Finally ~

Sunday afternoon I took a little "me time" and headed to a couple antique shops about 35 minutes from home.  Lots of good sales but I only brought a few treasures home with me.  This was my major purchase, a papier mache Santa.  I forgot to measure, but I'm guessing he is about 9" tall.  I think they sometimes refer to this style as egg crate because the composition is very similar to egg containers.  Not sure the vintage ~ perhaps 40's - 50's?  Any ideas?  I did an eBay search but did not find this particular type.  

And finally found a few spare minutes and picked up my hook.  Oh did it feel good.  I planned on finishing this snow guy weeks ago but better late than never.

Found on Facebook, there is something totally wrong with this next picture but it makes me laugh every time I see it.

Husband in pug shirt.
Pug in husband shirt.

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

Christmas Celebrations ~

As always, Christmas arrived all too quickly and passed the same way.  I do not put my decorations out until after Thanksgiving and don't begin to take them down until after the New Year.  After Christmas day I finally have a moment to breathe and that is when I enjoy them the most.

Just a few random shots . . .

Victorian Christmas lights in the window.  One of my favorite things.

Christmas Day

Younger son J and girlfriend Jessica. 

J and Maya.  I just couldn't get a good picture of her and she looks evil in this one :)

LA Bill (as in Los Angeles) with brother J.  It was SO GOOD to have him home for a few days.

Bill, me, J and my brother Bill (big Uncle Bill to Jake).

DSO Fritz with Loocie.

 One comfy pug.

Ellie

December 26th, we celebrated Christmas with Jake.

Little Uncle Bill and Jake.  Ellie absolutely adored Bill.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and made new memories.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Deck the Halls ~

This video is sure to bring a smile to your face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo

Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a good night.

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

Favorite Ornaments ~

Just a few of my favorite ornaments ~

From my maternal grandmother's nativity

My one true antique Santa 

I don't remember where or when I got this guy,
but I've had him for years and just love him

 

Occupied Japan Santa

My little Nativity that I got in first grade

Grandson Jake made this in 2012

Celluloid Santa lightbulb ~
that's Jake at age 3 to the left

25+ years later I still hang the ornaments made by my sons when young.  

Speaking of sons, my California son made it home this afternoon.  He was flying standby and thankfully made each leg of his flight.  It's so good to have him home!!!  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

An Early Christmas Present ~

One of the best presents I've ever received.  On the market for 1+ years, my mom's house is sold. After many headaches and extra expenses, the house transferred today.  My dear mom is rolling over in her grave over the selling price, but I am happy it has finally happened :)  

I just had to share the good news.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Here Comes Santa Claus ~

Welcome, dear friends!  So happy you had a minute to stop by!

Celluloid Santa

Remember when these were so popular?

Love my cheesy light up Santas

Santa in front and left rear are vintage

Vintage paper mache and cotton Santas

More celluloid . . .

. . . and more

A Prairie Schooler Santa ~
a gift from a dear friend MANY years ago.
Marly  and Melinda are stitching many in this series.

Small collection of salt-glazed Santas

I think I've give up on the idea of finishing my hooked snowman as a gift.  I think the shopping is done and the wrapping has been started.  My California son should be home on Sunday.  It will be WONDERFUL to see him!

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

All Work and No Play . . .

. . . makes Lauren a dull, dull girl :(  As you all know I am a working girl ~ a Monday through Friday 40 hour a week day job . . . unless there is a snowstorm . . . and then I sometimes have to work extra.  Early Saturday morning our first real winter weather of the season was arriving, so I had had to work 10+ hours  yesterday and I was back again this morning at 7am.  To say my butt is dragging is an understatement, but my next paycheck will make it all worthwhile :)  I have it easy compared to the snowplow drivers.  Yesterday they plowed 16 hours and had to be back in at 3am and worked at least another 12 hours today.  I don’t know how they do it.  And this was for 5-6 inches of snow.  Imagine what it's like for Julie up in Maine.

Thankfully my decorating is done.  I hauled the last of the boxes back up to the attic and the DSO has modified a tree stand for me.  The stand I got with the new trig tree is really cheesy.  He put a C-clamp on it to keep it from wobbling, but the tree continued to lean and I was afraid it was going to fall over.  I’ve already broken one ornament this year . . . a ceramic ornament my mom had made.  I felt really bad about that, but thankfully it was a clean break and won’t be too obvious when glued back together.  Of course there are still cards to be written, gifts to be bought and wrapped, packages mailed and that snowman mat to be finished.  ACK!  There is more to do than I thought . . . and there’s also an evening or two of hooking.  That's if I remember how.  It's been forever since I picked up the hook (well, 10 or 11 days feels like forever).  

Ellie is very much like me ~ NOT a fan of cold and snow.  I sometimes have to force her outside so she can take care of her "business".  Here she is in her favorite spot snuggled up with her blankie. I just love how one ear flops and the other is so perky.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Wherever you are, I am hoping you are toasty.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Still Not Done ~

I thought decorating was going well but I'm still not done.  It seems every evening I am gone for many hours and when I get home accomplish little.  I am so ready to be done!

I bought a new "twig tree" this year.  This is what it looked like after coming out of the box as I was figuring how to arrange the branches. I absolutely hated stringing lights on the tree and this one is pre-lit.  

Here it is after I spent a VERY long time fiddling with the branches.

I've finally started hanging the ornaments.  I have many that are heavy and this tree is not well suited for them, but I'm trying . . . sigh.  I still have many, many more to go.

My snowmen ~ 

Gift from dear friend Wink.

I am not a big fan of LED lights.  I find the color very cold, but I did buy a couple strings of these at Kohl's (50% off + coupon ~ what a racket). They are battery operated and on a very fine wire that can be bent any which way.  I haven't been using them long enough to know how long the batteries will last.  

Nothing exciting going on in my life.  I haven't picked up the hook in a week.  Geez, I'd better get busy if I still want to give that Maria snowman as a gift.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren