Can't believe it is Spring already - although I got a little taste of summer when we were in Southern Louisiana. Your father and I had a grand time. I took my little purses as our hostess gifts and made some for my friend Irene who went as well, for her hostess gifts. We were on a Rotary Friendship exchange.
We went to New Orleans, Houma, DeRidder, Abbeville and Baton Rouge. The group from Louisiana are visiting us in September. We had a really great time. I loved it all - but found the swamp was just beautiful! We also saw the devastation in New Orleans - really overwhelming! But also flew over the marsh area south of Homua - southwest of New Orleans and saw the damage and loss of wetland.
We also went to a music festival in Lafayette (and a great craft fair), the state houses (old and new) in Baton Rouge, to LSU - walked on the field, went through the "hanging jail" in DeRidder, visited plantations along the Mississippi (Oak Alley, Ashland/Belle-Helen (where Chef KD made us a Cajun meal and cooking lesson - wow!), Homus-House), went to St. Martinville (Acadian monument and wonderful church), a production of Hair at LSU on the 40th anniversary of the play a - just so much to do and see. Most of all we talked and got to know people who live and understand Louisiana.Thank you for the wonderful book , "Plants and Their Application to Ornamentation" you gave me for mother's day. It is just wonderful and is inspiring. Each flower and how they used it in their designs are really amazing. I also like the muted colours. Great gift. Dad gave me two gifts - a new garden cart - for both of us from Lee Valley Tools and a GPS system for my car so I wouldn't get lost and I can use my phone "hands free" through it (new law in Nova Scotia).
As to knitting and rug hooking - I am working on a lot of stuff but haven't finished much of anything. I have been busy making kits for a beginners rug hooking class, getting stuff stocked for the store, starting projects but not finishing any of them!
We did have some excitement. We had a wind and rain storm in March and when we looked out on Sunday morning the boat shed (with the canoe and kayak in it) was blown off its footings a complete 180 onto the rock wall. Must have been some gust because this shed, made by the students and NSCC Carpentry class - was solid - like a little house! Crazy Crazy.
Doris, Annie and I did have a booth at the Destination Southwest Tourism Expo in Halifax. It was an interesting day but it snowed and snowed so we didn't have many people.
We did visit Fleece Artist in Mineville, outside Dartmouth, when we were in Halifax (Dartmouth is on the other side of the bay). It was amazing. So much wool, so little time! I found visiting the area where they dyed the yarn really interesting. I got some Sea Wool (70% Marino, 30% Seacell), Somoko (65% Marino, 20% Kid, 10% nylon, 5% silk), and Scottish Silk (65% wool, 35% silk) (left to right in the picture). The Sea Wool has a very subtle dye pattern. Creams and grays. I am making the Vine Lace Cardigan from Gathering of Lace with the Sea Wool. This is a "work in progress". All of my things are "works in progress".
We also had a "Mushroom" class - rug hooked mushrooms - with Carol Harvey Clark. She has Spruce Top Rug Hooking and Econo Musee in Mahone Bay. It was a neat class. I made 4 mushrooms that I am going to make into broaches. They are kind of neat - didn't know mushrooms could be so interesting.
This is the group of us - and below are my mushrooms - have to finish them!
The Rugg Bees and Carpetbaggers also hooked a mat to raffle off for the Cancer Centre at the hospital. It is called "Keep on Moving" - the tickets are $2 or $5 for 3. It is a really nice mat, designed by Gayle Deone, on of our members. The tickets are selling very well - we are selling them at Hands on Crafts. We are going to draw in October.
So that is about all I have been doing. They guys are working outside - now that it is dry and warm - putting the boat shed back up.
Hope all is well with you both - and Rushka. We would love to come visit again - maybe in the Fall. We have a busy summer - but come and see us - a trip to NS in the summer.
Love ya,
Mom
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