Miscellaneous Stuff ~

I am still meeting myself coming and going, but by 8AM tomorrow I better be ready to go!

Yesterday was the Ft. Laurens Rug Hookers annual hook in.  What a class act they are!  I continued my many year losing streak by not winning a door prize nor a raffle basket.  Maybe next year 😆

The only pictures I took was of this rug but did not get the name of the hooker.  It is HUGE and she is changing it somewhat.  The pattern designer is Lois Roy and I know in the past she could be found on Facebook.  The background around the motifs is absolutely wonderful.  I do wish I could hook a background like that.

I had planned to be good and not buy any wool . . . and I succeeded, though I was gifted a 1/4 yard of gorgeous hand dyed wool.  I was bad, though because I bought this fun box from Chrisi Koehl of Rustic Eweniques.  I have a couple of her other boxes but just couldn't resist this one.

I was NOT a happy camper when I went out and watered this morning.  The da** deer finally ate my begonias . . .

 

. . . and my New Guinea impatiens.

Or should I just be happy they waited until October?

Do you think Harper has settled in with her new mom?  This looks like one contented puppy!  My heart is happy for her.

So what's going on with blogger?  Views seem to be returning to normal.  I went from over 6k views to "only" 4196 on my September 27 post.  My October post was down to 158.  Algorithms changed once again?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Will be back upon my little get away return.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Happy Life Sweet Harper!!!

Fostering is so bittersweet.  Most people say they could not do it because they could not give up the animal.  Yes, it is hard, very hard (but some are easier than others . . . lol!).  Sweet little Harper was adopted yesterday.  The couple has had pugs in the past and recently had one get her pug wings.

Harper now has a fur sister, a 4 year old bulldog.  Look at that face!!!  Ethel (don't you just LOVE that name?) has deformed front legs and was rescued from south of Houston, Texas.  New dad drove all that way to pick her up.

I spent two hours with the couple and Harper only had eyes for me.  Poor baby is just starved for love and attention.  I am happy to report she is stuck like glue to new mom today.  So much for pug loyalty😏.  But seriously it made my heart glad to hear that!!!  I think she may have won the pug lottery with Cathy and Bob.  She will get all the loves she deserves.

A few favorite pictures.

The day I picked her up.

Always needing to be close . . . sigh.

Her Yoda impression giving me the stink eye the day of her spay 😁

Look at that sweet face 💕

And that great curl!

Happy life, sweet Harper.  You took a piece of my heart, but you have a furever family who will love and spoil you.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

As Promised ~

Here's what little hooking I have gotten accomplished in the last month or so.  Pretty pathetic I might add!

I hooked 6 of what I call coneflowers.  The pattern called for hot gluing them closed, but I thought the seam would be better sewn (a real pain!!!).  I don't know why but every one ended up kind of pointy.  I still need to gather sticks and add wool leaves.  I think if I stuff them a bit with fiberfill the point won't be as noticeable.  At least that is what I am hoping.  Pattern by the Wooly Horse.

I haven't pulled a loop on my Santa in forever.  I really don't have that much more to hook.  I thought the black border was a bit harsh, but Sibyl Osicka, the queen of small cuts, said it was just fine.  Not sure how much was done when last posted.

Harper photo bombing 💕

Last but not least, Proud Lion.  Some progress made but I thought by now I would be finished.  The best laid plans of mice and men . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Harper hugs 😊
Lauren

Yard Stuff ~

My poor yard has been neglected for over a month.  First it was getting ready to vend at the outdoor show, then the sale at my house, and now another sale this Friday and Saturday at my friend's.  Plus life and just lots of other stuff.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  In my wildest dreams I never imagined retirement to be this busy.  

Just some random pics from around the yard.  Most of them taken a couple weeks ago so the plants are not looking this good 😓

Note to self.  Stop buying wave petunias.  I buy them every year and they NEVER do good.

The autumn clematis smells heavenly.

My bubblegum petunias no longer looks like this.  Very leggy, and unlike Marly, I did not give mine a haircut.

Tell me it isn't so!

Google says this is a type of fungus, a puffball mushroom.  It is extremely dense and grass is growing through it.  (A puffball chia pet?)

Found growing from a neighbor's rotting tree stump.  Google says it is a cluster of golden oyster mushrooms.  The neighbor joked that someone who lives near her would eat them . . . and she hasn't seen the person for a while.  I am not a 'shroom eater, but if I were, I would be hesitant to eat any not purchased from a store!

Harper is doing great and is pretty much recovered from her spay.  I only have her wear the donut of shame at night.  She is almost ready for adoption.  It will be so hard saying good bye and happy life.  A few (or more tears) will be shed.

Her tail has THE BEST curl.

In my last post, I forgot to mention that the cigar boxes were all given away at the hook in as door prizes.  

And too funny!  Supposedly over 5200 views on my last post and only 6 comments.  Sure would be nice to know what the heck is going on.

Next post, I promise to share hooking . . . or lack thereof!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Cone of Shame ~

Or shall I say donut of shame?  This inflatable cone is so much better than the hard plastic ones.  She is able to eat and drink (though she has not yet 😭).

As you can guess, Harper was spayed yesterday.  They said she did great.  We had an uneventful hour ride home from the vet's office.  She sat quietly on my lap, looking like Yoda!  She was pretty drugged up.

Came in the house, drank some water and proceeded to throw up on my hooked rug in the kitchen.  At least the other times she got sick was on a hard surface.

I thought I would be able to hook a bit with her sitting next to me.  Uh, well that wasn't meant to be.  She insisted on being on my lap, so I obliged.  I wish I could figure out how to post the video of her on my lap, but I am not that tech smart 😓.  It was a hoot the pug noises she was making!  

Still looking like Yoda . . . giving me the stink eye.

She is contentedly sleeping beside me while I type this post.  I am hoping she has a speedy recovery and in two weeks she will be ready to find her furever home.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Harper 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

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