Bound and Determined ~

 

 

I finally got my Kelley Belfast snowman bound this evening as he needs to be completed by this weekend and tomorrow night after work I'm off for my annual mammogram and then to another Christmas with DSO and his family.  Saturday morning it's off to wrap gifts at Barnes & Noble to benefit Ohio Pug Rescue.  We do very well and last year broke the $1000 mark in donations.  Such a busy time of year.  I think (HOPE) I bought my last present this evening, but I need to check my list to be sure.  Since I only have one grandchild, every time I am shopping I seem to find something else for him.  That's what grandmas are for, right?

 

Here's a picture of the backside - bound in the background wool.  I'll share a picture of the front after  he gets a light steaming and his rusty bell added.  I'll have to add a label at a later date.

 

Next up is binding my challenge rug . . .

 

. . . so that I can start another little snowman mat.  (Pattern by Katie Alman ~ Kid'l de Divey Woolens.)  The Hidden Hills Hookers meet monthly.  This is an optional pattern to hook and then in January we are going to learn how to finish a rug with a braided edge.  I've seen it done before, but have never done it.  I bought some grungy sparkly wool to use.  That will be a first for me. 

 

 

Here are a few of our overachievers who had theirs already hooked when we met in earlier in December. 

 

A cheesy plastic Santa in my hooking room . . .

 

. . . and a tinsel tree with only lights.  

Ceramic Santa painted by my mom.  One of my prized Christmas decorations.  

She did beautiful work. 

A surprise was in my mailbox this week.  This darling cupboard tuck smelling of balsam.  Sweet, isn't it?  Thanks so much Debbie.  You made my day.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Busy, Busy ~

 

 

Happy Sunday to you.  What a busy weekend it has been. 

 

Last evening was my DSO's EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Christmas party and today dear friend Wink and her beau stopping by for a quick visit.  It is always a pleasure to see her.  Let me tell you, we go WAY back. 

 

Unfortunately we had to cut the visit short because today was the 20th annual TubaChristmas held in Lorain, OH (but the 42nd overall).  It is always a fun time and will put you in the Christmas spirit.  They play CHRISTMAS songs ~ no political correctness ~ yeah :)  Grandson Jake enjoys going and this year got a headband to go with last year's scarf. 

 

 

This year's TubaChristmas consisted of 90 tuba players, ranging in age from 12 to73.  In the past, they had tuba players as old as 88, but they are no longer on this earth.  Many of them decorate their instruments with lights, garlands and Santa hats. 

Then it was on to DSO's family Christmas.  Whew.  You'd think I'm a party girl, but totally not :) 

 

Found a few minutes to pull a some loops on my snowman rug.  He is almost done :) 

The background wool I am using.  

 

Kelley has very generously said that anyone can copy the pattern.  I think there will be many, many versions of her rug hooked.  Please give her credit if you do hook it.  Right click on the design, save it and then enlarge to whatever size you wish.

Our weather has been absolutely unreal.  We have been in the upper 60's and may have even hit 70 one day.  People are running around in shorts, cutting their lawns and riding their motorcycles.  I, for one, am lovin' it.  The plants sure are confused.  I spotted this on the forsythia bush today . . .

 

. . . and this in my wheelbarrow.

 

 

I will leave you with this (thanks to Saundra) ~

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

 

 

Hump Day ~



This reminds me of my Ellie :)

 

Another week is half over.  Time is a flyin'.  Faster than I ever imagined possible.  Do you feel the same way?  Heck, in my world, it's still summer :)

 

Last night was grandson Jake's "holiday" program.  Not one Christmas song.  Not one mention of the reason for the season.  I was just amazed at the maturity of some 5th graders. 

 

He had a small speaking part.

 

Here he is sporting his oh-so-stylish boot.  He was so excited to finally have his cast off.  I think he was a little embarrassed in this picture ~ but lovin' it :)  

My Christmas decorating has gone exceedingly well.  I'm waiting for the big bang, so to speak.  Santas in a hanging cupboard in the downstairs bathroom.

 

Little tree on the counter.  {{Who's that in the mirror?}}

 

Little tree on an antique cupboard in the kitchen. 

 

The ornaments are all old figural lightbulbs.  Many of them are two sided. 

 

My kitchen is so tiny, but I had space for a couple antique cupboards.  When I moved in 16 years ago this month, the first thing I was going to do was get rid of the green plastic kitchen tile and unmatching green floor.  Maybe next year . . . sigh.

 

 

Old wind-up celluloid Santa and reindeer on old spice cupboard.

So much more to show you in future posts :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Pulling a Few Loops

Sunday greetings to you :)

 

My weekend has been a busy one.  A primitive show and a craft show yesterday.  I got some sleigh bells to take to Tuba Christmas next Sunday (bells are a MUST) and picked up a few locally made Christmas gifts.  Decorating, decorating and more decorating.  Pictures will come in a later post. 

 

I even found time to pull a few loops.  Can you believe (well, you hookers will believe) that I did not have one wool suitable for a snowman?  I won't hook with white and I didn't want the snowman to be too primitive.  Thankfully Monday I headed to Connie's and she had the wool I was looking for.  I didn't realize that I had overdyed all my light colored wools.  Here is the wool I came home with . . .

 

 

. . . and here is my progress so far.   

 

Maybe I'll get him done in time for gift giving.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

 



Christmas Humor ~

 

OK, friends.  I usually do not enjoy scatological humor, but I find this video an absolute hoot.  If you've not heard of Poo Pourri, it is a real product.  I've seen it in a few stores and you can also purchase it online. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9TTz3R5SmI

Happy Saturday to you.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Simplify ~

 

Less is more.  Why can't I grasp that concept?  I bring down the boxes from the attic and each box is filled with memories.  So once again I go overboard . . . sigh.  I won't even tell you (yet) how many trees are decorated.  How many Santas I really have. 

 

 

I left a comment on Saundra's blog that I wished I had time to find my hook.  Julia interpreted it that I lost it and didn't have time to look for it.  I know exactly where it is but just can't find the time to use it.  It's my own self-inflicted fault :( 

 

I've had this pattern on linen for a week.  (Thanks, Kelley Belfast.)

 

I am so lucky to own the original ~ won on Kelley's blog.  I hope mine comes out half as good.

 

I haven't yet started to bind my challenge rug. 

 

Heck, I finished hooking this Lori Rippey stag rug a year ago and it's still waiting for its binding.

 

 

With all that being said, I'd best get back to decorating.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please take a moment to pray for the latest victims in California. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Knee Deep ~

~ in Christmas boxes.  I know less is more, but I still haven't been able to grasp the concept . . . sigh. 

 

I just wanted to pop in to say hi.  I've been without internet/Wi-Fi for three days except on my iPhone, and I'm terrible at that.  Thankfully my sweetie spent a couple hours on the phone and got me up and running ;)

 

Be back soon.  Must go unpack the snowmen.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren