Gatekeeper

Happy Dogs on Thursday!  Where on earth did this week go?! 

The girls are really enjoying their “new” pen.   The pen was a bonus when I bought the house; I didn’t have dogs at the time, but getting a dog of my own was a top priority.  The boy dogs loved the pen, and would spend all day in it when the weather was nice, sunning and batting around the ball you kinda’ see behind Gretchen.

I was worried Sissy wouldn’t get enough exercise in the pen, but she does.  She can’t sprint wide-open too far, but she can dash and pace and… stand?  She’s watching a critter on the far side of the yard.  She has the funniest little sound she makes when she spots a critter….

Gretchen likes to watch too.  You can see both balls in this photo; what I wouldn’t give to have a video of the boys playing ball!  The girls just don’t get into it the way the boys did.  Gretchen likes to fetch small balls inside and will prance around with a toy of any sort in her mouth often, inside or out, but the boys batted those balls around in a soccer-like manner, often at break-neck speeds.

The girls crack me up.  Clearly, Gretchen found critter-watching a little slow for her tastes.  Not Sissy.  I love how almost human her stanch is!

That’s what I see of the girls most these days.   They love the steps the Knight and company built for them.  Now, for a doggy door and more lights, so we can see what they’re doing at all hours…

There’s nothing like a happy, tired dog.  (Note the blurry tail – wagging as hard as it can wag!)

You might want to come back later.  If things settle down in the office, I have another post in the works.

Happy little friday!

Seeing Red!

WARNING!  Loopy Ewe Sock Club photos ahead.  I think it’s been long enough these aren’t spoilers, but click away if you haven’t gotten yours yet.

Not the mad kind of seeing red though. 

July Loopy Sock Club

That’s what it looked like fresh out of the box.  And yes, that’s a special RED Namaste Buddy Case!  The note says it was made just for us, the sock club, but I’m hoping it’s also a hint to the new color that Namaste is likely to release this fall.

That’s the kit.  See the yummy Sanguine Gryphon yarn?  Another “first” for my  stash    yarn collection.  Soft, ooh my goodness it is soft!  The color is rather rusty, and honestly, I’ve changed my opinion on said hue every single time I’ve glanced at it.

Did you see the precious sheep stitch marker?  Of course, that’s larger than life, depending on your monitor, but it’s so darned cute with its red feet and the lime “tongue” and um… the other end of the lime piece…

Well, since I’m running late again today, that’s all folks.  Tomorrow is dogs, so the FO report will have to happen on Friday, and just like that, the week’s over.

40 Gifts, part 3

Can you see the bag for the trees?

My dear brother inlaw, his fiancee and her daughter sent me another Vera bag.  (Large Tic Tac Tote in Botanica, for those keeping score at home.  I am quite fond of this pattern, and like most of what has been retired, I’m sorry to see it go.)  I wish I’d snapped a photo of the brown paper package – with the massive, spring-green Vera box beneath the packing paper – because the niece to be wrapped it and mailed it herself, just for me!

Inside the TTT

Again, it’s awesome when non-knitters get it.  Both mother and daughter mentioned above have scarves and the mom has asked for another.  My future SIL told me that the bag was purchased to hold some of my yarn.  How cool is that?!  (And look at those pockets.  I can see notions living there…)

Birthday Box from the west

Well, I’ve had three boxes from the north, so now the west coast has been represented!  Ruth sent the most wonderful box of goodies.   It was basically a virtual tea party, but please don’t mistake the box of mix on the right for scones.  Like everyone else, Ruth and her fur-girls took care to include my girls too.  I’ll be baking biscuits soon, but they won’t be getting any of the berrylicious jam on their paw-tea treats.

See that yellow/blue/green cloth on the left?  (Under the yummy yarn?)  The Knight scooped that up and claimed it as his own right after I brought the goodies inside.  In fact, I think it is hanging out in his shower as we “speak”…  Please know that if you send a cloth to my house, there’s a very good chance the Knight will call it his own!

A handmade card in my favorite colors of the season

So far, everyone has sent me yarn that I can’t find here.  (I’d say “new to me” but Sereknity is known and loved, just not available locally.)  I didn’t even know Arcadia existed before yesterday, and now, I’ll be Rav-stalking each of you to find the perfect pattern for it!  Thank you, Ruth!!

Yes, I still owe you an FO report, and maybe tomorrow, we’ll look at the awesome July Loopy Sock Club offering.   I did get some care packages out at lunchtime, so if I’ve been promising you something, there’s a good chance it’s in the mail.  (Not you, Bec.)

Just Five More Minutes…

Okay, that’s a lie.  I’d just like to go home and sleep until I’m ready to get up.   It only took a couple of days of Gretchen letting me sleep in to ruin me.   It seems my fur-girls are all grown up now.  Gretchen is 10 months old, and Sissy is 20 months, but both are settling into their adult personalities. 

Oh, they’re both still plenty playful, but Sissy has developed that basset flop; if she’s not on the go, she doesn’t just stand there.  She flops down like a proper lazy basset. 

Do I look lazy to you!?

Of course, that still doesn’t happen often enough for me to have a photo of it…

The long weekend was way too short.   I do have a finished object, but I finished it up very late last night, so the photos didn’t happen.

How was your weekend?  Anything exciting looming ahead this week?

We’re also sending out good thoughts to Pissy and his family, who had to say good-bye to an old friend yesterday.  I don’t have a photo of Bill, but he was a grand old gentleman of a yellow lab, and I know he is sorely missed.

Oooooh…

…ahhh.

First off, I’d like to thank the rain for holding off.  The first sprinkles hit the windshield of the chiefmobile as we parked in the driveway after watching the fireworks and hanging out at the station for a while.

These are my first firework photos, and I must confess that the Knight had to all but drag me along, so my trusty old point and shoot Nikon that lives in my handbag did the best it could. 

Several of the area firework shows that have been around for a while were either downsized or eliminated this year.  We did glimpse some of the City’s show when the Knight required a run to the grocery store to collect bananas, two flavors of pudding (banana cream and french vanilla),  Nilla wafers and Cool Whip.   That was AFTER his earlier trip to town to get the fried chicken he craved for supper.  Clearly, the man has cravings to rival any pregnant woman.

I’d really like to thank our neighbors at Keswick Hall for their show.   One of the perks of being married to the chief is that while the duty crew was down at the site where the professionals were setting off the fireworks, we sat on the hill with neighbors and old friends.  The first couple we saw were the parents of childhood friends, for example…  Have I mentioned that I love living in the same community where we both grew up?

After the detour for supplies, we stopped at the station.  The Knight ate a few of the white chocolate covered strawberries one of the gals on crew and a friend had made and bickered (happily) with Mr IT, while Cynthia and I worked on her afghan in progress.  She’s been knitting little squares, so I showed her how to seam them together, but since the regular knitter-readers know I loathe seams, I also showed her how to change colors as she goes along, so instead of a baggillion squares, each with four sides to sew together, she’ll have several strips that change colors with said strip… 

No, you don’t have photos because what happens at the round table stays at the round table.  One of these days, I’ll get you a round table shot, but it’s basically the center of the firehouse.   Plus, I can assure you that no female firefighter wants her photo taken at 11pm under florescent lights. 

Sweet Gretchen is growing up, and/or the extra time outside thanks to their new steps into the pen, but either way, she let me sleep in both Friday and this morning.  Yay!   Now, when the Knight awakes, we’ll journey out and get a doggy door for the sliding glass door that leads to the deck.  Yeah, I wanted to upgrade to French doors, but my laborer    the Knight doesn’t agree. 

There might also be some knitting progress, since I’ve only knitted a couple of rows all week.  I hope you’ve had a great weekend too?

Small Towns

Many thanks to the Scottsville Fire Department for putting on a grand parade this morning.  (Sorry…  no photos…  I was too busy waving…) 

Happy 4th of July!

It’s impossible to live in the shadow of Monticello and not take a moment to reflect upon the men and women who fought – and still fight – for our freedom.  If you’re American and haven’t read the Declaration of Independence, please take a few minutes to do so, and keep in mind that by signing their names to said document, each man was fully aware that he was signing his own death warrant, and most likely that of every member of his family. 

I guess that’s why I love small towns, and live in a rural area.  Our way of life is a bit old-fashioned, and the sense of community is still very strong around here.   I joke that around these parts, we don’t do Mr. Bacon’s Six Degrees; everyone can be connected in one or two degrees here.  We either have a mutual friend, or have friends who have a mutual friend, relation, went to the same church, etc. 

Sure, that leaves me grumbling about the lack of retail opportunities and finds us driving for an hour to eat at certain restaurants, but that’s okay.  Don’t tell the Knight, but I like that everywhere we go, he has to stop to shake a hand or nod across the room at someone he knows.

Battalion Chief Junior

It also means that when we take a little trip south for a parade, we get a special breakfast with friends.  Many, many thanks to Junior’s family for their continued tradition of fixing breakfast for all of the firefighters from their son’s station who come to their hometown parade each 4th of July.   Four pieces of apparatus, basically with every seat filled, and most of us have been there for enough parties and such that it feels almost like home to us too.

THAT is why I love small towns.

Enjoy your own celebrations!

40 Gifts part 2

Ready for more?  The next package was from Kathy. 

See that?!  That’s my FIRST Socks That Rock yarn!   The sneaky dear braved the crowds and floods at MDSW two months ago, and kept it a secret ALL THIS TIME.  Then, there’s the Hush Puppies keychain, which is so very dear (Fred’s uncle was a Hush Puppies model), but that card!  I love that dirty mouthful of muck.  And how ’bout those note cards?!  Can’t you just see Sissy grabbing a hydrant at a yard sale?  Heavens no, she doesn’t need one, but details like that wouldn’t phase Missy Sissy.

It’s the little things…  Kathy knew to tuck a shiny penny into the purse too.   Thank you Kathy, for putting together a thoroughly delightful package.  Clearly, my friends know me well!

And they know my girls too.  Kathy and Mr. Bettis sent gifties for the fur-girls too, because it’s hard to be little and watch other people open presents, right?  Sissy knew right away that Mr. B had tasted the chocolate first, so she grabbed that toy and ran, leaving Gretchen to the appropriately pink gum.

The girls played happily with their squeaky toys for a few seconds while I opened the other package that arrived on Friday, from Nichole.

Nichole and Kathy both put the fur-girl goodies at the top of the box, so I had no choice but to give the girls their treats right away, as I’m sure they both intended.  Yep, my girls are spoiled, but isn’t that the point of having pets?

Sissy says, "Trust me. Gretch is down there."

So, before I dove into the bag of goodies for me, the girls got biscuits.  While they crunched, I had a few moments seconds of peace to explore my own loot.

(And yes, I can hold both cookies in one hand, and Sissy will only take the one I tell her to.   Gretchen would do the same, I’m sure, because she’s even easier about taking things from a hand, but Sis is the alpha dog, so she always gets hers first.)

Can you see it all?  There’s a wicked-cool tea mug on the left, tea in the rear, another cute card, and that gorgeous Sereknity in a colorway named Mums, with merino and seacell. 

Thank you Nichole!  What an awesome package.  And before y’all think I was neglected today, I got a card from Anita and a package from The Loopy Ewe that I’d ordered Monday night.   It was bittersweet to see Tootsie Rolls in the box; the girls were expecting peppermints, but I happen to like Tootsie Rolls so I couldn’t feel but so sorry for them.

Speaking of Anita… check out her new shop at Artfire.  What’s Artfire?  Well, it’s like Etsy, only free for the sellers too, as I understand it…

40 Gifts part 1

Oh, what a birth-month it’s been already!  I’d meant to get this post up sooner, and I might have to turn it into a multi-part post, but here we go!

Edible Arrangements bouquet from the Knight

In lieu of flowers and a cake, the Knight surprised me with a GREAT arrangement from Edible Arrangements.  The chocolate dipped items were absolutely incredible, and even survived the trip home yesterday – the four items that were left.  The fruit is truly premium-quality, so we’re fans and will soon be regular customers of this company.  (And since the Knight ate more than half of the chocoloate-covered items, it’s healthy, right?)

Teddy Bear Magnolia from MJ and Dae

Isn’t Teddy great?!  I’m very excited about him, although I won’t be giving a nod to the local nursery (owned by neighbors, I might add) where he came from.  Sure, he’s healthy and happy looking, and they seemed to do a great job planting him right where we’d put the stake, but MJ & the Knight picked him out last week and paid dearly for him to be planted while I was at work ON my birthday.  He didn’t arrive until yestserday, after MJ called and fussed a bit.  

Pretty lilies from the Knight for the Garden

Another lily for the Garden, from the Knight

Don’t you love it when your non-knitting friends get it?

Neighbor Guy and Best Thing gave me this great collection of scarf patterns.  I’ve nearly purchased several of the Little Box of … items, and after flipping through this set, I’m sure I will bring home more.  I like the idea of just slipping the one card I need in a project bag, rather than lugging a book around, or making a copy of the pattern from said book or magazine.

Again, I have to stress how much it means to me when non-knitters not only TRY to get me something I’ll enjoy, but actually pay enough attention to what they see me knitting to nail it.  I am truly blessed by all the generous, thoughtful people in my life!

I was absolutely blown away when  I opened the package from Grace.  Shalom had been in my queue, and I’d admired the one Grace made last week or so, but imagine my surprise when it arrived at MY house!  (Wasn’t it appropriate that I used my “tea for two” garden flag as the hanger?)

The color is more accurate in this photo.  I’m in love with the button too.  I can’t wait for it to cool off so I can wear this all the time.  I wish I could hop a plane to New Zealand, where my relatives are doing winter…

It’s not a flattering photo – I’m on my knees, leaning forward because I’m blind without my glasses and because I couldn’t find the tripod - but I thought Grace deserved a shot of me wearing Shalom sooner rather than later!

Grace showered us with all kinds of goodies, including peppermint candies for the girls.  (Really.  For anyone ever sending a package this way, that’s all it takes to make the girls feel special.)  The towel/cloth is for the Knight, who of course, is using it as a man’s cloth. 

Group shot of the rest of the goodies from Grace

I have to tell you…  as much as I will treasure Shalom, finding my favorite snack ingredients – Craisins, chocolate chips and peanuts – within really touched me too.  I remember mentioning it in a swap questionnaire or something over a year ago, and Grace remembered too. 

You also need a close-up of the cupcake.  Thanks to Ravelry, I now know why Sissy keeps sniffing at it; Grace puts a scented candle within!  Isn’t that the best kind of cupcake?!  No calories, smells great forever, and it matches the decor in my guest room, so some of you might see it again.  (It’s also safer from Sissy in there…)

Wow, this is getting long, so I think we’ll wrap up with the yummy yarn Grace sent (that somehow didn’t make it outside for the group photo), and then I’ll head on to part 2 and beyond.  I also need to go do some laundry, but I have my priorities straight – I’m blogging first!

Thank you Grace, for everything!   I love this vivid blue alpaca and the cute alpaca face on the label.  You really helped make my 40th a very special birthday.

Dog Dolls

Happy Dogs on Thursday!  It’s also a not-so-little little friday, since for many of us in the US, today’s the last day of the work week before a holiday weekend!

Meet my yo-yo dog pack!  One of the ladies in my knitting guild had them for sale, and like potato chips, I couldn’t stop with just one.  She gave them each food names, but sadly, I only recall that the orange one is Pumpkin.  I now have to find a safe haven for them at home, because the living, breathing fur-girls believe that anything that looks like a toy must be theirs!

Speaking of my fur-angels, they got all dolled up yesterday for my birthday!  I think they thought maybe they could go to dinner with us if they looked the part…

Yep, yours goes all the way around too...

They were too confused  excited to be still and pose properly.  It didn’t help any at all that Sissy could just BARELY squeeze into the girls size 6 dress.  I’d figured she needed about a 10-12, but that was the only purple one I could find, and the largest size was a 6, and as I predicted, I was JUST able to squeeze her into it!

I. cant. breathe!!!

Yes again, the dresses are on backwards, by human terms, but I think they work better that way for dogs, don’t you? 

I'm *NOT* a baby!

Gretchen didn’t mind her frock at all.  It was an infant 3-6 mos., in a nice, fluid knit. 

Gretchen: Why don't you jump up here then? Sissy: I can't! I can barely move...

Now that I have a rough idea of what sizes my girls wear in human clothes, don’t be surprised to see more dress-up happening.  I still think dog outfits are more comfortable for them, but…

The girls actually missed QUITE an adventure with dinner.  We headed to Maggiano’s after the storm had passed.  We’d never eaten there, but so many people raved about it, we were sure we were missing out. 

Weather-beaten carryout bag

Um…  maybe not.  I’ll definitely go back for lunch when I’m in the area, but I wouldn’t drive the near-hour for dinner again.   The service was so-so (which I hear is unusual, but this is what we experienced), and I’ll give a run-down course by course on the food, because it varied greatly.

Because we’re bread people, we skipped the appetizers and ate bread.  It was good-quality bread, but very unremarkable.  I did order their half chopped salad, and was shocked at the quantity; it was easily a meal unto itself.  So, when our pastas arrived after I’d only eaten a few bites (hem, hem… ), I asked the server to box the remainder up for me.  We never saw it again, but to our regular waiter’s credit, I do have a fresh, “full” half salad in the fridge for lunch today.

Day-old half chopped salad

Our regular waiter was pleasant, even delightful, when he was around.  We only saw him when it was time to ask if we wanted to order something else.  The bread girl kept taking our bread “refills” to the table behind me, and while she apologized, that still didn’t change the fact that the Knight sat there with an empty glass and no bread during those few seconds  minutes while I had my salad. 

While I realize it’s an Italian restaurant and I enjoyed the delicate olive oil for dipping the bread, the Knight is a bread and butter man, and I felt badly that no butter was offered.

Our main courses came from the Little Italy Favorites.  The Knight ordered the baked ziti and sausage, a favorite of his.  It was good enough, but nothing special, which I’d hoped my 40th birthday meal would be.  The same could be said for my lobster ravioli.  There’s a Trader Joe’s down the street from the restaurant, and I bet their store brand is comparable.  Good, but good wasn’t good enough last night.

Dessert was another story.  Ahhh…  The Knight ordered the strawberry pie, which was served in a massive single-serving, mini-pie.  It was the best crust I’ve ever eaten.  Seriously.  I had the tiramisu, and my portion was about three times the normal serving size.  It too was melt-in-your-mouth good, and I hope the leftovers will be as good this evening.

Pocket where umbrella lives when it's not drying in the back

I wish our tale ended there, on that incredibly sweet note.  I also wish their website offered photos of the desserts, but back to our story!  When we left, it was POURING.  The Knight sprinted to the car to offer curbside service, so I felt a little sick when a few minutes later, he came back, sans umbrella, soaked to the skin.  (I’d mentioned on our way in that there was an umbrella in the car, but failed to add that it was in the driver’s door pocket.)

The battery was DEAD.  We were roughly 60 miles from home with a car that wouldn’t start.  After more sick-feeling, I took a deep breath and walked to the hostess station.  She immediately called mall security, and within seconds (literally!), they were at curbside, and the Knight was directing them to our dead soldier.

(No Daddy     Pissy/CP/whomever, I don’t have jumper cables.  It’s the ONE vehicle we own without them, but I bet the Knight remedies that this weekend.)

Slider-thingee, where it lives between uses, since there's no stopper

We still don’t know what happened.  We do know that a few times before, my automatic lights have opted not to turn themselves off when the key leaves the ignition.  I also have caught the beastie a few times when the driver’s seatbelt (which lacks its plastic stop to keep the seatbelt slider piece from sliding to the floorboard, as Lexus doesn’t consider that a replacement part) has prevented the door from closing, because when I try to lock it, Beastie (formerly known as Lexi, back when I loved her) will SCREAM if the doors aren’t shut.

Remember, I am half-heartedly car shopping.  Perhaps I need to step up my efforts before Beastie leaves ME stranded somewhere, alone.   Ironically, Sunday night, we did do some vehicle window-shopping, and are trying to decide if we need to rule out anything with “captains chairs” in the second row.  Why?  Because Gretchen likes to snuggle Sissy, and G doesn’t ride so well.  Sissy might enjoy her own “single” seat, but would that cause Gretch undue stress? 

Yep.  We’re THAT into our dogs, that they strongly influence my next vehicle purchase.  After all, they use the back seat FAR more than anyone else.

That’s more than enough, and you deserve a portion of your favorite dessert if you made it through the whole thing!

Coots and Cahoots

And some of you were worried my big day would lack the fanfare you think it deserves… 

I considered titling this post “Misappropriations” as personally, I think that allowing the Fire Chief to use the company’s sign for personal use is just wrong, but since the sign technically was purchased with proceeds from our Monday night bingo games, I guess that’s a stretch.  The bingo manager – also known here as Mr IT – whole-heartedly approved said usage, of course, so all that’s left is for me to laugh every time a horn honks.  (Cynthia, do be sure to thank Mr IT for that, will ya’?!)

So yes, 40 years ago today, I entered this world!

Someone anonymously sent black carnations and a balloon.  The Knight swears it wasn’t him, so that narrows the list of suspects, as they came from our florist.  The Knight guessed it was his mother, and she’s certainly the most likely candidate…

They’re actually very pretty, as flowers spray-painted black go.

Thanks to all of you who have already sent birthday wishes via email, Facebook, honking as you drove by, calls, cards or any other medium I failed to mention.  Since I have to work, I may as well be busy receiving personal calls and the like!

Do pop in and see Anita’s handiwork with Photoshop.  Personally, I think those two photos are just about the best gift I could get.  I’ve also suggested she should start her own line of greeting cards…

I’m sure there will be more surprises and jokes as the day goes on.  In the meantime, I’ll be sitting here trying to figure out which of these honking vehicles is driven by someone I know, and which ones are just piloted by kind souls who appreciate the Knight’s idea of fun.