Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Silas Is 4!

Silas has a birthday this month, but we are not sure of the actual day. The day we brought him home, we were not expecting to get a new puppy at all! Jeff and I were on a regular trip to a Petsmart store to pick up dog food for Saffy. At the store, I took the cart to get the food and lost track of where Jeff was. I figured he would be looking at the birds and fish, or something. Well, I soon spotted him, grinning like a little kid, in the middle of a large litter of tiny black puppies that had been dropped off at the store. He was clutching a puppy to him and when he looked up at me I knew we were in trouble as he was giving me the 'can we keep him' look! I knew I would be the main puppy trainer and caretaker, so it was really up to me and I'd just gotten Saffy to a point where she knew the routine and was easy. Jeff put the puppy on the floor and it galloped over to me, skidding out on the slippery linoleum floor, slid up to my foot, opened its mouth wide and bit my sneaker and hung on.

Well, Saffy was used to us returning from the pet store with her food and perhaps a soft toy or new bone. She was not expecting a puppy! She's a very easy going dog, so her first reaction was surprise, but also excitement. Then, Silas saw her feet and ran over to her and started nipping her toes! Poor Saffy was frantically dancing about trying to keep all her feet out of reach at once! Silas definitely had a thing for feet and he still does to this day, although at least he doesn't bite them anymore. He licks them or lays his face on your feet. Silas wasn't shy and basically claimed as much as he could for his own...Saffy's toys, Saffy's bed and Saffy's treats. We had to give Saffy a lot of extra special attention! She was very good with him, but I worried that she might resent him and like it if he would leave, but anytime we separated them, she would look for him.

Silas didn't really know what to think of Bandit. He sniffed him and sneezed at all the cat hair. Then Bandit discovered Silas had a long wiry puppy tail and used it as a toy to pounce on and sometimes nip! So, Silas was wary of the cat, who was actually the same size as him at the time! They get along well now, although they sometimes challenge each other on the pecking order a bit.

Saffy is a very quiet dog, but Silas we learned from the start was going to be vocal. Not barking. Just all sorts of peculiar whines, whimpers, moans, sighs and blowing noises. When he was just a tiny thing and we took him for walks, he would make a little grunt or squeak with every alternate step. He sounded like a wonky box spring. There was some snow soon after we got him and he would sit on my feet and squeak at me until I would pick him up. He really wanted to be a lap dog and still does. He doesn't understand that he is huge now!

Silas is a very strong, athletic dog. He loves to chase the laser pointer dot around the yard in the evenings. It's certainly an easy way to exercise him since all I have to do is stand there holding the laser pointer! He also likes a made up game of Doggie Croquet. He drops a tennis ball in front of me and I kick it toward him trying to get it to pass between all his feet while he tries to block it. He never gets tired of this. He also loves to jump high, as you saw in the snow pictures from a few posts ago. He'll jump for snowballs, toys or treats. He's a very intense, energetic dog, so he keeps us busy trying to tire him out! Fortunately he and Saffy like to play together too, so they've developed their own games.


Oh, speaking of dog birthdays, there is a very funny, comedy series of 10 minute shows called Posh Nosh and one of the episodes, "Torta di Castagne e Cioccolata", includes a dog birthday party. It's so hilarious if you love dogs and spoofs of cooking shows! I've seen most of the episodes on PBS lately.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

A Few Random Things

Here is a progress view of the sleeves for the RYC lace top. I should be able finish them pretty soon now that I am in the decrease rows shaping the sleeve cap.

I had a nice visit with my grandmother on Sunday and she gave me this little print. I have to hang it up still. I'm thinking about where it will look best.

I got these markers on sale at Michael's and I feel absurdly happy having them! My plan is to sketch out my garden design ideas in color this year.

I've been trying to get a pic of Lara to show you, but it is dark blue and I can't get it to look like anything other than a dark blob. I know I could take one outside, but it is too cold for that today!

Monday, February 05, 2007

Rowan 41

I just ordered this! I'd like to escape today's cold weather and visit all the warm sunny places pictured in it. You can see some of the patterns featured here. I'm looking forward to reading the directions and picking some to make.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

New Bike Debut!

I am so excited to be able to show you our new bikes! Today, I brought mine home. Jeff has had his for a few weeks, but I have waited to debut them on the blog together.

Here I am riding my new Cannondale Optimo 2 with feminine geometry. And look, it is in Project Spectrum colors: blue, white and gray!



Jeff's bike is a Cannondale CAAD8.

We both opted for the clip in pedals and bike shoes with stiff carbon fiber soles. Here are my blue and silver Nikes. Jeff's are the men's version in black.
I'm sure I will post a lot about our bike riding adventures! We're planning fun rides with Debby and C. I can't wait for the weather to warm up. It was a cold 31 degrees out today.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Blogger (Silent) Poetry Reading and Knitting Update

My Contribution to the Blogger Poetry reading:

On this gray, wintery day, I am dreaming of spring, of seeds sprouting and of trees turning green. This poem reflects my thoughts best. And, fittingly for Groundhog Day, even mentions the woodchuck.

Spring Oak
Above the quiet valley and unrippled lake
While woodchucks burrowed new holes, and birds sang,
And radicles began downward and shoots
Committed themselves to the spring
And entered with tiny industrious earthquakes,
A dry-rooted, winter-twisted oak
Revealed itself slowly. And one morning
When the valley underneath was still sleeping
It shook itself and was all green.

By Galway Kinnell

Information about Blogger Poetry Reading.
I found out about it when I read Ride.Knit.Read's contribution earlier.

Knitting Update:

Lara is seamed and all the yarn tails have been woven in. I'm just waiting for it to finish blocking so I can take a pic. The fronts of the shrug are completed and seamed at the shoulders to the back section. I'm currently working on the ribbing of the shrug and still have to finish seaming the Drops cardi.

I must confess that I have begun a project with the RYC Cashcotton I recently purchased even though I have these other projects on the needles! I am making a lace top that was published in Simply Knitting, but is also to be found in RYC Classic Summer. I started with the sleeves, probably the easiest bits. I am doing both at once, so they are squished on the needle, but you may be able to see that I am starting to cast off for the armhole shaping.

The 'wrong side' of this makes me think of weathered sea urchin shells on the beach with the spines worn off. I'm really enjoying the summery color and texture of the yarn and am looking forward to the more complex parts of the pattern.

The February Simply Knitting was available at the bookstore last night and I got a copy. I like the lace top on the cover and might try making it at some point. This issue came with some pretty blue heart stitch markers too.

Dogs in the Snow!

The dogs are so thrilled by the snow. There was much cavorting, sniffing, snowplowing with noses, rolling and snorting. I had to make countless snowballs to throw into the air for them to jump and catch.

Someone tends to get too close to the camera.

Silas can fly. Well, sometimes it seems like he can when he's leaping high for snowballs.


Saffy shatters a snowball in mid-air.

Running thru the snow.

A face-off.
Tug-o-war.

Wintery Scenes

Old seed pods in the garden.

A birdbath full of snow.

The sticky snow is coating the trees.


The view of farmlands from our west property line.