Bill Engvall ~

Saturday evening we went to hear comedian Bill Engvall in our city at the gorgeous Palace Civic Center.  We had seen him a number of years ago and found him absolutely hilarious.  If you've not heard of him, you can find him on You Tube.  Perhaps you've heard of the Blue Collar Comedy tours?  He is one of the comedians.  He is so funny and it is refreshing to listen to him.  The worse word he said was jackass and there were only a couple off color jokes.  If you ever have the chance to see him, I highly recommend it.   

 

 

Today I am sharing my Santa tree with you.  Sorry the pictures are so washed out.

 

 

There are a few vintage ornaments.

 

Clam shell Santa gifted to me and painted by blog friend Julia in South Carolina and a pine cone Santa from dear friend Wink many years ago.

 

 

A fun Santa angel tree topper.

 

 

A very special Santa on a swing painted by my mom several decades ago.  This was one of her favorites!

 

Cinnamon stick Santa painted by yours truly over 20 years ago.  I painted many in different colors.

 

 

I've finally pulled a few loops ~ VERY few ~ on my last Christmas gift that I can't share until gifted.  I had better get busy.  Christmas day is fast approaching.  I thought I would not pressure myself this year, but unfortunately this was a last minute decision.  Well, not quite last minute since a couple weeks ago I decided to hook this, but I had not found any time to pull loops until last evening.  So why am I on this darn machine . . . lol?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Baby It's Cold Outside ~

 

This 1944 song is now being pulled from radio stations because it "celebrates sexual assault and domestic violence".  I personally think it's political correctness gone mad.  I found the following on Facebook and I think it is worth sharing.

 

"We feel that these other holiday songs must also be removed as they are offensive as well.

 

1. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: subjecting minors to softcore porn; infidelity

2. The Christmas Song: Open fire? Pollution. Folks dressed up like Eskimos? Cultural appropriation

3. Holly Jolly Christmas: Kiss her once for me? Unwanted advances. Slavery of women

4. White Christmas? Racist

5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town: Sees you when you’re sleeping? Knows when you’re awake? Peeping Tom. Stalker

6. Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Everyone telling you to be of good cheer? making light of mental illness; forced to hide depression

7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Bullying

8. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: gender-specific gifts: dolls for Janice and Jen and boots and pistols for Barney and Ben - (a twofer: guns and bigotry)

9. Santa Baby: objectifies women, blackmail

10. Frosty the Snowman: Sexist; why not a snow woman?

11. Do You Hear What I Hear: blatant disregard for the hearing impaired

12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Make the yuletide GAY? Wow, just wow

13. Jingle Bell Rock: Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet: animal abuse

14. Mistletoe and Holly: Overeating, folks stealing a kiss or two? How did this song ever see the light of day?

15. Winter Wonderland: Parson Brown demanding they get married…forced marriage

16. Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer: Come on the name says it all! Reckless driving, attempted murder, elder abuse, disrespect"

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Mid Week Musings ~

My shoo fly once had rockers, if anyone was wondering.  Not sure why they are called that, but that is a term I have heard for many years.  I knew it needed something, but wasn't sure what.  This is what I came up with.  Saundra suggested a little hooked piece but the little Christmas one I tried just did not work.  Julie suggested a small feather tree, but don't have one of those.  I went to the attic and dug the little tree from a box, grabbed a coverlet piece and added my childhood bear.  Not great but better.

Those who have read my blog probably have seen this tree before ~ but if you are like me ~ you may not remember . . . lol.  I just did a search of figural light bulbs on etsy to try to get an idea of when they date from.  I came up with anywhere from the 1920's to the 1950's.  I'm thinking the 50's is more accurate.  Not very definitive, but they are vintage.  Any ideas?  Janice?

Yesterday was International Rug Hooking Day and I did not pull one loop :(  I did get out the paper pattern and a piece of linen to transfer my rug, but that's as far as I've gotten.  Hopefully today I can get it on linen and start hooking soon if I have any hopes of finishing it before Christmas.  I wanted to gift it early since it is a Santa rug but at the rate I am going, it looks doubtful.

Sadly, a local woman was killed the other day by a hit and run driver.  The article referred to her as "elderly" and went on to state she was 49 years old.  WTH???  I assume the reporter was VERY young, but God willing, one day he/she will be 49 and I bet he/she will have a change of heart.  You would think someone would have caught that and not allowed it to go to print.  Come on, I bet not one of you think of 49 as being elderly.

On that note, thank you so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Off Playing ~

 

What a beautiful day we had today in northern Ohio.  Mid 60's.  Sunny.  Got some outside stuff done.  Raked the yard.  That darn maple tree of mine still hasn't lost all its leaves.  Tomorrow there is snow in the forecast.  Welcome to Ohio.

 

You may recall this little Pineberry Lane sampler I stitched a few months ago for a Christmas gift.  I finally got the edges stitched, though a little wonky. 

 

So yesterday I was off playing ~ aka hitting a few antique shops.  At the shop in Lodi I found this little box.  Not antique but vintage and a great price so I brought it home.

 

Well, it looks like the sampler was made for the box.  I will not attach the sampler but just set it on top.  My son also pointed out that it would fit on the inside of the lid should the recipient want to have the box open.

 

At the Seville Antique Mall (be still my heart), I found this sweet little shoo fly missing its rockers.  I'm not sure what/if I will set anything on the seat, but I just love it.  Gabriella of Tweedthistle Primitives (you can find her on Facebook) always has wonderful antiques ~ and great prices.

 

 

I'm still the crazy decorating fool but there is a light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not a freight train).  I still have the main living room tree to decorate and of course lots of odds and ends.  At the end of the week I will steal some fresh greens from my brother to put outside.  So far this is my most stress free Christmas ever.  Life is good :)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

An Early Christmas Gift ~

Family is the best gift of all :)  (Well, to be honest, not all family is the best . . . sigh.)  I got a text late last night from my Las Vegas son.  His first words were "Don't worry I'm fine".  He knows a late night text or phone call sends me in to a panic.  He asks me to call if I am still up.  Of course by then I am wide awake.  Turns out his boss decided not to work the week between Christmas and the New Year so he is coming home for Christmas.  He will arrive Christmas eve day and be home for almost a week.  I am so excited and he sounded pretty happy, too.

 

I'm still decorating like a fool.  I've gotten lots done and it's not even December yet.  I still haven't started my Christmas gift rug yet.  Hopefully soon.

 

Do you remember the hard plastic Christmas items from the 50's?  I didn't know I had collected so many.  Most of them were purchases but a few were gifts.

 

Thank you for all the sweet comments on my last post.  I still haven't figured out how to have the comments emailed to me, so it makes it difficult to respond.  One of these days . . . in my spare time . . . I hope I can figure it out.  My first try was unsuccessful.

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

 

So I Cheat a Little ~

If you looked up crazy Christmas lady in the dictionary, you would find my picture.  I'd like to subscribe to the theory that less is more, but it's just not in my genes . . . sigh.  Minimize.  Purge.  Not words in my vocabulary, unfortunately.  So, I will continue to deck the halls to the max.  I must confess, though, my decorating doesn't change much from year to year.  For the most part, the same items go in the same location each year.  They may be arranged a bit differently, but that's about the only change.

 

Here are some of my vintage decorations.

 

Celluloid Santas and a vintage bottle brush tree.

 

 

On the left is a celluloid Santa candle holder.  The two big guys in the back are "egg crate" Santas.  The front sports another vintage bottle brush tree and two paper mache Santas.  The Santa with tree on the right is new paper mache.

The cardboard to the left is vintage, made in Germany, I believe.  The Santas are all vintage, some with early plastic faces and some made with paper mache. 

 

The Holly Berries book to the left is old but undated.  I've had it as long as I can remember.  Cupples & Leon Company was bought out in 1956.  The large Santa on the right is also vintage paper mache.

 

 

 

This tree sports both chenille and cotton batting Santas.  All are vintage except for the chenille stars.  The little glass bells are also vintage.

 

Chenille.

 

Cotton batting.

This little guy sports a tag "made in Occupied Japan" (1945-1952).

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Off to do a bit more decorating.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Let the Decorating Begin ~

 

Those that have followed my blog in previous years know that I am a crazy Christmas decorating fool.  I wish I could subscribe to the theory that less is more, but I just can't . . . sigh.  I love that Thanksgiving was the earliest day possible day this year ~ more time to get ready for the holidays.  Boxes have started to make their way down from the attic.  Having a walk up attic is both a blessing and a curse.  It is too easy to accumulate :)

 

Thanksgiving was wonderful but hectic.  My niece and family were in from Chicago.  Though I did not cook Thanksgiving day, it seems I cooked and washed dishes (no dishwasher) endlessly.  My brother and his DSO do Thanksgiving every year and it is always a feast.  Friday DSO and I headed to Michigan for his son and D-I-L's Thanksgiving.  Another excellent meal.  The scale is no longer my friend :(  Yesterday I did the Small Business Saturday shopping in two towns, but my purchases were meager.  Now it's time to get busy!

 

Granddog Kali with her "cousin" Trina



Ernestine just because she is so cute :)



Cousins

Hooking time has been hard to find.  I have managed to pull a few loops on Old Hearts by the Old Tattered Flag.  Hopefully I can call this a finish soon.  I've decided to hook a last minute gift so that will be next on the frame ~ and it's something I can't share until gifted.  Hmmm . . . not sure what I will have to blog about.  Maybe I can make up some stuff :)  The background is showing up pink in this picture.  It is NOT! 

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was the best ever.  We have much to be thankful for living in this great Land of ours.  May God continue to bless America.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren