Out to lunch

My lunch breaks often look like this:

Where I attempt to solve whatever riddle has lately been plaguing me about things I do not know how to do. In this case: Tunisian crochet, i.e. afghan stitch. I have done more than it looks like, because the whole thing just loves to curl up on itself. It was supposed to be 2 inches longer, but I will make do. If I make it through this process, it will be a fluffy thing made from some bulky leftover yarn from my brother’s hat. A cozy, in fact, something to put my phone in to prevent scratching, though I’ve never understood why electronics need to be cozy anyway.

I have remembered, however, that one thing I hate about knitting is that you have to try to work with the &*$%&* needle while it has yarn on it, and this technique, while promising, suffers from that same irritating problem. So. $&*(&^%#$%^.

In other news, Wesley is out to lunch in a different way, just being himself. First he ate my yogurt. Then my tomato and mushroom sauce and noodles. Then he ate a Sharpie pen – blue (non-toxic and water-based, luckily). He’s all ready for Halloween!

Nota bene, btw: tomatoes, mushrooms and grapes are toxic to dogs, esp. grapes. They damage their kidneys. Just FYI, now that I’ve smacked my own forehead over it.

This dog does not know boundaries. The blue is actually more pronounced in person, although he appears to have been wearing it off gradually. The other side of his face looks like he’s drooling blue ink. Charming, I promise. Also, the floor is spotted blue. That was my favorite part. *sigh* He’s lucky he’s cute. Do you suppose parents say that about their children when the children wreak havoc?

Going to be having adventures for the next couple of days. Hopefully I can let loose some info about recent developments soon. Not quite time yet!

Part 2 of 4: Flaming Dogs

So this one day I found an opportunity to make a costume, and I took it.

I love costumes, for one. I plan on making my Halloween costume this year. This costume, however, was for my dog Wesley. Once I got the idea, I knew I’d have to do it since I’ve learned rather well in the past couple of years that there really is no time like the present.

So Wesley now has a flame jacket.  What particularly IS Wesley in a cutaway jacket with flames, you might ask?  I’m not sure. I like to think he might be a dressed-up biker. Or perhaps a magician. Maybe he is a high school rebel. Maybe he’s into auto racing. Perhaps he’s a stuntman. I feel there are many opportunities to add a couple of items to this jacket (a bow-tie, a hat, etc.) and make Wesley into something excellent. Whatever it is, I’m pretty sure he’s living life on the edge.

It was … entertaining … making flame appliques. Tiny flame appliques. I considered it a trial run for the flame quilt that my brother still wants me to make him. I’ll be sure to make those flames bigger, because these were awfully fiddly to manage.

The jacket itself was made by measuring Wesley and then cutting a piece of fabric to his specifications. the coat you see there on the left had to be altered to add more shoulder room, and then the neck had to be taken in. When it was done it actually fit him rather well. Or at least, it fit him as well as he would allow. He’s a rather active dog. He did not, however, try to eat the jacket, which was good.

There he is with his friend Travis, and as you can tell, it was very hot that day.  Oh, the occasion? Wesley was supporting Austin Pets Alive, a group whose goal is to make Austin a city whose shelters do not have to euthanize prospective pets. There was a costume contest. Wesley did not win, as he was beat out by a lovely russet lady in a tutu, and a gentleman dalmation in chaps and a hat.

Wesley conceded gracefully and consoled himself by soaking himself in a pool of water and then lying down in the dirt.

A few updatey type things

It’s been rather rainy and chilly here lately, which I’m enjoying very much, although it seems like everyone else just wants warm, sunny weather. Despite the frostiness, spring is soon to arrive. As evidenced the pictures gracing this post, which I took while walking to work one day after a night when it froze and even snowed. Leaves were damaged, but the flowers were undeterred.

I think it’s worth noting that I actually sat down and messed with the stuff (sidebar, pages, settings, etc.) on this blog the other night. I think some things hadn’t been futzed with since June 2007 when I started this blog, and others have stayed static since the redesign in October 2007.  I’d love to do another redesign, and restart the Index of Indie, but that will have to wait for available time, so I thought some tidying was in order. My blog’s making me feel a bit claustrophobic, it needs trimming. But I did like that I put the projects I’m working on in there.

Wesley graduated from the first round of obedience training last Monday. He is now an occasionally obedient dog. I’ve gotten mixed reactions about dog training – you all can rest assured, obedience training does not turn your dog into an automaton and there aren’t any choke collars involved. Our trainer Tara and co-trainer Amanda have been great, they love dogs, and they actually specialize in difficult, aggressive dogs, which Wesley is not. I love people who love animals, and don’t give up on them. Anyway, Wesley is still very much puppy-like and doggy. Just the other day he ate my wallet and license, the plastic on Jeff’s new tea mug, part of my shoe, the cheese crackers from a friend’s purse and an entire box of Kleenex. We are doing intermediate obedience training because Wesley enjoyed the classes so very, very much, him being an intelligent dog who likes people, activity and treats. I enjoy that he’s not chasing the poor cat as much, and that he’s ceased trying to dislocate my shoulder on walks.

I have sadly suffered cooking fail twice this week already, and it’s only Wednesday. On Valentine’s Day I did my usual and cooked Jeff dinner. The baked vegetable baklava turned out well, as did the saffron rice, however I … sort of melted the falafel. I used a recipe. I shouldn’t use recipes. The last time I made falafel I just invented it as I went and it turned out beautifully. Then tonight I tried to make red beans and rice – another recipe! – and burned the ever loving hell out of a dish I’m eminently familiar with and is only rice and beans, after all. I must be tired or something. I’m off my game.

I’ve been working really hard on my stack of crafting organizational items, and am proceeding quite satisfactorily. I’ll have some show-and-tell once I have some acceptable lighting. I am enjoying the time sewing very much. I should do this more often!