Early Autumn

It's still early autumn in SW Michigan. The leaves have just started to turn. Many of the trees are still green, but not for much longer.

Once autumn begins, it goes quickly. The leaf colors turn dazzling shades of red, orange, and gold. Then they fall to the ground and we scurry to rake them up before the first snowfall. Some years we don't make it.

It's been know to snow in October. November for sure.

Our average first frost date is mid-October. It hasn't happened yet this year, so the hostas and other tender plants are still green and standing while the leaves begin to fall around them.

The low temperature tonight is forecast to be 41 degrees ( 5 degrees C.). For Friday and Saturday the low is forecast to be 36 degrees ( 2 degrees C.). Those hostas won't be standing much longer.

The goldenrod in the field has all gone to seed. Every morning when the dogs and I go out for their first walk of the day, the field is full of migrating birds chowing down on all the yummy seeds.

Yesterday morning there was a flock of approximately two dozen bluebirds flying around the nest boxes. I'd like to think the flock contained some of this year's fledglings from my nest boxes, but it could just as well have been a migrating flock passing through.

Several of the bluebirds checked out the nest boxes. Maybe they were making note to come back in the spring to raise a family here.

Tuesday Tidbits for October 4

I was shocked to note that I only posted two times last week. I'll try to do better this week.

Unenlightening Quiz
I found this quiz over on Michelle's blog, Plush Knits.

If I Were a Blog Component,
I would be the PERMALINK.
I'm constant and dependable. Which Blog Component Are You?
Take This Blog Quiz at About Web Logs!

The quiz only has four questions, and the third question is:

3) Which blog component do you think describes you the best?

Since I answered "Permalink", it's hard to be impressed by the accuracy of my quiz results. But it is accurate.

Shetland Sampler Scarf
The Shetland sampler scarf is almost half done, but I don't have a picture yet. It currently looks like a pile of yarn. I'm proceeding on faith that it will turn into something pretty - or at least orderly - when it gets blocked.

Not So Speedy Knitting
Several readers commented on how quickly I finished the Violets by the River Shawl. I have been feeling under the weather the past few weeks so I've been taking it easy and knitting more than usual.

On a return visit to the doctor today, I learned that my infection is gone but I'm still suffering from allergies. Since I don't usually have allergies severe enough to be bothersome, I'm hoping this is a fluke for 2005, and not something to expect every fall from now on.

My new Rx is Zyrtec-D, which is composed of two components. Cetirizine causes drowsiness and Pseudoephedrine causes wakefulness. I feel like passing out on the floor with my eyes bugging out of my head.

Yum?
On a brighter note, Granddaughter Sydney turns six months old tomorrow.

She has teeth, she's sitting up, and a few days ago she had her first taste of real food.

Well, maybe "taste" is an exaggeration since it was rice cereal.

Violets by the River Shawl Pictures

Pattern: Violets by the River Shawl by Hazel Carter

Yarn: Blackberry Ridge Silk Blend Lace weight, two-ply, 25% silk, 85% wool.

Yarn Color: Medium lilac

Needles: #6

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch

This is my very first shawl ever, except for the Candleflame Shawl knit for CIC which doesn't count because it was heavy yarn and the same stitch pattern over and over and over until I almost croaked from boredom.

Over all I have to call Violets by the River a successful first (well, almost first) lace shawl effort, although it might be more accurate to call it a large scarf rather than a shawl.

The pattern had instructions for making it larger, but I knit the smaller size to see how I liked wearing it. It's a little too small I think, but the verdict is still out since I haven't worn it out of the yard yet.



For some reason the natural light makes the color look bluish in the outdoor pictures.

This picture was taken with a flash and shows a pinkish violet color on my monitor. The actual color is more pink than the outdoor shots and more blue than this shot.

You can see the little lace bees and faggoting across the top. Not overly noticeable when the shawl/scarf is being worn, but I know they're there and think they're delightful.


I've been working on a Shetland lace sampler scarf for the Shetland Lace Workshop, using two strands of Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud held together.

We're each making up our own pattern as we go along, and I've become an expert on deciding what would look better than what I just finished knitting. The entire scarf has been frogged more than once. Various sections have been tinked repeatedly. I'm not sure any of the improvements are really improvements, but the experimenting is fun and educational.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a piece worth showing - or maybe not.

Lagging Behind

Backup
When I worked as an IT (IT = Information Technology, meaning computers) professional in corporate America, backups were not only expected, they were mandatory. Usually mandated by law, but certainly mandated by good business practice.

Remember the shoemaker's son who went barefoot?

I've been muttering about backing up my laptop documents ever since I bought it nearly three years ago. Two months ago (good grief!) DH bought an external hard drive for me. I see it sitting on the floor under the table were I keep my laptop when it's not in my lap. The box has never been opened.

This is very stupid of me, and I wrote this to put myself to shame and maybe inspire some action. I need to open the box, at the very least. And then read the documentation (or not) and do some backing up.

Phone Service
When I called to order phone service as we moved into this house on a dirt road in the swampy woods fourteen years ago, Verizon told me I would need to go on a party line until a private line became available.

A party line in the 1990's? That was my first clue that there might be some disadvantages to rural living.

A party line, for those of you too young to remember, is a phone line shared by two or more households. Household A picks up the receiver to make a call and possibly hears Household B having a conversation. Household A can not make or receive phonecalls while Household B is using the phone. But Household A can listen to everything Household B says on the phone if they like.

My corporate America employer did not think a party line was acceptable for an employee that needed to be called during off hours, so they used their muscle to intervene and we did get a private line.

Verizon has improved phone service to this area since then, but not much. A few months ago DH picked up the receiver and heard people talking. He asked them who they were, and, although they were reluctant to tell him, they did tell him they were having a cell phone conversation.

We have no cable available, we have no DSL available, we have dialup. In dry weather with a lucky dial, we can hook up at 45.2 kbps tops. Lately it's been raining. When it's raining we are rarely able to top 38 kbps. We know the moisture gets into the Verizon equipment because sometimes it turns to ice and then we have no phone service at all.

Knitted Bees and New Shell Stitch

Pattern: Violets by the River Shawl by Hazel Carter

Yarn: Blackberry Ridge Silk Blend Lace weight, two-ply, 25% silk, 85% wool.

Yarn Color: Medium lilac

Needles: #6

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch

It's done! That is, the knitting is done. The shawl still needs to be washed and blocked and worn. The washing and blocking is on my list of things to do tomorrow. The wearing will probably be Sunday, or maybe sooner if a nice cool day comes along and the shawl is dry.

This is a shot of the "bees" and faggoting along the upper border. They were fun to do. They're pretty cute pinned out and I expect them to be even cuter after blocking.

All the while I was knitting this shawl, I was wondering if I was going to want to wear it. Now that it's done, I can hardly wait to get it on.

There will be one more picture of the shawl later, blocked and on my shoulders.

In the Shetland Lace Workshop, our current assignment is to play around with five different stitch patterns. In our notes, they're presented as scarf patterns. I don't know if I'll end up with a whole scarf, or not.

This is the New Shell stitch knit in Lorna's Laces sock yarn, a fingering weight yarn, with US #7 needles. New Shell is a two row pattern, the simplest of the five.

The purpose of what we're doing with the five stitch patterns is to learn to "read" our knitting and play with different yarn and needles to see the results and learn what type of openness we prefer in our lace.

Teacher Liz recommends a US #10 needle with fingering yarn, but she understands that some of us just aren't ready for such loose fabric yet. We've been encouraged to start with a needle size we're comfortable with and then maybe later move up in needle size.

Sunday evening I started this swatch on US #10s, and wasn't enjoying the feeling at all. I frogged it. So I'm taking Liz's advice and using #7s for now. I have doubts that I'll ever be ready to knit fingering weight yarn on #10s, but I'm trying to stay open minded.

Now if you were a legalistic friend and wanted to hold me accountable to my Guidelines for Knitting Peace, you would ask, "Marguerite, when are you going to sew the Hanover jacket together? Wasn't that supposed to be done before you started the Violets by the River shawl?"

I would smile and ask you to please understand that I'm having fun playing with lace right now but I'm sure I'll be getting back to the Hanover jacket soon.

Let's Talk Lace

Want to See Some Pretty Lace?
First, go look at Dorothy's Madli Shawl.

I'm in awe of the beautiful things Dorothy knits. If you aren't a regular reader of Dorothy's blog, take time to look around at her perfectly executed projects in all types of yarn and all variety of patterns. There is something to inspire everyone. And her dogs are cute, too.

Then there's Deb's Shaped Triangle Shawl from Gathering of Lace. She not only knit it in linen, she knit it in black laceweight linen.

This post tells of her trials and ultimate success in making a gorgeous shawl and a huge wad of black lint.

Want to Knit Some Pretty Lace?
Between now and December the EZasPi Yahoo Group is having a Shetland Lace Workshop written and moderated by Liz Lovick.

EZasPi List Shepherd Elaine wrote the following invitation to everyone:

This is a free self paced workshop that is open to all levels of knitters. She will be placing files in the file section of the group which include information on everything from material selection, lace pattern choices and execution, charting, construction of traditional shawls and contemporary garments, history, and blocking and care of lace. You certainly may join in the conversation and sample knitting if you can stand the silliness and comraderie of the group. ;)

The Workshop starts September 24, 2005 but you may join the group anytime by going to EZasPi and clicking 'join' no registration is needed.

There will be a contest sometime during the workshop but no date is set yet. Hope to see you there!

The details of the contest haven't been announced because I don't think anyone knows what they are. Check out the donated contest prizes here.

If you think you don't know enough about knitting to do this workshop, read Elaine's encouragement here.

Tonight we got our first lesson followed by a pattern for five "straight forward" Old Shetland lace scarves arranged in order of difficulty.

It's not too late to join. We're just getting started.

Stormy Sky

Sandy's Knitting blog is having a contest. The prize is some very pretty Lorna's Laces sock yarn.

To qualify, I need to post a picture of the sky before 5 pm EST.

If I don't write very much, I'm just going to make the cut off.

This picture was taken of the sky from my back yard yesterday afternoon as the storms rolled in over Lake Michigan and then fizzled out before they dropped much needed rain on us.

The Rows Keep Getting Longer

Pattern: Violets by the River Shawl by Hazel Carter

Yarn: Blackberry Ridge Silk Blend Lace weight, two-ply, 25% silk, 85% wool

Yarn Color: Medium lilac

Needles: #6

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch

The violets are done and I'm about half done with the "river" border. There are 300 stitches on the needle with 22 very long rows to go.

When the two river borders are bound off, there is a very cute border with lace bees to knit across the top edge. Then it's done.

This is an excellent first shawl project. The yarn is easy to knit: not too slippery, not too fine, not too fuzzy. The pattern is easy to follow while not being completely repetitive and boring.

I have never worn a shawl before. I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy wearing something that might slip off, that I have to keep track of and maybe even hang onto. My usual mode of dress is simple, pragmatic, and rather boring.

Is it worn in place of a sweater? If I wear it to church, do I leave it on for the service? Any helpful shawl wearing hints will be appreciated. I really don't have a clue.

Knitting Log for September 19

Pattern: Hanover Jacket from Jean Frost Jackets

Yarn: Elegance, 70% baby alpaca, 30% silk DK weight from Knitpicks

Yarn Color: Barn red

Needles: #3

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch

All five pieces are done! Plus the shoulder seams and the front border including the collar.

According to the pattern, the sleeves are best set in with chain stitch using a crochet hook. I'm willing to try, but it hasn't been done yet because I have a headache, a sore throat, and a double ear infection which probably explains why I was feeling cranky and unhappy for no obvious reason last week.

I'm using my illness as an excuse to procrastinate sewing in sleeves and side seams. There has to be something good about being sick.

Yes, I've been to the doctor and have wonderful, strong Rxs to take. I expect to be much better soon. Then I'll sew the Hanover together and block it.


Pattern: Made it up as I went along

Yarn: Reynold's Lopi, 100% wool

Needles: #10.5

Gauge: 3 stitches/inch, 4 rows/inch

This is an uncreative toddler size sweater for the September/October CIC vest and sweater challenge.

It may not be fancy, but it sure is going to be warm on some little kid.


Pattern: Violets by the River Shawl by Hazel Carter

Yarn: Blackberry Ridge Silk Blend Lace weight, two-ply, 25% silk, 85% wool

Yarn Color: Medium lilac

Needles: #6

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch

I've been knitting violets. What better to do when feeling half sick?

This is a super easy shawl. If I didn't like the looks of it so much, I'd be disappointed that I didn't challenge myself with something a little more difficult.

When this picture was taken yesterday noonish, 7 out of 18 rows of violets were done, or 28 violets out 171, or 16%.

After yesterday's knitting, 13 out of 18 rows of violets are done, or 91 violets out of 171, or 53%. Over half the violets are done now.

Does anyone else like to play with their numbers to keep track of where they are when knitting something like a shawl?

After going to the doctor today, I stopped by the library and checked out two books on CD with the intention of listening and knitting violets all day tomorrow.

If I were still employed, I wouldn't be sick enough to miss work. But I'm not employed and there is nothing so important to do that I can't baby myself through this miserable infection with knitting and napping.


Another errand done while in town to see the doctor was mailing off approximately two-thirds of my stash to the Restash Network. It's oh so liberating to have my yarn bins cleaned out and purged. And it feels so good to know my liberated stash is going to needy knitters who are going to knit with it.

Now I need to do the same type of purge on my book collection. Ouch! My head throbbed just thinking about it. Forget I said that.

Yarn in the Mail

Exciting mail today - my latest Knitpicks order arrived.

The mail lady said she had the box with her yesterday but couldn't leave it because the delivery confirmation number was partially missing and wouldn't scan. She took it back to the post office and the Postmaster decided to make a manual note of the package so she could deliver it today.

I think she could tell by my stop-talking-and-let-me-get-this-package-in-the-house-and-open-it look that I agreed with the Postmaster's decision. What else could they do? Send it back to Knitpicks? Surely not.

Here is my first impression, pre-knitting review of what I received.

On the left, Decadence, a bulky weight 100% superfine alpaca. Color is Tide.

Oh so soft. It's silky feeling. I'm looking forward to knitting with it and, in the meantime, I can hardly stop touching it.

I bought three skeins, enough to knit a toddler size CIC sweater. Then, I think I need a decadent sweater for myself.

In the middle, Wool of the Andes, a worsted weight 100% Peruvian wool. Color is Violet.

Beautiful color. Nice yarn at a great price. I bought two skeins to try this yarn out for CIC socks. I may, or may not run some left over sock yarn along with it.

On the right, Sierra, a bulky weight 70% wool, 30% alpaca. Colors are Cinnamon and Pool.

Sierra is soft but without the silky feel of Decadence.

Alpaca is stronger, lighter, and warmer than wool, so Sierra may become my yarn of choice for CIC sweaters. The price is right. Now I need to see what it's like on the needles.

Thursday Tidbits for September 15

Buzz in the Back
For the past several weeks there's been a buzz in the back field. This time of year the field is dominated by goldenrod, and each blossom has multiple bees collecting the goldenrod nectar and pollen.

There are bumblebees, honey bees, wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.

The goldenrod bloom is their last chance to collect food for the winter.

As the dogs and I walk down the mowed paths between the goldenrod, we brush against the plants that are leaning onto the path. The bees are so busy they don't even notice us.

Gathering the Gold
In this bee closeup, you can see the loaded, golden pollen sacs on the bee's legs.

The goldenrod pollen is very high quality and protein rich. It's also very sticky and easy to collect. It doesn't go airborne, which is why goldenrod is not responsible for fall allergies. It only gets blamed because it is so abundant and colorful.

Snap the Apple
The large snapping turtle came out of the pond, walked up the bank to the apple tree, grabbed an apple in its mouth, and ran back to the water.

It's one of the regrets of my summer that I didn't get a picture of that. Snapping turtles gathering apples are much quicker than I would have guessed.

Once the turtle was back in the pond, it let go of the apple. The apple floated on the water, and the turtle ate it from the bottom, under the water. Bob and I watched the apple bob around while the turtle was eating, amazed at what we were watching.

I'm Smiling Now!

Had a three hour lunch at Bravo with a good friend. We hadn't seen each other in two months and had a wonderful time catching up and enjoying each other's company. And eating, of course. We both had a delicious, tender steak covered with blue cheese sauce and artichokes. Heavenly.

Booked a trip to Idaho to visit Granddaughter Sydney and her wonderful parents. October 18 through October 25. Got a decent price on the tickets and, just as important and just as difficult to manage, only have one stop over each way. It's in Minneapolis, one of my favorite airports.

Booked a trip to Charolottesville, Virginia to have Thanksgiving with Sister Doris, Brother-in-Law John, Sister Carrie. Mom is traveling with me. We're actually going to a little town called Scottsville where Doris and John are just finishing the building of a beautiful house in the woods. They hope to have appliances before it's time to cook the holiday dinner. Or maybe we're eating out? I'm a little short on details, but I'm really looking forward to seeing my sisters again.

The yarn mess is sorted. My stash now only contains yarn I actually intend to knit someday. The rest will be off to the Restash Network as soon as I get a box big enough to hold all of it. A most excellent purge. So excellent that I now have room for my Knitpicks order which will be arriving any day now.

Once again there was no knitting today, but there are plans for knitting tomorrow.

Trying To Smile

I feel cranky and unhappy. Why? I don't have a good reason.

There are plans that aren't working out, the price of gas is way too high, summer is over, I don't feel as well as I would like, and the world isn't perfect. But that's life, and I don't normally react to it by getting cranky and unhappy.

At least I know it's a temporary mood without a cause. I can zip my lips and wait for it to pass.

With three dogs needing attention and walks, there's no going to bed and pulling the covers over my head. It's too hot to do that, anyway. We've been having daytime temps in the 90s, but it cools down beautifully at night.

Have you figured out yet I have no knitting to write about?

I've been working on the corner of the spare bedroom that holds my stash in bins. So much more there than I remembered. So unorganized. It didn't get done today, but hopefully tomorrow will see the finish of the sorting. There will be several large boxes going out to Restash Network coordinators.

The coordinators of the Restash Network are taking yarn and needles directly to the shelters and giving it to knitters who want it and will use it. Several are making up kits with yarn, pattern, and needles. What a great way to cull my stash without guilt while doing something for evacuee knitters.

The thought of making someone else happy makes sorting out piles of unorganized yarn almost enjoyable.



Now I need to plaster a smile on my face and take Sunny to doggy school.

Good girl Marguerite!

Hanover Update for September 9

Pattern: Hanover Jacket from Jean Frost Jackets

Yarn: Elegance, 70% baby alpaca, 30% silk DK weight from Knitpicks

Yarn Color: Barn red

Needles: US #3

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch

With the back and fronts knit, the first thing I did this week was to join the shoulder seams. Then I knit the collar and the edging.

The fronts and back are knit two inches longer than the pattern length. I prefer tops out over my waistband. The jacket pattern as written was going to require a tucked in blouse or shell.

It appears according to current day fashion, that it is acceptable and stylish to have under layers hanging out below upper layers. I'm not sure conservative grandma here knows how to pull off that look, so I'm going with the traditional jacket hanging over the shell or blouse look. The jacket is still pretty short, though, and I'm not sure it's going to work.

The first sleeve is a third done. Now to finish the sleeves, sew them in, sew up the side seams, and block.

Restash Network

A few days ago I received this email from my online friend Sharon, more widely known as Soxie.

I have been glued to my TV since *Katrina* hit land, as I'm sure most of you have, watching heart broken at the aftermath of that devastating storm. It is difficult to think of much else seeing all that suffering and loss.

Yesterday, as the cameras panned over the crowds, I spotted a lady sitting amoung the debris, and it looked very much like she was knitting!! It struck me that even though she has, in all probability, lost everything, she had grabbed her knitting before hurrying to safety.

Then I wondered just how many knitters had the time to grab their knitting *stash*? And my thoughts hit on the fact that there must be thousands of knitters in that storm, who have lost not only their homes, but their STASH!!! Can you just imagine not being able to knit. Not being able to knit socks!!! :-(

There are so many ways we can help the storm victims. By sending money, food, clothing, personal hygene items, provide shelter, etc. But yarn?? Knitting materials??

So, that got me to thinking further, and I decided to do something about it. I want to help those knitters who may have lost their stash in this terrible storm.

Now I realize that this is NOT a priority. It's not even a life-saving endeavor. But I do know that as a knitter we find comfort in our knitting, and in order to knit, we need our *stash*.

In the days and weeks to come as folks begin to regain power, go back to their homes, access their email lists, we are going to hear their stories of loss.. When that happens, I'd like to be ready to help them replentish their *stash*.

I've created a list for this purpose. I'd like to invite you to join me in this endeavor. You can join the list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RestashNetwork or email me PRIVATELY at: soxie@harborside.com for more details.

Thank you everyeone for listening. Knitting Hugs to you all.
Soxie ;-)

By now most of us have given to help with basic needs of the people displaced by Katrina, but here is a little something extra we can do for our fellow knitters.

Soxie's project has progressed into two efforts. Right now there are list members collecting and delivering to storm shelters. For the future when knitters start going back to their homes - or finding new homes - other list members will be helping them rebuild their stash and knitting supplies.

For more information check out Soxie's Restash Network Website.

If you want to be in the thick of this project or volunteer to do more than send yarn, join the Restash Network Yahoo Group.

If you want to send yarn and/or knitting supplies to a distribution volunteer, there's a list of addresses on Soxie's Restash Network Website.

Sunny Shines at the Vet's Office

Why are you sticking that pan under my butt every time I squat to pee?

Sunny went in for blood and urine rechecks today. The news was good, but not excellent.

After two weeks of antibiotics, her white cell count is back in the normal range.

Dr. B. is still concerned about her urine being too dilute. He would like to measure her water intake over a 24 hour period. To do that, we would need to keep her separated from the other dogs. Not an easy thing to do. My guess is that she would be so upset at being kept away from the heart of the family the results of the measuring would be meaningless.

Since her blood work is all normal now, meaning no kidney problems or diabetes, we're not doing it unless she starts leaking again.

The incontinence problem that started all this testing has been resolved with 1 mg of estrogen a week. If she starts "leaking" again, we will address the dilute urine problem in more detail.

The first time I had to do a doggy urine collection, I had no idea how to go about it.

This sneaky method works with Sunny:

1. Use a shallow pie plate shaped pan. It's better if it's plastic because pee hitting a metal pan makes a startling noise and the dog jumps. I have a Glad plastic plate to use for doggy urine collection.
   
   
2. Take the dog out on a short leash.
   
   
3. Wait until she squats and just starts to pee. Then, slide the edge of the plate under her back legs as far as possible without bumping her legs.
   
   
4. Careful not to spill the urine before you get it poured into a taller container. It's nice to have help. When I don't have help I set the plate down, take the dog into the house, and then go back out to get the sample.

Vets don't need very much, so if you don't get the entire catch it's OK.

I've never done a collection on a male dog. That would require some different planning.

The best plan is to tell your dog to stay healthy so you never have to do it.

Dog Ears

It's Pappy's night at doggy school. We're standing in line waiting our turn to do a long distance drop on recall. I was half watching the working dog and half looking at Grayson, the beautiful Australian Shepherd in line ahead of us.

"Grayson looks handsome tonight. Looks like his ear finally went up," I remarked.

"Prick ears," his owner answered with a voice so disgusted she might have been saying "dog vomit."

That got my attention. "Huh?" It was beginning to register that I'd said something stupid and probably offensive.

"They're called prick ears. They're a severe fault in the breed. He didn't get them from his father, they came from his mother."

I looked across the room where Grayson's father, Casey, was training. I've know Casey for three years now and his ears are breed standard, breaking forward and over. Whatever was I thinking? Even more important, what do I say next?

Grayson's owner is a kind lady. She gave me an out by saying, "Lots of people like the erect ears."

I still felt very sorry for mentioning Grayson's ears. Ears can be a very sensitive topic for dog owners.

My little Papillon rescue dog Pappy has one ear that hangs because the cartilage is broken, either from abuse or an accident. I'm forever having well intending people tell me how cute it is that one ear is up and the other down.

I never know how to respond to that compliment. While I don't give a hoot about meeting Pappy's breed standard, I do care that one of his ears was so badly injured. The fallen ear will never be cute to me because of the pain it represents, but it is endearing.

I'm going to start answering that way: "It is endearing." Much better than trying to splutter thanks for something I wish wasn't true.

Let's Play Turtle

Nothing gets Sunny's adrenaline pumping quicker than a squeak from her toy turtle.

She hops, skips, and levitates at the sight of it. She goes completely bonkers at the sound of it.

She loves playing turtle fetch, she loves playing turtle tug, and she loves playing turtle catch. She is obsessed with shaking it hard enough to kill it.

She's hard on turtles.

Until now, I've always kept at least one spare hidden away. The store that has carried turtles for four years no longer has them. I can't find them on the internet. This one is looking a little ratty and the squeaker is not working.

What am I going to do? How can I explain this to Sunny? Help!

Seriously now, if anyone knows where I can get one (or a hundred) of these things, please let me know.

It's a Krislin Latex Dog Toy, 50-094.

A Google search for Krislin shows a few recalls and a few boycotts because they're made in China.

Knitting Log for September 1

Finished the left front of the Hanover Jacket on Monday. The right front is about an inch past the leaf motif. I had truly forgotten how quickly a sweater can be knit if the sweater is the only project I'm working on.

More and more I'm enjoying working under the Guidelines for Knitting Peace. It's easy to sit down and knit a few rows when I can remember where I am in the project.

There is one drawback to limiting myself to one project. How do I keep this blog interesting when I'm knitting a rather boring jacket where the only area of interest, the leaf motif, is the same on the back, both fronts, and both sleeves?

On the other hand, how interesting is it to have knitting projects take six months (or more) to finish because I'm knitting on so many things that nothing is getting done?

Yarn in the mail today. The ultimate test of my Guidelines for Knitting Peace intentions.

This is lace weight, two-ply, 25% silk, 85% wool in medium lilac from Blackberry Ridge.

The color is lighter and the yarn is heavier and less silky than I expected.

At first I was disappointed. After looking at it and feeling it for a few hours now, I think like it. The lighter color is pretty. The heavier yarn (it almost looks like fingering weight) and sticky, wooly texture is going to be easy to knit for my first lace shawl.

The resulting shawl will be practical and warm. Hopefully it will also be beautiful.

I'm looking forward to this knit. Will it be my next project, or will I knit a pair of socks in between the Hanover Jacket and the Violets by the River Shawl? Or, will I finish the The Unplanned Scarf so I really will be down to one project plus CIC knitting? Oh the suspense.

Join Me in Helping

When I donate time, money, or knits to charity I like to know what I've donated is going to get to the people who need it.

Sending CIC knits to the distribution person, I know those knits will be traveling to Eastern Europe in the suitcases of adoptive parents. They're delivered right to the caretakers of the children who need them and love receiving them.

I always felt that sending money to disaster relief was like throwing it into a black hole until I stumbled onto the Salvation Army. They have the reputation for being there in times of trouble and delivering what is needed to the people who really need it.

Click here to read about how they're on the spot delivering food, water, and shelter to victims and first responders of Katrina. Then, if you want to be sure your help is really going to help, click on the donation button and join me supporting this pragmatic and generous organization.

CIC Socks for July, August Challenge

The CIC sock challenge for July and August has resulted in a approximately 400 pairs of warm wool socks for the Eastern Europe orphans. My six pair are washed, packed, and ready to mail tomorrow, the day before the challenge mailing deadline.

Now I'm back on track for my 2005 goal of a pair a month. When the challenge started in July, I'd only knit two pairs of socks. These six pair are for March through August.

I'm administering a vest and sweater challenge for September and October. I have enough Lopi for at least five toddler sweaters, but I doubt I'll get that many done. Instead of a personal goal for the challenge, maybe I'll just see how many I can knit within my new knitting guidelines to knit for CIC on weekends.

It's always fun to knit the little sweaters and vests.

Knitting Log for August 27

I've been following my guidelines for Knitting Peace:

1. Have no more than two projects at a time, a weekday project and a weekend project.
   
2. The weekend project will usually be CIC knitting, unless I've completed my CIC goals.

So far I like the result although there were a few times I had to remind myself about my new resolve to concentrate my knitting time on fewer projects.

Last weekend I knit the final pair of CIC socks for the sock challenge. They didn't get completely done, so I finished them up this morning and washed all six pair. I'll take a picture before I mail them out on Tuesday.

After finishing the second More Fun Than Cables sock last week, I knit on the Hanover Jacket from Jean Frost Jackets in Knitpicks Elegance.

The back is done and the left side is two-thirds done. I figure that's approximately a third of the jacket, but then I always underestimate the amount of knitting in the sleeves.

It was a peaceful experience to sit down and know exactly what to pick up to knit.

Yesterday I had a minor spasm and ordered some medium lilac Blackberry Ridge lace weight silk blend for the Violets by the River Shawl.

I do have to think about the next project, you know. The true test of my guidelines will occur when that yarn arrives and I'm still knitting on Hanover. I'm preparing my will power now.

I swiped this picture from Tah Tales, my son's blog.

Granddaughter Sydney's first two teeth came in with hardly a whimper from her, the smiling girl with the happy personality. I sure wish I could give her a hug.

Sunny
Thanks again for all the concern about Sunny. She's acting happy and healthy and I've stopped worrying about her. When the antibiotics are gone in a little less than two weeks, she'll have another blood draw.

The ladies at doggy school, several who work in vet offices and have seen everything, think she may have had a low grade bladder infection that didn't show up in the urine. I like that theory.

More Fun Than Cables Sock Pattern

Size: Women’s medium
Yarn: 100g sock/fingering weight.
Needles: 2-24” circulars US 1, 2.5mm. You can easily switch to double points or Magic Loop if desired.
Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette stitch

The socks in the picture are knit with Opal UNI-Solid #29.

This pattern shows best with a solid or almost solid yarn or a variagated yarn with very short color repeats.

The stitch pattern does NOT pull in like real cables. If known, use the same number of stitches and the same size needle as you would for a stockinette stitch sock.

Abbreviations:
k = knit
k2tog = knit two stitches together
p = purl
p2tog = purl two stitches together
slip = slip purlwise unless pattern specifies knitwise
ssk = slip knitwise, slip knitwise, knit two slipped stitches together
yo = yarn over

Special instructions for cross 4:

• Slip 4 knit stitches as if to purl, popping corresponding yarn overs off the needle and letting them drop. The result is 4 elongated stitches on the right hand needle.
  
• Grab the rightmost 2 elongated stitches with the point of the left needle and lift them over the two leftmost elongated stitches and onto the left needle.
  
• Slide the remaining two elongated stitches onto the left needle.
  
• Knit the crossed elongated stitches onto the right hand needle, being careful to keep them in order.

More Fun Than Cables Stitch
(multiple of 16 stitches)
Round 1: k2,p,k4,p,k2,p,k4,p
Round 2: k2,p,k4,p,k2,p,k,yo,k,yo,k,yo,k,yo,p
Round 3: k2,p,k4,p,k2,p,cross 4,p
Round 4: k2,p,k4,p,k2,p,k4,p
Round 5: k2,p,k,yo,k,yo,k,yo,k,yo,p,k2,p,k4,p
Round 6: k2,p,cross 4,p,k2,p,k4,p

Cuff:
Cast on 64 stitches.
Split stitches between two circular needles, 32 stitches per needle.
Join.
Join is the beginning of a round and the left side of sock.

Ribbing:
k2,p2 ribbing for 1.5 inches.

Knit More Fun Than Cables Stitch until cuff measures desired length (usually 7-8 inches), ending after Round 1 or 4.

Center Pattern -Shift by 1 Stitch
With the heel side facing you, knit the right knit stitch onto the instep needle.
On the left side of the heel needle, slide 1 knit stitch from the instep needle onto the heel needle.
You now have 32 stitches on the instep needle and 32 stitches on the heel needle.

Heel:
Row 1: (slip 1, knit 1) 16 times. Turn.
Row 2: slip 1, purl to end of row. Turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 17 times.
Repeat Row 1 one more time. (18 slip rows, about 2.25 inches)

Turn Heel:
Row 1: slip 1, p 17, p2tog, p. Turn.
Row 2: slip 1, k5, ssk, k. Turn.
Row 3: slip 1, p6, p2tog, p. Turn.
Row 4: slip 1, k7, ssk, k. Turn.
Row 5: slip 1, p8, p2tog, p. Turn.
Row 6: slip 1, k9, ssk, k. Turn.
Row 7: slip 1, p10, p2tog, p. Turn.
Row 8: slip 1, k11, ssk, k. Turn.
Row 9: slip 1, p12, p2tog, p. Turn.
Row 10: slip 1, k13, ssk, k. Turn.
Row 11: slip 1, p14, p2tog, p. Turn.
Row 12: slip 1, k15, ssk, k. Turn.
Row 13: slip 1, p16, p2tog. Turn.
Row 14: slip 1, k16, ssk.

18 stitches left on needle.

Pick up Gusset Stitches:
Pick up 19 stitches along right edge of heel.
Knit across instep using Instep Rib Pattern.

Instep Rib Pattern:
k,p,k4,p,k2,p,k12,p,k2,p,k4,p,k (32 stitches)

Pick up 19 stitches along left edge of heel.

Knit a round, ending at center back of heel.

Gusset Decreases:
For gusset decreases, round starts at center of heel needle.

Round 1: knit to last 3 stitches before instep, k2tog, k1, knit Instep Rib Pattern across instep, k, ssk, knit to center of heel needle.
Round 2: knit to instep needle, knit Instep Rib Pattern across instep, knit to center of heel needle.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 32 stitches remain on heel needle.

Continue knitting around keeping the 32 instep stitches in the Instep Rib Pattern.

Toe Decreases:
Start on heel needle 2 inches before desired length of sock.

Round 1: (k, ssk, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k) twice, once on heel needle, once on instep needle.
Round 2: knit

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 16 stitches remain on instep needle and 16 stitches remain on sole needle.

Repeat round 1 until 8 stitches remain on each needle.
Kitchener toe and weave in ends.

Copyright Marguerite Byrne, 2005. To be used for private, non-profit use only.
Send comments and corrections to knittingviolet@gmail.com

Tale of Two Mugs

I've been drinking out of the same coffee mug every morning for (I'm guessing at this) seven years.

It's a blue and gray ceramic mug with dog silhouettes on the side. Possibly they are supposed to be wolves, but I think of them as dogs.

The shape tapers in toward the top which is great for not slopping that first cup of morning coffee when I'm barely awake. I usually carry the full mug back to bed, throw on an extra pillow to prop up my head, and snuggle in with Bob and the little dogs to drink my coffee in the almost dark.

The blue dog mug was a gift from sister Carrie in North Carolina. I remember getting it for Christmas. When I opened the package I thought the mug was nice. I didn't realize at the time it would become a favorite possession.


I drank out of the same coffee mug at work for twenty years.

It's a white porcelain mug with two very 80's looking professional women - one on each side - and the words

"Forget the whales... Save the working woman."

This mug was a gift from my then fourteen year old daughter. I don't remember the occasion. I do remember laughing at the sentiment and thinking that maybe she did have a little inkling how difficult it was to be a full time working mother.

Daughter Heather doesn't remember giving me the mug. That's OK. There are tons of important things that I don't remember. I enjoy imagining her seeing this mug in the store and thinking "My Mom would like that." Knowing Heather, it must have happened something like that. And she was right - I like it.

Now that I'm no longer working, this mug mostly sits in the cupboard. But it's full of history and I intend to keep it for the rest of my life.


Note: This post was originally posted on Seasons of Violet, November 3, 2003. Minor changes have been made.

Update on Sunny

Thank you for all the kind words and well wishes for Sunny. The blood work news was good, considering all the awful things it could have been.

Sunny has an elevated white cell count (19,800. Normal is 6,000 to 17,000.) indicating an infection. She has antibiotics to take for two weeks before getting tested again.

She's looking and feeling healthy and playful. I feel like I've been through the wringer. Those who love a pet will understand.

Please Pee in the Pan

The More Fun Than Cables Socks are done. I'll post the pattern as soon as I dare use the phoneline long enough to get it ready to publish.

The reason I am stressed out and haven't been online is a very long story which, to most people, would be completely boring. So I'm going to try and tell it in as few words as possible.

While running a urine check on Sunny to attempt to figure out why her incontinence medicine wasn't working, the vet found her specific gravity to be way below normal range. This greatly concerned him and he proceeded to tell us all the horrible - and mostly incurable - things it might indicate.

He's been running tests on her for the past two days and I have been knitting and sitting by the phone to hear the results. Except, of course, when I've been outside trying to slide a pan under her butt when she pees.

We've gone to this vet for fourteen years now. He's extremely competent. Unfortunately, I also know him to be pragmatic and willing to wait and see how things develop when there's no urgency about a condition. Therefore, I have to conclude that even though Sunny seems healthy, this could be the start of something awful.

The big news from the blood work should come tomorrow morning, when I'll be knitting and sitting by the phone.

End of Summer

To an unknowing observer, this picture looks like a weedy field with some willow trees (left) and a tulip tree (right) in the background.

What this picture, taken today, really represents is the End of Summer.

See the golden tone of the weeds? That's the goldenrod just starting to bust out into golden bloom. The goldenrod towers above all the other weeds. Some patches of it are taller than me. By the first week in September, the entire field will be screaming gold and looking as if there's nothing growing there but goldenrod.

Autumn in SW Michigan is a beautiful season, but way way too short. With just a little imagination, summer lasts until the middle of September. By the first of November the leaves are on the ground, the days are cold and short, and everyone has located their mittens and boots.

This very week my mother mentioned tentative Thanksgiving plans. Could it really be that close?

Even more horrifying, last Thursday evening Gail at doggy school asked us to start thinking of ideas for the Briarwood Dog Training entry in the Kalamazoo Holiday Parade, formerly known as the Kalamazoo Christmas Parade and still frequently called by that name. One of her first thoughts was to have the dogs be sheep and their people be shepherds. Fourteen pound Pappy will need to be a newborn lamb. At least he's the right color.

I am just NOT ready to think about Christmas yet. Please. No.

Sock Status

There have been some questions about the More Fun Than Cables Sock.

The pattern is written and I'm knitting the second sock using the pattern while noting clarifications and corrections. The cuff is almost done.

As stated in my Knitting Peace guidelines, tomorrow I'll be setting the More Fun Than Cables sock aside and knitting a pair of socks for CIC.

I'm so tempted to keep knitting until the More Fun sock is done and then knit the CIC socks. But really, what kind of plan for knitting peace is that if I break the guidelines before the first week is over?

Assuming life goes on as normal, the pattern should be posted sometime the second half of next week. It will appear as a blog post.

I'm so pleased that numerous knitters are waiting for the pattern and plan on knitting the socks. I'm looking forward to hearing about and hopefully seeing pictures of your More Fun Than Cables socks.

Second Doggy Beach Party

Three weeks ago after the first doggy school picnic at Hagar Shores on Lake Michigan, we immediately planned a second.

Last night was the second doggy beach party. Like the first, the bring-a-dish food was great, the weather was beautiful, the company of other dog lovers was very pleasant, and the dogs had a great time.

Unlike last time, I brought Pappy instead of Sunny and the waves were gentle enough so the little dogs could swim.

Teacher/trainer Gail took Pappy out in water way over his little doggy head and gentle sat him down in the lake. I was waiting for him at the shoreline and he swam right in to me.

Check out his tail. I never noticed until I saw this picture that he kept his fluffy tail up over his back and it didn't get completely wet. In doggy body language that means he was happy. Or at least I'd like to think he was happy.



From left to right:

• Jazz the Maltise
  
• Sis the toy Poodle
  
• Molly the Sheep Dog mix. Jazz, Sis, and Molly are all part of the same human family.
  
• Dahle the Bull Terrier
  
• Pappy the Papillon, looking wet because he is wet
  
• Riley the Boxer mix
  
• Favor the Australian Cattle Dog
  
• Downy the Chow mix
  
• Casper the Corgi
  
• Effie the Corgi

Please let me know if I misspelled a dog's name and it will be corrected.

Both pictures were taken by Downy's Mom, Anna. Thanks Anna.

Quest for Knitting Peace

I'm capable of using any rationalization imaginable to start a new knitting project when there are already projects on my needles. The result? Too many projects going at once, stress about which project to pick up and knit, the feeling that nothing is getting done, and a general uneasiness about my knitting.

This lack of self discipline has been on my mind since before I went to Idaho, it stewed in my sub-conscious while I was gone, and has become a problem to be addressed now that I'm home and knitting again.

It's become apparent that in order to enjoy the process of knitting, I need to concentrate on one project at a time.

I've come up with two simple guidelines I believe are going to make my knitting life more enjoyable and productive:

1. Have no more than two projects at a time, a weekday project and a weekend project.
   
2. The weekend project will usually be CIC knitting, unless I've completed my CIC goals.

My overly detailed mind keeps trying to write more rules and guidelines, but that's overkill. The key is having only two projects at a time, and a timeframe defined for when to knit on each of them.

The immediate problem is how to get my knitting down to the required two projects.

Right now I have four projects going.

1. Hanover Jacket (1/8 done)
   
2. Unplanned Scarf (1/3 done and set aside for now)
   
3. More Fun Than Cables Socks and pattern (1/2 done)
   
4. 6 pair of CIC socks by the end of August (5/6 done)

Next weekend I'll knit the final pair of CIC socks.

The jacket and the More Fun Than Cable Socks are fighting for my weekday attention. So far this week the jacket has won, but I want to get the sock pattern posted. Every time I knit on the jacket, I think I should be knitting on the sock.

So, the sock it will be. It will go quick. Starting tomorrow I'm going to work on that second sock until it's done and I can cross the sock project off the list. Then I can work on the jacket with a clear conscience.

That's a plan. I feel better now.

Pictures from Idaho

While we were in Idaho, we did something that I've always wanted to do - we took a ride in a sea plane. It was a beautiful flight. This is one of the pictures I took from the air.

Selected pictures from the trip are in a Picturetrail album called "Trip to Idaho, August 2005. Take a peek if you're interested.

And, if you want to read and see more, Son John has written a blog post about our visit showing some of his pictures. The post includes a fascinating picture of me, first thing in the morning, in my nightgown.

I thought I raised him better than that.

Tattoos of Life

Seasons Change but Tattoos are Forever
I saw a young woman with massive snake tattoos on her arms and shoulders. Oh honey, I don't think that was a smart thing to do. Don't I remember that it hurts to have tattoos removed?

Life changes us. Our interests change as we age. While it might be interesting to have a tattoo history of things we used to find important, it's more likely that we don't want to be so frequently reminded.

Thinking of my own life in ten year intervals, here's my imaginary tattoo history:

1955, 10 years old - New tattoo is a picture of Howdy Doody.

1965, 20 years old - New tattoo has hearts and says "Harold Forever".

• Harold was my first husband. We married in 1965.
  
• Howdy Doody was removed in 1958, as soon as I could earn enough baby sitting money to pay to for the procedure.

1975, 30 years old - New tattoo has flowers and says "Bob Forever".

• Bob is my second husband. We married in 1975.
  
• You can bet that "Harold Forever" has been removed.

1985, 40 years old - New tattoo is a picture of running shoes.

• I imagine myself finding the meaning of life during a runner's high.
  
• "Bob Forever" still works, except I'm about twenty-five pounds heavier. The tattoo is looking a little distorted.

1995, 50 years old - New tattoo is a Christian cross.

• I'm a new Christian and it really is the meaning of life.
  
• The running shoes have to go. I have arthritis and a bad back. I'm lucky I can walk.
  
• "Bob Forever" still works, except I'm now about fifty pounds heavier. The tattoo is looking very distorted.

2005, 60 years old - There is no new tattoo.

• Can't decide between a dog, a violet, knitting needles, my laptop, or the names of my granddaughters.
  
• "Bob Forever" still works. I lost forty pounds so now it's only distorted by the wrinkles.

Note: This post was originally posted on Seasons of Violet, September 22, 2003. Minor changes have been made.

Home

Here I am sitting on the couch in Idaho with my two wonderful granddaughters. What great memories.

The trip was wonderful. I have many many pictures which are not uploaded yet. I'll post the link when they're ready to view for all who are interested.

Ten days without knitting. It was a nice break. Today I picked up the needles and knit a few inches on the back of the Hanover Jacket.

There are two more posts I had ready to publish while I was gone that never made it. I'll be posting them in the next few days while I catch up on everything and life returns to normal.

How the Greatest Trumpet Maker in the World Got His Name

Monette -The Greatest Trumpet Maker in the World is my little brother Dave. That's Dave on the left with our Mom. On the right is Wynton Marsalis with one of Dave's masterpieces.

Back in the 50s when Mom was pregnant for Dave, Davy Crockett was very popular on the Sunday evening Walt Disney show. Mom, mother of three girls and sure she was going to have another, said that if she had a boy she'd name him Davy Crockett.

Dave was born a few months early and weighted in at three pounds three ounces. His eldest sister (me) remembered what Mom had promised and knew Mom would keep her word and name him Davy Crockett.

Mom fudged a little and named him David.

She told all the relatives that he was named after the David in the Bible because he was so little and had so much to overcome. Made a great story. But now the truth has been published on the internet. The Greatest Trumpet Maker in the World was named after Davy Crockett. I was there. Trust me, it's true.

Note: This post was originally posted on Seasons of Violet, November 30, 2003. Minor changes have been made.

I'm on vacation but I'd still love to read your comments.

Up Up and Away

When I found these lucky four leaf clovers in the middle of July, 2004, I expected something special to happen, and it sure did.

First I learned that son John and daughter-in-law Anne were coming to visit, their first trip to Michigan in six years. They live in Idaho.

The second clover's luck was extra special. I learned I was going to be Grandma in eight months.

Wednesday, August 3, 2005, granddaughter Kimmy and I are headed to Idaho to visit our four month old cousin/granddaughter Sydney and her parents, John and Anne.

We've been talking about taking a trip out west to see Uncle John and Aunt Anne for several years now. The time has come to actually do it and we're both excited.

This will be Kimmy's first plane trip and first time to see mountains. She has window seats on all four flights.

We live in SW Michigan. You can't get there from here without at least one connecting flight. We're flying Kalamazoo to Minneapolis to Spokane.

If you see a midsize rental car in eastern Washington or northern Idaho being driven by a gray haired grandma who looks lost, honk and wave.

Travel day to return is August 10, big long nap day is August 11, and things should be back to normal by August 12.

There will be some non-knitting related posts while we're gone if I can find a few spare minutes to sit at John's computer. But the granddaughters take priority over posting for the next eight days.

Knitting Log for July 30

The first More Fun Than Cables sock is done and a draft of the pattern is written.

Next I need to test knit the second sock using the pattern draft. Then the pattern will be ready to post.

Since I have many things to do before leaving on the trip to Idaho Wednesday, this is not going to get done until I get back. I expect to post the pattern sometime during the last two weeks of August.

The Unplanned Scarf is languishing in a knitting bag. I'm looking forward to picking it up again, but don't know when that is going to happen.

Lately I've been thinking about making some new rules for myself about number of simultaneous knitting projects. Right now I have four going, and that's just too many.

I think I might enjoy my knitting more if I started something and worked on it until done instead of skipping from project to project and having all the projects take what seems like forever.

I know that I don't want the Hanover Jacket to take seven months like the Lavold sweater. I want to knit on it, make progress, finish pieces of it, sew it together and wear it. And then knit another jacket.

While in Barnes and Noble Wednesday I picked up the Summer 2005 Knitter's Magazine and flipped it open to something I actually wanted to knit, the Turquoise Jewel Jacket by Jean Frost.

Not only do I love the looks of this jacket, it is just the kind of knitting I love to do. As soon as a stitch pattern gets boring, it changes to another stitch pattern.

I'm 90% sure this jacket is in my knitting future.

Lately I've been somewhat tempted to knit a lace shawl. But not until this week did I see the first lace shawl pattern I could not resist buying, Violets by the River by Hazel Carter and sold through Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill.

It's a medium size shawl with the river (feather and fan) around the edges, lace violets (my favorite flower) in the body, and lace bees (how cute) along the edge.

The pattern is ordered and I'm looking forward finding some violet yarn and knitting this shawl. But first I have at least four other projects to finish.

Doggy Beach Party

Last night some of the dogs from doggy school got together at Lake Michigan. Their humans had a picnic, the dogs had a swim.

Up in the picnic area Gail started the fire for the brats, we set out our dishes to pass, and everyone went down many stairs to the sandy beach.

It was breezy, which translates into waves. Several of the larger dogs had a great time fetching frisbees or balls in the rough water.

Hagar Shores is a bit of a drive, 35 to 40 miles for most of us, but is the only Lake Michigan beach we know of that allows dogs.

This picture was posed during the last trip down to the beach. Not all the dogs stayed for the second round of swimming, so this is a partial group of doggy beach party friends.

Behind the driftwood from left to right:

• Layla, the Australian Shepherd
  
• Favor, the Blue Heeler/Cattledog (also in the top picture)
  
• Brianna, the white German Shepherd
  
• Penny, the Springer Spaniel
  
• Molly, the Sheep Dog Mix
  
• Jazz, the Maltese
  
• Sis, the Toy Poodle

In front of the driftwood from left to right:

• Merlin, the Australian Shepherd
  
• Sunny, my Second Generation Designer Dog
  
• Effie, the Corgi
  
• Casper, the Corgi

Sunny was my companion for the evening. At last year's doggy beach party the water was calm and she did some swimming. This year she decided sensible little dogs did not belong in those waves.

I honored her reasonable request to stay on the sand.

She appeared to have a good time in her own Sunny way, but when she was ready to go, she was ready to go. She didn't waste any time beating me up the stairs to the picnic area where we watched the sunset and then headed for home,

Next doggy beach party is August 17 and I'm bringing Pappy. I have no idea if he can swim or what he'll think of the water, but I know he'll have a great time with his doggy friends.