I am floored at the numbers of people who read my blog each month. It’s mind bloggling to say the least, (I think I just made up a new word)! It is really incredible knowing the readers come from the four corners of the earth and consist of more than just rug hookers. To name a few areas, people in Russia, Turkey, England, France, folks in Japan, several down under in Australia, New Zealand, Iraq, Qatar, Ireland, Nepal, Greece, Saudi Arabia and probably Mars! And, to think that someone reads and remembers the stories, the rants, the weird and wonderful, tips and techniques, is a compliment in the biggest way.
Last week, a woman and her daughter entered the shop with smiles that lit up the room. Sue Angus from North England (right) with a delightful accent to back it up, came into the shop and said she follows my blog every day. Sue hooks with a group called Rug & Rabbit, apparently rabbit means to talk. She is also a rug hooking teacher and sells the pieces she makes. Her daughter Tara Brothers, who now lives in Nigeria, was with her.
She called me Christine which was cool although per the usual I was a bit shy about it all. My normal response is to hang my head as embarrassment spreads across my face like a brush full of red paint. Some of the things I write are personal and can make me feel a bit naked at times, like standing in front of a glass window without clothes. But that's the nature of the beast I guess…putting myself out there means people are going to look! And of course, the other half of me is thrilled to the toes, knowing that my time and effort is appreciated, so as long as folks are reading I’ll be writing.
So this lovely lady tells me that they just came from an antique store down the road and discovered ‘Linda Ruth’ there. Sue said she follows my hook-in blogs and recognized her from the pictures I post. How cool was that? She said a conversation about rug hooking ensued and Linda Ruth showed her the last rug she completed and said, “I just finished this big bulldog rug”. And Sue says….Yes, that’s Humphrey!” I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to see Linda Ruth’s face.
I had a good chuckle and made a comment about how small the internet makes the world, when Sue said she also saw all the sweet little Scottie Dog rugs in the antique barn. I said, yes, my good friend Mary hooked those pieces and she said, “Do you mean Doig?” (Mary’s last name). Let me tell you I was impressed. To read what I write is one thing, to remember the names of those I feature is another. Wow! She told me that I sure do get some weird people in the shop and commented on the woman who tried to sell me a stolen ring, a story from last winter.
So what’s next? Maybe the future will be like Star Trek with teleport rooms, so we can beam from place to place to attend hook-ins all over the world in the blink of an eye. Wouldn’t that be grand? Hook with the ruggers down under and be back in time for dinner! Hey, and you could all pop into the shop to say hi, fondle the wool and maybe hook with me a spell……
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Come-By-Chance-Antiques/560002370773977