Kicked my Butt ~

The antique sale at my house Friday and Saturday really kicked my butt.  I feel like a walking zombie.  I had so much left over from my outdoor show two weeks ago, but I kept pulling more and more from the basement to add to the sale.  First, though, I had to clean the garage (which is NEVER clean) to make room for tables.  Since I don't have a storage shed, I had to work around trash cans, lawnmower, edger, etc.  Hauled them in and out of the garage countless times.  But . . . I am totally blown away by my sales.  I set a pretty low goal so I wouldn't be disappointed, but surpassed it by several times.  I am absolutely thrilled.  Today has been spent boxing it all up (and I am not quite done!) to haul it to my friend's in a few weeks and do this all over again.  The more I get rid of, the less will go back to the basement 😁

Tis midge season near the shores of Lake Erie.  We get them 2-3 times a summer, but I never remember them this late or this bad.  They look like mosquitos, but don't bite.

For 4-5 nights at dusk, there have been dark clouds of them in the sky and the noise they make is eerie.  A low, droning, buzzing sound.  Here is one person's take on them . . .

"One drawback to living on the shores of Lake Erie is the annual swarming of midges (aka muffleheads or muckleheads).  Your house, car, bushes, well . . . EVERYTHING is covered with 1000's upon 1000's of these harmless, non biting insects.  This time of year they ascend into the sky just before sunset, forming thick, undulating clouds.  This orgy in the sky is the last chapter in their lifecycle before they lay eggs in the water and die."

If you walk by a shrub in your yard and get too close, thousands of them will swarm.  One must keep his/her mouth shut and do a lot of exhaling!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Diary of a Former Hooker ~

That is what I feel like.  I have only pulled a few loops on some coneflowers.  I wanted to have three made to take to guild today for a raffle prize, but that didn't happen.  Here is my measly progress.

So what have I been doing with my time?  Cleaning the garage (which is beyond hope) and getting ready for an antique sale this Friday and Saturday.  I sold a lot of stuff when I vended at the outdoor show a couple weeks ago . . . but I also brought lots home.  So I figured I would try to sell more and haul more stuff up from the basement.  The more I can get rid of the better, no?

I posted many places on Facebook and there has been much interest, but here's my gripe.  I have a collection of 16 pre-1948 world globes.  Some guy was going to come buy the lot today for a great price.  Well, he didn't come around the time he was supposed to, and many hours later said he got tied up and he was going to pass for now.  Didn't want to hold up on me selling them.  Why not just be honest and say you changed your mind.  Then another woman wanted to come today also.  Another no show  WTH folks???  Let's just be grownups!

Harper had her vet visit yesterday.  ARGH!  The vet I must use is an hour away.  Thankfully the vet proclaimed her in good health.  Her spay is scheduled for September 11.  She really is a sweet, loving girl, starved for attention.

Something is really going on with blogger.  Supposedly I got 1,039 hits on my last post.  That's about five times what I normally get.

Geez, just after 8:30 and it is pitch black outside.  I hate it!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Harley hugs 😊
Lauren

Sauder Rug Show ~ the end

Rug week at Sauder has been over for a week, so I will share a few final rugs with you.  No rhyme or reason, just some of my favorites.

You can't go wrong with a patriotic rug!

I've shared Donna Hrkman's self portrait before, but worth sharing again.  Be sure to read the bottom of the rug!

Saundra . . . this one's for you.  Too bad the skylights washed out the color.

Needle felted panda.  He was absolutely adorable!

Another Main Exhibit was braiding.  Beautiful, but not something I am interested in.

Great words of wisdom ~

When in doubt, PAUSE

When angry, PAUSE

When tired, Pause

When stressed, PAUSE, and

When you pause . . . PRAY

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

3-3-3 Rule

The 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs outlines the adjustment process in three phases:

• 3 Days:  This initial period is often referred to as "decompression".  Dogs may feel overwhelmed and nervous as they adjust to their new environment.
• 3 Weeks:  During this time, the dog begins to settle in and show their true personality.  They may start to feel more comfortable and secure in their new home.
• 3 Months:  By this stage, the dog should have fully adjusted to their new surroundings and routine.  They will likely exhibit more confidence and stability in their behavior.

This guideline helps set expectations for new dog owners and emphasizes the importance of patience and understanding the adjustment period.

First off, I forgot to mention that Harper turned 7 at the end of July.  I was initially asked if I would foster a puppy.  The answer was not only no, but hell no!!!  Previously when I fostered, the youngest was about a year old.  I prefer the middle aged gals.

She is doing ok.  She did "mark" a couple times . . . that I know of . . . even though she has barely been out of my sight.  I was sitting at the dining room table and she walked to the next chair over and lifted her leg.  ARGH!!!  Hopefully her spay will help this issue.  I just need to be patient, but I've never had a marker before.

She looks like the flying nun in this picture.  (Am I showing my age?)

Hooking may be a bit difficult.  Here she is sprawled across my lap while I am trying to pull a few loops 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

NEWS!!!

As many of you may recall, I adopted (Bad) Miss Molly from Ohio Pug rescue in November of 2019.  She was my first "foster fail", meaning I was fostering her and then adopted her.  Here she is shortly after I adopted her.  This picture always makes me smile.  She just looks like she's saying, "Mom, please get me out of here".  

She ended up having pug myelopathy and was losing the use of her hind legs and bodily functions.  She began having seizures and sadly got her pug wings in April of 2023.  Those grey faces just melt my heart.

Fast forward to yesterday.  I finally welcomed a new furkid in to my life.  Meet Harper.  She was such a good girl on the hour ride to my house (after having spent three hours in a car heading north from southern Ohio).

On our morning walk.

Chillin' in the kitchen.

Poor baby.  Last evening her tail was between her legs.  Today she is showing off her great curl.

Harper has been through a lot in the last few days.  She and her sister were surrendered by their owner Saturday morning.  The owner had health issues and couldn't take care of them properly.  She spent three days with another OPR volunteer who brought her north.  In only three days she became so attached to her.  She just wants love and attention.  She is very sweet but has come with some baggage as I understand.  She "marks" if you walk away to another room and leave her.  I haven't left her loose out of my site!!!  She currently is in a crate while I work on this post.  She is not too happy, but last night she was the bestest girl in the crate.  Not a peep and the crate was clean this morning.  She also occasionally chases her tail which I was told could be a sign that she was confined to a small area.  Thankfully she is easily redirected.

You will be hearing lots more about her in the coming weeks/months.  She has a vet appointment next week and at that time a spay will be scheduled.  I just hope she does not come in to heat which would delay the spay by about three weeks.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Now I can truly say pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Sauder Rug Show ~ part four ~ More Special Exhibits . . . and another Main Exhibit

 

I hope you can enlarge and read about Janine.  Her self portrait rug will be in Celebrations.

Sorry I failed to take a picture of the description of the exhibit.  I am just sharing a few of these beautiful rugs.  There were so many more!

Two versions of an antique adaptation.

And finally . . . this is the first year I entered any rugs in the show.  Here are two of them (the horses) 😉

Still more to share.  I find it hard not to share everything . . . but in the next post I will share some non-hooking news.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Sauder Rug Show ~ part three ~ Feature & Special Exhibit

This is taken from the picture above, but wasn't sure you could enlarge it to make it legible.

"Multicolores' artists honor their Maya ancestry and celebrate the natural world in an exhibition of hooked rugs and embroidery, entitled Celebrating the Voices of Maya Women Artists.

The pieces in this exhibition are deeply personal.  They embody the artist's heritage, identity, pride and artistic confidence in artwork, which is compelling, complex and colorful.

The hooked rugs blend different symbols and elements from indumentaria maya (traditional Maya clothing), traditionally handwoven on a backstrap loom.  With a nearly infinite variety of patterns, motifs, and color combinations infused with meaning and identity, indumentaria maya is one the the cultural treasures of Guatemala.  It's also a rich source of inspiration for Multicolores' artists and they create new designs, interpreting traditional designs with an artistic twist.

Many of the pieces in this collection are inspired by Guatemala's spectacular landscapes, natural beauty, and abundance of birds, flowers and animals.  The artists also draw on their community traditions and belief systems, their deep respect for nature and their strong sense of place and belonging.  The artist's innovative medium, recycled fabrics, builds on a legacy of sustainability and stewardship of the land.

Through their work, these contemporary indigenous artists, steeped in ancient traditions of textile arts, are not only honoring their cultural traditions but creating a catalyst for positive social change in their families and their communities.  Importantly, their artwork serves as a path for economic and self-empowerment."

To me, what was the absolutely most impressive thing about the exhibit, was the stitcheries.  MAGNIFICENT!!!

Many of the pieces were for sale and I hope many of them sold!

Another special exhibit was the Haunted Rug.

A close up of the top rug.  Fun stuff hooked in to the mat.

I hope you are not too sick of rugs.  So many more to share!

Here's my booth at yesterday's show.  I had to get my sorry butt out of bed at 4 am to finish all the last minute stuff, travel an hour to the venue and be set up by 8:45.  To say I was exhausted last night is an understatement.  I was selling low dollar items, but I almost made my hoped-for total.  I am happy it is over, but now plan to have a sale or two at my house because I still have so much stuff and have many more boxes to deal with.

Many people were there with dogs, but one woman was there with her blue and gold parrot.  Absolutely gorgeous.  

Here he is getting a drink 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren