Brothers Forever

A sad day today as I learn of Sabre's passing. Sabre and Shasta were litter mates. Gypsy/Jedi pups... amazing dogs by any measure. They are shown above in a photograph taken in the spring in 2000 when they were about 4 months old. Below are pictures of them when they were close to a year old.

Sabre became a guide dog for the blind in 2001; he worked for over 7 years before retiring in December 2008 due to health problems.

Shasta and Sabre were together in guide dog training, though Shasta turned out more suited to life as a pet than a working guide. So while Shasta has been here with me, Sabre has been away hard at work guiding a blind man to work and home again each day. After retiring, Sabre's final months were spent with the man who raised him as a puppy, who knew him as a best friend. In the end, as his health was failing him, Sabre had the care of the man who loved him from the beginning and never stopped caring about him even though they were hundreds of miles apart for many years. It is what we all hope for in the end, to be loved and to be cared for by a tender hand, gently keeping our memory alive in their heart until we meet again.

.

Sabre December 24, 1999 - February 23, 2009

While the pigeons sleep...

Hard to believe, but this is the same window in my February 12th post. Teresa sent a picture of what the stained glass looks like at night when illuminated by lights inside the cathedral. Beautiful.

Trying something new

I am learning to spin organic cotton on an acorn support spindle. Or at least that's my plan. After spinning chiengora for several years, I thought I could handle the short staple of cotton. I am hoping I am still right about being able to do this, but I am definitely wrong that cotton spins at all like dog fur. The drafting method is very different for me, and quite a challenge I will add. So far I have learned I can't spin cotton on my Louet s10 wheel, no matter how much I lubricate the wheel. There is too much pull from the wheel and the cotton falls apart in my hands before I can get enough twist into it. I have always wanted a book charkha, and maybe someday I'll get one. From the videos I have watched that looks like the best way to spin cotton. But on my present budget, I am committed to trying the tools I already have. The support spindle has been a challenge for me in the past, and I have left it behind on more than one occasion and returned to my wheel or my favorite drop spindle. Those options didn't work this time. So I will keep at it and attempt to master this little acorn. I hope the one handed drafting skill I am learning with the cotton will be useful when the Great Wheel comes home. Maybe I can try spinning the cotton on the great wheel? I have seen a video or two of cotton spinning on spindle wheels. The Great Wheel is considered a spindle wheel and isn't a charkha a spindle wheel also? So much fiber, so much to learn, so much fun.

The Evil Pigeons of Spain

Teresa is in Spain this week where I'm told the plotting pigeons should repent and stop their evil ways. No more pooing on whatever (and whomever) they please.....

I don't think the pigeons are listening.

Getting Her Groove Back

Monroe is doing better lately. We discovered last week that she has Lyme Disease and Anaplasma (both tick borne diseases, ick!). She is taking antibiotics and has been acting more like herself this week. Shasta is happy to have her play with him again, though I do think he plays a bit rougher than Monroe is expecting when she initiates a game.

I have been trying to get the dogs out every day for walks, especially Shasta, he NEEEEDS his exercise. He can be very creative at indoor exercise if he doesn't get enough outdoor exercise.....But the cold freezing temperatures make it hard to stay outside for very long.

Here are the "take me outside" looks I am getting. Hard to resist.