Pick a Tiger By His Toe....

The decision has been made...and boy was it a hard one!



This is some more of Dave Simpson's handpainted fiber (he has simplified his website, there are no pictures of his fibers as they are "limited editions" if you live in the area he has a studio in Newport that can be visited by appointment only,) 80% Wool 20% silk--called "Silk Road"! This picture does NOT do it justice the colors are amazing.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

FO Friday

I'm ashamed to admit it took me almost a year to spin up 4 ozs of fiber...I hang my head in shame...
I started it just before we left for the beach last September, then on October 12th Rudy came to live with us.

But isn't it purty? I have over 5oo yds navajo plied, fingering weight yarn to work with! Hmmmmm....



Now I'm digging through my fiber stash trying to decide which one is next. Decisions-decisions!

My BlogBuddy Robin tagged me for a Meme to list six unimportant things that make me happy. I don't think "unimportant" is a very good word...but these are things that make me feel all warm & fuzzy.

1) listening to birds sing
2) my garden (both flower & veggie)
3) snuggling with Rudy
4) the smell of a campfire (even if it gets my allergies going)
5) sitting by a waterfall or babbling brook
6) the way I feel after I run...invigorated!

I'm supposed to tag six other people. But I'm just going to say "if you feel froggy....jump!" Please let me know if you decide to play along, I'd love to read yours too.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!

Dogs on Thursday

I'm back...well, actually I've been back from vacation I just haven't taken the time to post. Again I seem to be finding it hard to find time to do everything. My little garden plot is growing...Rudy is in obedience school, so we spend lots of time on "homework"--yes, he has homework!...I've increased my running mileage...and simply decompressing after an agonizing day at work!


If I didn't post about it before we left for a camping trip last Wed-Sun...and boy did we ever need it. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. An added surprise was the chance to meet one of my "BlogBuddies"! Chan and I have been commenting on each others blog and emailing each other for a few years now, Hubby and I have often passed by Charlottesville and even been in town to visit Son#2 but never enough time to "get together". Well, it finally happened, she brought along her "furgirls" (as requested) and they were such a hoot! She is EXACTLY as she comes across on her blog, and in her emails...a true sweetheart of a gal!
Even brought gifts for me & Rudy! (Rudy says, "Thank you Auntie Chan"!) The "kids" had a great time playing, so much so that they all "passed out" upon leaving! Rudy found out exactly what a "calm" Bassett Hound is all about...I know when he saw those droopy ears he was thinking "oh, geez--oh, geez...it's gonna hurt!" But he found out that there IS a calm, ladylike Bassett out there, unlike his Aunt Ellie (aka Demon Girl). If you want the see the atypical picture of me with my mouth wide open check out her post of our meeting.


Rudy, of course, had a great time camping...even his buddy Milo came by for a visit.

















He pretended to be Rin-Tin-Tin Rudy!

This was in fact his favorite place to be, we sat sort of on a knoll so he was able to see all the "comings & goings" of everyone, including every pup that came by.



And enjoyed a nice campfire.



He met lots of new friends, many-many Shih Tzu's...Zoe, Roscoe, Reily, Chloe and Bandit. Oh...and though I didn't get a picture of him Tony Romo was camped across from us! He did have a cute little blond with him, but it wasn't Jessica!
Okay...so I'm pullin' your leg but his name was really Tony Romo...he was a 5 month old English Bulldog! Hilarious, he loved coming to visit Rudy and getting me to rub his belly.

I got lots of reading & spinning done but no knitting...yes, you heard me right I didn't knit one single stitch! But I did finish The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks in 2 days, a perfect read for Memorial Day weekend and finished spinning up my ScoutJ fiber from last year. Now I'm trying to decide which of my stash fibers to start spinning next.
Why did it take me so long to finish the spinning...one word--Rudy! When he came to live with us I hadn't pulled out my wheel at all. So I decided to see what his reaction would be before leaving for our trip.

whatchadoinmomma??


It was so funny, he smelled...watched and stuck his nose in the spokes as it was turning -- thump-thump-thump on the nose!



Okay, I think I've gone on long enough with this post...I'll show pics of Friday of my FO spinning!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Music Monday

Because I hate Monday's and work really stinks these days this song came to mind....



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Tap-tap-tap...everyone still here??

...wow, it's been a week since I blogged!? And what a week it's been!

Lets see if I can do this without boring you all!

My 5K race last Saturday went well...I survived! I finished dead center of the pack!


Keyword is ...FINISHED! My finish time was 1 minute slower than my last race, but I finished--whew~! Again I'd like to THANK all those who donated, it was a great success. I was 4th highest in fundraising, something I never even thought of doing...I just wanted to run!





Sunday we had a GREAT Mother's Day cookout (well, it was also my DS's birthday party)...the dogs played themselves out! We were all pretty wore out.

Monday started a horrible week at work, and it's not over. I have 2 days to work this week before we head out for our annual Memorial weekend camping trip...ahhh, I can't wait!

...by Wednesday I decided to start job hunting!!

I missed WoW & DoT this week...sorry.

Friday came and a Vet emergency for Ole Ace, turned out to be a "hairball" issue. Do you know how hard it is to make a cat "lick" his medicine when he doesn't want it?! I've been having to shmeer it on his nose and he's NOT happy!


At about 4am this morning we had an EARTHQUAKE! Yes, SW Virginia had an earthquake...2.6 magnitude! I slept right through it, surprising since I don't sleep well these days. We got tickled at my Mom who said "She felt the earth move" -- maybe I don't need to tell you but this is not a statement you want to hear from your mother..I was thinking TMI! (hee-hee)


Today we or I should say Rudy took us to the 2nd Annual Mutt Strutt another great benefit event and what fun!



Rudy entered his a contest for his first public performance..no he didn't win but he DID perform! In case you need an explanation...he's begging!










This is the most adorable costume winner...sorry, I can't remember his name. Is that not the cutest thing ever?
We also saw a cute pair of pups that I'm sure were in the final vote..."Dorothy & the Cowardly Lion"!








And Rudy received his "Blessing of the Paws" as well as participated in the "Parade of Dogs"--fantastic event, we'll be back next year!


Hope you all are having a good weekend...any special plans?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Another VERY Special Day~~

Mother's Day

The kindest face I'll ever see,
The kindest voice I'll ever hear.
The one who cares the most for me
Is my own mother dear.

All through the year
I'll try to do
The things that show
My love for you.
And not be happy just to say,
"I love you, Mother," on Mother's Day.

Author: Unknown

I hope all you all have a very Happy Mother's Day!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Ahhhhhh, Friday!

WIP REPORT--
I have gotten a little knitting done between 5K training and Spring cleaning...


I REALLY love this yarn -- it's wonderful to knit with, the colors are so vivid and it feels wonderful...these are going to be comfortable socks! (the picture does not do it justice)

MIL REPORT--

Okay, so I took your advice and sent the package to my MIL via UPS...it arrived safely yesterday and...

SHE LOVED IT!!! Man, I was so worried...

She can't wait to show the wrap off to all her friends, and as often as she goes out to dinner and entertains with all her other retired friends I think it's going to find lots of use.

Busy-busy day today, I'll try to catch up later.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Dogs on Thursday

Rudy's chaotic walk with Fred & Ellie...




My mom is supposed to be holding them for a cute photo op....





Notice the leashes and Rudy is on the bottom of the pile! Fred & Ellie now weigh almost 25 lbs each, and Rudy is feeling it. He no longer enjoys their playtime together because they gang up on him, and pin him to the ground.

Rudy starts "school" next week, I think he needs to give his spot up to Fred & Ellie!!

Rudy says..."Momma, don't make me do this again!"

Tomorrow is grooming day!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

WoW

This week getting a picture of "The Crusty Ole Curmudgeon" has been very hard.



I refuse to look at the camera



I refuse to look at the camera

Where's the furball Rudy?

I refuse to look at the camera


I refuse to look at the camera

I know you want to look out the window, but I'M here right now!

I refuse to look at the camera



I refuse to look at the camera



I refuse to look at the camera

I'M NOT PLAYING WITH YOU!! Now, because I've had to STEP in HIS bed I'm going to have to bath myself all over again...ewwwww!!

How does Rudy react to all this "fussiness"?





He smiles!

Did you know we live with Garfield & Odie?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Complete~

I've added the finishing touch and the package is being shipped off today...keep your fingers crossed it gets there safe!



Hubby ordered a fish pin from Romi, MIL collects fish...I think she'll like it...do you?

and



Happy Birthday Chase!!! My "baby" boy turns 26 today...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Music Monday

....really? Well, I couldn't think of a single song or artist to post up, I guess my brain is still trying to recover.

I did break long enough on Saturday to watch the running of the 135th Kentucky Derby..and have a mint julep (or two). Good thing I'm NOT a gambler, the horse I chose to win, Dunkirk, didn't!
But come this Saturday I hope that someone has me at 50-1 odds...Mine that Bird came from almost dead last to win--and win BIG! ...and my name is "Robin"!



This horse was bought for $9500...trailered from New Mexico and beat multi-million dollar horses!
Watch on the last turn, Mine That Bird comes from out of nowhere!! I wanna run like that!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

I'm Beat!!

Wow...what a weekend, I accomplished a lot -- and have wore myself completely out! I think I need another day to recover.
Thankfully today it's rained all day so I've pretty much stayed on the couch.

My Saturday consisted of walking Rudy, getting a 3 mile run, doing my normal cleaning, reorganizing a room, switched out spring/summer for fall/winter clothes, weeded my flower gardens and fertilized them, cleaned out the pond (more of that still to come as more crap falls from the trees) and planted my garden -- lettuce, herbs, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and peppers.

Shall we say that Spring Cleaning has begun?!

I have lots of beauty showing up in my garden too~~

My MUCH loved Blaze Azalea



It's magnificent this year...the color and size of the blooms are AMAZING!

...and the ants are hard at work on my Peony this year ~



Has anyone else ever heard this "mountain tale" before? My Granny used to always say that the ants are working to open the buds, I'm not sure that it's true or not but I do know that while watching the buds, all the ones that do not have any ants on them shrivel & dry up...the ones that have more ants are the biggest. My Hubby's first year here he didn't know this "tale" and said he would spray them for the ants...I screamed "NO!" you can't...and explained my Grannyism! He is just as amazed as I am each year as we watch the ants work.

I can't report very much knitting was done...I was too darn tired to even pick it up, maybe tonight I'll get around to it.

This is my last week of training before this coming Saturday's race ...and this is my last week to raise money, if you'd like to donate please click here or on my sidebar (hey, it's tax deductible)~~Thanks to all those who have donated, I appreciate it so much. Pssst, I'm 3rd on the fundraising list!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!