What a great feeling, KNITTING NEEDLES!!!

First let me say, Thank You, SO MUCH, for all the words of encouragement during my weeks of caring for Titch and the words of sympathy over his passing. For some reason his passing has been harder on me than when I had to put down my own dogs. I think that is because my dogs had lived long and happy lives. It was their time. Titch was only 9 weeks. I thought he had his whole life ahead of him. He made an impression on my heart. Such a sweet boy. Again, thank you for all your kind words.

I feel like I have been away from knitting for months. It turns out, it has only been 5 weeks.

I opened my knitting bag to see what I had been working on. I found my skein of red Cascade Yarns, UltraPima cotton, with the beginnings of a pretty little scarf, hanging from the needles. I also found the half knit egg from "itty bitty toys" pattern, Egg to Bluebird and a Little Nest, too. And, my misfit toy, the reversible Lion and Elephant toy, also from "itty bitty toys". That is the one that looks like it should be in the "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" movie. The yarn I chose is self-striping and looks pretty tacky. I have decided I will finish this toy and tell everyone it was made for my Rudolph collection. It is a toy from the "Island of Misfit Toys". THEN, I will make another Lion and Elephant reversible toy in yarn I like.

I decided to work on the scarf. It is such an easy pattern, one I can knit while watching TV or talking with family and friends. I had about 3 inches completed on the scarf when I put it away the end of July. I picked up the needles on Tuesday night and finished the scarf on Wednesday night. WOO HOO!!!! That is great for me. I really like this pattern. The finished size: 4"x 58"

Now that I am back to clicking the knitting needles together, I am anxious to get back to Knitting thru the "itty bittys".

Tough week

My last post was introducing you to my little Titch. That was 2 weeks ago.

When he arrived to me he weighed 4.5 lbs. As of last Thursday he was 8 weeks old and weighed 18 lbs. For a megaesophagus puppy, weight gain is wonderful, but for Titch to have gained 12.5 lbs. in 3 weeks, FANTASTIC! I was sure we were out of the woods. Maybe an issue here and there, but, for all purposes, Titch was a normal, happy, chubby puppy.

My heart is breaking. Titch died on Monday, August 30th from an infection that ravaged his little body. He was a fat puppy on Friday morning and by Monday afternoon he had lost 7 lbs. I made the decision to let him go on Monday evening. I miss him terribly, but I am so glad he is no longer in pain.

I spent the last few nights of Titchie's life, sitting in the rocker, his head on my shoulder, rocking. Needless to say, I didn't sleep. I was to worried.

So, I am now in no shape to concentrate on much of anything. I am hoping a few good nights of sleep and I will be back to knitting. It will be very theraputic, as well as relaxing.

Just a Titch

This month has been absolutely amazing. With that being said, wouldn't you assume I have finished a dozen knitting projects? Or maybe, since it is summer, an exotic vacation? OR, with the number of blog "giveaways" I have signed up for, you would think I would have won at least one? Not a chance to any of the above. I haven't had the time. I have been looking at my knitting bag, sitting just out of my reach, up on a chair, so Titch won't destroy it. Titch?

Let me introduce my foster puppy, Titch. Today he is 7 weeks old. I have had him since the end of July. He is a Great Dane puppy. He is the littlest boy from a litter of 7. His siblings are all about 15 lbs. while Titch is 7 lbs. He has a condition called "megaesophagus. When he eats, his esophagus doesn't constrict and push the food down. I have been designing a diet for him so he will learn to eat and, hopefully, he will outgrow the problem. My 8 year old Great Dane, Eli, had the same thing. It took 4 years to correct his esophagus. Thank goodness, Titch is showing huge signs of improvement. When he first came to me, I fed him every 2 hours. After each meal, he needed to be burped like an infant. We have graduated from the burping, however, Titch still loves that position and likes to nap on my shoulder. That will be quite a sight when he is 130 lbs. and still climbing on his new mom's lap. He is also down to 5 special meals a day. He runs the risk of pneumonia from aspirating. I am currently dealing with the tail ends of a case of pneumonia. Everything is trail and error.

So.......needless to say, my knitting bag keeps calling my name, but, I can't seem to find the hours to dive into it. My birthday was the end of July and I received 2 gift certificates to my favorite yarn shops. I did run to My Craft Room and used that one, from my dear friend Rebecca, to get the yarn to make the pig in "itty bitty toys". Rebecca is a fantastic card maker and scrapbooker, but she is so supportive of my knitting.

Well, I am hoping to pick up the needles this week. If fact, I am thinking of making the new sweater Susan Anderson posted on her blog. She is doing it as a knit-along, starting next week. Check it out on the Spud and Chloe blog, http://www.spudandchloe.com/blog/ It looks so comfortable. I may have to use the gift certificate, from my son's family, to buy the yarn for the sweater.

I will leave you with a few more photos of Titch.

Titch is actually sleeping in my knitting bag.

I'm Baaaack

Since I visited with you last, I haven't accomplished much knitting. I wish I had a fantastic story to tell you as to why Project #8 isn't done, but I don't. I have the lion's body knit, but I am very disappointed with my choice of yarn. It made a striping pattern on the body. I had expected it to be more puddled than striped. The pattern has been very easy to follow. Great construction, but I DON'T LIKE THE YARN! I love making I-Cords, so, the mane is fun. I am in the process of making the 17 I-Cords. I was going to go ahead and use the yarn I bought for the elephant, but, I have decided to use something else. If I use the original yarn, my elephant will look like a cross between a zebra and an elephant. WAIT! Maybe I WILL use that striping yarn. Then, when I put my toys out at Christmas, this will fit in great with the Rudolph collection. It would be perfect as a toy from the Land of Misfits. Now I think I love the yarn.

Wow, this summer has really turned out to be a scorcher. Everyone who knows me knows I don't complain in the winter about the snow, ice, or cold. I save up all my whining for the hot summer days. But you know what? This year I am being pretty good. Isn't it funny, if you have a swimming pool in your yard, the heat just doesn't seem so bad. Even though I have only been in the pool twice, knowing it is there makes a huge difference. The funny thing. I am no little girl and the pool is a blow up kiddie pool. It is about 4' x 9' with about 2' of water. Just enough for this chubby grammie to sit in it and cool off.

Sarah and Luiza are gone to the cottage for 10 days. Now don't get excited, thinking I will have all this free time to knit. I still have the 4 other grandbabies to watch during the week. And with Sarah gone, Quinn (her Great Dane) is lost without her. All day he sleeps, trying not to think about his "momma" being gone. Then at night, he isn't sleepy, so, he stares at me, whining and woofing, every few minutes. Have you ever been woke out of a sound sleep by a Great Dane who is almost touching his nose to yours, at 3 in the morning? Well that is my life right now. I tell him to go lay down and he practically collapses on me. He is SO dramatic.

Oh, by the way, Sarah took the camera to the cottage. So, you will have to wait on any new pictures. I may throw in some old stuff, just for fun.

I did start crocheting a summer scarf today. Pretty little blue and white cotton one. Can't show you any photos.

I am also working on another reversible. It is the Egg to Bluebird and a Little Nest, Too. I have the nest done. I made this a few projects ago, but I gave it to Neve for her second birthday. I fell in love with it and decided I must have one for myself.

OH MY GOODNESS, I AMOST FORGOT TO TELL YOU !!!! The other day I was trying to decide something fun, fast and easy to make. I decided to start crocheting some Grannie Squares or motifs. I have some ends of yarn skeins in my stash that would be perfect for little coasters. I gathered my yarn and went to get my crochet hooks. Now let me just tell you, my knitting is in almost perfect order. YES!!! It truly is. My yarn is either in bags in my steamer trunk, in wire bins at the top of my stairs, or my dishcloth cotton yarns are in a white backpack. My books are in a special rack and my needles and hooks are in a small duffle bag. I know where everything is. So......I grabbed the duffle bag with all my needles and hooks inside to get the roll I keep my crochet hooks in. I felt for it, not there. I opened the duffle wide and looked inside, still, not there. I got a little antsy. I ran downstairs to see if the roll of hooks was in my traveling knitting bag. NOT THERE ! I flew upstairs and started tearing things apart. I didn't know where to begin because, everything has it's place. I thought MAYBE when I started cleaning out my sewing closet that it got put in there for some insane reason. Now my sewing closet is NOT in any order. In fact, it is a disaster. I started looking through the first 2 bags I came to and thought, "I would never have put my roll of hooks in the sewing closet". After 4 hours of thinking, looking, worrying, I texted my daughter that I was so frustrated. She immediately texted back, "What is wrong"? When I told her she responded, "Oh Mother, I thought something was REALLY wrong". IS SHE SERIOUS????? How much worse could it be? Not only have I finally decided that I want to make little crocheted Grannie Squares or motifs, I have my yarn sitting in front of me, but nowhere can I find my roll of crochet hooks. I decided not to dignify her response with one of my own. I figured I would look one more time for my precious hooks, ALL of my hooks. I went to the top of the stairs, moved one of the wire bins, looked around it. I grabbed the white backpack that holds all my dishcloth cotton yarn. I haven't made dishclothes for ages. I opened it up, felt around..........MY ROLL OF CROCHET HOOKS! How could they possibly be in there? I just had them a few weeks earlier. How would they have gotten into the dishcloth cotton yarn backpack? Oh yea, I was trying to think of a fast, fun, project to do and thought DISHCLOTHS. See, if I had been up to date on my blogging, I would have known right where they were.

Well, I guess I will say goodbye. I will be in touch soon. I will leave you with these beautiful little scallywags.

It is taking an earthquake to get me to blog.

How crazy is this ???? An EARTHQUAKE was felt in my area. I, however, did not feel it. With the girls running through the house, the Great Danes chasing after them, and the baby in his "Johnny Jump-up", bouncing and swinging in the doorway, I felt nothing. Apparently, the quake hit in Cumberland, Ontario and was felt in Michigan. YIKES !!!!!!! Lets not make a habit of this.

I am so happy, I finished my scarf that smells like a musty canvas army tent ( for an explanation, read a few entries back ). I love it. If I can't wash the smell out, I will wear it around my neck, sitting on my lounge chair in the backyard, and daydream that I am at the Pinery Provincial Park in Canada, sitting outside my uncle's musty canvas army tent. Ahhh, memories.

I am starting Project #8 ~ Lion and Elephant Reversible doll, page 143 of " itty bitty toys". I am not sure if I am going to be happy, I am using Lion Brand, Vanna's Choice, acrylic yarn. I was unable to get the beautiful yarn that Susan Anderson used to knit her doll. I am starting with the lion and will see if I can live with this yarn. If so, I will make the elephant. If not, I will be forced to go in search of that perfect skein of yarn. If I must, I will go to every little yarn shop in the lower part of Michigan. I will suffer for my craft.

School is out and summer is here. YIPPEE!!!! I am trying to get into a summer schedule with the kids. Luiza and Ella are going to day camp. Every morning we have been so UNorganized. I need to be out of the house by 9:40 in order to deliver Luiza to camp by 10:00 am. Ella gets a ride there. The 3 little ones arrive between 8:30 & 9:00 am. I have to make breakfast and get the 4 fed. (When I say breakfast, I don't mean cold cereal, toast or bagels. I mean a full breakfast. The girls usually want 2 "dip-dip eggs or oatmeal, soy sausage, toast, and ice water. Once a month they like either french toast or pancakes and soy sausage). I then remember I forgot to brush and put Weeza's hair in a ponytail. By now it is 9:30 and I have to change 2 diapers and load the stroller with the little ones and all their supplies. 9:40am, out the door so we can walk Luiza to camp. We arrive at 9:56am. YES! Mia, Neve, Nolan and I walk back home and now our day begins. It consists of coloring, playdoh, puzzles, outdoor play, and PBS. Praise God for PBS. 2:40pm, I load the gang back into the stroller and we walk to get Luiza. Once back home, the kids spend the remainder of the day in the pool. Ahhh.....

I just had to share this photo with you. This is my Eli. There is something about him. Special boy. If you look close, he has pasta sauce on his chin. He STOLE the ravioli from the plate on the picnic table.

It has been so long, should I re-introduce myself to you?

I can't believe how long it has been since I last visited with you. Like I mentioned before, summer is killing me, and it officially isn't here yet. Trying to juggle the last month of school, all the field trips and adjusted school hours, with the 3 little ones I am watching, let me just say, I can't wait till school is out for the summer. How can schools expect parents to rearrange their work schedule by 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon? I have been walking with Neve and Nolan to the school to pick Luiza up, 3 days a week. There is no way Sarah could take the time off work to do it.

I FINISHED PROJECT #7 ~ Rosebud Hat. This hat was SO easy. I knit the 32 roses and the 27 leaves in 2 evenings. The hat should have been done in a couple days, but, as usual, I got sidetracked and ended up reading "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter", by Seth Grahame-Smith. Loved the book. For some reason I didn't see the end coming.

When I finished reading this book, I was on a reading roll. I decided to glance at "Foxy" by Pam Grier. I thought I would peek at the pictures, but before I knew it, I had read this book, too.

Here I go again, getting sidetracked. Back to the hat, I made it in the largest size. It fits my 6 year old granddaughters. However, try to get 6 year olds to sit still long enough to take their picture. So, these models will have to do.

This week I hope to finish my scarf, knit with the Banana Silk. This is the yarn that smells like an old musty canvas army tent. Reminds me of camping with my family. I am half way done. It is only 14 stitches wide. This pattern is fun, K1 *(yo, k2tog)* K1. *repeat until last stitch. Once this scarf is finished, I will start the Lion and Elephant reversible doll from "itty bitty toys", page 143.

I am sure ready for WINTER!

Rebecca, I am back. Thanks for checking on me.

Most people wait, with anticipation, for summer and the warm weather to arrive. And, for most, summer is their favorite season. Not me. My favorite season is fall, followed by spring, winter, and finally, summer. I don't complain about the winter's cold days, deep snowfalls, having to shovel sidewalks, or wear thick clothing. I don't complain about winter, so I CAN complain about summer. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy waking up to the birds singing, I love BBQ's, I love sitting in the backyard visiting over the fence with the neighbors, I LOVE camping, I even like to mow the lawn. What I don't like, filling the pool, only to have the kids tattle they are being splashed. "HELLO, YOU ARE IN A POOL!!!!" Oh, sorry. And speaking of the pool, try getting the 3 older ones situated in the bigger pool and the 2 year old in her little pool. Then, add the 2 little boys from the neighborhood, who will NOT listen to me. I AM READY FOR WINTER! And my house, oh my gosh. What a mess. The girls are in and out, 10 times each, for a potty run. That is fine, but my floor is full of puddles. You would swear I have a leaky roof. AND DISHES!!!! I don't have a dishwasher, so my sink is full of dishes until all the kids are picked up. I can't wash dishes and still be a lifeguard at the pool. Maybe it isn't that I don't like summer, maybe I just need a maid. I still think I will make a list of the pros and cons of summer vs. winter.

Ok. Enough ranting.

I am working on Project #7 ~ Rosebud hat. I decided to start with the roses. They took no time to complete. Now I am knitting the leaves. This hat would have been done days ago, if it were winter ( pro ). I would imagine it will be done by the weekend. I am going tonight to get the yarn for the actual hat. Can't wait.

Last week I was thrilled to take my Mother's Day gift certificate to "have you any wool?", my favorite LYS, and buy a folder/pouch from Brown Sheep Yarns to hold my circular needles. It is wonderful. Also, I got the greatest coffee mug from Black Sheep Co. What fun.

Tonight is weigh in at Weight Watchers. I feel better, lets hope the scale feels the same way.

And finally, I just joined a book club. I don't know what will suffer, knitting or reading. I need to set aside 2 hours a day for ME. That isn't gonna happen this weekend. My 2 granddaughters are spending the weekend, along with my grandDOG, Abraham. So...we will be: 2 adults, Sarah and me, 3 kids, Luiza (6), Ella (6), and Mia (3), and 5 dogs, 2 Great Danes - Eli & Quinn, 2 Yorkies - Dillon & Sipsie Rose, and Abe the Bulldog. Oops, got sidetracked, back to the books. I am so anxious to start reading. The one bad thing I do on a regular basis, I read in the bathtub. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but, I fall asleep and when I wake up, my book is floating in the water.

Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day. I am going to the local parade and then a BBQ afterwards. Keep our service men and women in your prayers.