Saturday, June 7, 2025

ROOFING DAY 2, 3 and 4

The house was completely shingled after day 3 but I was so over the noise of nail guns, footsteps on the roof, outside music and people talking that I couldn't stand to do a post.  The thought doing that just made more noise in my head even after they'd left for the day 😵.  

Tho the new roof was done, they came back today, the 4th day, to install the leaf filters.  Wish I had taken a before picture of the debris collected on what was there before, but didn't.  So now my son won't need to come each spring and fall to clean the gutters out...hopefully they will just slide off now.

The front of the house in a pre-rainy Saturday.
Garage view ~ The owner of the company will come back to pick up unused plywood and shingles you see on the ground and to get his check.
Something else they did was remove a huge limb which was hovering over the house.  In this before photo below you can only see the thinner dangling limbs resting on the corner of the house on the far left.  
No longer will that happen again, he trimmed a few limbs for which I'm very grateful.
Thank goodness there will be peace and quiet and in the morning don't have to worry about getting my shower and dressed early.  Bet I sleep like a baby tonight.

Saundra


Wednesday, June 4, 2025

NEW ROOF DAY 1

Yesterday afternoon the contractor and employee dropped off the shingles and other supplies they'd need.  Today the worker bees arrived around 7:30 a.m. and didn't begin to depart until 6:30 p.m.  That's a full dang day of hard work. 

This morning I went outside to exchange greetings and give the sunglasses I'd found among the supplies.  There was a young woman among them and I asked if she was climbing on the roof too.  She said "yes" and smiled.  I smiled back but said she was crazy; all laughed.  Must say she worked minute by minute along side those men as hard and long as they did.  You go girl!!

Most of the area is cleaned up of the shingles and debris from what came off the roof.  Am confident the rest will be gone tomorrow.  Here are a couple photos at the beginning of the day 11 a.m. before most had been scrapped off of the old roof.
view from front porch

view from back porch

Here are photos of the day's accomplishments and some debris which will be removed tomorrow. 
view at back of house

view from garage side

side view of front which has been mostly cleared

Robin emailed asking about my sanity after day one.  Told her I thought I was going deaf since I could only hear the click of my fingers on the keys at the computer.  A task and expense which was way over due and I'll be glad when the next two days are in my past.

Saundra




Monday, June 2, 2025

TOOK ME A WHILE

Mother with Fishbowl was finished and final changes made August 2023.  So why did it take me so long to put it on the wall?  Maybe because I was unsure where to hang it, or emotionally I wasn't really sure all changes were done.  Anyway, Mother is front and center in the living room where I can see her every day from my hooking spot.  You can see the August 2023 post where I point out the last changes made HERE.   
Arrangements had been made to have my roof replaced and first deposit made over a week ago.  The contractor said depending on when he could get the dumpster delivered and equipment purchased he would start either today or tomorrow.  No dumpster was delivered nor workers showed up today.  So perhaps the noise of footsteps and nails will begin tomorrow.   

Happy  hooking.

Saundra


Friday, May 30, 2025

THE CHICKEN PAIR RUG

Before hooking the roosters comb and wattle decided to take a photo with another camera to see if the wool used in the hen really does work.  I can see the red well enough so won't opt for a brighter red.  It is an antique adaptation after all.
This is how the previous photo with another camera appeared and which was my cause of concern.  So no need to swap out the red.
Since yesterday was an unusually clear day thought I'd better cut grass before last night's storm and today's rain ... yes, again there's rain.

Saundra

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

RAINY DAY RUG SHOW

Don't know how your weather is where you are, but it is dreary, chilly and rainy here.  So for your enjoyment I'll do another rug show then I'll hook the day away on my chicken rug.

A floral hooked mid 19th century with dimensions of 33.5 x 39.5.  A tad too ornate for me and would require narrow cut so isn't something I'd hook but I do admire the beauty of the rug.
Perhaps faded, is this folky design with a Greek bottom border.  No date was provided but measures 28 x 42.
The animal in this next rug looks like a gazelle to me.  Dated between 1920-30.
I have no information on this nice horse rug found on an antique show posting.
At first glance I couldn't identify this next animal.  But the auction house said it was a bear and was hooked in the 1920's (36 x 42).
A geometric with a hooked in date of 1931.  It measures 18 x 36.
Basket of flowers dated 1920's.
As much as I love horses I've no desire to hook a horseshoe.  Perhaps it is a way to focus on the horse and supposed to be good luck but I find them distracting and unappealing in a rug.  This is from the estate of George Fernald, Chatham, NH.
A tan horse hooked 19th century (28 x 40).
These pups with hit and miss border are cute, me thinks.  No date or dimensions.
And finally for you feline lovers, cat and kitten hooked late 19th century measures 25 x 30.5.
That's it for this show.  So now I'll work on my rug.  Yesterday I was getting bored with the chickens and thought briefly, like a nanosecond, to put Ezra's Farm on the frame.  But that got vetoed immediately and chose to stick with the chickens.  Happy hooking.

Saundra


Monday, May 26, 2025

MEMORIAL DAY

As you celebrate this Memorial Day weekend, remember the reason we have this holiday.
Saundra

Saturday, May 24, 2025

PAT'S WALL

The Eagle rug hooked for the office/library has been up for a few days  now.  Actually it was planned to hang among some of the memorabilia of E.C. Patterson's (PAT), military service.  Here is a wide shot of the wall.
Here are the photos closer.... 
On the far left are two prints of paintings done by President Dwight Eisenhower given to Pat as Christmas gifts.
On the right side of the Eagle is a signed photo (not autopen) signed by John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.  Next on top is a Certificate of Service to the White House signed by the infamous LBJ, below that a photo which includes Pat and others saluting President Eisenhower and De Gaulle.
Below is another photo of Pat, his Presidential Seal and Presidential Patch.  Also his father's pocket watch, one of Pat's childhood toys and flag.  FYI, Pat was my step-father and a wonderful husband to my mother.
My son has Pat's medals and ribbons and a few other items but told him he'd have to wait for these.  Plus, I have non visible memories of stories Pat shared of his experiences on the White House staff, at Camp David and deployments.  We miss you Pat!

Saundra

Thursday, May 22, 2025

CHICKEN PAIR UPDATE

Also considered another name for the rug ~ Perdue's Pride.  That is because I worked in the office at Perdue Farms corporate for a few years.  But you probably know the name of this design more as the Chicken Pair.

Next time I take a photo think I'll use the other camera since the red isn't showing up on the comb and wattle in the photo.  Don't want to hook a brighter red because it can be seen in person, maybe a different camera will show truer colors.  Besides the change in wool color between the chickens isn't showing up well either.
Like most rug hookers it doesn't seem as tho I've achieved as much as I was hoping, but we are supposed to enjoy the process, right?

It is downright COLD in my house and outside.  I refuse to turn the heat back on!!!!!  Last night I slept with not only a blanket but also a comforter, and was comfy until getting out of bed.  Of course the rain and humidity added to the low temperature makes it feel even colder.  And it's almost June for gawds sake!  Oh well, this too shall pass and I'll soon be complaining about the heat and humidity.

Happy hooking, ya'll.

Saundra


Monday, May 19, 2025

It's Monday Already????

OMG, that means it's time for me to do another post.  There is still some hand stitching of the cotton binding to complete the rug; but guess it's time for a show-n-tell.
Once the hand stitching is done and rug hung on the wall I'll show the finish again.

When my son was here last he asked if I was planning on hooking the 3rd quadrant of the triptych rug (shown below) since I'd hooked two of the 3 sections.  So guess that was an invitation request that it be in my plans.
Happy hooking everyone.

Saundra

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Let's Have some Chicken

Since my posting of the chicken pair on my frame, several readers have indicated having a recent interest in hooking chickens.  As I've numerous chicken rug photos still not shown, thought this would be the time to do a 'fowl review'.

I love this rug with farmyard animals hooked 1930.  It measures 39.5 x 66.5 and frankly just that left top section would be wonderful by itself.
No date on these chickens but dimensions were 21 x 40 being sold for $225.
This next one was dated 1930's (22 x 38).
Lots of feathers in this circa 1900 rug and love the background as much as the subjects. 
A rooster and goose with no other info provided.
Rooster rug with hit and miss background and no date provided.
This rooster rug below I captured from an antique show display.
The remaining chicken rugs are presently listed on an auction site and are located in Missoula, MT.  

A colorful rooster below but several loops missing. 
And what a terrible way to finish the back.  Learn from this so it doesn't happen to your beautiful work.
There ya have it, another rug show put to bed.

Yesterday afternoon thru the evening there were tornado warnings and severe thunderstorms rolling across the eastern shore.  Thankfully no tornado touched down near me but I did have limbs to pick up.  Others on the eastern shore had more damage.

My weeds are in need of cutting but it hasn't stopped raining long enough for the ground and grass to dry up enough.  Today sun is to be out all day so am hoping by the afternoon I can get some cut.  If not, I'll be working on my chicken rug.  Happy hooking.

Saundra


Wednesday, May 14, 2025

ON THE FRAME

Right out of the gate my reverse hooking started.  Working on the first chicken thought a dark red vs. bright red would be a better choice for the comb and wattle since it is an antique adaptation.  Then hooked a row of background around to see if the comb and wattle were visible.  Well heck, I can't even see any red in the photo below but can see it in person.
So went to the slightly brighter red which you can't see in this photo below either.  At this moment I don't plan to hook an even brighter red.  But who knows what I'll do later as the rug progresses.
Days of rain has forced me to face the facts .... I need a new roof.  Thankfully there's no rain inside the house but noticed some evidence of leaking at the section between the back of the house and onto the back porch.  And the rest of the roof is beyond time to replace.

I'll start contacting companies for estimates but know it will be costly.  Neighbor down the street had their roof put on about 5 years ago and cost them $18,000.  Prices have increased a LOT since then as have salaries.  I should have bitten the bullet a few years ago when it would have cost less.  Oh well, oh hell.

Guess it's a good thing I opted to not attend Cape May in September so that will be about $1,000 toward the cost, lol.  Happy homeownership.  

Saundra


Monday, May 12, 2025

THIS and THAT

The Golden Eagle, AKA Pat's Eagle, is all hooked and I started binding it while waiting for my son's CT scan (or was it an MRI?) of his shoulder.  I'm using cotton binding because I don't want to extend the border by another row or color.  I wanted just a one row border and didn't want either the red or dark brown because that may have pulled the eye away from the central focus ~ the eagle.  So I used a softer and more neutral color.
Yesterday when my son and DIL dropped by to see me for Mother's Day my son noticed this 1776 Eagle I hooked and fell in love.  Well of course what does a mother do but give to her son.  
Truth be told, my dear DIL probably told my son to say he loved it to ensure it would go home with them ðŸ˜„.
I'm considering the 1776 Eagle my design inspired by an antique rug.  Actually, the shape of the eagle was used from the antique rug below but reshaped the tail and hooked it differently.  So believe there are enough differences to call the 1776 eagle my design.  They are going to hang the eagle but haven't decided which room.  Will it go in my son's 'man cave' or somewhere in their house ... an inquiring nosey mind will find out when I visit them again.
Before starting my new project thought I'd pull a few loops on the patiently waiting plus one, Ezra's Farm, just to make a tad more headway.  Previously I'd just hooked the horse and got bored.  So decided to hook around the horse until I decide what color and where I want to attack next.  Now I can see that blob color doesn't look right.  So will reverse hook and replace with another color when returning to the pattern.
That's it for this post.  Blogger is giving me fits because the text style and color keeps changing.  At first it wouldn't allow me to post the pictures.  Happy Monday and happy hooking.

Saundra


Friday, May 9, 2025

SIT A SPELL FOR THE RUG SHOW

Have found a few new offerings, one of which is an antique rug from Charlevoix, Canada.  No date was provided but the auction house did say "antique" and gave dimensions of 21 x 35.
You can check out the fabrics used from this close up.  Wonder if that is a bell hanging from the collar?  
Probably a Frost lion, again no date but measures 32 x 57.  I love the blotchy background but the rest is just too ornate for me to want to hook it.  But others with a fancy toward narrow cut would love to hook it.
A Schooner, and yes a Bluenose design, measures 28.5 x 40.5.  Perhaps one day I'll venture to hook a sailboat as I do love the rug with the word AMERICA at the bottom.  This Bluenose is great but not something I'd hook.
A reclining dog with a hit and miss background and a date of 1902 hooked in the corner.
Someone wanted to create a rug so they drew a geometric with 6 point stars in a semi-circle.

A scrappy looking toy soldiers rug, hooked early 1900's.  Bet the boy it was hooked for was quite happy with his gift.
Perhaps someone wanted to memorialize their prize fish.  Auction house said it was hooked with silk and hails from the UK.  
A simple floral hooked between 1920-30.
Just blue birds but with a quite complex border combination.  
You can see the horse and initials GWMc and a date of 1787 clearly.  But if you strain your eyes you can see a faded house and something else on the right side.
Let's have another horse rug, hooked 1920's.  I believe this one is still up for sale.  Not crazy about the pink horseshoes but perhaps that's all she had to use.
Oxen hooked late 20th century so not old enough to be considered copyright safe.
There ya have it, an even dozen this time.   

I'll be busy tomorrow as I just pulled the last loops on the Eagle rug so it needs steaming, the hooking area needs to be cleaned up, room vacuumed and dusted.  Well, you know the routine.  Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Saundra