The Winter for Taiz

Today is the final chapter in the winter of Taiz's life.

Dear Taiz,
I only knew you for a short time, but grew to love and appreciate you and your wisdom. Thank you for taking the time to teach Shasta and Monroe a thing or two about SAR and about friendship. Thank you for all that you have shared. Shasta is very lucky to have worked a trail together with you. I'll always remember the first time you found me in the woods, your happy eyes that checked me a second time before running off to alert that you made the find. I was forever in complete awe of your air scenting ability, how gracefully you could run at top speed across any terrain, how much you cared about your work, and how much fun you could have all at the same time!! I will always remember you as a joyful K-9 Tinkerbell. I miss you.
All my love, Mavis

Monroe's Puppy Love Gloves

Summer 2008

Fall 2001

Monroe turned 7 years old last May, it's hard to believe how quickly our little puppy grew. As a long coated German Shepherd Dog, she has wonderfully soft fur. I like to brush her and spin her beautiful undercoat into yarn.

Dark gray yarn: 100% Monroe fur, 2 ply lace weight. White and gray yarn: 2 ply lace weight; 1 ply Monroe, 1 ply angora rabbit. Both skeins spun on a drop spindle.

This year I am trying to create a warm pair of gloves with Monroe's yarn. I tried two color knitting with a tan Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift yarn and a couple different Noro Kureyon Sock yarns.

Stage one:

Stage two:

Stage three:

I enjoyed the Noro Yarns and think the randomness of the colors are fun and spontaneous. I like some of the colors, though, better than others and think I would like to plan ahead where I want the colors to be in the gloves. I realized that in my search for the perfect yarn to use together with Monroe's, that I was drawn to the colors in her collar. I got her that collar because the pink, orange and purples in it look so nice on her. I don't know why I didn't think to start with those colors in the first place! In my quest to make the BEST Monroe Gloves, I am planning the next pair with a focus on her collar colors. For now, I am loving the gloves I have and enjoying them and all the wonderfulness of Monroe and her fur.

Dog Hair in the Library

The display case at the East Lyme Library is filled with some of my chiengora projects this month. I had fun choosing the items to include and displaying them with photographs of the dogs I got the fur from for each project. I have received a few positive comments so far, so I think people are enjoying the display.

Morning Yoga in the Freezing Rain

Shasta can't convince me to go outside today. Everything has a layer of ice on it and the freezing rain is still falling from the sky. So, outside by himself, Shasta decided to enjoy his morning yoga even if the weather is less than ideal.