Viking Tea Party

A Different Kind of New Member of the Family

Remember Buddy? 

When we left for Ohio last month I think I was almost more excited about seeing Buddy than I was about seeing my parents.  Heck, I'd seen them in March.  Just kidding.   And Matt had never even met him even though, after the long and frequent Skype chats we had while I was living with Mom and Dad and waiting for my visa, it seemed like he had.  Buddy was so excited to see us, too, and showed it by running out to greet us and peeing all over the drive way! 

My brother and his fiance brought their dogs up from New Orleans that first weekend and it was doggy paradise for Buddy.  He loves being around other dogs and just about wore himself out running around the yard with his friends.  My parents had been talking about getting another schnauzer pretty much since they got Buddy last summer but it wasn't until this spring that they went to see a litter born to a local breeder and fell in love with a little liver colored lump of love.  A couple of weeks ago, Buddy's new friend was finally old enough to settle into his new home.

This is Kidd, the newest miniature schnauzer member of the family!

And this is THE cutest picture I've seen of him yet.  Eep, so adorable! 

How Dogs Dress in New Orleans

Buddy along with his new pals Tallulah, my brother's girlfriend's dog, and Cooper, my brother's dog who is only a few days younger than Buddy.  From what Mom said Wednesday night, they all got on great and I wouldn't be surprised to get a photo from my parents in the not too distant future of Buddy and another miniature or standard schnauzer.  If they do get a second dog I really think they should name him Ol' Pal.

"Come here, Buddy, Ol' Pal!"

A Visa Tidbit and a Little Knitting

Matt and I decided to give Worldbridge, the liaison company for the embassy, another call yesterday.   After being led to believe they were going to help us last time only to be let down, I was a little leery but I made a new friend recently on Ravelry who, uncannily, was in nearly my exact same position except that she received her visa weeks ago.  That was enough to make us decide that giving Worldbridge one more try might be worth it.

I can't quite say for sure yet but I think it actually might have helped.  I received an email this morning letting me know that my request had been escalated for detailed research.  I have every part of my body crossed in hopes that we get some good news. 

I cast on Kiri this afternoon in the Fino that I splurged on for my birthday.  I'm about fifteen rows in and I can already see the leaf pattern - for me, seeing the design start to take shape is what makes lace worth it.  It's like magic - a yarn over here a knit two together there....

Hopefully the yarn for the Gooseberry Cardigan will arrive tomorrow.  After coming home from the Wool Gathering on Saturday with no yarn (I had a really great list of possible projects, too), Matt suggested finding something online instead.  I'd been thinking about that cardigan since I'd picked up Interweave Knits - Weekend (I think there's a lot of good stuff in the issue).  It's top down but it still has some challenges and the sleeves are knit flat so I'll get to try at least a little seaming.  I'm not quite ready to dive into the world of expensive yarn for sweaters, though, so I found a nice red in Knit Picks City Tweed.  I really should finish Buddy's sweater first, though....

Speaking of Buddy - he graduates from puppy class tonight.  I haven't gone for several weeks because it's a couple hours of alone time for me and, honestly, I came home with a raging headache each time due to Buddy's barking.  He's just about the friendliest thing ever and he couldn't understand why he couldn't play with his classmates.  Mom and Dad said he's gotten better, though, and I can't miss the little guy's graduation.  We spend an awful lot of time together, after all. 

Have a Great Weekend, Y'all!

Off to visit family in Tennessee for a couple of days.  A nice break with no internet (which also has a downside: no Skype chats with Matt) and, hopefully, at least a little knitting.

My backseat companion for the trip...

He agrees that I snap far too many photos of him...

 

And because I think his nose is his cutest feature...

Here's hoping he's this relaxed for his first long distance trip.  :)

The Newest Member of the Family

Last week my parents bought a puppy.  An adorable, fifteen week old miniature schnauzer that, after a day or two and the testing of a few possibilities, they named Buddy. 

Meet Buddy.

 

Since I'm just hanging out during the day, waiting (im)patiently for an email from the British Consulate, I've been taking care of him.  It was easy at first and I thought my parents may have picked an absolute dream puppy...then he got comfortable.  That said, we've had some pretty tough times.  Yesterday may have been the worst.  Mom and Dad left for Chicago for a wedding but they got to see him act like a true puppy just before they left.  Between the biting, the barking (at the empty basement stairs because my cats will no longer come to the top [there's a baby gate - there are LOTS of baby gates]), having to chase him in the pouring rain and the getting in to everything, he actually drove me to tears.  More than once. 

In the time it took me to write that paragraph, I had to trade him his Kong Bone (best toy ever) for something he shouldn't have - twice.

The afternoon paid off, though.  We sat outside and watched the clouds.

I read a book.

He ate the most he'd eaten all day.

It only lasted about a half hour but it was nice. 

He has made the waiting a little easier.  If it weren't for him I'd be even more bored than I have been for the last week.  Yesterday I actually picked up some thread and needles and such so that I could play around with a little embroidery because it's much easier to put down than knitting when Buddy grabs one of my mom's suffed Boyd's Bears and starts chewing on it. 

Except for his hours of Extreme Puppyness, we get along really well.  He hasn't had any accidents and I taught him how to sit the other day.  Now if I could just teach him "drop it"....