So fitting and what a deal

We have a new branch of a local pet store near us called Mini Petmart. I've been to their other locations, but this new one is the showcase, if you ask me. They have so much stuff there, including things you can usually find at the dog show, but not at a pet shop...and they don't sell any animals. Gotta love that! Anyway, in my first visit yesterday, I remembered that Savannah's collar has seen far better days. While they had lots of pink things to choose from, cuz you know we've got to make her girlie in some way, when I saw this one, I knew it was perfect for her...

Monkeys. Pink monkeys. Too dang funny! We call her the little monkey sometimes, because she is just so silly sometimes...and she loves to climb. It just seemed oh-so-fitting!

And the deal? Thank goodness for craigslist. We picked up one of those Booster Bath dog grooming tubs like Carolyn has for $100. The woman has another one, but it's missing the drain hose. This one looks like it's never been used. It's been sitting outside under a cover, so will need a bit of a scrub, but otherwise, it's in great shape. Woo hoo!!!

Finally a picture of the babies...new chewies make for cozy couch sitting...

It's baaaaaaccccckkkkk....

first signs of poochiness last night. UGH!

Is it that orange?

You know what I'm asking...and these are adjusted. So, is it????

Win pictures from Umpqua Kennel Club, August 2 & 3, in Roseburg. We're still waiting for the picture from Bandon. The poor photographer was in a car accident with her family just a few days after the show and all were injured pretty badly. I think they'll be okay eventually, but we send them our best!!!

Oops, she did it again

Savannah managed to pick up Winner's Bitch again today, in spite of herself. Emily says she has mommy-itis...I don't have to do what Mommy wants. Every time we'd start on the go around, she'd try to run into me instead of going straight and I had to force her to go to her left. She trotted half way around. She wanted out of the ring, period. In other words, I got told the exact opposite thing by the judge today than I got told at Bandon. The one at Bandon wanted me to speed her up. This one decided she was doing it because I was taking her around too fast, which I know wasn't the case. Frustrating!!! Anybody got any suggestions? On the bright side, she's up to 6 points, whether she deserves them or not! ;)

Savannah gave me a birthday present

Savannah decided to celebrate her birthday in style by winning winner's bitch and best of winners for 1 point at the Umpqua Kennel Club today. That brings her up to 5 points. I have a feeling we'll be major hunting soon. I'm just happy she was a good girl today!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Bitty!

Our Savannah, Wolfrun White Lightnin', turns 2 today. Can you believe it? She's still the baby of the house, though she'd really like to take control soon. She listens better than her other siblings, but is definitely a teenager right now. She got a brand new frisbee tonight, so she'll run to heart's content. She's very sweet and loyal, loves her "parents" equally, is cautious, barks with abandon, cuddles as much as she can, and is silly, silly, silly. We adore her and are so happy that Louise and Juniper let her come home with us! Thank you both soooooo much!!! And now to some pictures to celebrate life with our goofy, pretty baby girl. :)

Why I love this dog...

Where was I last night...and why I hate my camera

Hub and I returned from our Bandon vacation on Thursday, turned right around on Saturday and headed to the Tacoma Dome for American Idols Live. (A few Bandon photos, including a win pic will hopefully be posted by next weekend.) I've been a fan of the show from the start...there, I admitted it!...but I've never had any interest in going to see them until this year. This year, I didn't think there were any stinkers (Sanjaya, anyone?) and I thought there were at least four albums I'd buy out of the group, if not more...gotta love my iTunes.

And, I was nearly as enthusiastic about David Cook's win as Traci, parenting of future children aside. ;) I even went out and downloaded his albums with Axium and his solo album before it got pulled by Amazon. Good stuff, I'm telling you!

So, why am I hating my camera? We weren't that far away. Lowest part of the first section to the left of the stage. But my pictures are crap! And did you wonder why I mentioned my adoration for David Cook? Sure, it could be that I just wanted to really explain why I'd want to go in the first place, but oh no, it was to further emphasize just how much I'm hating my camera right now. The damn battery ran out just as Cookie took the stage. Aw, crap! I did get some video of one of the screens on my cell phone that's not much better, but I'll see if I can attach it. ARG!!!!

Have you ever wondered why the judges on the show sometimes seem to be listening to completely different singers than we're hearing at home? I understand why after this show. Some I thought were pretty strong weren't in person and others were amazingly good. Now, in reverse order, this year's American Idols...and my review, for what little it's worth.
Chikezie was really good! I have to admit I was somewhat surprised, but the AI folks got really lucky when he was voted off at number 10. He adeptly got the crowd going and, when singing songs he's comfortable with, the man has a terrific voice. Probably shouldn't have been this low.

Early on this season, I thought Ramiele had a strong voice she just hadn't really released. Maybe she didn't have good song choices or maybe she was having off weeks. That big voice just never re-emerged...and that continued last night. The song choices didn't show what I hoped was there. She should have been number 10...or lower.

I will pay money to see Michael sing again. I liked him from the start, felt he was another song choice victim, and was shocked to see him go so soon. In person, he's just as good, more charismatic, and funny! Charming man with a fantastic voice...totally robbed at number 8.

I'm not a fan of country music, though I grew up on a good dose of it. That aside, Kristy Lee really is a good entertainer. She has a more than solid voice, a spunky attitude, and an ability to put on a show. And I'd say, after hearing her in person, she was actually better than a few who came out over her, rough weeks notwithstanding.

No words truly express how amazing Carly's voice is in person. The power behind it dwarfs that of all the other competitors. If the people who handled her as a teenager had just let her do more solid rock a la Heart or Evanescence (whose songs she sang) rather than the pop crap they foisted upon her, she never would have needed Idol to be famous. She is brilliant and should have been in the top three. Please, oh please, let her put out a rock album! I will sooooo see her in person again if she does. Amazing (it bears repeating)!!!

Brooke is what she is...a singer/songwriter type whose voice may not be the strongest, but who can tell a story with that voice. Pure as the driven snow, even on stage, and cute, but also so heartfelt. I may go see her again and I will buy her album, but she probably was lucky to place this high. I still adore her!

At this point, a group number commenced with Brooke, Carly, Ramiele, Kristy Lee, Michael, and Chikezie.
On to the intermission and Guitar Hero challenge, then the show began again...

Ahhh, Jason...what do you say about Jason? Either you love him or you hate him. On the show, I decided I liked him, but only when he could sing something he enjoyed that was as unique as his voice. In person, I think the same can be said, though I wasn't overly impressed. I think room exists for lots of voices and styles, but in this kind of competition, I think Jason survived by being cute and not being the worst each week. I think, if he'll put the work in, he can be quite good, but not yet. Oh, the Dreadheads are gonna hate me! Sorry!

Poor Syesha! Her first song was rough, to say the least. Maybe I thought that because I dislike the song, but she really seemed to struggle. In between songs, she spoke a bit. That's when it became pretty obvious that her voice was giving her some trouble. The next song was better, though still rough. Moments of brilliance emerged and I know she was having a rough day, but I still think she shouldn't have been third.

People seem to think that if you like one David, it precludes you from liking the other. Not true! David Archuleta had the second strongest voice of the night. Really a lovely voice. But, for me, it comes down to whose album I'm most likely to buy and enjoy and who I'd most like to watch perform and, for now, he isn't it. He deserved to finish where he did and may have a great career. If he does, I'll be interested to see if he goes more the social commentary route or more the r&b, easy listening Clay Aiken route. It's obvious which I'm hoping for.

David Cook totally deserved to win. Oh, I said that already, didn't I? He puts on a great show, he interacts with the audience, he has a fantastic voice, and, well, he's just wonderful! Next year, when he's touring on his own to support his first album, which I will have totally and completely memorized, I will so be there and I will so have great seats...floor seats...oh, yeah, and a better damn camera. Got any recommendations for concert photography with great zoom and video taking ability? Inquiring minds want to know...and are shopping.

There was a final number with all ten of the AI folks that was quite good...no camera for that one, though. And here is one of the cruddy videos I took on my phone. Sorry about the screeching and the bouncing at the end...

The Dangers of Multi-Talented Friends

As I was griping in my last message about mojo, I also mentioned the upcoming, now past, Black Sheep Gathering. I've totally got my mojo back now, but haven't posted much cuz I have lots of real life stuff going on and just haven't had time....nor blocking room. I'll explain about that on my private blog in a few days. Those of you who haven't been invited to it, but want to be, email me. So, back to the topic at hand...

I had classes (which were wonderful, by the way) both Saturday and Sunday of BSG. Saturday was all day, but we were given a two hour lunch break to shop...oh, yeah, and to eat. My friend, Pat, had planned to come hang out during the break, but hadn't made it there yet when we were let out, so I took a quick trip through the vendors. I really hadn't planned on getting much. I just knew I wanted enough of some kind of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Raven series yarn to make a shawl...didn't even care which one, just one. Nothing else really sucked me in, having just recently repacked and moved my entire stash...good lord, I've got a lot of yarn!!! I didn't even buy that without Pat with me, though I managed a quick look (I ended up with a gorgeous skein of Laci in Valkyrie later in the day). Just as I was near the end of the last building, I saw my friend, Shannon the talented.

Shannon raises Jacob sheep, trains herding dogs, used to run agility, felts wool, spins, and now knits, I understand. She saw me coming down the aisle and lit up. She knew I'd be sucked in by the wool fumes, too, so brought something with her that she said I absolutely had to see. I immediately thought, 'Oh, crap!,' but willingly followed her to her other booth. As we walked over, she told me she'd been asked to create prizes for the upcoming Cardigan specialty in September. I really had a feeling that was probably bad news for me. I haven't ever gone to that show and don't really plan to this year, though I've been encouraged to. She told me she'd decided to do some felted wall hangings, but she said that when she'd finished the first one, she knew immediately it shouldn't be sent up there. Just then, we came around the corner of her booth to fully view what she meant. There, hanging on the wall, was this:

Can you believe that?!? My three dogs, plain as day. She said she knew it right away and thought to herself, "Those are Richelle's dogs." She knew I'd want it, of course, and, of course, I did. I'd have bought it no matter the cost and no matter who'd made it, but it is more special knowing the artist and knowing she thought of me as soon as she'd finished it. Here are some details:

Ethan with one of those great Celtic buttons she found

Savannah

Libby

Cool, huh?

Where'd the mojo go?

I haven't really been into my knitting lately. Not sure why, either. I'm pretty busy with Mom move stuff and I'm not as good at sitting still as I used to be, but I still sit sometimes and just do nothing. Maybe my projects aren't interesting enough. Maybe it's the weather being better. Who knows?

I am still excited about some things knitting related. I'm taking an awesome lace class at Black Sheep Gathering with Galina Khmeleva and a beaded knits class with Jill Laski from Ashland Bay Trading Company . I should learn tons and I'm excited for that.

In September, the Knitting Guild of America's (TKGA) fall trade show will be in Portland. Knitting rock stars will be teaching classes at this one. I'll be taking a Tips, Tricks, and Hints class from the fastest knitter/crocheter on the planet, Lily Chin. Every time I see her on Knitty Gritty, even if it's a repeat, I learn something new from her. And I'm taking a class called Cable Sanity with the Knitting Heretic herself, Annie Modesitt. I cannot tell you how excited I am to take something from her. I love her attitude that no knitting is wrong knitting. I just can't wait to meet her. So, that's terribly inspiring!!!

I think it must be my projects...arg! I'm not good at having too many going at once. I already feel guilty that I have socks for a friend, a kimono sweater, a triangular shawl (though not lacy), and a stole (totally lacy) actively on the needles. I really shouldn't cast on something else, but then again, if I don't love what I'm working on, why not move to something else? I just hate having undone things. I don't believe I'll ever go back. Maybe I need a quickie project to get me over the hump. Ugh!

Hope I never go this far!

Though I am going to Black Sheep Gathering rather than the Canby dog show...and I may even be sucking others in with me! Too funny!

You can find this Close to Home comic by John McPherson at the link!

Kissy face

What goes lickity, lickity, lickity, woof? Ethan and Savannah and damn near constantly, too. I think Ef has decided Savannah is a cute girl now. She's been out nearly a week, but he puppy dogs after her, is at her beck and call, kisses her teeth (as she does his), shows her his belly (!!!), and thinks it's cute when she tries to chew his face off cuz he just plain can't leave her alone. I don't know how long this'll last, but it's been pretty nice. Efie is in love with life again and will let us do whatever we want with him...he even jumped into the bathtub all on his own for Paul to give him a bath. This is the dog we normally have to put a muzzle on for baths! Amazing!!! Puppy love is good!

In other news, I'm going to start another blog to document the more personal thing I'm going through now. If you'd like to be on the list to view it, let me know which email you'd like and I'll let you. I'm keeping it private to the rest of the world, though....and I haven't started it yet. Should be in the next few days....stay tuned...

In knitting news, I'm working on way too many projects at once. Usually three is my limit and I guess I still only have three really active ones, but I have lots to finish and lots more I want to start!

I'm a little more than halfway done on the Kureyon rainbow scarf I'm making from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It's like the striped ones here on Flickr.

I've nearly got one retro rib sock done from Favorite Socks in Dream in Color Smooshy dusky aurora. Love that yarn!!!!!! Just haven't been thrilled about knitting socks lately. Bummer! I really want this pair of socks!

My last active project is my newest. I'm making the Fan Kimono from Knit Kimono out of Ella Rae Classic wool in sage. It is coming out really cool! And it's a kimono...it should fit all sizes! :) I'm about to add on to start the sleeves. It's an interesting construction, though very simple. It's knit in one piece starting at the back bottom edge and knitted up over the top and down the front. Again, should be interesting! Only my second sweater for me, so I'm excited!

Ugh...or gurgle

Liquid diets suck! Just started this morning and my tummy is really not pleased. Oh, well, better get used to it...it's this way for another 2+ weeks until I get to progress to....wait for it...puree! Woot! Jealous, aren't you? All things are temporary, or so I keep telling myself.

Great timing, as usual...

The little black hussy is back. Surgery is 10 days away. Lovely!

Actual knitting content - OMG!

I keep waiting for the perfect natural lighting to get some pics of my recent projects, but being as I live in Oregon and there won't be good natural light until June (at the earliest!) I'd better just give up and get pictures taken. So what if the color isn't perfect? At least it'll get documented before it gets overly used, right? I'll get to that soon, bad light or not, but in the meantime, here are pictures of my mom's Christmas present. It's called the Hemlock Ring Blanket. It's a doily pattern from the 40s, but made with a heavier weight of yarn to make it a lap blanket. This one is Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted in the Japanese Plum colorway. It ended up about 44" across. Mom had to convince her neighbor it wasn't crochet. She finally told her I don't know how to crochet, which is so true! Anyway, there is really some knitting, but I'm not making promises on the rest...until June, of course. ;)

The blanket picked up a nickname while being knitted. I began affectionately referring to it as "The Amoeba." Is it just me or does it have a jellyfish kind of quality to it?



While I don't agree that knitting is the new yoga, knitting itself goes through its own kind of yoga when stretched to its extreme for blocking. Looks a bit better, eh?



Here's a close up of the center while it was blocked.



Finally, the finished product. The color really isn't all the far off in these pictures, either.

Me?

I'm not so sure about this one, especially the "mellow" part...

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow. You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles. Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Holiday Knitting...or how I won't be done in time

Here I sat thinking I was soooo on top of all the holiday knitting and then it happens...I remember someone I forgot. ARG! On top of that, I'd put some things out of my head that need to be washed and blocked before they can be given and that hasn't happened yet, either. What was I thinking? Where did I think this time was going to come from? How did I think woolen things would dry in just a day in an Oregon winter? Good grief! I should have it all knit, but the things that have to be mailed aren't making it out of here until next week.

That's not the only way the mail has jinxed me this year, either. Maybe the reason I'm behind is also because the things I ordered online either showed up late or haven't shown up at all yet. That could definitely be part of it! I know one person is getting something totally unexpected, because something I ordered still isn't here...let's just say that I'm much faster at knitting socks than I used to be, but I can't knit them if the yarn isn't here yet! In the past, I've been a heavy holiday internet shopper...can't stand the bustle of the walk-in stores during the holidays. I've always had great luck with it, even ordering at the last minute. I think someone or millions of someones, to be more correct, have caught on to my plan and are using it themselves. :} Lesson learned...order in October! :)

Dog content: Not much, which is really a good thing. It means no dramas and everyone is getting along fine. Can't wait to get a treadmill in January! It should help run off some of the stored energy that happens in rainy weather. Until then, we take soggy walks and wipe off bellies. Ethan is back to the very loving, sweet red boy he was as a puppy, though he still greatly dislikes dogs outside his pack...boys, what can you do? Libby, the queen of manipulation, has pretty much guaranteed her position as bed dog for life, so she's happy. And Savannah, just like all little sisters, enjoys thoroughly annoying her older "siblings" in any way she can. Man, that girl can bark, too! But she's also "dangerously cute", as her grammas say, and she's very cuddly when she can manage to sit still. A very loyal girl, for sure!

I hope to get some project pics and some puppy pics over the long holiday weekend...probably figuring I'll have more time than I really will again with Friday being Hubby's birthday...but I'll try!

Savannah Pics from Today

Since it's been so long, here are pics of the Bitty girl...who isn't so bitty anymore. These were taken when we got home today after a bit of tussling with the big dogs in the yard. Talk about fabulous weather this afternoon! Too bad the show wasn't so good for us. Kinda wondering why we do these dang early mornings!!! Backgrounds are, um, rustic, at best, but you get the idea. I'm spamming you with a bunch of pics just cuz we took 'em.













She says she's had enough!

OFFFF (Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival...Finally)

Are old pictures anything like fine wine? Do they get better with time? Afraid not, but at least there are finally pictures of my visit to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in September. I've only experienced one other fiber festival on a whirlwind excursion, just an hour or so long, thanks to a big work event and a dog show all loaded up on the same weekend. It was the Black Sheep Gathering in June here in Eugene. It was fun, quite tempting, but I wasn't blown away. Then there is OFFF. Wow! It's huge!!! So many vendors in so many places, so many classes, so many animals, and so much to see. I even got to pet a camel! Talk about surreal! A camel right where we normally groom dogs for the Canby show.

Here are the camels...a male and a young female, I believe. The male nuzzled a woman as she scratched his neck. I thought he might give her a big ol' doggy slurp, but he kept his manners about him. :) Camel fur is incredibly soft. I expected just the undercoat to be soft, but the top felt just a little rougher. If I won the lottery, I'd have a couple of them, I think, though it's said they aren't big fans of small herding dog types. Hmmmm...




Look sheep in the sheep pens instead of groomers!




That's a funny show ring!



The building in the background is where the superintendents and local kennel club folks normally set up. For OFFF, it becomes one of THREE vendor buildings.



A gorgeous display of baskets caught my eye. Believe it or not, I actually escaped without buying one of those.



And here is the market bag I made specifically to fill with my goodies when at OFFF. This bag grows an amazing amount! It's the Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty. It folds up nice and small into its own self-made pouch. Love it!!!



My friend, Jennifer, came along and enjoyed two spinning classes that day. JC Briar taught a terrific class in multi-directional scarves that I took. I learned a lot and started with gorgeous, bright merino/silk yarn from Dicentra Designs. On clearance, incredibly soft, luscious colors and the perfect yarn for this technique. I'll get some pictures of the finished product to put up soon. I will definitely be sure to go again next year. I can't wait to see what classes and vendors they'll have!