Harvest Hook-In

Snows are headed our way...

10-15 cm for the weekend!

I adore the first snows and then I could leave for the rest of Winter.

This past weekend I hit the road and headed to

a hook-in in picturesque St. Andrews, NB.

Two gals rode down in my truck with me.

Honestly they are such a hoot it was equal to the fun of the day.

The Quoddy Loopers hosted

 and they did such a terrific job.

The church hall was brimming with hookers and a vendor.

As per usual, the homemade soups, sandwiches and dessert 

squares were delicious;

 and no one makes a cup of tea like a Maritimer.

Sande Gunning of Leamington, Ontario
(and formerly from here) returned with awesome wares

Sande made these on a 100 yr old knitting machine
I bought some for my daughter for Christmas
shhhh, don't tell

The rug show was smaller but good
I don't know why there were no labels this year

These are some of the baskets waiting for the drawing

This is the basket I won-
the biggest one there,
stuffed with wool and a mug and tea.

 I have won a basket every year except last year.

It has gotten a bit embarrassing (I get ribbed a lot)

but not so much that I don't buy tickets.

Oh! And three of the women from the mental health day program

came to the hook-in and really loved it too.

So grateful they could come.

 I'm looking forward to some travel South for American Thanksgiving.

I know the month will whiz by so I am savouring the moments:

the last colours of Autumn, the smell of the leaves,

the urgent activity of the squirrels, the Canada geese honking as they flap 

Southward...

Enjoy the moments too friends.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

My “Grandmother’s Rug” (see previous post)
is getting to the fussy point;

when I hook a width of border,

especially an oval rug’s border,

it’s hard to get an even width all the way around.

And since I hook like I cook (I hate to count or measure)

this poses a frustrating finish for me.

SO, I set it aside, temporarily of course,
to start this one by P is for Primitive.

The ladies at the mental health group

always put me in a better mood.

This term we have only three which is the smallest 

number we’ve ever had.

These women come every week

to hook for ninety minutes.

They have said that the rhythm of the art

and the company is helpful.

I agree! 

Here is what they are working on:

This woman is legally blind; we outline the figures and she fills!

This woman is a color and design master!

One woman traced her grandma's hands as she lay dying.
She is hooking the hands from
 her grandma's clothing to give to relatives.

Our hood is looking autumnal!

I took these on my walk this morning.

And this weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving!

Technically it falls on Monday but families 

around here seem to celebrate on one or 

all days of the long weekend.

Some make rounds to all the family groups.

The celebration is more casual than in the States

and it does not quick off the Christmas season

so there is no rush to the retail shops. 

Our neighbour has us to her cottage since we have no family.
Such a special place to share.

I leave you with a local recipe which is over 100 years

for a yummy apple cake

Keswick Ridge Apple Cake
1 C sugar
1 C shortening
1 C raisins
2 C tea
2 large apples sliced
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 C flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp b powder
1 tsp salt

Cook first 8 ingredients until apples are soft. Cool to lukewarm.
In bowl, stir together remaining dry ingredients.
Stir into wet mixture.
Bake at 350 in a 9 X 13 pan for approx 1 hour.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!