Sunday, November 20, 2011

Is it possible that I am allergic to running

Well again after my race my allergies started acting up---sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.  I have taken zyrtec and put antihistamine drops in my eyes trying to catch it faster this time.  Is it possible that I could be allergic to running---I googled it and read about a histamine release that can happen when you run fast.  I hope it clears up faster this time.

But I am happy to report that I beat last years results and also beat my fastest 5K that I have ever ran---I finished in 28:44 which was 2 seconds better than my fastest time.  I placed first out of eleven in my age group and 42 out of 277 women---so I was very happy, runny nose and all.  It was quite chilly this morning.  I think that I might see a nap in my future this afternoon.  My dear husband went back to his truck to keep warm while I was running and missed me at the finish line---he got back a couple of minutes too late.


I am watching "Chopped" on TV---at Teacher's workshop the trainees did a skit based on the show---it was sure funny.




Here are two version of Early Frost that were brought back to Teacher's workshop this year---I taught this piece a year ago at workshop ---it is always a great to have pieces that you have taught come back.

I think that I might get some hooking done today...what to work on....hmmmmmm!

Happy holidays!

Anita

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Framing today

Here are a couple of pieces that I framed today.

The first one is a floral that I started a couple of years ago---I have posted a picture in the past but now it is framed and looks much better.  I ordered these frames on ebay---


                   
Silver Fire-Burned Distressed Wood Picture Frame-Exotic
Silver Fire-Burned Distressed Wood Picture Frame-Exotic
Item Id:350320993847
End time:Nov-10-11 17:35:20 PST
Seller:
tabby7 (32888)
99.7% Positive Feedback
Member since Jul-10-98 in United States
Location: MO, United States
Listing Status:This message was sent while the listing was closed.
Here are more items from this seller

the quality and service has been great---highly recommend!



The next picture is a piece hooked by Betty Laine that was auctioned off during our teacher's workshop for the scholarship fund.  It was hooked into verel so I stretched it over foam core covered with cotton batting so it would be slightly padded.  Betty holds a special place in my heart and I miss her---now I have a little something to remember her by.





Today is my friend Carolyn's birthday---dinner out tonight to celebrate but making it a short night as I am running in another race tomorrow morning.  Fortunately this one will not be as hilly as the last one was and I have hight hopes of beating my last year's time of 29:29.

Well I got to go clean up there big mess I made downstairs!

Happy holidays!





Thursday, November 17, 2011

Over the hump

Well another busy week...fortunately my allergy flare up got better---the eye doctor confirmed that it was an allergy---I guess to something in the park where I ran.

I had home classes on Monday and Wednesday and Tuesday was spent trying to get all my new wool put away which necessitated moving a lot of stuff around in the storage room---it was a disaster, but now is much more organized.  I also put together kits for my students for the Holiday Gathering.  We are having our 14th annual Holiday Gathering on the 14th of December.  It is the highlight of our year---everyone brings a dish, their recipe which we put into a cookbook, a show and tell (current project) as well as their completed rugs for the year for a rug show.  I am very fortunate to have a wonderful student who volunteers her lovely home for our event.  Thanks Mimi!  I always put together a kit---can't post a picture of it yet---can't spoil the surprise but will post it in December.  I have my sample hooked but not finished.

Today I an headed to Greenwood for a class in my shop.  As an added treat we are having lunch at the Greenwood Tearoom before class---a great place to have lunch if you are in the area.

At Bunco last night I was the Biggest Loser and got my money back.

It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is only a week away.  I have much to be thankful for---my faith, my health, my family, my friends, my love of rug hooking, to name a few.

I am running another race this weekend, the Gobbler Grind.  This will be my fourth time to run this race.  I wonder what color the shirts will be this year---so far I have yellow, turquoise, and dark green---an interesting color combination.  Maybe someday I will have to hook a rug from some of my running shirts---this idea is whirling around in my head---hmmm!  I think that I  have something here---I'll keep you posted if I decide to do it.

Okay time to post some pictures and then off to get the day going---much to do.



These two photos show how much the draught has affected Texas---when I took the photo that this mat was hooked from the water level was much higher---the other picture shows how this area looked this year while we were at workshop.


I was very fortunate to get to see this piece of art in person...hooked by Cheryl Bollenbach---it was truly the kind of piece that stays with you---the sculpted details of this piece is so incredible that it gives me goosebumps---I am proud to have Cheryl as part of our  teacher's workshop at South Central.  In an earlier post I shows a closeup of a piece of this that I took laying on the floor.  I am blown away by her talent!



This is the State Line Rug Hooker's guild rug---raffle tickets are being sold and the rug will be given away at the Lenexa Hook-in in February.  The proceeds are being given to the Spiva Art Center in Joplin, Mo to help them rebuild after the tornado.  Contact me if you would like to purchase tickets for this great cause.  Each square is a 12 inches so it a big rug!

Time to run!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

back from South Central McGown Teacher's workshop

I returned home from Texas Friday night---another great teacher's workshop.  The workshop is held at Prothro on Lake Texoma.  It is a wonderful facility near Pottsboro Texas.  It is a week packed with lots of learning, teaching, and friendships.  If you are interested in becoming a McGown certified teacher and attending South Central,  please contact me ---anitahooksrugs@yahoo.com and visit the McGown teacher's website.

http://www.mcgownteachersworkshop.com/

On day one I was in a kilim class working on a pattern called Qashqai---here is a picture of Diana's finished piece.  She had made hers into a two sided bag---it was lovely!  Not sure yet what mine will be.





This is a rosemalling piece called Millie that I started on day 2---not very typical colors for rose malling but I like how it is developing.

On the way to Texas we stopped at a western store near Gainsville I bought a pair of Cowboy boots---I love them  They are Ariat's and were very comfortable.



On Wednesday I taught a sky class adapted from a photo I took last year at Prothro.  I donated the piece to Prothro for their cross wall.  Here it the piece:


On Thursday I taught a dye class---what fun we had in the dye pots.  Below are the trainees and juniors showing  the fruits of their labor.



Here are a few pictures from the rug show.


Hooked by Floss Stillman
Hooked by Cheryl Bollenbach---the cover of our workshop report!


Close up detail of the hands on an original piece by Cheryl---totally awesome!

Floral Chairpad that I finished from a  class taught two hears ago by Diana Giesinger.

I would really like to post more but I am beat.  I ran in a race yesterday  morning  and afterwards I think I got some kind of allergy attack---watery swollen red eye, running nose and sneezes---not fun.




Here I am finishing the race---small race but was a killer, hilly race---finished second in women over 40---not many over 40 there but I finished in 31:13---not bad considering how hilly it was.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

More pictures of the Greenwood Christmas Open House

Yesterday I went to Greenwood to work for the Christmas Open House.  Here are some pictures of several of the booths in the shop.  If you are in the area it continues Saturday and Sunday and then again next weekend.  Happy shopping!  I took some more things out to the shop yesterday from my house.  I need to do more of that...clean out time!











All the booths looked very festive and a good time was had by all.

Come shop!



Greenwood Mercantile
Greenwood Mo
816-537-7033

Friday, November 4, 2011

Christmas Open House in Greenwood

Yesterday I went to the shop in Greenwood to decorate my booth for the
Christmas Open House which starts tonight.  I will be working there today from 3 to 7---I think it officially starts at 5, so come on over to Greenwood.

Here are a couple of pictures of my efforts.





I am hoping to look through some of my stuff at the house to see if there are a few more things to put in the booth.

Tomorrow I am going to Lawrence for a funeral of the mother of my best friend in grade school---I can still hear her distinctive voice and laugh...rest in peace.  What good times we had growing up and playing in the wonderful old two story house with the biggest yard in the neighborhood...all the other houses were ranch style.

Sunday early morning I am heading to Teacher's workshop.  Leaving very early so I am glad we are turning our clocks back an hour.

Car is going to the doctor this morning to get the brakes checked---they are not sounding good so need to get them checked before leaving town...especially since I have four other people who are going to be riding with me.  What a fun trip we will have.

I am trying very hard to finish a workshop piece that was started a few years back...not sure if I am going to make it...but am trying hard.

Cold this morning but it is supposed to warm up and be a nice day.

Happy fall.