Easter Humor ~

All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny!

•  Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

•  Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

• There's no such thing as too much candy.

• All work and no play can make you a basket case.

• A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.

• Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.

• Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

• Some body parts should be floppy.

• Keep your paws off of other people's jelly beans.

• Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.

• The grass is always greener in someone else's basket.

To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

May the joy of the season fill your heart.

AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU! 

HAPPY EASTER

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Ellie's New Mom ~

I planned to do a witty post telling you about Ellie's new furever mom, but there is nothing witty to tell.  As most of you know, I have been "Ellie sitting" since Christmas Day.  Her mom was in a nursing home getting rehab and hoping to go home soon.  Unfortunately, she passed away unexpectedly.  It still is hard to believe.  

Judy adopted Ellie last year from a local rescue. This little thing had been found wandering the streets of Cleveland.  No one knows for how long, but it's a wonder she survived.  Oh, my how my friend LOVED this little girl.  She would just light up every time we visited.  If I hadn't become her furever mom, she would have been returned to rescue, had to adapt to another foster home and then to another forever home.  I'm sure she would have adjusted, but I just couldn't do that to her.  So this pug gal has adopted a little Jack Russell Terrier.  I will still volunteer with Ohio Pug Rescue, just not fostering.  I'll keep my blog name as Rugs and Pugs because Rugs and a Jack Russell Terrier just doesn't rhyme very well :)

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

Springtime in Ohio~

Snow on my snowdrops

Thanks for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

This 'n That ~

The sun is shining ~ finally ~ in northern Ohio but it is still cold, 37 degrees.  The birds are chirping so maybe there is hope spring will finally arrive.  I read last March was the warmest on record.  I believe we had 80 degree days.  Not so this year.  There was even an article in today's paper that Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog prognosticator, has been charged with "misrepresenting spring, a felony against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio".  

Tonight "Pup" will finally be given as a very belated Christmas gift.  The tag is on . . .

. . . so the rug is totally finished.

The hooking is done on "Lamb & Chicks", a Star Rug Company pattern.  I decided to keep the dark curlicues and hook the face, ears and tail with the same wool.  It would be nice if I got it bound before Easter, but Easter is so early this year, it probably won't happen : )

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope the sun is shining in your little corner of the world.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Thank You ~

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your sweet comments and emails concerning Ellie's mom.  They mean so much to me.  Though this still feels like a bad dream, I find comfort in reading them.

* * *

Sorry for the delay in choosing a winner of the year's subscription to Midwest Living magazine. Congrats to long time follower, Debbie of WoolenSails.  Please send me your snail mail address and I will get your subscription entered.

* * *

It's still cold, damp and dreary in northern Ohio. Not the first day of spring I was hoping for.  That darned groundhog sure lied to us this year.  I say, "off with his head".

Thank you for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren 

Ellie's Mom ~

My dear, dear friend, Ellie's mom, passed away unexpectedly yesterday.  I truly thought she would be going home with Ellie in a few weeks.  I guess it wasn't meant to be but I find little comfort in that thought.  Please say a prayer for her daughter.  Be sure to hug someone you love tonight and tell them just how much you love them.

Lauren

Midwest Living ~

Gloomy, damp, dreary, cold.  That about sums up northern Ohio today. I hope the sun is shining in your little corner of the world!

I have another cross stitch un-finish.  A little Stacy Nash design, "Malabar Farm" but I left the words off the bottom and haven't decided if I will add them or not.

I got Henny Penny, a Woolley Fox pattern finished.  The colors in the picture are quite accurate (for a change).

I could not get a good picture, but I did the crochet edge.  My tension is not too even but overall I am happy the way it came out.  I found it a bit difficult and hard on the hands.  It took me LOTS longer than I anticipated.

I am nearing completion on my Lamb and Chicks, a pattern by Star Rug Company.  Maria has some wonderful patterns.

Off and on over the years I have subscribed to Midwest Living magazine.  I recently re-subscribed and when I got my first issue they sent me a gift subscription offer I can't refuse.  If you'd like to win a year's subscription, leave a comment on this post or send me an email with give-away in the subject line.  I will pick a winner Monday evening.  (Sorry, this offer is good to U.S. residents only.)

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Missing Letter "J"

A while back, I asked if anyone knew when the letter "J" came in to common usage.  The other day while looking through some of my old cross stitch charts, I came upon The Katy Bemis Sampler.  It is a reproduction sampler dated 1787.  (Note the $3.00 price tag.)

There inside the leaflet was an explanation.

"Many samplers, dated well into the nineteenth century, seem to be missing the letter "J".  Actually, the "J" is a relatively young letter, coming into common usage sometime after 1820.  Young needleworkers, such at Katy Bemis, were stitching the alphabet as they knew and used it . . . without considering the "J" as an individual letter.

The letter "J" has its beginning in the letter "I", beginning as an alternate form of the lower case "i".  Because the letter was so tiny and inconspicuous, especially in the flowing cursive writing, people began adding a slightly hooked tail to a lower case "i" whenever it was used to begin a word.  (In English, words rarely end in an "i" and because some time earlier, the "new" letter "y" had replaced the "i" as an ending sound.)  This is how the letter developed its form or shape.

The sound, or value of the letter "j" came about to distinguish between the vowel sound of "i" as we know it today and a consonant sound of a soft "g" (like George) which was also noted by the letter "i" . . . that is until about 1600.  Some time in the 17th century, people began to use an "i" to represent only vowel sounds and the "j" to represent the consonant soft "g" sound whenever it appeared in a word.  However, they still regarded it as ONE letter . . . that of on "i".  The "j" was simply a form of the letter "i".  For that reason dictionaries had no "J" section.  Words like "juxtaposition" are found in a 19th century dictionary in the "I" section.  And in that same dictionary,  "juxtaposition" is quite naturally followed by "ivy"."

Clear as mud, right?

Here is one of my antique samplers dated 1827 that contains the letter "J" . . .

. . . and a redwork sampler dated 1892 that does not.  (I purchased this sampler because my initials are LF.)

We're back to wintertime here in Ohio.  Low 30s and a few flakes coming down.  Only 8 more days until spring!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Gift from a Friend ~

The other day in the mail I received the most perfect gift!  Something totally unexpected and totally wonderful.  I received this little pug quilt from Gayle, the Middle Sister, made especially for me :)   It's temporarily hanging from one of my wool cupboards until I find the perfect place for it.  It will have a place of honor in the hooking room since that is where I spent the most time.

Isn't it too sweet?  It measures about 9 1/2" x 11 3/4" . . .

. . . these little blocks are just 1" square.  

I am not a quilter and just in awe of the talent needed to make this.  Gayle, thank you so very much.  I am one lucky blogger!!!

What a gorgeous day today on Ohio's north coast.  I hope we get many more ~ soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren  

Congrats to ~

Thanks to all who entered!  Congrats to Connie.  She commented that growing up her dad always had a cow named Nellie :)  Connie, please send me your mailing information so that I can get the sampler mailed.

Do you think I am spoiling Ellie just a little bit?  She spends most of the night buried under the covers and only comes up for fresh air a couple times a night.  The last two mornings this is how I've found her when I've gotten up.  Please continue to say a prayer or two for her forever mom.  She continues to improve and is hoping to go home in a couple of weeks.  I do hope that becomes a reality ~ for both my friend and Ellie :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Nellie Irene ~

I stitched Nellie Irene many years ago.  (She sounds a bit Irish, doesn't she?)  We're talking  M-A-N-Y.  Many as in 25???  I'm not really sure but it's been waiting for a "finish" for a long time.  I tried to find the chart to see who designed it, but was not successful.  The other day I gave it a coffee bath to tone it down.  It was stitched on a rather stiff, almost white linen.  28 count, I think.

A couple weeks ago, I promised a give-away and just can't seem to get my act together, so if you'd like a chance to finish this sampler or perhaps tack it to a cupboard or wall as it is, leave me a comment on this post or send me an email with give-away in the subject line.  I will pick a winner Thursday evening.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Whole Lotta Nuthin' ~

That about sums up my weekend.  I feel like I got absolutely nothing done and tomorrow it's back to work.  I did finish the binding on Maria's little lamb . . . 

10.75" x 17.75".  Asking $120, US shipping included.

. . . and pulled a few loops on another of her patterns, Lamb & Chicks, the smaller size at 10" x 16 1/2".  I think I may have to reverse hook the curls.  Do you agree that there is too much contrast?  The face and hooves will be the same color as the curls.

I also am stitching the Malabar Farm Pinkeep by Stacy Nash.  I am using the called for Gentle Art threads.  I've never used them before but I absolutely LOVE them!  I did not have the called for linen so am using a piece of 28 count linen from my stash, Cashel, and the color is Days Gone By.  I do not plan to make it a pinkeep so will most likely omit the scissor motif and perhaps even the "Malabar Farm" from the bottom.

I haven't made a goal list in about forever and may be going out on a limb here, but my goal for March is to catch up on binding my rugs.  I have five to bind . . . sigh.  I always bind with rug tape or wool and another goal is to try the crochet edge.  That was on today's list, but I've about run out of today.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Need has NOTHING to do with it ~

But I WANT it (saying it as I stomp my feet).  My first frame was purchased on eBay and did not hold the linen taut.  I then bought a used Puritan, also on eBay, and it has served me well for many years.  I've cleaned the gripper strips but it's just not gripping as tightly as I'd like.  I am assuming the needles (for lack of a better term) get dull since replacements can be bought.  Recently I also bought a used Morton frame.  The needles are very sharp and it's great for small rugs, but I want something with a larger work area.  After taking a test drive on Melissa's frame, this is what I want :)

I have not heard one person who hooks with a Snapdragon frame say they don't like it.  

Too bad I just had my little SUV radiator replaced (and I need tires and another somewhat major repair - UGH!).  That was slightly more than the cost of the frame . . . sigh.  So you just may be seeing some things for sale on the blog.  A girl's gots to do what a girl's gots to do, right?

I'll leave you with this picture of Ellie.  She has been acting strangely the last couple of days.  I'm not sure what's going on, but when I came upstairs a bit ago, she was sitting on the landing looking so guilty and a few feet away was a little "puddle".  When I yelled at her, she went and hid under the couch.  She had just been outside (and did her business) and by her reaction, she knew what she did was wrong.  Oh how I wish I could get inside that little puppy brain!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren