A Good Friday Night

We had a great Friday night.  Bruce & I competed in an APDT rally trial Friday night.  We got qualifying scores in 3 out of 4 runs.  He did really well -- not a peep out of him in his crate and he actually visited with some people.  Here are his ribbons:  (As I've stated before, he's secure enough in his masculinity to be proud of his pink ribbon.)

 

What are his ribbons posing on, you ask?  (Shush -- its my blog and if I wanted to pretend that you noticed the knitted item under the ribbons, I will. So there.)

Why its the Autumn Mystery Shawl -- FINALLY off the needles.  I bound off between runs last night.  The last skein of yarn showed up on Wednesday, but I just didn't have the time or the patience to work on the shawl until Friday night. It isn't blocked yet, nor have I woven in the ends, but I just had to share! 

I took these pictures, standing on the couch, with one foot on the edge of the coffee table (white splotch in the corner of the picture) for balance.  It takes up the entire coffee table right now.  It is going to be HUGE once its blocked.

 

 Look at how dense the fabric is now... anybody want to block it for me?  I've got pins and wires and a hatred of wet wool..

Happy New Year

I forgot where I heard this, but it has stuck with me for years:

Whatever you do New Years Day is what you will be doing all year.

I try to make sure that I don't do anything crazy and try to avoid as much stress as possible on New Years Day. This year was no different.

I started with a lazy morning in bed, hanging out with the husband and the dogs and watching some TV. Then after a quick shower, enjoyed a snowy romp with the dogs (sorry no pictures). Then I settled down to work on my first goal of the new year.

I try not to have resolutions, because I inevitably don't keep them and always feel annoyed and guilty at the end of the year. I've come up with a few personal goals:

1. Show Bruce in conformation. This is HUGE for me because Bruce is rather shy and had some bad experience going out in public; I didn't think that we'd ever end up back in the show ring. We spent the last 18 months working on building our confidence and working through his issues. And there's been some great successes. Bruce now has is Rally Novice title from AKC and his Rally Level 1 title from APDT. We're going to continue competing in Rally and get a couple of conformation shows for practice. The big thing is showing him at the National Mastiff Specialty in May of this year.


2. Move forward on moving plans. It is pretty obvious from the title of this blog that there should be some sort of acreage in our lives, but there isn't. We live in suburbia outside of Chicago. Our plan was to be in the house for 2-3 years, updating it and then selling it and moving west onto a couple of acres. Somewhere along the line a lot of our projects stalled. I had hoped to breed Lizzie this spring, but I don't want to do that while we live here. Nor do I want to move while she's pregnant or if there are puppies on the ground. So, The Husband and I need to come up with some sort of plan to try and get us out of here in time for the spring of 2009, or even better fall of 2008.

I think that's plenty, don't you? Because I also have knitting fiber goals:

1. Finish my Autumn Mystery Shawl (Ravelry)


2. Learn the basics of crochet - several patterns that I'd like to do require a provisional cast-on -- using a crochet chain.


3. Knit a pair of socks - see if I can figure out why they are so addictive. (And I received some incentive yarn...)


4. Use my drop-spindle kit - I picked up a beginners kit at a fiber fair and some roving at Stitches and I still haven't used it.


5. Finish needle felted penguin - I got a kit at a fiber fair and started working on it, but right now he's only a body. I should just finish it.


6. Finish felted ball for puppies - I got a kit off of etsy (blogged here) and haven't actually used it yet. I think felted toys might actually survive the dogs, and this will be the test subject.


7. Stop joining KALs and Mystery projects that I can't keep up with. Seriously, I'm still not finished with the first mystery project (see #1 above) I joined, have not knit a stitch for Mystic Waters, and then Spring Fling started today. I may join to get the patterns, but I am not holding myself to any obligation to keep up with the KAL.


8. Keep up with the Year Long Gift-Along and A Loose Knit Group -- I've got so many ideas for gifts and things I want to knit but I get a little overwhelmed. This way, I keep things manageable and don't make things that won't get used.

Seems doable doesn't it? What are your plans for 2008?

The Husband and I finishing up the day watching a Dirty Jobs marathon and cuddling puppies. I did work on finishing the Autumn Mystery Shawl and the results don't bode well for the rest of 2008. I went to sleep last night with about 8 rows left to knit and then bind off. I ran out of yarn today with 3/4 of row left to knit and then bind off. My mind raced through all the possible options and finally decided to just order more yarn. I really like the color way and I'm sure I'll be able to find something else to make with the rest of the skein. But what does it mean for the rest of 2008? I don't want to think too much about it. So, instead I'm going to go back to cuddling and play on our favorite Christmas gift -- a PlayStation 3. I hear Ratchet & Clank calling our names.

I hope you spent your New Years Day with people (and animals) you love, doing something to love. We here wish you good health, much happiness and uninteresting times* for 2008.

* Wikipedia on "May you live in interesting times."

Pegasus Country's Scottish King, RN, RL1

Yup -- more stuff on the end of Bruce's name.

Thanks to everybody for the good vibes and keep 'em coming - same time tomorrow.

Bruce qualified for both of his runs today. Giving him the three legs he needed for his APDT Rally Level 1 title.

I am so proud of my handsome silly boy. There's was a professional photographer, so we got a great picture of my handsome boy. It should be here in about 2 weeks and I'll be sure to scan it and share it with all of you. :D

etsy Friday -- Delayed due to Rally

Sorry -- etsy Friday is being delayed again due to Rally. But do check back -- I got lots of good stuff.

Bruce and I are competing again tomorrow and Sunday. I hope to get his Level 1 title in APDT rally this weekend.

Ring times are around 8:30 and 11:30 am both days. (Yup, we get 2 tries each day.)

So if you're awake, send good vibes our way.

Bruce says thanks and that his ribbons from the last Rally session came in the mail today and that he'll post pictures tomorrow. (He's a dog and doesn't know about run-on sentances.)

Another Leg!

Today was Bruce's first time in Rally Advanced in an actual trial setting. The exercises are a little harder, but the biggest differences are a jump and that its all done off-leash. Bruce & I were the last to go. The first few stations he wandered off, but he slowly figured out that there was no leash, and got concerned that he wasn't attached to me so he did a lot better. We had to redo a few exercises but I thought he did well considering all the distractions at the trial. I had no hopes of qualifying, but the judge thought different. He got a 72 out of 100 which while not the greatest score was still over 70 points needed to qualify! So, Bruce has his Rally Novice title (RN) and the first of three legs for his Rally Advanced title.

Thanks to everybody who send good thoughts and prayers our way! A special thanks to Jen of Piddleloop for her great cheers.

Bruce would've posted himself, but he's too busy celebrating in his favorite way:

Pegasus Country's Scottish King, RN

Home from Rally and feeling on Cloud 9!

Bruce got the third leg of his Rally Novice title (hence the RN at the end of his name) today! With his highest qualifying score ever!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so proud of him I could just burst!

Thank you Jen for being his personal cheerleader -- I'm sure it helped.

Please keep the good thoughts coming tomorrow -- from 10:05 am through lunch (I have no idea what time we'll go in the ring...) We're doing Rally Advance and its all off leash. This should be interesting. LOL

etsy Friday - Delayed due to Rally

Sorry folks, etsy Friday will be delayed until Saturday or even Sunday...

This weekend Bruce & I are going to try and get his Rally Novice title through the AKC. There's a "correction" clinic tonight -- basically practice -- and then a real course Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.

So think good thoughts around 7pm tonight, and 1:30ish Saturday and Sunday. Bruce & I need all the help we can get.

Introducing the "Fur Kids"

Everybody I meet is always curious about my dogs. The Husband and I share our lives with three Mastiffs and one Eurasier.

Our Mastiffs generally lay around in a clump.

From left to right -- Lizzie, Bruce and Morganna

Bruce is the oldest at 3 years and 5 months old. We used to show him in conformation, but stopped for two reasons. One, he's physically immature (we're hoping he'll fill out soon) and two, he's a big scaredy cat. We started doing Rally-O to build his confidence. This summer, we began competing in AKC Rally -- he has two legs towards his Rally Novice title. Isn't he handsome:


Lizzie is my blessing. She is the sweetest things on four legs. Lizzie is a TDI Therapy dog and has her CGC. She's also got two points towards her conformation title. We hope that one day in the next year, she will become the foundation of Pantheon Acres kennels. She just turned two and will go for her health tests next month. Her cutest quirk is that she loves to carry a toy in her mouth -- I keep saying she's really a lab in a Mastiff costume. (Bruce is Lizzie's Uncle -- his litter mate is Lizzie's sire.)


Morganna is the baby of the family at 11 months old. She is most definitely daddy's girl but you've got to wonder if she's got him wrapped around her paw or if he's got her wrapped around her finger. I keep trying to convince him to take her into the show ring, because she shows nicely for me, but I think she'd be amazing showing off with her daddy. Ain't she the cutest? (Bruce is her half-Uncle. He and her mom have the same dad, but different mothers.)


Last but definitely not leas is our Eurasier -- Tyler. Eurasiers are a rare breed. You can get more information here: USEC. Tyler is doesn't compete because he's neutered. We neutered him because of his conformation faults. Also, at 2 years old, Tyler was diagnosed with a thyroid problem. It seems to affect his memory and his attention span, but he's still a happy and fun puppy to have around. He's three weeks younger than Bruce. Here's Mr. Fuzzy Pants:


These dogs have brought so much joy into our lives. We've traveled around the US and into Canada. We've met wonderful people in person and via the Internet. Every day I'm so thankful for each and every one of them.

Puppy Pictures

I know you've been lurking hoping to catch a small glimpse of my "giant" dogs.

Here's Bruce as a baby


And here's baby Lizzie:


And Mr. Fuzzy Pants:


These pictures are old. Bruce and Tyler are now 3.5 years old and Lizzie is 2 years old today. I have to upload more pictures from a different hard-drive.

Wish us luck -- Bruce & Lizzie are both competing in Rally trials this weekend.

Wednesday are for Bruce Class

Bruce & I are going to Rally class again tonight. (No, silly Bruce isn't The Husband, he's a Mastiff.) Plus, I'm fixing my pictures so that I can add them to Ravelry.

So for today, I leave you with two things to ponder:

1. Why is it impossible to find a place with a comfortable temperature in the summer? If there's no AC, you're sweltering, but if there is AC, chances are the room is so cold you can see your breath.

2. Ever have a smell trigger a long forgotten memory? Walking to the bus stop after work, I got a whiff of a unpleasant, yet familiar smell. It took a minute, but then I placed the smell...it was the same smell that hung in my nose for days when we were dissecting frogs in bio class in high school.

Wednesdays are for Rally

Tonight Bruce and I are off to our weekly Rally class. Its great because it gets him out and about and keeps his mind active. Most people think that Mastiffs aren't very smart, but you'd be surprised. Bruce has such a great time going through the course (and getting treats) and you can see him try to figure out new stations on the course.

For the uninitiated, Rally was started by APDT and picked up by the AKC. It is supposed to be a bridge into obedience, but I think that the actual exercises are harder in Rally. You're allowed to talk and encourage your dog during a trial and you have to keep a loose lead through the course. There's no harsh corrections -- even verbal -- or else you you could be disqualified.

My dream is for Bruce & I to get high in trial at the National Specialty next May. (If you're gonna dream, dream big!)

I did get some yarn and etsy purchases in the mail today. I also managed to take pictures, but I'm on the clock, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow. I did get a couple of patterns to and I'm eager to cast on for all of them. But I'll be good and finish my Sproingy Scarf.

Which patterns you ask? The Baltic Sea Stole by Fiber Trends, Dragonscale Scarf by Bad Cat Designs, and last but certainly not least, Storm Water Scarf/Stole.