SONNY'S FRAMES ~ ~ ~

These are images of the frames and stand that Sonny builds for me ~ I sell them at shows and out of my home studio. Someone had written in to Wool Snippets requesting info about frames, so I decided to post on my blog about his!! They're made from hardwoods ~ maple, Brazilian cherry, walnut and oak ~ whatever wood he might have on hand. We have a building business so he has access to some beautiful materials! The frames tilt and swivel and fold up into themselves for easy travel. The stands are unique in that the pin pulls out and the stand height can be adjusted. Everything is pegged and hand finished with an oil rub and they look like a fine piece of furniture ~ if interested, you can email me at gfraizer@neo.rr.com for more information!

We had a fun weekend ~ went to Kelley's Island on Saturday to visit our friend ~ she fell and broke her shoulder (poor thing) so we went over to console her!! She has a great place to recuperate on the water! We made a couple of stops while on the island and finished up with a bite at the Village Pump (famous for their Brandy Alexanders) ~ we had one of those, too!! The ride back on the 9:30 ferry was just swell ~ an absolutely beautiful night!! We capped it off with a stop at the local ice cream place before we drove back to our condo ~ no wonder I look like I do!! I'm trying to do better, but that wasn't one of those times!!!!

This morning, I actually hooked for two and a half hours ~ yippee!!! I love to hook uninterrupted!! I watched the news and soap operas ~ yes, there are still a couple that I check in on once in a while!! Tomorrow, I'll show off Mr. Catfish again ~ right now I'm heading outside to do some much needed weeding!! Have a happy day!!

Alice

MR. CATFISH PROGRESS ~ ~ ~

Good Morning! It's a beautiful day out ~ sun shining ~ no rain and it's FRIDAY!! Finally, some real progress on the Catfish rug! Tuesday and Wednesday night, I hooked the color into the circles and yesterday, when we went to Akron hooking, I filled in the black background. So it just makes me feel like I covered some ground. Usually I cut a few strips, hook and cut some more ~ but since this rug has been travelling to the lake and various hook-ins, I have cut a bunch and it does seem to move faster. I have a little stand that I attach the Townsend cutter to and keep it right by my chair ~ I'm not jumping up and down to cut ~ it's right by my side!! Mr. Catfish is off the to the lake this afternoon ~ hopefully, there is some hooking time this weekend in between the fun!

My sister went home from the hospital YESTERDAY! They don't keep you in the hospital very long anymore, regardless of how serious the illness ~ I think pretty soon, we'll just be driving through the parking lot ~ they'll treat us ~ and send us on our way! So, with rest and medicine, I hope my 'seester' will be her old self soon!!!

Have some fun and sun this weekend!
Alice

LIGHTER STUFF ~ ~ ~

This is a picture of my PRIZE that I won from Polly and Laurie Minick on their blog!! They just started one a few weeks ago and have had some really nice give-aways! Last week, when I checked in, Polly had just posted a question a few hours before and I was the first one to answer ~ Yippee!!! She sent me this lovely pile of patriotic binding tape that will get put to very good use at some point in time. You can access their blog off the minickandsimpson.com website - it's really a nice one. Thanks Girls!!!

On Monday night, my grandson's Litlle League team won their championship game ~ undefeated for the season! They were a happy bunch of boys along with my son, The Coach!!! They had been rained out of a couple of games, so we were happy to get that last game in and topped it off with a trip to the local ice cream place! It was really a fun season and after years of sitting on bleachers for our own boys, it was good to be back at the ball fields! I had told Luke earlier that I would be his biggest cheerleader that night ~ he told his mom, he thought I meant the "biggest" cheerleader!!! We had a laugh over that!!!

Yesterday, they found my sister had a stomach ulcer, so they had to take care of that situation ~ I pray today is better day for her ~ she didn't talk long last evening. I'll call her later today ~ this morning my friend, Heidi, is coming and we're going to Akron to hook with a group up there. That will be fun and always uplifting to spend the day with a bunch of 'hookers'!! I actually have hooked on Mr. Catfish the last two evenings (late-night) and he's making progress!! Have a good day all!!

Alice

SERIOUS STUFF ~ ~ ~

Today, I received a phone call from my sister, 77 years old (she won't like that!), from her hospital room in Texas, where she lives. She told me she had a lung embolism and a heart attack on Saturday. That's serious stuff! She sounded pretty chipper, considering and just wanted me to know.

I don't talk to my sister often and actually, haven't seen her in several years. Last Thursday, I felt led to call and let her know I was thinking of her and wondering how she was. She had been in pretty good shape and they had just moved to a brand new house! I left a message and she returned my call on Friday. We had a good talk and before we hung up, I told her I loved her ~ not something we often do. Today, she told me she thought of that when she was in the middle of this thing and I think it meant a lot to her.

In telling this, there is a two-fold lesson for me and for us all ~ listen to that inner voice that speaks to us to make a call, write a note, do a kindness, etc. and follow through. The second part is not to miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them and care about them, even if it is uncomfortable or not the norm for you. Believe me ~ you won't be sorry! I am so grateful that I heeded my inner voice last week, so that this week, my big sister doesn't think I'm just being attentive now that she's not feeling so good.

For those of you who pray ~ please say a prayer for health and healing for my 'seester' Joyce ~ thank you so much!
Alice

MR. CATFISH PROGRESS ~ ~ ~

Here's hoping you all had a great 4th of July, including lots of food and fun! I actually got some hooking done this weekend and this rug could really move quickly now ~ if only I would light long enough to accomplish something! One thing about taking pictures of your project, is that it really helps to get an objective view of what's going on ~ and a couple of things stand out to me that might need a little revision ~ nothing to dwell on though ~ I'm loving this rug!!

We went to Put-in-Bay Friday evening for dinner and fireworks with our friends, Karen and John and my son, Tad ~ the fireworks were great ~ set off from a barge out in the lake right in front of where we were sitting!! The guitarist on the deck at the restaurant turned up his sound system really loud and played Yanni music during the display ~ a great combination of a great light show and an explosion of music ~ PERFECT!!

Saturday, we all went to Mon Ami Winery for more music ~ "Wally and Beavs" ~ and more food and some wine and some dancing!! We have the greatest group of friends up there and it was just a fun evening ~ then we headed back and had a fire and sat on the rocks ~ oh, a little ice cream ended the evening!! Now ~ back to reality and office work!! Have a good day ~

Alice

QUIET DAY ~ ~ ~

These pies looked 'pretty as a picture' when they came out of the oven, so here they are!! They were for the Red Hat luncheon ~ bumbleberry pies!!

I've done no hooking so nothing there to report. There's been no company, no excitement ~ well, there is one thing ~ grandson Luke's undefeated Little League team plays tonite for the championship!!! That's pretty exciting! They had games Monday night and last night.

So we'll head for the lake tonite after the game and we have a few activities planned for the 4th ~ most of them include food and fun!! Here's hoping your 4th of July holiday is safe and fun ~ and we keep in mind what we're celebrating ~ INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

Alice

This morning while at my computer, a mama deer and her twin speckled babies walked by the office window!! I didn't get the camera soon enough to get a really good picture, but if you double-click you can see the little guy pretty well!! Nice way to start the morning ~ but if those little duffers start nibbling on the hostas ~ it won't be such a happy story!!

The little 'Welcome' mat was a big success!! Actually, when they opened it, I wasn't sure ~ but her sister loved it!! And the sister's husband said 'that isn't just rug hooking, that's art"!! Well, you can only imagine how much I liked hearing that!!! And then this morning, there was a message on the answering machine that my friend left last night, saying how much she really loved it and that she hung it over a door just as you walk in her front door and that she would always think of us when she sees it!! PERFECT!! This is only the second piece of hooking I have given as a gift because you don't know how someone might perceive it ~ since my efforts were well received ~ I am a happy hooker!!

Dinner at Chez Francois was wonderful ~ it always is!! My husband had soft shell crab and lobster bisque, which he loves and I had lobster-stuffed zucchini blossoms and red snapper dredged in almond flour and a benedictine sauce!! And a scrumptious pomegranate martini ~ well, two, actually!! And always healthy, sorbet for dessert!! Along with a complimentary dessert wine!! Believe me ~ a good time was had by all!!!

Saturday evening, we (our lake friends and us) went out for Mexican food, and a couple of other stops before and after and then came back and sat on the rocks!! The stars were shining brightly and there were no mayflies/Canadian soldiers to "bug" us and we even saw a couple of shooting stars!! As one of our friends said "it was so celestial" ~ yes, it was!! Other than that, we had a quiet weekend, enjoying looking at the water and having some down time.

That's it for today ~ hope all is well your corners of the world!

Alice