Another mermaid coming! Christmas is over, but the New Year is around the corner!

ANOTHER MERMAID 

This little mermaid loves pink, so I am trying my hand at yet another one. I will be mailing off the first one next Monday or Tuesday along with some things I made for my niece.

You can see the container I use for the yarn. I had to find something my tall, nosy puppies could not stick their head into. Works pretty well as long as I remember to close it when I leave the room (and stick in the project into the container!). It's a dog food container with wheels.

I finally decided to take the time to fix my counter height chair that was so rocky you could not sit on it.

I had to find some "specialty" tools to tighten all the various screws. ALL of them were loose.

Then I found that one of those holding the seat to the legs was on a walkabout! The hole meant for it had been drilled incorrectly which is why it wiggled out. I found my drill bit and cleaned it out to make it wider, thereby accepting the new screw.

Had to hunt down some of the pieces as I ended up putting them in various places as I moved around the dining room. Sheesh! 

Once completed, I put all the pieces back together, having to "ad-lib" the one that I "fixed" because there was no "inside" that the other three had. Needed a longer screw, and all the accouterments to attach it to the seat.

I received several wonderful gifts, but special mention goes to my daughter-in-law, Julie, who makes jewelry. I can't remember all the gems, but she has made several pieces in this style for me. My favorite are the pink pearls! I love these, though, too!

Julie sells her 18K gold jewelry in what they call "trunk shows." She sells at Neiman Marcus and visits about three or four places each year. Hard work and must be exhausting to fly around so much. My step-son does travel with her occasionally.

Hope your Christmas/Holiday has been a happy one!

MY LITTLE MERMAID

MERMAID AFGHAN 

My niece mentioned that mermaid afghans for the four children would be appreciated. I wasn't sure that it was something I could pull off with my carpal tunnel, so did quite a bit of searching for patterns. It took me a few weeks to come up with what I wanted to do. I did like the crocodile stitch look best, but since it is a LOT of post stitches, I knew I would be incapacitated after half way with the first one.

I decided to do a stitch I liked well enough, but the pattern had you start at the bottom and go up, which the way I saw it, made the "scales" going up the wrong way.  Plus the pattern did not have a children's size. The next pattern did not have the stitch I liked, but did have a child's size. Didn't like the tail, either.  Then the third one had the crocodile pattern.

After much contemplation I went ahead with starting at the top with the stitch I liked. I wasn't sure about the width, but since it would be open I felt that however large it would be okay as this was a 10 month old and she would not know the difference! LOL!

This is the bottom before I attached the fin/tail.

Then I discovered after all that planning I ended up putting it on wrong. The opening was to be at the back.  I had to search to find the yarn that I had used to attach it to the bottom so I could detach it! Yikes

At the time I started it I had a hard time making the stitch correctly that I liked so well. Eventually I had it figured out so the top portion is a little different, but looks okay. You can see if you click on the photo. The very top rows are in line with the body, but the ones below in blue are not. 

It took some pulling, but yay! I found it yarn that hooked the two together.

Took that baby out and resewed it.

I love the way it turned out….with the exception of some of the top stitching that was an experiment. Still, it's for a baby so will go unnoticed by her. Just have to keep my fingers crossed she can be put in it! Tried to make the bottom portion a little roomier for her toes.

CHRISTMAS IS OVER, BUT HEARTS SHOULD STILL BE EXCITED FOR THE NEW YEAR AND THE PROMISES IT HOLDS!!!   

JOY TO ALL!!

🎉 🎉 🎉

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !!!!!

…and happy everything!! I can't remember how to spell it all, but wishing everyone a special holiday season.

I put a tree on my front porch. With the dogs I didn't want a huge accident! I trapped Santa inside my house, so if you didn't get any presents you know why!

I did put up a small tree on the little card table. Just right!

My prizes for being a good girl this year! Little doggie ornaments, one for each pup with their name on there.

Wishing you the most joyous time of the year!

Projects

ANNIVERSARY  LACE  SHAWL

This is a better photo than from a previous blog thread.  I don't block my shawls as I am really not fond of wearing lace. It isn't war in this climate. Although beautiful, to me not practical.  I gave this to my DSD for Christmas along with the purple/yellow one. If she likes it opened up, she can do it! LOL!

SUNSET ON THE BUTTE

This is the finished shawl in purple/yellow. Will make it again in a different color, same yarn. Love the way this turned out! Wish yellow had been my color. This is more her colors.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Life in the land of dogs

Went to the doctor's

On Wednesday I drove 4.5 hours to Portland for my CT scan on my lower back to see if the lumbar fusion had moved or if they could detect what is causing the continued pain. The next morning I had an EMG and then saw the doctor.

As it turns out no one knows what it is. Their "best guess" is I am healing slowly, I have a small amount of permanent damage to the nerves (numb areas in my legs and feet), and/or they could do exploratory surgery to see if they can 'see' anything.  

I opted to go home.  See the black marks? Those are where he had to jolt my legs on the EMG.

I have no idea what the numbers mean. It was all very interesting. Not as painful as the first time I had it done about 3 years ago. Might be because there is more numbness, i.e. more damage.

The nice doc said to add ibuprofen to my pain pill regime. I find that he is right..it helps and makes life more bearable.  Plus bikini underwear! LOL! Having the elastic around the waist puts undue pressure on my back surgical area. If it weren't so chilly, I'd be wearing dresses…the old fashion/new fashion kind that are baggy all the way down!

Bad photo, but have been working on this mermaid "afghan" tail for my 10 month old grandniece.  I'm down to the tail area now.  Took me awhile to figure out how to do a nice "scale" as didn't like then ones in the patterns. She will never know! Ha!

Below are photos of the glass cases the specialty surgeons at a emergency vet clinic in Poulsbo, WA had on their wall.  Will post more on another day.  These items are what they had to surgically remove from the stomachs and/or bowels of dogs who ate them.  I wonder how many rocks my dogs have eaten and if they dissolve. I'm getting paranoid!!

Above, that mess on the right is a slipper shoe. 

Above Coco in bag and Ginger in front. So serious looking always. The only time they seem to be smiling is while casing each other or the other two dogs in the back yard with their tongues hanging out gleefully! Ginger is about as tall as Riley (he is 1y 2m, she is 8m). They make Coco look tiny, but she is tall enough for me to scratch her head without bending over!

Don't let their innocent faces fool you….they do love to rip apart carpets, rugs, shoes, toys, beds, decks, steps, trees, bushes, Sweetpeas (that was scary!), grass - even garden fencing. It's amazing to say the least!

Then, of course, there are the blankets that mysteriously wander off into the yard through the doggie door!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! Blessings!

The End

Anniversary Lace Shawl

MAGGIE

I dreamed of Maggie last night. It was super super real…she came back to visit me knowing how much I missed her.  Another pup came with her but went in another room. She was a really neat dog…did get nippy in her old age, protecting me, but still…what a wonderful companion.

ANNIVERSARY LACE SHAWL

Not the sort of photo one would normally post to show off a shawl! LOL! I was only trying to capture the colors in this one…not that it did.

I plan on posting another one with the completed border. I"m only a few hours away….was going for a longer border until I realized it was going to be way too long. Too much fabric in front (kerchief style) is too large an addition to my already large additions! After all is said and done, I may need to find a recipient for the shawl.

COCO PUFF

She is the darker of the two girls. She has found she loves to stand up on the couch, lean on the back, and watch the goings on when the others are playing on the deck.  The two girls will be 6 months old on the 14th of October. Ginger weighs 67 pounds and Coco weighs 63.

🎃😈🎃

Fingerless Mitts, Doral Wristlets

Malabrigo Arroyo Fingerless Gloves

I ended up making these shorter, but also made the wrist band and top border slightly wider.  I also left an area on the side to use as a thumb hole, rather than have them just hanging on the wrist with no support.

I like this size as they don't get in the way, are easy to get on and off, and actually add warmth.

My brother gave me some seeds for my birthday (my request) and the Cosmos and California Poppies are just getting around to blooming. We have had a cold gloomy summer so they had a late start.

I love the two colors together. Just received some tulips he bought, too! This was a great birthday and Christmas because he gave me Day Lilies as well as some Iris. My garden is looking very scrumptious! 

Puppies, puppies, puppies!

DOGS, OH MY!

My two new puppies are double trouble for sure. Riley is not a year yet, so he is still a puppy, and that makes three with which to contend!

Riley at 10 months

Brodie is 4  years old and unhappy I brought in two girls that take up Riley's time. He pouts a lot, poor sweet soul. Misses being rambunctious with Riley (who loves the new harem!).

This is Coco. She was born third in the litter. Her coat has a more light beige pattern in her Brindle, but still has some of the bronze/orange look to it. This photo makes her look more yellow. She is definitely mostly dark brown with beige and orange highlights

This is Ginger. Her front legs and over-all look is quite orangish. She is taller than Coco and I think she is going to be as large if not larger than Riley. Her feet are already as large as his, and she weighs more at this age than he did. She was the first born in the litter.

This is Coco. She LOVES getting up in chairs!

I am able to get the dogs to sit for their cookie when they come in the house. The second burgundy pad is for Riley who is a drooler when he sees food! Other than that, he doesn't drool at all. The three pups are 1/2 English Mastiff and 1/2 Lab (I think the girls have a little more Lab and a little less Mastiff). They also barely shed, white Brodie sheds little six Lab's! He is 1/4 each Labrador, Bull Mastiff, Boxer, and Husky. Looks like a giant Lab.

And here we have Coco who finally made it into the chair with me! She has been trying so hard, several times a day, to be a lap dog.  

We are working on a KAL in my group on Ravelry.  It isn't a hard knit if you know a little more than garter stitch (which it is mostly). It is called Nazul Night Shawl. It's a two month KAL.

Well, now we all here at the Fry Funny Fuzzy Farm will be nap dogs & person! I didn't sleep well last night. Wishing you a lovely day!

Progress...

Back to the End

I'm back to where I ended before having to rip out several/many/thousands of rows! Okay, so I exaggerate. But it seemed like it.

FLOWERS

Last year I received a some packets of seeds for my birthday (my request). These beauties are the result of that wonderful gift!  

On the photo above, I think the lavender flowers are Phlox. The ones in front are Dianthus, of the Carnation family I think. There are pinks, whites, reds and all sorts of colors in-between. 

I am really in love with all that beauty...on both sides of the house. There are also some Silver Dollar Plants, which are known by many names..Judas Plant for one.  The "dollars" are either green or purple now, but will be changing over soon to that silver mother-of-pearl look.

I had several Snapdragon plants on the west side of the house, and there must have been a packet of Shasta Daisies, too.

So colorful!

Never leave you 7 month old puppy alone in back when he is frustrated. He might just chew up a patio chair cushion and strew it about the yard.

There was so so much more on the deck. Made me realize just how good these cushions were from Home Depot! Stuffed to the hilt! I was getting ready to purchase more, so am not broken hearted. They lived a good life. Now I know, however, that I can rip out their innards and save the padding for some projects after I wash it all!

Said puppy was not all that upset until I called him a bad, bad puppy. Can't have that action becoming a habit!

😉😉😉