Computer Issues ~ UGH

My computer died last Saturday so it was off to Best Buy for a new one.  I am old fashioned, I guess.  I have an iPad but we don't get along too well.  I prefer my desktop.  I was assured if I paid the Geek Squad to transfer my files, all I had to do was bring it home, plug it in and I was good to go.  N-O-T :(  When my DSO plugged it in yesterday, nothing was where it had been.  Everything was in one location.  All my email contacts are GONE.  Their definition of ready to go and mine was totally different.  So . . . this will be a learning experience for me.  DSO got my email set up and I will have to rebuild my contact list.  Now I have to learn a new operating system.  Like most people, I'm not wild about change but I don't have a choice . . . sigh.

I do have a few finishes to share . . . BUT . . . I can't get the pictures to load to the blog.  I am able to choose files, the pictures load there, but they won't load to the blog.  I am getting frustrated.

Oh, I just figured I could drag the pictures to my post.  Yippee.  Here is my first finish.  Finally finished the snowman with the braided edge.  I like the look but not sure how often I'll do this.

I was going to make a little wool sprig, but for now took the easy way out.  Of course I could not find my spare greens, so I cut a few pieces off the bottom of a small Christmas tree. 

The theme for this year's Western Reserve guild hook in is "beach party".  Members were asked to hook a small mat or two for door prizes.  Not quite beach party, but I think these will do.  The whale was whipped with 8 cut wool.  I've just recently started finishing that way and I do like the look.

This one was finished with wool binding.

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

Thank You ~

 

I don't even know how to begin to say thank you for all the kind comments, emails, messages and cards.  Our hearts are broken and the tears have not yet stopped.  With each passing day, I know they will lessen.  Ellen, Miss Ellie, Ellie Mae, Missy ~ she had many monikers.  She was such a loving little girl.  She will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

 

Here she is in her favorite spot ~ sitting by me in the hooking room on her favorite blankie.  My constant companion.  Run fast and free, dear Ellie.  Someday we will meet again.

 

 

 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

xoxo,

Lauren

With Heavy Heart ~

Dear DSO and I had to help Ellie cross the Rainbow Bridge this morning.  They don't know why things went so wrong but she was not going to recover.  It is one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make, but it was the right decision for Ellie.  We are heartbroken.

 

Since I am a pug girl at heart, I called her my "pug in the witness protection program". 

 

 

She loved to sleep under the covers . . .

 

 

. . . fall over to get belly rubs . . .

 

 

 

. . . curl up on her favorite blankie . . .

 

 

. . . hang out with Jake . . .

 

 

. . . and bury bones in my wool baskets.

 

 

My Ellie rug.  A True Friend says it all.

 

 

Run fast and free, Miss Ellie. 

 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for all the kind comments, Facebook messages and emails.  It is heartwarming to know so many people care.

 

xoxo

Lauren

Just a Quick Ellie Update ~

 

Thank you so much for all your kind comments and emails.  It is heartwarming to know how many people care.

 

Ellie and I did not go to work today.  She had a really bad night and this morning could not stand and would not drink.  She was totally lethargic.  By noon she was at a new puppy hospital. She will be there for at least 2 or 3 days.  I just got home a bit ago from visiting her.  She is so pathetic it just breaks my heart.  I am happy she is somewhere getting the care she needs.  I hope she can recover from this.  Please keep her in your puppy prayers and hug your furbaby tonight.

 

Here she is in happier times giving me the stink eye.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Ellie Update ~

 

I know some of you have heard about Ellie.  For those of you who haven't, she was attacked Friday evening just as we were leaving the garage for a walk.  A young man just happened to be across the street and came  to Ellie's rescue.  Without his efforts, Ellie would not have survived.  Another kind neighbor drove me to the vet.  I'll spare the details, but she had emergency surgery and came home this evening.  Thankfully her organs weren't damaged other than the spleen which was removed.  Poor baby is hurting.  She is on my lap as I type and often whimpers.  It just breaks my heart.  She will go to work with me tomorrow so she won't be alone.  The first two pictures were taken yesterday . . .

 

. . . and here she is today before coming home.  

This really ticks me off (to put it politely).  These signs are in several areas of the pet hospital.  I had to pay for the surgery before it was performed.  What they charged me for an additional 34 hours of care would make your head spin.  When I was checking out, I asked them what if people couldn't pay?  They said they just don't treat them.  "So you let them die?", I asked.  No, we just don't treat them was there response.  I know it's a business, but I just have a hard time comprehending how they can be so callous.

 

Please say a little prayer for a speedy recovery.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

A True Story ~

 

I work for a city Street Department.  We do get some unusual calls.  Yesterday I answered a call that was transferred from our Safety/Service Department.  The caller stated that someone had planted a tree on her tree lawn (the area between the sidewalk and road - owned by the homeowner but our city has a right-of-way).  She wanted to know who planted it and let me know that she did not want it there.  She lived on a road that had trees removed due to a new water line being installed, so I made the assumption that it was a tree replaced by our Engineering Department.  WRONG!  Engineering stated that they are not replacing any trees, so my boss drove down to see the tree.  This is the "tree" that was in her tree lawn.  A dead limb that had fallen and "planted" itself in the soft ground or put there as a joke.  We got a good laugh out of that . . .

 

 

. . . and decided we would "plant" it and decorate it for the holidays.  Here is our Easter tree ~ lacking in branches but loads of character ~

 

~ now sporting little lights and Easter eggs.  Perhaps we'll add a bunny or two.

I think we are going to get lots of laughs :)  We've already had several people just shake their heads in disbelief when they hear the story.

 

I haven't shared a picture of Sam the work cat in quite a while.  Here he is all decked out for St. Patty's Day.  To say he was less than thrilled is an understatement.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Primary Day ~

 

 

Today was primary day in Ohio.  I hope you will be sure to vote (or have already voted) in your state's primary.  The election this fall will shape the future of our great nation ~ and I hope and pray it will remain great.  We don't need any more of the change that has happened for the last eight years.  'Nuff said.

 

I am working on another small mat for the Western Reserve Rug Hookers hook in this June.  Not quite "beach party", but beachy none the less. 

 

 

Saturday I'm off to a small hook in.  It will be good to spend the day with a bunch of hookers.  I think I am just going to take things to "finish" ~ the two mats for the June hook in, my snowman, perhaps a pumpkin to finish "Betsy style".

 

Not much else going on in my life.  All work and (almost) no play makes Lauren a dull, dull girl.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Daylight Savings Time ~

The thing I don't like about springing ahead is the hour of sleep I've lost.  I need all the sleep I can get which is never enough, but that's my own fault because I never go to bed early enough and 5:30 just comes too darn early in the morning.  I love the longer daylight hours in the evening even though it means going to work when it's dark out.  Soon yardwork will begin and my hooking time will be even less.  The farmer in me does enjoy going out and playing in the dirt.

 

I belong to the Western Reserve Rug Hookers guild and the theme of this year's hook in is "beach party".  Members have been asked to hook a small mat with a beachy theme that will be a door prize.  I've hooked this little whale mat (a slightly modified Polly Minnick pattern).  Not quite beach party, but I hope it will do.  He's about 8 1/2" x 11 3/4".  I've given him a shoe button eye.

The more I hook, the more I like plaid or textured wools.  This is the plaid used for the whale.  It's a loose weave so a bit stringy, but I do like how it hooked up.

 

I'm hoping to get another small sailboat mat hooked, too,  then I can move on to the challenge rug that's been on linen for a couple weeks.

I took grandson Jake to see Zootopia today.  Cute movie that I enjoyed, too.  Then it was on to a spaghetti dinner to benefit the local historical society.  And I wonder why I don't get much done . . . sigh. 

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

Jeepers Creepers ~

 

 

Do you hear them peepers?  For the last week when I've walked Ellie in the morning, I've heard the peepers.  A sure sign of spring . . . . along with the first of the daffodils I've forced to bloom.  I pick them when they are only a few inches tall and it is amazing how much and how quickly they grow in water.

 

 

Last evening I headed an hour south to hook with the Hidden Hills hookers.  It was a rainy drive down ~ which in daylight wasn't too bad, but an unpleasant drive home in the dark.  Oh, I must be getting old.  Driving in the rain at night never used to bother me . . . sigh.

 

It was worth the trip.  I finally started sewing the braid on my snowman.  I got most of it done there and finished the rest when I got home.  I think it looks pretty good, don't you?  I will post another picture when it is totally done.

 

 

These are some very talented ladies.  So much eye candy :)

 

So happy today is POETS day.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

Swap Goodes ~

Blog friends are amazing.  How can someone you've never met know just what you'd love?  I decided to participate in a swap hosted by Rhonda over at Dirt Road Primitives.  I did not know who I would be receiving a package from and today it arrived from none other than Primitive Stars Francine. 

 

Look at the wonderful "chocolate" bunny ~ perfectly prim . . .  

 

 

. . . and a little spring pillow.  So perfect because my birthday falls on the first day of spring.

 

 

Love, love, love my vintage paper mache egg.  This may be the start of a new collection :)

 

 

For now, sitting in a piece of featheredge until I find the perfect spot.

 

 

Not the greatest picture, but a sweet little tea light holder.  I think its original purpose was an egg cup.

 

 

Thank you Francine for such wonderful goodies.  I will treasure them always.

 

I'm off to pull a few loops on a new little mat I am starting.  I'll share in my next post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Monday Quickie ~

 

Here's my funky chicken finish.  Overall I'm happy with her, but I wish I had made the legs skinnier.  It's all hot glued together so redoing the legs is not an option.

 

Here's where she will reside ~ at least for now.

 

Annette Shaffer is so talented.  Her specialty is 3D hooked creations.  If you ever get a chance to take a class from her, I highly recommend it.  I will post a few of her fun finishes in another post, because today I am pressed for time.

 

Hooking should not be held at an antique shop!  Western Reserve Mercantile in Brecksville, OH, has wonderful, quality pieces at reasonable prices.  Last time I was there these mantle cats were speaking to me but I ignored them.  Yesterday I did not.  Circa 1875-1885, they are just 7" tall and have quite the attitude. 

 

I think they fit it well with the antique samplers on the living room mantle.  (Sorry for the glare.)

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren