Sunday, January 24, 2010

So Far So Good

OK we have had the lovely Prince Nickolas for two weeks...what a treasure he is. Oliver, our first dog, my and my sons very first dog, was a new and exciting venture for us. The poor pup was sick shortly after we got him and I used to wait for him to yawn to throw the pills into his mouth. It terrified me to pick him up and his teeth, well, I wanted a glove like falconers wear. Then came Phineas, first rescued pet, little guy with some obvious issues. rescued the very day he and is brothers were to be put down, not even 10 weeks old when we got him, already neutered, last pup to be adopted...much different looking with his coat of many colors and black rimmed devil eyes. He quickly stole our hearts and became Oliver's shadow. Then, for some reason known only to higher powers we rescued not one but two kitties. Brother and sister Artemus and Annabel, smaller than small, 6 weeks old....what the heck do you do with a kitten? Why do I have two pets I can now hold in one hand? Why are they so fast and what is with all the scratching? Well...Artemus, the little talker of the two, walks beside me and gabs and gabs filling me in on all the goings on of the house and pretty girlie Annabel watches the boys of the house and rolls her eyes. She is not averse to being held and when I ask her dance the paw is presented and we dance around the kitchen. They have been an experience, a time consuming, costly, funny, exasperating experience. I wish I had known animals all my life and am grateful for the patience and love they give so freely. Hmmm....4 animals, that should be enough for a house of three people. NOPE....I wanted another dog for about a year. I would bring it up and be shut down...finally I said I am getting another puppy and for Christmas I want support and puppy things. The family certainly came through. Two weeks before Christmas I found a litter of lab pups that were rescued. Actually their Mom was rescued, pregnant, the day she was going to be put down. Thank goodness there are places that rescue animals. A Lab Rescue organization scooped her up and she was placed in a foster home to give birth and to have the opportunity to mother her babies til they were old enough to leave. They all lived there, the foster home. They were luckier still that the home fostering them was full of labs, the family raised and trained labs so little ones were nothing unusual. What a great start to a life that was never intended to happen. Nickolas came to us well loved and cared for and a bit sad for having left his family but now after two weeks he knows he is home. He knows his crate and puts himself in there when wanting some solitude. He adores his animal siblings and freely kisses their noses, especially when he thinks they may be getting bored with him or angry at him. He shadows the big dogs and proudly accompanies them on their daily walks, determined and successful at keeping up. He has to be stopped and reminded he is only a baby. They have decided he is ok and have taken to looking out for him. Even the kittens have figured out he is staying and have come more close to him to observe him and his antics. He is the smallest of the dogs we have had. I am so glad I got to know him as a baby as every day it is evident he is growing quickly. Soon he will be giving the big dogs a run for their money. I hope some day to return the favor and foster some dogs til they can be placed in their forever homes...they will be welcome and loved and missed when given to their families. But, we have been on the receiving end and would like to repay the kindness.

This eating vegetarian was going swell til two days ago, I have been hankering for fish so may indulge. I am hoping to get to the gym Tuesday and Thursday this week...

Knitting...

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Off and Running

OK so Sunday night or Monday morning will be the optimal times for me to blog. Just talking to myself and typing so you all got that info as well, lol.



Life

So many changes in 2009....my DS1 and his GF travelled to DIsney World in September. Now DS has been there dozens of times, always with family, me in particular :) so this was his first trip without his mother. So what does a young man do in Disney without his mother....GET ENGAGED!!!! I am thrilled...his GF is a doll, has always been a true member of our family and we couldn't be more excited. There are plans in progress for a May 2011 wedding, some knitting will be involved, and lots of fun to be had by all.

We hosted an engagement party for the couple in November and it was a lovely time. The deck is done at last and at one point seemed to have a million people on it, lol.



DS2 is starting his last semester as a college junior, wow does time ever fly. He turned 20 in December, a fine young man. He was able to find a job after months of applications and searching and is seeming to enjoy being a tax payer. Sadly he was in an accident last month, in the truck, and it was totalled. He could have been so badly hurt but the air bag deployed and used great wisdom bringing the truck to a stop. Lots of aches and pains, but he is fine now. We all know we were very lucky. We now have another truck, a usable cab that will seat 5-6 adults and accomodates the anmals nicely. It has 4 wheel drive, which with this nasty last few weeks of snow has been a blessing. I like trucks. People are always surprised to hear it is my vehicle of choice. The new truck and an addition of a brand new snow blower makes all this whit stuff easier to deal with.



DH has been on a weight loss program and is doing so wonderfully. It is nice to have his company walking the dogs and there is even talk of possible skiing this year. Not the optimal choice with my knee still needing surgery, but I am of the mindset that I know it needs fixing so until I have it fixed it is not going to impair my life. My skis will need tuning and all the gear will need to be located in the great barn of things, but I told DH if we spend the month of January at the gym getting back into good shape then sometime in February skiing is a lilkhood. I am actually quite excited about the possibility. It will need to be carefully planned with DS2 now working and the addition of a third puppy requiring sitting, lol.



Nickolas is coming Saturday, we need to drive a bit to pick him up from the transporter coming from Texas, but we are all so excited. DS2 will be in Florida for the week, so he will not get to meet him til next week, and DS1 is coming home to sit the other animals. We have had a surrogate Nickolas, a stuffed black lab which was gifted to me by DH, in the crate and the animals have taken turns sitting and keeping watch over him. It will be an intersting experience having them all meet for sure. I think we will have hit our max for animals for a bit, though. But we sure do enjoy the ones we have.



I must have 50 WIPs...it is sad, I go full force and then get distracted by some new more interesting project and there are emoty needles about so....I am committed to finishing ten of the unloved this year. If more become FO so much the better, but right now 10 would be admirable.



I am currently working on a Dale being knit in honor of the Winter Olympics.http://sheriffofknittingham.blogspot.com/Lorraine has spearheaded a Knit a Norwegian. Four years ago this group knit Dales in honor of the winter Olympics, my Foxie, 90% done has been located in the GBOT,(great barn of things) and stands an excellent chance of being completed as well. I am working on Lake">http://www.allegroyarns.com/dale/dale8501-1.html>Lake Louise 2001 in Dale Falk in grey, aubergine and cyclamen. The aubergine is from my stash which is also a plan for 2010, new COs must use some stash yarn, not all but at least some. I will post weekly updates here and am hoping for completion before the ending ceremonies.

There is much crocheting going on with so many new babies due in 2010, I personally know of 7..wow...so many little things are in the works as well. I will post finished pics only.



I have begun my venture into becoming a vegetarina, not a vegan, but a vegetarian. I have purchased some wonderful cookbooks and think this is doable. I am giving myself the month of January to ease into it but the first three days have gone well...updates on that as well.



So there you have it for this week anyways. Happy New Year to us all....here's hoping for health and happiness for all.



Have a great week, Mom.

Friday, January 01, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Where have I been? No idea....we all have life that gets in the way and Ravelry stole so much of my time, but it was worth it. It is a new year. I have a new puppy coming. Yes a third..what can I say? I am smitten and my family is kind enough to indulge me. I am also casting on for a new Dale...in honor of the Winter Olympics. THE Olympics I planned to attend, THE Olympics I tracked for 4 years, THE Olympics I could not get enough tickets in venues close together in time to justify spending tens of thousands of dollars for the trip. I am so disappointed, this was likely the only Olympics I would ever get to....life, sometimes not a kind thing. BUT I am getting another puppy in a week.

2010
GOALS
Knitting
Finish 10 WIPS, not necessarily before CO new, just finish some of the old as well
Finish organizing knitting supplies as every time I want to find a needle I cannot, perhaps they live in WIPs?

Health
Get back into a good healthy lifestyle. I am going to try to be a better vegetarian, dday one has been successful,lol. I don't enjoy meat very much and love tofu and vegetables so it will be an easy transition. I have some new cookbooks to help in the endeavor.
Get back to the gym 2-3 times a week.

Blog
Weekly

There are others, but not feeling the need to publicly announce, lol.

MANY many family updates but let's start small ..lol

For now I wish everyone a Happy Healthy New Year...a new day a new start

Happy New Year, Mom