Chappy is still so exhausted today . . . I mean, look at this . . . he didn’t even have the energy to climb all the way onto his pillow!

I feel just a little bit that way, myself. Although, not that bad. I mean, he missed out on a lot of his regular nap-time, so he’s got a lot of sleep to catch up on. I was smart enough to take today off from work, and so got to sleep late this morning. Actually, I turned my light out early last night–about 11:00–and then slept until 8:30, so I’m doing okay, energy-wise. Still, it’s nice to be able to relax. (Sorry, Liz and Shelley–I’m sure you’re at work today, but, well . . . I’m using the four-hour drive as my excuse.)

See the nice gift Chappy and I got, just for coming to visit? (And, well, Chappy’s birthday, too.) A tall mug with a shoe-handle from Shelley, who figured I’d really appreciate the shoe. A MDSW mug from Liz. Doggie treats, and little samples of wool-wash. A birthstone “bone” charm for Chappy’s collar. And a George W. toy for Chappy.

I mean, really, how nice is that? All that good hospitality PLUS gifts to bring home.

Including some fiber. Here’s the baby camel fiber that Liz gave me. I spun it on Saturday, and plied it yesterday when I got home. (I could have plied it on her wheel, but by then I was tired of all the treadling and didn’t feel up to facing an unfamiliar wheel. The camel was too pretty to risk rushing it. And, yeah, I’m going to be buying more baby camel sometime very soon . . .

The darker brown is the Targhee that we drum-carded together and that I spun on her Majacraft. It’s such a nice, chocolatey color, and the yarn is so springy. Really nice.

The one “bad” thing? Liz and Shelley insisted I go to the yarn shop with them. They made me! And, well, it would have been rude not to buy something, right?

But look how well I restrained myself, really. Yarn for two pairs of socks. And of those–both of which I really like–I was thinking I might give one to my Yarn Aboard sock pal, whenever the time comes. The colorway is one I know she’d like. And then I wouldn’t feel so guilty about the Summer of Stash thing. Except for the Sundara Petals Collection Club, I hadn’t used any of my exceptions yet, and if half of it is a gift, well . . . I figure I’m in the clear.

As I said to Liz on Saturday, it’s not so much that I’m concerned with getting rid of my stash–hey, I love my stash!–it’s just that I wanted to feel like my buying impulses were under control again. I got a little carried away last Winter with Carole’s Anti-stash-along, and just want things to feel contained again. Besides, I’d already said that my reward for successfully completing the the Summer of Stash Challenge would be one of the Virtual Yarn kits I’ve been admiring . . . that’s worth restraining my yarn-buying impulses for another, what, five weeks?

Especially since Rhinebeck isn’t that far behind. And Liz and Shelley might be coming up for that!

And anyway, in the meantime, I can buy other stuff without any guilt at all. See what came while I was gone? A copy of Here Be Wyverns, which I’ve wanted for ages, and got on sale. My Interweave Knits and my Vogue Knitting–both of which not only have good articles like always, but, amazingly, some decent patterns. AND my set of KnitPicks Options needles. Woohoo!

. . . Okay, I just glanced over my shoulder, and Chappy is zonked out in the corner . . . he is really just completely exhausted today. He has enough energy to follow me from room to room, but once he’s sure about where I’m going to BE, he more or less collapses into a pile of fur. You’d think after a good night’s sleep and a morning’s solid relaxation, he’d be feeling a bit more energetic by now. But no. I suppose he’ll wait until tomorrow, when I DO have to go to work, to feel and act like his usual bouncy self. Not as bouncy as Banjo perhaps, but a normal, five-year-old dog kind of bouncy. Really, he sure has spent a lot of his time as a five year old just lying down!

Still . . . he did find enough energy to play with his new toy . . . for at least a little while!

And, oh yeah, how pathetic is it that I took my Trekking socks all the way to Maryland (432 miles round-trip) and completely forgot to take a picture?? I DID trek with them in July, I did, but I have absolutely no photographic proof. I’m sure Liz and Shelley would back me up and confirm that I did bring them and I did show them off, but . . . Sigh. Norma and Margene are going to kick me out of the knit-along.

Now, if I could only figure out what’s wrong with my Woolee Winder…

Tags: Chappy, Friends, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
7 Comments »

Some random photos from our weekend with Liz, Shelley, Max, Marley, and the adorable 4-month old Banjo. (And oh yeah, Liz’s husband Kirk, who put up very nicely with Chappy’s barking at him every time he’d walk in the room.)

Oh, and that picture, of Shelley, Max, and Marley? It totally cracks me up. Max is lying across her lap, Marley is on the sofa cushion behind her, but since their coloring is so similar, it looks like there’s just one, really long, really flexible dog wrapped all the way around her.

I’m tired from all the fun, and the long drive. (3:40 going down, 4:30 coming back, thanks to an accident on 95 that kept me in the state of Maryland for an extra hour or so . . . it’s always interesting when you can put your car into Park in the middle of a highway. And, oh yeah, Chappy got sick in the corner of the backseat just outside Philadelphia . . . there goes his “3 years car-vomit free” record! Poor boy–he really doesn’t like the car that much.) Anyway, lots of romping. Lots of playing. Lots of tail wagging. Although, most of that belonged to the “other” three dogs, since Chappy was just a little overwhelmed by the chaos of three really energetic dogs–especially on top of HIS being tired from the long drive. He had a good time, mind you, but he was happier sitting on the couch watching the insanity than actually participating in it. Especially if he was near me or Liz. (I think he held the manic energy that is Banjo against Shelley, just a little bit.) But really, once he got past the shock of “How many people and dogs live here, anyway? And, what’s that? A cat??” on Friday he had fun.

Among the people? LOTS of laughing and silliness. Although–in keeping with our conversations about how some people and their dogs are just so much alike–most of the active silliness was on Liz and Shelley’s side, with me just sitting and laughing and enjoying it. They are extremely entertaining.

There was also spinning, and knitting. I got a look at Liz’s collection of fleeces (wow). Drooled over some of them. She showed me how to use a drum-carder and I spun up some brown Targhee (or was it a Targhee mix? I forget). I also spun up some baby camel . . . yum. I’m going to have to get some more of that! We ran out to her LYS–although I admit to a qualm about leaving Chappy, though he seemed perfectly happy when we got back, so he was fine.

Thank you, Liz for your hospitality (and the MDSW mug, and the spinning fiber, and all of that). And thank you, Shelley, for coming for the weekend, too (and for Chappy’s birthday present, and the mug for me!) We had a really good time . . . but now, you guys wore me out, so . . . I’m going to go collapse for a while . . . (grin).

Pictures of yarn and such tomorrow…..

Tags: Chappy, Friends by Deb
7 Comments »

P is for Pen.

(Note how I resisted the urge to do this for my “P” …. I bet you thought I would, didn’t you?)

Tags: ABC-Along by Deb
3 Comments »

Okay, here’s my contribution to Eye-Candy Friday, as started by Sundara last week as a way to brighten loooooong Friday afternoons.It might not be much, but at least it’s something to look at while Chappy and I are on the road to Maryland.

The picture is a close-up of the bowl of marbles I have sitting on my dresser. It’s only a few inches wide, and is actually a yellow “sea” glass, with a handful of these lovely iridescent marbles. I found them at a craft show–the marbles were actually a part of a necklace where you could change the marble to go with different outfits. I didn’t want a necklace, but I loved the marbles and couldn’t keep my fingers away from them, and so he sold me a handful for a few dollars.

Then I went directly to a stall that’s at this craft show every year, with these nice, organic bowls, and bought this. $20, and there I was, with the perfect accent for my dresser.

Really, it’s amazing how much I love this little bowl.

(I like this blurry photo, too–the colors are almost jewel-like.)

Oh, and I love my dusting method for it, too–I turn it upside down on top of Chappy’s crate. I wipe out the bowl, and then roll the marbles around on the blanket covering his crate–the wire keeps them from getting out of control, and the blanket gets all the dust off. Then, scoop them back into the bowl, and there you go. Everything’s clean . . . without losing any marbles!

Brought to you by:

Tags: Eye-Candy Friday by Deb
4 Comments »

Okay, let’s see . . .

Suitcase. Clothes. Toiletries. Shoes. Knitting?

Check.

(Must remember to add book before leaving the house.)

Spinning wheel. Bag o’ wool?

Check.

Chappy’s travel bag. Plastic bags of his food, pre-frozen so they’ll stay plenty cold for the trip. Dishes to eat out of?

Check.

Muffins?

Check.

Bag with, oh, maybe a surprise or two?

Check.

MP3 player (which has been working since it returned from the manufacturer, so, knock wood) for the car?

Camera and cell phone in my purse?

Check.

Maps?

Check.

Now . . . am I forgetting anything??

Tags: Friends by Deb
6 Comments »

Elizabeth asked to see sugar bowls for Show and Tell. Of course, it wouldn’t be right to show the sugar without showing the cream, so . . . here you go. (I saw this over at Bluestocking.) Always glad to oblige in some silly internet antics.

Then, oh boy, you wanna see a creative knit-along? How about Sock Wars? It’s pretty cut-throat for a knit-along, but it sure is creative, and everyone but the winner (who wins swag) gets a pair of socks. Not a bad deal. And did I mention? Really creative.

Speaking of socks, I have a fabulous idea for a pair of socks burning a hole in my brain. A very creative pattern that I want to try out to see if it works the way I think it will work . . . and yet . . . I just started those lovely little socks with my tea-swap yarn, which is so pretty . . . I really should finish them before doing anything else, but . . . creative ideas need to be hopped on while the creating’s hot! (And no, I can’t just adapt the tea-swap socks into this new idea–they’re already past the point of no return in terms of patterning.)

And you know I don’t like to do “multiple” knitting projects–one pair of socks, one sweater, one lace at a time. When I double-up, I start getting punchy.

Still, I do have other things on my mind. Like, right now, Chappy’s not speaking to me. Not only is my suitcase out–which he, like most dogs, hates to see–but my spinning wheel is folded up in a carrying bag. Clearly, the world is about to end, and my plans appear (to him) to be for me to be someplace else during the cataclysm. He thinks this is rather unfair of me, and is therefore miffed. Seriously. He’s out in the hallway sulking right now.

I’ve told him that he’s coming with me tomorrow, when we go visiting. We’re spending the weekend at Liz/Lizzy B‘s house, and Shelley is coming too, and there will be the three of us, and our four dogs, and wool, and spinning and knitting, and I daresay, huge amounts of laughter. We can’t wait.

Or rather, I can’t wait. Chappy still doesn’t believe he’s coming with me, and he won’t, either, until tomorrow morning when I put his harness on him and buckle him into the car. (Yes, my dog wears a seatbelt, the Premier harness and Car Strap at the bottom of the page. Highly recommended.)

Oh, and the other reason he’s miffed? Because apparently I’m not just going with a suitcase any my spinning wheel. No. I’m bringing muffins with me. Taking food from our house. For strangers! (Yes, I know and you know that Chappy, Liz and Shelley aren’t strangers, but–he’s not listening when I tell him he’s coming, you really think he’s listening when I tell him who we’re visiting? He’ll remember them the instant he sees them, but until then …. strangers!)

This means, of course, that I won’t be posting this weekend–I wouldn’t want any of you to worry that I’ve disappeared. Sorry about the Saturday Sky thing, but, well, you understand…. I DID plan ahead, though, and have my “P” post all ready for the ABC-along on Sunday.

Lastly, you remember the old, computer Pong game, right? Yeah, yeah, I know, it was a laugh a minute. But, really, check out this text-version. It’s funny!

Tags: Friends, General by Deb
5 Comments »

Okay, Jenny wanted to know what I got from Amazon, so here’s the pile. A CD called American Angels, Jo-Ann Mapson’s newest book, The Owl & Moon Cafe, a biography of Patrick Dennis, the man who created the famous Auntie Mame. A history book about a terrorist attack on lower Manhattan in 1916 (no, it’s not fiction, but really happened), a cookbook for baking that I’ve heard good reports of, and a look at how the American Revolution affected the rest of the world–geared more for children than adults, but hey! Interesting is interesting, right?

Well, I think it’s interesting, anyway!

1. Have you read Lord of the Rings?
   Oh my, yes. You saw the pictures last week, right?
2. If so, how many times have you read it? Just once? Or so many you can’t count?
   So many, I can’t count. I lost count at about 15, back in high school, and then lost track of the estimate when I was around 20-25 reads, and since then, I’ve read it at least four or five more times . . . I will say, though, that LOTR is the one I love. I haven’t read the Hobbit in years, and while I’ve read the Silmarillion two and a half times, along with other, miscellaneous Tolkien kinds of things. It’s Lord of the Rings that I truly love. My best friend and I used to write notes to each other in high school in his dwarvish runes . . .
3. If not, why not? Not your cup of tea?
   Clearly, this question does not apply!
4. And, while we’re on the subject, did you see the movies? What did you think?
   I did see the movies and thought they were excellent. They weren’t entirely accurate to the original, but they captured the look, feel, and essence of the books perfectly. (Really, the look? Everything was almost exactly the way I’d pictured it–except, I never thought of Orcs being quite so slimy.) There were some little changes that bugged me, as a purist, but mostly, they made the movie stronger. That’s the biggest flaw in the Harry Potter movies–especially the first. They’re so very strictly kept in line with the books that the movie doesn’t flow properly. Differene media have different rules. And frankly, I didn’t miss Tom Bombadil, and if they gave Arwen more to do, well, fine . . . My only real objection was the scene where Faramir brought Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath (or wherever), just in time for a Nazgul to hover right there, and yet be confounded by the simple act of Sam tackling Frodo. Um, they went all the way to the Shire to look for the Ring, but, that close to Mordor, it’s all “out of sight, out of mind?” Not to mention that that little stop would have taken Frodo and Sam way out of their way and messed the timeline up . . . but really, that’s not the point. The movies were great . . . but the book was better.

Okay, so I’m a geek. What can I say?

Tags: Reading by Deb
5 Comments »

I actually have remarkably little to talk about tonight. I started my second sock.

I know–the excitement is really high here, too.

Well, I did talk to Liz on the phone tonight, which was nice. She decided to call instead of sending e-mails back and forth, and isn’t it interesting? I never think to do that with my “online” friends, the ones I’ve met via the wonders of electronic technology. Even Risa, who I see every few weeks. We always make our get-together plans via e-mail. We’ve only ever talked on the phone a couple of times, other than a “I’m running about 10 minutes late” kind of call. And yet, friends I’ve made through other venues? Telephone calls are the norm.

Otherwise . . . well, really, not much! I got a couple books from Amazon. We got Chappy out for a walk at lunch time–a fortuitous choice of timing, since we had some pretty heavy rains this afternoon.

Hey, has anybody else seen the show Psych on the USA network? Mom and I have been watching it for the last few weeks. Well, actually, it’s on at 10:00 EST, so actually, we’ve been recording it and watching it on Sundays, but we’ve watched each episode, and I’m just tickled pink about this show. It’s about a fellow who has a photographic memory, highly honed since childhood by his ex-policeman father, which he uses to solve mysteries. Except, the police department thinks he’s a psychic. And except for his rather overdone psychic “visions,” this show is just highly enjoyable. There have been points in each so far where I’ve laughed out loud, which is never a bad thing!

Tags: Friends by Deb
10 Comments »

I finished my Calla Lily socks last night. (I know, it was a really productive knitting weekend.) Aren’t they pretty?

Except for the obvious adjustments to gauge (yes, you’ve all heard it before, I knit loosely, yadda yadda), the only change I made to the pattern was to knit short-row heels rather than the heel-flap stated in the pattern. Not because I can’t knit a heel flap and gusset–I can and I have–but they never seem to fit me as well as I want them to, which makes them discouraging. These are just fine.

The only bad part? It’s July. It’s going to be months before I can wear these! I still have a good amount of yarn left, too. (Yes, it’s another advantage to the loose-gauge thing. Fewer stitches means less yardage.)

On the plus side, sock knitting marches on, and here’s the wee, tiny beginning of another pair. This is in the yarn that Lu, my Knitter’s Tea Swap pal sent me in May, hand-dyed just for me, she said. It’s a lovely mixture of blues and greens, with creams and browns thrown in . . . a very ocean-y set of colors. And it’s knitting up at such a fine gauge (9.5 stitches to an inch) that I actually need 56 stitches instead of my usual 44. I know. Practically unheard of. I’ll start the second sock’s toe tomorrow, and off we’ll go from there.

I also knitted a swatch in the Karabella Aurora 8 I picked up last February in exchange for my leftover Olympic yarn. I don’t have a pattern for it, but I’m picturing a vest of some kind, or maybe a short-sleeved sweater . . . I washed the swatch which is drying now. Tomorrow I’ll measure and start making calculations, and figure out what it wants to be….

Oh, and before you ask. No, I haven’t worked on my Peacock Stole in a few days. I got caught up in finishing these other things, you know how it is. Frankly, she’s a little discouraged that we haven’t made it to the Amazing Lace Finals in either of the last two challenges and hasn’t really wanted to come out of the bag. I explained to her, pointed out how great the finalists’ entries were, but still . . . how can you reason with diva-ish lace? Maybe it’s just because she’s naturally blue….

I laughed when I saw Alison‘s entry for today, telling about the wedding they just attended in Trier, Germany. She’s got some lovely pictures, and tells some nice little stories about the town . . . but all I could do was remember when I visited there. Back in college, I spent a semester in London, and took advantage of that to visit a German penpal I’d had since high school, who was studying in Trier. So, one weekend in November, I went to meet him. Except through a long, complicated set of circumstances, the wires got crossed and he never showed up. I ended up wandering around the town, in the rain, all by myself. My camera died (right after I got these pictures). The batteries in my walkman died. I finished the only book I’d brought and couldn’t find anything else in English (and, naturally, had left my course books back in London). The highlight of the weekend was seeing the house Karl Marx was born in, which might have been more interesting if fewer of the exhibits had been in German. Oh, and did I mention that this was the weekend of my 21st birthday? Which I spent, again, all alone. I had dinner at McDonald’s because I couldn’t read the menus in the real restaurants. All in all, it was quite a memorable birthday, and different than the way most Americans celebrate their 21st birthdays . . . I certainly didn’t have a drink, although that might not have been a bad idea …. I probably would have really enjoyed the town more if, you know, I hadn’t been so angry, lonely and bored…. (grin)

Oh, and you want to see a very nifty Wish List? Every year, Martha’s Vineyard holds a “Possible Dreams” auction to raise money, and they get quite a list of luminaries offering their time, services, and entertainment for the cause. People like Walter Cronkite. Tony Shaloub. Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen. Jim Belushi. Patricia Neal. And, oh yes. Carly Simon. Mom’s absolute favorite. Her offer this year is to come to your own house and serenade you. Oh, how I wish I could get this for my Mom, but since it will probably go for thousands of dollars . . .

Tags: Family, Finished Knitting, General, Knitting/Spinning, Martha's Vineyard by Deb
8 Comments »

That’s what Mom’s been saying a lot this weekend–every time I’d hold up the baby sweater to show the progress.

So, here you go. Both sweaters, completely done except for their accessories. I need a tie of some kind for the baby kimono, and buttons/beads for the child’s placket sweater, but all the knitting is done, the seams are sewn, the ends woven in . . . and considering the baby isn’t due until October, I’m feeling pretty good about having these 100% complete by the time she arrives.

Actually, they’re having a baby shower this coming weekend, but (1) I’m not actually invited and (2) I won’t be here anyway. I thought about sending the sweaters along with my sister and niece who will be there, but Mom said that then it would look like she hadn’t bothered to get something, that she was planning on waiting until the baby was born. And, well, that’s fine with me, too.

I really do love this idea of giving two sweaters–one for the newborn to wear more or less right away, and one to save and pull out when she’s about a year old. And yet, since they’re in the same yarn, the gift works as one, cohesive gift. In terms of knitting effort, it was also still a lot faster than the blanket I originally thought to make, but still more fun that bonnets and booties . . . which, let’s face it, she’s bound to get tons of at the shower.

You know, even though this baby isn’t going to be related to me at all, I’m still really excited about her impending arrival. I see my brother-in-law’s family more often than I ever see my own cousins, and I WAS invited to their wedding last year. This new little person will be first cousin to my niece and nephew, and my sister’s niece. That’s close enough to count as family to me!

I did not bake a cake for our neighbors today, as I’d planned. We got a phone call yesterday afternoon asking if we had any vegetable oil because their granddaughter was visiting and needed some for the cake she was making. Well, far be it for me to step on the toes of a person’s granddaughter! So instead, I made muffins this morning. Two batches–one of blueberry-corn-poppyseed, and one of applesauce-raisin-spice muffins. (What? Those names sound a little odd? Well, that may be because I didn’t actually use a recipe at all. I just winged it.) Anyway, I made two sets of muffins, and brought them 6 of each, which left us with 6 of each. (Hey, they’re good friends and good neighbors, but I don’t think my Dad would have appreciated my baking without him getting to sample anything!) From reports across the street, they’re thrilled with the muffins and think they’re delicious, so I obviously did something right.

I also weeded out my shoe collection. The addition of two new pairs of shoes yesterday pushed the already teetering collection of shoes over into chaos. I am a neat, organized person by nature, and that simply won’t do! And so I went through and got rid of some actually very nice shoes that simply don’t get worn enough. Others, I put into boxes to keep them neat (love those Container Store shoe boxes!). And here is the finished result. I counted. Forty-two pairs of shoes, including boots, sandles, slippers, and the shoes I wore in my sister’s wedding almost 18 years ago. I know. It’s a lot. But at least they’re neat!

That reminds me, though. This pair of elegant, slightly exotic flip-flops with a turned-up toe? I bought them online last year for a really good price in the hopes that I’d be able to wear them. Except, my feet are tender and sensitive and absolutely hate anything resembling flip-flops. I literally can’t walk across my bedroom without the thong painfully digging in between my toes. Hence, I have never worn these. But the price was so good, it wasn’t worth the postage/effort to return them, and so they’ve languished in my closet ever since. I can’t bear to just toss them into the Salvation Army bag with the others. They’re so nicely made, and I’m sure they’re perfectly comfortable to people with normal feet (although I’ll tell you the sole is just flat leather–no extra padding), and they are completely unworn. (Mincing across the bedroom doesn’t count.) So . . . anybody with a size 7 foot who’d like to have these? (Edited to add: These have been claimed!)

In other beauty news (grin), I’ve been looking for a new foundation lately. The MAC powder foundation just doesn’t seem to work as well as it used to. I’ve been hearing a lot about mineral makeups like Bare Escentuals lately, but that’s kind of pricey. (Not that I object to paying the money if it works, but I hate to pay the money to TRY it and then end up hating it and never wearing it.) There’s a thread over at the Naturallycurly.com board about it and they’re talking about some of the alternatives, like Everyday Minerals, or Aromaleigh, and it all sounded good, so I took advantage of the Everyday Mineral’s free sample offer. They’ll send three foundations, one blush and one concealer for you to try–all you have to pay for is postage. Certanly a great deal, I think. You can try them out, see the colors, before investing in real-size products.

My samples came yesterday, and it actually seems like nice makeup. But there’s one problem. Two, actually. The makeup (and pretty much every “mineral” foundation I’ve seen) comes as a loose-powder which you apply with a brush (or, rarely, a puff of some kind). And this is a problem. For one thing, I get dressed first thing in the morning–before breakfast, and certainly before putting on my makeup–and I don’t see how I could apply this every day without getting this on my clothes at least once in a while. And for another, um, see the counter those samples are sitting on? That dark, dark blue bathroom counter? Just opening these samples made a mess–and not a mess that rinsed away easily, either. This makeup may be wonderful, but it’s not practical! Sure, I could cover my clothes and the counter with spare towels to catch the stray bits of powder, but who wants all that extra laundry?

Hope everyone’s staying cool! We’ve been lucky today–it’s really been a lovely day. Cloudy this morning, with rainstorms in the area, but it didn’t get out of the 70s, and the afternoon turned sunny and beautiful. I almost feel guilty, there are so many parts of the country still suffering under sweltering heat, but still . . . this means that NYC is cooler, too, and that’s got to be a blessing for all those folks in Queens still without power . . .

Tags: Finished Knitting, General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
16 Comments »

You want to see my Saturday Sky? Well, here it is, in all its wet glory.

Yes, that IS rain streaking past the window. Because, really, this is as far outside as I’m willing to go just now.

To be fair, it didn’t start to rain until the afternoon, but it was dark and cloudy all morning. But since it started raining here, around 2:00? P.O.U.R.I.N.G.

Luckily, Mom and I had other plans for the day. We left Chappy . . . poor, lonely, pathetic-looking Chappy, who gave us the kind of sad face where you can’t risk looking back over your shoulder as you leave the house or the guilt will be overwhelming . . . anyway, we left him and went to Short Hills Mall, where we haven’t been in months.

I even had the chance to do a good deed. While we were in the Gap (not one of my favorite stores), I found a wad of four or five $20 bills on the floor. My guess is that, since they weren’t in a wallet, they probably belonged to a kid, and that it was probably all of their shopping money. For a split second, I’ll admit, I thought about keeping it, but my better nature prevailed, and I handed it over to one of the employees. Hopefully the owner of the money came back, frantically retracing his or her steps at some point, and was able to reclaim it.

After that, I put my good Karma points to good use–because there were lots of sales. From Ann Taylor, I bought two lovely skirts, four t-shirts, and a beautiful blue silk jacket for just $159.

The shirts and skirts I know I’ll get a lot of wear from. The jacket? Well, maybe not so much. It’s a pretty formal kind of jacket, with elbow-length sleeves and kind of bolero-ish, with a deep, shawl collar. And, to be honest, it’s a bit small.

I normally wear an 8 for tops, sometimes even a 10 for jackets, but since this one doesn’t button or zip, and just basically rests on the shoulders, it fits well enough . . . I mean, at this price, I absolutely could not leave it there. If I wear it once, I’ll have more than made back my investment, don’t you think? (I know you readers will understand. Mom did, too. But Dad? He said, “Yeah, but you could have saved another $10 by not getting it at all.” Men!)

And then, Nordstroms was having a sale, too. I don’t buy much at Nordstroms, but they have a fabulous shoe department, and when there’s a sale? Um . . .

Is it possible to fall in love with shoes? Because if it is, I did for these. I tried on the red first and . . . instant adoration. They’re beautiful. They’re comfortable. They fit. They were sheer perfection and felt great, even with bare feet. And yet, being suede, they’ll carry through to other seasons. And did I mention they were on sale? I couldn’t help myself. I bought two pairs. I love them, absolutely love them!

Now, there’s a thunderstorm going through, and I’ve got Chappy huddled next to me, breathing fast. He definitely doesn’t like thunder any more. (Not that he ever loved it, but it didn’t used to bother him.) He also didn’t want to run up the stairs before. I’m hoping that’s just because he was nervous because of the storm, not because his back was bothering him. But maybe when I’m done here, I’ll go pull out Harry the Heating Pad and see if Chappy wants to use it.

Speaking of thunderstorms? Did you hear about the ones that went through New York City last night? I heard that there were something like 300 lightning strikes? And anyway, LOTS of roads and highways flooded. As in, all three major roads heading north out of the city were closed because of flooding. Can you imagine? On a Friday night, in the summer, at rush hour? I can’t imagine the chaos! And of course, the unfortunate folks in Astoria/Queens have been without electricity for six days now–naturally, for the hottest week of the year. Ugh.

…And now the lights just flickered . . . I’m going to shut the computer down now!

Tags: Sky, Uncategorized, Weather by Deb
7 Comments »

  So. Here’s our garage door. Note the closed position.

Today at lunch, my parents were both out, so I opted to park my car in the garage, to help keep it cool–a rare privilege. Except, see, that’s exactly what got me into trouble. I don’t usually get to park in the garage. Usually, I walk through the garage, get into my car in the driveway, close the door with the electric opener in my car and go on my way. Which is pretty much exactly what I did today at lunch–got into my car, hit the button and started to leave.

But, of course, I was IN the garage, and so, as I was backing out, the door hit the car and then did exactly what it was supposed to do–bounced back. I stopped in the driveway and checked my car. Whew! Not a scratch. Exactly what it’s supposed to do. Great. So I hit the button to close the door.

Nothing happened.

Um. Push the button again. The door moves a couple inches, but . . . nothing. I get back out of the car and go to look. Uh-oh.

If a descending garage door hits the rear window of your car while you’re backing up, guess what happens? If it’s a stainless steel door . . . it bends. A nice, pretty arc, in fact. So arched, in fact, that it no longer fits past the straight-line of the garage door opening. Oh no, I’m going to be in trouble!

I tried pulling it, but I was too high for me to reach, too stiff for me to be able to force it to bend enough to close. Uh-oh. I went back into the house, washed the cobwebs off my fingers, left a note on the kitchen table, apologized to Chappy for all the noise, and then went back to the car. There was nothing I could do. I had to get back to the office, the door would just have to stay open.

But, as I started to pull out of the driveway . . . our neighbor across the street, a golfing buddy of my Dad’s, was doing yard work. Hmmmm . . . Um, Walter? I have a little problem . . . He came over, and was able to grab the edges of the door and bend them enough to get it past the edge, and then pressed agains the center enough to straighten out the bend . . . enough, anyway! The door opened. The door closed. It was like magic!

Profuse thanks, of course, and then I went back in the house again (“Gee, I’m sorry to do this again, Chappy, but pretend I’m not really here.”) Took OFF the note from the kitchen table. Washed my hands again, and headed off to work. Explained to my boss why I was half an hour late . . .

So the door’s not perfectly straight. So it’s got a tiny little dent at the bottom now, and it’s only a year old. These things happen, right? But, for sure, I need to bake Walter a cake this weekend–he deserves an extra thank you, and he has a sweet tooth. And since it’s thanks to him all I had to explain to the parents was a tiny dent, a little curve, and an embarrassing story instead of why I left the house “open” for hours and the door wouldn’t close . . . yeah, he deserves a cake.

What else happened today? I went to the dentist for my cleaning and my dentist made his list for all the things wrong that need to be taken care of as finances and insurance permits . . . I lost count at five crowns . . . Sigh. You know, all in all, I’m pretty happy with the genetic mix I was lucky enough to get, but the teeth really could be better. Of course, being a little less lazy about dental hygiene wouldn’t hurt (grin).

I also actually took Chappy for a walk today. His first one in a week! He’s feeling better–still not 100%, but definitely more like himself. I figured a nice walk on his leash would be a good thing, strengthen some of the muscles that have been lolling around since he, well, did whatever he did to himself. It was a little warm, but bearable, and well . . . he deserved it! And so did Mom and I, although all three of us are extra tired tonight. I mean, I had all this extra excitement today, Mom drove out to visit my sister today, and while fun, that always makes her tired. Although I cooked supper tonight. Dad ended up getting home a little later than planned. A friend of his left his car at our house and they rode together down to the Atlantic Highlands for golf . . . about 50 miles away. They got back to the house about 7:00 . . . and his friend realized he’d left his keys at the golf course. Oops! So Dad drove him to his house a few miles away to get his spare keys, and then they came back here.

Obviously, parking at our house has been an issue today.

Oh–and take a look at this Row-Bike . . . this has to be one of the oddest bicycles I’ve ever seen. Can you imagine riding down the street on this?

1. What is most battered book in your collection? The one with loose pages, tattered corners, and page edges so soft that there’s not even a risk of paper cuts anymore?
2. Why is this book so tattered? Is it that you love it so much that you’ve read it a zillion times? Is it a reference book you’ve used every day for the last seven years? Something your new puppy teethed on when you weren’t looking?

My most worn books are the ones that I’ve had the longest and have read the most times. Like my 25-year old copy of Lord of the Rings. Or the Pride & Prejudice I bought in college. Or, really, my copy of A Little Princess that I’ve had since I was, what, ten?

Oh, there are some others that have wear and tear, but really, these are of the “worst” I’ve got.

In fact, if you look really closely, you can see what good use I put my time to in the high school library–I took advantage of the book-mending equipment, and basically covered my book entirely in wide tape, rebuilding torn-away corners.

However, none of my books in the last 10-15 years look like this. I think the fact that I don’t have to stuff them into bookbags and lug them around school or campus saves on the wear and tear. For example? My copy of Archangel. I’ve said many times that this is one of my absolute favorite books. In the nine years since I bought this copy, I’ve read it somewhere around 15 times, and you can see that it’s in great condition.

Tags: Family, General, Reading by Deb
14 Comments »

Here, you see a rare, behind-the-scenes look at knitting here at Chappysmom.

A look into my actual knitting bag.

No, no, it’s okay. You can come closer!

Gather ’round, kids. It’s okay to get up close, you can even fondle the yarn.

(Well, virtually, anyway.)

Just, um, try not to drool or anything, okay?

  In the top left corner, there’s the child’s Placket Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, which I started last night. It’s only a couple inches long, but it’s already adorable.

Then (bottom right), there’s part two of my Peacock Feather Stole. I’m only on row 16, so this isn’t flying along, but at least, it’s moving. And, most important, she’s still quiet and demure–she hasn’t gotten to the diva-ish stage yet, like her big sister.

And, of course, there are my Calla Lily socks. I’m an inch or so away from starting the toe shaping, which means they’re almost done. I will say that, yeah, even though I keep trying different methods and patterns of socks, still, I really like toe-up the best. They’re so much easier to try on, for one, but still, these socks are just lovely. As usual, Sundara’s yarn is just gorgeous. The color, the feel of the yarn, the results . . . gorgeous.

 And, naturally, there’s the bag of notions. I keep mine in this great cosmetics bag I bought from the Container Store. It’s got two layers, and lots of little pockets, and so it stays a lot more organized than just a pouch, like I’ve used in the past. (I can’t help it, I love being organized. But hey, this way, I’ve got everything I could possibly need at all times, except perhaps a different size knitting needle.)

(Incidentally, speaking of great bags from the Container Store? I want this one for a knitting bag. It looks like it’s got the perfect shape that the canvas one I got from PlanetDog well over a year ago, but with extra pockets to keep things organized. It’s a lot like the satchel by Jordana Paige, only bigger (about the size of the one I’ve got), and since it’s microfiber, it’s probably a lot lighter. Of course, this one looks pretty practical, too, even if not as attractive–and about a third of the price . . . hmmm . . . )

I’ve actually gotten some spinning done this week, too. I keep making excuses to myself about not spinning more regularly, which is just absurd. The only thing keeping me from sitting at my wheel or picking up a spindle more often is . . . me. I mean, really, at this rate, it’s going to take me two more years to get through the roving I bought at Rhinebeck last year, and that just won’t do. It’s much too pretty to let it languish that long! Such a pretty dark gray/purple merino/silk blend. All these months later, I have one bobbin and a half bobbins worth of singles, and that’s it. That’s really just pathetic. Especially since I really can’t wait to see what it will look like when it’s plied!

Here’s the best picture of the night, though. For the first time in a week, Chappy pulled his nylabone out of his crate. He also greeted me at the door tonight with a toy in his mouth. He is still not himself, but he seems happier. Which, of course, makes me happier!

Which is good, right?

Thankfully, it was cooler today. Not cool, exactly, but cool-er. If Chappy had been feeling better . . . or, actually, he seems kind of okay and I might have risked it, since we could both use the exercise, but it was better to take it easy than to push things and risk another relapse, so . . . anyway, no, we did not go for a walk, even though it would have been doable. (And I’m assuming the panting he’s doing right now is just because it’s the end of the day and he’s tired–not because he’s sore and miserable again . . . just tired. I hope.)

I’m also glad that it’s cooled off because my wrist has been aching the last two days. I broke it way back in 7th grade (so I was, what, 13 years old?). You know how they talk about “weather-wise” aches in broken bones? “Oh, my leg is sore, there must be a storm coming.” Well, mine isn’t like that, at all. I go months, sometimes years, without a single twinge, but every once in a long while, it’ll just ache. Deep inside. Not the muscles. Nothing that interferes with how well it works. Not as strong as to qualify as “pain,” exactly, but enough to be a nagging distraction. And for whatever reason, hot, humid weather is one of the kinds that brings out the worst in my normally quite healthy wrist. This just happens to be my wrist’s turn to flare up. Lucky me! So, anyway, I’m glad the weather changed. Hopefully I’ll be able to wear my wristwatch tomorrow….

Tags: Chappy, Family, General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
9 Comments »

Here’s my Green Gable.

Blocked.

By which I mean, not only did I wash it and pin it, stretch it, lay it out to dry, but also that it still really doesn’t look good on me.

Maybe if I lost 10 lbs, or did an extra 100 stomach crunches a day for a month or something . . . because, you understand, my gauge was correct. It’s just that the yarn is clingy and it shows my, um, stomach curves just way too much. A real shame, because it’s a lovely sweater, and the color is great for me. (Trust me, I was really holding my breath for this photo! But hey, at least you can see my hair color/cut . . . kind of.)

But it’s my own fault. It’s obvious that this IS the kind of sweater that fits best on a fit body, and I knew from the start that it was probably a mistake for me (those darn convex stomach curves!), but I went ahead with it anyway because it was such a nice sweater and, well. Here we are. It’s beautiful, but it’s just really not for me.

Oh well! On to other things. Thank you Kate and Jessalu for pointing me toward the errata page for the Placket sweater in Last Minute Gifts. I printed that out this afternoon–I wouldn’t have thought to look, otherwise.

Speaking of blocked, here’s Chappy, staring longingly out the window with his new best friend . . . NOT, mind you, that he would have gotten out for a walk today in this heatwave anyway, but still. A boy can hope, right?

Oh, and I loved this post over at Creating Passionate Users, about the value of the “space between the notes,” the white space, the lack of cluttered busy-ness in designing things. I read a home-decorating book years ago, that talked about “zen space.” I think it was Living a Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard.. . . . Or, no, I looked it up. It was her “Creating a Beautiful Home.” . . . I’ve seen her in interviews and found her a little annoying, but I do
love these two books–and love that they are decorating books that work
on WORDS, rather than pictures that become outdated so quickly. Anyway, here:

“Space is a luxury and having pure space gives us a serene feeling. Covering up every inch of space is suffocating . Respect architecture as a background for your private world of retreat. Enjoy the play of light and shadow that space permits. You shouldn’t have to bruise your knee in a maze of overcrowding . . . Keep the four cornes of the room clean and clear. Great rooms have free corners. Remember, decorators and home furnishing stores don’t make money off bare space. However, you will feel less anxious and more at rest in a room that breathes with openness, like a refreshing walk in the country.”

Tags: Finished Knitting, General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading by Deb
20 Comments »

I don’t have any pictures for today’s post. Sad, isn’t it? Mostly because there’s really not that much new.

Let’s see. I took Chappy to the vet this afternoon, and $150 later, I know that he does not have lyme disease (a $90 test, ouch!), have a little bottle of cortisone pills for him, but still no answers. Darn that dog for being so brave and stoic! This is the problem with Western medicine–it treats the symptoms without addressing the underlying problem. But at this point, if the anti-inflammatory pills help him feel better, I’m good with that!

I don’t think he feels as badly today–though he still won’t jump up on the furniture or run up the stairs. But since the vet we should keep him quiet, that’s fine with me.

I’ve picked the pattern for my other baby sweater. The child’s placket sweater in “Last Minute Gifts.” I had to recrunch some of the numbers (well, duh, of course I did), and would have started it tonight, except I didn’t have a small enough circular with me, and was too tired to head back upstairs to get one. Really, baby gifts are fun. So instead, I worked on my Calla Lily socks instead. I’ve got another inch or so to go before shaping down for the toes. They really look so pretty. And if I ever make a sweater with that magenta Cascade 220 in my closet, they’ll look just lovely with it.

And, oh yes, I’ve got my Green Gables blocking. It’s still wet, but we’ll see how it fits when it’s done.

I also got my two pals for the YarnAboard2. One for spinning, one for socks. (I know, I signed up for both, I couldn’t help myself.) One of my pals is one whose blog I already read, one is not–but obviously, I’m going to have to start. This is such a nice, fun idea for an exchange. I’m looking forward to it.

Tags: Chappy, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
14 Comments »

Slightly odd picture, it’s true, but here’s my FO for the weekend. An adorable little baby kimono sweater which I started Friday night and finished this afternoon. All that’s left is finding and sewing on some ribbon as a tie at the side. This sweater really IS just too adorable, and so fast! Why didn’t anyone tell me that baby-knits are so quick and satisfying?

It’s a good thing, too, because I’ve been doing a lot of reading and knitting this weekend, because I’ve been spending a lot of time on the couch next to Chappy and his new best friend, Harry the heating pad.

It’s hard to say HOW Chappy’s feeling. He refuses to answer when asked, and yet he’s been happy to spend almost the entire day right next to me, preferably with the heating pad on his back. He’s walking around just fine, but won’t jump up onto the furniture or run up the stairs. (Down is no problem, it’s up that he’s reluctant to do.)

And yet, I can tell that he’s tired of not feeling well. You know how it is when you’re sick or sore or whatever–for a day or so, you can accept it, and sit calmly, waiting for the magical healing to occur. Take naps. Avoid chores. Get a little extra attention. As long as you’re not too miserable, it’s not that bad . . . but after a couple days, it’s old. You just want to feel like yourself again. That’s where Chappy is–he pounced on one of his toys before, and even asked for a walk by sitting outside the laundry room and staring at his leash. We went out on the deck for a little while, and he happily walked around, sniffing things . . . but then, reality would set in and he’d be like, “Oh, my back,” and go crawling back to me and Harry for the magical heat and TLC.

I’m surprised this has gone on for so long, and really wish he had shown some signs of this at the vet on Thursday. You know, so the vet wouldn’t have looked from me to the bouncing, eager, happy, dog, and back with disbelief as I explained how he was walking stiffly, panting, reluctant to lie down . . . “This dog?” the look said, “Well, okay, I’ll examine the back, but really, it’s clearly a waste of my time.” Did Murphy have a rule about car engines not making noises at the mechanic? Because that law clearly has a corrolary of dogs (and presumably cats) at the vet. No doubt infants, too. (“Really, doctor, she wouldn’t stop crying, and she had purple stripes all over her face not half an hour ago!”)

Is your dog cool? A public service announcement. Because other than the good, artificial heat focused on Chappy’s lower back today, it’s been hot outside. Not quite as hot as I think they were forecasting (upper 80s, and relatively low humidity for July in New Jersey), it’s still hot. As in, dangerously hot for dogs and children left in cars. Even 10 minutes can be too long–none of you would ever do such a thing, right??

And, oh yes, I’m not the only one in the family with a finished object today. After months and months of under-the-breath cursing, Mom finished this cross-stitch project. She hasn’t ironed it yet, and it’s not laid flat, but . . . it’s awfully pretty, don’t you think?

Oh, and sorry, no pictures of my hair today. It’s not looking its best anyway, what with spending almost the entire day on the couch, but I think this haircut is fine. Certainly I haven’t been wincing every time I’ve glanced toward a mirror, which is a good sign! The hair color I used two weeks ago, though? I won’t be using it again. It’s not an obvious thing, but if I look under really good light, I can see where the old color ends and my roots of two weeks ago begin. And the old reddish-brown is showing through a lot more than it was a week ago. I’ve seen reviews since I used it (I really should have looked beforehand, huh?) that it fades pretty quickly, doesn’t last like a permanent color should. So, next time, I’ll probably go back to L’Oreal Excellence, or maybe the Preference (which always gets good write-ups). I mean, this isn’t a horrible color, and I DID say I missed the red, but still–permanent colors should not be fading this much, this fast . . . that’s kind of the idea behind the “permanent” color!

Tags: Chappy, Family, General, Hair, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
15 Comments »

O is for Origami.
Brought to you courtesy of my 365-day calendar for 2006–an Origami a day. These are some of my favorites–the ones I couldn’t bring myself to throw away without at least taking their pictures first. They may not be really elaborate, masterful ones, but I’ve had fun with them for seven months now!

Tags: ABC-Along by Deb
3 Comments »

It sounds like the title of a cheesy mystery, doesn’t it?

But no, it’s just my Saturday Sky picture. It’s been a gray, hazy, hot day here. There’s been a little sun, but there was also a passing rain shower. Really, just not the most pleasant of days.

The best part of the day (most of it), was the fact that Chappy woke up feeling like himself. Happy. Bouncy. Cheerful. Playful. All those good things. It was great.

Until about 4:00, when he started panting and pacing again. I gave him some more baby aspirin and tried to get him to sit with Harry (the heating pad), but he hasn’t been a happy boy for the last couple of hours. In fact, just now? I sat down in front of the computer, plugged in the heating pad and called Chappy . . . not only didn’t he come up the stairs, but he gave a little whimper. So, naturally, I went down and carried him up the stairs. I’m sitting here right now, Chappy leaning against my leg with the heating pad on his back, getting pets behind his ear, while I type this post one-handed. How do you explain to your dog that he should take it easy? Not jump too much? To enjoy the fact that he’s feeling better but NOT to do anything to set it back? Like any one else, he’s just so happy to feel better, he doesn’t worry about the consequences. (Of course, dogs are notorious for that, anyway. It’s people who fret over what-ifs from the past, and consequences of the future.)

Anyway, hopefully this will pass, too, and he’ll feel better tomorrow again, for the whole day (I hope!)

My haircut? It’s hard to say until tomorrow, when I’ve had a chance to wash and style it f,or myself, but at the very least, I can tell you she didn’t cut it too, too short this time. Even allowing for curl-spring tomorrow. How do I know? Well, I met our mail-carrier at the mailbox this afternoon, and while we were chatting, she said, “Your hair is getting so long!” Now, obviously, it’s looked longer this afternoon because all the combing and cutting pretty much pulled out all the curl–for today. No doubt it will look shorter tomorrow . . . but it certainly didn’t look that much longer than it usually does!

Of course, Chappy didn’t have much of a chance to nap earlier, either, because the landscapers came to install the new, tiny, tiny shrubs. (Okay, it’s not so much that they’re tiny. They’re just tiny in comparison to what we had.) Two, sculptured Alberta Spruces by the front door (like brand-new baby cousins of the massive ones taken down yesterday). And then a small, wispy cherry (I think) at the far corner, and a tiny red-maple by the other corner (at the edge of the brick section). Really, they look lovely, but they seem so small!

So . . . what do you suppose this architect had in mind? I noticed this window on my drive to work the other morning. Look closely. Do you see what’s on the other side? A door. Nothing but a door. But why?? From the other side, it looks like a closet, but you open it up . . . hello. It’s a window. A door. A window. Really, what’s the point?

Oh, so I was going to use one of my Summer of Stash exceptions today. I want to make a pair of Ugg booties as part of my baby gift, and really, have no qualms about buying two skeins of Suede yarn to make a gift. I mean, really, that’s not stashing at all!

So, the plan was to get my haircut, and then walk over to Nonna’s to get the Berroco Suede. I felt quite good about it, too. I like Nonna’s shop, but they usually have more novelty yarns than I really like. But here was a yarn they carried that I needed, so I was happy to buy it from them. Also, I got a flyer in the mail the other day–they’re celebrating their first birthday at the end of the month, with a sale, but I won’t be able to go, since I’ll be in Maryland that weekend. However, there was a survey which, if brought to the store before the end of the month, is good for a 15% discount–so I could not only buy the yarn, but on sale, too! Really, a guilt-free, win-win situation.

So, my haircut only took half an hour, and I was out on the street. But, wait, does Nonna’s open at 10:30? Or 11:00? Hmm . . . better to play it safe. I was right in front of Mara’s coffee shop, so I stopped there for a few minutes. Bought some coffee, a cookie, and sat there doing some knitting until about 11:15. Then I walked to Nonna’s and . . . there’s a sign on the door. “Nonna’s will be closed on Saturday, July 15th.”

Sigh.

Oh well, there’s still time! In the meantime, this picture shows about half of my first baby project–the little baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting, which is coming along VERY quickly. (Especially since I’m using a heavier yarn than the pattern calls for, and being me, obviously, have a looser gauge anyway.) I’ve decided that what I’m going to do . . . because this cute, quick pattern was too irresistable . . . is make a sweater for the newborn (this one, obviously) but also a sweater for about a one year-old, using the same yarn. Cute, huh? Baby knits are so nice and fast anyway, so it’s not like it’s going to take me a long time–and in fact, less than a blanket would–but this way there’s a gift for right away, but also one for later, when the baby has outgrown all the cute, infant things she’s bound to get at the shower . . . which is also at the end of the month, while I’ll be away. (It seems, really, to be a very popular weekend.)

Now, I’ve got to go rinse out my hair. I’ve got a deep-conditioner in it and have been sitting here all this time with one of those heated, microfiber turbans on my head, while Chappy’s sitting under a heating pad. Because, of course, what else would you want to do on a hot, muggy, heat-wave afternoon? Thank heaven for air conditioning. But . . . hmm . . . I wonder if the turban would fit on Chappy’s lower back? No electric cord necessary . . . .

Tags: Family, General, Hair, Sky by Deb
2 Comments »

First of all, thank you for sending all that positive energy Chappy’s way. He wants you all to know how much he appreciates it, and says to tell you that he is feeling better. Whatever was wrong last night was the same sore-back-stiff-pain-whatever that was bothering him yesterday morning . . . except obviously a little worse.

But between visits with the heating pad, which we’ve been calling Harry (and now Mom is calling Harry Hotter), and the baby aspirin that Mom was good enough to pick up this morning, he’s apparently feeling more like himself. I’d say, about 80%. He’s moving around a little easier, wagging his tail. His face looks happier, not glum and down-earred like yesterday. He even curled up a little for a nap before, which he hasn’t done in a few days. (He’s been being very careful to keep his spine as straight as possible.) So, he seems to be on the mend–I hope!

Now, about the trees. By “tree,” I mean these four, large, shrub-like trees (not the leaf-bearing kind) flanking our two bay windows. (It’s sad, but my mind is drawing a total blank on the kind of tree. You’d never know how much I loved nature studies when I was a kid; my knowledge of plant life is just pathetic these days.) Anyway, we’ve had them for 30 years, and when they were first planted, Mom was able to reach the tops to hang Christmas lights. Obviously, that’s not possible anymore.

    They don’t look horrible from a distance–like that first photo–but up close? Very patchy. A lot of dead areas. And, on this tree? The one on the right of the front door? See that . . . I don’t know . . . other tree growing out at the top? Like a squirrel carried some seeds from our blue spruce up there and it sprouted. Really bizarre.

Anyway, these are the trees they took down today. Apparently, it took less than an hour for all four of them. Chappy was kept at the back of the house so that they wouldn’t be working mere inches from his nose, and it all went pretty quickly. When I got home for lunch, they were already gone. (And, well, it was getting kind of hot by then, anyway.)

Actually, I was home a little early for lunch. Our office had a brown-out at about ten minutes to noon. It was weird–some things were still on, like my adding machine, and the monitors to my computer, but not the computer itself. Some of the other computers stayed on long enough to be properly powered-down (a good thing), while others crashed. But since 90-95% of the work I do is on my computer there really wasn’t anything to do. I didn’t even have a sock in my purse. So I left half an hour early, and came home to check on my boy. Really, it seemed entirely reasonable.

While home, I read about the 1814 Battle of New Orleans in the biography of Andrew Jackson I’m reading (really good, by the way), and the whole time had that stupid song in my head. You know the one. The old, corny country one by Johnny Horton. (Hum it with me–why should I be the only one suffering, here? “In 1814 we took a little trip Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip. We took a little bacon and we took a little beans And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans. [Chorus:] We fired our guns and the British kept a’comin. There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.”)

Really, it was a relief to get back to work and here the Marseilleise, played for Bastille Day, on the radio. It’s not MY national anthem, but it’s a lovely tune, and much, much better than . . . well, let’s not start that ear-worm again, shall we?

Anyway, here’s what the front of our house looks like right now . . . well, except for the fact that at this moment, 10:42 pm, it’s a lot darker outside. The landscapers are coming back tomorrow to put in the new, much smaller trees. It’s actually strange, being able to see the driveway again! And it’s even weirder to stand on the stoop and be able to see, well, everything.

Also tomorrow? A haircut. The first I’ve had since that debacle in February, when I went from this to this. For that one, I told her to take off about 2″ of the length. …Um, maybe if I tell her to just take off 3/4″ it’ll work out about right this time?

Tags: Chappy, Family, General by Deb
8 Comments »

Updated 10:30 pm: I called the vet at 7:15 to check with about whether the panting, fidgeting and discomfort could possibly be a reaction to the shot. We kind of agreed, though, that the symptoms were more pain-like than allergic-reaction-like. So I opted not to bring him back to the vet, but instead draped his back with the heating pad, and gave lots of TLC.

He did relax enough to nap for a while this evening, but fidgeted his way into my lap around 9:30–unusual for him! (He’s not a snuggly dog. Basically the only time he choses to sit in my lap is when he’s not feeling well. Once in a blue moon, that is. A shame, really–how can I enjoy it if he’s miserable?)

Anyway, right now he’s in his crate, sleeping. I gave him a couple extra towels, so he could mold them into whatever shape would be most comfortable for his sore back. I was going to give him some baby aspirin, but, somehow, we don’t have any. We’ll just hope that the hours with the heating pad (who we’ve named Harry) and a night’s rest will help.

I certainly hope so. Because he’s going to have a stressful day tomorrow. We’ve got these trees right outside the house, flanking our front door and the bay windows. We’ve had them 30 years but, well, they’re kind of pathetic at this point, and they’re coming down tomorrow. The trees RIGHT next to Chappy’s favorite chair. As in, mere inches on the other side of the glass. I’d really rather that they were being taken down on a day when Chappy was feeling entirely healthy, and I’d rather that he would have had tomorrow as a relaxing day, but . . . we’re going to put up gates to keep him in the back of the house, and I’ll just have to go to work with my fingers crossed. It’s a shame that I can’t stay home with him to help keep him calm, but I can’t. My boss is on vacation this week, and I need to be at the office.

Thanks for your good thoughts. I’m concerned about him because I don’t like to see him in pain (or discomfort, or whatever this is–he’s not telling), but I’m not WORRIED about him, if you understand the difference. I assume that this will pass soon and he’ll be back to his usual, bouncy, happy self. I certainly hope so!

Tags: Chappy, Family by Deb
21 Comments »