Ring in 2023

Hubby and I spent Christmas with our adult kids in Montreal. The snow, sweet holiday lights and festive markets were a wonderful backdrop for celebration.

 As the year ebbs away, my heart is full of times with family and friends 

Merry Christmas

May the beauty and wonder of Love come down to earth, of Emmanuel—God with us and among us— sing with gusto it’s rich melody in our lives!

May our mourning, strife, anger and hopelessness disappear in the face of this amazing Grace.

Merry Christmas 

Hooked Ornaments

 I’ve been busy finishing ornaments for a job and one for a senior. These Santa’s carry books in their bags— they are going to librarians. 

And Big Mama Squirrel is the likeness of my client’s friend who is fed hulled sunflower seeds year round. Big Mama has raised many kits, has a notch out of one ear and has her whiter winter coat on. 

And here she is in pride of place on her little tree: 

My pre Christmas “to do” list is winding down. Though I kept it low key this year.  I have a brunch this morning with several close friends. Last week we had our rug hooking potluck party. I wish I’d taken pics. We exchanged gifts, ate and ate, played Left Right and Center with wool strips, and laughed a lot. Can’t get much better. 
May your week be calm and bright.

Christmas at Kings Landing

I’m thoroughly enjoying volunteer work behind the scenes at the Kings Landing historic site. Going through the mats here I feel like a kid in a candy shop. But last weekend the site opened temporarily for Christmas in the Village. Sunday was a chilling 24F

so hubby and I wrapped up and headed there. Maybe you’d like to walk through with me…

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The attention to decorating small spaces is charming 

Yes we sampled these sugar cookies, prepared in an old wood stove. Mmmm

The general store was doing a brisk business with hot chocolate, cider and fudge sales. We said yes to all three.

A Christmas tree suspended from the ceiling of the store. 

These horses were decorated with sleigh bells and their breath came out in clouds of steam. 

I’m finishing some hooked ornaments I’m gifting for Christmas. I only made four ornaments on commission this year; too busy with other things to put the word out. I’ll post photos soon. 

I spent the morning making gingerbread cake, a spice loaf and Moroccan stew. The smell was amazing. 

May you pause frequently in the day to connect with others and nature around you♥️

Home Again

The only negative thing about my trip to Virginia was the positive Covid test the day after arriving home.

Between naps I have pulled a few loops.Here is an up to date pic of the Stella mat, the gift rug for my sister-in-law. It’s coming along and I think I like the way “Stella” and the “zzzzz” are not so prominent. What’re your opinions? 

 

Thanksgiving Greetings

 May your Thanksgiving week be filled with family, friends, good memories, and a table of plenty.

 

I am full of gratitude for a warm home, food in the pantry, friends and family galore, the extravagant Love of Christ and the beauty of creation. 

No matter how difficult a season in life may be, there is always always, always reason to be thankful.

 If you’re in one of these may you find some joy my friend. 

Snow and Changes

 

I’m working hard to finish “Stella,” my own drawing of my sis-in-law’s dog who loves to sleep and to chase bunnies.

I hope to complete the dog today. Snowy weather may help me stay in! This will be our first real snow in New Brunswick. 

My news is that I'm saying good-bye to volunteering with my friends at the mental health activity day centre and volunteering once a week at Kings Landing Historical Village. 

I'd have loved to work at the Kings Landing site in summers, donning a period dress and wandering the village, but hubby and I love to rv. But, I discovered their collections centre has staff year round. Don't you know they welcomed me and have me started reviewing their rug collection.

Pinch me!!!!  

In other updates....

I’ve been to a hook-in, hosted by a group from St. Andrews, NB. I sat by fellow blogger, Julia, who had a superb time too.

         The vendor was Get Hooked, Krista Taylor. 

This last weekend, two girlfriends and I went back to Ballast Lodge in Johnson’s Mills, NB. A place of solitude, we had Shepody Bay at our door.

                                      And nearby Ladysmith House hosted a Christmas Faire.

           This is my kind of gown!

I did a lot of looking and less spending--- leaving with ideas plus some fig jam and peppermint wax melts. 
Saturday we leave for Virginia, celebrating Thanksgiving with hubby's family this year. It's his turn. Safe travels to all my US friends over the holiday. Thanksgiving is my favourite: the warmth of family gatherings and delicious food without the pressure of gifts!

Beloved Visitors

 

My parents, ages 79 and 80, drove up from Myrtle Beach area and here they are on our 8 mile bike along the St John river here in Fredericton NB.

They love our province. We had a too quick visit of 7 days. Mom suffers  debilitating fear at times over covid— both spreading it or getting it. It’s a miracle she got here and a gift that she enjoyed it. 

I’m so blessed to have flexible work, so we had most hours together. 

        

           The two small stones are all that is left of a hundred? or so who decided to establish Fredericton in mid 1700’s. Apparently most died of exposure. All they had were tents and make shift huts. The cold would have been brutal here. I find it troubling that the modern stone delineating this place is a mess. I’ve a keen interest in old graves, their art and the history they supply. 

This church is in the country beside an apple orchard. Dad, ma and I picked a big bag. The resulting applesauce was amazing. 

I put down my Hollow-ween rug to create a dog rug for my sister-in-law for Christmas. I didn’t have the proper rust colour for “Stella” so I married colours in the dye bath yesterday and it worked very well.

 Stay tuned!

Amazing Women

Autumnal Greetings!!!Front yard now

This fantastic mat, approximately 15x18 was hooked in 10 days by a woman in Reach. Reach is a day program for those suffering from mental disorders. She takes a sharpie and sketches a few lines onto her backing and then grabs colours. This is an accurate, folksy, depiction of our group! I’m the standing blonde! The women in this group never cease to amaze me. They are courageous.

I bought these from a local maker. Aren’t they great? I was thinking snowmen would be super for Christmas time. 
 

My parents are here! They made the long drive north from the Myrtle Beach area. It took them four days. I am guessing this is their last attempt at the arduous drive. Mom is afraid of flying after years of doing so.

A fun tradition that our rug hook in on group has done at Halloween: an Ugly/MonstrousWool Swap. This involves a 3x12” swatch of hideous wool (or autumnal wool) and one’s fav candy bar. The exchange is done at the meeting closest to Halloween. Simple! 

October Kings Landing

Kings Landing historic site closes next weekend; end of season. Four of us went yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed a walk around. Fall colours are slow but coming, the air was redolent with wood smoke and open hearth baking

Many apple trees grow along the homes and visitors gathered a few. I’d brought a bag and filled it with the different varieties; enough that I made a couple jars of apple butter and a rustic galette.

I’ll leave you to a few more photos, beginning with a favourites of many, the stone Jones’ house.

And hubby patiently bearing his partners photos and pleasurable dip into history 

We stopped at Coburn’s Orchard to admire this pumpkin house. I can tell you that the kids there were delighted. The big kids too.

 Happy

Fall

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