I HIDE YARN

Tap...Tap...Is This Thing On?

Is there anyone still reading or looking at my blog for updates?  All you are going to find here are lame excuses and cute dog pics.  If you came for the knitting, you must return my knitting mojo.  Then I promise to show you some knitting pics.

I have been extremely busy these days...

• cuddling with the puppy on the bed
• watching Dish TV until 3 a.m. (so many channels - so little time...so many channels showing Cops, which of course, I only watch for the theme song.)
• getting up around 6-6:30 a.m.
• watching the hair on my legs grow (it's not quite to the totally gross length where people would begin to doubt if I evolved fully - but it's more than it should be.  I will spare you the pics)
• I may be growing the hair on my legs because the hair on my head is till coming out BY THE HANDSFULL!  (When your hair is waist-length,  that's not funny.)
• Cisco has lost his long puppy coat, and has only retained the long hair on his ears, and 4 long hairs on his chest.  He has two balding spots on either side of the white stripe on his head.
• The two of us are considering joining the hair club for men.
• Or, we may attempt a transplant of my leg hair to our heads.
• We are both hoping our long hair returns soon.

Can you feel the excitement?  Yeah.  Me too.

Cisco has turned into a total little love bug.  He whines if I leave him on the bed and move to my computer only a couple of feet away.  If I go out of his sight, he gets frantic.  Yes, I have created a monster.  I wonder how my doctors feel about me packing the pooch in my handbag during medical exams?  Although I appear to have his undying love, I occasionally have to play second fiddle to Remy, who Cicso totally adores with leaping, wild puppy abandon.

Here are some pics of Cisco...

Who wouldn't love that little face?


Here he is admiring himself in the dresser mirror.


Here we are in a stare down. 

When he decides I have spent enough time at the computer, and it's time for me to get back over there and play with him - he gives one sharp bark.  The only time he barks.  Then we stare each other down to see who wins.  Usually he does.  Could you refuse that little face?

In other news, hubby is back to work now in his third week.  He's doing very well.  Basically it's just the dogs and me in the house, after my caregivers leave.  Winston has begrudgingly made his way back to the spot under my computer table at times.  He is afraid of the puppy, and will not get on the bed if Cisco is there.  Winston is quite happy to be held as long as I am away from the puppy, and seeks me out immediately whenever food might be involved.  Sachi and Remy love to play with the puppy. 

So, most of my side effects from the medication have resolved, except for the excessive falling out of the hair and brittle, breaking fingernails. 

And that's all the news that's fit to print.  I don't think the networks will be calling me anytime soon.  However the last time I got on the scale, I'm pretty sure I could hear the circus calling.  Holey moley!  I didn't believe even I could gain that much weight sleeping 18 hours a day for a few weeks.  Apparently my body only required about 12 calories a day, and I didn't get the memo.

While I Was Sleeping...

I have missed a lot of January, and most of February so far.  Pfffft.  Gone.  Technically I was here, but I was sleeping for the most part.  It seems my joy in having no side effects from the Avonex injections for MS were short lived.  Although I still have not had the horrible flu-like symptoms so many endure, this is a partial list of side effects I have muddled through in hopes they would dissipate...

fatigue (as in sleeping about 18 hours a day)
hair loss (coming out by the hands full)
itchy red eyes that feel like I am in a sand storm
blurred vision
two upper respiratory infections (caused by immune system suppression)
daily asthma (something that had been totally under control once I was home all the time)

This seems to be one of those "the cure is worse than the ailment" meds - although technically Avonex is not a cure for MS - it is supposed to lessen progression.  I know you wish you were me - heh.  I still have not knitted a stitch, nor read knitting blogs.  First, because it is hard to do when one is sleeping.  Second, I seem to have no desire to do much of anything.  This is so not me that it is very disconcerting.  I am going to take a couple of weeks off from the injections to see if I regain my normal spunk and attitude.

DH is doing very well.  I believe he is on his next to last leg.  Hee!  Meaning he is on his last training leg, and I believe the next one will be his actual permanent prosthesis.  He has discovered he can drive just fine with it, with no need for adjustments like hand controls.  Soon he will have to retake his CDL (license) so he can get back to work driving the Bookmobile.  I don't know who is more ready for him to back to work...him or me. 

Thankfully Cisco has gotten quite used to playing and napping on the bed with me.  His pad lined litterbox is at one end, and he uses it dutifully.  Last night I rolled over and thought we had a broken bed spring in our fairly new mattress.  I wiggled around trying to get more comfortable, and my butt squeaked.  That's when I discovered it wasn't a broken bed spring I was lying on, but a squeaky toy hot dog.  Hee!

Yes, his name is Cisco (aka The Cisco Kid.)  That has evolved from Bo...Bocephus...and various other names.  I will close with a couple of pics of Cisco.  He is now 12 weeks old. 

Yes, there are still other dogs in this house, but they don't spend much time in here now that Daddy is home all the time and homesteading a recliner in the family room.  Sachi and Remy come in to play with Cisco on occasion.  Winston is still pretending he does not exist.

Introducing the Newest Member of the Family

During my hiatus I have gone insane.  Why else would I get ANOTHER PUPPY!!!!

Our newest baby boy - a tiny long haired Chihuahua - yet to be named...



He Isn't nearly s big as he looks in the pictures - only about a pound.

Sorry for the long absence.  DH is doing well, hopefully going back to work in a few weeks.  Things have been crazy here, to say the least.

As for the new puppy...Sachi has found mother instincts we had no idea she had.  Remy wants to play with him.  Winston is pretending he doesn't exist.

Dogs on Thursday

Thanks for all the birthday wishes - it's been a great birthday.  I forgot to mention that yesterday was Remy's birthday - he's two.  Winton's birthday is coming up December 10th.

FO Friday

Pattern:  Sleepy Eyes Tipsy Sock Pattern (free pdf)
Designer:  Gina House
Yarn:  Vesper Sportweight yarn in Tropical
Needles:  Addi turbo size 3US/3.25mm - 2 circulars

I love this pattern!  I hope to get a better photograph outdoors if I can get something besides rain or overcast skies.  This pattern is great for variegated yarn.  I modified a couple of things.  I began with 3 rows of stockinette and a purl row (to stop the roll) before beginning the pattern.  I also replaced the standard heel flap with the Fleegle Heel which I talked about at length in this post.  This is a very nice fitting heel, and no picking up stitches around the flap - woot!  These socks are also my second Christmas gift completed.  (The Kauni Shawl is the first, but still needs blocking.)  We won't discuss how many there are to go.

I had a little help as I finished up the second sock this evening.  There is a fun group on Ravelry called Knitted Furmiliation.  People post pics of their dogs and cats modeling knitted items.  Who can resist that?  Winston succumbed to his fate.

Dogs on Thursday

I'm Getting Old...

When did that happen?  I'm not talking about an age thing, but a state of mind.  Old people don't like change.  Old people don't like their routines interrupted.  (My apologies to all elders, as I am making wide, sweeping judgment statements here, and of course they don't pertain to YOU.)

My routine with my caregivers has been interrupted two days in a row now, and my nose is out of joint.  I have been severely challenged by things like having to wear clothes.  I know!  I have had to wear world presentable clothing the past two days.  Grumble.  That means all kinds of foundation garments that hold up, and make body parts look more presentable.  My body is not used to be molded into world presentable parts.  We reserve those classy moves for doctor's visits and the like.  Then we can't wear comfy long flowing day dresses, we have to wear real clothing.  Real clothing is not as comfortable as around-the-house wear.

My bed has also been fully made up each day.  Wow!  It is quite nice when all done up in its presentable clothes, too.  See y'all see it every day, made - but with just my worn out, super soft, comforter that has been washed a million times and is very faded.  I love that blanket.  Wrap a tired body or a body full of pain in that blanket feels like a hug.  It feels like love.

So I can't let all this super fancy all done up with no place to go goodness go to waste can I?  Of course not, it must be blogged!

Bed view #1 showing the top part with it's buttoned pillow shams (and people said I couldn't get away from decorating in country - pshaw.)  The fabric kind of photographs oddly.  It is  tufted micro-suede that looks a little rumpled in person, but a whole lot rumpled by photograph.  It is super soft and comfy in a fancy way, not like the best friend, part of the family comfortable of MY blanket.)

To the side is the dog's pillow (mainly Winston's, although he does share it on occasion.)  A nap coverlet, that the dogs also like to hijack and nudge into their preference.



Remy checking out the comfortable factor of this comforter.  He went right to sleep after the picture, so apparently it passed stringent dog guidelines.  The color is more accurate in this photo.



The other two couldn't allow Remy to hog the camera, so they hopped up to their favorite perch.



See, I told you Winston would share his pillow on occasion.  Sachi takes up very little room.  Makes me a little sleepy...if I weren't wearing all these presentable foundation garments and clothing.  I need to teach the dogs to help me change clothes.

(A new monitor is supposed to be coming.  I hope that ends all of my issues.   Ever had weeks...months where you wondered why every tiny detail had to be so hard?  Why you have to fight for everything that should be honored by warranty?  Covered by insurance.  Blah, blah, blah.)

I'm knitting...updates coming soon...

Dogs on Thursday & Contest!

Today's Dogs on Thursday post has a

~ Caption the photo like a lolcat photo

~ Leave your caption in the comments

~ Or email it to me: blissfulknitter AT gmail DOT com

~ Deadline midnight (central time) Sunday - Nov 11th

~ Winner will receive nice sock yarn prize

Stay tuned...tomorrow is FO Friday - YAY!

 

Blocking Buddy

I had an observer as I began blocking the baby sweater I have been working on in secret.

Winston watched me obsessively pinning, smoothing, re-pinning...




Yes, he found it riveting, too!



Stay tuned, we might actually have a finished project this week.  I know!  Pigs could fly any day now, so y'all be careful.

There Has Been Knitting...

Through the recent blog silence, when I am not putting eleventy-hundred projects in my Ravelry queue - I have been knitting.  (Yes, a person who knits at the speed of paint drying really needs 4 pages of future knitting projects queued up - heh.  Even though I most likely have enough yarn for all that, unless I am going to live to be 300...well you do the math.)

Here is a sneak peek at part of what I have been working on...



Winston:  I can't believe she is making me model a hat.  She bribed me with a tiny piece of Little Debby white cake.  What can I say - I'm a freak for Little Debby.