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Fast-Topic-Changing Friday. Holding, holding, holding.

	Oh, Austin. You’re making it very difficult for me to stay in love with you. It was ONE-HUNDRED-SEVEN degrees yesterday.
	And this old beast of an air conditioner is barely hanging on. I’m on hold now with my home warranty company. Replacing this old girl will cost me a flat fee of $60, not thousands. Whew. So glad I have a home warranty. Next…!
	There will be knitting instruction videos on verypink, verysoon. Veryexciting. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Next…!
	Just off the needles – Hogwarts’ double-knit bookscarves. These are for a class I’m teaching in July. Yes, Ravenclaw is shorter than the others. Whoops. Next…!
	I’m still on hold with the home warranty company. I really want to get the a/c fixed ASAP. Poor Ike is finally showing his age this summer, and the heat is getting to him. I’ll stay on hold all day if that’s what it takes. Next…!
	Lazy dogs. Still on hold. Have a great weekend!

Pulling the anchor on a Fast-Topic-Changing-Friday.

First up, I’ll get the title of this post explained. I’m a fan of the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, a show about crab fishing off the coast of Alaska. I like it because I grew up around that stuff in Kodiak. As dangerous and crazy as crab fishing is, the whole thing is very familiar to me. And every now and then I’ll see someone who I’m pretty sure I remember.

There is a new captain on the show, named Big Daddy, who is from Kodiak.

	Here the captains are sitting around talking about why the crews always want weekends off when they’re docked in Kodiak. “There are girls in Kodiak!” Ha! I think I blew coffee out my nose when I heard that. Well, I’m not there anymore, so there is one less girl in Kodiak…
	…but I suppose I’ve been replaced. My niece, Molly Renee, almost two years old. I’m sure she’ll have a future of making crab fishermen want to stay ashore in 20 years or so. Currently, she’s too busy smearing yogurt everywhere. Next…!
	A plug for my friend Stephanie’s online store. She is dyeing up a merino JUST LIKE Malabrigo lace weight. Since Malabrigo is almost impossible to get, and everyone wants to make a Featherweight Cardi, this can be considered a public service announcement. Next…!
	I had the idea to get Tippy to pose for a photo with this little knit dog on his head. It is a Pile-able Pup, after all.
	He had other ideas for what to do with the little dog. His ideas included disembowelment. Next…!
	Do I have the world’s laziest Basenjis? It usually looks like I’m running an opium den. Have a great weekend!

It’s Friday morning and I’m trying to combat grogginess with coffee. Mother Nature has been doing a smack-up job of keeping me from sleeping soundly through the night lately. Storms, possums, crochet. (Does Mother Nature crochet?) Whatev.

We had tornado warnings here in Austin last night, and I had the craziest dream about how my house got swept up in a tornado (very Dorthy Gale-ish-ly), and landed in another neighborhood. I went outside the house to find out where I was. I asked a group of high school girls who were walking down the street, and one of them said, “You’re on the border between Texas and Indiana”. Ah. Oz.

Brewing up a Fast-Topic-Changing-Friday. Strong, but never bitter.

	Yes, crochet. As my friend Stephanie said, “Hell has frozen over.” I’m just dabbling in crochet. I’m not switching crafts….
	…and clearly I’m not taking it very seriously. Trust me. I’m still a Knitter-with-a-Capital-K. Next…!
	Why are my dogs going crazy?
	Why is Abe trying to grow cat claws so he can scale the fence?
	RAWWRRRRR! I AM AN EVIL POSSUM COME TO RUIN YOUR EVENING WITH MY PRESENCE. YOU WILL HAVE NO PEACE AS LONG AS I STAND HERE. MWAHAHAHAHA. Creepy bastard.
	I like this photo. It looks like Tippy has given up hunting and decided that posing next to the possum with a sad face is enough for now. They had been “hunting” this guy for about an hour when I pulled out the camera. Next…!
	Franklin Habit is going to be back in Austin this weekend at The Knitting Nest. We’re doing a live radio broadcast from the store today from noon to 2pm. Stop by if you’re around. Have a great weekend!

At the end of this month, I will have lived in this house for a year and a half. For the most part, I have the house looking the way I want – at least in the more public rooms. But my office. Oy.

When I was a kid, we would go to visit my Great-Great Aunt Ida (the one who taught me to knit) in Oak Harbor, Washington. On the way into town from her house, we would pass this outdoor factory. This place was about three stories high, and a mess of dirty machinery, pipes, and wheels. It was like a steampunk nightmare. One time I asked Aunt Ida why it looked so bad, and she said, “Well, it’s just how it needs to be so that it works properly.”

You get where this is headed?

My office has been like that steampunk factory nightmare. It hasn’t been decorated at all, but the elements of “design” came together as function dictated. And it was ugly. The walls were a dingy baby chicken yellow. Furniture that didn’t fit anywhere else ended up in here. I couldn’t leave the door open, because there was always something interesting within a dog’s reach, since I hadn’t really thought about storage.

This is supposed to be my creative space!

	Before: Yellow walls. Cluttery.
	Stuff shoved wherever it would fit.
	My computer desk was mostly functional, except for the fact that I had things stored near my desk that I didn’t regularly need. Facing the window seems like a nice idea, but it is pretty hard on the eyes when you’re staring at a computer screen.
	First up, empty the room. I moved my desk and computer to the spare bedroom. The dogs were totally happy with that. Also, five million books were lugged to the garage.
	Next, scrape off the horrible popcorn ceiling. Whoever invented popcorn ceiling was lazy (it covers a lot of building sins) and an idiot (it holds dust and stink).
	Here’s the floor once the popcorn snowed down on the terra cotta tiles. I drew a heart to sort of show the real floor color under there.
	Next, repair walls and test wall colors. Spackle. Spackle. That’s an awesome word. Spackle.
	Edge and paint. In this shot you can see where the edges are dry, and show the true color.
	Abe stole my drop cloth at one point, and carefully spread it over his dog bed. What? These dogs are so freaking weird.
	Fresh white paint for the closet doors. Much better than before. What would be the paint color name for the old color? “Dashing Dinge”? “Bountiful Blah”?
	Tippy had to make do with the fact that there were no dog beds in the room while I was working. This photo was taken at about 10pm, because I’m a crazy person who works on projects for 12 hours straight.
	Ta-da! So. Much. Better. The color theme to compliment the turquoise walls is black/white/gray with accents of red. I still need to reshelf the books, and replace the dated light fixture with a small ceiling fan.
	There is suddenly a ton of space in here. I’d like to find a piece of soft furniture for this spot. I’m picturing a large red ottoman; or vintage, armless chair. All in due time.
	I’ve left one giant wall blank so that I can use this color as a backdrop for photos. I’m really happy with the results of The Great Office Makeover. Can I just say this? Budget for this project was $36. One gallon of paint. I was lucky that the previous owners of this house left me a can of high-gloss white, which I used for the closet doors and trim.
	I just took this shot a couple of minutes ago. Tippy’s the only one in the photo, but you can see Ike, Abe, and me in shadows. Have a great weekend!

Several months ago, I put together a post where I showed some of the outtakes from my daily photo project. I’m ready to do it again, but this time with a theme.

I end up rejecting about 80% of the photos I take of myself due to unwanted facial expressions, what I’m calling “bitchface” and “goofyface”. One would think that after nearly 18 months of self-portraits, I would be better at controlling this. I am not.

I have learned this much. Two things that make me look angry are the sun, and concentration. Goofyface happens when I start getting bored with a photoshoot.

	Outtake of this photo. Reason: bitchface.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: goofyface + tongue.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: bitchface, and this was just a test shot before I’m even wearing the sweater.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: goofyface.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: bitchface.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: goofyface.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: bitchface.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: dogs are cute, but not supposed to be in the shot, plus goofyface.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I don’t even know what to call this face.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: goofyface + tongue again.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: not angry enough for a zombie.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: even Tippy can have bitchface.

I’m here! I don’t have Swine Flu! I still have a computer!

Many thanks for all of the sweetly-worded hate mails, because they worked. Lookit! I’m updating!

Pardon me while I bitch for a moment. Verypink has been under a nearly constant barrage of hacker attacks. My WordPress style sheets have been full of European drug website ads that I’ve been deleting as I find them. The biggest problem is that this hacking has somehow changed the font you see next to the photos, making it bigger. I already had a very limited amount of space for text, and now it’s even less. Ugh. Still trying to find a way to fix this.

Fast-Topic-Changing Friday, ready for takeoff.

	If I look different, it’s because I’m OLDER. It was a month ago now that I had my 41st birthday. Surprisingly, 41 feels a lot like 40, which felt a lot like 22. Next…!
	This ittybitty bit of yarn…
	Knits up as lightly as an underweight feather…
	To make an entire sweater to fit a grown-ass woman.It’s the Featherweight Cardigan, and it is currently my very favorite sweater. Ravelry deets. Next…!
	Abe and Tippy have recently become evil partners in crime. They don’t copy each other’s good behavior, just the bad. Pull all the towels off the rack? Let’s do it together! Shred toilet paper? We’re a team! Next…!
	I’m working on a new sock design. No. I’m re-working a sock I designed a couple of years ago, because I didn’t bother to write it down as I designed it the first time. Free pattern available soon. Next…!
	Another new design. Still a big secret. Next…!
	Baseball season in a city with no MLB team. Instead, I can go to UT games, or frequent sports bars that have the MLB cable package. (The only problem with the sports bar is the amount of pub grub and beers I accidentally consume while I watch these games.) Next…!
	The futon mattress ended up on the floor when I removed the cover to wash it. It suddenly became THE COOLEST PLACE IN THE HOUSE, according to my little partners in crime. Next…!
	Had to sneak in a photo of Ike. Have a great holiday weekend!

Fast-Topic-Changing-Friday, First Spring Edition. This is the post where I make a big deal about springtime and spring colors, as if winter in Austin was something difficult to endure. As a former Alaskan, I assure you – I survived the winter unscathed. Regardless, springtime and I are total BFFs.

And here we go…

	A big kiss for WillieMcGee. To everyone who thought I couldn’t do it, I SUCCESSFULLY FOSTERED A DOG WITHOUT ADOPTING HIM! Yay, me! He went to his forever home last week with Chris (my ex). I’ll still get to dogsit him when Chris travels. Basenji Rescue. Next…!
	New design – Socks for Mary Janes. I designed these girls’ socks to be a free pattern for The Knitting Nest’s April newsletter, but I’ll be releasing it to the public on March 31. Ravelry details. Next…!
	Fair Isle Easter Eggs! Not my pattern, but something I knit up for a class. Ravelry details. Next…!
	I’ll start bitching and whining about the heat in the next few months, but I am terrifically in love with Austin right now. Every day is a perfect, windows-open, short-sleeve, bare-legs day. And the city is transforming leafy green lusciousness. Love. Next…!
	Current work-in-progress, Leaf Tie Cardi in a fluffy pink angora blend. I don’t think I’ve ever used the exact yarn, exact color twice before this, but this yarn is that awesome. With Socrates. Next…!
	Tippy is both photogenic, and really expressive with his face. It looks like he’s saying something here…I just can’t think of a good caption. Can you?

Sticking with the springtime/new beginnings theme – another video to share with you. Trust me, it’s eight minutes you’ll be glad you spent. Have a great weekend!

Faster, faster, faster, faster!

Don’t miss the video at the end of this post. You might want to go ahead and empty your bladder now, so you don’t pee your pants laughing.

Fast-Topic-Changing-Friday, as scheduled.

	As I write this post, I’m wearing wool socks and a bathrobe that looks like an arctic sleeping bag…and I couldn’t be happier. The brutal Texas summer has been delayed by a few more days. A few more days of wearing handknits and NOT sweating. Hello, Clapotis! Next…!
	God gum? I found this at the checkstand at Hobby Lobby. I’m guessing it’s not a joke, because it’s Hobby Lobby and all – but it reminds me of this product…
	“Believe in God Instantly Breath Spray”. This is available on amazon.com, and IS a joke. The packaging says “Miraculously Minty Faith-Enhancing Breath Spray”. Next…!
	February Lady Sweater. I made this for the other Stacy‘s daughter, and it’s currently on display at The Knitting Nest. Such a great pattern, and a really friendly introduction to sweater knitting for new knitters. So, I’m offering this pattern as a class this month. Next…!
	I made this little man, too. He’s a felted Fiber Trends pattern, and really fun to knit. I swear, he’s cuter in person than he is here, because he is NOT photogenic. I took a bajillion bad photos of him before I got this one. Next…!
	Here is a silhouette of WillieMcGee, after he rearranged the sofa cushions while hunting. His prey? A confused housefly. One last thing –

Crafty people need to watch this video. I’ve been singing this song for two days because I love it that much.

Have a great weekend!

Do you remember the old Triscuit cracker commercial sung to the tune of “A Tisket a Tasket”? I do. A Triscuit, a Triscuit! Delicious whole wheat Triscuit!

I probably just aged myself. Anyway.

Just a quick pattern update…

	I’ve just updated this Felted Easter Basket pattern to include…
	Instructions for this gingham design. The pattern is available on my patterns page. If you have already purchased this pattern, I will happily send you instructions for the gingham version, free of charge.
	Of course, everything I do at home raises the curiosity of the dogs…see Ike’s nose here? This photo was taken right before he sent my whole display crashing to the ground…eggs, teacup, basket – and I had jewelry in the teacup.
	Fortunately for him, he is cute. Have a great day!

Man, I’ve been ignoring verypink for so long…I got a nice email that let me know that someone hacked into the site and added a bunch of spam! I think I got it cleaned up. The comments were out-of-control with spam, and there were about two solid feet of links at the bottom of the page for things like Xanax and penis-growing drugs. Oy.

I haven’t been here much lately because I’m busy, and scattered all over the internet. I’m sort of mini-blogging via my photo project on flickr, and my knits are always detailed on my Ravelry page. It’s time for me to rethink how much I’m able to maintain. I don’t want verypink to sit as a dormant blog like it has been.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to decide what I want to do with verypink. This site will always be important to me, because I have a long history with it, and it is a really good way for me to provide links to the patterns I offer. Other than that, I have to figure things out.

But for now…I’m still knitting! I still have dogs!

	WillieMcGee (formerly known as Leroy) is still hanging out here as a foster. He is such an awesome beast. Chris (my ex) is going to adopt him, which makes me so happy. When I say goodbye to him and let him go to his new home, it won’t be goodbye forever. Chris will always need to travel for work, and I’ll get to babysit.
	I’m over half-way through a new sweater design, and I’m really liking it. The dogs like it, too.
	Believe it or not, I had a GREAT day yesterday, even though this was part of it. Handsome motorcycle cops have a way of turning a bad situation into a good one. Call me, Officer Friendly!
	CanNOT forget to mention this! Casey, Jess, and Mary-Heather from Raverly came to visit us for a fun-filled Valentine’s Day weekend at The Knitting Nest. Caro and The Husband made it down from Boston, too. What a blast! I think we all agree that we need to have them out to visit again.
	I’m doing a happy dance right now…this photo is going to be the cover of the Basenji Rescue 2010 calendar! I’m so honored, and feeling very lucky to have such handsome models for my photos. Have a great day!

This is not a normal Fast-Topic-Changing Friday. This is a Plow-Through-All-the-Knitted-Stuff Friday, which I just made up.

I haven’t been posting very regularly, but I’ve been knitting like a fiend. I’m going to keep the descriptions brief, because I have a lot of catching up to do…

	Central Park Hoodie! Love! I’m wearing it almost every day (when it isn’t 80 degrees, like TODAY). Next…!
	New pattern available – Felicia Baby Sundress. Pattern includes instructions for both the knit and fabric skirts. Next…!
	Tomato Baby Beanie! Free pattern, in my normal baby hat pose. Next…!
	Another new pattern – Baby Hand Socks. Check back here (or on Ravelry) after February 1 for the free pattern. Next…!
	Bella’s Mittens! Just like the movie Twilight, and a free pattern. Next…!
	The Hudson Hat! Okay. Pant, pant. Enough knits for now. I’m caught up. Now for dog time.
	Dogs in the morning sun. Have a great weekend!

Edith Bunker! Come on down! You are the first four contestants on The Fast-Topic-Changing Friday!

Can I still say Happy New Year? Happy New Year! Miss Manners can drop me a note if she likes. Let’s get started…

	First up – new foster dog. He’s a handsome one-year old named Leroy, wise and calm beyond his age. If Ike could have been this good as a puppy, I’d have fewer wrinkles now. He’s a FOSTER. Really. Next…!
	2008 Christmas knits. I kind of blew it with the photos this year. I was so desperate to get everything blocked and sent to Alaska that I didn’t have time for nice photos. As soon as this stuff was dry, I had to send it out. Luckily, the package arrived in Kodiak on Christmas Eve! Next…!
	Birfday! All Basenjis are born in the weeks surrounding Christmas – it’s a weird thing. So they’re all having their birthdays about this time. Abe just turned 5! I’m happy to say that he’s acting more like a puppy now than he did two years ago. Next…!
	Saartje’s booties. (pdf link to free pattern) I knit these up for a class sample. Man, they’re cute. Next…!
	Now that I’ve finished my year-long self-portrait photo project, I’ve started a new photo project. This one is 365 Year in Photos, or YIP. I’ll take a photo every day, but I don’t have to limit it to selfies. Should broaden my horizons a bit. Next…!
	I knit another thing…this is Just Enough Ruffles, knit with double-strands of Babyboo. I highly recommend this pattern. Next…!
	(Another blocking board shot…sorry.) My Central Park Hoodie is mere MOMENTS from being finished. I’m trying to psych myself up to be excited about the seaming. Yay! I get to seam! I love seaming! Oy. Next…!
	Ike is one of the few dogs I’ve met who seem to “get it” when it comes to photos. I’ll say Ike’s name and he’ll look at me, then I get a nice photo of his face. Every other dog gets up from their cute pose to come towards me, because they think I’m calling them. Leroy is no exception. Have a great weekend!

I shot a Christmas video this year instead of a still photo…you’ll understand why…

In case you were wondering, here‘s last year.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Staci, Ike, Abe, and Tippecanoe
P.S. 750 Points to anyone who “gets” the title.

Thank you for flying Verypink Airlines. Please ensure that your seat belt is fastened, your seat back is upright and your tray-table is stowed. Please switch off all electronic devices at this time.

Fast-Topic-Changing Friday prepared for takeoff…

	This is perhaps the worst Winter Wonderland photo in history, but! Last week! Snow! In Austin! We’ve all gotten over the shock now, and we’re back to 78 degrees today. Whew. Next…!
	More exclamation points! Because! Addi Click set! Addi just released their interchangeable needle set, and it rocks. The needles connect without the use of a tool, the join is lovely, and the cords are all Addi. Somebody oughta tell Santa that knitters want this. Next…!
	Sunday was a big day for me…I hit Day 366 of my year-long self-portrait project.
	For my finale photo, I decided to do an art project within an art project. This required a lot of card stock, printer ink, and lame test shots that featured the ceiling.
	I really just got lucky…I started building the collage before I knew if my lens would pan out enough to show all the photos. I also didn’t know if I was going to be able to get enough light on the whole thing to show detail. But as I printed, cut, and taped – I saw it coming together and WORKING.
	I even did rehearsal shots, to see what photos my arms were going to cover if (when) I raised them. I was able to incorporate every photo from the project but 40, and I chose to leave those out because they were too dark to really show. The collage took me about a week to assemble.
	Here’s the final shot. This was the first shot that day. I took more, but I think this one ended up being the best because my enthusiasm and expression were so genuine. Here it is on flickr. Next…!
	I’ve mentioned before that Abe has a fondness for dragging things into the backyard. (Unfortunately, he’s training Tippy in this skill as well.) This is what I found when I got out of the shower the other day. Have a great weekend!

Christmas is coming, the dogs are getting fat. Please to put an organic liver treat in the old man’s hat. (My version of an obscure Christmas song.)

Friday! Change topics! Fast!

	I checked the map, and Austin is still in Texas. Hard to believe today. It was 34 degrees when I walked the dogs this morning. Know what’s sad about this photo? I knit FOR A LIVING, and the only handknit here is my scarf. Next…!
	Oh, it’s so hard to get a decent photo of a black dog. Abraham is ready for winter. He don’t need no stinkin’ handknits. He’s grown a thick, soft coat that feels like a bunny. In fact, it’s supercold right now and he’s outside. Sunbathing. Next…!
	This blurry mess is handknit Christmas gifts. (Intentionally blurred for secrecy.) My plan this year – chunky yarn, or double-strands of worsted. Big needles. Big stitches. Quick projects. Warmth for my family in Alaska. Next…!
	Yesterday was an anniversary of sorts for me. I’ve now lived in Austin for one full year. I closed on this house on December 3, 2007, and moved in the next day. Seriously, what a year of changes it’s been. So awesome. Next…!
	Good news. Tippy has FINALLY stopped coughing. His body is winning the battle against the heartworms. The bad news? He has more energy than ever, and he uses it for evil. I’m remembering now what it’s like to live with a three year-old Basenji. I never get a chance to sit down. Next…!

Last up – a little movie. Here’s the story…

I’m generalizing here, but Basenjis aren’t known for being super “bouncy” or “waggy”. They’re hounds, not terriers – and they have the demeanor of hound dogs. (My dogs spend most of their time trying to be cool.) This clip is an “excited” Tippy. His little cinnamon bun tail barely shifts from side to side. I have dog treats in my hand, and he wants one. (Please excuse my voice here…I’m using my get-the-dogs-riled-up voice, and it’s ridiculous.)

Have a great weekend!

Horton Hears a Who, right?

We ARE here, I swear. Thank you for all of the kind emails wondering if we’re okay – and we are. It is my busy season right now (temps dropped a little, and everyone wants to knit), plus the fact that I’m using every spare moment I have to knit Christmas gifts for my family in Alaska.

Here’s a little catch-up:

	Let’s start with Tippy, my new rescue dog. (He’s the “top dog” in this photo.) Before I tell you how bad he is, let me say first that he’s sweet and loving and eager to learn. Now for the dirt.
	Tippy chews handknits.
	Tippy destroys makeup brushes and shreds toilet paper. He also tries to eat every piece of trash off the ground on walks, and (like Abe) he drags rugs and towels and tv remotes into the backyard.
	Small things, really, when I consider how well he gets along with the other dogs. We’ve had a setback on his heartworm treatment, but nothing to worry about. His body is just taking longer to rid himself of the dead worms than expected. He should be perfectly healthy soon.
	Oh – I’ve been doing so much knitting, but I can’t show you much of it until after Christmas. But here’s a little ditty I knit for myself – 28thirty from Zephyr Style. Ravelry details.
	Something else that’s keeping me busy…I only have 12 days left in my year-long self-portrait photo project. I’m trying to think of an appropriate finale for the last photo. Hmmm.
	Basenji torture = Ike as Santa. I couldn’t get a decent photo while he was plotting my murder.

Last up – a little movie. This was supposed to be a video of Tippy purring (he sounds like a LION), but all you can hear is Ike’s high-pitched purr. Oh, and some post-breakfast yawning and smacking.

Knitting and dogs and heartworms, oh my!

Yes, it’s a Fast-Topic-Changing Friday.

	New pattern! This is the Ida Neck Wrap, named after my great-great Aunt Ida. She used to whip up something like this for me and my sisters when we were kids. I gave the pattern a little more umph, and made it available here. Next…!
	Oh – I knit this, too. I realized that I’ve hardly talked about knitting on verypink lately. It’s not like I haven’t been knitting…of COURSE not. I finished these mittens for Christy as part of a mitten swap. They turned out so pretty! Ravelry details. Next…!
	I’m happy to have some good doggie news. Tippecanoe has officially survived two months of heartworm treatment. I’m still supposed to try and keep him from getting his heart rate up too rapidly, but now he is at least allowed some exercise. He’s such a good boy. Next…!
	Oh – I knit this, too. It’s Mr. Greenjeans, with a few mods. LOVE this sweater. Ravelry details. Next…!
	Ike and Tippy are totally BFFs. It is so awesome to watch. They both get along well with Abe, but it’s different. Abe is more of a loner (until bedtime). Ike and Tippy are both a little needier when it comes to company, and I’m so glad they have each other. Next…!
	Oh – I knit this, too. It’s the Moebius Shawl from Drops Design. I held two strands of yarn together to knit this, one of them being an angora blend. Just enough fuzz. Ravelry details. Next…!
	This tiny little bed was purchased for this dog. Tippy is still pretty skinny (although he’s put on over seven pounds at my house!), so he can curl up into a tiny ball. But clearly, this bed is too small.
	Smoosh! Abe, who is practically twice the size of Tippy, fits just fine. Well, he smushes into it just fine. This is ridiculous. Have a great weekend!

It is with a heavy heart that I say that Gus, the 12-year old beloved Basenji, passed away last week. I didn’t mention anything about his illness, as we were hoping for more good days and more time with him.

I met Gus about a decade ago when I met Chris (my ex). When Chris and I started sharing our lives together, Gus became my dog, too. When Chris and I split up last year, Gus stayed with Chris. Over the last year, I was lucky enough to get extended “custody” visits while Chris traveled.

Gus suffered from tumors on his spine. They were inoperable and benign. As they grew, they began to effect the movement on one side of his body until it was too difficult for him to get around. Chris made sure he had the very best of treatments. Gus was not in pain.

Here’s what I’ll remember about Gus.

	Gus was a sweet and funny guy.
	He and Ike were best friends from the moment they met. Gus was totally the boss, and Ike was cool with that.
	Gus and Ike were a great team. Before Chris and I moved in together, both dogs had huge issues with separation anxiety. Once they had each other, they could hardly care less when the humans left the house.
	The family grew and changed, and every dog that came into the house knew to respect Gus.
	Unlike other Basenjis I’ve known, Gus enjoyed quiet time on his own. While everyone else was crowding in for a spot on my lap, Gus could be found happily chillin’, away from the chaos.
	Gus was a smallish Basenji, and super fast. It was a nightmare to ever have to catch him when he didn’t want to be caught.
	Gus lived more places than most people. He was born in Texas, then moved to Detroit. Then Chris was transferred to Seattle, where we met. The four of us (Chris, me, Gus, and Ike) were transferred to The Netherlands. Then it was Houston, with extended stays in Austin with me. He also traveled across the country in a car several times. He was a super good car dog.
	His official official name was Augustus Africanis, or something very close. His full name was Gustopher Wayne. He answered to Gus, Gussy, Gussy Wayne, Baby G – and when he was a puppy, “Dammit Gus!”. (He was a difficult puppy.)
	Over the last several years, Gus and Ike have both mellowed-out and become more predictable dogs. No more worrying about someone eating the sofa, ripping up carpet, or hiding a toilet brush in the bed.
	Basenjis are “barkless”, but Gus was quiet even by Basenji standards. When he was super happy he would wag his tail and make an excited little whine – but he never “barooed”. I always said that the only time Gus would make a noise is when someone stepped on him, which was pretty accurate.
	He was both sweet and demanding. He would gently bite anyone who dared to stop petting him.
	There are lots of people who are going to miss Gus and his big personality. Chris and I both miss him very much.

I’d like to end this post on a happy note. This is how I’ll remember him most. Gus had a great sense of humor. While he was truly frightened by a few things – children, thunderstorms, and bouncing balls….there were a few things he pretended to hate for the comedy factor – pepper, chapstick, and spray bottles.

Here’s a little video of Gus reacting to chapstick.

Semi-Fast-Topic-Changing Friday on the menu today. May I suggest a Cabernet Sauvignon as your wine choice?

	First up – I’ve made it to DAY 300 in my year-long self-portrait photo project. THREE-HUNDRED. Now the panic is setting in…how do I NOT take a photo of myself every day when the project is finished?? It’s become such a habit! Next…!
	Let’s talk about Brucie. If you need catching up – foster dog, skinny skinny, heartworm positive. He’s now in the second half of his 8-week heartworm treatment. The first half was a breeze, but this half is tougher on him. Poor kid. The good news is that even through the treatment, he’s put on seven pounds!
	He was a dirty, flea-infested, outdoor dog with no indoor skills. Now he’s a well-behaved, house-trained, sofa dog. His favorite things in life are (in this order): That Guy, me, food, the other dogs, air conditioning, and a soft bed. He’s come a long way, and I’m so proud of him.
	Now I have a confession to make. His name isn’t Brucie. Keeping with my theme of presidential names for my dogs, his name is actually William Henry Harrison. Nickname: Tippecanoe. Or Tippy, for short.
	I’ve kept this a secret, because he’s officially a FOSTER. FOSTER. But really, I don’t have it in me to care for a dog for two months through this awful treatment only to pass him on to another family. I couldn’t do it to myself, to the other dogs, or especially to little Tippy. So with his new presidential name, we know what that means…
	Dwight D. Eisenhower Abraham Lincoln William Henry Harrison Ike, Abe, and Tippy…how lucky am I to have three resident dogs? Welcome to your forever home little man! Have a great weekend!

Just a quick post to say a few things:

1. Hurricane Ike didn’t hit Austin. We are safe and well with no damage to the house.

2. Hurricane Ike DID hit Houston. Chris (my ex) was without power until a couple of days ago. His house was hot and humid and needs repairs, so he brought his dogs here for a little air conditioning relief.

So, that makes FIVE dogs for me this week. You know I love them all dearly, but…FIVE.

To make things even more interesting – Gus isn’t feeling well, so he needs special care and extra help. Even MORE interesting – Lou and Brucie are usually either tearing around the house doing the Basenji 500, or trying to rip out each others’ jugulars. Every time I sit down for a second, I have to jump up to either resolve a fight or open the back door or refill the water bowl or go on a walk or move a dog bed or hand out treats or, or, or…

Here we are this morning after the dog walks. Oh, they are sweet things.

(Ike’s the blurry one doing a trick for the treat. Abe is off in the back, trying to stay out of the way. Brucie is the super-hungry one, front and center. Lou is the tiny one in front, flipping his head from side-to-side. Gus is on the right…I had just given him a treat, and he turned his head to chew it.)

Have a great weekend!

Over the river and through the woods to Fast-Topic-Changing Friday we go.

	Ike the Hurricane? Problem for Texas.
	Ike the Basenji? Much less of a problem. Next…!
	That Guy ripped one of his wool bicycling jerseys on a tree branch. He asked me to fix it, and “make it look like Frankenjersey”. Ooookay, you got it. (I’ve never done Franken-finishing-work before. Pretty fun.) Next…!
	Update on Brucie: he’s taking the heartworm treatment like a champ. He doesn’t seem to feel sick at all, just a little tired sometimes. He’s a good boy. Mostly. Next…!
	Brucie likes yarn. And not in a good way. He “played” with this yarn for about .2 seconds, and this was the result.
	Hey! This yarn is the same color as this box of wine!
	Hey! I know this color! (Pretty smart of the wine people to use Tiffany Blue. Caught my eye at the grocery store!) Next…!
	I surprised That Guy by vandalizing one of his bicycles with knitting. He likes it. It would have been a more intense act of vandalism if I had actually seamed it to the bike…but I opted for buttons. Next…!
	I hope everyone stays safe during the hurricane this weekend. We’re sticking close to home and doing this. Have a great weekend!

Pour some Fast-Topic-Changing-Friday on me.

Okay.

Warning: This is a seriously Basenji-heavy post. It’s been a seriously Basenji-heavy week.

	Brucie, my foster dog, started heartworm treatment this week. He is supposed to be still and quiet for TWO MONTHS.
	So That Guy bought this sweet, teenytiny bed for the teenytiny dog. Brucie never gets to enjoy it, because it’s always overflowing with way too much Ike. Next…!
	I thought keeping Brucie quiet would mean that I would have a lot of knitting time. Nope. Next…!
	I know I’ve said it before, but That Guy is seriously dreamy for a lot of reasons. Here he is, demonstrating some dreaminess with the native carry. He does animal rescue too, so he totally “gets” it. Instead of being weirded-out by all of the dogs in my house, he just helps with handing out affection. Next…!
	I’m still working on supersecret knitting that I can’t show you. Instead, here is what I was knitting one year ago today. It is strange to look at this picture and remember. So much has changed in the past year. Next…!
	One of these dogs snagged this folded t-shirt from the bathroom counter and placed it neatly on the futon. I don’t know how or why…I just take the photos around here. Have a great weekend!

Ground floor perfumery,
Stationery and leather goods,
Wigs and haberdashery,
Kitchenware and Fast-Topic-Changing-Fridays…going up!

One-hundred points to anyone who recognizes this song.

	We have a new foster boy, named Brucie. I picked him up from a bad situation as a representative of Basenji Rescue. He’s a foster. He’s a foster. He’s a foster. Repeat as necessary.
	He is a handsome, sweet, and skinny thing. We’re working on getting him up to normal weight, and on Tuesday, he starts heart worm treatment. We’re focusing on his bright future, not his rough past.
	Now if he would just PLEASE STOP PEEING ON THE GAZEBO. Next…!
	Stephanie and I are working on a little “how to knit” booklet for a kit to be sold at The Knitting Nest. She takes such nice photos. Next…!
	I won a Namaste photo contest on Ravelry (well, I tied for first) with this photo. This is all the gear they sent to me! So exciting. They make such nice knitting gear.
	When the box arrived, Abe went NUTS. I handed him the packing paper, and he was good for hours. To see all three winning photos, visit the Namaste site and click on “Photo of the Month”. Next…!
	On the needles…the Tapestry Cowl from pepperknit (aka MintyFresh). Such a great pattern. I’ll be teaching this project as a class in September…so many lessons! Magic cast-on, double-knitting, colorwork, chart-reading, and how-to-make-the-perfect-omelet. Next…!
	This crate is set up for when That Guy comes over to visit with his dog. (She has to be crated when we’re out of the house.) I spent YEARS trying unsuccessfully to crate train Ike. Now that I don’t care anymore, he hangs out in here all the time. Have a great holiday weekend!

I’ve mentioned before that I’m working on a self-portrait photo project – a self portrait every single day for one year. Today I went back through the reject pile for some of the more ridiculous outtakes.

There is a common theme with many of these photos…don’t ask me how, but I manage to take a photo of myself before I’m ready. That, my friends, is a rare and stupid talent.

	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I wasn’t ready.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I wasn’t ready.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I wasn’t ready.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: Ike looks totally bored.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I never intended to look this sweaty.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I need to actually be in the photo.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: Ike was ready, but he wasn’t the guy I wanted in the photo.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: I don’t need to take a photo showing how annoyed I was during the photo shoot.
	Outtake of this photo. Reason: Not only was I not in this photo, but Abe took one of the zeros off the wall and ran off with it. Good times.

Lights! Camera! Fast-topic-changing-Friday!

	Tropical Storm Edouard was a total disappointment ’round here. Austin’s thirsty lawns were only given a sip of water. However, the storm did drop the temperature about ten degrees. It was only 95 degrees that day! I tried to stay warm. This photo is part of my self-portrait project. Next…!
	Gus and Lou (my ex’s Basenjis) are back in Houston now, and I’m left with Ike and Abe. After four weeks with four dogs, my house is so very still and quiet. (Barkless dogs can still cause commotion, trust me.) But…
	I have this new girlfriend named Zelda who frequently visits. She’s half-Basenji, half-Lab. She looks Lab-ish, no doubt (hello, tongue!), but don’t be fooled. She baroos. She climbs high on to the back of furniture to rest. She hates getting wet. She hunts. She’s way smart. Oh, she’s a sweet wiggle butt. Next…!
	Before…(sexy!)
	And after. These are the Fiber Trends Felt Clogs, knit with Cascade 220. Totally fun knit. Details on The Rav. Next…!
	I have to assume that there was something REALLY interesting outside this window while I wasn’t home. I need to teach the dogs how to work the pull cord. But the fun doesn’t end there…
	Abe carried the Olympic Torch of Yarn through the house last night. He sure set it up to make it look like Ike did it. Sneaky. Have a great weekend!

Monday isn’t really the new Friday, but a fast-topic-changing Monday can make it feel like it. I give you permission to pretend the weekend starts today!

Funny, after not posting for a while, I’m kind of nervous. Like, maybe I’ve forgotten how to do this! Let’s see how I do…

	I’ve had all four Basenjis (mine and my ex’s) for almost a month now. I do love having them here, but crikey. The four-dogs-to-one-human ratio is tough on the human. Can you imagine how many kisses I shell out in one day? Next…!
	Thank you all for your kind get-well wishes regarding The Four-Week Headache. I’ve been feeling much better over the last several days. The doctors haven’t come up with a cause, but I have a pretty good idea. I believe it has to do with the Botox wearing off. I won’t do that again! Next…!
	I’m seeing a guy who might just enjoy giving me flowers as much as I enjoy receiving them. Nice, huh? Not only is he wonderful in all kinds of wonderful ways, but there’s a bonus! He does animal rescue, he adores my dogs, AND he has a Basenji-mix of his own. I know. I’m totally lucky. Next…!
	Lookit this awesome gift I got from my friend Melissa (another Basenji Rescue gal)! She stitched and embroidered this Basenji face for me out of silk. She says that Ike wasn’t the model for it, but the resemblance is uncanny. Next…!
	Ah, knitting. How I love thee. I wish I could show you what I’m knitting, but I can’t. It’s a super-secret project for The Crochet Dude. Sorry – this is all ya get. Next…!
	Last night was another Possum Night. Three dogs BOLTED out of bed at 3:30am to go after a possum in the backyard. HOW DO THEY KNOW? Anyway, Gus was the only dog who agreed with me – staying in bed was a MUCH better idea. Have a great…umm…week!

One year ago, I was experiencing a seriously rough time. Like, life-changing rough. I didn’t know WHERE I wanted to live, or HOW I was going to live. All I knew was that I was suddenly single, and that everything was changing. So much has happened in the past year. It’s so different, and so very good.

Now…

I love what I do every day. When I leave the house, I kiss the dogs and say “Bye, I’m going to knit!”. I never use the word “work”.

I am surrounded with friends. Not just any ol’ friends. Friends who look at me with a soft focus. They are slow to judge, and quick to help. They support me when I need it (or they send their husbands if it involves electricity or a lawnmower), and they call me out when I deserve it. They challenge me, they knit with me, they hold me, they make me laugh. They are introducing me to this new city, drinking wine with me at my house, and skipping dinner to talk with me on the phone. I’ve found friends who don’t expect me to censor myself or to try to impress them. They’ve seen me swear like a sailor with chipped nail polish, and they are still my friends.

I have a dinky, outdated, wonderful house. I have a big yard that has me complaining every week, but I love it. Every morning I wake up, make coffee, and open doors and windows to let the fresh air in and the bad dogs out. I’ve been here six months, and I haven’t even finished unpacking. It’s new and awesome to me every day.

I’m dating. I don’t talk much about it on verypink, but it’s really fun. (Enough said on that for now.)

I’m busy. I knit, I take photos, I teach knitting, I design, I hang with the dogs, I date, I see my friends, I watch old movies, I read, and I try to feed myself well. I manage all this, plus a 15 minute nap in the afternoon.

I’m learning. About who I am as a single person, and what I enjoy when there is no one else to consider. I’m learning about Austin, and air conditioning, and allergies, and photography. About food, and dogs, and other people.

I am so grateful. Every single day. I can barely remember the woman who was so sad and confused one year ago. Lookit me! Hey! I did it!

Thank you, thank you. For the support, the Christmas cards, and the emails. I don’t know how to express how much they helped. People actually email ME now to ask me how I made it through the turmoil. ME!

I am so happy, and excited to see what the next year will bring.

Happy Independence day, fellow Americans!

And welcome to the 2008 edition of the Fast-Topic-Changing Fourth of July.

I’ve been ignoring verypink for the last couple of weeks, but with a decently good reason. I also haven’t been taking as many photos as I normally do, so I’m recycling (recycling, good!) some of my self-portraits for this post. Let me explain…

	I’m not one to complain, but I’m also not one who normally gets headaches. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been getting crazy, sudden-onset headaches. I’m working with my doctor to figure out what’s going on in my head. In the meantime, I’m just trying to take it a bit easier. Please send good thoughts. Next…!
	In MUCH better news, I reached a milestone on my self-portrait project! Next…!
	Update on the little foster dog: Mia now lives with her new family in Calgary, and they ADORE her. It is such a happy story. Mia has a human mom and dad, two Basenji brothers, and one Basenji sister. Next…!
	Oh! Here’s the yoga mat bag that I didn’t manage to photograph before my last post. Perfect for a yoga mat, or arrows (if you’re Robin Hood). Ravelry details. Next…!
	Aaaaand some Christmas stockings I made as a store sample for The Knitting Nest. I should have put something in the photo for size reference…these are normal, big stockings. Perfect for gift cards, or lumps of coal. Ravelry details. Next…!
	Today could be interesting. It’s my first 4th of July in the new house, and I’m not yet sure how many of my neighbors will set off illegal fireworks. (Pretty stupid, considering the fact that Austin’s drought status is currently “Exceptional”.) Abe is terrified of fireworks. Last night he wouldn’t step outside when he heard some firecrackers.
	Ike? He’s alright. I’ve only seen him afraid of ONE THING the whole ten years that we’ve been friends…and that was a llama. Not much danger of seeing a llama today. Have a safe, happy Independence Day!

ME, the PERSON of VERYPINK, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Fast-Topic-Changing Friday.

	I’m so glad this turned out well, since it’s a gift and all. This is the Felted Yoga Mat Bag from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. It looks like a quiver (for arrows). The recipient gave me a fine Robin Hood monologue once he slung it on his shoulder. Next…!
	At The Knitting Nest we’ve started a “Countdown to Christmas” campaign, encouraging knitters to get started on knitted Christmas Gifts. One of my contributions is this stocking. It’s a Knitting Pure and Simple pattern, with a few mods. I’m really happy with the way it came out. The fabric is dense enough to hold a lot of gift cards.
	Aaaaaand, I’ve started a second one in green. Next…!
	I’ve had this little foster girl, Mia, for about three weeks now. We’ve found her a great new home in Calgary, so she’s going to be Canadian! Here she is, checking out the cabin of her flight capsule. You can imagine, I’m really going to miss her. Next…!
	Ever wonder what every color of Baby Ull looks like in a pyramid? Well, here ya go! Need some Cascade 220? Please buy it from The Knitting Nest’s new eBay store! We have every color! (This is kind of my baby, and I’d love for it to do well.) (Baby Ull will be in the store soon.) Next…!
	Several people have told me that my dogs are photogenic. I agree. I’ve also heard that they’re talented in the way that they hold still for photos. I never really thought about it until I started TRYING to photograph Mia. She. Won’t. Hold. Still.
	Ike’s all, lemme show you how it’s done.
	Abe’s all, yeah – I can hold still. Have a great weekend!

I was tagged for this photo meme by Kate, my long-time blog friend. I don’t normally do memes, but I loved the idea of using photos as answers…

Notice that I was able to squeeze in a photo of Ike and me…

The rules:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

I’m not going to tag anyone for this meme, so if you’d like to play, consider yourself tagged. I’d love to see more mosaics, please drop me a note if you make one!

Have a great weekend!

I have another chapter to My Sensitive Security System…this time with photos!

It all starts calmly enough. Last night I was home from teaching a knitting class, watching Deadliest Catch and knitting. Abe is suddenly really interested in going outside. I put my knitting down and open the back door.

I plant myself back in my knitting chair. Then, over the din of crab pots crashing on the tv, I hear some strange doggie noises. Abe is making a frustrated yelpie-growl sound. I jump up to investigate.

	His focus is this fence. I move in closer.
	And I see these beady eyes. “All creatures great and small”…whatev. Possums give me the CREEPS. I find myself making this strange gargling noise of disgust in the back of my throat. Like a caveman sound.
	Naturally, Ike wastes no time getting in on the action. He can’t see the possum at first, but he can smell it. He knows something is there, and he wants it.
	The boys spend several minutes running around, trying to figure out how they can build a ladder with no thumbs. Then the frozen possum moves. It wobbles across the fence, sending the dogs into a frenzy. Then it FALLS, and Ike quickly snaps it up. Even though my skin is crawling, it is actually pretty cool to watch my dogs hunt. They are so instinctively good at it.
	I didn’t get many photos of this part, because I was really really trying to convince Ike to leave the possum alone. He doesn’t. He carries it around for a while, shakes it, drops it, carries it around some more…all while I keep making that grossed-out gargling noise in my throat.
	Luckily, my domestic dogs don’t associate “hunting” with “eating”. Food is something that I lovingly present to them in a bowl, not something that they have to catch themselves. Once the possum stops moving, Ike loses interest and comes in the house.
	And Mia? Does not care about the stinky possum.
	Once the dogs were in the house, I watched the motionless creepy rodent through the window and said to myself, “please be playing possum, please be playing possum.” Sure enough, the possum stood up and crept away. Drat! Maybe next time…right, Ike? Ewww.

Sort of a Fast-Topic-Changing Friday, except I’m going in chronological order…

	My mom sent me this photo of my niece, Molly Renee, in the Vestee I made for her. I love to see my handknits in action. Yes, this child is adorable. Next…!
	Last weekend, The Knitting Nest hosted Franklin Habit on his 1000 Knitters pre-book book tour. He is as charming and delightful as I imagined. Photo courtesy of Stephanie.
	And he left us a big present – a larger-than-life Dolores on a wall of store. I think everyone agrees that Franklin is invited back to Austin any time he’d like to come. Photo courtesy of Stephanie. Next…!
	Then. Then I got food poisoning. Oy. I was too sick to knit, or even watch tv. I wouldn’t wish salmonella on my worst enemy. Or a crocheter, even. (honk!) Next…!
	Once I started to feel better, I finished up this French Market Bag and felted it. Felted bags are GREAT for grocery shopping, especially in warmer climates. The felted fabric really works to insulate your cold food on the trip home. Next…!
	I also knit up this pair of Fetching. Both the French Market Bag and these mitts are samples for a “Countdown to Christmas” campaign we’re running at The Knitting Nest. Next…!
	Everyone is a little mad at me this morning. We were about half-way through our walk when it started absolutely pouring rain. According to three Basenjis, the rain is my fault, and they are punishing me by ignoring me. (They’ll get over it once they get hungry.) Have a great weekend!

Don’t touch that dial! It’s time for Fast-Topic-Changing Friday…with your host, Strawberry Shortcake.

One expects verypink to be a bit pink and girlie, right? Well, this week it’s double the long eyelashes, hair bows, and mani/pedis. Because…

	Suddenly there are equal numbers of boys and girls in this house. This is Mia, a girl I’m fostering for Basenji Rescue. Before I even brought her home, we stopped at the pet store so that I could deck her out in a pink collar and leash. She’s so petite and delicate looking next to my manly-men dogs.
	Isn’t she fit and spry for a 9-year-old? She already has my boy dogs wrapped around her little…umm…finger. She’s a sweet thing, and we’ll find a good home for her. (This is not going to turn out like my last fostering situation.) Next…!
	This is me, as Strawberry Shortcake. Not really. This is the beginnings of a French Market Bag. I’m making a sample for a class I have coming up in June.
	Abe had some fun with the yarn when I very foolishly left it within his reach for about ONE SECOND.
	I really can’t blame Abe for liking yarn. I like yarn, too. I just wish he would show his affection for it differently. Maybe he could just smell it, like I do. Photo taken by Alexander. Next…!
	Ike is a Master Chillaxer. Have a great weekend!

The people are real. The cases are real. The rulings are final. This is Fast-Topic-Changing Friday!

If you didn’t get that, it only means that you don’t watch Judge Judy.

	Off the needles – another One Skein Wonder, but with some modifications. Like, two skeins. I added sleeves to this one, and used 2×2 ribbing instead of seed stitch. The sweater is cute, but I had a tough time with the photo session.
	Here it is, minus one grumpy model. Next…!
	For your yarn porn viewing pleasure… Say it ain’t so. It’s mostly Stacy’s fault, but I have STASH. And it’s growing. I had better get knitting. Next…!
	A quick plug for a talented friend…Melissa has a new Etsy shop called Sew Bendy where she sells her awesome hand-sewn bags. Perfect for knitting or whatever. Not only do I love these bags, but I love seeing Melissa so passionate about what she’s doing. Her passion totally shows in her work. Go look! Next…!
	I’ve had a goal this year to catch up on old movies I haven’t seen. I was doing okay on my own, then I happened to make friends with a guy who is a serious smartypants about movies. Now I have help. I saw this one yesterday on his advice. Loved it. btw…Ted Turner and your Movies Classics Channel? Yeah, you do me right. Next…!
	Speaking of old movies, here’s Ike, doing his best to look like Bambi. Have a great weekend!

Fast-topic-changing? Not today. There has been one constant topic all week. It starts with a “d”, ends with a “g”, and has a bunch of badness in the middle.

I’ve had custody of all four dogs this week.

	Little Lou…
	Manly Gus… This is a yoga pose called “peeing dog”.
	Handsome Abe….
	And Ike. Besides knitting and teaching classes, this is what I did this week. You can imagine, I was BUSY. And terribly happy.
	I still managed my self-portraits. Now that I’ve found this cinder block wall, I want to marry it and take a photo in front of it every day. Unfortunately, it’s already seeing someone and has only agreed to keep me as a fondle puppet.
	Kill! Kill! Have a great weekend!

Did someone say fast-topic-changing Friday? Okay.

It’s been a while since I’ve done this…almost a year, in fact. The text below was run through free translation software into Portuguese, then translated again back into English.

Here we go…

	The Abe acted strangely a day. It acted ridiculous, then I supposed to be fair in an arrangement. Later, I found my eyeglasses of sun in the quintal, gnawed and broken-down. They are ruined, but look happy, does not do they? Near subject…!
	It look what did I do! This is the Cord Gazes Shawl, a free standard of knitty. I high recomendo this standard. Very funny it knit. It is actually called the “Lace Ribbon Scarf”. Near subject…!
	This week in my project of self-portrait I did an “Impudent Knitting Stunts” series. This it is called “Blindfolded Clear Island”. Geez…you’re going to have to go to flickr if you want to know what I really said. Near subject…!
	Canine macros of face! The Ike all, camera? Yes, please!
	Abe? Not really so lively about the idea. Have a big weekend and a Mother happy Day!

We now join the fast-topic-changing Friday, already in progress.

	Stacy entered me in the Interweave Knits poetry contest on the sly… And I won second place! I’m pleasantly shocked and amazed. The winners will be announced on Knitting Daily sometime soon. Next…!
	Playground rules at an Austin restaurant. What are the gypsies going to do with all of those bad children? Next…!
	A little knit I finished up this morning…the One Skein Wonder. I’m teaching a class on it this month, so this is the sample. This is also my self-portrait for today.
	This little thing can actually be a useful piece of clothing in Texas right now, since so many places over-do it with the air conditioning. One word: Malabrigo. Yeah. Next…!
	Is it a holey tank top? A slutty camisole? No…
	It’s a mesh market bag, knit with corn fiber. Paper or plastic, ma’am? Neither! I got me a corn bag!
	Anne Boleyn after her visit to the farmer’s market. Next…!
	Silly Munky. Have a great weekend!

Saturday was my 40th birthday. FOUR-TEE. Four-oh.

In order to protect the innocent, I’ve refrained from posting many party photos. Everyone was cutting loose and having a good time. Party photos are never as flattering the next day, are they?

I want to thank Stephanie Gage for most of the photos. Thank you for being my volunteer birthday photographer!

This was my birthday:

	The day started with knitting group/morning birthday party at The Knitting Nest. Presents and cake and breakfast tacos and knitting! Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	A few moments before my guests arrived at my evening birthday party. I was pretty excited.
	Ike and Abe spent some time behind a baby gate… Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	…But later came out to help serve cake. Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	The weather was perfect, and the gazebo was always full of laughing people. Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	Like a junior high dance, the boys and girls mingled among themselves much of the time. (Do we talk about our boobs too much?) Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	Ike entertained us with a little birthday dance. Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	We were also celebrating the birthday of my dear friend Meg, so we decided to take our self-portraits with simultaneous camera action. Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	Meg and I started the evening in hot shoes, but later switched to flip-flops. Photo courtesy Stephanie Gage.
	This is my self-portrait from the next day. Birthday wishes and obscenities on my bathroom wall. I love my immature friends.

Fast-topic-changing Friday, first door on your left.

	Sad. This is Arbor, the cutest dang sweater ever. My problem? The shoulder-to-bust ratio ain’t gonna fit me. It isn’t supposed to fit off-the-shoulders like this. I can either start lifting weights and hope for beefier shoulders, or I can give up. Sigh. Next…!
	New product alert! We can all be more discreet with our germophobia issues now! This is a hand-sanitizing spray, but it looks like a marker. “La, la, la…just a minute, let me write that down…” spray spray spray spray Next…!
	I might, might, might be adapting to Texas weather. Finally. It was 80 degrees in the house, and I was fine. Not whining, not sweating, not a single swear word. I didn’t even need to turn on the air conditioner. Next…!
	I had a lot of fun with my self portraits this week…here’s one I especially like. Next…!
	When you come to my house, don’t even bother trying to sit on the sofa. They have arranged it just the way they like it, and they are enforcing a strict No Human Zone policy. Have a great weekend!

I’m finding it so hard to spend any time on the computer lately, because it’s so hard to be indoors at all! Austin has to be The Greatest Place on Earth this week. The weather is perfect, the birds are singing, and everyone is just a little bit happier.

Also! Green! Since I moved here in December, everything has been brown. I didn’t know that my backyard has shade! Or that there are flowers out front! Or that my tree isn’t dead!

This is what I’ve been doing…

	I got a gazebo, and I don’t even care that I have a real house anymore. I might just move the fridge out here and sell the house to someone else.
	This is my back patio before. Concrete slab.
	Now it’s an oasis of bug-free shade. And I’m not even done with it yet! I’m currently “extending” the concrete with a border of pavers and pebble gravel. I will also add some potted plants, string some xmas lights, and (someday) get some new patio furniture.
	This photo doesn’t do it justice, but it’s a room. A room with a breeze blowing through it. All of this wonderfulness was only 200 bucks from Home Depot, plus three hours of assembly.
	A rare moment indoors.

Oy. Gotta story from last night.

4:06 am: I’m soundly in dreamland when two dogs BOLT out of bed and run for the backdoor. Thinking it’s a potty emergency, I stumble to the door, open it, and go back to bed.

4:08 am: My bedroom window is open, and I can hear that this is no potty emergency. Instead, the dogs are whining, growling, and gnashing their teeth. I slip on some flip-flops, turn on the backyard lights, and go outside.

4:09 am: My eyes are still trying to focus, but I can see that the dogs are really interested in the fence. Whatever. So the neighbors let their dog out or something. I call them back in. They ignore me. I move closer to see what is really going on…and I see a possum butt on top of the fence, it’s long tail mere centimeters from my jumping dogs. The possum is huge, and putting all of it’s efforts into balancing on top of the fence. The possum must have been afraid to move.

4:10 am: Two things are running through my mind…first – Wow! These two dogs were under the covers with me 4 minutes ago…how did they know there was an animal in the backyard? I feel safe with these guys around. And second – No! I do not want my dogs to catch this possum. They will catch it, kill it, and drag it into the house while I stand there fully grossed-out.

4:10 am: I am standing outside in a tank top and flip-flops. It is raining a little bit. My dogs won’t listen to me. I will have to catch them and carry them into the house. I step a little closer to the fence to grab Abe, and the possum’s butt wobbles right above my head. Eeeeee! Do not want possum on my head this morning! I try baby-talk to coax Abe closer to me. He hardly notices that I’m there.

4:15 am: Somehow, I muster up an amazing amount of energy and skill. I manage to catch both dogs and throw them in the house without a possum landing on me. I get back in bed.

4:16 am: Both dogs are pacing the house, whining, scratching on doors and windows. Abe grabs the corner of my comforter and tries to pull it off the bed. I yell totally useless commands like, “Stop it!”, “No!”, “Get in bed!”, and “You can’t have the possum!”.

4:17 to 4:45 am: More of the same.

4:45 to 5:15 am: More of the same, except Ike finally gives up and gets in bed.

5:16 am: I figure that the possum must be gone by now. Hoping for a little peace, I open the backdoor and two dogs bolt out again.

5:18 am: I am grateful that the whining and scratching has stopped, but my eyes are burning for some reason. I imagine that possum germs fell on me, and now I have a possum eye disease.

5:50 am: I cannot sleep. I’m pretty sure I have a possum eye disease.

6:10 am: The Mighty Hunters are zonked out in bed with me, but I am wide awake. I give up, and make coffee. My eyes have stopped burning, and I realize that I do not have a possum eye disease.

9:20 am (now): Ike and Abe have finished their breakfast and are catching up on sleep. Lucky bastards.

Hey! Glad you called! Oh, fine, fine. Busy, yeah. And you? Great! No permanent scarring, then? Very cool.

Fast-topic-changing Friday, ready for take-off…

	First up, a successful Booga Bag class. Cute, huh? My students are awesome. Next…!
	I usually take a 15 minute nap every day. A couple of days ago I woke up from my nap with the design for a new sweater screaming in my brain. Horray for naps! The Voices in My Nap even told me to use a book of scrapbook paper for color inspiration.
	I immediately drove to The Knitting Nest, and picked out the yarn. Then, surprise! I grabbed The Yarn Harlot’s new book, which, as you can see, happens to use the same colors.
	New sweater design coming soon. Next…!
	This is a receipt from the postage MACHINE at the post office. Computers are very sophisticated with their emotions nowadays, huh? Next…!
	Someone is graffiti-ing the white board at The Knitting Nest when I’m not watching. I don’t know who it is, but thanks! Next…!
	This is my favorite self-portrait from this week. I hope it looks all casual and natural, because with no remote and only a ten-second timer to work with, it was anything but. (Set the timer. Run down the block. Get the dogs to turn around with me. Try to look natural. Repeat.) Have a great weekend!

I think all knitters know the excitement of starting a new project. New pattern! New yarn! Let’s go!

Forget the dishes in the sink. Forget the work deadline. “Startitis” is like a drug. The thrill of seeing something new grow from your needles becomes an overwhelming need.

Unless…

	You read the first line of your new pattern and it says, “Cast-on 240 stitches using the provisional method”. This cast-on took me TWO HOURS. Kinda took the wind out of my startitis sails. Like sitting down to a lovely meal to find that you can only nibble on celery for 120 minutes.
	Here’s the sweater. It’s Arbor, designed by Melissa Burt. I’m knitting it with Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Navy. Now that I’m past the celery, I can start to enjoy the lovely meal.
	Just two. Two hours felt like a long time for a cast-on, but two dogs suddenly seems like a very small number. The good news is that my house is unbelievably calm and peaceful. And I got to use the bathroom without company this morning.

Gus and Lou go back to Houston today, but here’s a little video I shot over the weekend. Watch it.

A fast-topic-changing-Good Friday…

	Finished sweater! Knitting Pure & Simple’s Neckdown Summer Cardigan in Aslan Trends Invernal – an angora, merino, nylon blend. This is my attempt at a vintage-y photo, but…
	Truth be told, that vintage dress was SO tight, that my patience ran out pretty quickly. I had to model this myself, as Anne Boleyn is currently working at The Knitting Nest.
	Here’s how I’ll really wear it. In clothes that allow me to breathe. Details on The Rav. Next…!
	This is my last weekend with the Houston dogs. 120 walks. 240 bowls of food. 360 organic chicken treats. 25,0792 kisses. Next…!
	Are you watching the HBO miniseries “John Adams”? Can I encourage you to give it a try? SO GOOD. Next…!
	Ike soaks up the last bit of sun in the room. Next…!
	If the Easter Bunny doesn’t make it to your house, it’s because Abe got to him first. Allow me to apologize in advance. Have a great Easter Weekend!

Welcome to yet another fast-topic-changing Friday. You may be seated.

I like REM. Yeah, the band’s alright, but it’s REM sleep that excites me right now…

	You see, three out of four dogs in this house are experiencing tummy problems. Every 20 minutes or so, someone needs to go outside. DAY AND NIGHT. Sometime between 3 and 4am I just left the back door open. I might need to invest in a doggie door. TMI? Sorry. I’m just so sleepy. Next…!
	This is a still shot from a teaser for the local news last night. I think it’s me! Blonde hair, big sunglasses, Jeep, on an Austin freeway. I wonder how many other people fit that description around here. Next…!
	Now that I’ve finally finished knitting all of the samples for my knitting classes in March, I can finally do some of my own knitting again. Sad, really…I’m close to finishing this little sweater, and it’s supposed to be 92 degrees today. But I’m pretty sure that I’ll still like pink angora next winter. Next…!
	This is my favorite self-portrait from this week. I’m holding Ike in a “native carry”, the traditional way of carrying Basenjis in Africa. I love the expression on his face. So content. Next…!
	A dog bed, three toys, and the television remote control. Will the madness ever end? Have a great weekend! (I’m off to take a nap!)

Anne Boleyn (my knitwear stunt-double) normally wears a long-sleeved black tshirt to model knitwear, but today…

	She’s dressed for spring. This is Soleil, a free pattern from knitty.com.
	I made this for a knit-along/class at The Knitting Nest later this month. It is knit with N.Y. Cotton, a new yarn from Stacy Charles.
	I really like it. Maybe someday Anne will actually let me wear it.
	Hmm… Moments before this photo was taken, I was sleeping in this bed with these dogs. I don’t know how. See where my pillow is? Somehow, my body fit. Dog pile on Staci!

Verypink is your only source for fast-topic-changing Fridays. I think.

It has been abundantly clear over the last several posts that I am dogsitting Gus and Lou while Chris is traveling for work, making the doggie to human ratio in this house 4-to-1. I’ve been trying to shake things up and keep the posts about things other than canines. It hasn’t been easy.

As much as I adore these dogs and love having them here with me, it’s a bit overwhelming. Most of my days are spent feeding, walking, moving beds, picking up toys, opening doors, giving medicines, playing – the list goes on. When I do get a chance to sit down, there is never any place left for me to sit.

Today I’m NOT going to try as hard to keep the doggie content down. Because that’s what’s really going on here.

	Shiny. Next…!
	There has been one bedroom of my house that I have ignored since I bought the place. I only opened the door long enough to throw something in. I decided it was time to make it a proper spare room. If you want to know why I’m wearing a face mask, you’ll have to visit my flickr page.
	After I cleared out the room, I was still feeling motivated, so I scraped the tacky popcorn texture off the ceiling. I threw the dogs’ beds on the floor, satisfied with a good day’s work.
	But I was high-on-life or something, because once the popcorn was removed, I decided to go ahead and repair the holes in the walls. Then, surprisingly, I still had energy to buy paint and slap some up.
	The next day I put two coats of paint on the ceiling. I might have overdone it…my shoulders are so sore that I’m unable to raise my arms above my head. But now the room is clean, fresh, and green!
	And so is this dog. Next…!
	Every now and then, they actually use their dog beds so that I can sit on the human furniture. Have a great weekend!

I was only in my office for FIVE MINUTES checking email, and I missed the party.

Of course, I was the only one willing to clean up when it was over. Sofa cushions everywhere. Beds upturned. If they were human, it would have been beer bottles and cigarette butts.

Good thing Gus tattled on them before it got any wilder.

Watch it.

Welcome to the second-ever, fast-topic-changing MONDAY. Can I take your coat?

	Interweave Knits is running a knitting poetry contest, and Stacy was kind enough to enter me on the sly. This is my entry. Grand prize – your poem knit into a pair of mittens. (A grand prize only a knitter would love.) Next…!
	Finished Booga Bag, knit up for a class sample. These are so fun to make, but I think I ruined my washing machine when I felted it. Uh oh. Details on The Rav. Next…!
	I need to be a “Lost” nerd for a moment. The phone call scene with Desmond and Penny was so great! Did anyone else cry and laugh and rewind it 27 times? If there is a Team Desmond, I want to join. Next…!
	Current WIP: Soleil. This is also for an upcoming class. Please note: even Master Knitters make bonehead, amateur mistakes. I was over an inch into this when I realized that the whole thing was twisted on my circular needles. Don’t tell anyone. Next…!
	This is my favorite self-portrait from last week, because I was so lucky. 1. I knew I only had one or two attempts at this before Lou got tired of me carrying him back and forth to the tripod to set the self-timer. 2. The other three dogs walked into the shot! 3. I didn’t make a totally goofy face with my tongue hanging out or anything! Have a great week!