Ooops! and BYOB

Back a few weeks ago, I posed a question to you guys - when should I celebrate my blogiversary... well, since I have now oops-ed by two days, I guess I'll have to wait a little longer if I want to extol the virtues and benefits of blogging.... I am such a ding-dong sometimes (I was born a blond).

Oh well. Onward. I have been working feverishly on my BYO Bag. It is almost done (see?).



It is a little different from the original (the blue and lime ones below were knit by the designer, Moira Ravenscroft),


but I like to think of my changes as improvements, variations. Or, I like to stray from the pattern so as to imprint my own sense of style? Ok, so you don't buy any of that? Here's my rationale: (1) I used stash which did not include enough of the suggested yarn to make an entire bag and I did not want to spend any money right now (2) I like variegated yarns; and (3) what the heck? I went for it! LOL. I decided to introduce subtle changes by moving from seed stitch to stockinette to show differences in texture instead of changes in color. It is really hard to tell in this photo though, so once I get it completed, I'll post another photo so we can see if my changes work. Either way, it will be a useful bag and one I will enjoy for a long time to come.

Happy Tax Day, fellow Americans!

This is neat - Knitting Blogger's Favorite Recipes

This link will take you to the above site:

http://www.k1p1k2tog.typepad.com/knitting_bloggers_favorit/

am I?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

DOT 040209 Dog Adoptions

Last week, I wrote about my sister and family who were thinking about adopting a doggie girlfriend for the family. Sunday they did drive out to Cumberland County and visited a lovely foster home to meet BB (for Big Blue eyes)... everyone seemed to like each other, so BB came home with them to see how it all works out. Beth, my sis, reports that Mrs. BB is coming along nicely. She is a shy girl and has evidently been mistreated by some menfolks in her past. She's warmed to Beth more than D and J, but they are calm types so it shouldn't take her too long to figure out they are good guys. Below is a photo of BB in her first few hours at her new home. What a sweet girl! I am looking forward to meeting her soon.

DOT 03.26.09 Petfinder

This is not my usual kind of Dogs on Thursday post. Dogs on Thursday celebrates each of our relationships with our dogs, our friends dogs, our parents dogs, and dogs in general. We love them; all of us; and they love us.

In order to keep the chain of love growing, Petfinder.com connects needy dogs (cats and other pets too) and humans.

You may remember a few months ago when I said goodbye to my sister's lovely Lady. Lady had been a comforting member of the family for a very, very long time. Well, I think they are ready to let another doggie girl (or boy) into their hearts and home. DS (dear sister) sent me a Petfinder link to a pretty little doggie girl with a note stating that they hoped to meet her this upcoming weekend! I am happy for them and for whoever they bring home with them. I don't want to identify the specific pup in case it does not work out for some reason. I know you understand. Once they bring their new fur-baby home, I'll get a photo posted of my new dog-niece or -nephew ... hey, that may be next week's post! Cool!

Here's a link to the shelter they are going to visit. This is one that I am not familiar with (which is kind of strange because I like to keep up with things like this). New Journey Animal Rescue in Cumberland County, Virginia.

Joe, my dachshund, came to me through Petfinder. I have a soft spot for them.

Blogiversary

Chan's post about her anniversary of blogging got me thinking: how long have I been blogging? I looked back and find that I actually have two milestones I can celebrate.

I started my blog on April 13, 2005. I am born, so to speak, to quote David Copperfield and Charles Dickens. 2005 is significant because I restarted my grown-up, single life in February when my divorce became final.

I actually figured out what to do and how to blog in earnest, though, on June 5, 2007. I think the 2007 date is more significant b/c it is after I joined TNK and continued on my path of finding myself (no, I won't digress).

So, the question is: which should I celebrate? Please comment - you guys decide and let me know.

DOT031909

This is Sampson:

Well, he looks a little scary up there, but below is another shot of the whole dog, the complete dog.



Looks a little less scary here, eh?
Sam is a rescued Boxer. Chris's family adopted him several years ago. A year or so before they got him, he was involved in attempting to apprehend a speeding automobile ... ok, he was chasing a car. It stopped and he ran into it, full tilt! You can't see it in either of these two photos, but Sam's muzzle is lopsided due to doggie facial reconstruction. Yep, his sweet face leans to the left when you hold his muzzle in your hands. He is a very sweet boy and thoroughly enjoys his belly rubs!

Like many boxers, he suffers from problems with his hips. Sam gets accupuncture treatments about once a month to manage the pain and increase his mobility.

Wild Violet Homespun and a Contest **

What's prettier than that?! Just something knitted or crocheted with that!

It is called Wild Violet and it is homespun and can be found here on Etsy. If you are not familiar with Etsy, you may not want to go there!!! Your wallet will be happier.

Dani is giving away a sample and you can read about the contest here. I met Dani on Ravelry and followed her to the blog. I hope my blog entry about her yarn gets picked b/c I love love love the colors! They are just my colors, don't cha think??

DD&DOT031209

Domino, Daffodils and Dogs on Thursday

It's about 52 degrees right now (8 a.m. EDT); yesterday it was 80... welcome to spring in central Virginia!

So many photos, so little time to sit down and plan a blog post. I was trying to let my photos speak for themselves, but then I started editorializing.

First up we have Domino, our kitty - she says, "Whaaaat?!"

Next is a photo I snapped of some of my daffodils that line the driveway; even though it is overcast, they still make me happy. What is it about yellow?

Last but not least is Lady. Miss Lady came to visit and basically never left. Her 'real' parents got divorced; she was unhappy living with just her mom so her dad took her, but then the adult daughter moved in (with her dog - another story in itself). New dog, being an aggressive sort, bullied poor old Miss Lady big time, so I said she could stay with us for a little while (thinking that when the daughter got herself together and moved back out, Lady could go back). Almost two years later, daughter just moved out recently, but Lady would be unhappy back with dad ... he's never there and she'd miss her fur-step-siblings... What's a kind heart (read sucker) to do?

On a final note, please click the Dogs on Thursday button on the sidebar and visit some of the other fur-families!

Don't you love a good Give-away?

I ran across this blog just last week and began following it. I added it to my side bar too. They're doing a cool give-away this week and I wanted to post about it so I could qualify for 2 entries - if you're not a fiber addict, just hang on and I'll post about something else (hopefully interesting) soon!

Thank you for stopping by here and please go read about the Desert Garden line of cool fiber schtuff!

DOT March 3, 2009

What a ball o' fire!

Here's lil Missy Jetta - sleeping, exhaustedly. By her nose is a piece of her stuffed cow (cow is now gone, having suffered the fate of many doggie toys - terminal toy disease known as Stuffednomore), where she can grab it and run if necessary! Her pillow? Joe, of course!

Snow!

This is / was the view out the 2nd bathroom window, looking toward the west (and please excuse the screen you can actually see in the foreground):



I took this photo late Monday afternoon. Pretty, isn't it?

February Lady Sweater, River City Knitters and Coordinated Colors

Saturday, February 28, we had a charity-wear-your-pjs-knit-in for our Guild meeting. You can imagine! Ok, picture in your mind a public library. Next, pajama clad knitters with knitting paraphernalia, trooping into a public library... got that image ... well, you're almost there then! Some folks came out totally decked in pajamas, others arrived decorously clad in goin' to meetin' clothing. We were an unusual ensemble this month!

Unbeknownst to me, several other members of RCK were also knitting the February Lady Sweater! I was wearing mine. Oh, didn't I mention yet that I

FINISHED HER?

I received lots of positive comments (thank you all!). Five of us, I think, were posed for a photo - 2 completed projects and three WIPs. RC, one of the group who is a professional photographer, took some photographs.


After the meeting Chris and I headed east toward Newport News and Yorktown. Destination? Coordinated Colors! I had not been by to see Sherri and her wonderful array of yarns in a while, and I wanted to buy some specific yarn for the Regional Yarn Swap (Ravelry). The day was overcast but it had not started to rain when we hit the road, but as we passed out of the metro area, it started as a drizzle. As we headed east, we went into it. Evidently the rain was coming west as we were driving east. I spent about an hour wandering about the shop touching yarn and reading labels. I purchased 2 different yarns for my swappee and some other schtuff. I don't want to say too much b/c I have not mailed the package yet. It is still in the assembly stage. CC has such a variety of yarns it is difficult to choose among them! Please go see the shop in person or if you can't, you can always call or email to see if they carry what you are looking for. They ship...! Also, Sherri was working up her own little March Madness sale while I was there!

Below is an addition -- River City Knitters in PJs & street clothes - all bearing February Lady Sweaters:

DOT 022609

Spring is coming --> I am sure it is!

That is what this photo says to me.

If you are unfamiliar with her work and/or you love doxies, you need to check out Terry Pond's artwork. I hope she doesn't mind me posting this photo - it does contain her copyright info and I am including a link to her website, www.wiener-dog.com.

I wanted to find a good one of Tico, the Bad, to post today, but I did not have one handy right now. I will post about the speed limit enforcing little fella another time. The lil darlin'.

KnitKnote:
I am soooooo close to completing my February Lady - right on time I might add. It was my own personal challenge to complete her this month. I am down to the bottom few repeats of lace pattern, then the garter border, and I do not have enough yarn. Yes, you read it right, I have to wait for the nice folks at Cestari to mail me one (1) skein of yarn!!!

FYI, Cestari Sheep & Land Co. is having its Wool Fair the weekend of April 25-26, 2009. Last year they had demonstrations by the Virginia Percheron Draft Horse Association, animals for petting, wool and food to nurture whichever need you had at a particular moment, and lots of other interesting things to do and see. I will post more when I get the brochure they are working up as I type.

Homespun Yarn Party - Savage, MD, March 15, 2009

Click on the link at the top of my right sidebar to see all the details about this unique event - I am hoping I can find a way to get up there for it!

I love how cool this yarn looks!

Terrific Tuesday

It seems that all I blog about is my February lady sweater, but that is where my efforts have been lately. She is coming along nicely - one sleeve is done and I have one to finish (almost done there too). Once that is done, I can go back and finish the bottom edge. I was afraid that I'd run out of yarn (oblique reference to my not having the latest version of the pattern, doggone it), so I decided to do the sleeves and go back to the bottom! Here's her most recent photo:

Since this was taken, I have done about 3 or 4 more inches on the left sleeve. :) yeay!

On another fibery note, I ran across a deal and could not resist - look at this skein - lovely, eh? I bought Kaleidoscope's last 3 skeins for a steal and then was able to get 2 more from the producer. I have enough for a good size project when I decide how to best show it off!


Today is Tuesday, actually Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday, but it is also knit night - I hope nothing comes up that will interfere with my attending. It seems that about all I can manage lately is every other or every third week... I miss the folks!

Also, today is Jane's birthday - go by and wish her a happy one, ok? Her post today talks about some meetings she's been to lately and about getting to meet Marc Brown, author of the wonderful Arthur books that spun into a great PBS cartoon series. We loved Arthur in my house and I still do (although the almost 17 yo man-child would probably not admit it).
Just for fun, here's a pic for you!

DOT 021909

Hi, I'm Joe, the dachshund. As you can see, I am a handsome fella and my mommy adores me. I don't know quite why she got Jetta for me; Jetta wears me out! Have you tried to keep up with somebody one-16th your age? Whew! She's cute, though, and warm so I guess it's ok. She snuggles good.

A guy I met at a dachshund meet-up in December had emergency back surgery yesterday - please send Mikey your thoughts and prayers - he's gonna need 'em, I am afraid. I got mom to post the photo below - you can see Mikey's mom talking with folks about the "chip shot" (we're not talking golf here). [Mom got me and Jetta one that day.] That's Mikey under the table by his mom's feet (don't you love his cool coat? Mom forgot to put ours on that day; boy was it chilly! ) Oh, and by the way, that"s me again with the red collar walking along at the bottom of the photo! I do have a striking physique, don't I?

Wow - time flies!

Time does fly when you're at home with your foot in a temporary cast and you can't walk without crutches.

How, you ask, can time fly when you're stuck at home and can't walk around? Well, first, due to the pain and swelling, you have meds from the doctor. Second, you knit. You knit a lot when you're awake! Below is a photo of the progress made on my February Lady. I am so looking forward to finishing it up so I can wear it this spring.

I like this lace pattern - it goes quickly and mistakes are easy to spot, thereby making fixing them quick and painless too!

Post updated: 3:32 pm - what have you done to yourself now, Cathy? is a question I have received a lot lately! Good question. If you may recall, on January 6, I sprained my right ankle/foot - I stepped off a curb onto Main Street near my office only to step directly onto the side of a pothole (City of Richmond needs to work on these - might just be the subject of another post) and I went ... down...! Fast, wham, onto my bottom, but not before I'd twisted my foot but good. Last week (Feb 2-6) I'd worn a real shoe to work each day - woo hoo! Monday morning (Feb. 9) one of the dogs woke me up to go outside for a potty break early. It was still dark. Moving around the bedroom, I tripped over one of the 2 black dogs and I went ... down...! Fast, wham, onto my bottom, but not without a little shriek and not without twisting my foot again but good! I went back to Patient First since they'd x-rayed the foot the last time and would have something to compare with. They put me in a temporary fiberglass cast with instructions to go to an ortho doc on or before the 12th. On the 12th I was seen at the ortho group who advised that while they don't think it's broken, it is definitely sprained again and I need to wear a big ole black walking boot for about four weeks.... The bone in question is on the top of my foot and inside so if there is any change other than for the better, they'll see me in four weeks. Sigh. Now you have the rest of the story!

If it's Tuesday, this must be ...

Belgium would be the response if this were a 1960's movie starring Suzanne Pleshette, but this is not a '60's movie, and I am definitely not in Belgium, although we did have a nice dusting of snow overnight! Jetta was thrilled and ran all around like a little nut, not having seen such a wonder before; the other dogs just looked outside and tried to do the back-up thing.... oh, no, not me, I'm not going out there! (especially Joe, the dachshund - low carriage there and all). I wish I had taken a photo, but I did not. I lost track of time and had to hurry to catch the latest express bus to work (yesterday I missed the last express morning bus and had to take the local...). I ramble (sorry!).

Tonight is Knit Night - I so enjoy going and have made so few over the last few months. We meet at Ukrops now instead of Barnes & Noble; they allow us to use their "celebration room" if it is not booked by a paying customer - which is really nice of them. It is also nice to meet there because if you work downtown like me and don't have time to get home, cook / eat dinner before going out, you can get something relatively healthy already prepared and eat prior to knitting with the group. If you are unfamiliar with our local super market chain, you can click the above link and become envious that Ukrops is not in your area!

Knitting update: I finished George's MDDS (which I named Woody after the yarn used) and gave it to him on Sunday - he was thrilled... I was really touched that he had asked Chris if I would make him a scarf (in manly colors). He allowed that it was sufficiently manly when I presented it to him. Here's a photo of it hanging out of my Fred Duncan market basket (on left):


And next to Woody above is a photo of C's mom's MDDS (warning: tangent coming). Oma's scarf is knitted with yarn she gave to me. This yarn was purchased either by her or by her mother for a project that was never started; it was all bagged up together, all the colors, ready to become ... something for someone. I thought it would be nice if it really did become something, so I knit her scarf with it. I think she liked my intent.

Anyway, progress continues on my February Lady Sweater (aka Blackberry Twist sweater): I am almost done with the yoke - Yeah!

Happy Knitting all ---

DOT 012909

Happy Dogs on Thursday!

While I don't have any new photos to post of my babies, I learned today that my baby-baby (Jetta, who is 7 months old) has 2 new siblings... evidently, her mamma Pepper Ann thought that because she was nursing she could not conceive (old wives' tale you know)! I thought everyone knew that was false.

And, while I do not have a photo of the 2 week old pups, I do have a 1 day old photo of Jetta and her litter mates. Aren't they sweet? Jetta is the one in the foreground with the pointy marking on her left, front shoulder.


On the knitting front, I have been making progress on two of the three current projects: my Blackberry Twist February Lady Sweater and George's Wood Scarf (done in multi-directional diagonal pattern). If you're on Ravelry, look 'em up!