Cattywampus

One thing done, 18,473 to go.

Finally, I finished something!  

This is the Susanna IC January KAL, which is called Diantha, I made mine deeper by doing more short rows, the last one got frogged because it was too much like a long scarf.  I like this one though. 

The color is more of a deep brick, reds are just so hard to get right in a photo.

This one is beaded.  I don't dig doing the beads, but I do really, really like the way they look in a finished shawl.  I also like how they give the edges just a bit more weight to stay in place.  

I have been having fun with my camera also, I even signed up for a class - I'm excited - it starts in April, so I have a while to wait, but I am looking forward to learning more about how to use it and how to edit the pictures digitally.

A few weeks ago we went to Longwood Gardens to see the Orchid Show - it was amazing and gorgeous, but this one is my favorite picture.  I don't think I ever quite understood why this plant was called Bird of Paradise.  Personally, I think it looks more like a raptor, but now I'm just being picky.

I'll leave you with this one:  Me & my shadow.

An attempt at forward motion

Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful comments about Duke, it has been hard, and continues to be, but there is nothing to do but move forward, accept and adjust as well as help Pixie adjust to being an only dog.  From everything I have read, that simply invovles keeping our routines, helping her to adjust to her new role as 'lead dog' by doing some training with her, and doing the things she likes to do - longer walks, going to the park, etc.  We can do that.

My knitting seems to have come to a screeching halt, I don't know if it's the stress or the warm winter, but I just don't seem to be moving forward on anything.  I start things, I knit a bit, I put it down, knit something else, etc, etc.  

The only thing I've finished so far this year is the Swirl Jacket.  I am not entirely convinced about this style, even though it does seem to be in right now.

I do like it from the front, it's the back that I'm uncertain about.

I have, however, managed to purchase a significant amount of yarn.  That leads me to believe it's the stress, because I am a stress shopper.  It appears that I have a thing for this particular shade of blue right now.  It's in, so I'm seeing it everywhere, and I do like it, but this might be a bit excessive.

I bought yarn to make Color Affection, I am loving these kind of shawls and there really is something about stress and garter stitch, isn't there?  

I also did a fair amount of research and bought a DSLR (Canon EOS Rebel T2i).  After learning that it really was my camera that sucked, I decided there was no point in dragging out any further and I have been learning how to use this one.  I am slowly but surely going through the companion book I purchased, completing the assignments, and wow am I really glad I got this book.  Without it I would still be fumbling around in the dark!

The pictures above are the last hold out from my old camera, though I will admit that it's still easier to take pictures on my phone and upload them.  I have to find a better photo managment software, I'm using picasa but I'm really not sold on it - does anyone have any recommendations?

This is my favorite photo so far, the reflection of row homes in a puddle - finding a bit of beauty in a very unexpected place.

Untitled.

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."  (Eleanor Roosevelt) 

He was a buddy

and a playmate.

He knew he was darn cute and used it to his every advantage.

He loved rolling in sun warmed grass

and thought snow was an insult to his very existence on the planet.

He was infinitely patient

and the best knitting accessory I ever had.

He was comfort embodied in a fuzzy little form.  

He was the best (and most persistent) cuddler I have ever known, kitchen floor cleaner extraordinare, he would put up with anything if he got a belly rub out of it, he was insistent when he wanted something, annoying when he thought he should get something he wasn't allowed to have, he loved both of us unconditionally, he won the hearts of the nurses and our vet, he was a dear little soul and we did everything we could and kept him with us as long as we could, but it was time. 

I am glad he is no longer suffering.  I am imagining him frolicking with his doggie friends who have gone before him.  I like to think that my grandmother has found 'the smooth one' (Pixie is the fuzzy one) and has welcomed him home.

He will be missed.

Trying a new thing

Over the weekend I took a photography class.  Nothing major, just a 'how do I?' class for my point & shoot.  Since our vacation last summer I'd been wanting to learn a little more about photography, and I'd also had a sneaking suspicion that my camera kind of sucked.

After a short tutorial on how to use the various buttons and features on the camera our instructor walked us down to city hall, which is a fairly impressive space in the city.  There is a courtyard in the center of the building that is a fairly major thoroughfare to get from one part of the city to another, so there is a lot of foot traffic.

It was a really dreary day, completely overcast, but after a bit I started to enjoy the play of texture rather than looking for a lot of color.

As it turns out, I don't suck at photography.  Not that I'm amazing or anything, but I don't totally suck.

Translation:  I need a new camera.  Even once I understood more about the exposure, ISO and whatnot, they still look grainy if you make them big.

This one is my favorite:

I want to know where this dapper gentleman in his yellow hat is going on Saturday afternoon.  And I want to learn how to take a picture that makes the viewer want to know the same thing.  

So, the rest of the weekend I obsessed over camera reviews and finally settled on a introductory DSLR and now I am waiting for it to come.  My mother is coming to visit this weekend and we have some fun things planned, I am anxious to get to play with the camera and understand it a bit before we go out on the town together.  

I also finally learned out to take pictures of the dogs.  

Seriously.  Can you stand the cuteness?  I couldn't get Pixie to sit still long enough, I think I'll have to ply her with food.

An appeal to your hearts

This is copied from my friend Jenny's blog, she and her hubby are good people and they need help rescuing this sweet puppy.  Please consider donating after you read her story, every little bit helps!

Please help me save Peanut Butter the puppy

This past Sunday, my husband and I went to the SPCA intent on adopting or fostering an adult dog.  Then we saw Peanut Butter, heard her story and that was it.

Peanut Butter is a 6 month old puppy who was pulled from the Frankford River by the Philadelphia Police Department on January 10^th.  She was taken to the SPCA and has been there ever since, with no one claiming her.  When we saw her Sunday, we bonded instantly and fell in love with her.  She was limping, holding her back leg up, but the shelter wasn’t sure when and how that happened.  They thought it might be a sprain and Peanut Butter was due for x-rays on the leg on Monday.  So we took her home Sunday as a “foster”.  We returned on Monday night, and that’s when we received the devastating news that Peanut Butter has a broken leg.

The surgery is expensive, between $3,000 - $4,000 dollars.  The SPCA cannot afford to fix the leg, and if we turn Peanut Butter back in….well the shelter was evasive, but I’m guessing Peanut Butter wouldn’t last too long.  We can come up with some of the money but not all, and this is the part that I need your help with.  I know times are hard but we are asking for donations towards the surgery.  Every little bit helps.  This is really not my thing, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.  We have set up a facebook page and a fundraising page on there as well.

(Seriously, how cute is she???)

Here are the links: Peanut Butter Smith's facebook page and the Fundrazr page to donate

I really appreciate your help and please spread the word.  If we are lucky and receive over and beyond our needs we are forwarding it to the Philadelphia SPCA.  They are very good people there who have a hard job where they make tough decisions.  They have been supportive and helpful to Peanut Butter and us.

Thank you again for all your support :)