New Hooking Project

This month for Wool Club, I had no project started, so I flipped through my current Rug Hooking Magazine to the featured free pattern, the owl and sheep pattern by Maria Barton.  The owl was so cute that I decided to come up with my own version of an owl rug, so here is the still-in-progress rug which was inspired by Maria's owl.

I think it is turning out to be rather primitive, which was what I wanted.  The colors are a bit off on my own monitor, but hopefully it will all come together well.

I haven't chosen background wool colors yet, so I'll have to think about that for a while!

We've been having the same snowy, cold weather with lots of icy, damp, and windy conditions that many of you have.  I'm so sick of winter this year for some reason and just want it to be sunny, clear, and warmer...must be my age.  I used to love the changes in the seasons...even WINTER, but this year I wanted to skip right over the cold snowy stuff.

I want to post more often, so I'm going to try to make a concerted effort to get with it and just do it!  I do enjoy reading all your posts and seeing the great projects you are working on.

My daughter (with a little help from me) made two bears for the twin great nieces who will come probably late next month or possibly the first week in March.  Their room will be done in shades of pink, so the bears were made of pink sueded cotton with coordinating reversible vests and collars.  We were in such a hurry to get them finished in time for a baby shower that I forgot to take pictures!! Grrr.  My nephew and his wife live about 120 miles away, so I will have to talk my sister into taking some pictures during one of her visits.

Have a great week!!
Linda

SMOKE AND MIRRORS!

Whom can we trust is Washington???  This is a question which all Americans must address in this very important election cycle.  Please inform yourselves and consider the possible consequences of casting your vote for anyone supporting this type of smoke and mirrors tactic for any legislation.


We cannot afford to take any promise at face value...we must do the work and research the candidates and those already in power to learn the HISTORY of what they have done in the past.  I believe that some have truly changed their minds about important policy issues...AND SOME WILL SAY WHATEVER NECESSARY TO WIN OR KEEP THEIR POSITION.  We must not be fooled by false statements made by politicians.


PLEASE STUDY THE ISSUES AND THE POSITIONS BY ALL WHO SEEK ELECTION OR RE-ELECTION.  Your future depends upon your decision. 




THE BELTWAY BANDITS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!

By indianriverteaparty.com

The debacle of the two month payroll tax "cut" extension is enough to make a calm person's blood boil. In addition to the smoke and mirror antics by the President of the United States and Senate Democrats, Republican leadership did little to inform the public of what was unfolding and even less to stop it.

To pay for the 2 month extension, the Senate simply tacked on a new fee for mortgages backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA. This accounts for almost 90% of all new loans! So how long will this "small fee" be in affect? Only the next 10 years! And how much will be added to the upfront cost of the average mortgage? Only a mere $4000!

And it gets worse. Most new homeowners will likely roll this new fee into the mortgage amount. At today's interest rates, the extra $4000 would add $19.80 a month to the carrying cost of the mortgage. On a 30 year mortgage at 4%, the $100 of tax "savings" would cost the luckless new homeowner a whopping $7128 over 30 years.

Could they possibly stick it to the people any more? Of course. Just a few days ago it was announced that there will be a 10 basis point increase for FHA mortgage insurance premiums. And just for kicks and grins, anyone who happens to make over $110k a year will not even benefit from the payroll tax "cut".

The bill touted by your leaders as a tax cut for the middle class effectively took an overt tax that everyone saw in their paycheck details, amplified it significantly and transformed it into a hidden tax on a housing industry which is already struggling to regain stability.

For more information:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2011-12-17/payroll-tax-mortgages/52027164/1

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2011/12/24/payroll-tax-cut-skips-some-of-the-99/