Meanderings of a Mermaid

 It's about time I wrote a little something here. I want to mention about the fabulous summer we enjoyed at camp. What I really liked about it was that it was like a good old summer. Before we learned about droughts and heat domes. This was like thirty or forty years ago. It never got stinking hot for too long. And we had periodic and healthy rains. (Even so, the lake was dismally low due to the machinations of the Water Authority who like to keep it super low now).  With my boat motor acting up and the dock scarcely useable due to above-mentioned low water, I did not go fishing much. Also the dog does not like being in the boat, and so I stayed more land-based. I did get out canoeing and kayaking periodically.  Fall colours were something special as well. What a good year to be outdoors! With the wonderful rains came a terrific season for mushrooms. We foraged for and ate a lot of wild golden chanterelles and King Boletus mushrooms. Here is an embroidered version of what...

 Once upon a time I ran across this sign on the locked door of a yarn shop I wanted to visit. I was on a trip and not aware of hours of operation. I can't seem to locate the actual photo of the sign anymore, but the title of this post says it all. (shop in Longmont, CO).  I was thinking it would be fun to showcase a bit of art that I see around town. Unfortunately one amazing iron statue, of a tyrannosaurus rex, is now gone. I was going to stop soon and snap a picture, but realized it was no longer at its spot at the side of the highway. Drats. But there is a new fellow on a nearby residential street.  He seems to be guarding the property so well! I certainly won't be trespassing. Look at the attention to detail. There's even a cigar clenched in the teeth!  Other art around town is a bit more predictable and traditional. I do really enjoy seeing art all around me. 

  Currently I seem to be interested in making small things. I am appreciating small things and small gestures.  I wanted to learn more crochet and hooked up with my Calabrian penpal to make the Peacock Feather mandala. I used up leftover knitting cottons. I mounted it onto a floor polishing pad I purchased at the hardware store!  I have been having fun sitting on the sofa with Bo and playing at the rigid heddle loom. I am in the midst of making some blue and white mug rugs.  A small thing that tickles me. At an art gallery in Buda I saw these little natural crystal drawer pulls. Dear friend JH bought it for me. It is amethyst!  And with Valentine's Day coming up I could not resist these mug rugs. Also woven on my rigid heddle loom. 

  Today we had an opportunity to wander around the whole of the Seaquist Mansion. It is located near the town square in Mason, TX. I won't go into the history of the place here. Suffice it to say that it has gone through several hands in its many years. It was built at a time when supplies could only be brought in by wagon.  About six years ago the property was purchased by a group intent on restoring and preserving this magnificent home. We toured the place four years ago, when just the first floor was open to viewing, and mostly it had just been cleaned at that point and made safe.  These two photos are of the kitchen. The cupboards and counter have been recreated according to an old photograph from days gone by. Unfortunately, for most of the house, there really aren't any photos until about the 1960s and 70s. What a shame. The house is not overly ornate inside, which is comfortable to me. There is a lot of natural wood around. Floors have been restored, but not the wo...

 Yes folks, I am still kicking, but just have not felt like posting to this blog. In total I have shrunk down the time I am spending on the internet. It's funny how having a dog will change your life, especially a young dog. Bo came to us from the City Pound and from a Shelter, and so he has needed extra attention. He is settling in to a lovely adult dog.  A good daily goal is to get this fellow tuckered out by the end of the afternoon. It is no easy feat.  Rather than deal with trying to get images from one device into another, and to post here, let's skip several months and just pick up with the current times.  This rug I wove two winters ago when I was here in Texas. If you look close you can see an angular wave pattern. The charted design is from the book Alterknits. Sorry I don't have the book with me here, so I can't be more specific. Skylines?? When I wove it I noticed a small error in my weaving of the graphic. I thought I would be able to repair it easily by...

 Here are a bunch of the crafts I have worked on this winter. Mr, Bo and I are spending the winter in Northwestern Ontario. I wish we could have stayed at home, but we had to find a place to rent that is on a plowed road, and with the modern conveniences. We are comfy, warm and enjoying a mild winter. A lot of snow shoeing and hiking around has occurred.  Sorry, I tried to turn this image but it isn't happening. The rv sampler cross stitch was a lot of fun to make. I have a lot of embroidery floss in a lot of colours. Small amounts, so it made sense to keep switching colours. Designer: Open Road Abode; Pattern: Camper Sampler no.1 1853. It is called Bottle Rocket and was first published at Knitty.com. issue 16. Designed by Michelle Porter.  A guy can hold a bottle of beer in the vertical pouch on top of the handwarmer pouch. It is much brighter green than theses photos show.  This pink confection is a wide scarf. It still needs blocking. I was given a  couple of...