Faves...

The latest video from Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, 'Please Read the Letter', is available to see here...Please Read. ENJOY!

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I think this guy is so talented...and probably should win this season's American Idol. David Cook...singing Chris Cornell's version of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".

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Here is my fave for this season of Dancing With the Stars...Kristi Yamaguchi with Mark Ballas...

That's all for now!

My Next Hooking Project...

Yup, I've decided! YAY!

Now that my New Life Challenge mat is done, I've been thinking about what I have that I want to work on. It was no easy task making the decision, let me tell you!

I have several unstarted/unfinished projects! But, I decided to work on The Fruit of the Spirit, a design by Sally Kallin. I saw this hooked up at the last hook-in I vended at in 2006 and fell in love with it! Here is the pattern hooked by Sally...this photo does not do it justice!

Mine will be look very similar, as I also bought the background/border/basket wool for it. The size is 26 x 35 inches and I will hook it in #6 and #8 cut strips.

I am so excited to finally be starting it! I may not show each loop I hook, but I will keep you posted on my progress.

My Next Project...

YAY...it's the weekend! One really shouldn't wish for the weekdays to go by fast, but I sure am happiest when I am at home on the weekends.

Here's my next project...do ya think you know what that project might be? There is a red/orange solid, a dark olive solid, 1 stripe and 1 plaid that coordinate. I'm so excited...cannot wait to get started!

WAIT! But, first...I need to finish my New Life Challenge mat. All I have left is to steam it one more time and then I need to get a good photo. The deadline is Monday at midnight. I'll put a link on here so you are able to see what everyone else did...those I've seen thus far are AWESOME!!

Have a great weekend!

New Curtains!

YAY!!! I now have curtains on my office windows! This is the east side of the house and I get lovely morning sun, so I didn't want to cover the entire window. I am not fearful of someone peeking in (not sure how many people carry stepladders around with them...and that's what you'd need to see in the window), but I wanted something there.


The fabric is just a cotton solid that I've had forever...finally found a good use for it! Took me longer to measure and pin than it did to sew those straight seams! I hung the curtains on spring tension rods that fit inside the window casings (did not want to make nail holes) and wala! Here they are!




Now to do something with the sunroom...so named cuz of all the sun it receives! I'm thinking something kinda different. I'll have to think on it for a bit.

Happy Easter!

So Close!

Remember the view from Thursday like this one, showing grass? Well, take a look at the photo I snapped just this a.m...there is no longer grass...we got more snow! With 6.6" plus, we should be just about to 100" for this winter season! YIKES! That is more than twice the average.

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A bit of entertainment news...Johnny Depp has been in Wisconsin shooting a movie. A 1930's gangster movie...he plays John Dillinger in "Public Enemies".

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What have I been up to lately? Let's see, I finished my New Life Challenge rug last night. Sorry, no photo. Today, I need to make some curtains for my office and bedroom. That was to be my winter project and here it is spring!

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I finally got around to ordering wool from Dorr Mill...they have the New England Natural again...YAY! I love it, as it is more fluffy than their regular Natural. It has darker fibers running through it, too, so primitive dyes turn out very primitive-looking. Brenis and I have been in the process of putting together a dye book...life has gotten in the way several times over the past year and a half...so now we need to get at it and get it out there!

Have a great weekend!

Today is the first day of spring...YAY!

What a difference 6 weeks makes...remember this??

Well, here's (almost) the same view today...

LOVE to see that grass...even if it's not green, yet!

But WAIT! We are supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow tomorrow!

{sigh} Gotta love Wisconsin!!!

Monday, Monday!

Just a few things to say today.

I added 2 new blog links to my list on the right side...

Rug Hooking with Cindi Gay

and Star Rug Company.

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I was in Eau Claire for several days...and was able to spend a lot of time with my longtime friend, Janer. Here is the stitching I did for Janer's birthday. It's redwork...the pattern is just a bunch of different things I put together from an antique embroidery book. Practice bands, motifs and lettering. I sewed cotton strips all around the linen, sewed a backing on, and stuffed with sawdust. It measures about 5 x 6 inches. I am very pleased with how it turned out, and Janer really liked it! Made my day!


Here is the most recent photo of my beautiful Mama!

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That's all for now!


Except...for those of you who care...the new season of Dancing With the Stars starts tonight! YAY!

Princess Allegra...

I've been spending a lot of time talking about Tag E. Butt, and not much on my other dogs....especially Miss Princess Honey-Do Allegra. Now, as most of you know, Allegra is the name of an allergy medication. But, did you know that it was also the word used in music for 'brisk, lively tempo'? In Italian, the 'o' ending is male and the 'a' ending is female. Her breeder is a violinist, so there you have it! Anyway, she was diagnosed at 3 months with patent ductus arteriosis, a heart defect...and ended up with me! YAY!

She has always had this 'it's all about me' attitude', so I call her Princess from time to time. Very fitting for her. Her mother won several 'best of (fill in the blank)' in the show ring throughout her lifetime...and Allegra looks much as Ani did.

She does have a few things that support her 'princess' attitude. Most were given to her by my friend, Kim. Here they are...

Her Princess bowl with crowns around it that she eats out of everyday...

the jewels are not as shiny as they once were.

Her Princess pillow.

Her Princess tag that hangs on her crate door.

Her Princess picture frames...

And, of course, because Allegra is a medicine, drug reps used to give out advertising items (pens, clipboards, hand lotion containers, penlights) with that name...I also got this apothecary jar. See the heart cookie in it? That's been sealed in there for almost 10 years...very fitting...you know, heart defect??

Just in case you've forgotten how beautiful she really is...here is the Princess, herself.

This is one of my favorite photos...look at the coat on that girl!

She will be 10 years old next month, so I suppose I'll have to write something about her again!

Have a great day!

Doodling...

Hmmmm...it's been a bit since I've posted. My computer has been giving me some problems, so it's been difficult to do much of anything. ACTUALLY, my satellite speed internet is what has been giving me problems! Apparently, there is a 'fair usage policy' that restricts one to a specific amount of uploading/downloading and I was well over the limit. So, they restricted my usage and SLOWED my speed down. Holy Schmoly! But, all is back to normal now...whew.


I am so happy that it is almost spring...even though we may have some cold days and more snow, at least I know that it won't be here forever. I tell ya...this winter has not been kind to me. More good news...daylight saving time begins this weekend.


I took this photo just now...about 5:30 p.m....where a month ago it was dark, now the sun is low and about to set. Next week, it'll be even better! I am most definitely a 'daylight' loving person. More energy flows through me when the sun is out, that's for sure!




Lots coming up...my sister Jill is coming for a quick visit tomorrow. She's coming to Madison to hear Steve Earle, and will come by way of Stoughton (quite a bit out of her way) to give me my birthday gift! Looking forward to seeing her!


My Mom's husband, Ray, is having surgery next week...he has stomach cancer...so I will be spending several days in Eau Claire with Mom. Will get to spend some time with Janer...so I am looking forward to that. The only thing is the surgery is quite a major one and Ray has multiple problems. Please keep him in your prayers.


Tag is definitely stoned on his phenobarb...poor thing. He's functioning fine...just a bit off & unsteady on his feet at times. He's adjusting, though, so that's good.


I've been working on my New Life Challenge rug and some stitchery. I'll show photos of my finished projects soon.

Happy Weekend!