Cherry Knits

Betty

I've been away from the blogging thing for quite a while. I just can't seem to find the time to keep up with it. But now I really need a place to pay a tribute to my beloved friend. I may be the only one who visits this space now since I've been AWOL for so long, but I still want to talk about Betty and share her memory.

Betty left us very unexpectedly. We don't know what was wrong. She seemed to have some pain in her neck because she was having trouble lowering her head to eat. We thought she might have a minor orthopedic problem from romping around on the trails--she wasn't a spring chicken anymore. She improved for a few days, but when our accupuncture vet visited to treat her, she was concerned that she was very dehydrated. Betty spent a night attached to an IV to get her fluids back, but something had gone terribly wrong. By the next morning, we were told her internal organs were failing and there was nothing we could do.  We had to tell her goodbye that afternoon, on July 16.

I was working in Alaska when Betty left us. I had said goodbye to her two days before to leave on my trip, and never dreamed it would be the last time I would ever see Miss Betty. John had the terrible burden of doing everything that had to be done for her alone. We were more than 3000 miles apart and there was nothing to be done about it except keep moving forward through the shock and grief as best we could.

We loved her dearly and miss her terribly. There is a big hole in our home now. Humphrey and Gracie and all the kitties miss her too.

Betty was a loving and beloved member of our family. She had a wonderful dogs life and brought immeasurable happiness and love to ours. We will remember her always. Soon we hope, with more smiles than tears.

 

Goodbye dear Betty. We will always love and miss you.

While we're on the subject of Oscar...

No - not that Oscar. Although I am so tickled that Helen Mirren won! And I thought Ellen did a great job as host. But, I digress.

No, I'm talking about another Oscar - my cat Oscar. Oscar de la Renta.

I just couldn't resist this title for my post today (for obvious reasons), but were it not for such a timely and clever coincidence, I would have entitled it "The $1000 Hair Ball". No kidding.

At the rate we're going, we may just be paying for a new wing at Tender Touch Animal Hospital.

This was "Oscar de la Renta" in the prime of his career as a famous Ragdoll show-cat before he adopted me and came to live in our house.

"Oscie" enjoys retirement snoozing in the garden catching a few rays on a warm winter day.

But last week...

Bloodwork and exam $162

Ultrasound $282

Procedure to extract one big honkin' hairball $600

A healthy kitty -- priceless.

I was so happy to come home from my last road trip to find he's back to his chipper cat self.

So, this was my most expensive fiber related expense ever (all at one time anyway)! And not even a sweater to show for it. I do actually save Oscar's fur from his combings for spinning, but this? Eeww.

Humphrey Update

Everyone has been so kind to send good wishes to Humphrey as he continues to recover from his torn ACL operation. No running or jumping yet, but just want you to know he's doing well.

1,601 miles later...

Hi! I didn't evaporate. I just returned from a looonnnggg road trip that took me into five states in eight days. In spite of my best intentions, there was no opportunity to blog before blowing out of town or while I was out pounding the pavement.

But now I'm back, and in the immortal words of Dorothy, there's no place like home ... or anything better than all the wet noses and wags just waiting for me to get here.

A Good Ice Breaker - Beyond the Snowplow

Snowplows are so five minutes ago. After weeks of navigating my street by slipping and sliding through the ice ruts. This is what finally came rolling down my street early yesterday morning. An industrial strength ice breaker on a bulldozer. Just in time for you know what...

Saturday Snow - er, Sky

Yep. It's snowing - for the sixth straight weekend in a row.

The doggies are loving it - especially Humphrey. He has to stay on a leash for short walks  only, but he's a happy dog. Happy Saturday to you! (sigh)

Auld Lang Knits

A timely theme now that January is almost over, don't you think?

But first, an update from Humphrey...

  Dr. Apryl took my stitches out yesterday and says I'm doing really great.  I got to go for my first swim today in the therapy pool! But now I'm back to doing this stay quiet and rest thing. My mom says she really likes it, but you know, I don't think it's such a big woof.

So...back to Auld Lang Knits

I took these pictures on December 31, 2006. They are all the active projects that were within arms reach of my usual knitting perch on the sofa. We won't even discuss all those other ones that are stashed in every cubby and hidey hole throughout the rest of my house just begging for attention. Anyway, these are the projects that were on my radar screen as 2006 faded into history and 2007 arrived with my needles clicking. Yes, I was knitting at the stroke of midnight--weren't you?  I never quite got the post I was working on about it finished as I was a bit crazed trying to pull myself together to leave for a road trip the day after New Year.

So here they are, a bit late for the theme, but at least before January gets completely away from me - yikes. I have actually made good progress. Stay tuned -- one of them is an FO soon to be revealed.

The annual Christmas stocking I didn't quite finish. First time in several years that I've dropped the ball on this one - oh well, I'll do two in 2007.

The Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl.

Rambling Rows is still rambling and nearing the finish line.

Everyday Tweed pullover. Just a bit of final finishing to do.

Simple Lace Shawl (swatched in an off white spare ball - but to be done up in a beautiful chocolate brown).

Sherman approves.

With all the snow storms and constant traveling and doggie traumas, there has been an appalling lack of knitting content on my blog lately. I just don't want you to think I forgot how...LOL. Happy knitting!

Hi from Humphrey!

Hi! I'm home recovering from my surgery. You know that I tore my ACL chasing tennis balls. What a bummer. So, Dr. Apryl shaved my whole backside (I'm doing my best to maintain my dignity) and operated to fix my knee.

My mom says I have to stay very quiet and rest for the next couple of weeks.

So my furry pal and I just hang out together when Betty and Gracie go out to play. But I'll be up and around again soon. I'm feeling much better and want to say thanks for all your good wishes.

...Hey, Cherry here. Just want to add my thanks to everyone who helped me keep my sanity last week since I had to be away from home when Humphrey had his surgery. He's doing well and will be able to start taking some short walks soon.

SATURDAY SKY

Since it's such a gray and bleary day here, this is the beautiful sky I enjoyed last Saturday overlooking the marina in San Diego just after sunrise. If you click and enlarge the photo, you can see Catalina on the horizon. Happy Saturday to you!

A Belated Happy New Year!

My first post of the new year - sorry it's so late. I had to run off on a road trip on January 2. And I'm off again! Just wanted to let you know I didn't evaporate.

My Golden Retriever Humphrey has to have surgery tomorrow. And I won't be here. John will take care of everything, but I'm a bit of a wreck. So please hold some happy healing thoughts for my two and four-legged guys tomorrow...thanks and I'll be back soon.

HO HO HO Who wouldn't go?

Up on the housetop? It's more like who couldn't go...on the housetop (I'm just thinkin' of Santa), to the grocery store, to the M-A-L-L (and I still have no, as in zero, Christmas shopping done yet- panic is about to set in). We have shoveled twice already this morning. It's not quite snowing horizontally - but the wind's got it beating on you at a pretty good angle.

But Betty, Humphrey and Gracie are loving it. Gracie was running around like a wacked-out crazy dog and having so much fun I couldn't even catch her in a frame.

(Betty's chillin' catching snowflakes on her nose)

  (Humphrey sez "Won'tcha come out and play --really, it's fun!)

The weather gurus are saying this could be our worst snow storm since the "big one" in 2003...here's what that one looked like...

 

Oh the memories....this was also the day the invasion of Iraq began. We were snowbound and if you were lucky enough to have power, all you could do was watch the war.

Maybe we'll get lucky and this time the cranky weather gods will lighten up and it won't be so bad. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping everyone who is trying to travel through the airports or out on the roads to make it home to their loved ones for the holidays will stay safe.

So, if I don't surface here again before Christmas, please send one of those big Saint Bernard dogs with the cask around his neck...filled with something a little stronger than eggnog! Hope you are somewhere knitting safe and warm.

Two Weeks Notice

Another road trip - I'll be back in two weeks and will try to check in from the road. In the meantime, hoping you have someone warm to snuggle up with...it's getting cold outside!

Saturday Sky with Bare Trees

Saturday Sky

I made a comment this morning on Dave's blog about how pretty I think bare trees are. So then it got me thinking how nice it would be to take a stroll through the park to capture some beautiful bare trees in my own Saturday Sky:

...Nature's own lace knitting.

And More about Needles

For once I'm not blathering on about my foibles with the knitting kind... here's Humphrey enjoying a little TLC from Dr. Holly. He's getting regular acupuncture treatments to help him recover from the ACL injury. He just relaxes and really seems to enjoy the beneficial effects of being a canine pin cushion.

And, since I brought up the subject of the knitting kind of needles, mine actually have been pretty busy although how would you know that since there has been a major lack of anything related to knitting posted here lately.  A progress update will be coming soon.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!