Saturday, December 23, 2017

Almost Here ~



The big day is almost here.  It always arrives so quickly, but at long last, I am ready.  I had to pick up a few perishables at the grocery store today.  Crazy busy, but they had lots of registers open so it went surprisingly fast.  Tomorrow I will do all the prep I can to make Christmas Day as easy as possible.  There will only be six of us, but they are the most important people in my life.  Only my California son will be missing.

Thursday grandson Jake's orchestra played at a local mall.  He finally has his very own cello, a gift from his dad.  I do hope he keeps it up.


Today I spent a couple hours gift wrapping for Ohio Pug Rescue.  We wrap each year at Barnes and Noble who so graciously provide the paper and even allow us to bring in the pugs.  We work strictly for donations and people are most generous.  We even had one woman hand us a $100 bill.  OPR is an all volunteer group so no one gets paid.  100% of the donations goes to help the pugs.  Vet bills can be outrageous.  Remember my Pretty Girl?  (How could you forget her . . . lol?)  She had two surgeries while in rescue that probably totaled $2500 and her adoption fee was only $180. 
That's me in the tacky pug shirt holding Ernestine.  


I have been collecting patriotic items for many years.  Here are some of the Santas and a patriotic nutcracker.  The Santa on the back right is also a nutcracker.


In a small cupboard.  I opened the door because I could not avoid the glare of the glass. 



A few of my patriotic ornaments.
This snow guy just makes me smile :)






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

10 comments:

Margaret said...

Love seeing all your decorating for the season. How great that you did all that wrapping for a good cause! Love seeing the pic of you with Ernestine and the other volunteers! So fun! Happy Christmas!

denise said...

love your snowman plate! Merry Christmas

Julia said...

Oh Lauren you are so generous with your time for those little pugs and I'm sure with donations too.

I would just love to see all your fantastic decorations at your house. I hope you have all those articles insured. So many of them.

Merry Christmas and a A Happy new Year.
I'm finally feeling better after over three weeks with that darn bad cold.
Love & hugs.
Julia

marly said...

I think you were perfectly dressed for the occasion.

Where do you find all these Santas? I've never seen a patriotic one around here! I do and have enjoyed seeing your collections, better than Kraynak's! Christmas is like a wedding. You plan and shop and decorate and bake and prepare for weeks and poof - it's over in a day. Enjoy your dinner of six. Ours is five.

acorn hollow said...

jake is all grown up! A nice thing to help the little pugs and nice the customers appreciate it.
Merry Christmas
Cathy

Jo Ann said...

I see no tacky Pug shirt ~ I see a beautiful, giving lady. Love all your decorations ~ your "down sizing" looks like it went well ! :} Merry Christmas ~ Healthy, Happy New Year.

Jacqueline said...

Merry Christmas Lauren. I have enjoyed your posts all year and look forward to seeing them in 2018.

WoolenSails said...

Love the photo, fun shirt and wonderful that so many help out. Jake sure has grown, funny how we all started when the kids were little. Love your collection, that is a fun one.

Debbie

Larkrise garden girl said...

Jake is growing up too quickly!
Lauren your decorations were darling.
Have a Merry Christmas , hugs cheri

Prims By The Water said...

What great work you do for the Pug rescue. Love that sweet santa in the stocking. Awesome that your grandson can play the cello...I alas am not musically inclined. Here's wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas! Janice