Happy Hump Day ~

Not much to share.  Things are opening up in Ohio, but I still haven't really been anywhere except an occasional trip to the grocery store and one to the garden center.  I really need to get there again.  I don't plant annuals in the ground, but do put them in crocks and the old wheelbarrow.  

Hooking is going S-L-O-W-L-Y :(  It should not take a week and a half to hook a small mat ~ but it is.  I am getting close on Mr. Jingles and am anxious to get him done.  

The binding is done on the last of the hook in door prize mats.  Rug labels have been sewn on a number of small mats.  Lots of piddly stuff getting done but nothing major.

The yard has been taking up quite a bit of my time.  It is a never ending process especially when the gardens are a jungle.  Why have I ended up with so many invasive plants?  I've dug some and passed them on but it's still a jungle.

The iris are exceptionally beautiful this year.

I really need to spray the hostas before the deer find them.

My one and only azalea.  It was here when I moved in.  I've planted many others but not a one has survived.

DSO lives in a former shipyard and the front of his unit is what was once a drydock where they built 1000' Great Lakes ore carriers.  Not the sharpest picture of the heron . . . they usually fly away just when I am ready to snap one.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren   

Land of the Free ~

~ BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE ~

May God bless the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Freedom isn't free.  

Please take a moment to remember what this day really means.

God bless America ~ Land that I love.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

This, That and the Other ~

It just dawned on me to check the calendar.  Holy moley.  Monday is Memorial Day.  Maybe I didn't realize it because it falls so early this year . . . or maybe because the world is in such a crazy state.

I have been working on this cross stitch for a month now.  I stitch a little every day but usually only 30 minutes or so.  I've had to frog more than I ever have before.  The chart has many errors and it is just frustrating.  If it wasn't the perfect birthday gift, I would have given up long ago.

I am finishing up a little hooked mat, a fun pattern by Notforgotten Farm.  He's called Mr. Jingles, but I think I need to call mine Mr. Shoebuttons since I plan on using antique shoe buttons in lieu of the rusty bells.  A Christmas gift.  Maybe this year I won't wait until the last minute and go crazy trying to get a few hooked gifts done.  I just don't have the inclination to start a larger rug, though I have many patterns to choose from.

Did you know that May is "Older Americans Month"?  Did you even know there was such a thing?  I didn't until the bank sent me tips to help me protect myself.

Yard work just never ends.  I just about finished all the edging, and I had to start all over again.  I did get my 10 bags of topsoil on the low spot (400# worth . . . that's more dirt than I care to carry) but it still isn't enough.  Oh, well.  It may have to do for now.  Still have my 6 bags of mulch to put out.  

For a couple "no-reply" bloggers.

    - P Loebl . . . please send me your email address

      - Kate . . . thank you for the info.  I will look for a competitor's coupon to use.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Be safe and stay healthy.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Baby Steps ~

I am getting things done, but nothing major.  Lots of little accomplishments, but little is better than nothing, right?

I joined Saundra in hooking a cat's paw mat.  Mine is small, just 13" x 14".

Before returning from Florida in March, older brother Bill stopped in Mobile, AL, to visit our sister.  My grandma's rocker no longer lives in Alabama, but now in Ohio.  Sadly her daughter is very minimalistic and has no desire to hang on to this family piece.  I fear it will mean nothing to my boys, either.  It makes me sad.

I've also finished binding two of the three door prize mats for this October's hook in.  Fingers crossed that we can hold it.  I (along with many others) need a hooking fix :)  These are bound with wool, my binding of choice.

I need to make labels as I have a half dozen things needing one.  Michaels has not had a 40% off coupon for a couple months and I'm hoping they will have one soon now that the stores are open.  The printable fabric they carry that I prefer, not cheap to begin with, has jumped in price.  Better the cash in my pocket than theirs :)

The lilac bush is so fragrant.  Too bad it doesn't flower all summer.

The poppies I have are very invasive, but worth the show.  I love how the buds droop.

The flowers, so very delicate.

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

Saturday Laugh ~

I intended to do a real post today to show what I've been doing.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions, right?  I just don't have that much ambition, but did want to pop in and say hi.  

This just cracked me up :)

Gee, and I thought they used nasal swabs.

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

Antique Black ~

I don't dye wool often and when I do the results usually are so-so.  Often great colors, but just not what I was looking to achieve.  I found a Kathy Morton recipe for antique black in the September/October 1996 issue of Rug Hooking Magazine.  I must have 2 yards of the wool on the left.  I haven't a clue where or when I got it, but I'm guessing it must have been a great price since I have such a large piece.  It is not something I would use as-is (unless maybe hooking a chicken), but I love the dyed result.  The piece on the right will be much more useful, too, though I don't have much of it.  I hope next time I use the recipe, I will have the same outcome, but since I am sort of a laid back dyer (not measuring too precisely), who knows?  BTW . . . both wools were in the same dye pot but the wool on the left ended up much darker.

Here is a close up of the dyed wool on the left.  It is more black as in the previous picture, but you can see it is not just a flat black wool.  I think it will be the perfect wool to add to an antique black background.

I see quite a few people wearing a face mask, but not covering their nose.  I think this cartoon sums it up.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Mother's Day Finish ~ UPDATED

Happy Day after Mother's Day.  I hope you all had a good day, though I'm sure it was different than the normal Mother's Day.  Mine was pretty much like every day has been for the last how many days?  My younger son and girlfriend did stop by (we kept our distance!) and I got a call from older son . . . Billy Vegas as he is known.  Take out with DSO from Five Guys.  Life is good :)

I did have a Mother's Day finish.  Bittersweet Runner by Crows on the Ledge Wool Studio.  One of my readers mentioned that the pattern was not on the website, but if interested, I'm sure you could contact Donna about it.  I am pleased at how it came out and I think the recipient will be happy.  

UPDATE:  I was in contact with Donna (she's an Ohio gal) and the pattern is available in her etsy shop.

The colors are truest in this picture.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Happy Mother's Day ~

Even though it is Mother's Day, my life feels like Groundhog Day.  I'm sure many of you feel the same way.

Enjoy, dear friends and Happy Mother's Day to all.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Tighty Whities ~

Seen the other day in the small city where I live.  Oh, my!  He had someone videotaping him, so I wonder if he was hoping his video would go viral.  I sent the pics to my son in Las Vegas and he did report seeing pics elsewhere.  It just cracked me up, but tighty whities???  I mean, really???

Sorry.  There are just some things you can't unsee.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Around the Yard ~

A couple people have asked me to share pictures of my yard.  I wish I could take amazing flower pictures like Kim from My Field of Dreams, but I just can't capture the beauty as she does.

Daffodils (my favorite!) are coming to an end.  They were spectacular this year.  They have been blooming for at least a month and I had many more blooms than I have ever had.

Helleborus ~ Lenten Rose

Shade garden on the north side of the house.  Hostas and ferns will fill up much of the empty spaces.

Be still my (bleeding) heart ~

Spanish bluebells???

Solomon's Seal ~

The boots under the chair are an old pair of my son's workboots.  I used to plant them with hens & chicks, but the darn squirrels would not leave them alone.  Constantly dug them up and threw them around the yard.  I finally gave up a few years ago . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Be safe and stay healthy.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Monday ~

I've started my Cats Paw hook along with Saundra.  My rocker pad only measures about 14 1/2" x 13".  I have plenty of worms to use, but once again this small mat won't make a dent in them.

Happy Monday, everyone.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Miscellaneous Stuff ~

I'm busy all day, every day, but some days I feel I accomplished nothing.  I did get my 40 bags of mulch down in the flower beds.  I need about 5-6 more bags, but I'm hoping it goes on sale again tomorrow.  Edging is the next main project.  I really should have edged the gardens before putting down the mulch . . . sigh.  I live on a corner lot so I have twice the sidewalk and curb to edge.  Edging is not a garden task I enjoy.  

I did finish hooking the hook-in door prize mat.  Now three small mats need binding :(  Finished size is about 10" x 10 1/2" and the pattern can be found here.

Next on the frame is a little cat's paw rocker pad.  You can join Saundra if you'd like to hook along with her, though she is already about done.  Thankfully it's not very big because hooking circles is not my favorite thing.

Progress has also been made on my applique runner.  Titled Bittersweet Runner, I just need to add the bittersweet berries and backing.  Pattern is by Crows on the Ledge Wool Studio.

Happy Saturday to you.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Be safe and stay healthy.  Ohio has extended its Stay at Home order until May 29, though they are now calling it Safe at Home.  Slowly things are going to begin to open.  No word yet on restaurants, salons, etc.  My heart just breaks for all the businesses that will not succeed because of this pandemic.  So many lives ruined.  Just sad.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren