Playdate at Red Barn Rugs

{The red barn at Red Barn Rugs}

Somewhere down the back roads of the farthest reaches of Nod, during the cold, snowy, and blustery days of February's end, seven (somewhat) like-minded people came together for three days of camaraderie, shenanigans, wool fondling (a LOT of wool fondling), shenanigans, amazing food, shenanigans, and a little (rug) hooking.

I am not sure why I didn't get better photos as I certainly wasn't busy hooking, but I am sharing what photos I did remember to take.

Cindy's start on "Cabbage Rose" (a Red Barn Rugs design):

Cindy was also working on a tribute rug to her furever beloved Holly:

A close-up:

Barb was building a fluffy sheep:

Although she was one of the main shenanigators, she had made good progress by the end of the three days:

Nancy (a native South Carolinian who came all the way from Minn-eh-sota) was also a main shenanigator - but she also got top honors for wool fondling (and thievery).  She was working on Cathy's (the genius behind Red Barn Rugs) new "Colonial Eagle" design:

{Sorry for the wonky photo...Nancy's from Minnesota don'tcha know?}

She also got some help with finishing touches for her "Winter Berries" sheep:

Just look at that face!

Mel (mostly) behaved and so got a lot done on "Bossie."  I love her spotted cow (a tribute to the famous brew from a certain brewery in New Glarus.  Hey, it's a Wisconsin thing.)  (And Mel, you are so right: Dogs ought really not have 5 legs. 😂)

{"Bossie" by Jill Peterson}

Lisa joined us on the last day only.  I know she brought more rugs with her, but these were the only two I caught photos of:

{Does this look familiar?? It should...it's an antique adaptation that Saundra of Woodland Junction (relatively) recently hooked and she drew this pattern (which she calls "White Horse With Scrolls") for Lisa.}

...and

{A Carol Weatherman (Pine Island Primitives) design...not sure of the name.}

{LOVE that walkway wool!!}

Cathy (in the rare moments when she was not quelling shenanigans helping the minions or busy making the best "lunches" EVER) was working on her newest design, "Colonial Eagle:"

{I am so doing this one!!}

My sincere apologies to Ellen....I did not get a photo of her rug, but she was also working on Cathy's new "Colonial Eagle."

As for me, well, yes, I was one of the main wool fondlers but I KNOW someone (you know who you are) will ask what I worked on.  I am not sure there was actually any true progress since I spent most of my time trying to figure out if the wool I had stuffed in with this project (the many years ago I put it aside) actually went with this project.

Yikes.

Oh...and there was a wee bit of puppy fondling going on too.  🐶

{Cindy snuggling with Cathy's Raffi}

*******

I have neglected to mention my "reads" in the last few posts and know I have missed some...but this is the one I just finished up:

Jodi Picoult is one of my very favorite authors.  I was riveted to this book as tightly as I have been to her others but, in this case, it was likely more because of the setting and backstory: Egypt and Egyptology.

(Archaeology/Anthropology was one of my very first loves.  It was my primary degree in college and I actually toyed with Egyptology as a specialty - but that, once again, is another story for another time.)

As with her previous books, Picoult takes on a timely social issue in The Book of Two Ways:  In this case, she centers the plot around the ancient Egyptian "Book of Two Ways" often found in ancient tombs which is essentially a guidebook or map for the afterlife, but makes it a metaphor for the choices we make while on earth.

Would I recommend it? Yes...but with the proviso that you might not like it as much as I did unless you, too, are a closet Egyptologist.

*******

Now...back to the shenanigans.