Ragus Pug - Always a house full of pugs

barrette disaster

2009-11-27T16:56:00.004-06:00

I didn't shop today...except the grocery store. I'm making the Pioneer Woman's short ribs and polenta...I'll take a picture when it's done. It smells so good.

The other morning, I got out of bed and went straight to put my barrette in my hair. My hands were not awake yet and my barrette hit the floor and broke into so many pieces that I couldn't put it back together. It's made of glass. I love this barrette and I have another like it in a different color. So I only have one barrette now to wear every day. I get these barrettes at the gift shop at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. And they aren't cheap...so now I have a BIG reason to get up there besides the fact that I just love it up there. I have to say Norman and his Woman and Ian are so blessed to live in that area.

My broken barrette was green in color and my barrette that I'm wearing now is the purple color. They are made of glass.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T09:48:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving day today. We all have so much to be thankful for.

I just took a picture a few mintues ago of my clean refrigerator. Looks like I'm not fixing dinner today!

Here is the crew and the husband and a cousin up on the bed. Gertie, our cousin, is staying with us this weekend! She is a sweet girl. But watch out for your food, she is a hound and acts like one when it's dinnertime.

This guy is a reverend and has his car painted for Jesus. He is very friendly and let me take a picture.

Alfred's best friend

2009-11-22T23:27:00.002-06:00

I finally got caught up with my deadlines tonight...but only until tomorrow evening when I expect more work to come in. And that's a good thing...I have to keep buy food and treats and vet bills for these sweet little pugs! Herbie is still here. He goes back to his other home at times but if he's gone too long, I get the husband to go get him! It's a good thing he is an easy-going pug..aren't they all?? He sure loves when company comes to the house. He wants their attention and will be glad to sit right on top of them.

I haven't had time to work on any cards or notepads but I'm hoping I get some time soon because I want to make some Christmas things. My MIL has put in an order for some notepads and Magnolia Sun has put in an order for a couple of things.

I sure have put up a lot of food lately on the blog here. I guess you can tell what our favorite recreation activity is over here.

Leah sent us a sweet gift in memory of Sugar after she passed away. I'm just now getting to post it. It's so cute. I've never seen one like this before. Thank you Leah for thinking of us at this time. We sure do miss that sweet Sugar. I miss her so so much because she was usually with me most of the time. And she loved to shake her toys! Alfred has a monkey that he likes to shake, and I'm so glad he does! I think it's so fun when they do that!

Here is the candle of pugs that Leah sent. The pictures in the background are of our niece and her husband that married this past May. And that's Chichi back in 1999! She loved that bow tie.
Here is an upclose of the pug face on the candleholder. It's so cute and so well made.
Here is the husband and his best friend Alfred! Those two are a pair. Alfred only wants him when he gets home from work or any other time the husband is home.

wordless any day

2009-11-18T17:29:00.002-06:00

My workload exploded in the past couple of weeks...so as soon as I can get a grip on it, I'll post something! I am enjoying reading everyone else. I have not made any cards or anything for a month now and I miss it.

cupcake car by my good friend Little Debbie

2009-11-06T15:55:00.005-06:00

I've invested so much money and so many calories in Little Debbie...that I should be driving one of these cupcake cars! I hope I find a place to fill out one of these chances to win.

I found this at video at Blackberry Beads Website. She makes the most beautiful lampwork beads and other things!

Check out this that I saw on Waiter Rant. I could get my kitchen and living room remodeled on this one dinner total!

more food pics

2009-11-04T00:35:00.002-06:00

Since eating is one of my favorite things to do...I have to show more food pictures.

We went to the Greek festival in mid October. It was so good that we went twice!
Moussaka and triopita
desserts
This is a box lunch from the new restaurant in the Publix shopping center near our house. It's so good. And only $9.99 for lunch. We went to the habatchi table one evening and it was really good, too.

Favorite restaurant

2009-11-02T00:06:00.003-06:00

Our new next-door neighbors own a restaurant in downtown Pensacola. The husband next-door is also the chef. We went a month ago and also Halloween night...I just have to say that it's our new favorite place to eat. They have a lot of tapas to choose from and then great entrees. I had a dessert the last night but forgot to take a picture. They are only open at night.

Pictures from both times we've eaten there.

Scary Halloween

2009-10-31T17:05:00.003-05:00

Here are some scenes from the scary cemetery today. I bet it will be really creepy tonight when the sun goes down.

Pirate, Indian and Priest

2009-10-31T00:40:00.006-05:00

Happy Halloween!!

The husband went to a Halloween party at Herbie aka Big Casino's parents' house last night. That's me in the pirate outfit!! Don't I look good dressed up in a costume??
ha ha ha .... just kidding. I never looked that good! That's Herbie's other mother! Looks like a good time. The husband usually doesn't go to parties, but he committed to this one. So he dressed up like a priest. I put the gray in his hair. I wish I had known sooner that he was going to go because I would have gotten some other accessories to dress that up. I would love to go as Cruella Deville...so I might start getting some things together to do that next year...in case they have a party next year.

Here is the husband and Herbie/Big Casino's other mother.

Party food table...yummy cupcakes I see.

What a crew of cheerleaders!

Here is the husband with his friends. Indian, priest and pirate! Herbie's other dad is the pirate. They had a good time sitting around and talking while the younger folks were dancing to rap music. The husband finds that funny because he does not enjoy rap music.

I hope to get by the haunted cemetery to get pictures of it all set up and ready for tricksters. I hope it doesn't rain and cause it not to happen. I saw the witch up in the tree. Hadn't seen that in about 3 years. So I want to get by there and get a picture of it.

I am wondering if anyone out there knows if induction or radiant cooktops are good to cook with?? I really like the way they look and think what I've read about them is what I would like, but I don't know anyone that has one to ask any question.

Scary Cemetery 2009 part 1

2009-10-29T23:53:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year again! I took Emma for a stroll today and went past the scary cemetery. It's coming to life. Looks like there will be more to come. It is supposed to rain on Saturday. I'm not sure all the ghouls will come out if it's raining...but I plan to walk by there again to check it out and see what shows up.

I remember enjoying haunted houses, scary movies, ghost stories...but I am so scared now as an adult. Why is that?? I hardly watch a scary movie and would not go in a haunted house now. I have watched some of the shows on HGTV and Travel Channel about haunted amusement park or events that happen near Halloween, and I just could not go there now. But it is fun to see people scream and be scared.

I have pictures of food to share soon. Aunt Sue and the husband and I have been eating around town a little bit.

Glad and sad at the same time

2009-10-27T00:05:00.004-05:00

As the husband was on his way home from work Monday, he called me to let me know he was on his way because I wanted to start cooking a bit before he got home. He told me he was bringing home a surprise. I could tell by his voice it was something special. I said, "Is it black?" (I was thinking a black pug.) He said no. I said, "Is it fawn?" He said, "Yes, he's fawn." I said, "Is it little or big?" He said, "It's big." I said, "Put the phone up to it and let me hear." He said he was driving and would just see me when he got home. I said, "What is its story?" He said he had to go ... he was driving.

I was all excited because I thought we were getting another pug...even though we said we wouldn't do it. Then I thought, oh, it's a kitty cat...even though we aren't doing that yet, either. And I thought: He should have asked me before he brings something else home...even though I wouldn't say no.

So I go outside and wait...and it was a stuffed dog! That does tricks when you talk to it! One of his co-workers let him bring it home to see what our dogs would do. He is going to donate it to a retirement-type home because his aunt had it at one and they folks loved it. Anyway, I took a video of the pugs when it turned it on. Bad thing is he has to yell at the thing to make it do what he says...and it decides what it's going to do anyway.

I was a little disappointed and glad at the same time that he didn't bring home a real pug!

Campers at Camp Chichi this weekend

2009-10-25T23:49:00.004-05:00

ETA: Page is Brayton's mom...not Leah. My mind was not even saying Leah when my hands typed that...Sorry Page! He looks like you Page so no doubt that he's yours:) Leah is mom to Oscar and Daisy and she has been on my mind, too, this weekend....I'll show you why soon!

Well, look who came to our house Saturday? I see Mr. Brayton and his mom PAGE...Daddy Rob was there, too, just not on camera. Oh that baby boy is so so so sweet. He was so good while he was here. Page and Rob brought Sela and Winston over to stay here at Camp Chichi while they went to a wedding over in Alabama. It was so good to see them and meet Brayton. Aunt Sue was here, too. We both got to hold him. Page was so sweet and kept handing him over to me (I was a bit uneasy when he would start to fuss and hand him back) but she kept handing him back to me! My goodness that's a sweet sweet boy. I had flashbacks of when I held Magnolia Sun's boys when they were so little.

Little Sela reminds me so much of Sugar. It made me miss Sugar so much and was so fun to see Sela wag her tail and roll over to have her tummy petted...Sugar always did that, too. Winston was a good boy, too. His face is so black! And he's not a young whipper-snapper anymore either...but he is not an old guy. Just seems like after just a few years, pugs get the gray on their face and Winston hardly has any. They were so good here and got plenty of treats and were good sleepers up in the bed at night. Sela slept on my pillow right next to my face! Page and Rob brought back some yummy cookies for the pugs when they came to pick up the pugs. They looked so good that I would like to try one for myself. Aunt Sue said they could just leave Brayton for her to babysit next time!

Brayton getting his bottle. He passed out asleep after he ate...so sweet.

Aunt Sue loves to get her hands on a little baby!

Camp roundup.

Everyone wants a treat.
Probably a hundred pounds of pugs here.
Winston and Sela wondering where their people went.

Sela aka Jaws

2009-10-25T23:37:00.004-05:00

Lots and Lots of Tables

2009-10-19T01:23:00.008-05:00

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. It was so pretty here and cool. I love it. I wish it would stay this temp for the rest of the fall/winter...but I know it's going to warm up. I still wore my sandals all weekend!

Here are the rest of the tables...but I have some that were done by professional designers that I haven't shown yet. I wasn't as impressed with the professional tables this year so I don't know if I'll bother putting them up.

I just love all the tables I've shown were not done by design companies. They all did a great job.

Alfred takng a nap in the middle of the day

2009-10-15T22:53:00.002-05:00

Part 2 of tables

2009-10-13T19:16:00.004-05:00

This is part 2 of the table settings. I should have one or two more posts with the tables.

I took Emma out in the stroller the other day. It was so hot and humid that we didn't stay out too long. Looks like things are going to cool off around here this weekend. Alfred and Herbie went walking with the husband while I strolled Emma, but they did not get to go far because of the heat.

I really like this Hope table.

Part 1 of table settings

2009-10-12T02:04:00.009-05:00

It's hard to believe my little Sugar is gone a week now. I miss her. I talk to Emma about her. I know that when I lose one of these little ones, they are constantly on my mind. As time goes by, I don't think of them every morning when I wake up. Then after more time, I don't think of them every Monday or Friday or whatever day is that they left me. But I do always think of them often. I'm just so lucky to have had them all.

I wanted to share some pictures from the ladies event at my sister-in-law's church. Aunt Sue and I attended. The speaker was Pam Tebow, Tim Tebow's mom. He is the quarterback for the University of Florida team. She was a wonderful speaker and told quite a few stories about their life as missionaries in different countries. Pretty amazing things to hear. It is amazing to hear when people put ALL their trust in the Lord and He takes care of their needs. It may not be what you want it to be at the time, but He does take care of you.

This is my sister-in-law's table. She did a great job decorating. She made the centerpiece. I think there is nothing that she can't do!

She picked the hydrangeas from her yard and bought the other flowers at the grocery store. The little sticks in the arrangement came from another arrangement and her co-worker saved them for her. The glass bowl it is in is one she used at her daughter's wedding reception on the candy bar. Wish I had some of that candy now!
This table had a candy centerpiece!

I love this Christmas china.

This is one of my favorites. The flowers are silk.
This is one of my favorites. I love the oriental feeling of it.

Friday

2009-10-09T07:45:00.005-05:00

When I found out Sugar was sick with cancer, I found this little frame because I knew that I wanted to have a picture of her nearby so I could see her every day after she left us. So this sits on my desk. I miss that little girl!

This is where Herbie likes to sit..under my desk as I work. I also can find him on the bed or on the living room couch when he's not in here with me.

Aunt Sue and I went to the annual tables event at my SIL's church. So I'll put up lots of pictures this weekend. I love seeing all the table settings and centerpieces that the ladies come up with. It just amazes me how talented they are. My sister in law ... honestly, I don't think there's anything she can't do. She made the centerpiece at the table we sat at and it looked like it came from the florist.

I hope the bloggers that are going to the meetup in Willimasburg, Virginia, this weekend have a great time and nice weather.

The crew and 7 things about me

2009-10-08T09:16:00.005-05:00

Here is our crew now this morning. Alfred, Emma and Herbie/Big Casino. I wish I could squeeze Sugar's face and kiss her like I did every day. What a sweetheart she was.

I received this award from Pam at 30 Something. Thank you, Pam!

Here are the rules.
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they've been nominated.

Here are 7 things about me you may or may not know. I might have mentioned one or two before.

1. I like Coach purses. It's the only brand of purse that I buy now. I can't find anything else that I like. I do like the solid colors of Vera Bradley purses.

2. I am attracted to shiny things...like glass and jewelry. I love glass lampwork beads and have been buying some beads to maybe use if I ever learn how to make jewelry. I have bought some beads and had jewelry made by a girl that lives in Connecticut.

3. I wanted to try lampwork glass bead making as a craft/hobby but it required space in the house that I don't have. It needed a ventilation system to be able to use the gas torch inside. While some people don't have a ventilation system, I'd be too scared not to do the right thing.

4. I have spent too much money on my papercrafting items. It's an addiction. If I actually would make more cards, it would make more sense that I have all this paper and embellishments and stamps.

5. I love to just get in the car and drive and go places that I've never been. But with gas prices like they are over the past couple of years, I don't do that.

6. I really love being back in a church family. I am learning so much by going to Bible study on Sunday mornings before church services and on Sunday night and Wednesday nights. It's amazing that the Bible contains all we need to know about how God wants us to live our lives.

7. While I cannot imagine not having a pug in my life, the husband says he wants to have a Siamese cat one day. And I love cats, so I think we will have cats but I want the cats to get a long with a pug! And I know they do because I see some pug friends that have cats.

Thank you for your comments

2009-10-07T01:07:00.004-05:00

I want to thank you all for your sweet comments about our little Sugar...it's been a true blessing for us to take care of these little pugs for the short time that the Lord gives us to care for them. She will be missed and just knowing that we were able to give the attention and care that she needed makes us feel better. Emma seems a bit troubled by Sugar not being here. Emma and Sugar spent a lot of time together. Alfred spends some time with them but he likes to do his own thing or be in his own spot a lot of time, so I don't see him being as confused as Emma. I sure miss Sugar being in here while I'm working. It's so hard to lose these little pugs because they are such a huge presence in your life because they want to be with you and want your attention all the time. We are so lucky to be pug owners...or that the pugs own us!

I have some news!!!

Here is our newest family member...we have joint custody of Herbie aka Big Casino. He spends a lot of time here at Camp Chichi. His human brother and sister both went off to out-of-state schools this fall. Herbie was home alone too much and was bored...his parents asked us if we would "adopt" him while the kids are away. So we did! WE LOVE HIM. So he goes back to his other home when his human siblings are home on visits and then stays with us all the other times. So this works out well and Herbie gets the best of both worlds. He is such a sweet boy. He and Alfred really like each other. They are both BIG boys! I don't know yet if he will be with us Thanksgiving or Christmas. His other family travels a lot so it's a possibility he may be with us at the Holidays...so I think he may get in the Christmas picture this year!

Here is Alfred and Sugar. I took these pictures last week. Alfred is doing well. He is truly a special boy. He is all about the husband here. Those two love each other! His other mom, Alfredsmom, our friend in Korea, knows how special he is. We are so blessed to have him in our life, too. Thank you C for letting us take him in and love him! I sure do miss Holly, too. She was a special little girl....a true sweetheart of pug with a huge passion to keep going with the handicaps that she had.

I need to get a picture of Emma to put here next.

Aunt Sue and I had lunch over at Magnolia Sun's house on Friday. It was so good. She made enchiladas...oh my goodness they were good. And she made the best WW recipe of a pecan tart that tasted like pecan pie. So good.

Sugar is a true angel

2009-10-05T11:12:00.003-05:00

Our little Sugar's wing grew full size overnight and she has gone to be with her sisters Chichi, Tiny, Holly and brother Baxterman.

She was doing well with the medication she was taking and I knew in my head that we had to take it one day at a time with her. Last night she started getting sick. This morning she was even sicker. It was time to let her go. The husband took her to the vet to see if there was hope to keep going with medication but she did suggest that we had done a lot and it would just be trying to fight a losing battle now. I knew when he left with her this morning that I might not see her again. I held her and talked to her about what a good girl she had been for me. That I loved her so much. The husband put her in his truck in the front seat. She did not see me looking at her from the other side, but she was sitting there looking out the front window so sweet and I was wondering if I would see her again. I will always remember that peaceful look she had on her face looking up at the sky and the outside from that front seat.

She is the fifth loss we have had in two years. It never ever gets easier...but I know now that the wonderful memories live on in your heart and mind and they will always bring a smile and a sweet memory that we can talk about years from now.

I remember the day we got her. I had had a really bad day at work in 2001. The husband saw an ad in the paper for a pug for sale for $100. We went over to the house where she was after work. She was living in a yucky little house full of cigarette smoke and birds and teenagers. It was noisy and smokey. We were going to write a check for her but the lady made us go get cash and bring it back. I was so afraid she would change her mind about selling her if we left...but she was still there when we got back with the cash. The lady was not even sad to see her go. She did not have anything to give us to take with Sugar. We had to stop at Wal-Mart on the way home to get her a harness and leash.

She was always a sweet, timid little girl....but she LOVED stuffed toys. She always ran to get the stuffed toy when you came home from being gone for a while. She would just shake it and shake it. She would always want her hands on her. If you took your hand away, she would paw at your until you put your hand back on her. She never barked for food, but she was always right there to get her share if you were handing some out. She was always accepting of any other doggies we would baby-sit or any others that came to live here. At one time she was the only pug we had after Chichi and Tiny and Baxterman passed away. That's when our sweet friend MeiMei and Miko gave us a stroller. Sugar absolutely LOVED the stroller. And Emma loves it, too. So I'll be looking forward to riding Emma in the stroller soon when it cools down.

I sure am going to miss Sugar. She was always there with me during the the loss of the other pugs. She is how I got the name of this blog. My daddy called her Ragus because that was Sugar spelled backwards...so I named the blog that. She made me happy and will always make me smile when I think of her. My heart and sadness will heal with time. There is always and older pug out there that needs us...and I'm sure there are more angels in our midst.

Fountain food cupcake

2009-09-18T10:50:00.008-05:00

I took Sugar to the vet this morning and she got her B12 shot. She is doing okay ... holding steady. Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers for her. We'll just take it a day at a time.

Aunt Sue and I went over to Sandestin, Florida, yesterday to go to the Fresh Market and Cantina Laredo restaurant. A blogging friend Beach Kat who is blessed so much to live over that way...has shown this restaurant on her blog. It sounded so good that we decided to eat there yesterday. It was so so so good and we will go there again. This area would be a good place to have a bloggy meetup one day.

Our fountain pump has been out for a long time. The bowl to the fountain is so heavy that we had to have help getting it moved to fix it. Finally a friend of the husband's was able to help him move the bowl so he could put in a new pump.

It's working again!!

I love a cupcake...this one is from Publix. The icing must have been an inch thick!

Video: Dog Passages

2009-09-14T16:17:00.002-05:00

You might need to have a tissue handy with this song/video. I hope you can listen all the way through...so sweet. It's not just about pugs.

And the winner is . . . .

2009-09-07T19:32:00.002-05:00

Congratulations Leah!!! It's funny because Leah one last year's Halloween decoration! I wish I could give every one something...but I plan on having more giveaways this year.

Thanks to everyone for putting your name in the hat!

Early Halloween Giveaway

2009-09-04T00:57:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm in the mood for a change of scenery! I am enjoying making some Halloween cards lately...so I decided to have a giveaway featuring this Halloween candle holder from Yankee Candle.

Leave a comment and on Monday evening around 8:00 Eastern time, 7:00 Central time a winner will be picked. Even if you never comment here, please feel free to comment for a chance to win this!

Also...Girlville is having a fabulous giveaway over on her blog!