Now...It's December and Dogs on Thursday

I do have pictures of some finished things (on the camera) that I need to upload of what I've been working on, but for now, enjoy Tully sleeping on my dad's foot. Tully belongs to my parents. They retired this summer, went on vacation, and then came home and got a dog. It's difficult to get a pict of Tully and Ella--they like to play and Tully runs fast. I'll try next time they're together.

I have teacher gifts that I'm trying to finish (three of the same thing), hats that I've made, a pair of socks (these took me a year--go figure), a frogged sweater that turned into something better (at least I hope so) and I think that's it.
So...hopefully I'll be back later today with some pictures of some knitted goods.

Dogs On Thursday (Back Again)

Abby and Ella relaxing after a long day of vacation fun. (Notice their paws! Too cute!)

CocoMonkey getting some sun!

These pictures were from Ella's vacation to Colorado in July. She loves to visit her friends. The only thing she doesn't like are the thunder storms, they're really, really loud there, and fireworks on the 4th. Other than that, she loves it. She loves to get out of the heat for a week and romp and play with her friends.

(Visiting) Dogs On Thursday

Abby, the lab.

Ella and Coco (again, a fast moving dachshund), playing with foxinsox.


And, Coco, helping the dishwasher with the plates! Coco also had (just before this picture), jumped up on the table and singed off her whiskers with the candle as she was "helping" to clear the table! I tried to get a picture of that too, but alas, she's a fast little dog!

Coco and Abby were visiting last month (I know, I'm a bad blogger for just now uploading the pictures), but Ella kept telling me to show you all!

Still Here (and happy May)!

Ella.

I think she's looking at birds (or our evil squirrel) in the backyard.



Yes, I'm still here. It's been a weird/hectic last few weeks around the cactus household. Our air conditioner unit broke about a month ago (which was fine, it wasn't too hot), and the guys have been in and out of the house for the past few days (driving Ella crazy). But today the weather people are calling for temps in the low 100's today and I really, really need my air conditioner! They're telling me today (let's hope and pray) it will be done!

Let's see...what else...oh, yeah. Baseball's going strong for the Munchkin. Games three times a week with practices thrown in hither nither, you know the drill if you've been there! And then the LittleOne with softball, again games two times a week with practice. Running, running, running...

And then out here, school is out in, oh, let me count the days on the calendar....in about 11 days (not including the weekend)! Holy Crap! Another school year has come and gone! I'm not ready for the summer yet!

But...I did finish the first sleeve of my whisper(rav link) cardi and I did work, oh, about four rows on my skirt the other(rav link) day! Progress people!

Ella (Dogs on Thurs.) and a Hat

a sleepy ella with her fox

Love this hat!

Saw this hat here, and couldn't resist. I had this yarn in my sock stash. It's Opal, neon, a very springy color! (Pardon the wrinkly look, I haven't blocked it yet as I wanted to wear it right away!) I did have a couple of modifications: used #2, #3 and #4 needles, and did one extra repeat of the lace pattern. I'm glad that I did, because I do like a hat to cover my ears. It's been unseasonably windy and cool here in the desert, and I have worn this to a late-evening, windy little league baseball game!
Here's the Ravelry link: Springtime in Philidelphia Canopy.

And, last of all, Ella looking particularly cute posing for the camera. Shows her grey muzzle. (Her tail's blurry because she's wagging it! Her tail never stays still!)

The hat helped me get back on track of my sloooow knitting. I'm still working on the whisper cardi, but it's going a little faster now! And still working on my skirt!

New Year, New Picture for Dogs on Thursday

I think this shows Ella's grey muzzle really well!
Took with my new camera two days after Christmas (see date stamp).

Oh, and I decided to start something new--
this skirt!

I still like all the others I listed before, and will probably get to them some time (at least I hope so!).
Happy Knitting and Happy Dogs on Thursday!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

Ella getting ready for her walk one morning.

...well, Christmas.





Been a busy, busy week(s)here trying to get all the Christmas stuff done as well as some knitting.





I made an ear flap hat for my Hubby, and then of course, the Munchkin wanted one and then I got caught up in some mittens, which I've cast on 3 times for (once because I used the wrong color, second time too small and not anywhere close to gauge, and third, and hopefully all will go according to plan). {all pictures subject to when I actually get to take them}

And then...the kids are out for the break tomorrow so I'm running all my errands that I need to finish up before they're home for two weeks!

So...I hope all have a happy and productive weekend!

Yarn, Socks in Progress and Dogs on Thursday

A work in progress! Love, love this sock and this pattern! Very easy to knit and keeps your interest!

Pattern: Spring Pools

Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock yarn in neon green

And, remember about a week or so ago, I mentioned that my mom and aunt (the one who knits) were in a LYS in Phoenix, and my mom called me to ask me if I wanted anything. This is what they came up with! It's such a great color! Berroco Sox in color 1432/grannoch.

And, last but not least, a new picture of Ella! She's been loving these cooler mornings we're all of a sudden having! She runs and runs for a good half an hour every morning and then spends the rest of the day the way a dog should--napping! (when I took this picture, she was sleeping and her tail was wagging the whole time, so I think she was just 'cat' napping!)

Dogs on Thursday...

I'm letting the pictures speak for themselves.
(But Ella does say a Happy DoT for all her doggie friends out in blog land. She's ready for cool weather!)
And behind the first picture, you can see my new paint!

Ella's Friends for DOT

Ella wanted me to show you her friends that she visited on vacation. The first picture is of Abby (if you remember, she came to visit Ella earlier this year). I love this picture. It looks like Abby is smiling (poor old lady[she's 10])! The bottom picture is Coco in her backyard. It was difficult to get a shot of all the dogs together. Ella would chase Coco around the backyard and into the front yard, but every time I would go for the camera, Ella would stop and look at me as if to say, "What? I'm playing!"
Ella had fun with her friends, and seemed to miss them when she got home.
Happy Dogs on Thursday.

Lotus Tank

Pattern: Lotus Blossom Tank, Interweave Knits, Summer '06.
Yarn: El. D. Mouzakis, Butterfly - 10; 2 and 1/2 skeins. Color: 3727 (spring green).
Needles: Sizes #5, #6, and #7.
Modifications: Did 5 pattern reps of the lace using #7's, switched to #6 [per the pattern], and then did the top bodice portion in #5. Also made the bodice longer (the stst portion) by about an inch.

The back.

This picture was taken without the flash. I wanted to show the detail of the lace (my LittleOne thinks the lotus flowers look like a skeleton -- I'm thinking alien!) The pictures with the flash show the more true color! I love the way this came out! After reading some lackluster reviews of other knitters, I was afraid, but I just kept on going and trusted my instinct! This fits great and I'm glad I made it longer. I'm tall-waisted, so sometimes the short things bother me as I'm constantly pulling and tugging to keep my back covered.

And, of course, Ella for Dogs on Thursday! She's looking long and lean here! I've missed the last few weeks!

The last day of school for my kiddos here! Good grief! What happened to this year? It seems like only two days ago school was starting! Wow! Time really does fly! (Ask around, everyone will tell you!)

Hope all have a great Memorial Day weekend! It's supposed to be a nice cool one here in the desert (for a change)!

Dogs on Thursday

It seems like every time I take pictures of Ella, they look like ones I've already taken. So...I went through the ones already on the computer and pulled three that I like.

This one shows Ella's ears, her lovely brown eyes, and her touch of gray around her mouth.

This is Ella's absolutely favorite toy. For those of you who don't know the story of the Grinch, my LittleOne gave it to Ella after she said he was "too scary to sleep in her room". Ella carries him around all the time and is currently working on chewing his eyes out! (He looks very clean here!)

And, Ella catching some sun!

Hope everyone has a great Dogs on Thursday and keep on knitting!

Dogs On Thursday (Action Shots)

That's Ella's tail!

It's very diffictult to get a dog to pose with her new toy! Lobster!

Check out the Dogs On Thursday blog!

Dogs on Thursday -- a picture profile

These are some of my favorite pictures of Ella! Enjoy!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Dogs on Thursday (all day).

Today I'm going to send you all to the Dogs On Thursday site.

Why? You ask?

Well...Ella is the spotlight dog! (and she's very, very excited about that!)

And for those of you who are wondering, we think Ella has some Australian Kelpie in her (a sheep dog for a knitter without sheep!). A goggle image search shows some of her great relatives!

Happy DOT day!!!

I Can't Believe it's Thursday Already!

I really don't think I have to say much about these pictures! Ella can make herself curl up into a really, really small ball! And check out the eyeball in this last one!

Ella's Day (Dogs on Thursday) !

Ella's day begins early! When she hears Dad pour his cereal, she gets out of her nest of cozy blankets to go get her two pieces. And then she waits, and waits and waits for her kids to get out of bed, have their breakfast and then it's off to school!

Since the Christmas vacation was over, Ella's been walking her kids to school! It's dark and chilly out these past few mornings, the sun hasn't yet made it up over the mountains!

Once her kids are at school, Mom and Dad let her run in the desert! This is Ella in full running mode! She's very fast! Here Ella gets to be a dog! She chases her rabbits (when it's not too cold), her birds and when it's warm, the lizards! She rarely catches anything, although sometimes a slow lizard! Can't you just imagine her herding sheep?

While walking this morning, Ella heard a group of coyotes off in the distance and I actually got a good picture of her! (Notice it's still dark!)

Once home from her run/walk, Ella gets two of Mom's homemade doggie treats! (Her friend Charley-the lab next door-gave her some good ones for Christmas, but they're all gone!)

And then finally, how Ella spends most her day! Curled up on the sofa! Her two friends snuggle with her -- Grinchy and Mr. Squeaky the Octopus! (This is the second squeaky toy she's had, she de-squeaked the first! A sad sight!) She's waiting for her kids to come back home.

Dogs On Thursday

A birthday card MyHubby got from one of his friends. I think it says it all!
(card from Avanti Press, Inc., http://www.avantipress.com/)

Dogs on the last Thursday of November!

These were taken of Ella last Friday (again the date stamp is incorrect!), when she went for her walk with dad! It was quite cold that day, so she was wearing her sweater!

What about my ears?

Today it's raining and cloudy and a little bit chilly! A great day for curling up on the couch or the chair!

Have a great day! Be sure to check out the other Dogs on Thursday!

Dog on Thursday

Pose number 1.

Enough of this Mom...I'm out of here!

Yes, that's Ella's ear.

And Ella's eyeball.

And a pretty picture.

It was a long, long day for Ella. A long walk with Dad this morning, sleeping on the couch, the floor, and the couch again. Guests (my parents and aunt) for dinner. And it's still hot here! She really wasn't up to posing for pictures tonight, but I think I got a good one!