City folks often ask if I get bored living out here in “no-man’s” land. Little do they know the pressures, pleasures and sweet surprises inherent in country life! We are not all relegated to the kitchen baking pies and putting up jars of things. Some of us crochet! And some of us meet fascinating people!
Here it is! The finished crochet project!
It looks like a bag. It holds things. It must be a bag. Actually it is a bag! It’s a “Market Bag” that might get saggy-er with veggies and fruits inside. That’s why the photo is of the empty bag.
It’s pretty saggy empty but I like it because it is the first crochet project I have ever done that is not a scarf.
After completing the market bag I did start another project – a shawl. I failed miserably, ripped it out and made a SCARF! It’s really light because it’s holy (having lots of holes). It has no warmth of course, but I like it anyway because it is well, airy.
Hopefully the crochet teachers, Ellie and Dymph, who had such high hopes for a beginner’s progress to an intermediate level will not be too disappointed.
I met another blogger friend in person!
Dianna of These Days of Mine, and her MotorMan, came for a surprise visit yesterday! We met at the Lexington Carriage Company loading zone. That means they were unloaded from a sweet carriage drawn by two sweet horses. This was a fitting beginning since Dianna loves horses. Bill and I waited for them in a gazebo at a downtown herb garden.
Dianna and MM are really nice! They are not axe murderers or anything like C and M, some other scary bloggers I met. Seriously we are all now great friends and C’s wonderful blog is called Photos from the Loony Bin! Anyway, we went with Dianna and MM to lunch at the Sheridan Livery Inn, which used to be a parking lot for stabling horses. Really. That was before cars and no parking zones of course. I think I might remember those days.
We stopped to mosey around Stonewall Jackson’s back yard. He had this garden which now features antique vegetables and plants. Stonewall, whose real name was Thomas Johnathan Jackson was a quirky Confederate general in the Civil War.
And then we went to two big antique malls!
I tend to go blank when there are too many options, but Dianna is an antique expert and has great ideas for converting seemingly useless objects into arty decorating accents. I am so envious.
I loved meeting Dianna and MotorMan in person! Who’s next?
Other random events of the week included a book club discussion of Yes, Chef, by Marcus Samuelsson, a cooking class I walked out on since I had to cook, and a mad effort to stay away from bread, crackers, and sweets.
Very nice post, Dor! I love your bag! It looks strong; I may have to make one too, since we won’t be using plastic grocery bags next year!
-Liz
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Hi Dora, I love your crocheted bag and they are so useful because they hold a lot of things. So if you are lucky enough to find an antique bargain use the bag, because its so flexible. I would squash a couple of antique teapots in easily.
Did you know that the best paper to wrap antiques in is NEWSPAPER. I don’t mean furniture though of course. Have fun on your next venture.
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Wow! Dor, your bag is terrific. It looks like the Sac purse…people pay big money for those. 🙂
How cool that you had a visit from Dianna and MM. I didn’t think they were “axe murderers.” It sounds and looks like it was a perfect outing.
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Hey!!!! I’m really not an axe murderer. Honest :). It truly is great fun meeting blogging friends isn’t it, and I have many fond memories of our visit. Did you take them to Foamhenge? By the way, your market bag is beautiful. I think you did a wonderful job!!
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Splendid job on the bag, Dor. I think you got it down, even if the shawl was a non-starter. Give it time and practice.
You walked out of a cooking class -lol? Was that part of the book club? I’m growing fonder of Trader Joe’s frozen entrees with each passing year. After so many years, I’d like to hang up the apron.
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What a wonderful visit we had with you and Bill! Thank you for showing us around Lexington AND your beautiful neighborhood. My blog post tomorrow will be about our visit.
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Ellie and I are not going to let you quit on the shawl project!!!
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I love that crocheted Market bag. I bought a blue French one like that years ago. They do hold a lot and are attractive to boot. My Mom taught me to crochet. I used those skills to make beautiful ponchos and hats for my girls when they were young. But, I could never duplicate my Mom’s skills in making crocheted baby clothes. My first attempt – for the birth of our first daughter – was probably only a good fit on the day I brought her home.
Lucky you meeting some of your blogger buddies. I hope to do the same some day. 😉
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Thank you Shofar! The bag is growing on me too. I keep yarn in it for future projects like more scarves. 🙂
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Great tip about the newspaper to wrap antiques in Rita. Thanks. Glad you like the bag. I’m beginning to like it too. 🙂
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Wow – A Sac purse! I will have to tell the crochet mentors about that Jill. No, Dianna and MotorMan are not axe murderers – but they are very nice people who I would love to have for neighbors. 🙂
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Naw! I know you and Mikey are harmless kind and gentle folks and I wish you would come back here.:) Meeting up with blogger friends is grand. I think Dianna does it all the time. We didn’t go to Foamhenge though but concentrated on two enormous antique malls. Thanks about the market bag. I wasn’t thinking it was beautiful but I will take another look. 🙂
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Seems the knitting group will not let me forget the shawl so Arghhhh! I will have to start all over again. And yes, I walked out on a cooking class that was not part of my book club. It was just a local class and was supposed to feature “healthy recipes.” I expected to watch and learn but wound up cooking and not understanding. Moreover, the recipe called for 4 tablespoons of jam (high sugar content) on canned chicken. Yuk. I did learn the nice lady next to me has been married for 68 years, which gave me hope of living much longer with or without the sugar. Hanging up the apron sounds like a grand idea!
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Ditto about the wonderful visit Dianna! I hope you and MM will come back soon. 🙂
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Uh oh! I am using up all the yarn! 🙂
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There is something mind widening about crochet (or knitting maybe). I have been practicing every night and enjoying the quiet that seeps in. Progressing beyond making scarves is the goal however and that is going to take some doing. 🙂
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There is something mind widening about crochet (or knitting maybe). I have been practicing every night and enjoying the quiet that seeps in. Progressing beyond making scarves is the goal however and that is going to take some doing. 🙂
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Loved your knitted bag – that’s neat you could make that. 🙂 Great for farm market finds I’d say!
I’m looking forward to meeting Dianna when I visit DC in June 🙂
Cheers! MJ
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I still remember a gorgeous rose two-piece dress that my Mom knitted. Hang in there, Dor. You’ll make something beautiful. 😉
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And you will be the first to see it Judy. Your faith in me is inspirational. 🙂
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We will be in Northern VA some time that month too. Too bad we can’t figure out a blogger “meet” for all of us, but we will only be there overnite for a grandchild’s graduation. Glad you like the market bag MJ… it’s growing on me too. 🙂
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‘Healthy’ recipes with canned chicken and jam? Hmmm, I’d have left, too. 🙂
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What great fun! I think meeting blogging friends in person sounds great – as always though, it’s hard finding the time. One of my blogging friends lives near my daughter and I’d thought about getting together with her, but my daughter wasn’t too happy that I was running off to meet someone for lunch. So I nixed the idea. One day though. . .
Nancy
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Great bag Dorann – this was a real bargain! Beautiful area, love antique stores.
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Wow, this post is full of goodies and that doesn’t make it saggy either. 😉 The market bag is super cute and I’d say you passed your crochet course with flying colors. What extra fun getting to meet Dianna & MM!!! Sounds like you had a simply marvy day with them! You lucky girl!
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All good things sag in time, I’ve been told. At least that’s what I remind myself. I really like that bag and am impressed you’ve managed to move on from scarves already. I’m sure your teachers will be pleased. And how nice for you to meet Dianna and MM. I hope to be one of the bloggers you’ve met someday too! Oh, I saw Marcus Sameulsson interviewed on TV the other day and he seems like such a great guy.
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Glad I am not alone!
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I know the feeling about running out of time. And our son is also stubborn about hoarding our time when we visit so I know what you mean.
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You are right… Life is good! 🙂 And thanks for liking my saggy bag. 🙂
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I’m glad you like the bag Barbara…. afraid I have regressed to scarves again though. Need further instruction. Oh, wouldn’t it be great to meet? Dianna and I were talking about you and saying how amazing that you just started blogging and you are already swamped with loyal fans.
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Such a lovely and great bag to hold a little or a lot. How I wish I could crochet,
Niece is getting her MD degree this weekend in Northern VA. My mother will be there and I’ve asked her to twirl around and wave at all my VA blogging friends. It was fun to read your post and Dianna’s back to back.
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Waving back Georgette and hi to your Mom and Congratulations to your niece! 🙂
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Hi Dor. But I’ve been blogging over a year now. Isn’t that equivalent to the same in dog years or something? All kidding aside, nobody is more surprised than I am at the response to some of my posts. Such a huge compliment and I never take it for granted, nor do I ever seeing your smiling face pop in. Thank you.
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You have certainly made a mark in just over a year Barbara! I am so impressed and continue to love your posts along with the masses. 🙂
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The next time you are visiting Duke’s Antique Mall, look for a booth called “Reruns.” Cathy, who you met at The Stitchin’ Post, rented it and sells her refurbished antiques there.
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Oh, I will definitely look for “Reruns!” Wish I had known when we were there. Thanks for the tip Ellie!
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