In Training....

Ottawa Race Weekend here I come....my training has started for the 1/2 Marathon on May 29th 2011....I ran the same race in May 2007 and when I crossed the finish line after 21.1 kms.....I thought "ok been there done that!"  The training schedule is four months-six days a week.  I find with Running I need a goal and when there is a race involved you stick to the schedule.  In the four month period  I hve 504 kms to run to train for the big day!  and I still have to find time to hook!  Wish me luck :-)

Disappearing Church

Here is the latest piece that I just took off the frame -the "Disappearing Church" . 

The Church of the Assumption, situated on a hilltop in the center of Avondale, Conception Bay is popularly known to motorists as the “Disappearing Church". Quite visible upon entering Avondale from the north, the church gradually disappears... from view as the highway descends to sea level, only to reappear further down the road.

Churches were always built on hills along our shores. Part of the reason was no doubt the practical consideration of navigational aid. Fisherman sailing back into Avondale harbor used the church as a guide to their home berths. They claimed that it disappeared, always to reappear as they rowed or sailed towards it.

Pay It Forward Challenge Complete!

My Pay it Forward FaceBook Challenge is complete Five Scarves in TWO Days :-) Plus I managed to get another Rug on the frame :-) and a few rows done on a Comfort Shawl.  A very Crafty Weekend for sure and I even managed to eat and get my workouts in.....bet it will take me alot longer to get the scarves ready for the mail and sent....not inspired to do that yet!

Pay it Forward Challenge

Early this week I noticed a post on my friends facebook page stating:

“Pay it forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this and send something they made to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.”

Now the creative, loves a challenge side of me thought it looked like fun so I hit the reply button on her wall and posted the link in mine and waited to see if anyone else would commit to the challenge…before the end of the day five people had signed up on my wall!
So now I am committed or need to be! I have to produce 5 handmade items and in turn I will receive one hand made gift.

I chose to knit five “Two Hour Scarves” a Lion Brand Pattern that takes one ball of their homespun. Its a simple mindless pattern.  I started on the evening of Jan 6th and I have three done, one in progress and one to go…..
I have my next hooking planned so I am motivated to finish my challenge today  and get out my linen and start drawing :-)

This has been a fun project, I actually found it relaxing and it put me in touch with friends from my past :-)

So if anyone is looking for a fun challenge…..copy and paste on your facebook profile :-) and Pay it Forward!

A Good Yarn

Yesterday I was in the city and decided to look up A Good Yarn on 4 Bates Hill in St. John's.  While at the Christmas Parade this car drives past covered in crochet and knitted work....it was A Good Yarns Christmas float....

it was the first time I had heard of the shop.  I was welcomed by Jenny and Franklin.  What a lovely spot and lots of beautiful wool and of course I managed to add another ball to my collection from Cascade Yarns a beautiful  Green that I will use in my landscape of my next project.

Talk about service...when I was checking out Jenny offered to ball it for me!  She has a neat gadget there right at the checkout and it only took a couple of minutes.

Catalina Sunset

With my long stretch of Christmas Holidays  before me I had visions of hours of uninterrupted hooking....while watching movies..BAM of course that didn't happen quite that way. Instead it was parties, friends visits, many trips to and from St. John's, two trips across this beautiful Island to Buchans! Plus I was crocheting an afghan for a gift that wasn't complete.  There were "American Girl" doll bankets and scarves to be done...

But I did manage to put a new project on the frame and I completed it before New Years Day...my last hooking for 2010. 

This was inspired from a photograph taken by a friend in Catalina....it was such a beautiful sunset but my challenge was to try to create a sunset reflected on the clouds with wool yarn...so here is the Picture.....and my hooking..Red Sky at Night, Catalina NL...

of course I am waiting on "hubby" for framing :-)

Back to work tomorrow!



1-1-11 Happy New Year!

Welcome to 1-1-11...What do you have in store?....
What roads will we take in 1-1-11?....its all up to us....just like a present to unwrap and be enjoyed...or not!  Life is all about the choices we make....some things  are chosen for us and then we have to decide how we will accept or react to those changes and some of those unchangeable situations in life......there are many turns in the road of life.....all a part of life's lessons. 
These lessons make us the persons we are today...have an open mind and look at your choices or sometimes act on a whim....follow your gut and think with your heart! 

Wishing you a healthy Happy New Year!  May your travels on the road of life be rewarding!

Benjamin Franklin once said “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”  NOTE: in the spirit of the times  and politically correct "a better person" :-)

Strange Christmas Weather

I awoke this morning to SILENCE! I jumped out of bed and went to take care of the bird feeders.  Boy they must be hungry... The wind had finally stopped howling and the rain had ceased pelting!  All I can say is I'm glad I didn't have to shovel it!  The rain and winds have been here for a week....all I could think about was the poor birds.  I saw one wind battered  Blue Jay beat his way to the feeder and grab one peanut and the poor little Juncos would brave the wind and rain to feed on the seed that I had put on the ground.  But this morning no wind and the blue sky is starting to break through and lo and behold the six Mourning Doves showed up for breakfast along with four Blue Jays, a few Juncos and of course the Crows......

Have been doing mostly crochet since the holidays began doll blankets, throws and Christmas Scarves....today I get back to the hooking....I have one unfinished project that is on my radar....and a few designs in my head.

Here is my latest completed piece...  Sleigh Bells Ring--

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday and best wishes for the new year!

Backyard Birds

This summer I started setting up Bird Feeders...my intent to keep the Blue Jays happy...this past week I have notice lots of activity at both my feeders. 

I was so excited this morning to find todays visitors included Juncos,

lots of Evening Grosbeaks,

three pairs of Mourning Doves,

lots of European Starlings,

my flock of Blue Jays

and of course a couple of crows! 

My trees were full and lots of bird song and chatter.

The feeder as been a learning experience for me.  Every sighting sends me to Google.  For example Mourning Doves mate for life, like bird baths and are ground feeders.  They are farily large birds and it the first time I ever saw one was this past Sunday morning. Apparently the Blue Jays must of attracted them cause they keep pushing lots of seeds to the ground.

The Grosbeaks can shuck the sunflower seeds faster than I can put them out and compete with the Blue Jays.  The Grosbeaks are beautiful in color and have brilliant yellow, white and black coloring. (A hooking project I am thinking :-) ) First time I ever saw one of those was last week.  I wondering have I been blind to birds until now? 

The Junos also spend there time close to the ground when feeding and the Starlings have such beautiful colors in their feathers when the sun is shining on them.  The Juncos seem like such a fragile bird...just little puffs.

Now to share some research on Birdfeeding Myths:
Birds won't migrate when you are supplying food--not so apparently migration is not tied to food supplies and a few pounds of sun flower seed is not going to derail thousands of years of the birds evolution. :-)

Once you start feeding you cannot stop-- Although bird feeders are helpful to the birds in times of stress, breeding and hard winters they are not going to starve if you have to stop for some reason.  They only get a small part of their caloric and nutritional intake from birdseed.  They may move on but they won't starve.  Birds are not overly dependant on humans. 

So added to my list of things to do is jump out of bed and get the seed and peanuts out......one particular large Blue Jay sits on the veranda rail and stares in the window at me and lets me know if I am behind schedule.

For those interested here is the Newfoundland Winter Bird List

http://birdingnewfoundland.20m.com/winter.htm

Note I robbed all my pictures off the internet :-)

Comfort and Joy

Like everyone I have had a busy, busy fall! 
Tho probably not so busy as my friend Anne :-) Get a cup of tea or coffee and check out her Blog http://annesoriginalhookedrugs.blogspot.com/2010/10/is-everyone-as-busy-as-i-am.html

Lots of traveling, busy at work, busy with family and of course busy with hooking. 
This year because I had so much free time :-) I decided to hook three pieces to submit for jurying for the  2010 Comfort and Joy Show at Devon house hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council.  Comfort & Joy is an exhibition and sale of special creations celebrating the comfort and joy of the holiday season.

Pretty ambitious as from the time I made my decision to the deadline I also had a two week vacation and a conference in Toronto.......so "Hubby" made me a frame that I can take apart for travel and when I packed in went the frame the "Joy" piece I was working on and all the wonderful colors of wool...



I did get two pieces completed
"Joy"

and "Christmas Blue Jay". 

The good news is they were accepted for the Show!

For any of you in the big city in the next couple of weeks the Comfort and Joy Show runs from December 4 - 19 at the Devon House Craft Centre,

59 Duckworth Street

Here is the info on the opening of Comfort & Joy    

 Join us for an

Open House &

Opening Reception

Saturday, December 4, 1 - 4pm

find great gifts, enjoy tasty refreshments and discover your holiday spirit

CRAFT COUNCIL  GALLERY

Devon House Craft Centre,  59 Duckworth St. http://www.craftcouncil.nl.ca/