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!