Friday, March 28, 2008

Mikko

We had to say good-bye to Mikko on Easter Sunday. My heart has been so heavy that I could not post it until today. As you recall from an earlier post, Mikko had surgery on December 31st for a urinary blockage. We were told at the time that Mikko may only have 6 more months to live. He did very well in the following months and we thought he might beat the odds. But on Easter morning when I went out to feed the animals, I found Mikko laying in his shelter and he was in a lot of discomfort. The urinary blockage had returned. The vet came out and did everything he could...but there was nothing more to do except allow him to die without any more suffering. So we put him to sleep with his head in my lap and I stroked his head until he closed his eyes. Sunny Easter Sunday was a very sad day.
^^^
Mikko was strong and gentle. He had a sense of humor...I think sometimes he laughed at my human ways. He would tip his head back ever-so-slightly and then shake his nose at me....that usually meant that he was joking with me about something! He loved to have his back and his ears scratched. He loved to eat pumpkins.
^^^
His grave is up on a little grassy knoll where there is a flowering cherry tree and a pretty view of our pond. He is buried next to my beloved goat, Aspen.
^^^
There is some joy through the tears! I am arranging to purchase a little lamb this spring to keep Lumi company (she is so lonely). I think a soft little lamb is just what I need to lift my spirits!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Easter Greetings and Happy Birthday to my dad

Easter Greetings!
Go ahead...ask me....how's the weather up there in Michigan?
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I would reply: "The sun is shining brightly, the sky is a soft blue, the birds are singing a sweet spring song.......
AND WE HAVE 5 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND.....
thanks for asking!
~~~~~~~~~
Do you think the Easter Bunny wears snow shoes????

Here is Bella under the apple tree.
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Today is my dad's birthday. He's 81 years young and rides a motorcycle! Have a great day, Dad! I love you and wish I could be with you today!


Monday, March 17, 2008

Spring Messenger!!!

This evening I went out to feed the goats and sheep....the wind was cold and blustery. My eyes watered from the chilly air and I pulled my hood closer around my face. I'm sure I was grumbling because I had to wear my winter gloves out to the barn. This is the middle of March, for gosh sakes, why does it feel like November? I got to the gate with an armload of hay and looked out beyond the goat pens...........


Far beyond the fencing, three little birds were jumping and bobbing along in the bare brown grass....then there were five...then there were seven.....then twelve.....
they advanced in a group like a bunch of little soldiers, bobbing closer and closer until my watery eyes could make out that familiar orange breast....
ROBINS!!!
Spring's messengers, marching toward me in the dusky evening! My heart literally jumped for joy! I couldn't help but smile to myself. Spring is just around the corner now...the army of robins have saved the day! By the time I had filled the last hay feeder, the robins had reached the fence line of the goat pen. Hurray!!!
The rug I have posted above is called Spring Messenger, an adaptation of a Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten Farm note card and available on my website www.spruceridgestudios.com I love this little rug and I hooked the bird as a robin since it is our state bird, however I imagine you could hook your favorite bird instead (for instance, a Bluebird would look equally as nice). One of my favorite parts to hook was the nest with its tender light blue eggs. The background is a light yellow overdye that I call "Kate's Butter Yellow". It is the perfect background for a spring rug....gives you the feeling of warm soft sunlight! Isn't that what we need right now?
Happy Spring!

Friday, March 7, 2008

An Upcoming Show

Coming Soon!!!
I will be vending at the 23rd Market Day & Fiber Fair sponsored by the Black Swamp Spinners Guild
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Saturday March 29, 2008
9 AM to 4 PM
Junior Fair Building at the Wood County Fairgrounds
13800 W. Poe Road, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
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I have TONS of freshly over-dyed and as-is wool, hooks and accessories, rug hooking books, kits, and rug hooking patterns....featuring 2 brand new Notforgotten Farm patterns and new 2008 patterns from Cindi Gay and Spruce Ridge Studios. I'll also have some clearance items that you won't want to miss.

(P.S. I'll be bringing along a couple of our exclusive Spruce Ridge Studios rug hooking frames to sell too!!! They are one-of-a-kind so get there early for the best selection.)

Other vendors will have spinning and weaving supplies, handknit, handwoven and handspun articles, along with rovings, fleeces, exotic fibers and much more.

The best part about the show is that the admission is absolutely free!!! You can't get better than that!

If you are in the area or not far from Bowling Green, come stop by the show and say hello! I'll be looking forward to seeing you!


Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Did You Know???

Did you enjoy a cup of coffee this morning? If you did, you can thank a goat!!!!
(this is Bryce, my gentle angora goat)
According to a popular legend, a young goatherder in Ethiopia was supposed to be tending his goats but the goats wandered away from his watchful eye. After a frantic search, he discovered them frolicking and dancing on their hind legs. He noticed that some of the goats were eating a red berry from nearby plants. Being curious, the little goatherder ate some of the berries himself and soon found he had renewed energy and joined in on the dancing! The ripe berries were coffee beans and the rest is history!
I can't live without my morning coffee....no wonder I love goats so much!
Now you have a little "goat trivia" to dazzle your family and friends!





Saturday, March 1, 2008

A Mona Lisa Smile

Herb AngelHere is one of my most recently completed rugs...another Lori Brechlin adaptation available through my website (www.spruceridgestudios.com) She was really a UFO...that's "UnFinished Object" in rug hooking lingo....I started working on her last June and really didn't get anywhere with my hooking. The rug got rolled up and put away for many months. Finally, inspiration struck and I began with renewed fervor! I realized that her face was the focal point of the whole rug and I had to get it right. After I got done and trimmed all the ends away, I discovered that she had a Mona Lisa smile...a very thoughtful, mysterious, and far-away look! Could she be thinking that Spring is not too far away?

I'm working on more UFO's and an adaptation of an antique rug that I saw many years ago. I'll keep you posted.....