Dogs, dogs, dogs and more dogs

Welcome to my zoo. When 3 dogs decide it's time to get up, you get up. At promptly 6 am this morning all 3 dogs decided it was time for breakfast. Who am I to argue? Then at 8 am sharp Clancy decided it was playtime. He and Ollie decided the bed was the perfect wrestling ring. Problem with that was that I was still in the bed! And yes, I discovered up close and personal that Ollie can fit Clancy's whole head in his mouth. I was lucky I got out with all my appendages! I kept thinking "they are about to run out of steam and settle down for naps" but the morning seems to be Clancy's prime time. It's their most intense play session for sure. It was after 10 am before they all crashed.

Yup, that's them all on our bed! Needless to say I think the bed will get changed more than once this week... Yesterday they all had big raw beef bones so today they all smell a little beefy. And the farts are just delightful... Oooo gross dude (I say that a lot these days)

Progress on the clogs is moving along slowly. I should have had the second one done last night but I spent more time yesterday rearranging beef bone chewing dogs so that the carpet would stay clean. Well, that's my story anyway. Must go knit while the pack is sleeping!

Clancy, a ball winder and a swiff.

Okay I meant to blog yesterday but the day totally got away from me. Mostly because of this fellaCute, isn't he. This is Granny Tan's boy Clancy. And he came over to spend 10 days with his big black cousins (that's what his dad told him) while his parents frolic in Florida. He's just a little mite next to my two beasts. But he fits in perfectly. They all get along really well but I do have to watch them in the yard because sometimes all 3 of them decide to play together and I always worry that poor little Clancy will get squished between the two big bouvs.

Actually I'm waiting for the neighbors to call the SPCA for our allowing a live squeaky toy into the yard for the bouvs to play with... He and Ollie really pound the bejezuz out of each other. I think he's crazy to take on a dog 4 times his size but Clancy's a tough one!

Yes, this is my free entertainment for the next 10 days...

What I wanted to share yesterday was that the Martha Stewart show yesterday (Monday, Feb 25)was about knitting and she had an audience full of knitters, knitting away through the whole show. It was great! I never really sit and watch the show, I tend to just have it on in the background so I can't really say if it was a good show or not. But still, that was some serious exposure for knitting. Okay, she was knitting a scarf for her French Bulldog... like the dog wants to wear a scarf.. but anyway, it was good exposure.

I finally got out to London Wul for some wool to make some felted clogs and 2 felted purses that I've been commissioned to do. I had a hard time finding the Briggs and Little yarn I like to use for both. The clogs are for a man and are light and dark grey. ( I have one almost done since I took this pic - man they knit up fast!)

I spent almost an hour trying to pick out the right shade of green for one of the purses. I don't think I got the right shade but it's a nice shade just the same. One purse will be green with cream strips and the other will be brown with cream strips.

After balling the first 2 balls by hand I called Granny Tan to see if I could have temporary custody of her ball winder and swiff while she is in Florida. If anyone who is reading this is close to me - these items make great gifts... hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

Clancy is finally beat out! Okay, better go sneak in some knitting time.

From here to here with little to show for it.

In the past week I went from this

to this (this is London Heathrow)
Yup, way warmer in Europe. I ended up in Stockholm. My favorite city. It was so mild. It ended up being a nice break from the snow and cold! This is the view I had for years as I traveled to see a client in Stockholm. I can't tell you how many days I waited on this platform for the train back into the central part of the city where I would always stay.
It had been over 2 years since I had been to Stockholm and I was surprised at how little it had changed. Everything was as I remembered. This is Sergel Torg and it's a fountain in the summer.
This is the main shopping street in downtown. Drottingatan. Aren't the lights beautiful. With the long winter nights, the Swedes know how to make it seem so cozy with all the little lights.
I went to Sweden to say my farewells to a wonderful friend and mentor. It was an honour and a privledge to be able to take part in Harry funeral.
I didn't take my camera with me for the funeral but I wish I had. The church was a little old church that was beyond beautiful. The grounds were amazing and Harry is resting in the most beautiful spot. There is an old Swedish tradition where they lower the casket into the ground and all of the funeral attendees proceed by it and toss in a flower to say goodbye. It was beautiful. He will be missed by so many as he was loved by so many. He was truely a great man and I count myself very lucky to have known him.

Needless to say I didn't get much knitting done. But my "nana socks" will now be called my "memorial socks". And every time I put them on I will remember these wonderful people who have been a part of my life.

There is some hope that I might actually get this first sock done sometime in the near future.

After my nana's funeral, when I was so tired I was knitting with my eyes closed... I did make a mistake. I was ribbing where I should have just been knitting. I think it just adds to the socks charm. It's on the back of the leg, just above the heel so it's not really noticable at all.

In honour of my Nana

Things had ground to a halt this past week as my Nana passed away. She had been in the hospital for over 6 months and I had been wishing she would go peacefully into the night. Grampie, Mom and I went to see her less than 48 hours before she passed. She was asleep due to being well medicated although she wasn't sleeping peacefully. Her body fought on while her mind left us months ago. It is such a blessing that she is at peace now. I wanted to rejoice at the viewing and funeral as so many told me they were sorry for me loss. I had lost her months ago. I had been mourning her since July. I felt a sense of relief when I woke up the morning after she passed away. Her suffering was over. However, last night, after the funeral it really hit me that she was gone. I'll never see her again. But my Nana had been gone for a while, a couple of years really. Alzheimers is a horrible disease. And it's just not fair.

My Nana was my nana, she took care of me when I was little. She wasn't a relative but she loved me just the same. And she did it because she wanted to, not because she had to. When we pulled away from her house when I was 5 years old to move to the US, I made a promise to myself, to come home some day. And I kept that promise. I also promised her that I would take back my name and become Christian again. My mother marryied a Jewish man so my original name of Christie (note the word "christ" in the name) was changed to Judi. That's why I go by CJ now. If you can't keep your word to yourself than what good is your word to anyone else? Nana loved that I kept my promises.

Needless to say I haven't knit much in the last week. I used to take my knitting into the hospital to knit by her bedside. Nana was too far gone by the time I started knitting to really discuss it with her. She did tell me she loved to turn the heel on socks and I do too. By the time I started knitting just a little over a year ago, Nana could no longer remember how to knit. It caused her a great deal of frustrating. My grandmother can no longer knit either, she can't stay focus. So because of this I say to all of you knitters and crocheters out there, do me a favour, this weekend in honour of our elders, indulge yourself in some knitting or crocheting time. Do it for those who no longer can. Do it for the love of such a time honoured tradition. Do it because some day you may not be able to.

COADIC, Helen Gertrude - 84, Halifax, passed away Saturday, February 2, 2008, in Abbey J. Lane Memorial Building, QEII. Born in Sydney, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Jessie (Lodge) Hussey. Helen had a love for her church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent and was involved with the Missions Society and the Ladies Guild. She was a founding member of the NDP. Her greatest pride was her role as foster mother to well over 150 babies and children. To this day she is still known as "Nanny." She is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, Gordon; daughters, Gail Michaud-Stroud, Halifax; and Linda Suelter, Lower Sackville; grandchildren, Doris (Pierre) Michaud and Danielle (Stephan) Michaud; Michele Suelter; great-grandchildren, Melody and Alyson; sisters, Dorothy Legge, Halifax; Phyllis (Joe Kennedy), Sydney; Evelyn (Bronson Dicks), Bridgewater; Jean (John Smith), Gander, N.L.; brother, Everett (Agnes) Hussey, Grimsby, Ont.; many nieces and nephews; extended family, Phyllis MacDonald and Judi Weiss. She was predeceased by brothers, Llewellyn, Gordon and Norman; sisters, Beatrice and Edna. Visitation will take place 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 5, in J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St., Halifax. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 6, in Knox Presbyterian Church. Family flowers only please. Donations may be made to Knox Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice. E-mail condolences to: condolences.snow@ns.aliantzinc.ca

I will share with you my latest project. The progress on my socks. I love this yarn. Nana would have shook her head at it, such fancy yarn! Forever these will be my Nana socks.

There is one slight problem. Last night after the funeral I was so tired that I kept falling asleep while knitting. I would come to and realize that my eyes hadn't been opened while knitting the last row. I haven't looked to see how badly I screwed it up but luckily after one round I decided it was time to stop. Aren't they beautiful?

All Hail the New York Giants!

Not a lot of knitting got done this weekend as it was Super Bowl weekend. So I have just one thing to say

All Hail the New York Giants!!!!!!!

It was an amazing game. For those of you who routed for the underdog, I salute you. See, you just have to have faith!