Fri 20 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under vacation
[2] Comments
One of the many ground squirrels we got to see on the trails…..
We would take little scenic drives in the Hocking Hills area in between hiking the trails. This pond was behind some log cabin style wind chime and Christmas shops that we ventured in. Nice pond with lilies….
We found this mansion just outside of Logan, OH on Logan Lake. It advertises as a place to hold weddings and receptions. NICE VENUE!!!
Back to the trails! A lot of water eroded limestone makes for interesting patterns…….
These two trees are hugging this rock…
Thu 19 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under vacation
Comments Off
The trees in the area cling to the rock and what little dirt they can find and their roots create this neat lace effect
Bee on wildflower on the Lower Gorge Trail……
No, it’s not a tomb. Looks like one, tho! It is an entrance to a tunnel that leads to the other side of the trail. You can walk around, but what fun is that!
I did a time exposure on the waterfalls. So pretty!
Normal stop motion view of these falls….
This shows you a little of how tall and deep the Gorge is. It goes way beyond my picture. Didn’t have a fish-eye lens.
Beautiful ivy cascading down the rocks……
If you look at the rock in the center that protrudes out, that is Old Man in the Rock(so it is labelled on the map)
Closer view of Old Man in the Rock…..
Wed 18 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under vacation
No Comments
There were miles and miles of trails at Hocking Hills State Park to be explored. And lots of waterfalls! This place was nice a cool feeling and relaxing to hike around
And of course lots of wildlife to see. This very fat, and probably pregnant, fieldmouse waddled along the trail not minding that we were about to step on her if we weren’t careful.
There were ferns of all kinds(28 varieties they told us) and lush green and lickens on most of the rock surfaces.
The water had carved out interesting passageways and holes. This is a top view of a waterfall.
Swallowtails were fluttering all over the place. This one was patient enough for me to get a good close up picture. Usually they don’t stand still!
More luscious pictures to show tomorrow!
Tue 17 Aug 2010
I created some fun puzzles(since lacemakers have stated recently they tend
to be puzzle enthusiasts) that are lace related. There is a lace terms
wordsearch, lace types wordsearch, lace related crossword, tatting
wordsearch and tatting related crossword puzzle. They are linked from my
website homepage, but here are the direct links to their pages:
The crossword puzzles have a solution link at the bottom in case you run
into troubles. But no cheating! 
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make a
solution link to the wordsearches. But that just adds to the challenge!
I also wasn’t able to create these so you can work them online. I am not
that adept at javascript. 
You will have to print them off and hope that
all goes well. You may have to download the image of the puzzle and copy
and paste the text into a document if you are wanting to share these puzzles
with anyone.
I can’t take full credit. These puzzles were generated by
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com. Some of you may have run across
this wonderful resource.
=======================================================
After visiting Gma in Mt. Vernon for a couple of days, we headed on to finish our vacation. We drove through the wonderful hills of Ohio south to Hocking Hills State Park. This is a beautiful area filled with lucious valleys and rock formations and craggy deep chasms. We set up camp at the campground. The weather was getting warmer by this time. Unlike our other campsite fully in the trees, you can see how the sun blazes down on our camper mid day and it stays there until early evening. Not a good spot! . But it was all that was available. And we pulled our camper in the trees as much as possible. We had a hard time keeping cool. Guy our cat didn’t enjoy it either. But we muddle through!
And a lovely view of the water tower at the end of the cul-de-sac
And the vultures on top of it waiting for us to die from the heat……….
A couple more lovely views of the rolling hills and farms in the Ohio valley…………
Mon 16 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under Bobbin Lace, Lace
No Comments
I finished this tape lace doily last night that I had posted earlier.
Now I want to finish a Bruges flower piece that has been on a pillow for quite some time. I got a surprise in the mail this past Saturday from the IOLI president. A thank you card for being the IOLI webmaster and for my work on the website. The card shows a Binche lace iris motif and includes the pattern on the back by Anny-Noben Slegers.
And in the card was this really cute angel done in Honiton lace. I sooooo want to get started on Honiton. First need to make my Honiton pillow. Got the bobbins and thread.
Fri 13 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under vacation
No Comments
Toward the end of the day we visited Berlin, OH which seemed to be the mecca of Amish towns in this area. It was very busy even for the end of the day and we only did a little shopping because stores were closing. I fancy antique cars and had to take a pic of these two going down the road. The big red building is a HUGE antique mall…..which we didn’t have time to go in.
More horse and buggy pictures!!!
These next two pics are of an Amish farmer working the hay fields. Love the old machinery.
Wed 11 Aug 2010
Last night was parade night and the last day of the fair! Stifling hot and humid, but we suffered through it watching the parade and kids got lots of candy and frisbies and mardi gras beads. We sat in the A/C building doing our demonstrating while watching the area. I brought my bobbin lace back to see if I could finish the project. There were lots of people mulling around because it was parade night and importantly we are of two buildings that have A/C. I had lots of questions this time, both kids, teens, and adults. One family knew what I was doing because they had seen someone demo at another fair. That is good!! My great niece and her family came too. Even though they live just a few blocks from us, we don’t get to see them often. She asked the typical questions of what I was working on. I stated that I am working with two pairs like you would work a four strand braid, like braiding your hair. She said “I don’t know how to braid hair. Even with 3 strands.” OK…… She is 11. Never met a girl who didn’t know how to braid hair! Later on she came back and asked me if I would teach her so that she could learn to braid hair. Not the statement I was looking for! I am sure her intentions are good. But I will have to work on her to find that learning bobbin lace is more than just a means to braid hair. It is to acquire a love for the art and what you make. But since I rarely see her, I won’t be looking to teach her too soon. Plus she doesn’t have “stick-to-it-iveness”. Short attention span. We tried teaching her sewing and tatting and other things. Gets into it and doesn’t continue with the interest. Maybe later in her life. But I know that she is the right age to teach. Just wish her mind was more secure. I may have to approach it differently to entice her to want to keep coming back for more lessons.
OK……on to showing you more vacation pictures!!!
A wonderful country scene that I admire
Such clean and organized farms the Amish have!
We stopped off at historic Swiss town of Guggisburg, OH(tourist trap, but fun) to get some cheese and other wares.
We ate lunch at the Chalet in the Valley Restaurant for some good Swiss/German cooking.
Inside was a nice mural of a particular national park in the Swiss area.
I am a big fan of Swiss/German clocks. Love the craftsmenship!
Cool light hanging from the ceiling!
Tue 10 Aug 2010
These past two evenings my wife and I do our annual sitting at the Community Building at the county fair watching over the building. While we sit we can’t be idle. So we bring projects. Sunday afternoon I brought my bobbin lace. I brought my big bolster with a tape lace project that is half done.
I am most known for my tatting in my area. So I would get the usual comments of “Is that tatting??” then I go into my usual dialog explaining what I am doing and how it works. Not too many kids stopped by to ask questions. Mostly adults asking questions.
Last night I decided to bring my spinning wheel and work out my ongoing roving. This time the adults just watched me or just passed by with a glance. I concluded they either knew what I was doing and didn’t ask questions or decided to just pass by. The kids(of all ages) however came right up to me asking me all types of questions about my wheel, they liked to handle the wool.
I don’t know if it is the apparatus that I am working with(ie. Pillow and bobbins, or massive wheel that looks like a machine) or could it be the project that I am working on, or the tedium of the task. Most adults say about my bobbin lace, “that is too tedious, I could never do that” or “you have to have good eyesight to do that”. Kids don’t say that. No convictions. But when I am at my wheel, I am just sitting in a relaxed position a good distance from the machine. Less stressful looking??? Less inhibiting?? Not that I am stressed or inhibited by all means when working my bobbin lace. I find both lacemaking and spinning relaxing. Sometimes to the point of almost falling asleep LOL!
Spinning I assume is most recognizable in most areas and bobbin lace is not. And the “machine” you work on can also play a role in that. Most adults know what a spinning wheel is, but I find that kids may not if not exposed to that part of life history. Harder is it to find the familiarity in bobbin lace and its tools. I get the same wonder from passer-bys but the clientelle is different.
Tonight is our last night for bringing our projects to work on while we sit at the building demonstrating. I plan on bringing my bobbin lace and see if I can finish that project. Doubt it, but I will see what more questions are asked and from whom and what will happen
Mon 9 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under vacation
No Comments
On one of our little jaunts in Amish country we went to Mohican SP area south of Loudenville, OH and revisited this wonder in the woods called “Landall’s Mohican Castle”. We didn’t go in, just drove around to take in the scenery. Someday we will have to really look into it.
more pics of the horse and cart on the roads
A panoramic view of Ohio’s Amish Country
We also visited Millersburg, a nice clean historic town in the midst of Amish country.
Historical residence beside the capital building.
We did do some shopping. Mostly window shopping
Some nice architectural features in the downtown area. As well as the homes.
Fri 6 Aug 2010
Posted by Tatman under vacation
[3] Comments
We made a couple trips to Mt. Vernon to visit my Gma. Of course we travel through Amish country and love visiting that area. Here is a beautiful work horse on one of the farms
I LOVE Ohio countryside! Rolling hills and the roads wind back and forth like a snake. Love driving those roads! Make Kim a bit seasick, tho
Found this covered bridge on our way to Mt. Vernon. Called the “Bridge of Dreams”.
Me and my 92(soon to be 93) Gma. Still in ok health, forgets many things, battles her diabetes, but takes it one day at a time. What a trooper!
