Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery ~

Donna Hrkman rug
Perhaps my all time favorite hooked rug.

I have been to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and Los Angeles National Cemetery in California, but had not been to the military cemetery located in my backyard.  Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is about an hour from me. I had passed the sign pointing the direction there many times.  DSO and I finally made the trip and paid our respects last week.

The Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Rittman, in Medina County, Ohio.  Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it encompasses 273 acres, and as of 2024 had over 50,000 interments.

Visiting a military cemetery is so moving and having visited the gravesite of a friend's husband made it even more so.  

On this Memorial day, please remember our veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be free.  May God bless our veterans.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the campus organizer
who has given us the freedom to assemble.

It is the
VETERAN,
 not the lawyer
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the 
VETERAN,
not the politician 
who has given us the right to vote.

If you can read this,
thank a teacher,
but thank a VETERAN
 since you are reading this in English.

Please take a moment 
to honor a VETERAN today.
Please remember . . .
FREEDOM ISN'T FREE.

May God bless this Land
that I love.

ETERNAL REST
GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT
SHINE UPON THEM.

Lauren

At long last ~

This antique adaptation was started at rug camp in January in Florida.  Geez, it took long enough, but I did hook lots of other things in the meantime.  I just was not happy with the rug.  Sue gave me some insight as to why I didn't like it.

THIS!!!  The large deer looked like he was wearing a saddle blanket.

Off it went.

Much better!  And so close to finally being finished with it.

Sometimes a rug is just painful to finish and I will avoid working on it for weeks (or years 😁).  But finally . . .  

A good steaming will even out the loops and lumpiness.  Then on to the dreaded binding.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Patriotic hooking ~

Hooking seems to be in slow motion, but the mats I needed to hook for gifts and door prizes are almost done.  I just need to finish up this one and then hopefully I can get back to my deer rug ~ started in January ~ and finish the darn thing before a class in June.

This is actually the third flag mat I have hooked.  Such an easy hook.  

These two mats were door prizes for the Western Reserve hook in last Saturday.  I was pleased with sales so I was a happy hooker.

Had the hand re-X-rayed yesterday.  I am healing well, but though anticipated, when the ortho doctor said three more weeks in the brace, I almost cried.  It is so limiting . . . but still thankful not a hip or shoulder.  But darn!!!  It is going to be a long three weeks 😢

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Odds & ends ~

Just a few final fun pictures from my Las Vegas trip.  So many memories made with my son!

The name of this restaurant made me lol 😁

I don't remember what store this was, but look at all those vintage sewing machines.  The outfits . . . well not my style and I'm sure outrageously priced.  There were no prices in any of the store windows.  I guess if you must ask you can't afford it.

Paris Casino.

New York-New York Casino.

New Hard Rock Casino is in the shape of a guitar.

My grand kitty Marge.  Her coat is considered a diluted torti.

Yesterday's Western Reserve hook in was a class affair.  Of course only took a few pics.

My booth ~

Crows on the Ledge ~

Whiskey & Wool ~

Tomorrow I get my hand re-X-rayed.  I am so tired of the limitations of the brace, but I am guessing I will have another 2-3 weeks of wearing it.  My yard is suffering (I can mow but that is about it 😭), but I am still thankful it was not my hip or shoulder!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Fremont Street & a Wizard ~

There didn't seem to be as many street entertainers as I have seen in the past, but you see a little bit of everything on Fremont Street, the old section of Las Vegas.

Technically not street entertainers (the "official" ones must stay in a 6 foot diameter circle), but entertaining nonetheless.  Do you think maybe alcohol was involved?  (Many different blow up animals can be found on Amazon!)

He did NOT move!

Every half hour there is a light show overhead!

The highlight of the trip (besides the ZOOX ride 😁) was the last minute decision to head to the Sphere to see an abbreviated version of the Wizard of Oz.  The Sphere measures 366' tall and 516' wide.  The exterior has has over a million LED lights.  Read more about it here.

The experience is hard to describe.  We were sitting in the nosebleed section . . . almost the last row at the top . . . but we were more than happy with our seats.  We were able to see the entire domed ceiling without having to strain our necks.  The disadvantage was that there was no chance of catching one of the coveted apples that rained down.

So . . . the tornado scene from the movie was mind boggling.  Cold, swirling air rushed thru the Sphere.  The seats shook rather violently.  Leaves were swirling.  My son caught two of them.

Just a few pictures from the movie.  (I still can't figure out how to add a movie to my blog no matter what I try 😢)

Whenever the Wicked Witch appeared the seats once again rumbled.  My son said one time I must have jumped three feet out of my seat!

It definitely was the splurge of my trip but I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

Thanks so much for following along.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Viva Las Vegas ~

I arrived home this morning after returning on the redeye.  Thankfully non-stop, but hard to sleep on the plane and it was like sitting in an icebox for the four hour flight.  I still haven't quite gotten over the chills.

I had an absolutely wonderful visit with my son.  Even at 46, we made some great memories.

Our first stop was the Museum of Illusions on the Strip.  A few fun pictures.

Bill is skinny but not quite this skinny 😁

Squint and who do you see?

It wouldn't be a trip to Las Vegas without a stop at the Bellagio!

The Chihuly glass was a "must see".

The fountain show was not as spectacular as usual.  We were guessing it was a bit too windy for the extremely high jets of water.

Bill had heard that comedian Carrot Top put on a great show.  His show was rated #3 in Las Vegas a year or two ago.  He has been performing at the Luxor for 20 years.  I had heard of him, but had never seen any of his routines.  He was rather raunchy, very funny and high energy.

Have you ever heard of a ZOOX?  Neither had I.  It is a totally autonomous vehicle being tested on the Strip.  Currently free to ride, but I'm sure that won't last once the testing is done.  On the Zoox app, you tell where you are and where you want to go.  It seats four.  No driver, no steering wheel!  They are in high demand and we were thrilled to be able to get a ride in one.  We took it from one end of the Strip to the other.  A 19 minute ride with speeds up to 43mph (on a street parallel with the Strip).  So smooth.  Absolutely incredible.  One of the highlights of my trip.

That was just my first full day there!  So much more to share.

Thanks for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Leavin' on a Jet Plane ~

 

I will be heading to the airport soon.  Heading west to spend a long weekend with my #1 bad boy, Bill.  He moved to Las Vegas in 2008.  He loves it there.  When the housing boom crashed, he went to work in Los Angeles for a week and spent six years there 😖.  He did not like LA not one little bit and was happy when he finally got back to LV.

Once again the temps have risen to the upper 90's.  Last week was much more pleasant . . . but Bill would rather have upper 90's there than 80* in Ohio.  It's a dry heat 😁😁😁

We will probably take in a show and of course I must visit the fountain at the Bellagio and go down to the old strip.  So much fun to people watch and see the entertainers.  I am such a gambler I am prepared to lose $20 in the slot machines . . . maybe.

Will be back in a few days.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren