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, April 1, 2015

HOOKER TURNED TRAPPER

I never thought of myself as a trapper but the squirrels drove me to it. They have chewed a big hole in the clapboard, way up to the second floor by the chimney and made it their home somewhere inside. I'm not sure if they have invaded my attic but I know that I've heard them race all along the soffits in front of the house and I could hear the racket at night or even in the daytime. They have kept me awake many nights. I didn't know how they got in until my neighbour saw one going into the big hole last week. She had them in her other house and it cost her $500. to get rid of them...

I asked my husband to buy a trapping cage and he bolted a small salmon can inside the cage as the squirrel would put it's little paw inside and lick the peanut butter without going in....  In 6 days we have caught 6 squirrels  and my husband is relocating them. I just saw another by the cage a few minutes ago but it didn't go in. It ate all the small pieces of peanuts that were on the ground. It's only a matter  of hour before we catch our 7th. They live to about 18 years old, no wonder there are so many around here raiding our bird feeders.


Here is one of the little rodent over the can of peanuts. We still have some lovely snow as you can see.


   
                     Funerals are serious business............

My husband love a free meal especially when it's a buffet. I don't  like to eat out much unless I know the ingredients in my food so my husband went alone to a Funeral Home sponsored information evening with a free meal.

He said it was a real good meal and since I couldn't go some representative made an appointment to come to our house to fill me in on the information and to hopefully convince me to plan my funeral arrangements.

It was very easy and now it's done and won't have to think about it any more and it will be easier on the family. St peter has my reservation and will call me when he has a place for me. Fair enough, I'm in no rush...


My  humble Canadian Tires wine rack is empty, hidden in a closet. It's one that I can expand by adding another section. There's a board on the wall to make it more stable with room to expand. This rack holds two batches. I'm thinking of adding another section to it soon...

Since I'm still here, and my wine rack was empty,  I got another two batches of fine Reserve Estate   of my favorite wine made and after 8 weeks, I  got it bottled last Wednesday. George came to help as it takes almost an hour from start to finish to bottle the two batches. A very easy process...



So I'm good for a little while. I gave a lot of it away as gifts but my bottles never came back so I had to buy some more bottles this time. These have all been put in the wine rack last evening.



I've been meaning to post for a few weeks and by the time I sit at the computer, I'm too tired to even bother so here is my winning from Nellie's giveaway of Berries and More. Nellie also included a recipe for Baked Doughnuts which I plan to try soon. Thanks so much Nellie for this generous gift. I've been reading it in bed every night and I'm enjoying it very much.



My little bunnies are keeping watch over the recipe until I see fit to bake.
I just wish I had more getty-up-n-go during the day. My time has been spent on my rug.




I've started some seeds that needs early start  on a heat mat.  They sprouted faster than what it said on the package.  I took the plastic off to show you the plants. The big one are Gazenias and the small one are Heliotropes. I tried them last year with old seeds and they didn't do well. The Gazenia seeds were $1.00 each plus tax.  No wonder the plants cost so much at the nursery. I hope these will bloom for me this summer.


I washed two yards of natural Dorr wool and I dyed some for my rug background.  I've been getting my hooking Mojo back this week and I've got lot done on my grandfather rug.


So sorry about the long post, I seem to be in a rut about posting.

Your comments are always appreciated. Happy April Fool Day everyone.
JB

26 comments:

  1. ooh, your own wine - that's awesome! and yay for trapping and relocating the squirrels! i hope you'll be able to stave off their home invasion for a while.

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  2. I feel your pain regarding the squirrels. They have chewed up our siding next to our chimney. Our siding is a barn red and no longer available. They some how get between the chimney pipe and rock. You are nicer than me ,no relocating. We live in the woods and there are hundreds out there it would be useless to try to relocate. Until we can find how they are getting in we try to get the ones that are presently making a nest. There scratching and chewing and literally drive one crazy.

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  3. Oh, my! You have been busy! Bless you for trapping and relocating those naughty squirrels. I know they can be so destructive, though they don't mean to be. They are just trying to survive the elements, too.
    Your own wine! Wow. That is really impressive! My brother in law makes his own wine. Though I don't drink, I hear it is good!
    My mission is to take care of our "permanent business" this year. Pinning Bill down on that is difficult. *sigh*
    Have a great week! HUGS!

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  4. Hi Julia,
    It is nice you have been so busy, your wine looks nice. I hope you get all of the squirrels. 7 is quite impressive. I am so glad we don't have squirrels. We have ground squirrels and they can't be a pest, but not like a normal squirrel.
    So glad you are doing some hooking. I always like to hear that. I am also glad you have those plans made. I worry about it too. I meant to have that all taken care of before now. Such a burden on families.
    Well have a wonderful day.

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  5. YOU are amazing! You make so many things! Wine! Racks! Traps! Rugs! I love it! I did not know that squirrels live that long. I'm shocked! I pray that you have a beautiful Easter, good JB!

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  6. I didn't know squirrels lived that long. We have a few that hang around the bird feeder but thankfully have not chewed on the house. Most people do not want to think about planning for funerals. I admire you for getting it done and making it easy on your children.
    Happy and Joyous Easter to you and your family!

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  7. Oopoooh, Julia, what a treat to have a long post from you! Lovely to hear what you have been up to! Well done on Squirrel capturing- they can be really destructive! Essentially they are just rats in cute outfits! I do like them but I agree!
    OOoh, nice to be able to fetch the favourite wine and bottle it- that's a nice personal touch!
    Love the fact your husband went in search of nice free buffet- that's the type of thing I might do!
    You must be exhausted and I want to thank you for all your lovely, lovely comments- it is a joy each and every day to read them and know you care- THANK YOU!
    Ooh, the seeds sound expensive! Hope they work out! I really MUST plant some seeds this year and try and grow something!x

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  8. I'm going to write you off the record because it wouldn't be nice for me to say the things I wanted to write. Luv ya.

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  9. I never knew that squirrels lived that long! But I do know they can be a real pain in the ........ Glad you're able to catch them!

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  10. Julia, you are an awesome hunter. They are cute little guys but can be so destructive. Hope you catch them all. There's nothing I love better than a full wine rack ;)

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  11. Those squirrels can cause such a problem! Yay for your success in trapping them! I am happy to know that you have been able to fill your wine rack! You've been very busy, and I know you will make it to those doughnuts when time permits! I do hope you are enjoying the book! xo Nellie

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  12. One of our Docs has had squirrel problems in his house for years...even the exterminator couldn't get rid of them. They said because they urinated in the space they would always come back..yuck! I hope yours can be controlled! My Mom has trouble with squirrels tearing apart her garbage and even eating a hole in the plastic trash cans...plus they eat all her tulips! They may look cute, but they are not nice to have in your yard! Enjoy your wine and your hooking...a good combo! Happy April!

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  13. You never cease to amaze me. I hope he is taking those damn squirrels at least 100 miles away they are so destructive. Nice to have a stock pile of wine what type is it? You do more in a day than most of us do in a week so you can be tired.
    Cathy

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  14. Hello Julia, I am so glad you got those pesky Squirrels. They chew electrical wires and burn house down.
    For the record, you can never have too long of a post. What a treat to finally see that you had time to post. I check almost every day and ,I am always pleasantly surprised to find your post. I love the bunnies keeping guard over you recipe. I just want to wish you a Happy Easter. I would like to write more, but I got to leave for work. May God bless you in all you do. Hugs

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  15. We have lots of squirrels too. They run across the flat roof on our sunporch and they sound like racehorses! Glad you relocated the culprits.
    Who knew...all your many talents...and a winemaker too.
    Have a Blessed & Happy Easter!
    Robyn

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  16. Oh dear, I thought squirrels are cute. I didn't know they can cause so much problems and danger to homes too. Your two little bunnies are very cute!

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  17. It seems the squirrels are getting more and more brave... they eat all of my garden veggies every year so I stopped planting. I hope you are taking them far enough away that they don't find their way back again... Delicious hand made wine! How fun it would be to learn how! Interesting book... is it a mystery with stitching in the main part of the story? Well... Spring is getting along here this weekend. Looking for some soaking April showers tomorrow and Sun for Easter! :-) Yippeee!

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  18. It's so funny to read this--I just finished an article about gardening gadgets and one was this electronic owl that moves its head and hoots when it senses something nearby. I was thinking, "I wonder if that works?" Of course, the Amazon reviews said it didn't, so I made sure to mention that there's no evidence that it helps at ALL.

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  19. Hi Julia...Joe and I had the same squirrel problem that you did, although ours didn't damage the house as much. Joe "relocated" about 12 squirrels one winter. They were eating out of our bird feeders too!
    Glad you are having some time to dye and to hook...we do have fun, don't we!!!
    It is nice to have "end of life arrangements" done...Joe's family cemetery is in Quebec...so I will be resting in Canada when my time comes! :)
    Not resting now, though...I'm off to the hooking frame!!! "Love's Memories" awaits! Happy Hooking! Hugs, Sunnie :)

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  20. Oh, no sweet Julia I am so sorry for what those pesky squirrels have done. We do not have an attic so we have not had a problem with them and our home. They did chew some wires in our van several years ago and we had to have it towed in and repaired. We didn't know what was wrong with the van until they told us after repairing it. It took me awhile to like squirrels again after that.

    We have had hubby's funeral arrangements taken care of for several years but I put mine off until this past Oct. mine is finally done too and it is a big relief.

    Your little bunnies watching over the recipe are so cute. The doughnuts I bet will be good. Maybe you will have time to tell us about them when you bake them and sample them.

    My nephew makes wine and I hope to one day get to taste it. I have been told it is wonderful. He lives several hundred miles from me but I hope some day we know when we are going to see each other and I remember to ask him to bring me a bottle.

    I do hope you are finding some relaxing and rest time sweet Julia, I know you are busy, busy and working hard as always.

    Thank you, so much for your comments on my blog...they mean more to me than you could ever know. Love and hugs, Maggie

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  21. Your talents never cease to amaze me! Winemaker...if I lived closer I'd be your best friend...lol!
    Happy, happy Easter.
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

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  22. Hi Julia, Just stopping by to see what my maritime blogging neighbour is up to. Wow...never a dull moment with you. lol As cute as people think squirrels are, they are rodents & if you remove that bushy tail & replace it with a rat tail, well you can see who they're related too!! I miss my Squirrel though, had him for 11 years before he fled & never returned to his cage. :( But to have captured 7!! My heart goes out to you & the sleepless nights with their antics! I watched the program 'Death, It's A Living' & recorded it for the family to watch, no one wants to watch it but I keep quoted the going ons from the documentary. And wow it is expensive, I've requested my wishes & what's old is new again. I've requested my ashes to be placed in 'The Parlour' of my home not an institution for funerals. Cheers to you & your wine making, my husband use to but no longer does now & our wine racks have only a few bottles in them. Love your ceramic rabbits & the recipe, yum!
    I picked up window sill planters to start some seed plants next month when i return home to my summer house. I'm homesick but there's still so much snow!!! Can't wait to see your Grandfather Rug, your a woman of so many talents & as others have said, 'You never cease to amaze me Julia!' My visit to you has gently reminded me I must get my act together as I'm so scattered these days with Boris Loree having seizures I just can't think straight for long. So much to do before I leave the city house but the snow that is east is nothing I've seen in my 7 years of commuting between homes. The wells will be high this year...
    Have a great week Julia.
    Hugs, Cynthia

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  23. Goodness your life is full. Farming full.
    I've never met an idle farmer:)
    It's a beautiful thing how you live such a resourceful life.
    Inspire me you do:)
    -Jennifer

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  24. As always you have been very busy at your place, no wonder you haven't had time to post. I am so happy that you have taken the time to leave comments and to be so very supportive or our struggles here. You know, when I get tired, which happens very often these days, I think of you and how hard you work. Usually that inspires me to do more of the necessary stuff.

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  25. Oh Julia how I love coming by and reading about You! Your never boring and your writing is never to long.
    I was shocked to read how long squirrels live. No wonder there are so many causing me havoc out here. My brother does what you do in town. I have accused him of releasing them out here.
    Wow all that wine I wonder if that is something else I am suppose to avoid. haha If not I know where to visit and soon.
    Could not believe the snow you have still. Amazing we have our state flower the Bluebonnets blooming every where and I have fields of wild flowers all ready. Sorry don't mean to rub it in. It just is so unreal to me how long your winters are.
    I of course have missed you. I had to come by tonight before I go to bed to say I love you and appreciate all your prayers and good wishes. I am trying to keep a positive outlook and having friends like you makes it easier to do that.
    Stay well and looking forward to many more years of your writing.
    Love ya
    Maggie

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  26. We planted lettuce seeds a few weeks ago and they're peeping up nicely.
    R

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