RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

UPDATE ON MY ACTIVITIES

I've been working on and off in between raindrop and got my long daylily flower bed weeded again, at lease the all the chickweeds that re sprouted. There are a few minor little weeds left and they are not in seed yet.


Boiling water to kill weeds is a bit extreme but it calls for desperate measures.


Today I did a different kind of weeding. I boiled pots after pots of water to pour on the weeds in the cracks in the pavement and along the flowerbed by the rock wall and I even used the electric tea kettle. Good thing I have an exhaust fan in the ceiling to suck up all the steam outside.

 The boiling water kills the weeds and leave no undesirable toxic residue. It may need another application later on.  I should have done this a long time ago. It's a lot of work filling and carrying heavy pots of scalding water outside. I had tried this method a couple of weeks ago on the weeds by the back door and it's still weed free so this will be my method of choice for killing unwanted weeds between pavers and patio blocks. I have a large area to cover so it will take me  a while.


I'm making a little progress on my pink scarf for Cancer Survivors as promised to Yaya  of        Whispering Pines blog. She is collecting pink scarves for cancer survivors and my good blogging friend Donna is also a friend of Yaya and a breast cancer surviver just like me.

 I placed a little red thread marker last evening and I can see my progress better. I'm slow at knitting as it's a purl one, knit one pattern. I'm using a soft baby yarn and it makes the progress slow also. For some reason, my hands and shoulders feel numb while knitting and hooking recently. I knitted a little  today while waiting for my water to boil and had no numbness. Maybe it was all that steam in the kitchen, he, he.

 My Childhood Memories rug is slowly getting hooked. I'm using mostly left over worms  to thin them out. For some reason, this vignette of the fishing girl is pastel.


Now for that naughty little fat pig in his mud puddle that gave me so much chagrin.  For some reason, he was a bugger to hook. I made him bigger than reduced his size and I reduced him again.I've decided in putting some grass behind him and he's standing out better. I'll admit that I had to dye some brown for the mud puddle. I'm not quite done integrating  the pig and the cow vignettes. At least I don't feel a hooker's block now.


This is an overview of my rug as of right now. I'm always wondering if I should straighten out the water  where the three swimmers are in. I had done it this way on purpose and it bugs me now... That vignette is a bit on the slant. I'll see if I can pull a few worms  and replace them with water.

Thanks for visiting and for leaving some feedback.And to my American blogger friends, have a Happy 4th of July.
Stay safe and have a great celebration.
JB





24 comments:

  1. Julia, your rug is fabulous. You got that pig looking just right. I like the water the way it is, it separates that vignette from the other blues and stuff. Hey what do I know, I just know I love your rug! Have a great weekend and relax a little bit, if you ever do. You are an inspiration.
    I hope it is cooler there than it is here in the West.

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  2. I love your rug! i think the pig looks better now. Hope to see more of your photos!

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  3. Never heard of boiling water to kill weeds very nice!! The pigs mud puddle looks much nicer and more natural-good work! What ever cancer survivor receives your scarf will be one lucky lady!

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  4. I love this rug I so enjoy seeing updates on it! Since seeing it I've wanted to do a story rug I sit and think about different scenes but I cannot draw. I do like the water.

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  5. You are one more busy lady, Julia! Great move to use boiling water for those weeds, though it was definitely a lot of work! So much better for the environment!

    I'm impressed with your needlework! It has been many years since I attempted to knit something, and I've never even thought about hooking rugs!

    Thank you so much, Julia, for your visits and comments to my blog. I really do appreciate you!

    xo Nellie

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  6. I love your rug... keep showing us your progress, please.

    Happy 4th to you and yours.

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  7. Good evening Julia, your memory rug is amazing, what a wonderful heirloom to pass on to the next generation. Speaking of next generation, how are those adorable (James and Daniel) grandchildren of your's, growing like weeds I'm sure. Speaking of weeds, you certainly are a women on a mission! With so much going on at the farm, where do you find time to fit in knitting? Very pretty shade of pink and for such a good cause...Hugs from Maine, Julie.

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  8. holy smokes, that rug is impressive!!! just amazing!

    and boiling water for weeds - what a great idea!

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  9. I did some googling about natural weed killers last week. Boiling water was one of the ways!

    I was wondering if it would work .. seemed too simple... and here you are! yay

    The toting of the boiling water is what I'm working on ... I don't have a tea kettle... think I'll go to a thrift store and see if I can get a couple.

    Love your rug!

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  10. I really like your memory rug. For some reason it made me want to cry but then I am very melancholy right now. Great little pig! I love your rooster rug in the last post too!
    I want to hook a chicken rug this winter.
    My Mom used to do that with boiling water to kill weeds. I do too sometimes.
    Wishing you and your family a great weekend!

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  11. You are such a good and busy person! I think the scarf is beautiful, and the rug is amazing! Hugs!

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  12. Your rug is amazing! And you don't have far to go. I think the water with the swimmers looks fine.

    I've used boiling water on weeds for years, especially the poison ivy that grows up along the foundation of the house. Better than spraying! I usually pour off cooking water from whatever and take it out and douse the offenders instead of pouring it down the drain.

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  13. I'll have to try the boiling water for the weeds... I've tried vinegar and although it works (slowly) it stinks...p-u! :-) Your rug is amazing! Such a treasure! The pink scarf looks so very soft...

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  14. Oh Julia...your rug is so wonderful! I can't wait to see the finish on this beauty...what an heirloom you are creating...what a talent you are! I am so happy to hear you use hot water to kill weeds. That horrible product that a lot of people spray all over their yards is so toxic...people don't realize it contains the same ingredients as Agent Orange and has devastating health consequences...some of my neighbors use it all the time!
    Love your pretty gazebo pic on your header.
    Have a great weekend,
    Robyn

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  15. I have so much to comment about in this post...first, I love that gazebo in the header pic..really pretty..2nd..I never heard of using boiling water on weeds, but I'm going to do it! I have many that need a good dousing! That rug is amazing...I just love it and I think the water looks just fine, in fact I think it looks like it's moving with the swimmers..sounds crazy but from my point of view that's how I see it! Last but not least..Thank you so much for the scarf that you're lovingly making for the "Pink Scarf Project" this fall. I'm know it will bring a big smile on the face of a cancer patient...in fact, another good friend of mine is going through treatment now...such a bad disease..Thanks for the July 4th greeting too! Have a good weekend!

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  16. Sweet Julia I am so glad you posted about the boiling water to kill weeds. I had heard that it worked well but never knew anyone who had actually tried it. Now I will go for it since I see it works. I don't like using chemicals around all the wildlife and pets. Your rug is very nice and someone is going to really enjoy that beautiful pink scarf. Hugs and have a great weekend!

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  17. Juia ~
    Your rug is wonderful and you are getting near the end. Your pig is just perfect!
    Two days ago I found out a friend was just diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer and will be having surgery next week. Thankfully it was found early. I've had a couple biopsies but they have come back negative. I keep all these ladies (and men) in my prayers.
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

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  18. You have made great progress on your rug! It looks very nice and the pig is looking happier in his new non-bathtub puddle :)

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  19. Your rug is just lovely!! Thanks for sharing the weeding tip! I have never used boiling water on the weeds, but I do use white vinegar on my walkway. Next time I will try the water.

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  20. I had never heard of boiling water to kill weeds. Quite interesting! I learn something new every time I visit here :) and I LOVE that rug!

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  21. I'm with Keith, I'd never heard of killing weeds with boiling water. I'll give that a try.
    R

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  22. Boiling water to kill weeds is also the way to go to kill ant hills, so if any are under those patio stones - Julia you've killed two birds with one stone!
    I love the rug the way it is, the water has a wave effect to it, which is natural for water & the pig is perfect. I just love that rug, keep up the story telling. I enjoy reading what you post in your & my blog. Do take time to rest & take in the fruits of your labour Julia. No grass under your feet! it's summer time, feel some cool 'cut' grass under your bare-feet.lol
    Hugs,
    Cynthia

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  23. I LOVE your rug and love your tip for killing weeds!! You're a wealth if information!!

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  24. Your rug is coming along beautifully Julia. Won't be long now, I'm sure. :)

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