Some Furry eye-candy.

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• Tags: Chappy, Eye-Candy Friday • Permalink:Furry // 4 Comments »

Does this look like a happy face to you?

I took him up the street to the playground today. Remember? This is the little playground around the corner from here. I wouldn’t bring him in here if there were kids in there playing, but … empty? Filled with snow? With a fence? Sounds like a place to romp to us!

We had time, too, because our office closed early today, so I got home at lunchtime and didn’t have to go back. So, I came home, put down my stuff, changed my shoes, and grabbed the leash. Chappy didn’t complain about that at all.

As of supper time, we had about 8″ of fresh snow, though it’s hard to say for sure–the ground was actually pretty warm, so most of what fell early turned into slush. Trudging through the slush to get TO the playground just beyond that retaining wall was my least favorite part of today’s walk. Snow is one thing, but slush is just annoying.

Right now, it’s getting even colder outside and the wind has picked up–all the wet, sticky snow that’s been clinging to the tree branches all day is now being flung at the windows, along with lots of little twigs (and hopefully nothing bigger). We’re due to get more snow overnight and winds through tomorrow morning and, I have to confess, I’m hoping that we get it so that they decide to close the office tomorrow. I’m assuming we’ll be open, mind you, but I’m kind of hoping for a snow day.

Here’s what the front of my sweater looks like at the moment. But … I’m still not sure about that cable. I like it, and all, but it looks too similar to the one in the middle, don’t you think? Or is that a good thing?  Are the cables too similar in size? (8 stitches, 6 stitches, 9 stitches, right in a row)

How about another look at my happy, tired dog? He had FUN, and he’s been zonked out almost ever since. I know how he feels. I could use a nap myself!

• Tags: Chappy • Permalink:Happy // 4 Comments »

Hi, everyone, it’s Chappy, and I have a friend who needs your help.

Okay, I haven’t actually gotten to meet her yet, but her name is Lucia, but everyone calls her Lucy. She’s lucky enough to live with Susan and Erin and Paige at Juniper Moon Fiber Farm. (Actually, that’s another confusing thing because there used to be the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm because it was on the Vineyard, and then there was the Hudson Valley Fiber Farm too (which I kind of liked because it was a shorter drive and I don’t like the car), but, anyway, now Susan and her farm is in Virginia and called Juniper Moon. I’m not entirely sure where it is, but the pictures look like fun.)

Anyway–the help part.

Last night, Lucy was hit by a car.

I know! It’s awful. My sister Katy was killed by a car, you know, which worked out kind of good for me because that’s why Mommy needed a puppy when I came along, but it was still really sad. And even sadder, Susan at the whatever-you-call-it Fiber Farm lost of her dog Biscotti to car just over a year ago, too. (I know, the idea just makes me want to howl.)

But, here’s the point.

Sick Lucy

Last time we heard, Lucy was still alive, but having trouble breathing because her lungs are bruised (which just sounds painful, and Mom says she can only imagine how much that must hurt). The vet wanted to keep her on oxygen to help for several days, but it was too expensive.

So, there are two things you can do.

1. Say a prayer for Lucy. Or send good thoughts, or good vibes, or whatever you want. But, send some positive energy her way. Like I said, I haven’t met her yet, but she is a GOOD dog and she’s only a few months old and just shouldn’t die. Puppies just aren’t supposed to die, especially when they are so cute and lovable–not to mention loved. And hard-working!

2. Help pay the vet bills. Susan said that she doesn’t want to ask, that she hates to ask, but the bills from Lucy’s rush to the vet last night–and then the transfer to the second, more-expensive vet–wiped out her bank account. Now, I don’t know pretty much anything, but I know that bank accounts are necessary for things like food and collars and biscuits and chew toys and treats. And food. So I know it’s important.

This is what Susan said:

If you’d like to make a small donation to help with Lucy’s vet bills, you can send it via Paypal to susangibbs1 AT mac DOT com. We are all so very grateful for the thoughts, prayers and kind words you are sending to Lucy and to us.

But I definitely know that sending prayers can only help, and that if you can spare even just $5 to help pay for the costs of keeping that sweet puppy alive long enough for me to meet her and play with her, that would help, too. (And yes, I realize that would mean I’d have to ride for something like six and a half hours in the car. And be near the sheep again, who hopefully aren’t as mean as the goats were last time I saw them.)

Oh, and for any other dogs out there reading this? If your Mom or Dad needs to give you an extra hug, you should probably let them. Mom didn’t think it was funny when I played the “I’ve got a toy, keep away” game when she came home at lunch. Go figure.

• Tags: Chappy, Family, General • Permalink:Plea for an Injured Puppy // 6 Comments »

This is what Chappy looked like yesterday while we were waiting for my friend Dawn to come visit. I sat at our little writing desk in the front window–which give the view of a little slice of the street–and worked on my book, while Chappy sat under the desk, watching.

And watching…. and don’t think these pictures were easy to get, either! I love how he has his paws folded, patiently. And how the window sill is JUST the right height for him. Oh, and see those mirrors Mom has leaning there?

The reflection was pretty cool, too. (See him?)

And yes, Dawn did eventually arrive, and yes, we had a great visit. She approves of the new house (such a relief) and it was good to see her, as always.

Now, you’re not getting a long post because I’ve spent most of my day working on ‘year in review’ posts not only for Chappysmom, but also for Punctuality Rules and Knitting Scholar. Those kind of posts are very link-intensive and time-consuming, and doing them for three blogs?

Well, you’re just going to have to wait a little longer for a “real” post.

• Tags: Chappy, Friends • Permalink:While We Were Waiting // Add Comment »

Let’s pause for a brief moment of silence, for today, on the darkest day of the year, a light in Chappy’s world was snuffed out.

Well, not a light, exactly, so much as one of his cherished possessions.

His food dish.

Chappy has had his “Life is Good” food dish for four and a half years now. It was a birthday gift for his fourth birthday, which means he’s been polishing it clean for more than half his life now. They’ve had so many happy meals together. Over three thousand breakfasts and suppers, cooked specially for him by his Mom. Every now and again, he’d have lunch, or would find a treat hiding in the dish, waiting to be discovered.

They had good times together, Chappy and his food dish.

Sadly, a suicidal jar of applesauce leaping from the pantry this morning, took Chappy’s beloved dish with it. The tragedy was witnessed by his grandma who was shocked at the event. “It just jumped from the pantry. There was nothing I could do,” she said, the horror plain in her voice.

Chappy is mourning.

Chappy’s food dish is survived by its mate of four years, the water dish, whose eyes haven’t been dry since the accident. I suspect her faithfulness, though, as I hear she’s already shopping around for a new mate.

In lieu of flowers, Chappy asks that you put extra food in YOUR dog’s (or other pet’s) food dish tonight, in memorial of a food dish that made him so very, very happy. (Or, well, he says you could send him biscuits, but that’s what he ALWAYS says.)

Even the sunset made an extra effort to be glorious tonight.

Actually, that brings up an interesting question–someone on Ravelry pointed out that while, yes, today is the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year, the actual earliest sunset of the year happened two weeks ago, but that when her physicist father started to explain why, her eyes glazed over. So now I’m curious–doesn’t anybody know why this is? I had actually noticed that the daylight was lasting longer these last few days, but hadn’t pieced that together.

On a happier note, look what I got in the mail today:

A copy of the new Abigail Adams biography by Woody Holton. I’m really very excited about this. I saw it at the bookstore last week, but since I AM trying to save money and not buy as many books, I put it back with a wistful, “Maybe when it’s in paperback.”

Imagine my surprise when a couple days later, I won a copy at the Wonders & Marvels blog. (Note the blog post by the book’s author, about Abigails foray into “junk bonds.”) Talk about great timing! Abigail Adams has always been a hero of mine, and it’s been a while since I read a biography about her, so I’m really looking forward to this. Thanks, Wonders & Marvels!

• Tags: Chappy, General, Reading • Permalink:Moment of Silence // 10 Comments »

It seems to be THE topic on the internet today–how much snow you got in the weekend’s blizzard.

It’s kind of hard to say, actually. It was kind of windy, so it’s hard to say. I mean–this is what the archway looked like this morning–snow on one side but not the other. As you know, snow doesn’t usually fall that way.

All I can really say is that we definitely had snow.

Chappy is all wistful. This is one time when we both miss having a backyard to romp in.

He did help his Grandpa shovel off his deck, though.

Luckily, I got a picture of our deck chairs beforehand.

It’s been a fairly quiet day, really. I made some granola, and have pot roast on the stove. (The house smells yummy.)

I gave this fellow a haircut, too.

Although he was all kinds of difficult when I tried to take his picture. Look at that silly face he’s making!

This is really the best I could do. Trust me, though, he looks cute.

I had wanted to get my Christmas presents wrapped today, but didn’t quite make it. I got distracted watching “Shall We Dance” on tv. You know, the 1930s musical with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, with all that wonderful music from George Gerswhin? So many great numbers, especially the one on roller skates. That Fred Astaire sure was a man ahead of his time.

• Tags: Chappy, General • Permalink:Did You Get Snow? // 7 Comments »

We had the first snow of the season yesterday. About 2-3 inches, but enough for us to find out that the townhouse people DO in fact clear away the snow from not only the streets and sidewalks, but the driveways and walkways between houses. I took this picture of our street on our walk around the block earlier.

I tried, I really tried to get a picture of how this tree was shining as if every clump of snow was a diamond, but a point-and-shoot can only do so much–especially when you (1) can’t really see anything on the LCD screen and (2) you’ve got a dog more interested in sniffing and walking attached to the arm holding the camera.

We decorated the Christmas tree, too, which didn’t take nearly as long as usual (grin).

It looks pretty, though, and all our favorite ornaments are on, so we’re happy.

Though the process kind of bored Chappy.

Luckily, his grandpa came along to give him a good tummy rub.

And, of course, a good nap is always useful. (I’m biased, of course, but isn’t this an adorable picture?)

Oh, and my car had its eighth birthday on Thursday. I took this picture to commemorate the occasion. It’s hard to see, but that’s 54, 024 miles on the odometer.

How about another picture of Chappy with his Grandpa? He (Chappy) likes to weave his way behind people’s legs while they sit on the couch, and sometimes, he’ll just sit there and relax.

When he’s not busy napping, of course!

• Tags: Chappy, Family • Permalink:First snow // 6 Comments »

I took the day off from work today, obstensibly so I could relax with the house to myself for a while.

Well, I DID enjoy having the house to Chappy and me, but, um relaxing? Not so much.

However … remember the picture I showed you on Sunday? Of the downstairs that looked like progress simply wasn’t being made?

Well, after my “relaxing” day off, it looks like this:

It’s amazing what a difference just getting the floor cleared and the rug unrolled made!

I got my books organized, too. I know, it doesn’t really look like it, but they ARE. I alternated the horizontal/vertical thing to make them look a little more interesting, and kept to single-files where I could. They’re still not catalogued (Heaven knows when that will happen), and the alphabetization over in the fiction section isn’t perfect, but … they’re more organized than they were! Those 5 under-the-bed boxes, though? I have nowhere to put them. They’re filled with YA books that I grew up with and used to be under the table in our home office, but that’s not an option anymore, soooo….

Of course, the OTHER thing I really wanted/needed to do didn’t work out. I bought a wireless print server so that we could try to consolidate our printers… especially now that I’m two whole flights above them and really could use a printer that I could, you know, print from.

So, the printer we want this on is attached to Dad’s computer. Okay. He’s away at the moment, so I booted it up … he’s right. It takes a good 10-15 minutes for the thing to boot up. But, okay, I occupied myself by moving books around. Started the print server install … and around step 6, the mouse locked up. The keyboard would work, but I couldn’t use the mouse or move forward. Grr.

I didn’t really want to sit through rebooting it AGAIN, so … I tried his second computer. (The one I got him for his birthday in January that he still hasn’t completely switched over to yet.) At least it boots up quickly. I transferred the printer cable to it so I could install the printer’s driver … that bombed out. Apparently that printer is not one of the ones supported by Windows Vista. Uh-oh.

But, wait! Mom’s computer! I’ll install the printer on hers–it’s Windows XP, it should be fine. And it was. I installed the printer, and then ran through the set-up for the wireless print server, and clicked the “install on computer” button on the Linksys setup screen … and, nothing. The setup screen completely disappeared, as if I’d closed the program. Tried reloading it, clicked “Start,” clicked “Install on computer” and … poof.

So … still no wireless print server. Which means that I still don’t have a printer. And I’ve also just discovered that Dad’s slightly elderly, laser, color printer that we can’t afford to replace won’t work on his newer computer. (I wonder if it would if the wireless server was working correctly? I have no idea.)

Still … Chappy’s enjoying having the rug to lie on, and he says he enjoyed having me home, even if I didn’t sit down to relax with him at all until about 3:00.

When Mom got home from Patty’s, she almost fell over when she went downstairs, she couldn’t believe her eyes! I had left a few things for her to do–like emptying out the last couple things in this hat box (yes, it used to have a hat in it), that Chappy thoughtfully pointed out to her. She did, and then said, “I guess this is garbage then…”

Which was all Chappy needed to hear, because he immediately pounced on it. Not BEFORE, mind you, just after she said she didn’t want it anymore.

Which is good, because as soon as he caught it, he started to chew on it.

Apparently it tasted very, very good.

I’ve got the DVDs and VHS tapes by the TV organized, too. Dad was funny the other day when he saw me unpacking the tapes. “Do we still have the machines to run those?” Um, yes, Dad we DO have a VCR. Three in fact. I don’t care how wonderful those DVR things are … we don’t have one, and there’s no other way to record something on a channel different than the cable box!

I’ve even been getting some spinning done. In fact, I’ve gotten more spinning done in the last week than I have in the last few months! I finished the bobbin I’d barely started, have done one more complete one, and started a third. Granted, each bobbin only has about 2 oz on it, but still … it’s been months since I spent so much time with my spinning wheel.

• Tags: Chappy, Family, General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Looks Like Progress // 6 Comments »

I hope you’re impressed that, even with all this moving craziness, I’ve still gotten some knitting done. Here are the cuffs of my two sleeves. Like the body of the sweater, they start with a horizontal cable (9″ long) and then stitches are picked up along the edges for the lower ribbing, and then for the actual sleeve. I finished the lower ribbing on one of them tonight, and picked up the stitches for the second one.

Usually, of course, I do my sweater sleeves at the same time, but I’ve got enough chaos around lately, I don’t want to deal with the two skeins of yarn that continually tangle thing, so I’ll be doing these on their own. Just … why not start with both of them at the same place, right?

Speaking of chaos … here’s my room. Now, for one, I can’t quite decide what to call this. My office? My fiber room? My sitting room? So, basically, I’ve got my bedroom, where I sleep and get dressed, and “my room,” where I do everything else. I’ve finally got my computer in here–it’s been plugged in next to my bed for the last week, but this is the room where it will live, so –at least it’s here. That’s what accounts for all those unsightly electric cables under the pretty cedar chest under the window.

The pillow on the cedar chest was made by my sister as a birthday present, because the colors in the fabric reminded her of me … looking around the room, I’d say that’s a yes, wouldn’t you? I hate the pile of stuff in the corner, though. (Well, I hate piles of stuff in general.) And I’m second-thinking the table RIGHT in front of the door when you come in … except that, once you’re in the room, it works there. If/when I ever sit at that secretary desk, it will give me a nice work area … it’s just kind of an obstacle to coming into the room.

Everything is in there, and all the major stuff has a place … the first, crucial step toward organization … but there’s just such a lot of it! I absolutely hate clutter–you know this–so the fact that it is, in fact, cluttered is kind of driving me nuts.

Well, not quite yet. I’m still in the “work in progress, don’t panic” state of mind as I work on getting things put away, but … if I don’t find room for everything to BE away, well … Let’s not talk about that, shall we?

And, it won’t make you jealous if I tell you that cedar chest is full of yarn, will it?

This is one of Chappy’s favorite spots–in the hallway between my two rooms. Here, he can keep an eye on me wherever I am (including the bathroom, which is just behind him)–as well as the hallway down to his grandparents’ bedroom.

The good news is that, after his sad, pathetic, woeful morning of howling and whimpering yesterday when his Mom headed off to work, today he was quiet and more his usual self. Because, yes, when I left for work yesterday, he took it very, very badly. I called twice and each time Dad just held up the phone so I could hear the “Wooooooooooooe, Wooooooooooe” in the background. Poor thing! (Well, both of them–Chappy for being miserable and Dad for having to listen to Chappy being miserable.)

You want to know what’s really exciting?

Look! Spinning! I actually sat down in front of my spinning wheel and spun up some of this luscious Cormo. The most spinning I’ve done in weeks. Woohoo!

Anyway, we’re all working hard on settling in. We’ve actually cooked meals, and everything. I clocked my commute today–going in (going through Indian Lake to work around the traffic on Rt 46 at rush hour), it’s 3.7 miles, coming home the more direct route, it’s almost exactly 2.5. That’s about 3 miles less driving a day than I was doing two weeks ago, when my commute was almost exactly 4 miles no matter what route I took. No complaints, there! Though we need to get the remaining stuff out of the garage so we can get our cars in there. (Finding room for my wooden rocking chair is surprisingly challenging.)

I can’t take a picture of it because my camera’s in the other room and anyway, he looks so disgruntled when I take his picture–like that one above–but right now, Chappy is curled up asleep in my green and pink afghan. I know, they’re not my usual colors, but it’s the afghan my grandmother made me twenty-something years ago and which is serving as a nest for Chappy until I can find him a decent pillow for in here. (Assuming I can find the floor space for it.) He looks so cozy, and is dreaming about something … I hate to disturb him to go say goodnight to his Grandpa!

Oh, and for the record? His bathroom habits seem to be settling in. You don’t really need more detail than that, do you?

• Tags: Chappy, Family, General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:I Hope You’re Impressed // 5 Comments »

I know. It looks like a swatch but, in fact, it’s the beginning of my new sweater. It starts by knitting the cabled, horizontal waistband first, and then picking up stitches for the waist and working downard, and then on the other side to work upwards toward the shoulders. Such nifty construction!

This, you’ll remember, is my Peace Fleece yarn, my first time working with it. Love the color–such a shame the sport weight doesn’t come in more of them!

Here’s something else going out in the garbage–my one and only high school Forensics trophy. (That’s Forensics as in competitive public speaking, you understand, not the icky kind with dead bodies.)

Speaking of Forensics, I was wondering the other day whatever happened to my old English teacher/Forensics coach, so I did a Google search … one that took some effort, I should tell you, but I eventually tracked her down, working at a performing arts high school in Paterson. I sent her an email asking if she was in fact the teacher I thought she was, and she was! She wrote back and we exchanged a nice couple of emails. It sounds like she’s doing really well. How cool is that? I love getting in touch with people from my past. So, hi Mrs. Neighbor!

Incidentally, my friend Cindy is doing well, post-heart-surgery. She’s home, which is huge, and seems to be doing well. Such a relief!

Unfortunately, we didn’t get the house we bid on on Saturday (sigh). Our real estate agent keeps promising us that things are going to turn around, that Mercury is in retrograde. “I know, I sound crazy, but I swear it’s true.” And the agent who was listing the house we didn’t get said he’s got a couple more “coming up” in that price range and said he’d let Gail know about them before he puts the listing up so we can get a first look, which is very nice, I think. (I mean yes, I know, that means he probably gets some commission, too, but who cares? Not me!) And there are apparently a few rentals just listed that could theoretically work, too (though so many of them won’t accept pets). So, I’m trying to keep my focus. I went back and re-read my “ad” for a new house, and still wouldn’t change a thing.

Chappy’s still confused, though. Gail came to take pictures of THIS house today, for the listing, so Mom took all sorts of things away to hide or stash in the garage (I don’t get to park in the garage anymore) to make things look extra tidy and “neutral.” I couldn’t find the soap to wash my hands at lunch!

The funny story, though? When we got our current family room furniture 9 years ago, Katy hated the ottoman. When it came, it had casters on the bottom, and the first time she jumped on it, it rolled across the room with her clinging for dear life on top. After that, she wouldn’t go near it. So we kept the ottoman to the old set also, and placed it in the living room window for someplace to watch outside.

Well, Chappy loves it, too (even if he prefers the chair with the arm to rest his chin), but this morning, Mom wanted it out of the house and started dragging it toward the garage. Only, Chappy kept jumping up on it. (“Ooh, Gram, this is a great new spot!”) Finally, Dad carried it out to go in the garbage pile. …Until Mom sat in the living room this afternoon with Chappy listlessly laying on the bare floor where the footstool had been.

Yep. It’s back in place now. I mean, we still might not have room for it in our new house (wherever that’s going to be), but there’s no reason he can’t use it NOW, right?

And, apparently, he spent most of the afternoon sitting on it, too.

I love it when Chappy wins.

• Tags: Chappy, Friends, General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Stuff // 3 Comments »

Well, I can’t remember the last time I had a mail day like this.

A book to review for Knitting Scholar (always a good thing).

A collection of buttons. Yes, I know, I said I didn’t need any for THIS sweater, but I was going to for my next one! So, I went to Etsy and ordered some. The nice thing about ordering from this seller–rather than from one of the many button shops online–is that she sells them in lots and they are almost always cheaper than buying exactly the number I want from somewhere else.

It’s true, though, that while I was ordering, I threw in another set of silver buttons as possibilities for my current sweater. I sewed the sleeves last night, and just have the two side seams left. (Yes, I sewed the sleeves INTO the sweater on Thursday, but last night, they got their seams turning them into actual sleeves.) Obviously, I don’t have much more time for waffling about button choices.

And, oh yes … there’s an iTouch in there, too. I’ve been hoarding my amazon.com “reward certificates” from using my Visa card for months and months and applied them to a new, 32 MB, 3rd generation iTouch. Not, you understand, that there’s anything wrong with my Creative Zen MP3 player which I’ve had for years–but the Kindle App was the deciding factor. This way, I can buy some books without feeling guilty about shelf-space and (unlike the full-size Kindle, which I admit I’d still like), I can still use it for other things, like music.

Before you ask, yes, I’ve added some books to play with–mostly classics that were free or $1. Now, if only I could read Kindle books on my computer screen as well!

Of course, this means I have to convert my entire music library from the Windows Media format to MP3s. And, while iTunes does have a converter, I have discovered that it more or less throws away all the album information, making it … less than ideal, because what a chaotic mess! So, instead, I’m using a free software I found to convert to MP3 first, and then moving everything into iTunes … a delight, as I’m sure you can imagine.

Chappy didn’t sleep well last night. About quarter after four, he woke me up, panting heavily and drooling. I thought he was going to throw up, so … well, I love my dog, but don’t want vomit on my bed … I lifted him off the bed and got a blanket under his chin. But … no vomit. He just panted heavily for about twenty minutes, sitting in my lap. I don’t know WHAT that was. Was it his stomach? A muscle spasm? Sore back? He thumped his tail once when I sat down on the floor with him, and after he’d finally stopped panting and relaxed a little, he wagged it again, and gave me one, little kiss for thank you. Such a sweetie. I just wish I knew what that WAS.

And, please, cross your fingers. We put a bid in on a house today…

• Tags: Chappy, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Mail! // 8 Comments »

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• Tags: Chappy, Eye-Candy Friday • Permalink:Pet // 2 Comments »

Typical. I make him something nice and try to take a picture, and instead, he turns his head and sticks his tongue out…

And acts completely bored by the whole thing.

But at least the blanket cooperated.

I washed this after work and tossed it in the dryer on the “delicate” cycle. One of the reasons I picked this yarn in the first place was because it was a wool/acrylic blend that I’d be able to toss in the dryer. It dried surprisingly quickly, too!

Still … I think he likes it!

• Tags: Chappy, Finished Knitting • Permalink:Typical // 4 Comments »

So, this morning, I got up. Twice. At 6:49, Mom knocked on my door, thinking I was going to be late for work. Except, of course, this is Sunday and I don’t GO to work on Sundays. So I went back to bed, but didn’t really manage to get back to sleep … and since I was up until 1:15 finishing a book last night, I’ve been a little tired today.

Still, I didn’t let it slow me down! First, after eating breakfast (oatmeal with walnuts), I baked a cake. A Nut Cake from Nick Malgieri’s “How to Bake” (a great cookbook, by the way).

While I got that started, I finished a batch of granola. Like Susan (Have you voted for her yet? Time’s running out!), I make mine in batches these days, except that I (1) use a skillet for the nuts and stuff and my crockpot for the oatmeal part, and (2) I cook enough of the nuts, seeds, and coconut for TWO batches of granola, but then do the oatmeal part separately. As in, I cook 6 cups of oatmeal/honey/oil and mix it with HALF the nuts/seeds/coconut. The second half I save until the next time I need granola, and then I cook another batch of just the oatmeal/honey/oil and have a complete, second batch with a lot less work. This is convenient because it takes a lot less storage space for the nut/fruit combination (about 3-4 cups, total) than it does for an entire batch of granola (about 16 cups). So, I make half a batch, stash the other half of the nut-part, and then make the oatmeal part when I need it.

I did pretty early, too, so that I could then get my batch of yogurt started. I’ve been doing that in the crockpot, too. I heat the milk in a pot on the stove (much faster than the crockpot) while warming the empty crockpot–then pour the milk into the crock and turn it off, and let it cool down to about 105-109 degrees. Stir in about 1/4 cup of starter yogurt, cover with a warm towel, and let sit for 6-8 hours.

Then, we got the news that that house adamantly does not accept pets, which made Mom cry, and made Chappy feel guilty.

Luckily, we had a distraction!

A pair of wild monkeys.

Risa (whose picture I somehow managed NOT to take) had called on their way down to the NJ Sheep and Wool festival (or whatever it’s called), to ask if I wanted to join them, but I really couldn’t … but I suggested that, if on their way home they weren’t too tired and it wasn’t too late, maybe they could stop by and say hello.

They had so much FUN!

Especially once I pulled the flying squirrel toys out. (The look on Chappy’s face in this picture just cracks me up.)

The good news was that I had two Flying Squirrel toys. The bad news was that Chappy tends to focus on only one at a time, so Alex had to work a little harder for his attention.

But then, there was jumping…

Because who doesn’t love jumping?

Oh, and Risa got quite a kick out of this.

While the kids were jumping, Chappy was sitting right in front of me, looking up and smiling. “I’m having so much fun, Mom!” But every, single time I would lift my camera to take his picture, he would look away. I’d lower the camera, and he’d smile. I’d lift the camera, and he’d turn his head. We must have tried at least five to seven times! This was the best shot I got.

And, right now? He’s sound asleep … all that romping wore him out–in a good way!

Thanks so much for the laughs, Risa–we needed that!

So, we’re back to looking for something I can afford that’s nice, and big enough for the four of us. The really sad part is that the house we found yesterday was perfect–3/4 miles from work, lots of space, an incredible price, and so, so gorgeous with newly-finished floors, new kitchen appliances, everything. Gorgeous. It almost feels that finding anything else at all is going to feel like a letdown. So, please, don’t stop crossing those fingers for us! (Please.)

In the meantime …

At least we have cake. (Nut cake, with maple frosting–because, yes, it really is beige. And yummy!)

• Tags: Baking, Chappy, Friends • Permalink:Sunday // 4 Comments »

Eight years ago today, this little ball of (C)happiness drove into our lives.

(Okay, he didn’t actually drive. I took this picture at a rest stop on the 6 hour drive home–and you can see Mom in the back, ready to do the same thing!)

I can’t believe how little he used to be! And, honestly, I think he was the cutest puppy ever… but I might be biased.

Want to read more? Here’s the rest of the Anniversary Story.)

And, no, the house-hunting post is not a drill, it’s the real thing. And no, there’s no choice in the matter. And yes, we’re all kind of scared. Our realtor is supposed to be here any minute, in fact, to discuss options, so … wish us lots and lots of luck!

Now, I think I’m going to go pet the Anniversary Puppy … he always makes me smile!

• Tags: Chappy • Permalink:8 Years // 6 Comments »

It’s an old picture, but it sure is a cute one!

Brought to you by:

• Tags: Chappy, Eye-Candy Friday • Permalink:2002 // 2 Comments »

You know the saying, it never rains but it pours?

Chappy finally seemed to be feeling better, and acting a bit more like himself, and then I think I went and accidentally food-poisoned him.

He’s FINE, mind you, so far as his tummy goes, but he DID spend most of the afternoon throwing up in various places around the house. (Great thanks to Chappy’s Grandma for doing all the cleanup while I was at work.)

Here’s the story of my stupidity. It’s not even a long story. As you know, I cook for Chappy, using the Sojourner Farms food mix, and when I was making his supper last night, I realized I didn’t have enough left in the container for breakfast. So, we quickly defrosted the usual package of chicken/package of beef so I could get a batch on the stove as quickly as possible.

There are a couple problems that came up next. First, our microwave is getting older and isn’t that efficient any more, but since we mostly just use it to defrost meat, it’s not that big a deal. Except that the meat came out still half-frozen, but I figured I was going to be cooking it anyway, so just tossed it in the pot with the food mix and the water, and cooked it as usual.

An hour or so later, after my shower, I was making a cup of tea and Mom came into the kitchen. “What is that smell?” “It must be the garbage,” I said. And it was–because as soon as we emptied it, the bad smell was gone.

Except, the pieces I didn’t put together were that the only thing IN the garbage at that point were the two empty meat packages from Chappy’s food.

The SMART thing would have been to put two and two together and realize that, if the packages the meat came in smelled so badly, chances are there was something wrong with the meat.

But, somehow, concerned, loving mother that I am, I still missed it. The cooked food on the stove smelled like it normally did, after all, and I just didn’t THINK. And so, this morning, I fed him the food and went blithely off to work. He was fine when I came home at lunch, too. About 90% himself for the first time since I found that bug bite last week.

Then, the thunderstorms rolled in, and he got nervous. My guess is that that triggered an already iffy stomach and … well, you don’t really need the gory details, do you? Let’s just say his good, wonderful, loving grandma went through a lot of papertowels.

Obviously, I’ve thrown away that batch of food. And the batch I made this evening? I sniffed everything. I cooked it more thoroughly than usual, too, and chopped up the pieces more finely than I usually need to, when I fed him his (small) supper, too. He was just grateful to be getting supper–you know how dogs are. The minute their stomachs feel the least bit better, they’re ready to eat again!

Now, I guess I won’t miss our Pathmark that much any more. Mom found out last week that it’s closing, and she’s been doing her weekly grocery shopping there since it opened, somewhere around 1975.

On a happier note, I finished plying that bobbin of Cormo last night. And, see the little bit on the fresh bobbin on the wheel? That’s all I had left–not bad for almost-equal spinning for my two plies, huh?

Now, I’ve got some book reviews to write … in between petting my poor little boy, who is sitting RIGHT next to me as another string of thunderstorms rolls overhead.

And, for the record, I’m assuming that if he keeps his supper down and doesn’t get sick again (either vomiting-sick, or just seeming ill), he’ll be fine. If he seems ill again tomorrow, I’ll call the vet. I’m just kicking myself for not realizing what I was doing with that meat yesterday … Mommy Demerits!

• Tags: Chappy, Finished Spinning • Permalink:Mom Demerits // 7 Comments »

Since I know you’re all eager to know how Chappy’s feeling…

Better!

He was still itchy and panting this morning, but I talked to the vet (who was out of the office yesterday), and she prescribed an oral antihistimine/anti-inflammatory. Since I didn’t want him to have to wait until lunch time to get it, I took a break from the office to run over to the vet’s office.

So, by 10:45, I was home. I gave Chappy his new medicine, along with a biscuit (because it’s supposed to be taken on a full stomach). A quick pat on the head, and off I went, back to work.

The fun part? Today my town decided to pave not one, but TWO of the main (well, secondary) roads that I need to get to my house, so I had to take about a five mile detour to get back to work. Worth it though.

When I went back home at 12:30 for lunch, Chappy was already feeling better. Not itching so much. Not panting. Cooler. Able to actually get some rest.

Phew.

The consensus–since he was still acting itchy and distressed this morning, there was really no way that this reaction could be caused by a small amount of ointment from 24 hours earlier. The vet’s best guess was a reaction to whatever bug that bit or stung him. Though, I’m still wondering why, if that bite (judging by the scab) was clearly a couple days old, that allergic reaction would have started NOW.

But, whatever. The antihistimine helped, and we are all–especially Chappy–grateful.

Some links for you?

The Yarn Harlot made Cracked.com’s list of 7 true stories of proof that airlines hate us.

This is as close as I’m EVER going to come to riding this roller coaster–the video is great, but the ride? Crazy!

Chuck fans? Check out this great poster for Season 3.

And, you HAVE seen this video of this fabulous, joyful wedding entrance, right? My sister thought it was marginally inappropriate, but Mom and I think it’s lovely. Weddings are joyful, right? And it was just the walk in to the ceremony, and they’d cleared it with the minister, so where’s the harm? If it had been during the vows? Well, that would be different!

• Tags: Chappy, General • Permalink:Update // 1 Comment »

Poor Chappy. He’s not a happy camper.

So, you remember yesterday when I told you about the nasty, expensive bug bite? But, well, figure … bug bite. We have ointment, things should be fine, right?

Except that, he’s been licking at his sore spot. A lot. Because, one, the vet thoughtfully shaved the fur away, making it extra easy for him to reach it. Okay, whatever, that’s what dogs DO with injuries of all kinds.

Of course, then there’s that $20 ointment. The one that apparently makes the shaved area that much more tempting.

And, since he’s been licking at his sore spot, he hasn’t been feeling well.

As in–this morning especially–restless. Clingy, when Chappy is almost never clingy. Itchy. Warm.Panting.

And, oddly, every time he settled down, it was with his right side pressed up against something. Now, his bite is on the left side, so not lying on that side makes sense, but it was weird that he wouldn’t lie down just in the middle of the floor, or curled up on his pillow.

My only guess is that he’s having some kind of reaction to the medicine. Of course, it’s an external medicine and not meant to be taken internally, which could be making a difference.

At lunch time, we were all agreed–me, Mom, Dad, and my sister and nephew who were visiting–that he should go to the vet. I called and got a 3:15 appointment and headed back to work to get another hour or so of work done … but Mom called around 2:15 and said he seemed better. He was sleeping, he wasn’t scratching so much, and he felt cool to her, so I called and cancelled, but I said that I wasn’t planning to use that ointment, and should I use something else instead?

The answer was no, to just leave it alone.

So, $131 later, I’m left with a dog who has greater access and therefore greater temptation to lick at his sore spot. I’ve got an ointment which I’m guessing is making him sick, because yesterday, he just had a boo-boo; today he’s acting ill. And, anyway, I can’t use the ointment, so … I’m doing … nothing.

Yep. That makes me feel just great. Like I’m really doing my job as a mother.

On the plus side, Chappy hung out with his cousin this afternoon, and followed him around the house, which apparently made Chappy more relaxed and made Tyler feel pretty good about himself–it’s nice to be appreciated, you know? (Thanks, Tyler, for making Chappy feel better, too!)

Hopefully by tomorrow he’ll be more himself.

Hey, the Fall Interweave Knits preview is up!

• Tags: Chappy, General • Permalink:Boo-Boo-2 // 6 Comments »

I haven’t shown you an update on Chappy’s blanket in a while. I’ve got two sides done, and just rounded the second corner. The tricky part? I just started a new skein and I have two left, which is going to cut this pretty close. I THINK I might have enough left, but … maybe not. I’ll know better when I finish this skein and see where it ends.

Chappy approves, though. He came in and tested the softness and comfiness of the knit, and says it’s a very nice, head-rubbing knit.

Which is good, because he deserves a pick-me-up today.

Because he has a boo-boo. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing on his side today, but I spotted it at lunch when I gave him a belly-rub before heading back to work. I looked more closely (always challenging with all that fluffy fur) and found a black lump. I didn’t know what it was! I thought it might have been an embedded tick, but really didn’t know…

Turns out, it was a scab on top of a really BIG bug bite of some kind. Like, the size of a pea. I know this because I took him to the vet this afternoon.

Turns out, it was an expensive bug bite, but that’s okay. It’s worth it for the peace of mind in knowing it’s not something serious, and it’s not a permanently-installed tick.

Now, I just need to get him to stop licking the ointment off. If I need to, I’ll go downstairs and get the Tea Tree Oil. Not only is it great for healing on its own, but it smells (and apparently tastes) terrible–that’ll keep his tongue away!

Poor little guy. He’s kind of tired, after his busy day. I just wish I knew what kind of bug that was, and where it bit him. The vet saw a little bald spot about an inch away from this bite, as if it had been there before … that’s worrying! I think tomorrow I’ll be washing his bedding, just to be safe!

• Tags: Chappy, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Boo-boo // 4 Comments »

Because I don’t have any interesting, new photos of anything else to show you, I figured I would give you yet more evidence that Chappy is a clever dog.

You already know how resourceful a thief he can be, but did you know he’s musical, also?

Yes, Chappy plays guitar.

When I pulled out my old guitar for photos a few weeks ago, he decided that it looked scary and threatening, so he barked at it.

Which, since this IS a musical instrument after all, and designed to resonate, it … thrummed right back at him.

So he barked again. And it thrummed again. Bark. Thrum. Barkbarkbark. Thrumthrumthrum. It went on for a while, really, and was highly entertaining. He took great pleasure in his performance. It’s really just a shame that the guitar wasn’t remotely in tune.

But, there’s more.

He’s also obviously a sculptor of some talent. Look what he did with his blanket.

Now, you have to make allowances for the medium (a blanket) and the fact that he doesn’t have, you know, thumbs, but this is pretty impressive.

You don’t see it?

Here, I’ll help.

This looks like, well, a sculpture of CHAPPY, asleep in his crate. That’s his tail right by the door, then you can see a back leg, and the front, and the hunch of his shoulders, as if his chin is stretched out in front.

That’s better than *I* could have done with a blanket!

Of course, he might simply be trying the “pillow-under-the-blanket” trick to make me THINK he’s in his crate while he runs away from home. Mom was broiling london broil for supper earlier and that means she had the oven fan on and Chappy HATES that–the smoke from the broiler plus the noise from the fan makes him try to hide as far away from the kitchen as he can.

And, honestly, it looks like he’s planning something to me…

• Tags: Chappy • Permalink:Hidden Talents // 4 Comments »

It’s a serious thing, turning 8.

In sharp contrast to the frivolity of the weekend, Chappy spent the day in quiet contemplation of the responsibilities an eight year old must face….

Okay, maybe he wasn’t THAT serious, but he has been kind of quiet today. I had the day off from work, you’ll remember, but he’s spent most of it napping. Except for the walk, of course. And that period when the thunderstorm with the heavy rain went through, when he huddled in the corner of the dining room until it was over. I don’t know … maybe he’s not enjoying this “getting older” thing. Or maybe he’s just stiff from all that romping!

Check out the loving post his Grandma wrote today.

And, go wish Amy a happy birthday, too!

I got two things in the mail today, though, which is always a plus.

Three Rowan magazines (#25, 27, 29)–which count as one item–which I won from Claudia’s MS Ride contest extravaganza. Woohoo! I never expect to win anything, so this was a special treat, even if I AM in the middle of trying to get rid of books and magazines. (Irony, anyone?)

The other was my copy of “Notes from the Underwire” by Quinn Cummings, of the QC Report (a hilarious blog you really should be reading). I will further attest that–even though I’m only on page 55–this book is so darn funny, my parents were complaining that I was laughing too loudly. By all means, you must check this out! Wondering why? (If my opinion isn’t good enough?) Check out the first stop on her Blog Tour and note the witty, funny answers and then try to tell me you’re  not curious.

And, darn it, now I’m in the mood to watch Goodbye Girl again.

Speaking of old movies, Mom and I watched 1972’s What’s Up Doc the other night, with a very young and good looking Ryan O’Neal and a very young, good looking Barbara Streisand. With the exception of poor Madeline Kahn’s hair and wardrobe, it stood up remarkably well. SUCH a funny movie, with the obligatory car chase up and down the hills of San Francisco.

Did you hear the Knitting Song? Sweet and folksy.

Okay–have a good night, everyone!

• Tags: Chappy, General, Reading • Permalink:Eight. // 13 Comments »

You know that I don’t dare throw a birthday party for myself, but that doesn’t mean that Chappy doesn’t get one! Although, really, it’s just family.

There was a new toy (made out of fire hose–but with a squeak, which Chappy considers absolutely vital in a toy).

Followed by romping. (Can I just tell you how much I adore this not-altogether-perfect picture? Mostly because it embodies sheer happiness.)

Romping in the yard with Tyler (here, apparently explaining the rules to Chappy).

Romping in the yard with Tiffany.

Followed by a brief hiatus when the tennis ball rolled juuuust under the fence.

There was even romping with his Uncle Mike.

Not to mention pot roast for dinner.

And lemon pound cake with fresh berries for dessert. (Yum)

Chappy really enjoyed his.

There were games, too.

And knitting! Here’s my niece working on her Ingenue (which I made last year). Isn’t it  nice to know that I’ve got somebody else in the family who knits?

Really, everybody had a good time.

Especially the birthday boy!

Honestly, I don’t know how we’re going to top this on his actual birthday on Tuesday… Though it should help that I’m taking the day off from work.

Added:

Mom snapped this picture of me and said I should add it to the post to show that I was there and having fun, too … which means Dad is the only one NOT shown, but trust me, he was here, too!

• Tags: Chappy, Family • Permalink:Birthday Party (Not Mine!) // 6 Comments »

Mom and I took Chappy out for coffee this morning, as a birthday-weekend treat. Although, of course, WE are the ones who drank coffee. He drank water. But he shared my cinnamon roll and her scone while we sat outside on a lovely July day. Then we walked to a new, gourmet kind of dog store and bought Chappy a bag of pizza-flavored biscuits, baked right there at the shop.

After we came home, I ran out again because somehow the cream cheese I picked up at the store yesterday disappeared between the checkout counter and the refrigerator, and I absolutely had to have some for his cake … which I baked once I got home. (Lemon pound cake , from the best recipe for lemon pound cake I’ve ever found. The lemony scent just from mixing the lemon zest with the sugar makes me swoon. Then I gave Chappy a bath and threw together some supper from some chinese food leftovers the other night.

Oh, and I squeezed in a nap in there, too.

Tomorrow, my sister’s family is coming down for Chappy’s birthday “party.” No barbeque, though. I think we’re the only family in America that not only does not own a grill but who has no desire to own one! We’re having pot roast and baked potatoes, followed by lemon pound cake with fresh berries …. mmmm.

(I know, no pictures … I don’t know how that happened, either!)

Hope everybody is having a wonderful Saturday, whether or not July 4th means anything extra to you!

• Tags: Baking, Chappy, General • Permalink:Fourth // 1 Comment »

I felt like a terrible mother this morning. We had a string of nasty thunderstorms roll through last night, which was bad enough, but just before I was about to leave for work, the sky got darker and the boomers started again. I finished getting ready for work and headed downstairs a few minutes early to find Chappy huddled under the kitchen table, where his grandparents were finishing breakfast.

And Chappy only goes under the kitchen table when (1) there’s food, or (2) there are extreme storms.

So, as a good mother, I sat down on the floor and he came and sat in my lap (also something he usually only does when frightened), and I petted him for 5-10 minutes and then … “I’m sorry, honey, but I have to go to work.” I nudged him off my lap, stood up, picked up my purse …

Glancing back was a mistake.

He followed me all the way to the door, with this disbelieving look on his face. “You’re leaving me? NOW?”

I felt just terrible. And, when I took one last look before closing the door? He was back under the table.

Poor puppy!

(And, for the record, when I went home at lunch? He kind of ignored me, but his aunt and cousin were visiting so I prefer to believe that was because he was so happy to see them, rather than upset with me.)

So, remember when I switched over from Typepad to Wordpress? In many ways, the transfer was wonderful–all the posts, all the comments, moved seamlessly from one platform to the other. There were just two, big problems. All the internal links that pointed to other, previous posts still pointed to Typepad (annoying), and all the PHOTOS linked to Typepad.

That left me with two choices–I could keep the Typepad blog alive until I got all my pictures loaded up on Flickr and relinked in every single one of the posts from three years worth of knit-blogging. Or, I could just cancel the Typepad blog and sacrifice all the pictures.

Yeah, I thought option #2 was pretty dire, too, especially for a blog that’s so much about the pictures. For a while, I diligently plowed through the archives, uploading old pictures to Flickr and relinking them. I started back at the very beginning, January 2005, and worked my way forward, but just before the two year mark, I faltered. And I didn’t move past December 2006 for, well, about a year. And I’ve been paying Typepad $5 a month ever since.

Ironically, that’s more than I was paying when I was USING their service, because then I paid annually and got a lower rate. I never thought it would take me longer than six months to get all my photos and hyperlinks transferred to Wordpress. I just didn’t factor in the drudge factor. But, now, I really can’t afford to be wasting $60 a year for nothing, and so I’ve been working hard to make these transfers. I’m up to April 2007 now, so that’s 8 more months of posts, and I’m done. (And, well, you’ll all just have to deal with the fact that those pictures don’t “embiggen” any more. They simply are what they are–but at least they’re still there.)

It’s just unfortunate that it’s so darn time-consuming. There are so many other things I could be doing with my time! But, still … since I started concentrating on this, I’ve gotten through four months of posts in just over a week. If I’m lucky, I should be done by Independence Day, which seems kind of fitting.

The good part of all this is looking back at my archives. Remembering knit projects that are long past, seeing how small kids and puppies I know were then. Remembering when I met various friends for the first time. Very handy, really.

But in the meantime, if you don’t hear from me as frequently as usual, that’ll be why!

(Oh, and the picture at the top of the post? From April 2007, but oddly appropriate for today’s post!)

• Tags: Chappy, Weather • Permalink:His Hour of Need // 3 Comments »