Freedom isn't free.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Sunday, November 8, 2026
Gathered Treasures ~
Now that Gathered Treasures is over, I feel like I can finally breathe!!! I had a great day but I am just happy I no longer need to think about it. I will need to sort through all the boxes of items brought home. Packing up I just wanted it done as quickly as possible so there is no rhyme nor reason as to how things are boxed up.
I only took a few pics of the booths. I love this dealer's booth. She had a real knack for display.
One of the items I considered buying if I had a good show. I think it was labeled as a cobbler's tool carrier. It had the smoothest worn patina. When I went back to see it again, it was gone ðŸ˜
As the saying goes, the best time to buy an antique is when you see it. Two other items I considered were also gone when I went to peruse them again. One was a $16 lidded box that would have made the sweetest little hanging cupboard. Just dumb that I didn't purchase it when I saw it 😢 Lesson learned.
Another great display. Look at the size of those rye baskets!
Friend Karyn's and my booth. I was initially worried I did not have enough "stuff". It ended up I had too much and couldn't display it all.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Still blooming ~
Our fall has been an incredible one. Usually by now the furnace has been running for weeks. I don't like to be cold, but so far have not had the need to warm up the house. I just finished mowing, probably for the last time in 2026.
I am amazed at the flowers still blooming.
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| Sweet alyssum |
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| Lantana |
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| I wish I had saved the tag of this petunia. It has been an incredible bloomer all season. |
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| Bacopa still hanging on! |
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| A lonely geranium |
My burning bush in all its glory.
Back to vending stuff.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
I must be slower than molasses ~
I have been working for weeks trying to finish up loose ends for Saturday's vending. I need to have the car loaded tomorrow eve to leave Friday morning. I have worked non-stop today and still have many things left on "the list". Somethings gotta give 😟. I think I am getting too old for all this stress . . . but I have no one to blame but myself!!!
A few rugs (well, maybe more than a few!) to share from the Fall Fling.
Isn't this rug just wonderful? The hooker used some coloring book pages and ChatGPT to design this. Perfection! I know people are using AI for help in designing, but at this point I haven't a clue how to do it.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Three day adventure **UPDATED**
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.
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 😀
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.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
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
Monday, October 26, 2026
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






































