Meet the Granddogs ~

My son's girlfriend got Zeke almost two years ago.  He is a pomsky.  What, pray tell, is a pomsky?  A pomeranian/husky mix 😁  So I wondered how that could be possible.  Well, it involves artificial insemination . . . lol.  Zeke looks so much like a husky, but in miniature.  He is not as big as he looks, is all legs and weighs a whopping 15#.

After my son's other dog, Kali, got her wings in early February, he was thinking about another dog.  But let me tell you I was totally floored when he said the birthday cash I gave him went for a puppy.  (I thought it was going towards a motorcycle trailer.)  Meet Zala.  She is just too stinkin' cute.  Another pomsky who is actually related to Zeke.  Her coat is considered merle.  Son said that he was looking up female names beginning with a Z, and found Zala which is Slovenian for beautiful.  My mom was 100% Slovenian, so I know she is smiling down on that puppy.  Yes, her eyes really are that blue.

Zala is all puppy for sure and tortures the heck out of Zeke.  I guess that is payback for how Zeke tormented Kali.

My son has a water problem in his back yard due to water runoff from the school yard that abuts his property.  Zeke and Zala are just like kids who cannot stay out of a puddle.  

Can you say bath time?

Now as you know I am a huge advocate of rescue and purchasing a "designer dog" is something I would never do, but I can't control what others do.  When I was growing up, designer dogs were know as mutts!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Cross Stitch ~

I finished Lydia Bond.  It only took 25+ years :)  I never thought about the "mememto mori" at the bottom of the sampler until The Cranky Crow pointed it out.  My romance language background then kicked in and I roughly translated it to memories of the dead.  Here is what Robin said about it.

"It is really reminders of death and the mortality of men . . .   It became a term to generally encompass the practice (primarily popular in the Victorian era) of saving momentos from deceased loved ones (e.g., the bits of hair tucked into jewelry, the portraits made from woven hair, etc.).  It is also now a term used to refer to the Victorian portraits of deceased loved ones . . .  Often time the only photographs a family could afford (as photography was in its infancy) were those done after a loved one died.  So they would prop them up to make them "look" alive and photograph them.  Others didn't even bother trying them look lifelike and just photographed them in their coffins, etc."  

Thanks, Robin, for the fascinating information.

The sampler was done on unbleached linen which is darker than it appears in the photo.  With the aid of an Ott lite, bifocals and sometimes a magnifying glass worn around the neck, I was able to muddle through.  This part was a real bear to stitch.  Ok, for starters, I only like to do Xs, so this was a challenge for me.  Perhaps that is why I set it aside for so many years.  The flower, stem and leaves is worked in the tent stitch which is half a cross stitch.  OK, easy enough, except that is worked over one thread.  The motif above the flower is worked in the queen stitch.  ARGH.  I did not enjoy that stitch.  Thankfully the pink band that is also the queen stitch was already stitched.  I am happy to have her done.

Here are some other cross stitch pieces I have stitched in the last six or seven years.  They are just sitting in a plastic shoe box in the closet.  I really ought to consider doing something with them, don'tcha think.

My son is off on his annual motorcycle trip to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio, so I get to watch the granddog, Kali.  She moves so quickly it is hard to get a picture of her.  This was the best I could do.

Happy Mother's Day!  A little mom humor :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Mystery Solved ~

Thanks to blog reader Kathleen, I now know where to find this pattern.  It is from the May/June 2014 issue of Create & Decorate magazine.  I thought I had all the issues from late 2005 until it ceased publication, but can only find issues until 2012.  The person who hooked the rug let me know she found the magazine at the library but did not remember what issue it was in.  Thankfully friend Melissa found her copy.  Now after all my whining about the pattern and where to find it, I better hook it :)

 

I love my yard in spring.  So much is in bloom and everything is turning so green.  Spring has finally arrived in northern Ohio and a few days of summer, too.  This is some of what's blooming today.

There was a Vintage Market in Cleveland this weekend, but I bet 90% of the items were Chinese imports.  Kind of hard to see, but I did get this wonderful yard ornament. 

Granddog Kali went home today.  She enjoyed her walks, but when she saw a squirrel or another dog, she was almost more than I could handle.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Finally ~

Geez.  Where does the time go?  I planned on doing a blog post a few days ago . . . sigh.  Better late than never, right?

 

Saturday I did head to the antique show in Lakeside, OH.  It's a nice show but loaded with jewelry dealers and others with booths full of glassware.  Neither much my style.  I did buy a couple 48 star flags to add to my crocks, a few skeleton keys (hope to make some necklaces) and a Christmas gift.  There were things I would have loved to bring home, but not at prices I was willing to pay. 

 

Lakeside Chautauqua is pretty much a summer community, sitting on the shore of Lake Erie.  Some of the cottages are just too stinkin' cute.

 

 

Granddog Kali went home on Sunday.  Overall she was a good girl :)

 

Ernestine has settled in nicely and is already family and the perfect little girl.  I picked her up only 2 1/2 weeks ago but it seems like we've had her forever.  (Technically she is DSO's dog.)  If you are considering getting a pet, please, please, please consider a rescue animal.  Most rescue animals are loving creatures just looking for a place to call home.  They are in rescue through no fault of their own.  If you think only old, sickly animals end up in rescue, you are wrong.  Ernestine came to rescue because one of her humans died and the other was going to a nursing home.  Remember adopt, don't shop.  Animals purchased at pet stores and through many ads in the newspaper and online are bred in horrific conditions at puppy mills.  If you don't believe me, do a Google search of puppy mills.  It will break your heart.

 

How could you not fall in love with this face?

 

 

I still have lots more rugs to post from Sauder.  Hopefully soon.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

I have no idea why I have this huge space at the end of this post and it will not let me delete it.  ARGH :(

Just went to edit and now it let me delete the wasted space.  Blogger can be so frustrating at times :(

 

NOT a Foster Failure ~

A foster failure, in rescue parlance, is when the person fostering a dog adopts it.  Cheeri has already been adopted, not by me but by the next best thing.  DSO was immediately smitten and has already adopted her.  I think it is a match made in heaven.  (I must admit though.  If he hadn't adopted her, I would have.)  This is the official adoption picture.  I think they are both looking pretty happy.

Her rescue name for microchip purposes will always be Cheerilee, but she has a new name.  Ernestine.  OK, stop rolling your eyes please (but I did the same thing) and I will explain.  Remember Laugh In?  Lily Tomlin snorting/chortling as the phone operator?  DSO says that's exactly how she sounds, hence the name.  It is a mouthful for such a little thing :)

Son J and grandson Jake left today for Tennessee to see the solar eclipse.  Viewing is better there than in Ohio.  They are going with J's friends and trailering the motorcycles.  J and Jake are looking forward to riding through the mountains.  That means I get to watch the granddog Kali.  Her mouth is just not big enough for her tongue . . . lol.

I was at Sauder Village Wednesday for day one of rug week.  I'll have lots of pictures to share in another post.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Two Finishes ~

 

FINALLY!!!  I have some hooking finishes to share. 

 

This little mat is a pattern by Connie Bradley/Wool Yankers.  Started with her in a class in March, it is done - except for the label, of course.  The colors are so much richer in person (as usual).  I will try to get a better picture another time.

 

I finished hooking this rug (My Garden, pattern by Woolen Memories) months ago, started binding it more than a month ago, and just finished this evening.  It's about darn time.  It's a biggie for me at 22 1/2" x 42 1/2".  These colors are pretty true.

 

 

The weather in Ohio was absolutely miserable today.  Mid 40's, windy and rain most of the day.  A horrible weekend for a motorcycle trip, but that is exactly how my son is spending it.  His club had planned a trip to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio.  I guess not one of the guys had the courage to say "Hey, this weather is ridiculous.  Let's just drive down."  Thankfully there was one vehicle driving down so my grandson was warm and dry.  So . . . since my son is gone, I get to watch the granddog.  He calls her his "teacup Newfie".  His ex-girlfriend bought my son and grandson the dog for their birthdays one year.  When she told me how/where she bought the dog, it screamed PUPPY MILL, but of course I could/would not say anything.  She went on about how huge the parents were.  Well . . . Kali (goddess of destruction) is extremely small and most likely not all Newfie.  She looks a lot like a border collie . . . but she is loved and that is all that matters at this point.

 

 

Only nine days until I leave for five days of hooking heaven at Cedar Lakes rug camp in West Virginia.  I am so excited.  My teacher is Cathy Stephan of Red Barn Rugs.  Still trying to decide what pattern of hers to hook.  I've narrowed it down to three.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Meet the Granddog ~

Last weekend I watched my granddog Kali (the goddess of destruction . . . lol).  She is a year and a half old Newfoundland but she is ALL PUPPY.  Isn't she a beauty?  I think the ex-girlfriend got her from a puppy mill which saddens since it keeps them in business.  Supposedly the parents were HUGE, but she is small for a Newfie, making me more suspicious.  It is what it is and my son and grandson love her so that's all that matters at this point.

She thinks she's a lap dog.

By Sunday she started to calm down a bit ~ or so I thought.  I had her outside with me while I did yard work and when I wasn't paying attention, chewed her leash to shreds!  I may be watching her for 8 days later this month.  ARGH!  I must really love my son. 

I can't believe it's been seven weeks since Ellie was attacked.  I miss her so much and there are so many reminders of her.  Here she is getting ready to bury a bone in a basket of wool.  She had stolen it from Kali at Christmas.  I have not gone in the basket because I know it will break my heart to find it buried there.  Geez, I'm crying just typing this :(

This is how she was every morning ~ under the covers.

I've had to hire an attorney to try to recoup my vet bills which were over $5k.  The owner of the dog was only charged with a minor misdemeanor of dog at large (they said they could not charge him with vicious dog because the dog had never attacked or bitten before, but in fact it had attacked his daughter's pug last summer.  The police were called, but she did not press charges)  and because of that, the court could not order restitution.  My gut feeling is that the owner will try to say that I have no proof that it was his dog that attacked her.  I would just like to put this behind me . . . sigh . . . but I want him to take responsibility.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Say CHEESE ~

My cheesy plastic light-up Santas are getting ready to settle down for a long winter's nap.  Today the temperatures are spring-like, but that is going to change dramatically in the next 24 hours.  Winter is going to arrive ~ like it or not (and I don't like it).

Friday I met friend Sheila In Norwalk, OH, to do a little antiquing.  I usually don't have much luck there, but did find a few things.  They did have a wonderful old feather tree with some antique ornaments and garland, but even the sale price was much more than I would spend.

 

I had forgotten I had the "egg crate" Santa on the left (do I have too many Santas?) so I bought the guy on the right.  His one foot has some serious damage (actually it is totally missing) but the damage will be easy to hide and for the price, I figured I could live with it.

I bought this book not just for the Santa graphic but because the date of 1920 was the year of my mom's birth.

 

This little pin cushion/thread minder also came home with me along with a few other "unmemorable" items. 

This is the view I've had of Maya the granddog for the last four days.  Other than to eat or do her "business", she is in bed under a blanket.  Sometimes the blanket will be barking and moving around . . . lol.

 

 

I have been undecorating for a couple days and hopefully will be done soon, and then another couple days to get the house back to normal.  Christmas comes and goes much too quickly.

 

Four days off . . . four days of sleeping in . . . tomorrow morning is going to be really tough.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Happy New Year ~

 

I hope you have the perfect New Year's Eve planned.  I know I do.  It's sitting home with my sweetie, a roaring fire and watching a movie or two.  Hopefully I'll get a little hooking done, too.  Drink a little wine.  And I can't forget the dogs :)  Besides Loocie and Ellie, I have my granddog Maya here.  If you think a Jack Russell is high strung, spend a little time with a Chihuahua.  She just doesn't stop moving.  Funny, between the three dogs, they barely weigh 30 pounds.

 

I'm working on heart #4 since I still have not decided on my next real hooking project.  I took Friday off as a vacation day, so hopefully over the course of the next four days, I will get a rug started.

I usually don't make New Year's resolutions, but this year I have two.  The first is to lose the pounds I've put on this holiday season . . . sigh.  I really need to rid my house of all the goodies.  If it's here, I will eat it.  Secondly, I need to purge.  Not my fun stuff or antiques, of course no wool, books or crafty items, but clothes that I haven't worn in years, many things that I have no use for.  I'm not a hoarder, but I just have too many things that I have because I haven't the heart to get rid of them.  Oh, I come by this justly.  My  mom NEVER go rid of anything.

 

Well, dear friends, I hope you have a wonderful evening doing what you love most.  I wish you health,  happiness and prosperity in 2015.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren