Favorite Reindeer ~

I finally feel as if I'm getting things done. I've finished the "big tree" in the living room and that is MAJOR! It normally takes me two days to decorate ~ this year it took four because of busy evenings. About the only decorating I have left to do is to put the wreath on the door and the garland on the banister. Tomorrow I hope to do the Christmas cards and then I'd better think about working on the hooked rug that needs to be done in four or five days (hahaha!). Oh, and finish shopping so I can get my packages mailed.

I thought I'd share some pictures of my favorite reindeer. Here's my grandson Jake ~
~ and Loocie. She looks so thrilled :)

Eema, my foster pug.

This is my younger son, J (as in Jason), last year. (I'm sure he'll be thrilled to know he made the blog again.)

My dear Mom, last year, at 88. I'm lucky to have her here for one more Christmas.

Thank you all for stopping by.

I'll post some pictures of the house soon.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

I've fallen off the wagon ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ the hooking wagon ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ I was doing so good at this ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~but then this came ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ and niece and family from Chicago ~ ~ ~
(That's actually my older son. I guess I didn't get any family
pictures with my niece's hubby.)

~ ~ ~ and now I'm in the midst of this ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ and somehow I have a rug to finish by next week .

It's about 15 x 23 and I'm not even 25% done.

I don't know how I'm going to pull that one off :(

Perhaps the recipients will get a big apology

and an IOU.

I'm still decorating.

The big tree isn't even started.

No cards have been written.

And here I am blogging.

Is there something wrong with this picture?

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Knee deep ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ in Christmas boxes. I've got boxes everywhere. I'm the traditionalist who does not start decorating until my Thanksgiving company leaves on Sunday, but oh, how I envy those of you who are already decorated! My goal each year is to finish the Christmas shopping before turkey day, and this year I've failed miserably :( I have barely started hooking one rug that must be done the week before Christmas and my plans for other hand made gifts have gone up in smoke...lol. Maybe I'll do better next year. (Geez. I think that's what I said last year....and the year before that....and the year before that! Do you detect a pattern here?)

Here is one little area at the base of my stairs that is done ~ decorated with all my snowmen.

The display on top of the antique cherry washstand. I love the way the stars shine on the wall.
A little hanging cupboard with antique mirror to the left.

A Lori Brechlin design. I've punched a couple of these, but this one was needle punched by my BFF Belinda.

Please stop by again soon. I'm a Christmas junkie who will have lots more to share with you.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Redwork Sampler ~

Welcome and thank you for stopping by ;-) I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had much to be thankful for.

My niece and her family are safely back in Chicago and my house is back to its normal quiet self. My son from Las Vegas is still in town. It has been so good to have him "home"!

Tonight I thought I would share with you one of my antique samplers. I believe this unframed redwork sampler to be British because of the crown. I purchased it because my intials are LF. I have it pinned to a piece of an old coverlet hanging on the back of an antique Windsor chair, next to a stepback cupboard in the dining room.

This evening I started to haul the Christmas boxes down from the attic and hope to start decorating soon. The weather has been so unseasonably mild on Ohio's north coast, it has been hard to get in the Christmas spirit. I hope I get the spirit soon.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Happy Thanksgiving ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING ~ ~ ~

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey be plump.

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

May you have family and friends

to share your day with.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Pug Hugs :)

Lauren

Killer Dust Bunnies ~ ~ ~

Welcome one and all and thank you for stopping by. It was another beautiful day today on Ohio's north coast. We are getting spoiled here, but I'm sure we're in for a rude awakening soon! When out on a walk with Eema, we came across a yard where violets were blooming. I intended to go back and get a picture, but forgot all about it until just now :( I do miss my mind!

Once again I mowed the lawn ~ easier than raking or blowing the leaves. It was so nice to be outside.

Yesterday I spent the day with Alice ~ A Day in the Life Alice. She hosted a Rug Rave in honor of Heather Ritchie's 65th birthday. You can read what it's all about it on Alice's blog post of October 1. We had a yummy lunch ~ Alice made the best potato soup ~ and others brought meatballs, salads, and of course, a birthday cake. The rest of the day was spent hooking. I am working on a Christmas present, so I have nothing I can show you.

Since I played yesterday, today was a busy day. I didn't realize how long it had been since I swiffered, but once I saw the dust bunnies, I knew it had been a long time. My niece and her family are coming from Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with us and they stay with me, so I thought a clean house would be nice...lol! What a great tradition. They've been coming for over ten years. My mom will be so happy to see them. My son is also coming in from Vegas and it will be wonderful to see him ;-)

I hope everyone has the happiest Thanksgiving ever, spent just how you like it!

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Dyeing to show you ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ my first attempt at dyeing wool. I have many yards of wool that I have bought ~ and I've never even felted any of it. Somehow, the thought scares me.

Every year I gather black walnuts ~ just in case I want to dye something. This year I'm lucky I had any left to use. I had the nuts in the garage and whenever the door was up, those danged squirrels would sneak in and steal them. Years ago when I was a basket weaver I stained all my baskets with black walnut dye that I made. I bet I haven't made a batch of dye in over 20 years. I decided to get brave and here's the results. I probably should have left the wool in the dye pot a bit longer, but you can see a subtle difference. I believe this is Heavens to Betsy wool.
Here is some white wool I bought on eBay several years ago. It came out slightly mottled. This wool is a bit thin, so I'm not too sure how it will hook up.

Overall, I'm pleased with the results. One of these days, I just may get around to felting some more wool and in my next life, may get really brave and dye wool with commercial dyes.

Thanks for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren