Happy Halloween ~

 

Happy Halloween, friends.  Another month bites the dust.  If you are a longtime reader, you may want to skip this post . . . or if you have CRS like I do, keep on reading 😁  Once again showing my Halloween decorations.  They are pretty much the same with only a couple new things.

My dining room cupboard.

The two little hard plastic decorations were bought at the same antique mall, though on different occasions from different dealers.

This papier mache pumpkin with wings was purchased at the antique mall yesterday.  Not old . . . and he'd make a fun hooked rug.

Fun skelly hooked rug purchased on eBay many years ago.

I've had the ceramic pumpkin since childhood.  The little scarecrow is one of my favorite pieces . . . painted by my mom.

Sweet mohair Halloween bear.

All the ceramic items were painted by my mom 💓

My painting skills are very limited, but in 2005 I was on a gourd painting kick.

Though there are almost no kids in the neighborhood, this evening I may welcome as many as 150 trick or treaters.  The babies in strollers or in their parents arms are not denied candy, nor are the much too old kids with no costume.  I grew up in what at the time was the country, so in order to trick or treat I had to go in to town.  One time I was asked where I lived, and when I told, I was denied a treat.  Isn't that just downright mean?  Oh, and did people give apples as treats in your neck of the woods?  Oh, how I hated getting an apple . . . 😀😁😆

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Still Blooming ~

 

Weather on Ohio's north coast has been pretty darn good.  Living near Lake Erie has its advantages.  In the fall, our temps are a bit higher than inland.  The air coming across the water (currently 52*) helps keep us warmer.  Yesterday was gorgeous . . . mid 60's and lots of sun.  Thankfully I got the grass cut because then the rains came.  We have not yet had a frost so a few things are still blooming . . . though some a bit scraggly.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Hooking Outside the Box ~

 

I have been spending time daily working on Ole Jack.  I do believe he is coming along pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.  It is not easy hooking for me, but easier than when I started.

I had some dental work done today.  No fun but a necessary evil.  I had no idea that they can make a crown with a CNC machine while you wait.  I watched in amazement while it was being made.

Thank so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Molly Seal of Approval ~

 

Happy Sunday!  I think fall has arrived in northern Ohio and I am not particularly happy.  You would think after all these decades, I would accept it, but sadly do not.  It was 41* this morning, but thankfully no wind so my outdoor morning walk was doable.  I do not look forward to using the dreadmill.

I threw my rug down the other day and Molly decided it was a great place to plop down.

She decided to acknowledge me . . .

. . . but only for a brief moment 😇

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Mental Block ~

I just don't get it.  I will come up with any excuse to NOT work on Ole Jack.  I have barely hooked on it in days.  I did hook a bit last night, but just a very little bit.  Is is because I am hooking outside my comfort zone?  That is about the only thing I can come up with.  Here is the area I worked on last night.

And here is my progress so far.  Rather pathetic 😟  (If you think I am doing great, remember I have been home from camp for a month!)  Jack's colors are a little more subtle in person.

I like it, so why, why, why am I not working on it on a regular basis?  Hopefully I can get my rear in gear and get some more done.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Facebook Fact-Checker ~

Have you had doubt about independent Facebook fact-checkers?  I don't think I will ever believe them again (not that I had much faith in them prior to this)!

Really???  They never met my mother nor countless others who were the product of the depression.  Not  only did she wash her aluminum foil and save bacon grease, but also wrapping paper and ribbon, bread bags, paper bags, styrofoam containers, butter tubs . . . there wasn't much she didn't save.  And I'm quite certain many are still doing this.  I find this absolutely ridiculous!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by . . . and listening to my rant.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Crochet 101 ~

{{Well, Darn.  I tried a copy/paste to insert a picture on this post and it deleted all my text.  GGRRRRR 😖}}  Let's try again.

It has been decades since I learned to crochet.  Back then, the only thing I learned was a single crochet.  All the rows the same.  No increasing or decreasing.  After seeing a crochet pumpkin at a friend's house and then Jennie's crochet pumpkin, I decided I would give it a try.  I've watched countless You Tube videos.  I understand how to do the basic stitches.  My problem is the beginning and end of a row.  I can't figure out where to insert the hook.  The sample to the left isn't too bad, but the one on the right is a disaster.  Time to rip that one out, watch more videos, and try again . . . sigh.

Maybe I need to stick with rug hooking 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

National Pug Day ~

Molly and Ernestine want to wish you all a very happy National Pug Day 😚

Thanks to all who entered my give-away.  And the winner is . . . drumroll please . . . Marie.  Congrats.  You have 3 days to contact me to claim the pumpkin.

Hopefully soon I can show some progress on my horse rug.  I have found a bit of time to hook . . . a very little bit.  My life is just flying by.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

The Things You Find ~

I found this in a bag of yarn I had not looked in in MANY years.

What, you may ask, is it?  A very hard, dried pizza crust.  Some of you may remember my Ellie, a Jack Russell Terrier I "inherited" when my friend passed away.  Ellie was attacked while on a leash as we stepped out of my garage.  She did not survive.  I can't believe it's been over five years.  Ellie loved to "bury" treats and pizza crusts in bags and baskets of wool.  It has been a very long time since I found one of her buried treasures.  So bittersweet.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Horse's A**

Finally!!!  I found/made some time to pull a few loops on my horse rug from my recent Cathy Stephan class.  And guess what part of the horse I was working on 😁😁😁

Tomorrow is the last of my vending for the year.  There were a few things that did not get done.  Oh, well.  Oh, hell.  I've been stressed enough and decided not to add to it.  Now I hope to find more time to hook!!!

Here I am . . . feeling a little blue.  A blue pumpkin I hooked several years ago with hand torn strips.  It is about 13" x 13".

I am no quilter, but here is my attempt at a patchwork back.

If you'd like a chance to call this pumpkin your own, leave a comment on this post or send me an email with give-away in the subject line.  Please, no sharing on any social  media.  One simple rule.  The winner must contact me within three days to claim.  (Apologies to my northern friends.  Due to shipping costs, this is open to U.S. residents only.)  A winner will be chosen next Friday.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Cathy's Class ~

I believe this is the fourth time I have had Cathy Stephan of Red Barn Rugs as a teacher.  Obviously I think she is a great teacher 😁

Here are some of the rugs that Cathy has hooked and brought along with her to class.

This antique reproduction is one that has been on my hooking bucket list for MANY years.

A technique I had not seen before.  A shirred edge.  Sure wish I was listening when she talked about how she did it.

Some of Cathy's yummy wools.

A sampling of the rugs being hooked in Cathy's class.

And a better view of the rug.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren