Wednesday, June 23, 2010

So Beau went back home to his daddy - all better . . .

Finished the Lorna's Laces camouflage socks - they're on their way to the recipient as I write this. Did not take any pics of the finished product.

Bailey is here now. She was spayed yesterday, so MS brought her here to recuperate.

Waiting for some Wollmeise grab bags - hope they come in the mail today. If they don't contain what I hoping for . . . Mauerblumchen and Daisy, I'm gonna pull out the big guns for a trade.

Have a great day.

Edited to add: Heard from the vet late today. Beau does have a rare tick-borne disease - Neospora Caninum - which will require at least 8 weeks of treatment. So glad they figured it out.

Monday, June 21, 2010

He's Better

On the knitting front, I have pulled out my Log Cabin Blanket that has been hibernating for quite awhile. I think that I have found comfort in the constant garter stitch. It is made from Blue Moon heavyweight in 6 different blue colors on a size 6 needle. It's about 31" x 35". I am addicted. I can hardly put it down.


I have to put the blanket down for the time being though. I need to complete these socks today. Luckily, they're sportweight and they go pretty fast. I need to finish these today, so that I can block them tomorrow, so that the HWWTM can bring them to their recipient. And he is going to be with their recipient Wednesday. Gotta get to work.



Our boy is definitely getting better. He is almost back to his old self. He is resting right now, but in between his frequent naps, he is playing and moving around with very little stiffness or any sign that he has been so sick. It happened Saturday evening when MS brought his puppy, Bailey, home to visit. The 2 dogs started playing like there was nothing wrong. We got home from a party late that night and couldn't believe our eyes. He even swam for several hours Sunday afternoon. I think I am still going to keep him a few more days just to make sure he does not have a relapse, but I think he is going to be ok.

Shout out to my husband who has been and is a wonderful father to our children. He is stern and strict when he needs to be, but loving and giving when the occasion arises. We haven't always seen eye to eye on issues involving the kids (I am just a tad more lenient), but I know he will never let me or them down. Happy Father's Day!!!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Beau Update




Our puppy is doing a little better, I think. The vet called this morning and reported that he does NOT have lymphoma. Phew!! Still not sure what it is, may know next week sometime when we get the blood cultures back from Auburn, but we may never know.

They did change one of his antibiotics yesterday, thinking that this new one would cover 2 tick-borne diseases that they suspect he may have. These are uncommon, but prevalent in south US when they do occur. We think this new antibiotic may be the one helping him, or maybe one of the other 2 that he has been on for a couple of days kicked in.

He is moving around a little better today. He is able to rise from a lying down position without help. He is able to sit and lay down easier. His back is not as hunched when he walks. And while he still walks slowly and gingerly, it appears to be a little better. He actually trotted down the driveway a little ways while following me to go bring in the trash cans.

Overall, he is staying awake longer and sleeping a little less. His tail is wagging a little more, and that is a good sign. I couldn't find him at one point today, and he had climbed up the stairs. I have some pics of him, but they're on my iphone, and I don't know how to download them from it to the blog. Maybe YS will come home soon and help me out.

Edited to Add: YS came home and helped me put the pics in.

The middle picture is where I found him asleep this morning when I got up.

The last picture shows the 2 cases of water he later peed on.


Thursday, June 17, 2010

Sick Puppy

My poor little Beau Beau . . . he was perfectly fine this past weekend, running in the backyard, swimming in the pool. All of a sudden, Monday afternoon, he became lethargic and was in obvious pain. OS brought him to the vet Tuesday, where they ran tests to try to find out what was wrong with him. The regular vet sent him to LSU Veterinarian School Wednesday, where more tests were run. And, still, they don't know what is wrong. He is on 3 different broad-spectrum antibiotics and pain meds. Hopefully, we'll know more this afternoon. If not, then more tests. He's staying with his grandmother (me), so that he can be properly taken care of.







Tempted Spoiler Alert!!!






Look no further if you are in the Tempted & 3AM club. . .






Stacy and Keri, of Tempted Yarns and 3AM bags respectively, came up with this lovely kit for the June installment of their club. The yarn is a lovely mix of pinks, purples and mauve in 100% Superwash Merino called Pocket full of Posies. The matching bag is a small sock project bag. Also included are a sample of Soak and a little gadget called a barrel counter holder. It can also be used as a stitchmarker keeper. A free fingerless mitt pattern is also available to club members.



Started and finished a sock this week (with the exception of kitchenering the toe closed). It is the STR club pattern, Swing Set, but knit in Calico colorway instead of the club colorway. Very fun, easy pattern, and love the color of this yarn.


Look what I got in the mail Monday . . . Wollmeise in Lila Ludmilla, Spinaci, Pistazie and Golden Pear . . . beautiful colors.
Top picture taken without flash, bottom photo with. . .
Have a great week. I'll be spending alot of time knitting in the vet's office.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

MAY ROCKING SOCK CLUB SPOILERS!!!!!
(sorry, I should have put this up sooner)







I love whipping up little booties. They only take a few hours and can be made on a Sunday afternoon. These were made for my friend's new grandson to match the blanket I made for him. They are Magic Slippers from Sock Pixie, a really fun and easy pattern.








My May Socks That Rock kit finally made it. I am kind of on the fence about it. It is one of Blue Moon's "spirit" colorways. I've never seen one irl. They are "barely there" colorways. This is cream with a hint of olive and peach. I think I would like it better if had just a touch more color. The name of the color is Sweet Pea. I'm not sure if or when I'll knit it.


The kit came with 2 patterns, Ada Lovelace and Swing Set, both anklets.



I also received my May Yarntini skein, Mint Fizz.



I received a beautiful skein of Wollmeise in a Ravelry trade - Tant Gron, tant Brun......



I started a new project last weekend while at the beach - Fiona's Top. I am using Wollmeise Tutu, with My Old Blue Jeans for the trim on the neckline. I am using 3 mm and 3.5 mm needles. This will be for my 5 year old great-niece. I am loving the way it is turning out.
Have a great weekend.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Socks, Socks & More Socks

How about these socks (the ones on the HWWTM) to start off the post? One of the advantages of having a workaholic husband is that he wins lots of very nice trips. We were in Bermuda last week. On the last night there, the men were given Bermuda shorts to wear to the banquet. This is the way that the men dress up in Bermuda, with the shorts, knee socks, dress shoes, and a coat and tie.
Bermuda is a very beautiful place. We spent a couple of days lounging on the beach and a couple of days by the pool - it was pretty relaxing.



Of course, no post would be complete without a skein of Wollmeise. This one is called Graf Ratz (which means blue-blooed rat). It's a very beautiful dark bluish gray (or grayish blue).



And this is Griddle Grits - Numma Numma in the usual. A very pretty yellow.




These were finished on the flight home from Bermuda. They're Lorna's Laces in Grumperina colorway. The pattern is Staccato Socks, done on 2.25 mm needles. I'm not sure I like the way these striped. I wish the whole sock had done something like the heel flap striping. These probably will be gifted.





These are Wollmeise Die Auster colorway. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that these babies practically knitted themselves. They literally flew off the needles. My only regret about them is that I made them too big to keep for myself. Poo. They'll go in the gift pile too.





Speaking of flying off the needles, I made this sock in 2 days. Boy, you just can't beat a good sportweight, can you? This is Lorna's Laces sportweight in camouflage color, knitted in a 3x1 rib. They're for a friend who requested a pair of handknit socks. BTW, his wife knits, but she knits mostly for their grandchildren.








I've picked up my Waves of Lace tank again. It is Wollmeise Spina di Pesci colorway. I have the back done, and this is the front. Only a few hours of work left. I started this last June, so it is time to finish it, don't you think?
Ok, I think we're all caught up now. Have a great week.