Remember?

Remember the near hysteria over Y2K . . . and nothing?  So hard to believe that was 25 years ago!!!

~ Happy New Year's Eve ~

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

A Not Fully Finished Finish ~

I guess it's time to get out the Ott with magnifier.  Stitching this little piece on 28 count linen has given me fits.  (How on earth do people stitch on 46 count?)  I did okay with the dark color threads, but the threads that were close in value to the linen . . . argh!!!  Let's just say it did not go well 😝.  But the stitching is done and it will join all the other little cross stitch pieces that are stitched and not fully finished.

I wish I had more to share but this is sadly it.  Still haven't gotten the hook out.  I thought between Christmas and New Year's I would finally have time to kick back and enjoy the peace and quiet of the season, but I have been just as busy as before Christmas.  Of course, all self inflicted.  I only have myself to blame!  I normally start un-decorating on the 2nd, but this year I may enjoy my home all decorated a few days longer.  Everything is lit up with little white lights and when they are put away it is just so dreary.  Not a whole lot of sunshine in northern Ohio in January.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

The Reason for the Season ~

MERRY CHRISTMAS  

HAPPY HANUKKAH

Whatever your faith, remember why you are celebrating.

Love to all.

Lauren

Because You Asked ~

Here is my meager start to the little cross stitch piece by Country Rustic Primitives.  I'm sure Marly or Janice would have had it done in a night or two, but I am just super slow!  Plus I have spent more time frogging than stitching 😭.  I don't have a linen stash, so found a piece of 28 count that was purchased at Michaels.  There are many half crosses charted, but I am making them complete Xs.

I know I have shown this St. Nicholas before.  My mom called him her Russian Santa and he is one of my most prized possessions that she painted.  He has a place of honor on my mantle, in front of the first antique sampler I purchased decades ago.

I have been so close to being ready for Christmas for many days, but I keep finding more stuff I need to do.  So what did I do yesterday?  Went and played for a half day.  My prime enabler (sister-in-law) couldn't go, so I played alone and did enough damage without her.  I found quite a few piddly items that will be little extra gifts NEXT Christmas.  Gotta get 'em when the gettin's good 😁

It was an indoor "collectible" market (a term used very loosely) and most items are not priced which I hate.  I asked the price on this crock and immediately started walking away after hearing what he wanted.  The seller asked what I would pay, I gave him a low-ball response (not really wanting to buy it) and he countered.  I still said no . . . but then I got it for what I originally said.  I think I got a pretty good deal, but I really did not need another crock!!!

This little hard plastic Santa was also calling my name.  I am guessing he is from the 50's.

The sterling silver is still not all polished (Christmas is the only day of the year I use it and that is non-negotiable in my life).  I hopefully made my last trip to the grocery store.  I am not ready mentally for it to be Christmas.  Oh well    . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

A Different Kind of Finish ~

 

First off, thank you so much for all the sweet, kind comments on the video of my home.  I am certifiably the crazy Christmas lady.  (If you are a no reply blogger and I don't have your email, I apologize for not personally thanking you for your comment.)

I am not a painter!  I've taken painting classes over the years.  The teachers could paint, but couldn't teach so I basically learned nothing.  I did think I could tackle something as basic as a patriotic sled 😁.  Of course I was going to paint it weeks ago, but just took it out of the garage three days ago.  It was purchased at a garage sale, and I did not realize until bringing it in the house that the three main boards were no longer nailed down.  DSO to the rescue!!!

It has been painted and delivered to my friend.  

Rather than try to stencil or paint stars on, I opted for some rusty stars I had.

Nothing exciting . . . but I wanted to blog about something . . . lol.

Still no hook in hand, but I did start a little cross stitch.

Woo hoo!  Officially winter so the daylight minutes will slowly increase.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Video has been posted ~

 

Gabby from Cape on the Corner has once again done an outstanding job videoing my home.  She really makes it look good.  Thank you Gabby.  Thanks also to her mom Karin ~ the first rug hooker I met!!!

My first blog post was May 31, 2009.  This is post #2100.  How in the heck did that happen?  As long as you keep reading and leaving and emailing such sweet comments, I plan to continue, though it is definitely a dying form of social media.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

99%

 

I will never be 100% done because I keep finding additional things to do or put out . . . but I am happy with 99%!!!  I don't bake so that is not something I have to worry about.  Just need to figure out Christmas day dinner, but it is never anything fancy.  No exotically prepared dishes.  As far as I'm concerned, cook is a four letter word (so is hook, but that is a good four letter word 😁).

A number of years ago I purchased this "thingy".  I don't know what it is called but it had something to do with drapes.  Drapery rail???  It is 56" long and has nails sticking out along the bottom.  (Sorry for the blurry photo.)

For years I had planned to have it hung to use for rugs and it finally happened.  (Thanks to DSO.)  It is great because the rugs can easily be switched out.  The wall is seen from the kitchen and leads to the basement.

The only crafty thing that has happened was the finishing of this snowman on a coverlet.  I am totally done making these for the season!!!  I can actually finish something when it needs to be gifted!

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful friend.  Laura has such a knack for filling containers with greens so I asked if she would do a couple for me.  She was out in the freezing cold the other day filling them for me.  They are absolutely beautiful and she even leant me the 10 gallon crock for my porch.  Thank you, Laura.

I have taken some time to go "play" in recent days.  Thankfully I found the last two gifts that needed to be purchased at an antique shop.  Today I met Vernon Junction Sue at an antique mall about an hour from home.  So good to see her and was gifted a wonderful piece of wool that I coveted.  I hadn't been to this mall in decades.  I found a Christmas ornament for my son and a little bag of buttons.  Overall I thought the prices were high so nothing else came home with me ~ not that I need anything else . . . lol!

Well, I'd better get busy sweeping and dusting.  Gabby from Cape on the Corner is coming tomorrow to video my house.  I will let you know when the video is up.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Dirty Santa x2 ~

Friend Sue from Vernon Junction knows I love vintage blow mold Santas.  This summer she gifted me with this Santa that must be 3' tall.  He was dirty . . . filthy dirty.  All summer I planned to bathe him outside when the weather was warm but the road to hell is paved with good intentions 😁  The other day I carried him up to the shower.  He was much dirtier than he looks.

Here he is after a good scrubbing.

And finally outside!  His eyes need a touch up . . . maybe next year.

Thanks Sue!!!  I love friends who "understand" me.

Now for Dirty Santa part 2.  There are a bunch of hookers who have been hooking together for years.  Some us go back 12-13 years.  This month we had a white elephant gift exchange and played Dirty Santa.  It doesn't happen often, but I ended up with the same bag of goodies that I got in the first round.  These vintage items were found at a garage sale of an "older lady".  (And I was told she had many more!)  I will just show you the boxes of two of the items (the third was unboxed and is very X-rated).  Use your imagination.  We were all laughing hysterically as I opened them.  Wind up Willy still works!

Hooker friends are THE BEST!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Miscellaneous Monday Stuff ~

Christmas is approaching much too quickly, but I should be happy it is only December 9!  The inside decorating is pretty much done.  Cards still need to be written and outside decorating done.  I don't do much outside, but it still takes time.  Now gifts are another issue.  I had planned to make a couple more but I am losing faith that I can pull it off.  Need to check what gifts I have purchased and add a few as needed.  Plus I still need to mail two boxes off to family members.  Geez . . . then what am I doing on this darned machine 😁 ?

We had the most amazing sunset the other night.  I just happened to catch it from the driveway.  I wish I had noticed it earlier and headed to the lakefront for pictures with no obstructions.

Yesterday was Lorain's 29th annual TubaChristmas (it was started 51 years ago) and we enjoyed it as always.  You can read more about it here.

This little one, Bad Miss Molly, popped up as a memory yesterday.  How I miss that little stinker!  This was taken in January 2023 😪

Back to work. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

So . . .

 

All I have done for the last week is decorate.  I thought I would be done by now because I had a bit done before Thanksgiving.  I guess I am just certifiable 😁.  It has gotten to the point it is not fun!!!  I am close but close isn't quite good enough . . . lol.

My only non-decorating accomplishment is finally finishing Mr. Jingles.  He was almost done months ago, but the background and holly leaves were too close in value and he got put in a time out.  I needed him finished for a Christmas gift that is being shipped out tomorrow, so I decided to try and put a "beauty" line around the leaves in lieu of reverse hooking.  He sports antique shoe button eyes and vintage black buttons on his chest.  I am happy with the result.

That's it.  Time to crash.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Why Rush?

Always a sad time when I must bid adieu to my Las Vegas son, Bill, and today was the day.  

Here he is with his brother last evening.  

J shaved his facial and head hair before chemo treatments started.  It had begun to grow back and yesterday it started to fall out in clumps.  His girlfriend says reality hit him hard.  His second round of treatments begins on Monday.  It just breaks my heart what he is going through . . . and there is absolutely nothing I can do.  It can be really tough to be a mom 😖.

So . . . when I moved to my home 25 years ago at the end of this December, there were the old fashioned roll up window shades, sheers and antique satin drapes on all the windows.  I removed the sheers and curtains and left the roll up shades.  It has been like that for the last 25 years!!!  

Why rush in to window treatments😁?  I was going to make valances.  Didn't happen.  Then I thought I could con a friend in to making something.  Didn't know what I wanted.  Finally stumbled on these prairie curtains on Amazon (where else?) and decided to order one pair to see if I liked them.  I am happy with them 😉.  I needed seven pairs for the downstairs and the little landing leading to the second floor.  Now I am trying to order antique white ones for the upstairs in the same style but getting them in a timely manner is an issue.  Definitely changes the look.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Now the mad rush to Christmas.  Less than a month away.  ARGH!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Happy Thanksgiving ~

I have much to be thankful for. 

• My older son has been home this week from Las Vegas
• My younger son is getting the cancer treatments he needs
• My brother and sister-in-law
• My DSO
• My health
• This GREAT LAND we call the USA 
• My blog readers

And the list goes on and on.  I hope you have much to be thankful for, too.

Gobble 'til you wobble.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Co-Existing ~

First of all, thank you so much for all the comments and emails regarding my son J and his cancer diagnosis.  If I haven't responded to you personally, it is because everyone is coming thru as a no-reply blogger and I don't have your email address.  (I sure wish blogger would fix this issue!!!)  His first round of chemo is behind him and though he doesn't feel great, he doesn't feel that bad . . . but they have told him each subsequent round gets worse.

I think there is only one time I have started my Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, and this is the second time.  The 28th is the latest that Thanksgiving can fall and it just adds too much pressure if I don't get a little done beforehand.  Granted, I probably won't get much done, but something is better than nothing.  

I refuse to put my turkeys away so have to decorate around them 😁

I gathered black walnuts from the park (the squirrels were kind enough to remove the husks) and made garlands.

Papier mache turkeys

Candles

Here is the decorating that has been accomplished so far 😂

Topped with this sweet angel that Saundra gifted me a number of years ago.

Nary a loop has been pulled in a long time.  I have been working on these applique snowmen on antiques coverlets but that is about it.  They might be Christmas gifts . . . might not.

Son Bill who lives in Las Vegas will be home next week.  I still say home but it has been years since this has been his home . . . sigh.  He loves LV, is happy there, so this mama bear is happy.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

News ~

 

Not good news, but it could always be worse 😢.  About two months ago, my younger, local son J (Jason) went to the ER for what he believed was kidney stone pain.  He left a few days later with a testicular cancer diagnosis that had spread to a lymph node.  He has had surgery to remove a testicle from which he had a tough time recovering.  He had his first round of chemo this past week.  He will have five  days of chemo then two weeks off.  This will be repeated for three more rounds.  I think I was in denial until I dropped him off for chemo the other day . . . and it hit me like a ton of bricks and I just lost it.

Please keep him in your prayers.  A mama bear does not want her cub in pain.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

11th Hour of the 11th Day . . .

 

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 Armistice Day.  It marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when the allied nations entered a cease-fire with Germany, bringing an unofficial end to World War I.

Please remember, freedom isn't free and never take our freedom for granted!!!  Take a moment and thank a veteran today.  May God bless our soldiers.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Hooking Get-Away ~

 

I'm back home from my quick little Millersburg get-away.  Of course only took a few pictures to share.

Saundra . . . this is your favorite hooker's rug.  Started in a class with Cathy Stephan at Kris' Franklin rug camp.  All hand torn.  Of course because of the light coming in to the room where she was sitting, the colors are ALL wrong.

I hope I get back to hooking my version of this rug soon!

Absolutely HUGE hydrangea rug.

Finally . . . my meager progress on Yellow Bird.  I was still having a serious motivation problem.

Last Saturday I went to my favorite primitive antique show but only came home with a couple things, and the vintage child's ride on toy was the only old thing I purchased.  Purchased a few Christmas goodies (just what I didn't need) including this little Charlie Brown tree in a rusty paint type can.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren