Welcome Home, Blue-Eyed Rottweiler Mix Rescue Puppy!

The title speaks for itself! Take a look at those baby blue eyes on this Rottweiler mix rescue from the SPCA. He’s 7 lbs and fluffy and we named him Roscoe after Rosco P. Coltrane for those of you who are old enough to get the TV reference. 10-4 little buddy! We’re in love.

Blue eyed Rottweiler puppy

We were told 5 pups were dumped on a cardboard box and approximately 5-6 weeks old. The shelter thought they might be Rottweiler mixed with German Shepherd, but we’re thinking we got a Husky disguised as a Rottweiler — he’s so fluffy, he’s like a little bear.

Rescued Rottweiler puppy likes his new home

My first knit dog sweater – a turtleneck for our boxer who is always chilly!

I had so much fun altering a basic knit dog sweater pattern for our boxer’s deep chest and long neck. It’s been a while since I knitted this, though, and even though I wrote down the changes, I’m worried I won’t be able to do it again – oh well, the fun is in trying, right?! Learning to enjoy the process as much as the product.

Knit dog turtleneck sweater ​for a boxer!
Knit dog turtleneck sweater for a boxer!
Knit dog turtleneck sweater ​for a boxer!

The pattern I based mine from is the Bernat Knit Dog Coat.

If you’re on Ravelry, let’s connect!

Puppies in Ties

So cute. Pepper is growing HUGE very quickly. She also seems to be hungry ALL of the time. I think we may have adopted a puppy great dane by mistake.

A Hair Raising Mess!

I am tired. It’s 1:36. I am not holding out much hope for the rest of the day. I got to the gym and ran for an hour and then Costco…and my visiting teachers were waiting for me when I got home. No biggie, right? Right. This means that I did not have time to come in and vacuum up dog hair that collects daily in our entryway because of the white, smooth tile. Plus, she has taken to the floral couch (one we brought from Omaha) as her bed and lays in the formal room off the entryway while we’re gone. Today she went the extra mile and ate a bag of Orowheat Potato Bread in the formal room and left evidence. Dumb dog. She should at least know to eat the evidence, too. So, I kindly invited the sweet sisters in and mentioned they may want to sit on the other couch as it doesn’t have dog hair on it. One sister – pregnant with her 6th kid – was unfazed. She knows the territory. The other sister reminded me of myself when I was young and only had 2 kids (well, she’s much prettier, but you get my drift). She kept trying to brush her baby’s hands after he crawled on the carpet. Really it wasn’t that bad, but…I could do nothing about it. Well, I could have gotten up and vacuumed with my Dyson Animal but that would have been rude. Poor thing, I could tell she was really stressed about it. It was all I could do to offer her to let her children wash their hands on their way out. She accepted. I was humiliated but then reminded myself – just wait until she has 4 kids (may she be blessed with 3 more boys and a dog). And now I cannot bring myself to touch the vacuum. On principle.

PBS Dog & Cat Photo Contest

We happened to watch PBS’ Nature: Dogs & Cats the other night and it was really, really good. Though I did have to convince Cole that, NO, we don’t need a bloodhound (though Holly in the show was pretty darn cute). We also liked listening to the trainer with the English accent scream at her dogs, “Don’t you dare!” Great stuff. Better than regular television by far. So, I was surprised to find an email waiting for me in my in-box the next morning regarding a PBS photo contest for dogs and cats where you can win a dvd of the show for yourself – not bad! Go here for information if you’re interested & good luck!

Warm Heart, Cold Weather

I had just finished a new Everlast: Strike class at the gym and needed to get milk at the grocery store. I love Baker’s because of the Manager’s Special milk. Anyway, there are two boys who work there with Downs Syndrome who bag groceries and help you to your car. I frequent the store enough that I’ve been helped by them at least a few times. I’m ashamed to say I still do not know their names. Well, today I was standing there, holding a very heavy Ben, with my hair still half wet from showering at the gym – no coat – just a sweatshirt and the weather was plummeting into the single digits with extreme wind and snow pellets. I was freezing cold but it didn’t bother me at all because of what I was saw: one of those divine moments when you witness the Lord’s hand in everyday details. I happened to have Daisy, our chocolate lab, with me in the car today because while I was at the gym, somebody was going through our house that is for sale. I asked the bag boy if he was afraid of dogs and he said that he wasn’t. Well, when the car door opened and he started loading groceries, she kissed him and when he was done he stood in the car door and hugged and kissed that dog and told her that he loved her for the longest time. It was really touching. There was no pretense, no social mores or taboo, he just kissed that dog right on the snout. I was freezing, holding Ben, and my heart was so warm that the cold didn’t bother me a bit. I can see why dogs are so therapeutic to us all – it just took a very special bag boy to help me remember that.

Dog Collar Contest Winner

Silver spoons! Who’d a thunk it? Very nice and perfect for elegant breeds. Check out the design and fabrication from Junk Market’s website here.

Making Felted Wool Hand Puppets!

These turned out so cute. The first one took about 4 hours because I’m inept at sewing, really inept is giving it a positive spin. The second one only took about an hour because I had figured it out and knew what I was doing! I can’t wait to make more. I hunted for pink wool to felt at Goodwill today so that I could make the pink mouths like in the book Warm Fuzzies by Betz White which can be purchased from Amazon here. The boys have loved these and now I’m in love with felted wool projects. NO finished edges – I can handle that! We named the first one, Gus – he’s got the red nose. The second one is named Lucy. They’re coming to church with us tomorrow.

I Love My Dog(s)

Okay, so only one of them is mine. The jumping dog is Marcie (our neighbor’s dog is named after the Snoopy character). We kind of claim her, too, as Cole has taken care of her almost daily since she was just a puppy. Daisy: I do love her. Even if I didn’t touch her for the entire 9 months of my last pregnancy and she has now been banned from the master bedroom since my allergies flared (with said pregnancy). I do know that she is spoiled, however, because other dogs are not even allowed in the house (gasp!). Perfectly beautiful dogs. I do not think I will ever have enough restraint to enforce that. I am a doormat for dogs. Daisy spent the weekend frolicking in the wild and when I was getting ready for my run this morning – with baby and stroller and happy to go sans dog – she looked at me so expectantly that I gave in almost instantaneously. I couldn’t help it. She was so perfectly excited for the run that I was not nearly as excited for – I could not deny her.

I put the pic of Jack in. He’s not a dog but I love him, too (just in case any of you wondered about that!).

Muttropolis – Online Utopia for Dogs

muttropolis

So I was reading Entrepreneur magazine (no worries about my actually achieving anything, I’m so behind it was the Sep ’07 issue) – anyway, I saw this great article about someone who had developed Muttropolis stores and was successful. I just loved the name and had to check it out and share with all my other pooch pals out there.

The Highlighter Cabin

I heart Mike and Julie. We just enjoyed the best weekend! Big thanks to our friendly neighbors who took us up to their Highlighter Cabin. The kids had so much fun packed into one day and two nights that they’ve ever had. It might as well have been Club Med or a spa for me because Julie planned and cooked every meal and provided paper and plastic utensils so there was no cleanup. You heard me right. I felt like I had signed up for the best vacation ever. AND we got to take the dog. NO kidding.

Ben spent most of the time playing with Marcie and her kennel.

Cole had his first tubing experience! We loved their 1971 boat (we are such boat newbies).

The cutest little “island” in the middle of the lake where we played in the sand for hours!

Gabe had the most fish caught – at least 11 and I wasn’t keeping track! He had bluegill, crappie, catfish, largemouth bass and a white bass. I think. Very nice casting skills for a 7 year old!

Jack caught his first fish or two – including the cutest catfish. I say they’re cute while they’re kittenfish but when they get to be catfish…ugly!

Not to be outdone by his boys (cough cough), Don had a little fun fishing as well…THANKS, MIKE & JULIE (and Marcie the dog)! WE HAD A BLAST. Call me if you need some Prozac. I don’t actually have any but I could probably talk you down off the ledge.