How do you spell BAD?

I spell it W ~ O ~ O ~ L!!!

I was very bad today. The wool gods were calling my name and I could not resist the temptation. These are some Rebecca Erb as-is wools.

These wools are from Wendy ~ The Red Saltbox. They are much more olive in tone. I want to hook the "Red Primrose" hooked rug from the Maggie Bonanomi book, "With These Hands" and I am lacking green wools in my stash. Now if I really hook it, that's another story. At least it's a good excuse. As I mentioned after Sauder last year, Wendy has a pug so we had to pug-talk for a bit :)
More overdyed wools. The two on the bottom are the most wonderful blue grey color.

It's easy to spend a whole lot of money and not get a whole lot of wool!

I made a quick trip to the antique mall just around the corner from Sauder Village on the way home. These pressed glass wine goblets (circa 1880's) were my deal of the day. I have been collecting mismatched ones for about 20 years and really don't need any more, but the one on the left was $3.47 and the other was only $1.25. How could I not buy them? I also picked up two small Christmas gifts and that was it.

Please stop by again soon. I have LOTS of pictures to share of the wonderful rugs at Sauder Village. So much talent displayed in one room. I hope I've been inspired!

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Bad Coke Day

There's always one of these on my desk ~ even at 7 am.

This afternoon I just opened a new one,

when Sam decided to hop on the desk

and see what was happenin'.

Before I could stop him,

he pawed at the can

and knocked it over ~

all over the papers that were piled

on the desk.

GGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Here he is

shortly thereafter ~

as if to say

"nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!".

Now he's trying to act innocent,

as if to say

"Who, me?".

And to make matters worse,

a short time later

I knocked over what was left in the can.

NOT a good Coke day!

Yesterday I took my little fish swimming.

He can now jump off the diving board

and swim to the shallow end.

There won't be too many more of these days.

He starts kindergarten next week!

With his new buzz,

he looks so much older :(

Tomorrow I'm off to the rug show at Sauder.

Woo hoo!

I need some inspiration

and if I don't find it there,

I won't find it!

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Change is in the Air ~

It used to be daylight when I got up in the morning

to take the dog out.

Now it is dark.

It used to be daylight at 9pm.

Now it is dark.

The crickets are getting louder each day.

I think fall is in the air

even though our temperatures

have been extremely warm and humid.

I wouldn't mind fall

if spring followed in

its footsteps ;-)

It has been so dry this summer ~

not that it is unusual.

My grass in brown and crunchy.

I've made an effort

to keep the birdbath

clean and filled with fresh water daily.

Here's a robin

enjoying a bath.

I must have bought purple morning glory seeds

instead of the blue that I dearly love.

The flowers almost

seem to glow.

Last year I moved my butterfly bush

to a sunnier location.

The butterflies are happy

and I swear the bugs are, too.

Something has been munching on the leaves

all summer.

I hope all is well

in your little corner of the world.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

A Day Spent with Friends ~

I know I've posted about Bucyrus, Ohio before, but today we took our dear friends Neal and Judy to see the murals painted by Eric Grohe. They (the murals, not Neal and Judy!) are a site to see. Visit his website to learn more about him and to see murals he has painted throughout the United States. The size and detail is beyond comprehension. You can see more photos and detail in my February 7, 2010 post. (Sorry, I don't know how to link to an old post.)

It's hard to believe this is painted on a building and is one dimensional. (Sorry I cut the top of the building off. When the sun is shining, I can't see what I'm taking with a digital camera.)

Neal is a very talented local artist, specializing in pen and ink drawings. I think he has drawn every local landmark in our county. Here is my house portrait that Fritz commissioned Neal to draw a few Christmases ago. (That is glare from the flash over the garage.)

Here is the black and white version. This photo is taken from a note card.

Judy was so sweet. She gave me these three old bobbins that she's had for at least 40 years. (She must have gotten them when she was 10...lol!) They have the most wonderful patina and I will treasure them always. Thanks, Judy :)

I can't believe another weekend is over and it's back to work tomorrow. I'll have a short week, though. I'm taking Friday off work and heading to the rug show at Sauder Village. I will take LOTS of pictures to share.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Melting ~

I think the girls are melting today and I am not far behind!

Here's Loocie on the (ugly) kitchen floor.

Underneath that flooring is hardwood that will one day be exposed :-)

Eema and Loocie (in front)

on the side porch.
A close-up of Loocie ~
just because she is so darned cute!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I hope you are staying cooler than I am.

I know that in a few months

I'll be longing for these dogs days of summer.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Loocie

&

Eema

Rug Kit for Sale and a Freebie ~

Welcome and thank you so much for stopping by!

Today I am offering a "penny rug" hooked rug kit for sale. I purchased this on eBay a number of years ago and I've come to the realization that there are too many other rugs I want to hook!

The kit is from eBay seller Sue Jones aka americana south.

I'm not sure what the backing is ~ I'm thinking it is perhaps linen burlap. The pattern is 23 1/4 x 15 1/2 and is drawn on the straight of the grain.

The wool strips are a #8 cut. The wool is very high quality and there are no raggedy strips!

It comes complete with hooking instructions and a color photograph of the completed rug.

I am asking $110.00 for the kit. Priority shipping is included.

Now for the freebie. I was at an estate sale last weekend. This crocheted pineapple was in a frame that was falling apart, but they were only asking 25 cents for it. I just couldn't pass it up, though I know I will never do anything with it. The maker's daughter said her mom crocheted many pieces that the siblings have kept, but no one wanted this piece. It is 13 x 14 1/2 and is pinned with straight pins to the backing fabric. I think it would make a lovely pillow. If you are interested, please drop me an email (be sure to indicate crochet pineapple in the subject so I don't think it is junk mail) and I will send it to you in a manila envelope.

Hopefully you are not superstitious ~ tomorrow's Friday the 13th.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Happy Birthdays & Daisies on Steroids ~

A very happy birthday to my son Bill (aka Billy Vegas). He's celebrating his birthday today. Niece Elise will be celebrating her birthday on Wednesday. I love you both :-)
Welcome everyone! I hope your weekend was filled with what makes you happiest! My weekend wasn't as productive as I had hoped, but everything I did not get done will be waiting for me tomorrow...and the day after that!

This afternoon I went and floated in BFF Belinda's pool for an hour. Now that is my idea of heaven (and I didn't have to worry about anyone seeing me in a bathing suit...lol!). She has so many gardens to take care of and I have never seen a perennial this tall! These daisies must be 8 or 9 feet tall and the bee balm in front about 5 feet tall! Unbelievable!

Friday evening at our local metropark on Lake Erie, a swing band performed. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor concert and the band was outstanding! The setting sun.

Saturday evening was spent on DSO's balcony listening to a "Jimmy Buffet" band playing across the street. His music is so much fun. I sat sewing the binding on this little mat that I finished hooking a couple of months ago. (I think I've mentioned at least once or twice how I hate the actual "finishing" process!) It was for Belinda's birthday ~ that was at the end of May! Shame on me, but better late than never, right?

These weekends just go by too fast! I am just thankful that I have a job to go to on Monday morning. Hopefully this week I will have enough sense to get to bed earlier than I did last week, though I am not off to a very good start! By Friday, I was about ready to drop.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren