Hip, Hip......

and not so much Hooray.  Really....I thought this new hip thing would be celebratory.

Not so much....yet.  

Many of you are aware of the total left hip replacement I went in for last week.  Others, it will be news to you.  I've known for over 2 years that I was going to need a new hip.  I put if off for as long as I could.  They told me that I couldn't hurt it any worse than it already was and to let them know when I thought it was time.  

I decided the new part was needed over the summer.....after the umpteenth time of having to crawl from the back woods garden to the house because I was unable to right myself up from all fours to my feet.  There were other instances like that as well, I was very careful not to try any stunts out by the mailbox though....can you imagine me crawling up the driveway from the road...in full view of passers by, with two YellowDogs racing around me and licking my face?  I know, it conjures up quite the site doesn't it.  

After lots of appointments and many tests to be sure of what would be done, the "new part day" finally arrived....last week Thursday, so as you read this, I am a week past surgery.  After two nights in the hospital I was released to my "caretaker" Wayne....yes, Big Pops in charge, or at least I let him think he was.  He was pretty much on his own until late on Monday when my niece BillieJo arrived to step in to the caretaker position.  It's amazing how much differently men look at the job of caretaking as opposed to women.  I should know this....I grew up with brothers, no sisters....sons, no daughters.  Guess I never though about it....now as I think about it, it makes me smile.  

"They" think if you have food and the TV remote it will be pretty much all good.  

Chad was here for our homecoming with his homemade chili and a special brewed beer....you should've seen the look on his face when I told him I couldn't have the beer, it was priceless.  Adam offered many times to go get me something to ear, "what sounds good to you Mom"....my answer was most often, "nothing really".....again a priceless look.  Pops was continually bringing food items in to "share" with me....it would make me feel better.  Trevor's offerings were to "stop over and get the new TV set up", he brings "hot doritoes" to share.  See why thinking about it makes me smile.....

Now the Girls....there is a couple of full course meals waiting on the counter.....Cammy & Patty.  Kate and Mary stop by daily to visit and see what there is to do.  Emma pops in and offers her help if needed.....of course Billie is here to stay up until just a bit ago.  She cooked and kept things tidy, did the laundry and cared for the YellowDogs.  She did some decorating for me and made sure I took my meds on schedule.  The Girls put lotion on my legs and feet after my showers....Kate and I did some internet shopping, Emma got the nail polish out.  

It's true what they write,

"Men are from Mars ~ Women are from Venus"

One thing that puts them all together in my book....their hearts.  Their thoughts and ideas are different as night and day....but not their hearts.  The hearts are all big, and caring and full of love and concern.

So who cares where they're from....it's the heart that matters.

These hearts have filled my heart to overflowing....how blessed I am to have so many wonderful people in my life.

Boy, Girl....Man, Woman...YellowDog, Gray Kitty

Filling my heart and life with so much love and I am thanking God for all of you.....for every gesture, big, small...spicy, sweet....hot, cold.  All gestures of kindness, friendship and love.

"Thank you God for this Good Life, and forgive me if I don't Love It  Enough"

Now, up and onward to healing.... will keep you posted as to how it's going and I hope to share some pictures of the Lane house decked out, rather simply for the upcoming holidays.  Thinking I will have a story or two to make you smile as well..... 

From the Lane,

Sharon

November 22, 1933.....

a joyous day eighty three years ago.  The day a beautiful baby boy came into this world....the seventh sibling in a brood that would eventually be 16.  All supported by one income which left them absent of many material things but that absence was filled with love.  The love that became evident as this baby grew into a young man.  Joining the US Air Force at the age of 17 and faithfully sending his extra military pay home to help with family needs.  

Love that was evident when he met a young woman with two small children....she stole his heart.  So did the children.  The love was mutual.  An instant family was born and several years later he was blessed with a biological son.  

Never, not once, did he ever give more love to the last child than he did to the two he "got with the package".  Those words were my Mom's.....  A package we were, and one he accepted willingly, never begrudging the choice.  

He raised the children equally...teaching them to be kind, not to judge.....good manners and how to treat others.  Teaching gratefulness, equality, fairness and most importantly love.

The most kind and loving, most understanding and upstanding, most fair and loyal.....

the most wonderful man I would ever know.  

The man I called "Dad".

He is missed ever so much, most especially on this day every year but his absence is felt almost daily.

He left us with so many wonderful memories that we are so thankful to have.....

He was a Giver in every sense of the word.....never a Taker.  He instilled so many good qualities in us by example.  My wish today is that he looks down on me and smiles with some pride in what he sees.

With love Dad.....

Happy Heavenly 83rd.....

Dance one of your famous quick steps with Angels.....

Your Daughter....

Sharon

Punch Needle Workshops.....

two separate offerings for you to join us to learn to punch needle!

We will be making this sweet winter project...."StarGazer"

  

If you are interested in joining us for one of the workshops please email me at

yellowdoglane@gmail.com 

and I will send along all of the details for each Workshop.

Would love to have you join us....

Workshops will be filled on a first come basis but I will consider adding more dates

if the interest calls for them.  

Hope you're all getting a chance to enjoy this beautiful fall day that we've been gifted with here in Michigan....and to those who aren't in this beautiful state I hope your day is as glorious!

Will look forward to hearing from you.....

From the Lane,

Sharon

Dreary October Monday.....

here on the Lane.

The Girls are taking advantage of it.....

I haven't had the chance so much.....

Wanted to let you know that I'll be working at The Primitive Willow on Wednesday, 11am-5pm 

and will have Open Stitching in the special area Kim has set up for us.  

Bring along a project you're working on or let me set you up with something to get started on.

The coffee will be on and you also get to browse the shop and all the wonderful goods to boot!

Kim has a sale going right now on all of the reproduction cabinets....10-30% off!  Great time to get that cupboard you've been wanting!  

Please rsvp if you plan to come stitch with us as the space is somewhat limited.....betting we can always make room for one more though.

I am in the process of putting together a schedule of classes for those of you who have been wanting to join in the fun and I promise it will be posted and sent along to you very soon.

I had to wait until I knew what was happening with Big Pop's and his back and then my hip....

we're falling apart here on the Lane!  

Will work in as many as possible before years end and look forward to a new year filled with lots to offer.  

The new rustic wool Moire Threads are soon to be on their way to the Wool Corner at the Willow....

excited to get them in to offer to you and to work up a project with as well.  

Please let me know if there are other things you might like to see at the Willow along these lines....or along the Primitive Country Decor line as well....I will pass the latter bit of info on the Kim and I know she'll do her best to get you just what you want!

"Christmas at the Willow" 

is scheduled for November 4 & 5 and I know you're going to love all the great things you'll discover under the tree!!  Or should I say trees!!

Hope to see you on Wednesday....

to stitch, to shop, to browse or just to have a cup of Joe and say "hey"!

From the Lane,

Sharon

Big City Adventure, Part Two.....

ah yes....the saga continues

Another trip to the Big City to see the Spine Surgeon....but this time, I'm driving and Big Pop is riding Shotgun and thinking, in his mind anyway, that he is the navigator.  

I have news for him, he is no way the navigator in the Big City.  He may be able to navigate the deep woods of the North but when it come to the Big City....that's where we draw the line.  

We start out going down the East Beltline....that's the stretch of highway that when you want to make a left turn to go East that you need to continue South, make a u turn to go North to go East.  

I know right....I just go with it, Big Pops, not so much....it really, really annoys him.  

So we're heading south and I know where I'm going, really I do....we need to make a right turn on East Fulton to get to where we're going, I know this....really I do.  As we approach the intersection where we need to turn right, West, on East Fulton, Pops starts to exclaim that I'm going West on Fulton not East.  I try to tell him it's East Fulton but we need to go West...he continues to insist that it's West Fulton and we need to go East.  Now keep in mind that I know which way I need to go but what do I do.....I go through the intersection because Pops is navigating and thinks he knows where he is going.  

He doesn't....so, I go through the light and then I need to make a u turn and head north to make yet another u turn to head south so I can turn West on East Fulton....like I wanted to do in the first place.  As this point he decides it would serve him best to keep his navigational ideas to himself.  

He managed that quite well until we arrived at our destination and we needed to park....

yes, another parking ramp.  This time he says we need to go here.....HERE, so I enter....the bar won't go up, so I press a "call button" at which time I realize that we are trying to enter the Physicians parking area and of course we aren't allowed, so.....I have to back up, yes....back up out of the entrance to the area where we aren't allowed and continue on to the visitors parking area.  

We're parked, we struggle trying to decide which entrance we should take....I decide to follow "The Navigator".  We end up inside the building and have no idea where to go from here.  We go up two floors and I finally decide that I'll go into an office area and ask.  

I do, say I need 1900....the receptionist says "you're in 1900, which suite do you need?", suite?  we're not from the Big City, we didn't know we needed to know which suite.  She was very kind and helped us find our way by asking us which Dr we were there to see.  After a bit of searching and the help of a kind security guard we found our way, seen the surgeon, and were on our way shortly.  

It is now that we realize that our car is parked directly outside the entrance to the area where the surgeons office is....the door I wanted to enter at...the door "The Navigator" said wasn't the one.  

I know, right.  

We get into the car, I tell "The Navigator" that his directional services are no longer needed so just "shut up and ride".  I manage to find my way out of the ramp and along to drive to access the street I need to head home.  I am stopped at the street waiting to proceed and looking left for traffic when "The Navigator" loudly proclaims "JEEP".  I look to the left at this point and see a Jeep Cherokee ready to pass.....I look at "The Navigator" and calming ask him, "as opposed to what, a Buick".  

He decides to shut up and ride.  

We actually manage to make it, without incident back to the expressway and headed north towards home.....all without him shouting out, "FORD", "JAG" or any other vehicle make for that matter.

I know, right.  

At this point it wasn't noon yet.....beer wasn't in order according to the time of day or I truthfully may have stopped along the way for one.  

"The Navigator" has an MRI scheduled for this week.  Fortunate for all it's in Big Rapids...not a Big City, and one he is more familiar with.  It's a good bet he will be the driver and the navigator as well.  I have a feeling there will be more Big City Adventures for us in the near future.  I choose to take a break from this one.  I can send him out on his own.  Something I don't dare to do on a Big City one....Lord only knows what would become of it all if he were on his own....in the Big City....

Big Pops, the Yooper.....let's just say, it wouldn't be pretty.  

Stay tuned for the ongoing saga of the Up North Rednecks on their Big City Adventure.

Cheap entertainment at it's best.  

Oh....and please say a little prayer for us.  

Until next time....

From the Lane,

Sharon....

and The Navigator

Perfect September Day.....

here on the Lane.

Blue, blue skies, sunshine and oh so comfortable temps, and the forecast promises a repeat for the next few days.  Funny how weather can make the mood so much better....or worse sometimes isn't it?

Silly for something that we have no control over but it's a human nature thing....

this time of year it brings a smile to my face when I can grab my hoodie, a hot cup of coffee and head to the Farmer's Porch in the chill of the morning.

Ahhh yes.....Fall

A sneak peek at my latest design in punch needle....

a bit behind on punching it but plan to work on it more this weekend.  I may change up the lettering to say "Give Thanks"....hmmm

It's a lumpy pumpkin of sorts and punched with Valdani #8  I used a variegated on the body of the pumpkin and am very happy with how it turned out....need to decide border and background and get to punching.  Pattern offering soon on this as well as three other new designs, two everyday and one Christmas.  Watch for them here and on my Etsy site atyellowdoglane and also on PatternMart.

Heading off to The Primitive Willow right now to help Kim place some furniture pieces....decided there needed to be a bit of fine tuning on placement and I'm all about that kind of fun!

Be sure to mark the opening dates of 

September 14,15,16 & 17

and plan to attend.....I think you'll like what they have to offer!

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend.....

Be safe....

Have fun.....

Be happy....

From the Lane,

Sharon

Big City Adventure.....

and I do hesitate to call it an "adventure", believe me!

I'll start from the beginning by telling you that Big Poppy aka Wayne injured his back at work.  He's home.....all day long.  Every day.  

Today he has a Doc appointment in Grand Rapids, not a huge city for those of you who aren't familiar, but you need to know that Big Pop is from the U.P.  They don't have cities there.  He insists that he can drive.  He's a good driver....he isn't a patient one.  He also doesn't know the city, therefore I am the  navigator.  

We make it to our first stop without much fanfare, if we don't catagorize the minor flares of impatience at fellow drivers and his mini swears.  We pick up a script and he has an X-ray and then we're on to the next stop.  Things go well and by this time he's feeling pretty sassy.  This was a quick stop for me to make a return to Macy's.....now we're off for the real challenge.  

Keep in mind that it is just the beginning of rush hour....in the city....people starting to head home....others heading in for a later shift.  Pretty much bumper to bumper traffic on a divided highway...lots of traffic lights...drivers weaving in and out in a rush to go nowhere.  Oh, and I might mention that the vehicle in front of us was emblazoned with "STUDENT DRIVER" across the back, uh huh, what luck.  We had a short stretch here, thankfully for me, the fellow drivers and most importantly the student driver.  Big was a quick learner on the tailgating, he had it down pat before we hit the expressway and he had also upgraded his swears beyond the mini point.  I just continue to direct.  I wish I knew the correct answer for why you have to continue north past a street you want to turn on, make a u turn to head back south to turn onto the street that you wanted to turn on but were forced to cross.  I was asked this question numerous times, I finally started answering, "just do it" and it wasn't a Nike like referral.  

The expressway was busy but quite uneventful, just a short jaunt to our exit and then a turn on to the Medical Mile right downtown....during rush hour...we're not sure where we need to be...Big Pop is thinking he's Dale Jr at this point and we speed by the medical building we need to be at.  We end up parking two lots down from where we need to be...first free space we come to...thus we climb stairs to get to the street level, out of the ramp to the sidewalk.  We then walk three blocks....uphill....80+ degrees.  He walks slow anyway, his back is injured...today you have to set stakes to see that he's moving.  We make it to the building, inside where it's pleasantly cool, see the Doc and as we leave an attendant asks us if we had valet parked....right, do we look like we valet parked?

The trip down the hill wasn't much faster than the one up but we're back to the ramp...we can't get into the door to the steps...we try everything...it's rush hour, all these cars, all these people and the rednecks from the North can't get into the parking ramp door, so....we walk a bit further down the hill and we enter where the cars enter, around the bar that goes up to let the cars in and on to the Blazer.  We attempt to exit....we can't...we don't have our ticket validated and there is no cashier on duty.  Of course I'm unable to offer up a good answer to his question as to why they wouldn't have a cashier on duty...but there wasn't one, the bar wouldn't go up, we couldn't get out of the ramp that we couldn't get in to a few minutes before.  Lucky for us, and others I'm sure...a nice man on a little cart takes pity on us and has us follow him in a maze like way through the ramp to another exit where he gets us out.

Big is happy for a few seconds...then we hit the rush hour traffic trying to get out of the city....it wasn't pretty.  I do know my way around most areas so I continue to direct through the side streets so that we might avoid the 3 mile traffic back up on the exway....can you imagine if we had gotten in to that...I shudder at the thought.  We make our way back to the original divided highway we headed down on...Dale Jr style of course....Big is feeling sassy again...I need a nerve pill.  I settle for a bite to eat and seconds on the great tomato herb light ale craft beer that was among the offerings.  

We head off towards home...I'm relaxed ready for an uneventful rest of the ride home, and then we hit the corner where we need to go south in order to turn north onto the divided highway towards home.  Big Poppy decides he doesn't want to do that, I say....he says I told him he could turn left.  He makes the illegal left turn without incident.  It was my fault of course.  I didn't talk to him the rest of the way home.  

Did I mention that I love this big guy?  Yes, he had his camo hat on...not the Carhartt sweatshirt, it was too hot, Carhartt t-shirt.  He did look sassy though!

Stay tuned....he has another appointment next week.  I might be behind the wheel.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend....

Big Poppy and his Girls will be staying on the Lane....

no traffic, no stress....but still the cold beer!

From the Lane,

Sharon

Busy times.....

here on the Lane!

Stitching, Bridal Showers, Bachelorette Weekends, Birthdays,Punching, Haircuts, Sketching.....

well, you get the idea....and I didn't mention the upcoming Wedding!

My niece Kate is getting married in September....my baby brothers daughter.  Having so much fun with all the events leading up to the wedding.  Yesterday was the shower I hosted for her at a wonderful venue just down the way from here....The Edgar Farm.  An 1800's farmstead that has been converted by the original owners heiress....but really left mostly untouched and only enhanced with some updates to the kitchen and bath.  Beautiful brick home with huge porch....

and an equally lovely interior....

Lots of preparation but so enjoyable!

And then there was the Bachelorette Weekend....three days in Traverse City....with Mom of the Bride Mary, who let's just say is much younger than me....and six ladies ages 22-26.....and me!

Yes, I survived it all.....the bike trolley around the town...the Nauti Cat cruise around the Bay and so much more.  Yup, I guess I've still got it...well maybe not so much but I survived and I had a blast!

My birthday was mixed in there somewhere along the line, and my sweet Stitchers made it a day to remember....

All of this and more in the past couple of weeks!  Some of the "more" is the upcoming opening of 

"The Primitive Willow" here in our little town.  I've been helping shopkeepers Kim and Shane by "mentoring" and pitching in with as much physical labor that this old body allows!  It has been so much fun and exciting as well.  Just a few more weeks and they'll be swinging open the doors for their Grand Opening ~ September 14-17

I will share more info and pics on all of that with you as the day nears...mark the date and plan to stop in and see all the wonderful goods they'll be offering!  You will be delighted!

Several new punch needle and wool appliqué designs are in the works as well and will be unveiled soon with patterns and some finished goods as well.  

That's my newsy update for now....

Take some time to enjoy these dog days of summer....

The wonderful season of Autumn is just around the corner.....

filled with good news and surprises!

Until next time....

From the Lane,

Sharon

A good Wednesday morn.....

and a peek down the woods path.....

My day yesterday was consumed by over 14 hours working at the polls.  

As I sit here this morning with my coffee, this view and all the beauty I'm surrounded with I thank God for the wonderful life I have.  I guess I need to get out into the "real" world now and again to make me realize and appreciate how blessed I am.  

The weather people are promising us another hot, hot day here in Michigan.  Plans here are to work on a few more designs as I wait for the new Valdani thread colors to arrive so the others designs can be punched.  A good day to be in where it's a bit cooler.

Open Stitch here tomorrow night, 5-9pm....come join us!

One more bit of news....I opened up an Etsy shop this week, go take a peek

AtYellowDogLane is the name.  I'm sure I can link it but I haven't gotten that far yet....soon!

Enjoy this beautiful Wednesday.....take a minute or two and look around you and take note at all you have to be grateful for!

From the Lane,

Sharon

SummerTime.....

seems to be giving us Michigander's all that we want with heat.  

I, for one, am not complaining though....as the snow will be flying well soon enough!

The flowers are loving the heat it seems.....

Coneflowers, marigold....basil and orange mint

Tansy and Rosemary, and....

Two little mischief makers under my feet while I try to water, deadhead and gather a bouquet!

They keep my life here on the Lane busy and interesting to say the least.

Busy this afternoon with some sketching of some new designs....wool appliqué and punch needle.

My take on Heart in Hand, a lumpy pumpkin and a sweet Angel among them.  

A studio full of busy, happy Stitchers today inspired me to get busy on these and what better place to be on a hot afternoon than in the air conditioned comfort of the Cellar Studio~

Will share the new designs soon.....

If you've a hankering to come stitch with us we have open stitch the first Wednesday of each month, 10am-2pm, and first Thursday evening, 5-9pm.  

Just shoot me an email or ring me up to let me know you'll be here, we'd love to have you join in the fun.  Bring along a project you're working on or we'll help you choose one here to get started on.  

Now....back to the drawing board,

and remember....

take time to stop and smell the flowers!

From the Lane,

Sharon

Goodness.....

here I am again, coming in to write a note to you and thinking I need to apologize for my absence.

I couldn't believe it when I looked at the date of my last post and seen it had been a month since I visited with you all.....

Not to make excuses but....as most of you know I was busy readying things for the 

SummerTime on the Lane gathering that was this past Saturday and in the midst of that process the July 4th holiday fell and we made just a bit of time to steal away to the North Country.  

Anyway....I'm sorry for such a long absence, but as usual....life!

I struggled the latter part of last week at keeping my thoughts to the job at hand.  Found my mind wandering here and there and wondering....wondering why sad things happen to good people.

I received news early Tuesday morning that friends of mine tragically lost their son in a car accident.

He was alone in his car, the other driver was injured but not seriously.  

He was twenty eight....28 years young.

I have known his parents forever, graduated and friends with his Dad through out school.  His Mom was a few years behind us but also a friend.

They were all hair clients of mine, Mom Lorie, Dad Rick, brother Danny, sister Amy, Grandma Theda, Grandma Judi (my step sister)....and Kyle.

Kyle the sweetest kid with the white blond head of curls and the biggest blue sparkling eyes....

and always the biggest smile you could want.  

I was unable to wrap my mind around it all...and even more so after leaving the funeral home and seeing the grief in the faces of all his family and friends.  

My heart aches for all.

Twenty eight years....and his Dad said to me,

 "we can't ask why, we can only be thankful for the years we had him".

Next time you hug your babes, squeeze them a bit tighter and thank God that you can.

We did have a wonderful day here on the Lane Saturday for our SummerTime gathering.

Such a wonderful group of ladies...and ah yes, a few great men!  It was so good to see everyone and I need to thank you all again for making the day such a success.  As always, it wouldn't happen

without you!

The Girls are getting along famously and Miss Ivy is growing like a weed in the summer!

I have gone back to this pic often in the past week....it makes me smile!

Stitchers on the Lane this week Wednesday and twice next week.  Busy day tomorrow getting ready for the group....and I so look forward to seeing them.  Some of the best therapy a gal could ask for, a group of friends gathered together to stitch, share stories, eat, laugh....well you get the picture.

Until next time.....

which I know will be sooner....

From the Lane,

Sharon