULL of excitement and the talk...of plans, post parties, setlist, the magic, the power!!! Wish I was going!

3 Down, 1 to go...

Here is Conlan's 'brown dog' pillow...all hooked, anyway. Started yesterday afternoon and finished this afternoon...24 hours...YAY! I had a ton of brown woolens, so cut them up and used them randomly...I think it turned out okay. I know Conlan will LOVE it! It measures about 12x17 inches...roughly the same size as Kaylynn's 'sheep dreams' pillow I posted a photo of yesterday.

Not sure what design to do for the 4th pillow...perhaps a snowman????

Finally got another one done....

Here's what I've been working on...another pillow. This is 'sheep dreams' for Kaylynn...and it's showing darker than it actually is. But, it's all hooked and pressed. I love the woolens I used in this one! When I had my wool all over the living room - sorting through it - I found this lovely plaid I had gotten from Mary Flanagan woolens, and just by chance, I had 1/2 yard of a solid that matched it so well! I really have no idea what dye I had used on the solid...perhaps a bit of toffee??? And, of course, I always have brown on hand, so it wasn't difficult to come up with a piece that was perfect for the head/ears/leg! For the top of the head, I cut the plaid and the solid in half (so, like a #4 cut) and hooked one of each together in the same hole...and pulled the loops higher. I have decided that I don't really like hooking swirls, but I am happy with how this turned out.

I'll take a photo of all the pillows once they are completely done (ya know...once they are pillows).

Going to start on Conlan's 'brown dog' today.

That's all for now!

Thanksgiving in Wausau

I'm home...had a great time in Wausau! My grandkids, Jasmine (almost 9) and Conlan (almost 5) went with me to Jill's house. It was just Mom and Ray, niece Jenni and her son, Trent (4), Jill's daughter, Michelle, and me with the grandkids...a small group of us. Conlan and Jasmine came here Friday night and stayed over...they had a great time playing ball with Tag that evening. Got up Saturday a.m. and left for Wausau. We had our usual Thanksgiving feast of turkey and all the trimmings. YUMMY! As always, we ended up playing cards in the evening...I won some, lost some. Came home today...dropped Jasmine and Conlan off to their parents and am home! Man, I do love being home! Had such a great time and so enjoyed my visit with my family. Tony - Jill's son who is in the Air Force and stationed in Anchorage (spends a lot of time with our sister, Joyce) - and Julie (our sister who moved to Coloroado earlier this year) were noticeably absent...and missed.

Anyway...I had my camera at hand the entire weekend and didn't take photos. That is, until Jenni and Trent were leaving and I thought, "OHMYGOSH! I haven't taken any pictures...must get some of the kids!!!" Geez...where was my head??? Those were the only pictures I took.

Trent, Jasmine, and Conlan...

I have tomorrow off and will be hookin', hookin', hookin'!

Happy Thanksgiving - Stop Motion Video

People are so creative...and obviously have much more time on their hands than do I! Thought I was going to laugh my fool head off over this one...enjoy!

Johnny Cash - Thanksgiving Prayer

Have a very blessed Thanksgiving!