Sunday, November 28, 2010

Rainbow Bridge ~


When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends
so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food and water and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor;
those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again,
just as we remember them in our dreams
of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing:
they miss someone very special to them;
who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together,
but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
The bright eyes are intent;
the eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to break away from the group,
flying over the green grass,
his legs carrying him faster and faster.
YOU have been spotted,
and when you and your special friend finally meet,
you cling together in joyous reunion,
never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face;
your hands again caress the beloved head,
and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet,
so long gone from your life
but never absent from your heart.
My Linnie got sick last week and the prognosis was not good. Yesterday I made the painful decision to have her put to sleep. It's one of the hardest things I have done in my life. Though she was in my life only a short time, she took a piece of my heart with her.
Run fast and free, my Linnie Lu.
Give your furbabies an extra hug and kiss today.
Lauren

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving ~ ~ ~


Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope everyone is blessed this Thanksgiving with health, happiness and the day spent with someone you love.

Just a few things I am thankful for ~
  • my two sons who have grown to be fine young men
  • a healthy 5 year old grandson
  • family to spend Thanksgiving with
  • a dear niece and family who come to Ohio every Thanksgiving to share the day with us
  • my dear significant other who believes in me when I don't believe in myself
  • friends who I know personally and blogging friends who I hold dear
  • that my former foster Eema is living in a wonderful forever home
  • my health
  • employment

I hope everyone reading this also has much for be thankful for.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

TGIF ~

This picture comes courtesy of Eema's new mom. {Thanks, Dolly!} Now if that was Eema sitting there, that pumpkin pie would not last more than 10 seconds! Oh, that girl can inhale food.
Lucky me! Today is my Friday :) Thursday and Friday are holidays and I took tomorrow off. There is much to be done, but at least I won't feel as rushed. The top priority is baking pumpkin rolls. Believe me, I am not a baker, but I have been making them for what seems like forever. I believe my older son (who is coming in from Las Vegas) and my niece (who is coming from Chicago) would mutiny if there was no pumpkin roll for Thanksgiving and one to take home. The funny thing is my younger son won't even take a bite!
Here's a little peak at the cross stitch sampler I am working on. No wonder my rug is not getting done! I am stitching this on 26 count linen that I will dye upon completion. It will be about 6" x 6". I'm thinking maybe I'll make this in to a little pillow ~ or maybe it will join the growing pile of cross stitch items that needs to "finished".
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Waiting {im}Patiently


Welcome everyone. Thanks so much for stopping by. Please be sure to read the caption on the post card ~ not very politically correct, I'd say :)
Thursday was Jake's first swim lesson. He was so excited. Can you tell he had a hard time waiting for class to begin?


The weather here on Ohio's north coast was drop dead gorgeous today for the middle of November. Here's Linnie out for a short walk.
She loves to do her "business" in the flower beds.
A few marigolds that have not succumbed to the frost. I'm sure it won't be much longer. Today would have been a beautiful day to rake, but my two huge maple trees have barely begun to lose their leaves.
I've spent the weekend cleaning the house. Not much fun but a necessary evil. I was shocked at the size of my dust bunnies. I still need to finish up in the kitchen and the wool room. I'm not sure what happened here, but it is out of control! My great nieces will be sleeping in here so I just can't close the door and ignore the mess.
I did work a little on my punch needle project and started a new cross stitch sampler. It is a little Christmas chart that I found in my box from the attic. Of course I have no recollection of ever having purchased it! My goal this weekend was to hook - LOTS - on my rug and I've yet to pull a loop. Maybe after dinner?
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Cross Stitch Goodies from the Attic ~

Welcome friends!
As some of you may recall, I mentioned that I really hadn't done any cross stitch in over twenty years and recently have gotten the itch to stitch. I headed to the attic and brought down this ratty old box. (Sorry, I didn't know it was dust covered until viewing the picture.) I was quite amazed at all the forgotten "treasures" I found.
A few frames...
A needlework coaster/ash tray. I guess that's no longer politically correct.
A partially finished cross stitch piece. The female companion was just barely started.
This is what they are supposed to look like. I know I will never finish these!
An assortment of fabrics ~ mostly linen.
Does anyone remember linen band?
Merrily Beams was one of my favorite sampler designers. Has anyone heard anything of her in recent years?
Lots of Prairie Schooler Santas and other Christmas charts.
A few reproduction samplers from The Scarlet Letter...
...and reproduction samplers from The Exemplary.
One of my favorites...
...and the almost finished sampler.
More reproduction samplers...
...and yet more.
Miscellaneous samplers...
There are so many more charts I did not even look through. In my lifetime, if I never bought another chart, I could never stitch all of these! I'm sure many of you bloggers could put me to shame with your cross stitch "treasures".
Instead of blogging, I should be stitching!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Monday, November 15, 2010

More of my Get-Away

Welcome friends. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my ramblings.
This is the bed and breakfast my friend Wink and I stayed at in little Amanda, Ohio. The Dum family built the house and the current owner is Anna Ford.
It is a beautiful home! Oh, how I would love to live in a historic house like this.
A very unusual antique cupboard with pull out bins in the bottom.
Here's Anna hard at work preparing our breakfast. Both days the breakfast was phenomenal.
Such a beautiful presentation.
Friday evening we ventured out to Miller's Antiques in Carroll, Ohio. This log cabin is one of their outbuildings.
A few pictures from in their shop.


Linda Miller allowed us in her home, a beautiful log cabin. In the darkness, I could not capture a picture of the outside. Linda was so gracious ~ and trusting. She allowed us to wander (and drool) inside her home while she went back out to the shop.
Her fridge is hidden in this cupboard.

I believe this is Machiavelli.
My dear friend Wink. There had been a table in front of the settle but it had just been sold.
The first thing seen as you entered the house was the buttery.

I love this reproduction rug. I didn't think to ask if Linda had hooked it.
One of the downstairs fireplaces. I believe there were three.
A sweet little sampler.

I hope you've enjoyed my little tour of the Miller's antique shop and home.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren