16 years ago by s t a c i

Shake It Like a Polaroid

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

We Are Here! We Are Here!

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.

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16 years ago by s t a c i

Oh – I Knit This, Too.

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

A Piece of My Heart

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.

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16 years ago by s t a c i

Hail to the Chief

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

Crazy, Indeed

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

At Least MY Ike is Calm.

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

As if We Were Both Quite Insane

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

Wigs and Haberdashery

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!

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16 years ago by s t a c i

The Reject Pile

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.

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