Happy New Year ~

Wishing you . . .

Health,

Happiness

&

Prosperity

in 2012.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Victorian Christmas Lights ~

Many bloggers who left comments on my last post were not familiar with Victorian Christmas lights.  I did a google search and found this website to be very informative.  I was under the impression that they were all made in England, but that is not true.  According to the website, they are also American made.  Most of mine were purchased on eBay a number of years ago and the sellers were in England.  I have rarely seen them at antique shows, even the high end ones.  The color red was expensive to make so it is one of the rarer colors and consequently pricier.  I was very happy when I was the winning bidder on a red one.  When lit with a tea light it is so pretty.

Now that I am done hooking presents, I can get back to hooking for me.  Yeah!  I finally took this rug out of the bag a couple of days ago where it has been untouched since the ATHA Biennial in October.  When I pulled the wool out, I was kind of befuddled as to what color was to be hooked where.  Thankfully, I've got part of it figured out.  In the last couple of days, I've hooked the hearts and am starting to hook more on the basket. 

Without the flash it's too dark . . .

. . . and with too bright.

Annie is so afraid she might miss something.  For the most part, she is my shadow.  When she's not near me, she's usually up to no good :)

Pug hugs to all :)
Lauren

Rugs and more Christmas Stuff ~

Can you believe another year is almost over?  Where, oh where, is the time going?  It seems like just last year everyone was in a panic over Y2K.

Just a few more Christmas pics to share with you. 

Here's my collection of pressed (?) cotton Santas from the 1930's, I believe.  All are vintage except for the guy on skis in front.  I added the tall Santa with the star on his belt to the collection this year.

Some of my Victorian Christmas lights (aka fairy lamps, fairy lights).  I leave these out year round.

One of the hooked mats just recently completed.  I finished the hooking weeks ago, but his little black legs were lost.  One suggestion was to proddy them, too.  I tried that with different lengths and widths of wool strips.  I didn't like how it looked.  The other suggestion I received was to use twigs for legs.  I'm not sure I like how it came out, but I was out of time to come up with Plan C.

Finished only two days after Christmas . . . not too bad, except that unbeknownst to me, the gift exchange was the week BEFORE Christmas.  Oh, well . . . sigh!  Tomorrow it will be in its new home in Michigan. 

I had a wonderful Christmas Day spent with family!  Lots of good food and wonderful gifts.  I am truly blessed.  I hope you are, too.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Merry Christmas ~

MERRY CHRISTMAS

* * *

May you be blessed

with health and happiness

this Christmas Day.

* * *

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Christmas with Jake~

Last evening we celebrated Christmas with Jake since he will not be with us on Christmas Day.  

To say he got many presents is an understatement!

DSO Fritz got Jake a coonskin hat.  I love it.

I remember the coonskin hat my brother Bill had when he was young, but back then, it was the real thing.  Here he is modeling Jake's.

Jake with his Dad.  Jake was in h-e-a-v-e-n!!!  Dad got him a Nintendo DS (or whatever it is called).  Here they are getting it set up.

Loocie all decked out for Christmas.

Me and my sweetie and the furbabies.

Brother Bill again with his DSO Lyn.

Here's Annie all ready for Christmas.  (Now that is a face only a mother could love!)

Can you tell she was less than thrilled with her hat?

Getting ready to start chewing on it.

Now I have to tell you that Annie must be the smartest dog in the world.  She can read!  She found her present under the tree . . .

. . . and started to open it.  I swear, she is just like a kid.  When she is out of sight and too quiet, I know she is up to no good!  



Thank you so much for stopping by.  I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my blog.  A big thank you to those who leave a comment.  I have met so many wonderful people through blogging and I hope to meet many more in the new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Oh Christmas Tree !

My main Christmas tree, whether real or artificial, has alway been at least seven feet tall.  It has been many years since I've had a live tree, but I had this wonderful artificial one that I just loved.  The branches were spaced unevenly, it had grapevine and pinecones attached and it would hold heavy ornaments.  Sadly, for the last few years it has been losing more needles than a real tree.  This year I decided I just couldn't haul it down from the attic.  I brought another tree down from the attic I haven't used in years.  At my previous house, it was the family room tree.  Oh my goodness!  It is so much smaller than what I am used to.  I even had my DSO put it on a milk crate, and it still looked too small.  I was undecided as to what I should do.  Since I had not found a tree I wanted to buy, Jake helped me decorate this one.  It has sort of grown on me and Jake had a ball decorating it and thinks it is just beautiful. 

My Mom gave me this angel many years ago.  She said it was the angel from my Grandma's Nativity set.

I still cherish the ornaments made by my boys.

Plastic drapery ring and brown craft paper ornament made by my dear niece Elise almost 40 years ago.  (She must be getting old!)

Needlepoint ornie made by my sister (also many years ago!).

I got this in first grade.  This angel broke off many years ago.

My one true antique Christmas ornament.  I was told it is probably 1880's.

Old Santa light bulb.

Of course there's at least one pug.

One of a set of six pysanka eggs my niece brought me back from Czechoslovakia, I believe.

And a little humor to end the day.

Dear Friends,

This time of year worries me. Not for the crass commercialism and forced frivolity, but because it's the Season when the food police (remember them?) come out in full force with their fingers wagging and their annual tips on how to get through the Holidays without gaining a few pounds or inches.

You can't pick up a magazine or news paper without finding a list of Holiday eating do's and don'ts. Eliminate second helpings, high-calorie sauces and cookies made with butter they say, and filling up on vegetable sticks is encouraged. Good grief! Is your favorite childhood memory of Christmas a carrot stick? I don't think so! Mine isn't either.

A carrot was something you left for Rudolph. So, here are a few of my own tips for Holiday eating. Rest assured, by following this sage advice you'll rekindle fond childhood memories (unless your parents were vegan) and quite possibly enjoy yourself a bit.

So what if your drawers are a little snug by New Year's Day, that's what resolutions are for!

1) About those carrot sticks. Avoid them! Anyone who puts carrots on a Holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. If you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, or down the street where they're probably serving rum balls.

2) Drink as much eggnog as you can and do it quickly! Like a fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer. You can't find it any other time of the year. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not like you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat, so enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think...so drink up!

3) If something comes with gravy, for god’s sake use it! That's the whole point of gravy. Go ahead and pour it on! Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Pretend it's erupting and watch the villagers flee! Save the villagers, then repeat.

4) As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk with sour cream and butter. If it's the former, pass it up. Why bother? That'd be like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5) Do not have a healthy snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college?

6) Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do but take long naps. You'll need all your energy circling the buffet table while carrying several plates of food and that vat of eggnog.

7) If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. Like a fine pair of shoes or a great buy at Home Depot. You can't leave them behind at any cost, because you won't be seeing them again any time soon.

8) Same of pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat? Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat? Have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9) Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards, mate.

10) And one last thought: If you're not stuffed when you leave the party or have a problem getting up from the table, you haven't been paying attention here. This wasn't written for your amusement.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope a few of you have made it to the end.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Productive Day!

Just a little update on my vacation day yesterday.  Well, let me tell you, it was no vacation, but I got lots done!  Woo hoo!  Just what I needed.  I met my DSO for lunch at the local Chinese restaurant (and forgot my take-out box ~ darn!), made a quick stop at Kohl's to return an item and another quick stop at the toy department at WalMart.  Came home empty handed.  I then finished my one hooked rug (can't show it until later in case BFF checks the blog), got it boxed and ready to mail.  Then it was time for my marathon shopping spree.  (Have I ever mentioned I HATE to shop?)  Nine stops in just under three hours, but I suppose the stop at Wendy's shouldn't count!  I pretty much finished my shopping (but had to return to Toys R Us today to switch out a Transformer that someone else had gotten Jake), finished and mailed my cards, and today got all the wrapping done except for a couple of gifts.  The dining room table is "almost" cleaned off.  Tomorrow it's grocery shopping and a small birthday celebration in the evening.  WHEW!  No wonder I'm tired!

* * * * *

Church Ladies With computers

They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for church ladies with computers. These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

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The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.

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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered..

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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM . All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.

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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM . Please use the back door.

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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM . The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'

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Thanks so much for stopping by!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Please Tell Me it's NOT December 20!

To say I am behind is an understatement!  I think sheer panic is beginning to set in.  I took a vacation day today and hope to accomplish miracles.  I need to finish binding a rug that must be mailed, mail the packages at the post office, Christmas shop, birthday shop, wrap, write a few personalized Christmas card letters (individual ones, NOT a generic letter for all) . . . and I am sure there is more.  This is how the dining room table has looked for days . . . and I hate chaos! 

I couldn't figure out why I was having such a hard time sewing the binding on this little rug.  Well, duh, I forgot to trim the linen.  Maybe that has something to do with it.  Am I just a bit stressed? 

 Just remember, stressed spelled backwards is desserts :)

Sunday was Tuba Christmas and here's Jake during Jingle Bells.  He had so much fun!



Well, I better go trim the linen and finish that darned rug!

Pug hugs :)
Lauren