Happy New Year ~

Happy New Year, dear friends.  Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy days to read my ramblings.  Thanks also to my faithful followers, both old and new.  You make my heart sing :)

* * * 

No real resolutions here.  Just the usual wishes ~ lose at least 20 pounds, hook more, stress less, take time to enjoy life instead of letting it slip by.  If I can partially succeed with these wishes, I will be happy.

* * *

My wish to you for 2013 is health, happiness and a bit of prosperity.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Christmas with Jake ~

Last night we celebrated Christmas with Jake.  Can you tell by the look on his face he was a little excited?

Son J with girlfriend Jessica and Annie being a PIA.

Jake in the sock monkey hat I got him.  As I suspected, it was an adult sized one.  I got a pic of my son wearing it, but promised I would not post it.  Darn ~ it was a hoot.

We've gotten a bit more now.  I'm guessing maybe 8" of the white stuff.  That's more than we ever had on the ground last winter.  I ended up having to work again yesterday.  All work and no play is wearing me out.  Thankfully New Year's Day is a holiday.

The little hit and miss hooked mat is bound and hopefully will get to its new home in the next day or two.  I have nothing on my frame.  I hate when I don't plan a rug ahead and then it seems to take forever to find my next project so nothing gets hooked.  I think my hook may be getting rusty.  I still need to hook a Christmas present.  Rather than run out and buy something at the last minute, I told the recipient she would eventually get her present . . . sigh.    The little watering can was a gift from BFF Wink.  It is only about 11" tall ~ just too sweet.

Ellie is never far from my side.  Her mom doesn't seem to be improving.  When I visit her, they don't tell me much because of Hipaa laws.  They have done many tests but I'm not sure they have determined what is going on.  Ellie and Annie are doing a bit better, but having two dogs is very difficult for me.  I don't have a fenced yard and they can't be walked together and Ellie needs frequent trips outside to avoid "accidents".  I called the rescue she was adopted from hoping someone could foster Ellie while my friend is on the mend.  The rescue coordinator is pregnant and stressed, so she was not very helpful.  She said the only option was for Ellie to be boarded.  I don't want to do that to the poor little thing, so I will take it a day at a time.  Has anyone out there been through a similar situation and can offer any suggestions?

I haven't even started to think about taking down the Christmas decorations.  I normally start after New Year's Day, but this year I may be running later than that.  Thankfully they come down a little more quickly than they go up, but it still takes me many days.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

TGIF ~

OH!  It's been a crazy few days.  On Christmas Day, a friend's daughter called me from California concerned about her mom.  She said her mom needed to get to the hospital but was worried about her dog Ellie.  (I've posted a couple pics of Miss Ellie in the past.)  Unfortunately when I got to my friend's house, it was evident she needed medical care.  To make a long story short, she is in the hospital and they are not sure what is going on with her besides pneumonia.  The hospital anticipates she will be there until at least next week.  Ellie is a little 7# dynamo Jack Russell.  She and Annie DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get along.  If Annie is not in Ellie's face, Ellie is attacking her and she doesn't care how much bigger Annie is!  Not having a fenced yard and having to walk them separately is another issue.  At least at night, Ellie sleeps on one side of me by my head and Annie is curled up on the other.  I feel like the lunchmeat in a dog sandwich.

To be honest, I am thankful our white Christmas waited until the 26th.  I work in the city street department and had the weather come in on Christmas Day, no one would have gotten to spend the day with their families.  Wednesday I worked until 7pm and had to be back the next day at 3am.  No, I don't plow . . . I am in the office  listening to complaints because their street has not yet been done or the snow plow driver filled their driveway with snow.  They don't want to believe that the driver doesn't do it on purpose.  The storm was only about half as bad a predicted so for that I am thankful.

I am also thankful that today is Friday.  I need to catch up on some sleep.  I also need to catch up on my blog reading.  With all the craziness of the last few days, I want to find a few minutes to pick up my hook instead of breaking up dog fights or having someone yell at me about the snow :)

Thank you so much for stopping by.  

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Merry Christmas to All ~

and to all,

a good night!

With brother Bill, 1954

Thank you for stopping by.  May you and your loved ones have the merriest Christmas ever.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Feather Trees ~

My antique feather tree ~

See the pickle?

Celluloid reindeer

Reproduction feather tree ~ 

with celluloid Santa and reindeer.

Another reproduction tree ~

actually very dark green,

sitting on a little cross stitch ~

done decades ago :)

Vaillancourt Santa on pig.

A few vintage ornaments.

And yet another newer feather tree. 

Can you believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve?  It sure got here in a big hurry this year.  Everything that is going to get done is done . . . lol!  Is it the same with you?  Or are you one of those who got it all done?  Tomorrow I need to sweep and dust and prepare my make a day ahead potatoes. Christmas preparations didn't go quite as planned but thankfully I stressed a LOT LESS than I normally do.  

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Many Faces of Santa ~

A mixture of vintage and new.

Thanks for stopping by!
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

I must have been VERY good :)

Oh my goodness.  Christmas is still a week away and I have already received some incredible presents.  I don't know what I did to deserve such generosity.  DSO's son and d-i-l gifted me with these beautiful wools.  Laenne (d-i-l) happened to be at a craft show in Michigan where Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge Studios was vending.  A girl can never have too much wool, can she?  From DSO's daughter I received a Heavens to Betsy gift certificate.  I guess his kids know me well!  I also received a Visa gift card.  Perhaps even more wool???

DSO's son and fiancee gave me the coolest wine stopper.  So hard to photograph but so very cute!  I just wonder how it will work on a box of wine {grin}.

Dear friend Dolly (who if you remember, adopted my Eema) had this wonderful throw made for me, all from pictures I had posted on my blog.  It measures 3' x 5' and will help keep me toasty this winter.  Isn't this just the most thoughtful gift?

I can't believe a week from today Christmas will be just about over.  I thought I would be done with everything a week ago.  I guess it wasn't meant to be.  I still have much to do but I am thankful that I am not nearly as stressed as I normally am!  Gifts didn't get made ~ oh, well, oh, hell :)  Maybe next year . . . if I start in January!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Pug hugs :)
Lauren