My Bags Aren't Packed ~ but I'm Ready to Go!

Greetings :)

Today is the day.  Grandson Jake, four pumpkin rolls and I are heading west to Las Vegas.  Thankfully we don't need to leave for the airport until 5:30 pm because I've waited until the last minute to pack.  Some things never change.

I snagged a group picture from Facebook of all of us that visited Sister Mary St. Patrick (nka Sister Marian Coughlin) and thought I would share.

I know some of you will find this hard to believe, but I really am a homebody and these back to back trips are about killing me.  Knowing this trip is to visit my #1 bad boy makes it all worthwhile.  I spoke with him the other night and he, too, is excited about our visit.

I figured I'd better post the last of the California pictures :)  I just have to share the flowers.  They were all so gorgeous and I've never seen so many roses.  They must love the weather there.  Well, in going through my pictures I realize I didn't take as many as I thought I did, but believe me, the roses were just wonderful.

 

 

I've never seen these before.  They had to be at least 10-12 feet tall.
 

Growing wild

Next to a house



The upper portion was covered in purple flowers

 

 

In the ladies room at the winery.  Just beautiful.

 

 

That's all folks.  Will tell you all about my trip upon my return.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Bus Trip ~

 

I am not a bus trip person.  I went on one about 20 years ago to Toronto to see Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon.  After that trip, I decided if I was going anywhere, it would not be by bus.  Well . . . never say never. 

 

A little background.  I finished 8th grade in 1966.  Catholic school for 8 years.  There were 50 of us in the 8th grade class, and mind you, no teacher's aid, no other teacher (music, art, etc) whatsoever.  My second and eighth grade teacher was a Sisters of Notre Dame nun, Sister Mary Saint Patrick.  She has since taken her maiden name and is now Sister Marian Coughlin.  A few of my former classmates got together to reminisce and discovered that Sister was still alive, living in the Notre Dame facility about an hour and a half from here and arranged a trip.  Surprisingly only one person from our class is deceased.  I believe 15 of us went to visit her yesterday.  I'd say that was a pretty good percentage, and there were three others who at the last minute could not make it.  We had heard that sister was very excited that we were coming.  She was waiting for us at the door when we arrived :)

 

The day was started by going to Mass.  Sister even did one of the readings.

 

She is just a tiny little thing.  We all remembered her as being much taller . . . or was it because we were just much shorter?

 

 

Sister is turning 90 in July and also celebrating her 70th year as a nun.  Her mind is still sharp as a tack and she remembered all of us.

 

This is one of our classmates from school, Caroline.  In 1966, at the age of 14, she went to the convent and has been a nun ever since.  She is now known as Sister Valerie, though we still called her Caroline (with her blessing).

Even though Sister uses a walker, she came to the bus to wish us a final farewell.  A few tears were seen streaming down her face.  What a heartwarming visit.

Off to bake pumpkin rolls.  Not one of my favorite things to do, but grandson Jake and I are leaving Wednesday evening to visit my son Bill in Las Vegas.  I'm not sure which Bill is looking forward to more, seeing me or getting pumpkin roll :)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Antique Finds ~

 

I did not expect to bring any antiques home from California, but found a few special treasures at prices I was willing to pay :)

 

It is so hard to get a picture without the glare of the glass.  The reflection to the bottom right is my arms and camera.  Though faded, about 80% of the sampler is in pretty good shape.  The bottom not so much, but for the price, I could not pass her up.

 

I am not wild about how it is framed, but you can see that it has been in this frame for a long time.

 

Circa 1860-1870 English toothpaste pot.  The first one in my small collection that is colored.  Quite a few chips but I am no purist.  It's sitting on a piece of French linen also purchased in California.

 

Some of you may remember my obsession with stone fruit.  You can read about it here.  I haven't added to my collection in a few years, but was so excited to find the half peach and half apple.  I never thought I'd ever own any half fruit.  I thought it was a good deal, but not as good as the deal Julie got in Arizona a couple years back.  (Almost free at a thrift store!)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Home Sweet Home ~

Vacation was great fun, but it's always good to get back home.  We headed to Cotati, California to visit DSO's son and daughter-in-law.  Cotati is north of San Francisco so away from some of the craziness, but not the crazy cost of living.  I thought the prices of just about everything was insane.  I don't know how people afford to live there.

 

One day we headed further north to Mendocino.  What a quaint little town.  A definite tourist destination. 

 

 

 

Beautiful views of the Pacific coast.

Huge mounds of driftwood.

 

Hard to see but flowers blooming over the edge.

 

Fun fountain at Navarro Vineyards in Philo, CA.

The next day we headed in to San Francisco on the ferry.

 

It's always a treat to ride the cable car :)

 

My favorite spot ~ hanging on the outside for the ride.

 

Now I really expected to something like this in San Francisco, not Petaluma.  This guy was dancing outside the ice cream shop.  (The guy on the left, not DSO . . . lol.)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

On the Frame ~

Finally getting around to showing what is on my frame.  Remember the rug I was trying to track down from a Create & Decorate magazine?  

 

 

One of my blog readers, Kathleen, (thanks again Kathleen!) let me know it was from the May/June 2014 issue.  Thankfully friend Melissa found her copy.  Here is the page from the magazine.

 

 

I wanted to hook mine with the similar soft colors I used in this rug.

 

Progress so far.  I am not putting in the scalloped clamshell corners and may change the shape of the pot a bit.  Still not sure on that.   

 

 A few more irises have started to bloom.  They are simply gorgeous.

 

 

 

Taking off tomorrow evening for California.  Wish me safe travels please :)  Not sure if I will get a blog post done while gone.  As I've often mentioned, my iPad and I don't play well together and the only time I try to blog from it is when I am away from home.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Memorial Day ~

Please take a moment to remember why we are celebrating.  Thank you to all veterans, past and present.  I appreciate your service.  Remember, freedom isn't free.

 

Yesterday, DSO, Ernestine and I headed to Columbus, Ohio, for the 20th annual Ohio Pug Rescue reunion.  Pugs in many colors and sizes.  Lots of snorting going on but no snarling.  Pugs are just the sweetest things :)

 

This shirt cracks me up.  I found it on the internet a few years ago.

 

 

Born December 7, this sweet baby girl's name is Pearl.  Get it?  She was going to her foster home but foster mom Kelley said she wasn't going to be leaving.  She has the most unusual coloring and such long legs, but what a cutie patootie :)

 

Gotta love those pug tongues.

 

 

NOT Ernestine

 

The pug on the left was the first grey pug I think anyone has ever seen.  Mom was white and dad was fawn colored.  I bet there was some hanky panky some time in the past . . . lol. 

 

Ernestine was pretty tired on the way home and we were stuck in traffic for over an hour and a half due to a vehicle fire. 

 

It was a gorgeous evening for a plane ride.  I think it's been two years since I put on my big girl panties and went up.  It was smooth as glass.  No bumps whatsoever.  Wonderful.

 

Lake Erie

The round thingy is the Rose Garden at Lakeview Park, two blocks from my house.

Northern Ohio is totally flat.

 

Landing.  I always breathe a sigh of relief.

 

 

The California trip is quickly approaching.  We leave Wednesday eve.  Usually by this time I've at least made a packing list.  I've been too busy doing yard work.  Got 20 bags of mulch down.  Bought 6 more today and I could use many, many more.  A bag of mulch sure doesn't go far.

 

A few more pics from the gardens.  The irises have started to bloom and they are simply beautiful.

 

 

Sweet Siberian iris.  One of my favorites.

 

 

I have never had more than a few flowers on my dogwood tree.  I am thrilled this year.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren