Crazy wool stitching:)

Isn't this wool quilt block amazing? There are four different blocks to finish altogether, but I am going to tease you with just the one block for now. I found this group of Prim lovers while browsing blogs online who have started a blog and are all buzzing about the book "Wool Crazy" by JoAnne Mullaly. Here is and excerpt from their blog:

You've happened upon the gathering place for friends who are working on the quilt from the book Wool Crazy by JoAnn Mullaly. This is where we meet, greet, offer tips and advice and cheer each other on to the finish.

There are no rules, no deadlines and no start or finish times...just good fun along the way.

To join, please contact Kaaren at thepaintedquilt@live.com with your email, blog URL and blog name.

If you don't have a blog, feel free to follow along and join in by clicking on "comments" at the end of each post. Every bit of help, knowledge and encouragement is appreciated.

You can order the book here:


I am so thrilled to find out that I won't have to covet this book from afar, as there is a copy winging it's way to me as we speak:) Just the thing to drag one through the rest of this dreary winter.

The thing I like about this 'challenge' is that you don't have to attempt the whole quilt, you can just make small projects from the templates in any material that you want. Just my cup of tea. I always have a great start, then lose steam as I move along, so this should be great for me. Living in chilly, snowy Canada means that I have a ton of wool in my stash, and can pick and choose what colors I want. I am so pumped to have found this group of very friendly ladies, and look forward to the adventure with them. I have already picked up a few great tips from the comments section on the blog.

So, if you are a lover of Prim, and a lover of wool, why don't you click on the link in my sidebar, or any of the links above to find out a little more? This is the group that I thought my dear Internet friend Colleen would enjoy. Colleen is another multi-talented artist who works with wool, making penny rugs, doing rug hooking, punch needle, and is always designing something that I covet. Collen's blog is called: Penny Rugs and More.

I am also working on a couple of stitcheries for me:) Usually, I end up giving my things away, mostly because that's the motivation I need to actually finish a project. I am still working on my large stitched 'Come gather here' sign for my kitchen. I am doing it in a cotton that is tightly woven, and each letter has 4 layers of stitching close together, so it is taking my poor achy fingers longer to finish than I had hoped. In between that, I started a little Valentine stitchery that was offered by Robin. Just click on the picture and it will take you right to the post on Robins blog. She is so very generous with her work, and I have made quite a few stitcheries that she has designed, and love, love, love every one!

Make a cup of tea before you click on the link below, because she has quite a nice blog with lots of eye candy, and you will be there for awhile. You can pick up this wonderful doodle at: Bird In The Hand Primitives.


Well, I had better get a move on, I am still sitting here in my robe and jammies, and I have things that I must get done today. Yesterday, my son Jake brought little Owen over for the day so that Kerri could get some sleep. She is back to work as an RN in our very busy Emergency department at our local hospital, and works 7 to 7. Two days, then two nights, with a few days off to recover after. Owen is a busy, noisy, 11 month old little boy, and naturally Kare wouldn't ever get to sleep in the day with him around. I just put everything off until after when I can get a chance to spend some time with him. We even had my Mom over for play time yesterday, since she is now living around the block from us! I have a ton of pictures on my new camera of the little man, but I can't find the cord that connects the camera to my laptop:( I have found about 30 various cords, but all the wrong size. I guess that my errands list will include a stop at the nearest Staples!

Wooly hugs, Trudy

Bits and pieces...

Hello again dear friends. I have missed you all while I was away. OK, I didn't go anywhere, but it seems like I was away!

Just sitting in my chair in front of the fire in my cozy kitchen, typing away and watching the dogs sleep beside me. They snore almost as loud as I do! Our old fellow Buddy will be 16 in a few weeks, and is starting to look his age. He has lost quite a bit of weight lately, and gets confused about which way he is heading when outside, but he has a great appetite, loves to sleep by the fire and does not seem to be in any distress, so it's all good. I hope that when his time comes, he just falls into rest while dozing in front of the fireplace.


My dorky hubby Jeff heading out to shovel some snow:)


Daughter-in-law Kerri with our beautiful grandson Owen above, and son Jake with Owie below.



One of my favorite nephews Joe just graduated from the police academy and is going to work with the city police force in Toronto, Ontario. Congratulations Joe on achieving your dream, and stay safe! In the picture of Joe above, he is joined with Rita (his grandmother) my dear sister-in-law Nancy, and my older (although he looks younger) brother Terry.


My mother-in-law Jackie having a little 'snuggle' time with our younger long haired dachshund, Mable. She will be turning 10 in May, but she acts liks a puppy still. Mable just loves Jackie, and HAS to climb on Jackie's lap whenever she visits. Of course we know that Jackie is very special to me, as I don't allow just 'anyone' to sit in my special chair in my kitchen...Just ask my hubby:)


Our hockey boy Adam making himself some breakfast:) Note to Adam's Mom: Yes, your teenaged son has learned to cook, clean, and fetch. Make sure that he continues to do so when we send him back to you in the Czech Republic at the end of our hockey season!


Me and my little man, Owen...who will be a year old in February! Our first (and only) grandson:)


The time has flown by so quickly this past year, and I feel that I have gotten very little done using my imaginary to do list for crafting. I have a ton of things that I have started, or want to start, yet I find it very hard to 'actually' do anything. Lets blame it on the MS, since most of my lesions are in my brain anyway:) I am not going to make promises that I can't keep, but I haved missed my blogging friends over the past few months, and I hope to visit more often, and blog more as well. I have been almost totally absent on the various message boards that I visit as well, and would really like to get back on track. It's not that I don't miss everyones blogs, cause I think of you all a lot, but it takes all of my energy to look after the house and my family, and I don't seem to have much left for you all. I think that I am going to have my dear daughter Jess take a more active role in the house now that she is finished with school. My hubby Jeff is great to cook, throw some laundry in, or even do the grocery shopping, but I always feel guilty asking him, as he works so much overtime to help get us the special things in life that we like to have. I like to get the groceries, visiting my thrift stores (well we only have three in town) along the way, as it is really the only time I get out of the house.


Our 22 year old gorgeous daughter Jess who is enjoying her Christmas prezzies...Still a kid at heart. Jessica has a blog too, which is called Powdered Sugar, feel free to visit...it's much tidier than her room is!


I participated in a Harvest Swap this past fall, with Kim from Kim's Creations. As you can see by the photos, I got spoiled rotten:) It just made my day, and felt like Christmas...early of course. Sadly, due to a mix-up, Kim didn't get my swap gift from me until after Thanksgiving:( I hope that you are still doing swaps Kim, cause they are so much fun.


Remember our first OHL Euro import that we had for two years? Branislav Rehus, is back living in Slovakia with his family, and playing hockey there, but we still message each other, and phone occasionally. Here is a picture of Branislav and his sweetheart Natalia. Nati visited Brani in Slovakia over Christmas, and hopes to move over there this spring for school...and for love of course! Who could resist those curls of Branni's? We are so looking forward to seeing him in the flesh this spring, he is like another son to us, and we miss him like crazy.

While I didn't spend much time blogging, I did spend a lot of time on the computer, mostly on Facebook playing Farmville. It was great, cause it kept me busy. I am not so addicted now...although I'm still pretty bad, cause I can't resist to tell you to add me as your friend if you like FB and Farmville! Here is a link to my homepage on Facebook. Trudy on Facebook.

Wooly hugs, Trudy

For my Friends, Family and especially JoJo

I tried to post this last week, but for some reason, it disappeared. So, here I go again!

I received a note from a dear Internet friend who wrote:

"Trudy, where ARE you? I check your blog but you're not updating. I know you come to Snippets to read the posts but you don't respond. Even the Fibre and Fibro board is dead. No one goes there any longer.
Are you having serious health problems? Or is there something more going on? And how is Owen doing?
Can you please drop me a note and let me know that you're okay?
JoJo"

Well, that really hit home. Thank you JoJo for caring so much. It really means a lot to me, and I promise to do better. I am kicking myself for my shameful neglect of my Internet friends, who despite this have continued to email, message, or left a comment on a regular basis these past several (OK, six) months. I will admit now that I have been struggling both physically and mentally since late summer. My MS has really not settled down at all, and without boring you all to death with a list of symptoms, lets just say that this disease has been progressing far to speedily for my liking. Mentally, it has certainly been a struggle to battle through this, although I don't think that I have been suffering from depression.

Anyhow, I don't feel much better, but I have come to the realization that my little circle of friends that I have amassed over the past few years are very important to me, and I shouldn't neglect them, assuming that they are going to wait forever for me. Friendships have to be fed to grow, and I have definitely have missed nurturing them. I am so thankful that while I can't physically visit or talk on the phone (I seem to not have a voice for about 5 or 6 months of the year now) to you, I can follow your blogs, email, facebook and comment when possible. I am so very lucky and blessed to have you in my life.

So big hugs to you all, and thank you once again, for sticking with me:)

Wooly hugs, Trudy

Happy Thanksgiving

Just quickly popping in to wish all of my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving! In both Canada and the United States, we have so very much to be thankful for. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has a loved one oversea's or ill.

I haven't been able to blog much, because my dog Mable has been hogging the computer. I have wrestled it away from her, and promise to blog long and loud this weekend.

Wooly hugs, Trudy

Autumn must be here..cause hockey has started!

We have a busy, busy household this past month, and I will give you a zillion pictures showing what we have been up to.

Some of our days have been spent at the Memorial Centre watching hockey. Yep, summer is over here and the Peterborough Petes are back in town! Adam has settled back nicely with our family after spring and part of summer spent at home in the Czech Republic. He came back weighing 210 lbs. and is 6'2"; all solid muscle. It is good to have him back, he keeps Jeff on his toes and out of my hair! Adam never walks when he can run, and is a very, very busy 17 year old. He and our Jess have both returned to school, and the house feels very full and happy:)

We went to my brother in law Simon's 50th birthday party, and we got to visit with Jeff's cousin Nancy, her husband Bill, and their daughter, son in law and baby Alexis who is only three weeks older than our Owen. I got some snuggle time with her, so I was too busy to take pictures. Hopefully we will see them over our Thanksgiving weekend, they come to the Norwood area, and like to go to the fair as we do also. I would love to get our Owen and little Alexis together to see how they act.

Our weather has been great now that September is here. Sunny and very cold at night, down to 4C, but up to 25C in the day. This is the longest stretch of sunny, warm weather that we have had in months, and I have been outside enjoying it as often as I can:) My gardens have been sadly overlooked, and I have been playing catch up with the plantain and crabgrass! Despite my poor care, the mild weather has helped with juicy tomatoes, and lovely flowers.






I got my ingrown toenail ripped off again (I know, it's gross) and then promptly got the flu after. I spent most of last week in a daze, falling asleep on my (sore) feet, and acomplishing nothing. I am much better this week, although my voice has gone, and I have a wicked cough. I am really hoping that this is not another round of hoarseness that lasts four months!

We spent a great day at the Toronto Zoo, with Jeff, Adam and Jessica. It was hotter than hell that day, but not too crowded. I took my walker, and I made out just fine. By the end of the long ride home in the car, I just wanted to cry, cause my body ached so much. It was worth it though:)


















We went to Kerri's mom and dad's for a swim and dinner, and the boys and Kerri had some fun in the water. I watched from dry land! Julie and Paul are the nicest in laws that our son Jake could have ever asked for, we always enjoy ourselves so very much when we do get together.

Kerri is so good to have a dinner every couple of months with the grandparents and even great grandparents at their home, so we can get a visit in with them.














Of course, whenever we can sneak in a chance to babysit little Owen, we grab it! He is now approaching 7 months, and two little teeth have just broken through the surface on the bottom of his mouth. He also has a cold, and hasn't been very happy for Kerri and Jake, although we still managed to get some smiles out of him.








Adam's hockey mate Jiri Sekac, who is also from the Czech Republic arrived, and although he isn't staying with us, he has spent quite a few hours at our place fishing, tubing, playing ball and frisbee, and eating:) Those boys sure can eat! Adam has been so great to help him get settled. Cheap movie nights, school, new friends for Jiri, and trying to master the language can make it very intimidating for a 17 year old who has never been away from home before. He is such a sweetie though, with his white blond hair perfectly arranged, the matching outfits, and smelling so good all of the time. He seems much to young to be so far from home, but his landparents are a really nice couple who have had Euro Petes players before, so they will look after him.




While in the midst of all of this business, hubby Jeff decided that he was going to put flooring down in my computer/craft room. I wanted to paint the room before he did the floor, so I had to quickly get my bazzillion books, and various craft materials out of there, and choose a paint colour! I have to say that I love the way it is turning out...I'll post some after photos....well, after I guess! The one great thing to come out of it, is the desk that was in there kind of fell apart when moving it, so I will get something smaller...yay!!

Haven't had the time or energy for doing much crafting, but I have sent out a package (I think) for a harvest swap that Char had on. I know that I will get my fingers to stitchin when the gardening is done for the year, and the snow gets on the ground. In our area, that can be as early as October:(






Now that I have semi-filled you in on the comings and goings of our lives, I had better get to bed. It's almost 2am! I promise to blog more often, and I do have some recipes to get on here.

Ending with the best thing of all....baby feet:)

Wooly hugs, Trudy