Ornery Fuzzball

Happy birthday Scooter! You've made it to 16! Now that you are 16 you are a bit more ornery than you used to be. (Didn't know that was possible.) You have clear feelings on what you do and don't feel like doing. For example, you didn't want your picture taken for this year's birthday post, so you ran off as soon as you saw the camera.

I asked nicely, but you decided that you preferred to be inside. I suppose that is my fault. You are almost entirely deaf now, so other measures have to be taken.

Since your sense of smell hasn't diminished, you have no problem coming out for food. You'll even humble yourself for the good stuff. Ham, for instance, is worth sitting and presenting a paw.

You also aren't below licking every last bit of ham taste or treat crumbs off of someone's hand.

So happy birthday little buddy. You make everyone's day bright just by being around.

A Joyful And Fuzzy Spirit

Happy 15th Birthday, Scooter!

We have been buddies for quite some time now and I'm impressed by your continued enthusiasm for life... and treats.

When you first rocketed into our lives, we didn't know how long we would get to enjoy your playful spirit.

I'm glad it has been for this long and I look forward to each day that we get to continue enjoying each other's company.

Things are looking good as you leap into your next year of life.

On The Hoop

After my last post, I still tried to put off starting my lavender sachet project. Of course because I had said I would stitch at least one stitch, I was too embarrassed not to go through with it. So I stitched a stitch and it was ugly. Then I stitched another stitch: still ugly. I stitched a bunch more stitches before pulling them all out and trying again. My second try went much better. I stitched a smaller stitch and it was less ugly. Then I stitched another stitch and it looked nice too. Eventually I hit a rhythm and was sad to put the fabric down at bedtime. I finished up the next day, broke out the sewing machine, and voila! I now have a completed lavender sachet. The pattern has been stitched on both sides, so there is no wrong side.

This sachet has a quarter cup of lavender in it.

I've already started my second project. This project also suffered from some ugly stitches that I pulled out before getting a size I liked better.

With knitting a WIP is "on the needles." Is an embroidery project WIP called "on the hoop?"

While I was getting my pictures together for today's post, Scooter came out and joined me. I snapped a few pictures of him too, but he wouldn't make any eye contact with the camera today. I'm happy to report that since his surgery to remove fatty tumors back in November, he has fully recovered and has so much more energy that he previously had. It's always a pleasure to see him bound around joyfully.

He looks grumpy, but he was quite happy while he was following me around.

Putty In Your Paws

I'm sorry to disturb you, Scooter, but did you know that you have traveled 8.176 billion miles? Today marks your 14th birthday.

You have had some changes in your life. You sleep more and your hearing isn't what it used to be. Luckily your sense of smell remains the same. You still know when the chicken is out.

Dad had chicken inside and Scooter was just waiting for me to open the door so he could rush in and beg

Your poor old bones require more coddling. Luckily we are like putty in your paws, so there will always be a pillow brought out for you when we sit outside.

Happy Birthday little buddy. I'm glad that we get to be your people and you are our dog. Every year is a good year with you.

Little Buddy And Big Buddy

Hey Scooter, today is your 13th birthday. I know that lots has changed this year for you. I'm no longer your roommate. But I'm glad we are still buddies.

I'm also glad that you and big buddy get on well. I know big buddy really likes you. And judging by how you snub me when big buddy is around, I think you like him too.

Here's to many more years of cuddling.

Small Talk With Tangey And Scooter

Mum told me the other day that she kept forgetting to bring her phone to take pictures of Tangey when he would come over to say hi to Scooter. I've gotten pictures before, but this time I got them from their point of view. I wonder what they say to each other.

Tangey: Hi Scooter. What's been going on with you?

Scooter: I got my hair cut the other day. Audry did a much better job this year. Last year the vet laughed at me.

Scooter: Mmm... tuna breath.
Tangey: Smells like you still get the same old dry dog food.

Scooter: I wish I cou..... What's this wonderful smell?
Tangey: I guess I'll see you later then.

It's Scooter's Birthday Song

Hey Scooter, do you know what today is? It's your 12th birthday.

Although, with the way you live your life, it's like every day is your birthday.

It's been a good year. We've learned and grown together.

We've also caught up on many, many naps.

I'm so happy that we are still best friends. I hope there are still many years to come.

The Velveteen Scooter

Sometimes I wonder why Scooter's body puts so much emphasis on hair growth. I gave him a great haircut in March. Come June, it's back to fluffy.

He's getting ready for his haircut nap

Luckily he sits very nicely for his hair cuts. We sit out in the backyard and he falls asleep as I trim away with a pair of scissors. Isn't he handsome. If only you all could reach through the screen and feel how velvety he is now. And because all that hair is gone, he gets a little cooler in the evenings, which means we wants to cuddle!

He's all nice and clean because he will be staying with a friend for bit while my Mum and I go on a little trip. I'm hoping to get some neat pictures to share when I get back.

Scooter And Tangey

I realized that I haven't had a proper Scooter post since last August. Scooter hasn't been up to too much trouble since then. But the other day we saw his cat friend, Tangey, during walkies. Tangey (pronounced like the beginning of tangerine) hasn't been around much as of late. But whenever he sees Scooter, he runs out from wherever he is to say hi. There aren't too many cats around our neighborhood who are excited to see Scooter.

This is the only time I've ever been able to get a picture of Scooter and Tangey

Scooter loves Tangey. They sniff each other, which is rather adorable. Sometimes Tangey will roll over, which Scooter doesn't like very much. Even though Tangey doesn't use claws, he likes bopping Scooter on the nose. Scooter isn't into that.

During our visit, Scooter inevitably gets distracted and goes to sniff a nearby plant, so I pet Tangey a bit to thank him for coming over.

The Sock Hop

So I managed to finish my Vintage Christmas socks in time for Christmas Eve. (I wore my Smaug socks on Christmas day when we all went out to see the second Hobbit movie.) I'm quite pleased with how they turned out. Although I managed to get a pink blotch on them on the first washing because they touched the Smaug socks. Mum says it doesn't look that bad. I think I was more upset because they were fresh off the needles. I also think that I will start washing the Smaugs by themselves. They had been doing great and not leaking dye for many hand washings. Then I threw them in the machine (because they are superwash) and promptly dyed my grey underwear into a delightful hue of pink. They've been unpredictable since then. At least the socks haven't gotten dull with the loss of dye.

But back to the Vintage Christmas socks. Scooter insisted in helping out again during the photoshoot. Recently he has insisted in being in all the frames during photoshoots. I think that he doesn't like it when he isn't the center of attention.

Pay attention to me human

In the background of the photos, you can see that my brother got me a gift this year. The real surprise was that he managed to spell my name correctly this year. We don't really do gifts, but in 2011 he got me one... and spelled my name wrong. He did a better wrapping job that you see in the picture, but since he got me a game that we both wanted to play, we unwrapped it before Christmas, played, then he rewrapped it.

In other knitting news, I've cast on a new pair of socks. It's another pair of Vanilla socks in Canon Hand Dyes color Days Of Wine And Roses. I thought it would be nice to get a pair done for Valentines Day. I've been addicted to making Vanilla socks. I don't know how long this will last, but I'm not one to stop a knitting streak.

What has everyone been working on now that the holiday knitting is over. (Or are you guys still trying to finish holiday knitting?)

Operation Sock Drawer

I've been listening to the Knitmore Girls Podcast and was inspired by their series called Operation Sock Drawer. The idea is to pump up your sock drawer with more socks. I don't actually have my socks in a drawer. I have them out in the open so I can enjoy them. They usually reside in my book case next to my sock pattern books.

From left to right, on the top row are 3 pairs of Velomeisters, Sleepy Hollow Socks, 2 pairs of Leyburns

Middle Row has TARDIS socks, Denature, Smaug socks, Free Bees, and 2 pairs of Any Gauge Ribbed Socks

Bottom row has Vanilla Latte, Skyp, Pomatomas, and the last two were knit for me by Tyler. They are Skew and Rivendell

It's taken me so long to post about the socks that I've actually finished another pair. Here is my We're All Mad In Here vanilla socks. I took extra care to get the stripes to line up well around the heel. (It required a lot of ripping and some really good notes to myself.)

Scooter decided to help out when I was taking pictures. He has an uncanny ability to walk into the frame when you are trying to take a picture.

I had brought out a little Cheshire Cat to add to the photo. Scooter decided that it was a comfy pillow. He's pretty silly. At the moment, he is asleep with his head on my foot and he is snoring.

I've already started my next pair of socks. This yarn is Vintage Christmas from Canon Hand Dyes. It will be another pair of vanilla socks. I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish the pair in time to wear on the 24th. It could happen, if I could stop being such a perfectionist about everything. I plan on wearing my Smaug socks on the 25th when we go see the second Hobbit movie.

Is anyone else working on their Operation Sock Drawer?

Birthday Playdate

Happy birthday Scooter! Today you turn 11 and you have lived with us for 10 whole years. And you are still wild as ever. This year, we were able to give you a pretty good gift.

You got a doggy playdate with a brand new friend, Angel. 

You guys wrestled, played tag, and had a good old time.

And despite being full of energy, you did finally poop out. Hopefully we won't have to wait until your next birthday for another playdate.

Happy birthday bud!

Pedro The Cat

Meet Pedro the cat. My Mum needle felted him the other day. Pedro wasn't originally going to have a mustache. But while deciding what color his mouth should be, it became clear that he didn't need a mouth. He was in need of a mustache.

Pedro is quite attractive with his striped back and tail.

No detail was left unfelted. He has individual toes and a butthole.

Pedro's a cool cat. He and Scooter have been hanging out.

Mum wanted me to share her crafting triumph with you guys. Her little needle felted creatures are pretty neat. I'm hoping she'll make a needle felted Scooter sometime in the future.

Trading The Old (Sleeve) For The New (Sleeve)

On Saturday I finished all my deadline knitting. That means The Book knitting is completely over. Even the one extra thing I had to knit up to make sure the charts were right. From February 15th to April 28th I'd been knitting a ridiculous amount in order to be done. So now I have time to revisit my Grace cardi. When we last saw it I had decided that I needed to take both sleeves back out. They were way too tight. 

I donated my hair for the 5th time. I'm loving the new haircut.

I tore only one sleeve out so I'd have a comparison sleeve.  The last few evenings were dedicated towards putting the right sleeve back in. Can you tell the difference? 

After this picture was taken, I went ahead and took out the left sleeve. 

Of course I missed the perfect weather to wear the sweater. Today was 90°F (32°C). Poor Scooter was panting, so we brought out the fan. 

So now I have a new conundrum. I've been such a monogamous knitter for so long that I don't know what to knit now! The Grace cardi should only take a few more days, which means I need something new. Every day I have a new idea of what my next project could be. Right now I have these skeins out. The blue could be a Bigger On The Inside. I've decided that I don't care if it isn't TARDIS colored. I wouldn't wear a TARDIS colored shawl anyways. (That's ok, right? There isn't some secret Order of Who that will judge me harshly, is there?)
The green could be Sleepy Hollow Socks. And the orange striped could be No Purl Monkey Socks.

The real problem is that I keep changing my mind on what project and what yarn I should use almost every hour. And while normally I would just wait to figure it out after Grace was done, I am going to be leaving the country in a week. (More details later) So these decisions have to be made and soon! No pressure...