National Pug Day ~

October 15 is National Pug Day.

Ernestine, at 14 1/2 years old has her share of health issues.  DSO adopted her at five from Ohio Pug Rescue (she was my foster for a week before being adopted 😁) and has been his constant companion since.  She is on more medication than we are, but he will do whatever it takes to keep her around as long as possible.

Some fun facts about pugs ~

• they are one of the oldest dog breeds, originating in China over 2,000 years ago
• they are known for their wrinkled faces, short muzzles, curled tails and loyal, companion-orientated temperament
• pugs were kept by Chinese emperors and Tibetan Buddhist monks as early as 400 B.C.
• Dutch traders introduced them to Europe in the 1500's where they became the mascot of the House or Orange after a pug saved Prince William of Orange
• Queen Victoria and Josephine Bonaparte famously owned pugs

More than you ever wanted to know about pugs, right?

Ern loves soaking up the sun!

Thank you for all the kind words on my last post.  I am pretty much over the crud and thankful it didn't last longer than it did.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Odds and ends ~

The hook in went well, a little better than I was hoping for.  I have "fun" money and household money and my fun money had been depleted for months, and that's no fun!  I did have to leave for the hook in at 4:45 in the morning (4:45 normally only comes once a day for me!) and drive for 2 1/2 hours in the dark.  Not fun but I survived.

No pictures from the hook in other than their featured hooker.  So many amazing creations.  This is one talented lady.

Look at that face!

Not much else to report.  My to-do list is extremely long as always.  It would be a good day to do some yard work.  However . . . yesterday I came down with the crud for lack of a better word.  I haven't been that sick in quite a few years.  I feel a bit better today but just weak and blah.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Living in chaos!

My dining room is my craft room.  It has been a disaster for a couple months.  First it was making consignment items for a rug camp, and since then it has been used for making items for the hook in where I am vending on Saturday.

The table after much had been cleared off.

The pile of crap stuff ready for vending.

Still more to haul up from the basement and a few things to finish making.  I have been working diligently, even stopped cleaning in the attic and have ignored yard cleanup, but I still seem to be spinning my wheels.  Then when the hook in is over, I need to get busy on things for the antique/primitive show at the beginning of November.  It has been forever since I've hooked something fun, other than the witch which I am very surprised did sell.  Thank you Nancy in Texas!

I have been collecting wool selvedges for many years but didn't do anything with them.  Friend Leigh came up with a selvedge tree project but unfortunately I missed the get together when they were made.  I finally made a couple.  So easy.  At two hooking groups I belong to many members made one or two.  These were my samples.  (Tree on the right now has a star.)

I still have enough selvedges left to make at least a couple dozen more . . . lol.

Time to get back to creating.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Mother Nature ~

Lake Erie midges (also called midgies, lake flies or muckleheads) are tiny, non-biting, mosquito-like insects that emerge in massive swarms along the shoreline during the spring and fall.

Saturday evening just before dusk, DSO and I were out for a walk.  I have NEVER seen it like this before.  In every direction, the sky was filled with black clouds of millions bajillions of those pesky creatures.  Those that weren't flying high, were swarming around us.  And the noise!!!  I guess I would describe it as a humming buzzing sound.  We cut the walk short because it felt like we were in the Twilight Zone 😱

By last evening there weren't as many, but still lots of them.

On this morning's walk, they were still everywhere.  Keeping your mouth closed was a must!

Then there is my lilac bush.  It was huge and old when I moved here at the end of '99.  Super fragrant.  For the first time ever, I had no flowers in the spring and by September, it had lost all its leaves.  And now . . . 

I am just confused.  Obviously the lilac bush is, too.

And finally ~

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Double, double toil and trouble ~

 ~ fire burn and cauldron bubble comes from Act 4, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth.  I am not a Shakespeare fan, but I thought this an appropriate name for my rug (since Saundra always names hers . . . lol).

It is hooked and bound.  The finished size is 14" x 17".  And of course, the colors are better in person.  

{{ I normally don't try to sell anything on my blog, but I just have too darn many Halloween rugs and no place to put them.  If anyone is interested, she is $155 which includes shipping.}}

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Holy moly!

I am back to cleaning my attic, a task started about a year and a half ago that fell to the wayside.  The things I have found are definitely a trip down memory lane.

Look at this!  It is a lock of my hair from my first real haircut, I'm guessing 1960 😁

I don't ever remember not having this Steiff lion.  I'm sure it was a gift from my dear Auntie Anne because my frugal mom would never have bought it.

Too bad I did not find this patriotic sampler before our Nation's 250th birthday.  It was a stamped piece I did before I discovered counted cross stitch many decades ago.  It will be displayed for our Nation's 251st.

I have sorted through countless swim, bowling, and wrestling plaques and trophies.  I just cannot throw away any that have my boys' names on them.  One day (hopefully in the distant future!), Bill and J will shake their heads and wonder what the heck was mom thinking in saving all of these.

1989.  Those little Speedos crack me up.  Good thing they don't read my blog.  They would not be happy campers swimmers.

Older son Bill was not quite 10.

Younger son J was 8.

And here they were last Thanksgiving.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Fall sky ~

Fall officially begins tomorrow 😢.  Today was an indication that it really is true.  62* and windy.  Look at this fall sky over the lake.

Photo of Ernestine because she is just the cutest!  I just love the way her little tongue sticks out 💖

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Enjoy the last day of summer.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren