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!

Puppers Update

It’s been nearly a week now since puppers came home to live with us.

We’ve named him Wesley. He’s named after Wesley Crusher – happy and dopey and well-meaning, and really smart. We’re not going to keep his old name, he doesn’t respond to it. Since it only took him 2 days to start learning his new name, I suspect no one really ever tried to teach him his old one much.

He’s a happy, optimistic dog, partially trained, VERY much a terrier, smart, and very enthusiastic and playful. Wesley is between one and two years of age. We’re going to choose a birthday for him after we see if the vet can give us a better idea of his age. He’s still very puppy-like in his behavior. Bouncy and sort of all floppy and a bit clumsy. He’ll come up and walk on you and then just totally fall down on top of you. He likes to snuffle at us and be hugged. If you’re a visitor here, prepare to be bounced on and loved.

Wesley needs a lot of food and love. He was starved to emaciation earlier in his life, and his ribs and spine stick out. We’ve discovered a pattern of partially-healed scabs on his ears and around his neck from past injuries. He flinches as if he’s been hit sometimes. He was taken to foster care in early October, which is about the time his injuries would have started to heal and put on weight. Breaks my heart. We’re going to finish fixing all that.

Callie is really not sure about puppers. They spend a lot of time hissing and barking at one another, particularly at mealtimes. I guess that’s only normal. We’re hoping for less hissing soon. We may establish a dog-free zone for her.

Anyway, meet the newest member of the family. Who I’ll be taking for a walk now.