Spice Cupboards ~

A few of you commented about my spice cupboard shown in the previous post.

I also have a "thing" about spice cupboards.  This one sits on the same cupboard as the one above.  It has a somewhat thick coat of reddish paint that was added later in its life.

These three sit atop the pie safe in the dining room.

The one on the left is my favorite 8 drawer cupboard.  It has such a beautiful patina.  I just love those little antique pugs.

At the base of the stairs leading to the second story sits this sweet little four drawer spice cupboard.  I purchased it many years ago on eBay.  Miniature stone fruit sits in front.

Atop this most wonderful hanging cupboard sits a six drawer spice cupboard. 

Beautiful hanging pocket

A gift from oh-so-generous Melinda

of Merry Wind Farm

This is my all time favorite.  I think this is the first one ever purchased.  I wish I could remember from where . . . sigh.  I'm guessing it was from a show.  Hopefully I have it written down . . . somewhere :)

Happy Saturday to you.
Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Bowls & Trenchers ~

Monday, Julie of  My Primitive Heart,  posted about her love affair with wooden bowls and trenchers.  I have a "thing" about them, too.

On the upstairs landing ~ filled with stone fruit.

The sweetest child's size trencher with a wonderful old repair, filled with dried black walnuts and Cutie oranges that didn't get eaten in a timely manner.  Some dry nice and round and other shrivel up.

In the dining room filled with more stone fruit . . .

. . . and on the dining room table.  I'm a little stone fruit obsessed :)

And still more stone fruit.  I see I need to dust my grapes . . . lol!

Trencher on the coffee table ~

Sweet little shoes ~

NOTHING compared to Julie's trencher filled with her strawberry creations :)

On the stove.  I think I need to dust there, too.

I have more bowls and a trencher or two tucked away in an antique cupboard bottom.  They are just fun to decorate with and unless you are buying early ones with old paint, they can be found very reasonably priced.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Sunday Stuff ~

Nature is amazing.  Tiger lilies are just so beautiful.

They are also HUGE ~ over 5' tall.

The blackberry lilies are so sweet, too.  The seeds were compliments of my dear friend Sheila :)

Blog friends are the most amazing and thoughtful people.  A surprise arrived in the mail.  Donna, aka the Dirty Martini Queen, sent me a package.  In it was this sweet little doggie . . .

 . . . and this amazing sampler she stitched from a Pineberry Lane pattern.  Not the "E" in the diamond at the bottom.  She stitched it in memory of my Ellie.  So sweet.  I still miss that little spitfire but her memory makes me smile through the tears.  Thank you so much Donna.

OK.  So I still refuse to go to Pinterest.  I just don't need another thing on the computer to suck me in, but I know one day soon I will  most likely weaken.  I recently got an email from Sandy in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  She found a picture of her partially completed rug (from a retreat at Sauder Village) that I had posted on my blog that somehow ended up on Pinterest.  She so graciously sent me a picture of it completed.  It is absolutely WONDERFUL!!!  She didn't say whose pattern it is, but I think that would be a fun one to hook.  I just love her color choices.  Thanks, Sandy, for taking the time to send this to me :)

One crazy thing.  I filled the washer this morning and when I went to add the soap and clothes, there was this huge spider sitting on the agitator under water.  WTH???  I went and got a little fish net and of course I missed him.  Finally started the washer for a few seconds and the second time was the charm.  Now snakes don't bother me (well, maybe if I found one in the washer it would) but I.DO.NOT.LIKE.SPIDERS!!!

Thanks so much for all your kind words and well wishes on my last post and as always for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

The Waiting Game ~

What do you do while waiting in pre-op for outpatient surgery?  Bind rugs, of course :)  Isn't the gown lovely?  I was told it was designed by some famous German designer . . . lol.

I got the last two little mats bound.  I've been hooking these for the September show in Holly, MI.  I think I hate labeling rugs even more than I hate binding them, and that is next on the agenda.

All is well.  I feel great and the procedure was relatively painless.  I've taken a couple days off work, so hope to get lots done. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Welcome to My Garden ~

Just a little walk around the yard this fine Sunday afternoon.

I just love my carved bird bath.  A Christmas present from my Sweetie :)  I was moving plants around and it looks so bare ~ and I really need mulch!!!

Broken and rusted windmill.  Perfect . . . lol.

My poor little pond.  For the last 3-4 days, about 80% of the water has drained out several times a day (hence the hose).  This afternoon it is not leaking.  It just doesn't make sense and it has done the same thing in years past.

Passion flower ~ so unusual and beautiful but so invasive.

I love my funky chicken.  He (oh, I guess that makes it a rooster) just makes me smile :)

The hostas are doing well this year.

The side porch. 

The hydrangea are also doing well this year ~ finally the winter didn't kill all the old growth.

Such color variation all on the same plant.

The way my house sits on a corner lot, I have no backyard.  That's my garage to the right and my neighbors' to the left looking to my totally out of control (and invasive) wisteria. 

A picture from the 4th of two of my favorite bad boys:)

Has our world gone totally mad?  There is so much evil manifesting itself it is frightening.  I fear for my sons' and grandson's generations.  What can be done to stop it?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Finishes~

The sunflowers are done!  I hooked nine and had one left from last year.  They are ready to be attached to an old bed spring, but for now are easier to store sans spring.

The last two little mats came off the frame.  Once again, hooked entirely with worms.  Sadly, I did not make dent in the worm farm.

Oh, it's binding time again . . . hey, that would make a good song, don'tcha think?

TGIF !!!  Weeks turning in to months are flying by.  I'm not wishing my life away, but I sure do love knowing it's Friday.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Semi-Bad ~

Today was my all time favorite antique show held on the square in Milan, Ohio, birthplace to Thomas Alva Edison.  Other than last year when I somehow forgot about it, I've been attending this show for over two decades. 

My best purchase of the day is this sweet little Shaker sewing stand, circa 1880.  Other than missing its pincushion, it's in pretty darn good shape.  Bought from a reputable dealer, I am confident it is a Shaker piece.

Through these little holes on three sides . . .

. . . fed your thread, held on these little spool holders. 

An ironstone pitcher and a bundle of vintage ticking also came home with me.

I'm hoping this old folding drying rack will work well as a display piece for the show I am doing in Holly, MI, in September.  (If not, I'm not sure what I can do with it since it takes up quite a bit of space when open.)

Had money been no object, much more would have come home with me.  There were a couple samplers I loved, but I restrained myself . . . sigh.  If I don't stop buying, I will soon need a bigger house :)

Little Julie . . . you are still a "no reply blogger".  Here is a link to the fix, thanks to Saundra.

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Happy Sunday to you.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

A Little Irony ~

How ironic.  Saundra posted this evening that she just purchased this rug on eBay.

Sitting at the base of my stairs is the version I purchased, also on eBay, maybe 9 or 10 years ago.  It measure 23" x 37" and the loops are perfect but hooked lower than I think I've ever seen.  It is obviously hand hooked and I only paid $25 for it.  I know I got a steal (the wool cost more than that for sure) but there is no label so I have no idea who hooked it or when.  A great reason to label your rugs ~ though I am TERRIBLE at it :(

I finished my eagle.  I have a little linen left below the eagle so I need to hook a couple tiny mats, then I need to get busy finishing.  I think I have about 20 things that need to be "finished" ~ U.G.H.

Little Julie ~ thanks for the visit but you are a "no reply" blogger so I can't answer you personally.  Worms ~ also known as noodles ~ are the wool strips used when hooking.  Most hookers have an over-abundance ~ and they multiply while you are sleeping :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren