July 30, 2007

What I Did on my Summer Vacation

After five intense days, the floors are all in. Away, Crappy Carpet!


The hardwood installers were funny. We had three different crews of floor people working at different times, and I noticed that there are the guys who jabber all day long, generally about nothing (we won't talk about the carpet guy who had long involved conversations with himself in different voices, including a falsetto) and then there are the silent workers. The wood guys were the silent workers. They came in, set up the saws and the tools and went to work, not saying anything other than calling out an occasional measurement, for hours. At lunch, one of them went out to the truck and brought in an ice chest and passed out the best-smelling cold fried chicken to his co-workers. And then opened up a big tupperware container full of green salad and passed that around also. The three of them, chicken and salad in hand, then began to gossip about friends and family in the little town they all live in. After lunch they sealed up the cooler, threw out the bones and the wrappers and went back to working silently.
This is what I accomplished; I fell well short of my goal of finishing this project, but I made a good dent in it. This design is a little mysterious, isn't it? What kind of procession? Wedding? Who's the groom and who's the bride? There is a minster looking guy at the front of the line (and a white sheep). He's wearing a black frock coat. What does it mean? I think the black sheep looks a lot like a black lab.

I've shown you this picture before; it's Keep Me by Moira Blackburn. I felt like stitching a traditional sampler, so I kitted it up today and started it.

Here's the start. I'm working over one on 28 count Cashel in Fairy Dust (although there's no glitter or sheen involved) using a mixture of DMC and Weeks Dye Works fibers.

I accomplished so much this vacation, although I really could use another week to get the place really clean and everything put away. Back to work tomorrow...sigh. But on the plus side, I have another week coming up in September.

11 comments:

Jennifer said...

The floors look gorgeous!! And your piece is lovely, as well. It *is* a mysterious little procession. I love it!

mainely stitching said...

Your floors are stunning! And I would very gladly hire your silent crew. I have a soft spot for woodworkers and carpenters anyway. ;)

Katrina said...

Your new floors are so pretty! Love the color of the wood.

I've never seen that MB piece before, very nice.

Anonymous said...

Your floors look great.

Michelle said...

Your floors are beautiful! And now I want some fried chicken - lol! Procession is really coming along, but you're right, it does raise a few questions.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Those floors are beautiful! I so much prefer wood over carpet! And I love your stitching!

Cristina said...

Hi from Spain !!!! My english isn´t very well, I´ll try understand what you write in your blog. I´ve see some charts very interesting... and your home likes very beautiful.
Do you speak french ?

Sharon said...

Your floors are simply stunning! Love the wood.

Wendy said...

Those before and after pictures are amazing! I love hardwood floors!! And funny story about the guy who talked to himself all day.

I love your WIP!

Deb said...

Glenna, I'm dying to get a copy of the chart with the little people strangely walking together, but I don't know who the designer is. Can you email me with the info??? Please? interiorsbydeb2@aol.com
Also, love your Moira B. sampler... and your floors. I'm a former interior designer. The floors are very warm and beautiful!
Deb

Donna said...

The Floor is BEAUTIFUL. Great job, the stitching looks good too.