Boston Area ~

I have been to New England twice.  Last year and this year in October and the weather gods have not smiled on me.  Last year it rained most of the trip and this year the Boston area was experiencing a Nor'easter so the weather was no better, though we did made the best of the situation.

Our first stop was Plymouth Rock.

Listening to the docent talk about the Pilgrims landing in Plymouth was fascinating, but the rock was underwhelming :)

Statue of Massasoit.

We toured the Jabez Howland house.

And stopped at the Manomet Cemetery in Plymouth.

Many of the old graves were covered in this yellowy moss.

Cromwell F. Holmes, age 21 years 4 months, drowned while endeavoring to save the crew of the schooner Charles Moller.

The Hoxie House in Sandwich.  A saltbox is the house of my dreams.

The plaque read c. 1675 but the docents said the house was actually built earlier.

There was no heat in the Hoxie House (it closes for the season this Monday) and it was bone chilling cold inside.  One of the docents mentioned a car museum not too far away, so we decided it would be a good place to get indoors to warm up.  Little did we know the Toad Hall car museum is in a dilapidated garage with no heat and water leaking through the ceiling.  Needless to say, we didn't stay there long.  All the cars in the museum (though many have been sold) are red.  Most original paint but some have been repainted.

The only thing we got to see in Boston was Faneuil Hall.  The outside of the building is totally shrouded with renovations taking place, but we were able to enter.

Upstairs is a military museum.

A fun little tidbit about Paul Revere.  Found in the ladies restroom at Faneuil Hall.

The purpose of our trip was to visit a place called Factory Five.  It is a company that sells kit cars.  DSO has decided since we have hung up our motorcycle helmets, we need something fun to tool around in.  He also needs a project, so has decided to spent the winter building a 1935 Ford pick up.  The kit has been ordered and should arrive by the beginning of December.  Mission accomplished :)

One HAPPY CAMPER!

I chose a new winner for my little give-away since I never got a response from winner #1.  Congrats to Laurie.  Though she lives in Canada, she lives very near the border and can have the package sent to her daughter's in the U.S.  Laurie, you have three days to contact me.

Thanks so much for joining my little travelogue.  Hope I didn't bore you with too many pictures :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs,

Lauren

Class with Caroline Twigg ~

Caroline Twigg (Eagles Nest Woolens) is an excellent primitive teacher.  And did I mention lots of fun?  Here she is demonstrating how she rolls her leftover worms in to balls.

Color planning on my rug.

Progress.  I am loving the colors.  

A few of the projects being worked on.

Gail Dufresne of Goat Hill Designs also taught a class before our hook in.  Gail is F.U.N.K.Y.  She uses many alternative fibers and BRIGHT colors.  Her students rave about her. 

The Crooked River Rug Hookers hook in was a great success.  I heard compliment after compliment.  I do believe a fun time was had by all.  

A few of the vendors.

There will be no hooking for me in the near future.  This evening DSO and I are flying off to Boston for a few days.  (Have I started to pack?  Of course not.)  It will be a quick trip with us returning Friday morning.  Saturday morning, partner in crime Melissa and I are vending at a hook in a couple hours away and we need to be there by 8 am.  No rest for the wicked . . . er I mean weary.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Last but not Least ~

The last person to enter my little give-away was the lucky winner.  Kathy R, you have three days to contact me with your snail mail address.  Thanks to all who entered via the blog and many via email.  You are the best.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)

Lauren

Class with Nola Heidbreder ~

My two day class with Nola Heidbreder is over.  What a great class it was.  She is an EXCELLENT teacher who quickly got around the room to get each student started on her rug and then continually made the rounds.  Throughout the day she offered "teaching moments".  Helpful hints, demonstrating how to hook something, showing fun finishes, etc.  I would highly recommend that if you ever get the opportunity to take a class with her, do it.  You will not be disappointed.

Here are some of her rugs she brought to share.

Nola hooked the large version of American Clipper.  

My start on the smaller version.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but the ship is three different browns and a row of red.

Tomorrow and Friday is my class with Caroline Twigg of Eagles' Nest Woolens.  I've had Caroline a couple times and she is lots of fun.  Another rug will be started.  I'd better get busy hooking.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Quickie ~

Just finished this little mat for yet another door prize for the Crooked River Rug Hookers hook in this Saturday.  It is titled Pumpkin Kitty, but I think mine turned out looking like Pumpkin Owl.  The pattern is by Teresa's Primitive Treasures and can be found here.

Saturday while gadding about, I came across a tin doll head to add to my collection.  She is the tiny one on the right.  She is in such perfect condition.  I think I prefer the "much loved" girls.

Just for fun, I am having a little give-away and I do mean little.  Hooked in 2017, this mat has just been sitting in the closet so it's time for it to find a new home.  It measures only 6 1/2" x 9".  I will pick a winner on Saturday.  As always, the rules are simple.  Leave a comment on this post only or send an email with give-away in the subject line.  The winner must contact me within three days.  My apologies to my Canadian friends.  Due to high shipping costs, this is for US readers only.  Please no sharing on any social media.

Tomorrow my class starts.  I'd better get busy and pull some wool.  Gotta scoot.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Busy Week Ahead ~

The next few weeks are crazy busy, but doing fun stuff.  Next week I have two hooking classes.  Tuesday and Wednesday is a class with Nola Heidbreder.  I have chosen to hook her pattern American Clipper.  I will be hooking the small version which is 22 1/4" x 16".  Hopefully I will get it hooked and bound to give as a Christmas gift.

Thursday and Friday I will be in a class with Caroline Twigg of Eagles' Nest Woolens.  I've had Caroline before and she is lots of fun.  I will be hooking Vintage Blossoms, a pattern by Payton Primitives, purchased from Heavens to Betsy.  It measure 22" x 29".

Saturday is my guild's hook in.  I have volunteered for several duties throughout the day so no hooking will be done.  Unfortunately (???) I will find time to shop.  We have a great line up of vendors including the Wool Studio and the Wool'n Gardener.

And I wonder why I can't get anything done at home . . . sigh.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Ever Wonder ~

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic wins lottery"?

Why is abbreviated such a long word?

Why is is that doctors call what they do "practice".

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes?  Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Only in America . . . 

Only in America . . . do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes up front.

Only in America . . . do people order double cheeseburgers, large fires and a diet coke.

Only in America . . . do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America . . . do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America . . . do they have drive up ATMs with Braille lettering.


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