Happy Sunday

I wanted to hook a snowman for a friend of mine. Free pattern of ‘Lil Jack Mat by Jenny Rupp was turned into a snowman with the addition of a hat and change of colours.

This photo was taken before I dabbed rose lipstick on his cheeks! I will make him into a pocket and insert candy canes and I’ll fashion a hanger by twisting two pipe cleaners together and covering them with wool strips.

My floral shaded mat is coming along. Doris Norman is a good teacher !

The pattern is by Doris. The rest of the class did three and four cuts. Mine is # 6.

In sad news, Bruce Bolivar, creator of the Bolivar rug hooking cutter passed away. I got his machine last year and two heads with it. It’s beautiful. 

And… we got our first snow dusting and have the promise of more to come Monday and Tuesday.

 We’re headed to our first Christmas party now, complete with Yankee swap. My silly gift is a pair of socks with pics of poutine  all over them. A very Canadian dish. 

🇨🇦 

Hooks and Scales

What a treat! A two-weekend rug hooking class in person! Local and taught by Doris Norman, Celtic hooker extraordinary. 

I’m a primitive hooker for sure, but I’d heard learning fine shading would help me anyway. I say fine shading but I’m using a #6 to do the fingering and mock shading methods.

This is what we’re working on; not my piece but I’ll post a pic when it’s done. 

I’ve also been busy baking in cast iron. My daughter is anemic and I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to boost iron intake- though she lives far away.

Tea biscuits 

Cornbread!

I love the the little loaf sized pan.

Baking means I eat a little and freeze the rest. Hubby is on keto and I don’t eat a lot.

I’ve been doing auctions again. 

Scored this fantastic “ash laundry basket” for $30. 

I bid and won on a “counter scale.”

Because this auction was online I had no idea how big it really was— it just appealed to my style. 

Well, it must have an 18” base and it’s iron so it’s heavy as all get-out. It’s got a small stamp that reads “Howe Made in Canada.”

I think I’ll resell it. 

Question to the knowledgeable:

Should I clean up the iron before posting and what should I ask for it? 

Paid $31, so I’m sure I got a deal. 

This week I’m looking forward to craft night with the gals and the second half of the hooking class!

Dribs & Drabs

 Well, here we are in a very rainy Sunday trying to be productive. I did prep and freeze apple pie fillings:

My father- in-law taught me this and it is so simple and makes for a delicious pie. Just peel and slice the apples and sprinkle with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Freeze. Our fav apple is the Sandow which is a relative of the Northern Spy. Yummy!

I also made a new candle scent. 

It’s a Christmas tree and  fireplace scent.

 I hope it doesn’t burn with the soapy smell I get when some manufacturers produce a “Fir” candle. Ugh. But I must wait 2 weeks for the candles to rest before testing. 

 

I named it “Posey Holler Tree Farm”— that being an area I grew up near in Old Virginia. There wasn’t a tree farm there per say, but my father being very frugal, took up an offer from a local man for a free tree. This old man was peculiar but friendly and we’d drive way out to his land and hike to the evergreen area. When we’d get out of the car my dad would say, “Now watch your step for bear traps, you know Fred!” And we’d most definitely have to watch. If you ask me, that was a steep price for a Christmas tree… 

My thrift shop finds this week were this red ware looking teapot ($5), and these spectacular vintage Halloween decorations! They have a Kmart sticker and a reduced price of forty-seven cents.

And this week has been a superb time for woods walks. I’d say our leaves peaked and the temps were just perfect. Willie and I went for some wanders.

And in honour of the approaching Halloween, I’ll leave you with 

some truly scary pics from my trip to Atlantic          Superstore yesterday. The first two are for a pound of 

butter.

October’s Glory

October!! 

Kings Landing historic village was hosting a class on bee skep making. I signed up but suffice it to say that I left the village without one. It was too frustrating a process for me and at 51 I am fine with admitting it. But the day touring the village was successful and signs of autumn were plentiful…

I always think they should be making apple butter in this in October. They have many many kinds of apple trees. 

                        Roses’ last seasonal hurrah. 

Now we are celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving at a small rv park in McAdam, NB. Let me tell you, the mornings and evenings are COLD. 

The scenery is gorgeous.

FYI, our province has forbidden Thanksgiving gatherings of any sort outside of those you live with. That’s fine with us as we take deep breaths and try to get ourselves and our neighbors through this surge. 

So aside from sitting by the campfire with wine, playing cards in the rv, and wandering the grounds, we hiked on a local trail and are doing a tougher one today.  some trail  pics…

The famous McAdam Train Station, a bustling place in the early 1900s, now a museum, place for pie and tea fundraisers, and a spectacular Christmas dinner. Our friend says it’s also haunted!

Lucy snuggles by the heat. At 13 1/2 she is an old Scottie.

I’ve premade turkey for today and we will add some sides and sit in front of the campfire and eat and be thankful. Because we are♥️🙏🏻

September Beauty

Many here say September is the best month in New Brunswick, Canada.  It sure is pretty great, though we’re not in the thick of Fall which is MY favourite time.

 Another trip to Kings Landing as the harvest time is here.

And for whatever reason I’ve been into making chutney and canning it: blueberry, apple, and ground cherry.

Must be the Autumn nip in the air…

Yesterday a friend and I drove to the countryside to check out a yard sale and market. Coburns’ orchard had this spectacular old pumpkin truck. We got cider, fresh beef, eggs and canned beets— all paid on the honour system! 

And our night time rug hooking group began! Whoo hoo! Can I say enough how awesome it is to be back?!  Stipulation was that all be double vaccinated as our average age is senior…I’m 51 and it is great to be considered the youngster. 

September Tyme

 My heart is sad for so many who are suffering with these violent weather patterns. It’s only a matter of time until all of us face climate changes personally. The earth is crying. 

What makes me content, makes my heart hopeful, is doing what I love to do and spending time with those I love. I’ve been able to do both the last few days. A blessing…

Our son, his partner and my daughter are visiting!! This is the first time I’ve met the partner and he is a delight. Hopefully a keeper too. Hubby and I took them to wonderful St. Andrews by the Sea yesterday.

Son, partner and our daughter 

Daughter and I making duck lips

The day was much enjoyed with an antiques fair, a walk thru the extensive Kingsbrae Gardens, and dinner at the old Algonquin Inn. 

A rainy Labour Day has kept us indoors so I made a hearty burger soup and a pumpkin bread then turned out my first small practice batch of candles.

  I combined a fire scent with apples and pumpkin so I’ll call these Cyder by the Fire. I’ll let them cure for 2 weeks before I sample one. ‘Twas Fun! 

My dad used to make candles with paraffin wax. His were unscented but he made them with multiple colours and used flexible molds of strange shapes so popular in the 70s.

Hoping you too can find things that bring you joy and comfort too