Thank you to all my Blog Pals

I want to thank everyone for their nice comments about Oliver. He enjoyed his special day and is still strutting around today. My youngest daughter called me and said that for a knitting blog there sure was a lot about Oliver. She was right. He does seem to be all I post about. I will endeavor not to be such a proud "Mom" and stick to the knitting. I think I just need to post other days beside Thursday! Everyone have a great weekend and try not to work too hard towards that big day coming up. Hopefully in January I can get back to some serious knitting and blogging about knitting. A big woof and slobber goes out to Oliver's best blog friends Grover and Tucker. He also sends a woof to his new blog pal Mugsy. Mugsy is his Holiday swap pal. Keep knittin' everyone!

This is the first fingerless glove I have tried. I took this photo before I started the fingers. I have actually finished the first glove and now will start on the second. The pattern is here at knitty.com and it has a mitten top. Each half finger was much easier than I expected. The trick is to twist the stitch at each finger gap. It worked pretty well for the first time. It is still a little holey at the finger joins so I must reinforce those areas. The thumb is worked like a standard mitten thumb, then you knit a separate mitten top and attach it to the glove. I think the pattern explains this much better so have a look at it. It really is fun to knit. I used Regia 4 ply on number 2 needles and the clove will fit a medium hand. I think if you have a smaller hand you will have to adjust the number of stitches.

Now for the really big news.......Oliver has been asked to be the "Dog on Thursday" by Natalie. I am so excited and will endeavor to take a nice portrait picture of him! He really is a very dignified fellow.......not! I am sure he will do his best to cooperate. He has told me that there are some hotties on the list and he wants to look his best. If you are not on Dogs on Thursday check it out here and enjoy. Anyone can join so have a look and join in on the doggie fun

I have almost overdosed myself on Christmas music already. I have it on in the car, at home and at work. We have XM radio and they have 4 or 5 stations that play nothing but Christmas music. I am in heaven. Also please click the player at the right and listen while you read. I have selected some of my favorites and will change them from time to time. They are really old time favorites that I grew up with but I will add some newer tunes too! Everyone have a lovely week.

Dogs on Thursday

Here it is Thursday again. I love doing this post, but I know how much time it takes to go through the list of names to visit everyone else. So I will make this short with pictures of the dog, and then do a knitting post tomorrow. I love to visit each blog and see the pups but it takes me around two hours to read each post and leave comments. So , long story short (way too late for that!) here is the pup and some of his antics today! Love all you gals out there and please have a wonderful day!

Having a nap among the leaves!
Up and ready to roam!



P.S. Doesn't he blend right into the landscape. I guess it is time to rake some of those leaves!

Dogs on Thursday

Oliver had the best time of everyone on vacation. He romped in the waves and dug in the sand and did his usual thieving of personal objects, fortunately to the amusement of my family. Except for my brother-in-law, who was personally insulted every time Oliver stole one of his sandals or hats. I don't think he is a "big" dog lover. Anyway, Oliver enjoyed himself and I think he made the vacation for me. He was fun and well behaved on the ride down and home. Plus he enjoyed every minute he was away!



Is this a too cute face? Blondes need extra protection from the sun.


A boy and his dog. My husband just loves Oliver and they have fun together!





On the knitting front I finished two potato chip scarves and my little toddler dress. Pictures for tomorrow as I have to buzz off to work now. Everyone have a great day!

Just a quick note

It is early in the morning and just Oliver and I are up. We watched the sun come up over the ocean from our balcony. I took some pics and will post next week. It is quiet and the gulls are calling out and Oliver is very interested in them. We are having the best of times being together with my sisters and my mom. The hubbys are playing golf and we are making cocktails and swimming in the pool. We decided that we should try and see some of the island so we might actually leave the house today. It is 80 degrees and sunny here on October 9th! Such beautiful weather. Thinking o you all and I have actually knitted for about one hour yesterday. I brought all my unfinished projects with me..I thought I would get to them...LOL hope springs eternal. See you soon..........

Oliver on Thursday............

We have been having a debate at my house about taking our pup to visit the kids for family weekend at their college. Now, you know that Oliver is a large Golden Retriever, even for Goldens. He weighs in at 95 pounds and is very active and curious guy (that's the big boy in the chair). We have a lovely family across the street from us that will take him into their home and watch him for the whole weekend. So no worries there. My son at school told his dad that he misses his pal and wants to see him. The Hotel we are staying at needless to say does not take pets, and my daughter that lives off campus has a roomie that is terrified of dogs! You would think that would end the discussion, but no, it was still going on until I finally said that is wasn't going to happen. The pup is coming on vacation with us in two weeks and he will just have to wait until then! Oh did I mention that the person causing all the ruckus was the hubby. He is so attached to his pup that he hates to leave him behind at any time. So what a good reason to have him come! Our son misses him! He will just have to miss him this weekend. Any way I am looking forward to seeing the children and having fun with them. I told my hubby he could always look at my blog if he misses him too much! I am mean, I know. But sometimes I have to come before the pup! LOL! P.S. He loves to sit in my chair that I sit in when knitting. Maybe he thinks the yarn will roll out for him and he can attack it! Who is the boss in this house? That's right it is Oliver, and he knows it!

Not too much happening on the knitting front, working on my swap package for Fall into Autumn and I finished a baby hat for one of the many moms that come into the library that are preggers. I try to make each new baby a hat and some booties. I will take pictures before I take them to work. Also to my Let's knit socks buddies....I will be back with a second sock started. I have really fallen of the sock wagon because I was so bummed with the way the toe finished up on the first sock. But I will start it in the car this weekend. Hope to have some great pics of Washington too.

Should be knitting right now........and Dogs on Thursday!

I am in knitting purgatory! I am making sure I finish one project before I start any new ones. So I am working away on project one right now, a sweet little dress for my niece, and then will address the two partner less socks I have in the basket. I put each unfinished project in a bag and then stacked them in a basket. I put all my stash in plastic containers (keeps it away from a certain puppy too!) and stacked that away out of sight. I put the project I am working on in a little shopping bag with knitting supplies and extra yarn. I take it everywhere with me so that I can utilize any down time and thus I will finish this project. I am determined to be organized and serious about my knitting. I love to knit and I think I need to turn out my projects in an orderly and organized way. I am tired of being scattered and jumping from one project to the next. So with all good intentions I headed out shopping this past weekend..... Ah well, I guess I was having too much fun and flew to near the sun. I came in (sneaked in really) with a large purchase from LYS and was summarily asked if I had finished all my other projects...well I guess I'll show him! Really he is a great guy but just doesen't get the knitting thing. Knitting fingers to the bone here in New Jersey................


Dogs on Thursday..................Is this the face of a criminal? He is a chicken bone stealing, low down, garbage swilling, sneak of the week! Sitting at my computer I thought I heard the sound of crunching...but no..not my puppy....I checked it out anyway and low and behold there he was chompping away on the chicken bones from dinner. Did I close the garbage lid? You bet I did! Did I wrap those bones in a paper towel and shove them way down? Again, you bet I did. Was that enough to stop a chicken bone thief? Apparently not! Did I shove my hand down his throat and remove the remains of his chicken bone sortie? How course I did. I only hope that I got them all. What a very bad dog. I will now remove all yummy items, such as bones, fat, skin and other misc. parts of the bird and put them in the outside garbage. He was very contrite and very abjectly posed for some pictures......he looks sorry doesn't he? (Until next time that is!) who me? See you all next Thursday...woof...woof till then.

Snips and butterflies and puppy dog tales......

Thursday again....let's start with puppy dog tales......Oliver has been his usual scampy self. He keeps coming into my craft room and stealing yarn. He has very discerning taste and goes right for the merinos and the mohair. I don't understand the attraction. He takes it and rolls on his back and holding it in his mouth he throws it up and down from his mouth to his paws. The result is a big tangled mess. I am going to leave the camera out so I can catch him in all his glory. This weekend I am going straight to the dollar store and buy more storage containers to put the yarn in. It looks good in baskets but it is too tempting for the poor pup. So for now I have a picture of the evil doer looking very innocent and longingly over the fence to freedom.


While I was in the yard I saw a beautiful Monarch butterfly having lunch in my garden. We see so few of the beauties here in my part of New Jersey that I couldn't resist. I just couldn't get him to open his wings no matter how much I coaxed him! Still a beauty though. That is the last of my Black Eyed Susan's and the still lovely Lantanias.




















I Am afraid I have not been taking pictures of my knitting because I am in a knitting pickle. I have started too many projects and I don't know which one to work on. I keep starting things I want to make and not finishing them. I guess it is time to get tough with myself and put away all the projects but one and finish that one. Then move onto the next. I am also doing socks for a KAL and I have only done one sock and not even started the other! I must get back on track. Also a funny little problem keeps me from knitting more....WORK! I work and then think about knitting....I work some more and wish I were knitting...I bring my knitting but it is so busy all I am doing is carrying it back and forth.....I work with the public so I feel they would think it strange if I helped them and were knitting at the same time....sigh....:0( When I retire I think I'll try and get a job in a yarn shop. I love my job ( librarian) but knitting really has it's hooks (needles!) in me. Have a great weekend and I will be posting wonderful pictures of completed projects!