Locker hooking rugs

In October, at our quilt guild's retreat, Gwen taught us locker hooking-a rug making techniquethat uses a special hook & latch hook canvas. We made "rug mugs"-approximately 4" X 6" coaster for a coffee mug. We used quilt weight cottons. I liked the technique, but wasn't happy that so much of the canvas showed through on mine. Gwens rugs didn't have that problem. I decided to use some of the recycled wool that I've been buying at the Goodwill store.
This is the first rug that I made-It's small 16" X 25". I just wanted to make sure that I liked working with the wool & the resulting product. I love it. The kitties love it.

I decided to make another one the same size. It was a fun, design as you go pattern, but I like the looks of the first one better.

I just finished the third one this morning. It's 26" x 32" & I'm really happy with the finished rug. I feel that I succeeded in making it random, but balanced. I want to start another, but will try to discipline myself to finish the quilt guild newsletter & a few small projects first.

Ashley fitting for a prosthetic

Poor little tailless kitty thought she would look nicer with a tail. No, this one's too skimpy-let's try another...
Wow! this is more like it! Don't I look sexy? (wink)

Fall leaves

Fall leaves are at their peak now.

Shhh-don't tell the kitties

It's not even Meow Mix. This is the container that I fill with the very cheap store brand cat food that I use to feed the feral cats & the raccoons & opossums. We give our indoor kitties a variety of the pricier cat foods-Iams, Science diet... Mostly with labels that state they are for sensitive skin (See how shiney their fur is getting?)
After I fill the outside cat bowl, the indoor kitties think that I'm giving them something special when I give them a handful of cheapie stuff. I guess that it's the same thing as giving a hot dog to someone who eats caviar & lobster every day.

Necklace

I will be out of town for the Seventh Annual Kettle Creek Music Festival on the weekend of August 10-12. (http://www.kcmusicfest.com/ ) It is a benefit for the Kettle Creek Ambulance Association. Since I won't be able to be there spending money, I decided to donate a necklace that I made for their Chinese auction. It has turquoise, bone, coyote claws & fangs & a raccoon baculum. (penis bone-the reason that raccoons don't need Viagra)

cabin pics by request

Deirdre requested more description of our cabin construction. Here's a couple of pictures from last winter. A short history of the project. When I met Charlie 26 years ago, he was finishing the inside of a 12' X 16' cabin-1 story with low attic. (The section with the peaked roof on the right of the unfinished portion) He was only able to work on it 1-2 weekends/month & with a 5 hour ride to get there, that really means only working Saturday & there was no electricity.
The next section to be built was a 12'X12' shed on the right side of the original cabin. After that, the electric Company decided to wire our mountain & we got electricity.
Next project was a large 8'x8' outhouse. (We do not have running water.) It's not visible in the pictures
He decided that he wanted to add a large lodge 24'x32' with a barn roof & a second floor 20'X 32' because of the roof angles. He wanted it 12' from the original cabin. I persuaded him to hire a local contractor to dig a foundation & lay blocks instead of pickaxing & building footers which would have taken much backbreaking work. We built that section & a deck between the 2 buildings.
Now we're working on the "tower" connecting the 2 buildings. It will be 2 stories with a deck on top for hunting, sunbathing (not me) & relaxing.
I'm proud to say that Charlie & I have done most of the labor ourselves with technical assistance & help from his brother & occasionally a few friends. The only other thing that he has contracted out is the roofs. He hates doing roofing.
I keep 4 sewing machines & an 8' long map table for cutting etc in the lodge so I can entertain myself when not involved in construction.

A good day for pictures

We went to camp Tuesday to do a little construction. It turned out to be a good day for pictures. First-a beautiful clump of indian pipes just pushing out of the leaf litter.
Second-a beautiful Red Admiral butterfly. It seemed very friendly-flittering around us & landing to sun itself. (The temps were in the low 60s when I took the picture.
On our way into Cross Fork we saw 2 birds in the road. They were Marsh Hawks AKA Northern Harriers. This one was in the sun. I zoomed the camera as far as it would zoom, took a picture & then we attempted to inch closer to try again. The second one grabbed what it had been pecking at (A small mouse?) & they both flew away. Oh well, at least I got the one picture even if it's a little pixilated.

This is what we were working on. A little wall on the first floor of our tower addition. above, you can see the second floor wall that Matt built when he & Linda visited a few weeks ago.
When I was not chasing butterflies or helping Charlie, I worked on a bracken fern basket coiled with hemp. I love the color variation in the stripped stems-from a rich red brown to a pale green.

Buddies sharing a favorite food

Charlie & Ashley-scallion buddies. Ashley has decided that she loves scallion greens & charlie has always enjoyed them.

Garden pictures

A view from our front porch. The tall lillies in full bloom. The aroma is incredible!
An unusual daylily that I bought at a Mennonite multifamily yard sale. The lady didn't know what color they were, but thought they were the common orange tiger lillies.

birthday pics

I finally got around to downloading the pictures we took on my birthday of Charlie & me between my tall lillies & a mullein (Weed/wildflower.)