Winter Solstice ~

 

Welcome friends.  I love that tomorrow the days will begin to get longer and the nights shorter.  Hopefully our winter will remain mild.

 

I can't yet say that I'm ready for Christmas, but close.  The only major tasks left to do are to get to the grocery store (UGH) and sew a label on the whale rug that is a Christmas gift.  Of course there's also the usual cleaning and baking of the pumpkin rolls. 

 

It's been a busy weekend, but aren't they all?  Yesterday I wrapped gifts at the Barnes and Noble in Westlake, OH, to benefit Ohio Pug Rescue.  We wrap for donations and we made $1007.80 for the pugs.  That was our best year ever, and every penny helps the pugs.  {{And please remember, adopt, don't shop for a pet.}}

 

Here's my patriotic display on my upstairs landing.

Vintage hard plastic snowmen from the 50's.

All the samplers on the mantle are antique.

Antique hogscraper candlesticks and a Victorian Christmas light.  Red ones are the most rare and I am so happy to have one.

Reproduction Santas.



Well, time to get back to being productive.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Still Behind ~

 

  

By now I had hoped to be ready for Christmas.  I should know better :)  Unlike Kim, I knew I only had one weekend left.  Oh, well, I am sure we will both be ready (or somewhat ready) when the day arrives.

 

I still have a few Christmas letters to write, a bit of shopping and wrapping, two more boxes to ship, but the big tree is finally done!  The same tree that crashed to the floor last year and destroyed so many memories.  DSO modified the stand so I'm holding my breath.  This was taken without a flash so it is bit blurry.

 

 

Salt glazed Santas in the wall box I bought last month.

 

 

I need to go un-decorate part of a mid-size tree.  Half the lights went out.  UGH.  That's one of my evening tasks.

 

This was the view I had when I went to get Ellie up this morning.  She makes me laugh.  On Christmas Day it will be two years that she came to live with me.  Time sure does fly.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren



TubaChristmas

 

Today was the 19th annual TubaChristmas held at the Lorain Palace Civic Center, here in Lorain, OH.  If you've not heard of it, you can read my 2012 post here or visit their website.  This year there were 90 participants ranging in age from 13 to 68, coming from as far as Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Just a fun time!

 

Last night my favorite redhead and I went and paid a visit with Santa.  Here is a picture of his picture with Santa.  You were not permitted to take personal photos with Santa.

 



With Mrs. Claus.

We then headed to the model railroad display.  We had not been before, but I'm so glad we went.

Jake was absolutely enamored with the model trains.  This kind train enthusiast allowed Jake to control one of the trains.  HHHMMM . . . I may consider getting him one for Christmas.

 

Back to work tomorrow.  These darn weekends just don't last long enough.  Dinner tomorrow night with a dear friend.  Perhaps I will get the "big tree" decorated Tuesday.  If not, Wednesday . . . or Thursday.  Nope, not Thursday.  That's a hookin' day :)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by :)
Pug hugs :)
Lauren



Spinnin' my Wheels ~

 

All week long I've felt like a hamster running in the wheel.  Going as fast as I could and getting nowhere.  Yesterday I took part of the afternoon off and finally feel as if I've accomplished something.  All the decorating is done except for the big tree.  Some shopping still needs to be done, gifts wrapped and boxes readied for mailing.  Oh, I need to finish the cards, too.  Tonight, though, I have a date with a cute little redhead.  We have shopping to do and gifts to wrap.  We also need to stop and say hi to Santa and visit the model train display.  It will be a busy evening but great fun for sure.

 

Thursday the Hidden Hills Hookers met and we each brought a 1/4 yard of wool for a gift exchange.  We played "dirty Santa" and this is the wool that came home with me.  I love it.  I have the white and black honeycomb, but this is a wonderful grey and black.  I am almost half done binding this Santa rug so I may actually have it done before Christmas.  Woo hoo!

 

 

Don't you just hate computer issues?  I have a desktop computer and an iPad.  I prefer the desktop since I'm iPad stupid, but the desktop is giving me fits and probably needs to visit the computer doctor.  It's always something, isn't it?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Time to go pick up my date.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

What a Mess ~

 

I still have not grasped the concept of "less is more" or "simplify".  I'm just a glutton for punishment, but as I open each box, there are just so many memories attached to the items that I just can't not put them out . . . sigh.  Maybe next year.  It always has to get worse before it gets better, and I am still in the chaos stage. 

Part of my herd of celluloid reindeer . . .

 

. . . and a few Santas.

 

Back to decorating.  Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Poinsettia ~

It's not often I have an evening where I totally lack energy or ambition, but tonight is one of them.  I have gotten nothing done (other than taking an hour nap that turned in to two ~ a rarity for me) except for finishing the edge on this little mat.  It is a design from a Lori Brechlin booklet purchased years ago.  I hooked it on the burlap I blogged about here.  I am glad to have it done.  I never hooked on burlap before, and I found this hard to hook on.  I cannot get the metallic threads to show in the picture, but trust me, they are there :)

 

 

I can't believe Thanksgiving was a week ago.  Where, oh where, is the time going?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren



Crunch Time ~

 

 

ACK!  December 1.  I hate when Thanksgiving falls late in the month.  At least that is my excuse why I already feel behind (and I'm sticking to it).  Yesterday I did get the greens hung on the windows and light poles.  It was 60+ degrees and is probably the first time I have done it when it's not freezing.

I've barely started shopping, the cards are not even bought.  No boxes have been hauled down from the attic.  I still have one rug that MUST be bound that is a gift and two that I would LIKE to get bound.  Yes, it would be a good idea to finish my Santa and sheep rug (Star Rug Company) and my stag rug (Lori of Homespun Prims).  So appropriate for the season.

 

So why am I sitting here on the computer instead of being productive???

 

I got my staples out today.  Finally.  They were driving me crazy.  Dear Kim wanted to know if this is what they used this on me.  It kind of felt like it.  Gotta love her :)

 

 

Tomorrow it's the mammogram, Wednesday back to the vein doctor and next week the ophthalmologist.  I don't think I've ever had so many doctor appointments.  This getting old is not for sissies :)

 

My Thanksgiving was wonderful.  Hectic but wonderful.  It was so good to spend it with family.  Our family is very small, so being together is special.  My California son and girlfriend even made it to town.  Melisa had to leave Friday, but Bill just left this morning ~ very early ~ 5 am early ~ is when we arrived at the airport.  ARGH!  He made it home safely and already has started eating the pumpkin roll that made its way west.

 

My grandson, his Chicago cousins, and my brother.  I'm not sure who was having more fun.  He gives them "bucket rides" and they squeal with delight.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren