Three day adventure **UPDATED**

Thursday ~ bright and early ~ the adventure to the Fall Fling in Eaton, Ohio had begun.  I am the furthest north.  The first stop was about ten minutes south, the second another half hour south, and the third another hour south to pick up the last two hookers.

Our first stop was a quick one at Buc-ee's.  We were all ready for a pit stop!

From there we stopped at what had to be the worst antique mall in the Midwest.  This mall was HUGE but you could about count the number of true antiques on your hand and they were crazy priced.  Between the five of us, a vintage Fiesta plate was purchased for $7.  

** To clear up the confusion, Eaton, Ohio is very near the Indiana border.  Only about 15 minutes to Indiana. **

Our next stop in Indiana was at the Uranus Fudge Factory.  What a hoot.  It was just fun to walk around and read all the signs and t-shirts.

We stopped at one more antique shop (once again a word I use loosely) with no purchases made.  Our third antique stop in New Paris, OH was a bit more successful.  Here is my big purchase that I am most happy with.  A vintage 1950's hard-plastic candy container made by Rosbro Plastics of Providence, Rhode Island.

At the hook in, I won a door prize.  Lucky me!!!  Three quarter yard  pieces of beautiful hand dyed wool and a pattern from Chrisi of Rustic Eweniques.  Chrisi is scheduled to teach at our guild next April 😀

Will share some rug pictures in the next post.

Today, unpacking my suitcase, I found this appliqued pumpkin tucked inside.

Look at that perfectly stitched face.

After about a half hour of texting and everyone denying they had made it, I was given a hint that perhaps it was from a southern Ohio friend.  I immediately knew it was a gift from super stitcher Deb.  She does the most beautiful applique I have ever seen.  Thank you, Deb!  You truly made my day.

Back to packing up the Halloween.  UGH!  Why am I such a glutton for punishment?  Still trying to get a few things finished up for vending at the antique/primitive show on Saturday.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

31 years ago today ~

DSO and I met . . . through our mothers if you can believe that!!!  After all these years, we are still "dating" and we still like each other. Why rush in to anything???

With the true love of his life Ernestine . . . lol!

Tomorrow running away from home with four other hookers (including hooker partner in crime Sue) to the Fall Fling in southern Ohio for a couple days of hooking fun.  (Am I packed at 9:00 pm?  Close but not quite!)

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

You'd think I'd learn by now ~

SIGH!  A couple of months ago I couldn't find my rusty stars.  After days of searching they finally turned up.  My mind told me . . . label a box "rusty stuff" (bells, safety pins . . . had trouble finding those, too . . . , stars).  I'm guessing you figured out I once again did not listen.  I have been searching for the stars for days.  Finally broke down and ordered more on Amazon so I'm guessing I will find them soon.

I am still trying to finish things up for vending in two weeks.  I just need to tell myself enough already!!!

I had this punch needle piece "not fully finished" for years and found I had the perfect little drawer to put it in.

Also finished up these two trees on hide stretchers.  They will look so much better with a star at the top . . . lol!

A memory that popped up on Facebook.  Hard to believe this was 11 years ago.  Geez, it's probably been 4-5 years since DSO sold the airplane (that he built in his garage!!!).

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Oh, we are having the most glorious fall weather in northern Ohio.  I wish it could stay like this until spring!
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Day Trip ~

DSO, Ernestine and I went on a day trip to Kinzua Bridge State Park, 4+ hours from home.  The Kinzua Bridge (or viaduct) was a railroad trestle that spanned Kinzua Creek in McKean County, PA.  When built in 1882, it was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World.  It was 301 feet tall and 2,052 feet long.  In 1900, the bridge was dismantled and rebuilt out of steel to allow it to accommodate heavier trains.  It stayed in commercial service until about 1959.    Excursion train traffic was halted in 2002 due to the condition.  The State hired a contractor to rehabilitate the bridge, but on July 21, 2003, an F-1 tornado with winds calculated at 94 mph, partially destroyed the viaduct.  Eleven of the twenty towers still lay in the valley below.

This is what we went to see.

And this is what we saw 😁.  Nary a leaf on the trees!  (A friend who was on hour and a half away said color was at its peak.)

Oh well, oh hell.  We were a week and a half too late, but it was still a good day.

A few miscellaneous pictures.

Looking out from the visitors' center.

The height of the viaduct in relation to the Statue of Liberty.

The bridge supports today.  They never removed them from the valley floor.

My hooking accomplishment on the drive.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Selvedge trees ~

Betty was asking how I made my selvedge trees.  So easy I'm almost embarrassed to show the process.  As they say, so easy a child could do it    . . . lol.

Here's the template for the size tree I made.  Six trees can be cut out of a sheet of foam core from Dollar Tree using this size.  It doesn't matter if they have the white or black.  The foam core is not seen.

My selvedges are not as wide as Saundra and Robin thought they were.  Most are about an inch wide but it's fine to use varying widths.  Choose your selvedges as you go or plan out ahead.  

Wrap a piece of brown wool around the "trunk" and glue in place.  I use tacky glue.  I leave the wool just a bit longer than the foam core so as not to see the white center.

Glued to the back.

Starting at the bottom run a bead of glue.  Leave a little overhang and lay the selvedge in place.  Be sure to keep it level.  Keep adding selvedges as you work your way to the top.  You will be gluing each selvedge.

If you want a very straight tree, use a rotary cutter to trim.  Some people were wrapping each selvedge to the back and gluing but I chose not to do that.

Use scissors if you don't want it as perfect.  Glue felted balls if desired and a star at the top.  Both were bought on Amazon.  The felted balls were a little pricey IMHO.  

The backs.

My mantra!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

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