Dirty Snowman ~

 

I don't hook with white wool 😏  Anything "white" ends up being a dirty white, snowmen included.  I finished hooking this little guy weeks ago, but it took a while to get up my courage to cut him out and glue him to a pelt board.  I must say I am very happy with how he came out.  The size of the board is about 19" x 6 1/2".  I have two more of the pelt boards that I had purchased years ago and one more snowman already hooked.

Here is the sweet little table riser I bought last week.  It has some age but is definitely not antique.  Perhaps vintage?  Normally I have a bowl of stone fruit on the dining room table, but it is just too heavy for this piece.

Almost July???  Once again, how did that happen?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

75th Jubilee ~

About a dozen members of the 1966 8th grade class of St. Joseph School took a little road trip to visit our 2nd and 8th grade teacher, Sister Marian Coughlin.  We knew her as Sister Mary St. Patrick, but at some point Notre Dame nuns were able to revert to their given name.  This is the third time we have visited in the last five years.  She just celebrated her 75th Jubilee (75 years of being a nun) and is turning 95 next month.  She doesn't hear too well but she is still sharp as a tack!

The guy behind her is the one who has organized our get togethers.  The lady to the right is Sister Valerie, who was one of our classmates, and just celebrated her 50th Jubilee.

If anyone would like to send Sister Marian a card (her birthday is July 19) I will be happy to send you her snail mail address.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs😊

Lauren

Why I Sometimes Get NOTHING Done ~

Yes, Sue, I occasionally "play" more than I should.  If I play two days in a row that is unusual, but three days???  I must say I am loving life 😁

Friday was off to two antique shops, one a mall and one a small shop loaded to the gills.  I didn't find much at the mall (that I was willing to spend $$ on) but did get a little vintage (?) table riser.  At the small shop I found two treasures.  A sauce boat to add to my feather edge collection . . . 

. . . and a 2 1/2 inch tall Peaseware container.  The little finial has a chip so the price was affordable.  I did not even notice the roughness on the bottom until I saw in the picture.  It is not noticeable in person and I just turned it around so you don't see the flaws.

The piece to the right on the bottom shelf and on the top shelf marked St. Louis Exposition 1904 are also Peaseware.

The small shop is Wm. Hromy Antiques.  If you are ever in the north east-ish Ohio area, his shop is a must stop. His gardens are breathtaking.  His yard is very shady . . . lots of hostas and other shade loving plants.  So many concrete cats!  Heavy moss on some items.  And antique grindstones.  Dozens and dozens.  Some are propped up.  Some used as path pavers.  Two antique feeding troughs are now fountains.  I should have taken more pictures!!!

I am a big fan of junk for the garden, so did find a number of treasures.  One day I purchased the rusty old funnel and then I bought this plant stand (the butterflies will be hidden in plants and not seen).  Nothing great and the only thing I had that fit in the opening was the funnel.  I also got part of a weathervane.  Thankfully DSO is very handy and will add a pipe to put in the ground.  Picture later 😄

Happy Monday!  I hope your week is off to a good start.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Yard Stuff ~

The yard is looking pretty good if I do say so myself, but lots of deadheading to do!  As you know, if you somehow get caught up, it is time to start over 😁

The Stella d'oros are starting to bloom.

Walking down by the lake the other morning, this great blue heron was sitting at the end of this little pier.  As I tried to get closer to get a picture, he took off.

I had my mammogram today.  Gotta take care of those tatas!  I have been going every 6 months to have a mammo plus an ultrasound of the right breast.  There was a cyst they have been watching.  Great news . . . the cyst is gone so I don't have to go back for a year.  Today's mammo though . . . OUCH!!!  Only one other time, decades ago, have I had such a painful one and I believe it was the same tech.  She has been there forever.  I swear she must have popped it!!!  Next week two doctor appointments ~ just annual checks.  I am thankful I have good insurance.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Close . . .

But as the saying goes . . . no cigar.

I had high hopes of finishing Treetop Birds in Millersburg.  Hard to believe that I hooked for two days and did not finish it.  It should not take much longer 😁  I am to the point I just want to git 'er done!!!  I just have a little of the top and bottom border to finish.

Only took a couple pictures.  Lighting was terrible.  So sorry for the washed out pictures.

Ready for the final binding step.  (Guess who, Saundra.)

Hooked in the online values class with Katie Hartner.  I have heard from several it is well worth the money, but just a little rich for my blood.  Maybe one day . . . 

Vicki is always the overachiever!  Such a fast hooker.  She hooked this in less than 3 days . . . just didn't have the wool with her to hook the sunflower center.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Crazy Busy . . . Once Again

Happy Flag Day.  God Bless America!

I never envisioned being this busy in retirement 😮  I thought I would have plenty to keep me occupied, but had no idea life could be this busy.  I was going to hook for hours a day and have plenty of free time.  HA!  I am not complaining, but I wish things would slow down a bit.  I know, I could slow them down . . . but I guess I choose not to.  Between now and July, I only have 4 days without something already on the schedule.  My niece from Chicago is stopping by today and tomorrow, Friday and Saturday it's the Twenty Dollar Hookers and Sunday will be spent in Detroit (about 2 1/2 hours away).  

I have finally been pulling a few loops!!!  Treetop Birds, an antique adaptation, has only the border left.

Little snowguy will be cut out and attached to an old pelt stretcher board.

And finally last night needed a no brainer so worked on a pumpkin with hand torn strips.

If I am going to get my walk in this morning, I'd better get my rear in gear.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden ~

The Rose Garden at Lakeview Park in Lorain, OH, is breathtaking.  It was originally dedicated in 1932 and was sponsored by 17 organizations, including the Lorain Rotary.  The shape of the garden is a wheel with eight spokes to match the Rotary emblem.  There are 48 beds which currently contain just over 2,000 rose bushes.

The city used to maintain the park and rose garden, but with limited resources and staff, it was in a sad state of affairs.  In 2006 an agreement was reached with the Lorain County Metropark system.  They have the Midas touch.  All the parks in the county they have taken over are incredible.

Twice monthly they have a volunteer day at the rose garden and this year I finally made it there (though I have to miss the next two).

The roses are simply beautiful.  Here is a sampling from today.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Miss Molly ~

Dear friend Laura gifted me a butterfly bush named Miss Molly.  I get all teary seeing it in the yard.  What a thoughtful gift.  Butterfly bushes are pretty finicky in northern Ohio so I hope she thrives.

I had a rose bush die over the winter so it was the perfect spot for her.

 

And here she is starting to bloom 💘   Lousy picture but beautiful color in person.  I really need to invest in some mulch!

The little stinker is never far from my mind 💔  One of my favorite pictures!  "Pug sit" always cracked me up!

And another picture.  Shortly after she adopted me.

A few more pics from around the yard.

I never planted sunpatiens before, so hopefully they will fill in nicely.

Perennial geranium is taking over but so pretty while in full bloom!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren