Sunny Sock!

We got hit with another blast of winter weather this past weekend - another foot of snow (luckily more light and fluffy stuff that's easy to move) and more bitter temperatures. This week seems to be a break in the pattern of snow every few days though. Sunny and bright all week, though this weekend the temps are supposed to plummet again. When does Spring start?

In order to warm the mind (and the feet) I finished up the first Gent's Shooting Stocking for Naomi. The pattern is really easy to memorize and makes for a really textured and super duper stretchy sock.

I'm really happy with how the yarn is not pooling at all. None, zippo! A very pleasant surprise! I decreased a bit more in the toe to add a few rows of length where I needed them, other than that, it's knit to the pattern.

In the mitten department, I scrapped the design I was working on. Frustration led to real annoyance with the pattern so I just put it aside. It's on a big time out for now and maybe I will pick it up again in a few weeks. So, instead, I turned to the miracle worker again - Nancy Bush. Kalev's Mittens (Rav link. Flickr link here) struck both my sister and I as a pattern we thought dad would like. Plus, to me it looks like little coffee beans, and his winter walks often take him to Starbucks, so I thought they'd be perfect.

So I have plenty to work on right now in the knitting department (yes, for me two WIP's is plenty!). Plus, I have to fix hubby's first sock (that will make it three!)which will involve ripping back to the heel and making the foot longer.

On Saturday, Ace and I headed to New Hampshire for an AKC agility trial. Just one day indoors with single digit temps outside all day. It was a fun trial, although it ran a bit long (the trials with only one ring tend to be very long even though they limit the entries). We did our last run around 6pm. I am proud to say that Ace came away from the day going three for three with a second and two first places! He also got his Novice Standard title which moves us up into Open. He is so much fun to run - I get really nervous and excited before every run! Thinking about it, we've only actually had 9 runs together so we are still in the infancy stages, but I can only imagine where it will go from here! His speed is also coming along too. As he gains confidence out there, he has gained some speed too! Our next trial isn't until March. We tried for one in February, but got wait listed. Boo.
Open Jumpers (1st Place)

Novice Standard (1st Place)

Can You Believe It??

Four days in Boston was wonderful. It was all dogs all the time. Everyone had a great time, and it was really nice to be able to hang out with the dogs for four straight days! Ace and Tucker ran agility. Ace got his Novice Jumpers title - we now move up to the next level! I only entered him one day as the crowds and noise can be a bit overwhelming and I didn't want him to have a bad experience.

It was a lot of fun. We got to also watch Deuce win the breed every day, and compete in Best in Show on Saturday. She didn't win, but was a close runner up!

I also managed to get in a bit of knitting. The knitting groove has been in full swing. I feel so much better and relaxed at night now that I have picked up the needles again. The Komi mittens from Mostly Mittens. This is pattern #25. I really love how they came out, especially the colors.

You will notice that the cuffs are a bit different. The first I did with a corrugated rib. I love it. The second I thought was a corrugated rib, but obviously I followed the directions a bit differently! I still love them. I tried to get some modeled shots, but at 5am, there was not much light or creativity going on. We are supposed to get a bunch of snow on Friday, so some weekend shots will be likely of the mittens in their natural habitat.

I'm still working on hubby's socks and am a few rows from the heel. I really hope they fit! My next project is already laid out. A mitten pattern I designed was accepted for publication in the Fall of 2009, so I have to get moving an knit up a pair and write out the pattern so it can be test knit. Pretty exciting!

Breaking the Silence

I know it's been a while - somehow the time slips away and before I know it, weeks have passed! There is still little knitting progress to report, though I am slowly but surely making an effort to get the needles clicking again! I did finish a cowl for my sister, and I hope to get modeled shots this weekend. It is soft, comfy and extra long.

There is big news on the four legged front though. If anyone watched the National Dog Show last night on TV, you saw Ace's mom Deuce win the Herding group again and strut her stuff in Best in Show. Alas, no one was going to beat the Pointer that won. That dog is amazing. I think she has about 95 Best in Shows this year alone!

Last weekend, Ace had his first agility trial. All the hard work, hours and hours of training and practice proved well worth it. It was in Springfield, Massachusetts in a huge venue. The biggest agility trial in the country! It is indoors with four rings of agility going on at the same time. He remained focused and did exactly what I asked. I couldn't be more proud! This is his Jumpers run on Saturday. Pretty flawless.

And Standard on Sunday. Another great run.

All in all, Ace went 4 for 4 qualifying in every run he ran. Sunday was extra special. His sister Gracie was also competing! We managed to get a quick family shot of proud dad Razz (center) with his two kids.

I was beaming. It was so amazing to see all the hard work we put in really pay off. He was just perfect. I couldn't have asked for it to go any better! He is a blast to run and I think he will just get faster and better. I can't wait! Our next trial is the huge, fun Bay Colony Dog Show in Boston next weekend. This will be the last year it will be held in Boston as they are tearing down the Bayside Expo Center. Sad. It is such a fun show with so much going on. It is always one of my favorite agility trials of the year. Especially since I get to watch Deuce show in the breed ring as well!

If the weather cooperates I hope to get some pictures of the second mitten I'm working on as well as some socks I may start - nothing like casting on a few new projects to get the knitting juices flowing!

I hope everyone had a wonderful, food and family filled Thanksgiving!!!

Spinning Sister

With my knitting progressing at a snail's pace, and my true knitting mojo yet to return, I figured I'd showcase Naomi's spinning. She has really come a long way, and learned quite a bit. Her little wheel, bought a few years back from a friend of mine's mother for a song, has no brand name but is quite a workhorse.

This year, at Maryland Sheep and Wool, she actually bought some roving. Beautiful, light blue Merino. She finished spinning up the 8 ounce bag the other night.

It's so squishy soft. She is making it into a two ply and I can't wait to knit something for her with it! Something next to skin for sure. It is too soft to use for just anything.

We also picked up our CSA shipment yesterday. It seems like when we hit late summer and early fall, the deliveries get huge. Yesterday was no exception. My refrigerator is now bursting!

So as not to post without a cute puppy picture, here is Ace sporting his new goggles. He's ready to swim now!

The First Year

It's hard to believe a year has passed already. My little boy is almost all grown up! A year ago today, about now, Deuce starting having her puppies. One by one they popped out - different colors and markings. All adorable.

I had to wait though. The last little guy to make an appearance instantly won my heart.

From that day on, we cuddled and bonded. I had never had a puppy before, so I was smitten. The day they opened their eyes, their first little steps, their first jaunt into the outside world, their first bath. It was all pretty exciting.

I took pictures every day to document the changes and the daily antics. There was a point where I may have considered others but deep down it was always him. First, we called him "Nine" as he was the ninth and last puppy out. But before he finally came home, he was Ace.

He settled right into life with us, and even got Tucker and Otis playing and wrestling with him. Training started from day one, and he has learned a lot. It has been the most fun having a dog that plays with toys and fetches. I found another dog sport to be obsessed about - herding - and he is getting pretty good at it. He hasn't been perfect, but he has been a darn good puppy. I wasn't sure how I'd fit room for three before he came, but now I can't imagine the house without him!

Happy First Birthday Ace!!!

Gray Days

It's been a strange week. It started out blazingly hot and extremely humid. The temperatures have now cooled down a bit, but it has been raining for the past few days. Nice for the garden, no so nice for everything else. I'm expecting the grass to grow about ten feet and the garden to explode the minute the sun comes out. We've been getting some great thunderstorms too - those really seem to make everything grow faster too. Luckily, none of the dogs have issues with thunderstorms. They all sleep through them.

Week five of the CSA delivered some great things.

I'm really excited about the corn. Picked fresh that day, I have an ear with me for lunch today. Also some of the yellow beans. I admit I've never tried them before - I've always had just plain green beans. The zucchini is humongous! I think I can probably get three zucchini breads out of it! (I know what I'm doing this weekend!)

My knitting has progressed also, but it looks pretty much the same. I'm accomplishing about 4 rounds a night on the Phyllo pullover. Halfway through the chart now. Slowly but surely! The mitten is also just about done. One or maybe two lunch sessions should finish it up. So, no new pictures of those. I do have some yarny pictures though.

My sister's handspun! She bought this alpaca a few years back at the Maryland festival. It was pretty inexpensive as the staple was pretty short and it wasn't labeled as the best for handspinning. She did it though and managed to spin up quite a few singles on bobbins. She just started plying it last week and it looks wonderful!

Now we just need to figure out what to make with it. She hasn't finished plying yet, and this skein is barely a dent in the singles she has. This skein alone has about 200 yards!

What would a post be without some doggie shots. Ace's new favorite thing is frisbee. He's getting really good at catching.

So It Begins

Determined to make significant progress on the yoke sweater, I knit like a fiend at lunch yesterday. By the time my half-hour was over, I was at the point to start the colorwork.

Before I could do that, a few hours working at the kennel, and Ace's agility class took precedence. My sister came, so she shot a quick video of Ace having way too much fun in class. It's a very short video, but shows how enthusiastic he is! He is going to be one fast boy!

Once home, I had a quick dinner and pulled out the sweater. I had the yarns ready to go for the colorwork, had figured out and done the appropriate decreases (with a huge thanks to this site - great decrease calculator!) and took off knitting.

That's just a sneak peek. I'm further along now and I'm really happy with how the colors are popping against the neutral background. I plan on trying it on right after the colorwork as well to determine how much more I need to decrease for the neck. The neck edge - not quite sure what to do there. Folded hem? (seems too bulky) Seed stitch? Ribbing? Crochet edge? I'd like something to kind of match the folded hems I plan on doing on the arms and waist edges. Suggestions welcome!

The scuba glove has been frogged (thanks Nomi!). It didn't fit hubby very well and I was quite frustrated with it. They will be re-knit with another more "manly" pattern.

Reunion

We had a great time at the agility trial this weekend. Ace got to see his sister, Gracie for the first time since she left.

L to R: Zeke, Ace and Gracie

She has really caught up size-wise. Little runt no more! She is within a few pounds of Ace (who recently tipped the scales at 19 lbs!) They had such a great time playing, running and doing tons of wrestling. A friend of ours also had her Aussie puppy at the trial, so he joined in the fun too!

Ace is the odd man out being the only black tri in a sea of blue merles! Lots of play time made for some exhausted puppies. It was great!

Tucker did well also - two Excellent Jumpers qualifying rounds. It took us a day to get back in the groove, but there were some very hard courses.

After picking up some books at the library the other day, I did want to recommend two that I thought had some wonderful content and information. Both have gone onto my holiday list!

Vegetables Every Day is like an encyclopedia of veggies. How to pick them, store them, cook them (recipes included) all arranged in alphabetical order. A wonderful resource.

Greens Glorious Greens focuses on the leafy greens that are plentiful in spring and fall. I know I had a very hard time coming up with new ways to use Swiss Chard and Kale or even what to do with Mustard Greens. This book has tons of recipes and also gives tips on growing greens. I highly recommend both!

Knitting continues on the second New England sock. I'm about halfway down the leg. Progress is very slow. It's a bit frustrating as I'm really enjoying knitting on it when I can steal a little bit of time when Ace is asleep.

Since I can't seem to finish much knitting these days, take a look at Steph's Deep V Sweater and Lolly's Aftur. Both are in my queue. I love the fact that Lolly used thrift store yarn! What a great way to get all those colors!

Adoration

Our early Thanksgiving celebration down in Maryland was wonderful. Having the family together is always nice - we don't get to do it nearly often enough. Ace did wonderful on the long drive down. He was happy chewing on the rawhide in his crate. Tucker, Ace and I went to a nearby agility trial on Saturday. Aside from the fact I forgot my coat and it was a chilly 40 degrees out, we had a great time. The courses were fun, and I got to expose Ace to all the noises, sights and smells of a trial. Tucker did super duper great. A first and two third places for the four runs I did. One of the third place ribbons was for a qualifying run for next years Nationals. He loves running in the cold, brisk weather. It gives him a great spark of energy! We have a three day trial this upcoming weekend indoors. The "Thanksgiving Cluster" as it is known is always a huge social occasion in the agility world here in New England. There is both breed shows as well as agility, and plenty of shopping opportunities! It's one of my favorite trials of the year.

Both of my cousins, age 4 and 6 fell in love with Ace (how could you not?). Especially S - when she was awake, she was playing with him. Running around pulling one of his tug toys that he would chase. Both of them were pretty worn out by the end of the weekend. At dinner on Saturday, she presented me with a book she made for Ace. Per her instructions, I was to read it to him every day to remind him of her and the fun time they had.

My favorite page is the back. His little nub tail! She is so creative I just can't get over it.

I did manage to do a little knitting (very little!). I have done about 10 rows of the mate for the first New England sock. The pattern is really nice. Just enough challenge to keep me interested, but once you are into it, easy to follow along.

Knitting progress of all kinds has really crept to a halt since Ace's arrival. I know it's only a temporary setback, but a little frustrating all the same. There are so many things I want to knit! Yesterday, Rachel posted about her fabulous new FO. Wow. Cables and a fitted shape. Am I ever smitten. I had seen the pattern for the Cable Down Raglan when I got the Spring 2007 IK. I liked it and bookmarked it (along with about 10 other things) but didn't really think again about it. When I saw that she only used about 800 yards for it, a lightbulb went off.

This is some Kimmet Croft Softie (website has gone kaplunkt since I got it) - a merino/angora mix that is super soft and blooms nicely. The gauge for a swatch I got was 21/4" - spot on for the Cable Down Raglan! I have 1200 yards, so it should be plenty. Now I just have to find the time to cast on!

Knitting? What Knitting?

Knitting time has been very sparse in these here parts. All due to this new little time suck.

Cute as he is, he demands almost constant attention when he is awake. I kind of expected this as both parents are very, very high drive and pretty much never sit still. It is what I want in an agility dog, but it has been a little hard to adjust. He is a good boy though and very smart. He already knows "sit", "down" and "kennel" and we are working on the tippy board and target training for agility. Both Tucker and Otis are tolerating him pretty well. Neither plays with him though, so that leaves it to us humans to entertain him. It's hard to believe he's only been home with us for a week!

This past weekend, we were down on the Cape for an agility trial. Tucker did super well and the puppies (we took the five remaining ones with us) had a great time. We managed some time away and went to the beach.

The puppies did great. Hint, Dekker and Gracie are in their new homes, and RJ flies to Missouri this week and Fog leaves for his new home on Thursday. Then only Shiner and Rumor remain. Terri will be keeping both of them for a bit and growing them out to see what they may develop into.

So, the knitting has been really minimal this past week. I am on the toe for the Victorian Lace sock and it should easily be done to be mailed out to it's recipient before the 1st of November. I leave next Tuesday for Arizona - 5 days in the sun watching agility - the USDAA World Championships. I know quite a few people who qualified, so it should be a fun time.

Working Through

Seems like the lack of knitting mojo is taking over (seems like I'm not alone). I love to sit and knit when I have the time, but time seems like the one thing that I don't seem to have. This past week I have managed to make myself sit down and do some knitting despite the million other things on my constantly rotating to do list...

After figuring out my kafuffle with the original version, I now have the right chart and it is working up beautifully. My first lace. Not bad! The pattern is a challenge, but fun. I am halfway down the foot and hoping to get some lunchtime knitting in today. It may sound like I'm rushing to get it done, and I am. This sock has to be mailed out by November 1st. But, a better reason is that I am doing some test knitting for Anne. Tight deadlines mean I only have a few weeks to finish a sock for her. With a 3 day agility trial and a new puppy in the house, that could be a challenge!

Yes, you heard right - new puppy in the house! The decision has been made - welcome the newest member of the clan!

How could I resist? For some reason, we had a connection since the moment he was born. For the past few weeks I was going back and forth between him and Hint. It was very hard - both had great attitudes, looks and seemed to really like me. In the end, after the temperament testing, I decided on Ace. He comes home with me tonight! We are still not sure if his puppy coat will shed out and become black or not. If it does, he will end up in the show ring - turns out he is the best moving puppy of the bunch! If not, he will be my next agility guy. Training has already started - we worked for a few minutes each day on learning what a clicker was (I am a huge endorser of clicker training for dogs - it's a positive reinforcement system that works great and fast. It is how both Tucker and Otis were trained for obedience and agility) and wearing a leash and collar for the first time. It will be really exciting to see him learn! This is my first puppy - we adopted both Tucker and Otis when they were already past this stage, so I have a lot to learn as well! Training an agility dog from the start is much different than training a pet type dog. Instead of discouraging any rough or aggressive play like tugging and growling, I am encouraging it. He already tugs like a maniac and is retrieving a toy when I throw it about 80% of the time. For agility you want a pumped up, revved up dog - he has a great start!

One puppy, Gracie, went to her new home yesterday. It was kind of sad seeing her go, but watching how excited her new family is to get her was really great. She is going to an agility home as well, so we will see her around for sure! A few of the puppies are flying to their new homes, so they will be leaving next week. The others are leaving over the next week or so. It will be strange to not have to count 8 little heads all the time!

My other agility star did really well this weekend - Tucker got his Excellent A Standard title! We move up to the highest level for the trial on the Cape this weekend. I am really excited. This is one of my favorite trials of the year. The location is amazing and the hotel we stay at is right on the water. The dogs can swim and play on the beach. I can't wait!