Happy New Year

Slowly....Some Progress

I managed to get some leaves and my pumpkins done...slowly....as my back is doing better ....a little punching here... and a little there. I manage a about a 1/2 hour at a time. I add up my 1/2 hours and there I am - some progress.
I am learning much about working with yarn and punch hooking - CONTRAST is extremely important. Notice how my leaves sort of blend altogether - even though I dyed up some very different values, and purposely made one a blue green and one a yellow green. Thankfully the two oranges work - just. The stems of the pumpkin and the crow read almost the same value as well. I will have to wait and see 'til I put in some background to see if I need to take out some and replace.

Slow Progress...

When you are suffering from a broken back:

It is really really hard to do this:

The good thing is that I am able to move around now. Hoping to make some progress on my Crow rug this week. I'll post when I have something to show.

Crow and Pumpkins - New Project

I finally started punch hooking on my crow pattern. It has been in my head and now has been drawn and the punch hooking has begun. I am using my Oxford punch # 10 hook  www.amyoxford.com and Brigg's and Little www.briggsandlittle.com Super 4 ply White washed wool yarn that I have dyed. Here is what my crow looks like so far.

You are looking at the front side of the rug. Remember we punch hook from the back, so you can't see the rest of the pattern. I will show another photo when I have punched more. Have a look at the colors I have dyed to complete my piece.

Happy Halloween

Color Color Everywhere...

Two Months.

I never meant to be away for so long.

Life unfortunately sometimes prevents us from doing the things we love to do.....

I have been basking in the luxurious colors this autumn that Montreal has offered up. Each day the change is dramatic. Sometimes the contrasts are really breathtaking. I was lucky to catch these colors yesterday on a walk with my Sophie. The sun was just perfect to capture an incredible light.

I really hope wherever you are you are witness to some of the glorious changes autumn has to offer. Let them inspire you as they have with me.

CROWS ! ! ! !

My Mom - Lois Latham - is into hooking crows at the moment. Here are two recent rugs that she has completed. I love both of them.

EAT CROW

Hooked by Lois Latham

Designed by Ann Hallett
Rittermere Hurst Field Designs

MY TURN

Hooked by Lois Latham

Designed by Wendy Miller

Be Your Own....

Fortress of Louisbourg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

A visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg — the largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North America — is a series of experiences that set a mood. Ramparts, streets, households and interpreters help to create the look, texture and mood of another century. Cannons on stone ramparts, a busy waterfront tavern and the crackling of a kitchen fire all tell how people of a different age lived and worked. Here we see an iron Fleur de Lis on top of an 18th century period house at the Reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg.

A look at the Old Town, the harbour with the Port of Entry to the town - all reconstructed to exact (as much as possible) replication of the original.

Here is a look at the Kings Bastion and the Chapel. Of course, here is where the governor and other important dignitaries were housed.

A picture perfect look at one of Canada's first Lighthouses across the harbour from the Fort.

A lovely example of a Goblin type tapestry hanging in one of the interior rooms in the governor's quarters. The colour was still amazingly vivid.

Green pastures around the town for the animals to feed. This sheep was SO friendly and extremely cute.

Most of the buildings were made of this wonderful stone. Looks just like the beach rocks we saw on Kennington Cove Beach, just outside the town of Louisbourg.

Main à Dieu (Hand Of God) Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Main-a-Dieu is a picturesque fishing village situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia. Translated from the French meaning "Hand of God", there is also a belief that the name may have evolved from the Mi'kmaq (First Nation Peoples) "Mendoo" or "Mundoo" referring to the spirit of evil, possibly referring to the number of shipwrecks in the early years.

Fishermen arrived here shortly after the founding of Louisbourg, and later settlers were of Irish, Scottish and English descent. A Roman Catholic Church was begun in 1817, and took a number of years to complete. Schooling existed as early as 1846. Fishing continues to be the main industry, however this suffered a decline in the early 1980's.

Another beach to explore; and as you can plainly see there is no one to be seen. The coast is rugged and the beach looks as inviting as the many others we have explored. I wonder just how far we can walk on this beach. Sunshine, ocean breezes, and good company is what it is all about these days.

Beach Beach Beach!!!

As the fog burns off and the morning welcomes the day, the amazing ocean breezes invite you to take another walk on the beach. Let's go!

See, it's really really worth it! A lovely walk along the rugged ocean's edge. The smell of the fresh clean ocean air fills our lungs and gives us a great start to our day. Have a good one!

Cape Breton Beach Adventures Continue....

Another amazingly wonderful beach with big waves and lots of good sand. This  is in another little town close by called Louisbourg, Cape Breton , Nova Scotia.

This is the same beach shot in the opposite direction. It holds fond memories for me as I played here as a small child. We would body surf on the waves in the glacial waters and we would build gigantic sand castles in the 'good' sand.

The coastline here is very rugged and the waves can be quite strong with a rather surprising undertow. Being here is so good!

Good night all. Here is the sky from last night. It was spectacular. A sign of the heat we all felt all day long today. Lazy hazy days of summer. Love it!

Gabarus Visit Continues......

Another blissful day on the beach. As you can see we were able to walk for ever. So rejuvenating to be here breathing in this clean fresh ocean air!

The sky changes here dramatically. Fog can blow in and out. Sun can appear and disappear; lately though it has been HOT. I love it all!

Waiting for a bite to eat. These seagulls look so beautiful in their natural environment.

Lobster fishers are done for the season. Traps have all been pulled out of the water as of the 15th of July here. Now it is time for CRAB - my personal favorite.

Village Life....It's a Beach!!!!

One of our favorite beaches to visit when we are here in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was deserted the day we were there. The ocean breezes were blowing and the sun was shining. We were in heaven. We walked (Sophie runs - puppy bliss) the beach which seems to go on for miles and miles.

Here is a shot of the same beach in the opposite direction. This is blissfully healing for me as well. It seems as though stress falls off my shoulders as I walk along and take in the extraordinary forces of nature. The therapeutic sound of the waves crashing and the smell of the salt water floating in the air add to the whole experience. I am so grateful to be here!

Another Beautiful Day in The Village of Gabarus

The sometimes huge sprinkles of color all along the roadsides from the naturalized lupines are quite something to witness; a sea of color. Sadly, however the lupines are almost finished for this year.

The wild roses along the sides of the road here are spectacular. The smell is intoxicating. It seems that these rose bushes are everywhere here in this small village.

Here is a beach at the end of the road in the village. There is a boardwalk or breakwater that prevents (mostly) the high stormy tides from coming into the village. I went for walk here this morning with Sophie. We were alone on the beach as is often the case here and on many of the other beaches in the area.

Beauty.... Even in The Fog

Gabarus, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Doesn't this look like a painting? We are here visiting my family. It is an exquisite little fishing village on the south east coast of Cape Breton Island, part of Nova Scotia. Indeed, even in the fog this place is enchanted, peaceful and a lovely place to escape from the rat race for awhile.

More Show Rugs...St. Henri Exhibit 2010

 

Garden Trellis

Designed by Judith Dallegret and Claire Molson

Hooked by Claire Molson

 

 Garden Rug

Designed and Hooked by Kathleen Menzies

 

Sultry Night

Adaptation of A Painting by Mr. Meloche

Hooked by Maureen Meloche

The Show Must Go On...St. Henri Exhibit 2010

Squirrel - Pillow

Designed and Hooked by Mayumi Takahashi

Follow The Guide - Pillow

Designed by Di Franza Designs

Hooked by Christiane Lavoie

 Geometric Cushion

Designed and Hooked/Prodded by Terry Ballantyne

Hampden - Pillow

Designed by J.McGown Flynn

Hooked by Rosemary Daisy Sylvestre

Primitive Flowers - Pillow

Designed by Tara Darr

Punch Hooked by Mary Guay

And Then There Was More....St.Henri Exhibit 2010

Red Padula - Chair Pad

Designed and Hooked by Lin Watson

Rose Stool Pad

Designed and Hooked by Lin Watson

Spirals - Chair Pad

Designed and Hooked By Lin Watson

Padula - Chair Pad

Designed and Hooked by Lin Watson

Floral Hand Bag

Designed by Karen Kahle

Hooked by Marie Andrèe Vèzina

Roses Carpet Bag

Designed by Jane Olson and Gene Sheperd

Hooked by Yanick Duchesne