Getting Ready For The Loose Caboose

Busy week ahead gathering up all the lil' things I have been painting, stitching, and hooking. Sad to say but Oklahoma doesn't have a lot of handmade craft fairs anymore. I have always enjoyed going to the Loose Caboose Festival in downtown Purcell, Oklahoma. There is a lot of history just on Main Street. There are several antique shops that once were used as a hotel, theatre, and department stores.
Purcell was founded as a railroad town in 1887. Part of Main street still has the original brick roads.

This coming Saturday, September 3rd....Main Street will be transformed into a place with live music, food, and handmade crafts. So if your in the area we would love for you to stop by!

The weathermen are forecasting a COLD front coming this way....we may just drop down into the 80's sometime next week. I sure hope so we are ready for some cooler days.

Happy Trails....Ginger

A Place To Create And We Are Expecting!

Danny recently built me this wonderful cupboard for our anniversary. It's huge and I put it out in our big room. We have slowly been moving a few things out there. I want it nice and comfortable a place you want to sit down and visit. A cozy place to look through books work on projects or just gaze out the windows at the wildlife or cows. I'm looking forward to a nice fire in a fireplace this winter....doesn't seem right thinking of fires when we are still dealing with this long unusually hot summer.



I'm not very good at putting things together and admire all of you who have that knack. I did hang a rug up by the table along with displaying some of the beautiful punch needle mats and pillows, cross~stitched and embroidered pieces that several online friends have so thoughtfully sent me. I love looking at them each day and it just reminds me how blessed I am to have such dear friends although I have not met most of them in person yet I hold them as treasured friends in my heart.

Do you see the lil' blocks on top? It says By The Light Of The Moon. A certain lil' boy wants them but his Momo plans on keeping those :) Then right beside it a favorite photo of my two kiddos when they were oh so little.



Back to moving again....I moved the dough box out to the "hooking/gathering" room. Inside the box is linen and monks cloth with patterns ready to be hooked. The rug on top was designed by Stonehill Rug Hooking in Fredericksburg. It was a fun one to do. I like to leave it out all year.



I've been moving lots of my things from my craft room out to this room. I have lots of books for inspiration. I have a round table that is on the list next to redo so we can sit it nearby and play checkers or cards, make playdough critters or enjoy those books with a nice glass of tea.

Now for exciting news. We are expecting a new lil' grandbaby by next May. Our daughter and son~in~law are expecting their first little one. A new addition will be so sweet. I already have this new one in my prayers long before he or she will be here. Praying all goes well with this pregnancy and that this little one grows strong and healthy. Praying that Mom and Dad enjoy this time and enjoy the days, weeks, and months ahead. Praying that we will all be a good influence in this child's life.

I did draw up a few more doodles again they are for you to use however you choose.




My sister~in~laws are starting a new adventure and in the weeks to come I will share that with you. They are more like sisters than in~laws and I know I am very blessed to have them in my life. Wishing each of you a blessed week with lots of smiles.

Happy Trails....Ginger

Making Pins and Finishing Rugs

It's just been too HOT outside to do much of anything. Sloan and I walked through the garden this evening and a few pumpkins and gourds have survived the terrible heat. He took a few home this evening for his Momma. Today while he took a good nap I made up a batch of pretty pins. They will go in some pinkeeps I hope to make.



My fingers have been working overtime on binding lots of hooked mats and rugs. I had created quite a pile and yes there are still some more to go. You would think I would learn not to let them pile up so high.



Some will be sold and some will go here and there in the house.



The antique looking Santa and Reindeer designed by Star Rug Company is one of my favorites it will be staying :)



The Loose Caboose Festival will be September 3rd in Purcell and some of the rugs and mats will be in our little booth. We will be setting up on Main Street...I sure hope the temperatures cool down a bit.



My Mom has been raising some baby chicks and she plans to give Sloan a few. Sure hope the racoons don't get them. We have one brave racoon that comes to visit every evening and is not scared of us at all.




With record setting triple digits I'm really longing for a crisp fall day!




We have been busy completing a few needed chores around the house guess there will always be something to work on.



Well that's what I completed on the pile of UFO rugs and mats. I'm really getting the hang of this binding stuff although I still have several to go with some really large ones. I'm trying my best not to hook anymore until I catch up...well see if I can keep the yarn and needle busy :)
Enjoy the rest of your week!!!

Happy Trails....Ginger

A Free Doodle Just For You

Well another day is just about complete. It's been a busy one as usual with the daily chores of life but this evening I took a few hours and made a few more fabric covered composition notebooks. I have tubs of fabric so the possiblilites are endless.



I drew up several doodles this evening and thought I would share a couple with you. I'll post a few more in the next few days. Feel free to use them to your liking but please give credit to the designer.




These lil' guys sure look onery don't they???

Happy Trails....Ginger

Here's Your Sign

What a fun day. My friend Pati Jane came out for a day of crafting. We made painted signs and fabric notebooks. We finished quite a few projects. Here are the signs and a few other things I finished painting.

I've also been busy binding rugs and mats. It is good to have the pile dwindling once again.

The heatwave has continued on....I think we may have tied the record of 50 days of triple digits. I'll be glad when we beat it and then maybe we can call it good and drop back into the 90's. Fall days just won't arrive quick enough this year.

Well back to binding....wishing each of you a wonderful weekend :)

Happy Trails....Ginger

~True Love Never Ends~

Time is slipping by. Wrinkled faces, streaks of grey hair, a few more aches and pains but it comes to us all doesn't it! It's hard to believe 30 years ago we gathered with our families in a small church and told each other we would cherish one another until death do us part. Dad walked with me down the aisle to give me away....he got lots of practice in after that having 3 more girls he would give away. Grandparents and aunts and uncles were there and now many of them are but a memory. I think of the ones that were so young and now many of them are married and have children of their own.

We are all so blessed to have memories. It's good to reflect on times past both good and bad and see what we have learned from it. Life is fragile use it the best you can and when you make mistakes quickly ask for forgiveness....letting things pile up just doesn't make things better.



We not only became as one but so did our familes. We have shared many gatherings as one big family. We are very blessed that everyone gets along. We all have our ups and downs but we all care about each other and our extended families. Little did I know as a young bride that I was gaining far more than just a wonderful husband.


Now on a bit of a sad note seems like our exciting news got a bit turned upside down. There is a reason for all things and we just turn it all over to our Lord. Sometimes things happen for a reason that we just can't understand.

Wishing each of you a week filled with much joy and a giving heart!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Time to Put the Hook Aside

I really have to stop and get busy with pulling the needle and yarn through a bunch of finishes. "Harvest House" is a pattern by Chestnut Junction and she is having a sale so I purchased several patterns.



A simple lil' hooked mat...using up some woolie worms from the scrap basket.



Just a happy lil' JOL also from the scrap basket.

It's been a really different week. My sweet lil' guy has left with his Dad and Mom to go to Sea World in San Antonio. He was suppose to go last year but had a bad infection in his eye and was put in the hospital. So here it is a year later and he is on his way. He promised to take pictures with his dad's phone and send me some...yes the lil' toot knows how to operate the phone.

We received some unexpected but exciting news today and I'm on pins and needles! I'm waiting for it all to come together before I spill the beans...

Happy Trails....Ginger

Loop by Loop and Unending Questions

Pulling loops and loops of wool and it's so relaxing even if it is sweltering outside. Colors that remind me of Autumn.



Started another rug and still need to thread a needle and bind a few others oh well!



Have you ever really stopped and listened to a little kid. It's amazing how fast they learn and the questions they come up with. Today's question was "Are centipede's helpful or harmful to the earth" the answer...Yes they are helpful! Goodness I'm going to have to brush up on my science:)

Happy Trails....Ginger

Another Use for Wool

Finished up hooking this happy guy...Just got to steam and bind it. It's the first time I ever used purple as a background. It sure is different and boy is it bright!




Did you know that you can use wool to make a trap? Someone snatched a bunch of my wool strips to lay a trap.

Happy Trails....Ginger

One Good Thing!

Well if you have to find something good about the triple digits....the laundry is dry in just a few minutes. They have said on the news that Oklahoma has had 41 days of 100 degrees or more and the record is 50. I'm afraid we may set a new record. I really shouldn't complain when there are so many in this world with so much less.



I pulled some wool and drew up a pattern and I've really used some bright colors something quite different for me. Well guess I'll pull a few more loops and finish this rug up so I can get started on another one I'm itchin' to do!

Happy Trails....Ginger

Homemade Gifts Make Us Smile!

Sloan loves handmade items....I have been very blessed over the years to receive handmade items from fellow bloggers and eBay group friends. My dear friend Doris sent Sloan and I the most wonderful goodie box. We are having our 3rd Anniversary on the AAPG group on eBay and Doris gifted us with all these delightful fall items.





She made Sloan a pumpkin and a crow. He swiped the lil' wrist pinkeep and has been wearing it on his arm and his ankle. For now we won't put any pins in it! He loves the crow and pumpkin and said he plans to use them in his traps. The lil' toot loves to make snares and traps around the house and loves to put "clues" leading up to them. Doris I just want you to know Sloan loves the goodies you sent....thanks so much.



Now just look at the bounty of goodies that I was gifted. Handmade pumpkins, needle punched scarecrow, beautiful needle punched sunflower tuck pillow, a needle punch cat standing on a pumpkin, vintage package of needles, handmade card, gift tags, a purse calendar for next year (love the Rooster) lovely wool, and notecards. Wow am I ever blessed!

Thought you might want to see some close~ups of Doris' beautiful work!






I'm going to leave it all out....I know we are still having triple digits and summer is by far not over. But these fall handmades will bring a smile each time I look at them. I will think of my dear friend Doris and also remember that fall days will be here again.....Thank you so VERY MUCH Doris for every lil' stitch you put into each of these gifts!

Happy Trails.....Ginger