Whiskey’s Forever Home

You gotta love it when things go even better than expected.

Whiskey, my foster dog since early December, went to his new home on Friday. Here he is with his new sister, Domino, a beautiful Basenji/Border Collie Mix. The weather was perfect, so the dogs got to tear around the backyard to get acquainted.

Whiskey’s new mama, Patty, has been looking for a new friend for both herself and Domino. She lost her Jack Russel Terrier a few months back, and Domino has missed him terribly. Some dogs were never meant to be only-dogs. Whiskey is the same way.

Whiskey has a lot to learn from Domino. Because she’s half Border Collie, she is much more responsive to commands than any purebred Basenji I’ve ever seen. This is also because Patty is really good with dogs. She adores them, but she also doesn’t take any BS. I like her style.

Letting go of a foster is tough, but it’s so much easier when I know the placement is good, and the dog is going to get all of the love and guidance they need and deserve.

Patty said to Whiskey that day, “You’re moving from Basenji Disneyland (aka my house) to Basenji Disneyworld!”. Perfect.

I spoke with Patty on the phone yesterday, and Whiskey has settled into her home faster than we ever expected. He and Domino have very similar energy levels, so they play and play until they both pass out on the sofa. Patty said that Domino has broken out of her depression, and is finally a happy dog again.

Whiskey is a lucky dog to have his two new ladies, Patty and Domino, so in love with him. I’m a lucky foster mom to watch my little guy start such a happy new life.

Best of luck and XOXO to Patty, Domino, and Whiskey!

That New Puppy Smell

Wendy H. is a Basenji Rescue coordinator here in Austin. I went to her house yesterday to drop off some extra doggie supplies I had here. And to smell some puppies.

Wendy is fostering this mama Basenji, named Basil, and her puppies. When Wendy picked up Basil to start fostering her, Basil was very pregnant, and actually started having puppies IN THE CAR, on the way home. She had 6 puppies total, and all six survived! They are now just over 5 weeks old.

Basil has turned out to be a great mama, and a sweet Basenji. Wendy has already found a forever home for Basil once she’s finished feeding and training her babies.

I’m sure this goes without saying. They are insanely cute.

These puppies are half Basenji, half some other breed. I don’t think paternity has been 100% determined. It’s hard to say how they will look yet, since they’re still in that flop-eared piglet stage. Regardless, they will be available for adoption once they are old enough to go to their forever homes.

If you’re interested in adopting a puppy (especially if you live in Texas), let me know, and I can get you in touch with Wendy. Or you can watch the Basenji Rescue website for more information.

Lucky 13

Happy 13th birthday to Ike! Handsome as ever.

I got Ike when he was still a puppy, which means we have a long history together. He has a lot of responsibility here at Verypink Headquarters, as he’s the Alpha Dog and in charge of keeping the other dogs in-line. Unfortunately, he’s the laziest Alpha EVER, and he’s cool with allowing a lot of shenanigans to go on under his watchful eye.

I believe he plans to spend his birthday the same way he has spent the morning so far –

One long nap, with breaks to eat and go for walkies.

Interesting note about Basenjis – because they are primitive dogs, the females only go into heat once a year, all at about the same time. The result is that Basenjis are born in December and January, with few exceptions. Ike’s birthday is one of the last Basenji birthdays of the season.

Happy Birthday to my Munky!

Learn to Knit Socks

Learn by watching!
1. Get your pattern – $8.00 US via PayPal

2. Get your yarn and needles – worsted weight yarn and size 5 US double-pointed needles.

3. Get your knit on – the pattern references the videos below to get you through the tricky parts. (You must have an internet connection to view the videos.)

Video 1 – Working with double-pointed needles and starting the cuff.

Video 2 – Dividing for the heel flap and knitting the heel flap.

Video 3 – Turning the heel.

Video 4 – Working the gusset.

Video 5 – Toe shaping.

Video 6 – Kitchener stitch (grafting the toe).

Learn to Knit Fair Isle – Baby or Adult Cap

Learn the tricks of working fair isle colorwork in this quick-knit cap; including using circular needles, chart reading, keeping good tension, and using double-pointed needles. Pattern includes links to three instructional videos to get you through the tricky parts.

Sizes: Baby size – about 14” around (stretches to about 16”), Adult size – about 18” around (stretches to about 22”)

Materials Needed:
• Yarn: Two colors of worsted-weight yarn, Cascade 220 or Cascade 220 Superwash are perfect. Less than 60 grams of main color for either size hat, and less than 15 of contrasting color.
• Needles: Size 7 US 16” circular needles and size 7 US double-pointed needles
• Additional Materials: stitch marker, tapestry needle
• Gauge: 5.5 sts/inch

Pattern + links to three instructional videos is $6.00 via PayPal.

Learn to Knit a Christmas Stocking

Hand knit Christmas Stockings are perfectly awesome on their own…but when you think about it, they’re just big socks, right? When you learn the techniques of making a stocking, you’re also learning what you need to know to follow any cuff-down sock pattern! That’s why I’m offering this as a video lesson.

In this lesson, you will learn:
• working in-the-round on circular and double-pointed needles
• changing yarn colors
• sock basics, like working a heel flap, turning the heel, gusset decreases
• duplicate stitch embroidery on your finished stocking

Materials Needed:
• About 200 yards of worsted weight yarn (the samples are knit with Wool-Ease in green and cream or red and cream)
• Size 7 US needles 16” circular needles, size 7 US double-pointed needles
• 3 stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scrap yarn for embroidery (optional)
• Gauge – 4.5 stitches/1 inch

This pattern is available in three different formats, each includes links to 7-part video tutorial:

1. PDF Pattern, traditional and printable. $8.00 via PayPal

2. Amazon Kindle digital download (suitable for Kindle devices and devices that use the Kindle app): $6.00 US.

3. eReader (For non-Kindle eReaders, like Sony eReader and Barnes & Noble Nook, or any device using the Google Play Books app) $6.72 US