Tag Archives: Pets

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Trying Out A New Shade of Happy

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It’s been pretty busy around these parts lately.  School ended May 30, and Neve turned 5!!!  We had a big party for her on the 31st and invited all of her friends (and some of ours) over to play on the big inflatable waterslide and have ice cream cake (mmmm Carvel!).  I can’t believe how big my middle baby has gotten!

But little peanut or no, she’s going to kindergarten in the fall, and let me tell you how happy that makes me!  With all 3 kids at home all day now there’s a lot of referee action on my part, and when she’s here, Maddie’s.  But it was a fun day either way, and I now have to remember to get the thank yous out to everyone.  And then there’s the obligatory “sad doggy” picture.  Pippa was sequestered to avoid puppy induced insanity, and when we let her out after everyone had left, she lay forlornly under the table, snout strategically placed next to a tootsie roll.  In fact, I found that little tootsie roll later (I apparently forgot to move it after snapping the picture) and found two fang marks in it.

Just look at those puppy dog eyes.  She wants it bad.

Anyway, craziness aside, I’ve been pretty happy lately.  Happier than I’ve ever been, I think.  There’s a certain contentment that has settled in lately.  There’s a combination of things helping that to happen, I think.  Maddie’s been around a lot to help out with Oona so I don’t feel so totally overwhelmed every day.  I’ve been able to keep the house fairly decent lately.  About 2 notches above absolute pigsty, which is a huge improvement over my former 8 notches below “should be condemned”.

Also, I got Wii Fit, and I have been practicing the yoga, aerobics, and etc. that it entails.  I basically have my own virtual personal trainer, and thanks to Mads once again, I have been able to work out for 30 minutes every day.  It’s given me a lot more energy and I feel pretty good.  Thanks to that extra energy I’ve been able to stay up past Oona’s bedtime and work on some projects.  I am this close to being done with Em’s socks.  I also have been sewing a lot.  I made Emily a nice skirt and scarf:

Please ignore her scraggly hair and the fact that she’s wearing Maddie’s flip flops which are WAY too big.

I made Neve a dress for her birthday party, and I made Oona a cute little dress and bloomers set.  I have a bunch more projects in mind…..and knowing that I took steps which have greatly added to my happy state of mind.  I re-did the play room, and it is now half play space, half my “studio”.  I can’t even tell you how much I am loving it.  I even got a nice shade of fuschia for the walls that I am love love loving.

So, I have my own space, my veggies in my raised beds are growing by leaps and bounds, and we’ve been eating fresh blueberry gateau.  How can you not be happy?  Even with the day I had today:

1.  Couldn’t get any A/C people out to the house until tomorrow.  Playroom is literally 850 degrees.  I may hurl.

2.  Went to Lowe’s with Oona to buy heat blocking window tint for playroom.  Went to open van’s sliding door, and it broke.  Will.  Not.  Open.

3.  Lowe’s didn’t have exactly what I needed.  Bought only 2 boxes left, and after getting home found that one had been cut already.

4.  Spent $20 to take kids to the pool.  Swam for 5 minutes, then they blew the whistle and made us get out for a 15 minute “rest break”.  After 15 minutes we swam for 10 minutes.  THen they blew the whistle and said we all had to get out because they heard thunder and the pool was therefore now closed.  I drove home with some very unhappy children.  Most expensive 15 minutes I’ve had in a while.

5.  Tried to apply window tint.  Decided after one pane that I’d rather pull all of my toe nails off with pliers than continue.  Will wait for husband to complete the job.

But I am not complaining.  I will instead eat the last piece of this:

White chocolate raspberry tart with chocolate crust.  Yum!!!!

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The Feline Predictor Of Doom

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Sushi’s been making me nervous.

She’s always been a funny little cat in the “tortie-tude” kind of way, but she’s also a selective snuggler.  She only ever sleeps on me at night when it’s very quiet……or when I’m sick.  Yup, my normally attention – fickle kitty will climb into my lap (or onto my back, or legs, or feet, or head) anywhere I am if I am unwell.  She does the same thing with the kids.  If they’re sick, she’ll lay right on top of them.  It’s a pattern we noticed after we’d had her for about 2 years and Emily came down with pneumonia.  Sushi slept on her chest every night until Ems had to be hospitalized.  Then she was elusive as ever.

A few months later I had one of those puking viruses and Paul took pictures of me passed out with the cat on me (no, I will not be sharing those….).  Anyway it’s gotten to be a regular thing.  You’re sick?  Here’s Sushi on you!!!

So the last 2 or 3 days she’s suddenly been following me around.  She’s even been curling up on the couch next to me in the middle of the day with the baby trying to grab at her and Neve trying to kiss her.  I checked the cats’ food supply, thinking she’s either desperately hungry or thirsty, but both food and water are plentiful.  So what gives?  Am I getting sick?  Or is it a clever kitty ruse to mess with me?

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Finally A Finished Pair!

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I’m happy to report that the Vincenzo Socks are done. It took a small threat of imminent mental breakdown but I got a most- of – the – day break from the baby on Monday and knit my little hands off. The socks are done and I felt a bit better at the end of the day. They are a Debbie Bliss pattern in Baby Cashmerino. I love knitting these little socks!

And it’s a good thing Monday was relaxing, because yesterday wasn’t. At least not most of the day. I did manage to pass out on the couch after morning bus stop and woke up, mouth hanging open, drooling. I must’ve really needed that nap.

Then the dog pooped on the bedroom floor. And again on the driveway, twice. Then the neighbor’s dog paid us a visit and tore open the garbage bags that were awaiting pick-up, and it was very windy out, so I spent a good long while chasing it all down and rebagging it. Nothing like old food and dirty diapers all over the muddy, rain – soaked ground.

And I didn’t care. Because a new Deadliest Catch was on last night, and there was no one home to complain about me watching it.

*Smile*

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Of Dogs & Sisters

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It turns out that the “unidentified object” that our mentally challenged canine ate was one of Neve’s socks.  Fortunately for said mentally challenged dog, it was not a hand-knit sock.  She puked it up whole this morning and we were right there to collect it.  SO the drama is over and the dog is fine…..a few hundred dollars and one peed – on van seat later.

With all the happenings this week I have had woefully little time to knit, but I am chugging away on the Vincenzo socks and the first one is just about completed.  Baby socks are tres fun to knit.

This week has been spring break for the kids and we ended up having Maddie here all week….which has been mucho fantastico, because it never hurts to have another pair of hands to help with the baby and the other kids.  My sanity has been saved on more than one occasion by having someone here to help see the humor in the disasters.  And my parents got a week all to themselves (lucky!).  Sounds like a win-win to me.  She goes home tomorrow, sadly, and it’s going to be rough without her.  Back to managing things on my own.

Monday is going to be a challenge.  I have to be at Emily’s appointment at 9:30 am……and it’s quite a drive, so we’ll be having to leave here by 7 am at the latest.  But like I said, there’s a Dunkin Donuts 3 miles from the dentist’s office, so the trip home will at the very least be delicious and well caffeinated.  (Incidentally, I’d like to thank the geniuses who brought us little tv’s and dvd players for our vehicles.  Kids are much easier to manage on long trips when Dora is on.)  It’s too bad I can’t knit while Emily is being treated.  That would make these things much more pleasant for me.  But Oona just won’t allow it!

Anyway the weather’s been getting warmer and the bees have decided they like our living room a lot. We’ve had 3 in the last 2 days.  I don’t know how they are getting in, but the Dyson has proved a most valuable bee – capture – and – containment unit.  There was also one spider sighting in the same room, which means I’ll have to find their little entrance and plug it up before things get worse!  It also looks like I’ll be turning on the A/C before too long.  Yesterday was int he 80’s in here and I just could not get motivated to do anything. I totally wilt in the heat.  By evening it was perfect for a nice walk outside (saw some cool bats flying around) but it was pretty warm in the house.  Today it’s much more bearable, but if I am going to do any amount of baking it will just get too hot.

Here’s hoping for a cool and uneventful rest of the weekend!

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Socks for Vincenzo

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I am cheating on the Emo Socks. I said I wouldn’t, but now that they’re going to Emily instead of Maddie I’ve lost some steam. So I’ve been working on cute little baby socks instead for a cute little man I know. They’re a Debbie Bliss pattern and they’re in my favorite “chocolate & blue” color combo.

vincenzo-socks.jpg

I also have realized I’ve been doing nothing but socks for awhile so I think I may cheat some more and work on the kitty pi bed.  And I still have many a sweater OTN……….. which leads me to another thought.  I haven’t gotten a lot done since the baby came.  She wants to be held (by me only, to boot) ALL the time.  She has some down time in her new Jumperoo, but I have to be less than 3 feet away at all times or it’s all over.

jumperoo.jpg

Since she’s so very sweet and I love her so very much, this is ok.  However, I do think it is monumentally unfair that performing all childcare and household tasks with a baby in your arms doesn’t make you automatically skinny.   I mean, really.   Like this morning when it’s cold and raining and the do has to go out to pee but I can’t hold the baby, the leash AND an umbrella, so I tried to stand on the porch while the dog does her business, but she won’t leave the porch and o out in the rain unless I do (because she, like my children, is a princess.  See here for proof:

princess-pip.jpg )

SO she sat at the door and whined all morning, but wouldn’t go.  All because I don’t have 3 arms.  But, I’ll enjoy it anyway, because Oona’ll be grown all too soon and then I will miss these days and be tempted to have another (Talk me out of it, please!!!).

Meanwhile we had a very busy weekend.  Emily went to her brownie scout father daughter dance and had a blast.

tarted-up.jpg

AND, I got a new toy:

freezer.jpg

Yeah, baby.  A chest freezer! A new place to store my yarn!! (just kidding.  But seriously, I know the Yarn Harlot does it….)

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No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

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What a weekend!

Friday night I fell asleep on the couch trying to stay up and knit (I’ve started the heel on Maddie’s emo sock!) but sadly it seems once the household has calmed down my eyes just do not want to stay open.  I managed to make it up the stairs around midnight when Paul woke me up.  I’m hoping that daylight savings next week will help me accomplish more knitting in the evenings.  I’ve got so many projects lined up, and the wool keeps calling me to plan more.

Saturday morning the baby had me up pretty early so I was feeling rather groggy……and unprepared when the dog peed on the floor in the playroom.   Fun!!!  So we ended up getting a late start to the day, which was spent getting groceries (more fun).

Emily had a friend spend the night – the daughter of my friend, actually.  And it was going really well for awhile……until Neve tried jumping on them and missed, smacking her face (again with the face!!!) on the headboard of Emily’s bed.  There was an insane amount of blood from the wound next to her left eye, and after washing some of it away, I realized it would require a trip to the ER.   Fortunately they used that skin glue instead of sutures, so we don’t have to go back to have them removed.  But it looks just awful, and she has a really wretched looking black eye.  Apparently she never learned anything from singing that monkey song all the time.  And we felt badly enough about it that later on when we heard her tell the other girls “Uh-oh, I peed myself.  Don’t tell mama and papa!”  we decided not to say anything.

Today’s been relatively low key.  But, we discovered a bunch of relatively fresh, half smoked cigarettes right by our front steps.  And no one here smokes.  No one has been to visit us that has smoked here.  Our house is set back far from the road……so you’d have to purposely cross onto our property to leave them there.  And we don’t always succeed, but we make a real effort to clean up any trash that blows onto our property.  It’s weird.  And scary, because I am here alone most of the time.  Who’s been hanging out on my front porch that shouldn’t be (and helloooooo dog.  why aren’t you doing that barking thing at them you normally do so well?) ????  We’ll clean them up and keep an eye out for any other trash that may surface in our yard…..and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that none does.

Here’s hoping Monday proves boring and uneventful!

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I Should Have Known

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I should have known disaster was waiting for me.  There’s the low level migraine that’s been plaguing me since I woke up this morning (no doubt due to the impending storm, which hasn’t stopped it from being violently sunny in the house and killing my eyes.)

There’s the fact that I got in a shower and time to make a decent lunch.

Then not only did the mail come early, but they delivered it to my door, on account of the box that came.  This was really my biggest clue, since that box had parts for the steam cleaner (you see where this is going???)

Then Oona allowed me to clean up the kitchen and vacuum!  I was marveling at the happiness I felt at having a vacuum that did such a great job getting the house clean.  I was feeling giddy at how nicely it was coming together today.  I was actually getting the place clean!   And the candles from Yankee were doing a fab job as well.  My day was looking up.  I could start a fire, relax with my babies and some knitting and enjoy a decent level of cleanliness for once.  You know they say pride goeth before the fall,  but what about the combination of relief, disbelief and contentment?  Does that goeth before the discovery of a fresh steaming rank pile of dog poop on your nicely vacuumed living room rug?

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Recovery Mode

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The weather has been a bit warmer around here and that has put me in panic mode knitting – wise.  So much wool to finish working up before summer!  Summer is for knitting lighter items like socks, and I still have sweaters to do.  I haven’t even cast on little Mac’s sweater.  That will probably not be worn until next year.  Good thing I got enough wool to knit up a size (always thinking ahead……….ha!)  Actually this summer I may tough it out and keep working on the thicker stuff so it will actually be done in time for cold weather.  Imagine that!

Speaking of little Mac, she recovered nicely from having her ear tube removed, though she took a nap of her own free will yesterday, which told us that she had not completely gotten back to normal.  She would never ever willingly take a nap.  But despite it all she’s having a good week.  Her papa stayed home after her procedure and she’s gotten lots of cuddles.  It’s been good for me, too – I’ve had house work help!!!   AND, even better, he’s been taking Emily to the bus stop in the morning.  This means that my coffee consumption is down from “slightly less than a lethal dose” to a mere “total addict junkie”.    It also helped having him around when Pippa, at around 10:30 last night, decided to leave a big stinky pee puddle on the white carpet at the top of the stairs.  The baby had fallen asleep during Lost (a not to be missed show around these parts) and we were in the process of turning off all the lights and heading up.  Just as we were preparing to open the front door to let her out one last time for the night she bounded up the stairs, headed for her doggie bed in our room.  Except that she made that nasty detour on her way and caused Paul to have to break out the louder – than – bombs steam cleaner to take care of it.   Oh well.  Just more proof that if my house were to be 100% clean at any time the universe would surely implode.   But life goes on, and hopefully so will the knitting.  I’ve barely made any progress on the socks I’ve cast on using Austerman Step wool, which I am loving so far, except that using size 1 needles means it is taking FOREVER.  sushi-chew.jpg

Did I also mention that Sushi likes to chew on my smaller sized wooden needles?

PS: Don’t judge my wrinkly tablecloth – it got dried in the dryer by parties who shall remain nameless and no longer fits my ginormous table.  And as a side note, who knew that buying a new tablecloth in that size (70 x 108) would be so difficult/frustrating/stressful/expensive????????  Apparently I am too picky when choosing such a huge piece of fabric that takes up a large amount of space in the very center of my house.  

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Cradle Cat

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No I do not mean Cradle Cap, the skin condition in infants and toddlers that causes scaliness. I am talking about a much more serious condition.

Cradle Cat is caused by leaving a warm and comfy cradle in an accessible area, such as the living room. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: an inordinate amount of fur buildup in cradle liner (more fur than your child could shed on his or her own); a strange “purring” noise emanating from the cradle; sharp swiping at unwanted passersby (ie., YOU); and perhaps the most serious of the symptoms, the inability to put your child down.*

*this condition may lead to frustration, tension headaches and cursing.

There is no known cure for Cradle Cat.

cradle-cat.jpg

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Again With the Stupid

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Ok so I think I have established that our dog Pippa is none too bright. Being half Setter may be part of her problem – her father is a very good natured but very slobbery “happy idiot”. But I digress.
Last night was cold. Last night Paul also reached 24 hours of no sleep. So he reached that magical time where your body tries to tell you, “Sleep!!!” and he got really worn down and cold. So he put on a hat. You know, just a skull cap style knitted affair in black. Nothing fancy.
Pippa went whacko. She started barking at him from down the hall. He tried talking to her “It’s me you dumb ass!”
She barked louder. He took off the hat. She stopped barking. He put the hat back on. She started barking and growling again. I called to her and she came in the kitchen with me. Paul approached and she started to slink down a bit and growl. So I held her collar and pet her while he approached so she could see and smell that it was, in fact, the man she adores. He got within arm’s distance, and she peed herself.
He left the hat off the rest of the night.