Merry Christmas Eve ~

The big day is almost here.  We will not be having a white Christmas in northern Ohio.  I do like a white Christmas . . . the only time I like the white stuff . . . but the upside is the snowplow drivers get to stay home with their families 💓

Today I thought I would share with you some special ornaments.

A small teardrop ornament from my maternal grandmother.

 

Another friend who totally understands me.  We were at the Christmas open house at Seville Antiques and I was admiring these blue kugels.  Yes, the real deal.  I was trying to decide if I really wanted to spend the $$ to buy them.  Upon my return to the booth they were gone.  Little did I know dear friend Laura had bought them for me.  Such a generous and special friend.

A patriotic snowman . . . 

. . . and an Uncle Sam nutcracker dated '88.

Old glass horn.

Fun little snowman in an old baby shoe purchased this past summer from one of the vendors during Rug Week at Sauder Village.

When I am on vacation, I always try to come home with an ornament.  This manatee was from when went to sailing school in the Keys.

I just have always love this court jester.

Figural light bulb ornaments.

A cloisonné pug ~ a gift from my sister.  Please keep her in your prayers.  She ended up in the hospital a couple days ago and has been diagnosed with the same heart issue that my brother just had surgery for.

Ornaments made by my boys in preschool back in the 80's.

Younger son at age 6 in 1987.

A ceramic angel my mom made.

The Little Drummer Boy painted by my mom.  He is only 2" tall.

I think I post St. Nicholas every year.  One of the most beautiful ceramic pieces my mom ever made.  The sampler behind him is the first antique one I bought 30+ years ago.

Many of you know friend Linda as Primdollie on Facebook and on Primitive Handmade Mercantile.  She gifted me this sweet little snowman when she was over the other day.  Thank you, Linda 😉

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Merry Christmas Eve Eve ~

This has been my most stress free Christmas season that I can ever remember.  It has been nice to kick back and relax, have a few friends over and even find a little time to hook 😉

I will bore you with more pictures of the house 😁

Figural light bulb tree.

Dining room cupboard.

Some of my vintage items.

Vintage celluloid Santas.

A little more vintage.

And still more vintage Santas.  The only repro is the skiing Santa on the middle shelf.

My old feather tree.  Mostly new but some vintage ornaments.

This cupboard used to reside in the kitchen but now on a wall in the living room.  I am so happy I purchased the charcoal drawing of the pug this summer.

Sweet little vintage ornaments.

My "Chris" tree.  Everything but the tree is from my friend . . . you guessed it . . . Chris.  The Santas below, too.  Some friends really understand me.

Part of my patriotic display.

Blow mold Santa from hooker friend Sue.  She "gets" me . . . 

. . . and so does friend Belinda.  This guy looks like he has his hands raised for the O in Ohio.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Not a Happy Camper ~

I guess that's what I get for bragging that I am ready for Christmas 😒  One of my 3' trees had the bottom third of the lights die last week.  I was able to add a small strand without having to remove too many ornaments.  Yesterday when I got home from dinner out, my 3' Santa tree was half dark.  Oh, did I say some bad words.  (That is a statement, not a question!)  I did not have another small strand of lights to try to add, so had to remove all the ornaments and the lights.  

I did have a 100 light strand to add, but I just couldn't deal with it last night.  Here it is re-decorated today.

Some of my favorite ornaments.

From dearest college friend Wink
Received in 1988

Still wearing his "occupied Japan" tag

Hand carved Santa from long time friend Chris

Painted by sweet friend Julia in SC. 
She gathered the shells on the beach at Edisto Island.

Figural light bulb Santa

Santa on a swing.  Painted by my mom.
She loved this little guy.

On a positive note, I did find the missing wool I need for my 1890 Rooster rug.  I must have used all that I originally cut off the big piece, but did end up finding more of it in one of my wool cupboards.  At least that made me happy.  

Maybe one of these days you will see a rug update.  I really don't have that much more to hook on it, so maybe one of these days I will have more than a few minutes to sit and hook.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

The BIG Tree ~

 

The big tree is always the last thing decorated and the last thing put away, so it's only apropos to show it last.  I think I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with it.  My old artificial tree had seen better days, so last year after Christmas I purchased a new one.  I have many heavy ornaments and I love that this tree has stiff branches making it easier to hang them.  However, I have never had a tree with such a perfect shape.  I prefer a tree that is rather wonky.  This year on my Facebook page, lots of wonky trees kept popping up (I guess big brother is really watching, isn't he?) but I could not justify buying yet another.  So . . . this one will have to do for at least a few years.

A couple ornaments my boys made in preschool many years ago.  They are now 43 and 41 and pretty soon the ornaments . . . and my boys . . . will be "vintage" 😁  The candy cane grandson Jake and I made in 2012.

Older son Bill made this in 1987 (age 8).

And younger son J also made this in 1987 (age 6).

A favorite picture of grandson Jake.

One last Christmas picture.  It's not like I don't have a couple other sleds in the attic . . . much older ones . . . that have not been down in a few years.  I saw this at the antique mall the other day and found the small size charming.  I bought it thinking I would give it as a gift next Christmas, but love it here on the old blanket chest (aka coffee table).

Happy New Year's Eve.  My NYE will be spent "partying" on the couch, watching a movie and crossing a few Xs.  (One of these days I will finally pick up my hook!!!)  The perfect Eve, in my book.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren