Hooking through unsettled weather.

I know I won't get any sympathy from those of you enduring gazillion below zero temps and a ton of snow, so I won't even try. I will just say that a long period of unsettled weather here in Barbados - accompanied by sea swells that inhibit ocean swimming - have encouraged me to hook a bit on my Zentangle-inspired project.

I have learned a lot about Zentangle while I have been here. Like how popular it is. It reminds me of what I call "new car syndrome". When you get a new car, suddenly you notice how many others there are on the road. Same thing with this phenomenon. Everywhere I look now and everyone I talk to is either doing it or knows someone who is. I guess I am a little late to the party, but a happy participant all the same.

The next thing I have learned is how different "Zentagle-inspired" art is from pure black and white Zentangle. The minute colour comes into play, it is a totally different game. And nothing demonstrates that more than the project which I am currently hooking.

Here is the black and white design on the backing:

And here is the progress - with colour - to date:

I really like the coloured tangles - they are very reflective of what inspired them - the colours and the shapes all represent things that are around me here. But the pure graphic feel of the black and white is very powerful.  It would be an interesting exercise to hook this as a black and white after completing the colour one. Not sure I will do it, but you never know.

Today is the "one month to go" date, which is better than the "one week" or "one day" date. Lots of friends have left or are leaving this week, so the gang on the deck at the beach club will be a bit thinner in the next while. Still lots of people we have come to know over the years coming here. And probably a bit more relaxing.

Keep warm everyone. And please try to have all this silliness over with by the time we come back.

Three Weeks Gone and So Are the Kids.

It's amazing how time really does fly when you are having fun!

And fun is the understatement. Last week our daughter, son-in-law and grandson arrived for 10 days and they returned to that crazy climate on Wednesday this week. What a treat it was! Our son-in-law hadn't been here before and was totally bewitched by this lovely island. Little Jackson was the hit of the "hood", with a horde of honorary grandparents. And he left with - well, just everyone who met him - besotted. He loves people and they love him back. It seems very quiet now with him gone.

Here are a few pics of the fun that was had by all.

The first picture is of me with Jackson - solo for a day, while mom, dad and grandpa went on a sailing adventure. Kris (son-in-law) declared it the BEST DAY EVER! And Jackson and grandma had a pretty nice time hanging out at the pool.

The next picture is of the other three returning from their day on Sin-Bad. It was definitely a great day and I will get my turn on the boat before we leave here.

It is very quiet now with them gone, so perhaps I might just start pulling some loops, once I decide what to work on.