Thursday, April 28, 2005

Dear Genevieve,

We love you a lot, and you are really cute. We especially enjoy cuddling with you during those rare moments that you are still. We are trying to do our best with you to teach you how to use the outdoors as your potty area. We are not sure why you want to do your business both inside our lovely home, and outside. We are requesting that from now on you only use the outdoors for your needs.

Your mom is doing her best by taking you out to the bathroom nearly every half hour. In fact, it was only yesterday that you chose to poop on the carpet in the doorway of the study, and that was just minutes after you'd been outside for that express purpose. An Elzbieta is our witness as she saw your mom quickly scoop you up to bring you back outside to finish.

Don't worry, we're not mad at you, but we would really appreciate it if you could hold yourself together until you get outside. We are just getting a little tired of cleaning up your messes.

Oh, and if you could take a nap every now and then, that would be a good thing.

Sincerely and with great love,
Corgimom and Corgidad

a visitor, DH's sister comes to meet the Geneweasel

a visitor, DH's sister comes to meet the Geneweasel

Everyone is sitting so nicely!

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

At last a sleeve! and gratuitous poo pic

Thanks for the support and kind thoughts regarding the death of my Great Grandma. After a day at a conference on Anxiety and Differentiation of self aka Bowen Systems theory- dh, Genevieve and I went to IA for the funeral. We arrived late but my db (dear brother) a KU student was up to greet us- and get my in trouble. Just like old times as I was the one caught, reprimanded, and scolded by my Mom who was supposed to be sleeping in a room nearby. She shushed me a couple times- but hey, I was having fun with my bro, and I don't see him often. I figured it was worth it to have a few laughs with him- hey, how come I'm the one who gets caught?! ALL The TIME! The saga continues- as I will always be the *oldest* child. Sigh.

Well, last night Weasel gave us a good laugh, too. In a naughty fashion. She pooped on my husband's guitar case. It wasn't like she was jealous of it, he hadn't played it since she's been here until tonight, but I think it was still a protest to us for taking her "mountain" away. Dad, are you sure you don't want to donate your little black suitcase to us for the entertainment of our insatiable puppy? The poop was so well-placed that despite the apparent lack of good taste in posting such an exclusive inside moment I just had to include it. Hope it makes you chuckle.

On the sleeve note- I am uber excited- like I don't know that I used that word wrong- or did I? To go to EP knitting tomorrow. There I will engage in some furious sleeve knitting as I follow my own pattern for a perfectly fitted Gloria sleeve and chat with some fun people ( no, I will not mention what we talked about last week!) All I can say is that I was glad I didn't live in that area- and that I won't accidently run into any of the coffee shop customers elsewhere, but that the convo is a rollicking good time, keeps me coming back for more...later girls:)

L- Ideal Sleeve- R- and my previous design- now frogged (only the one on the right)

L-  Ideal Sleeve- R- and my previous design- now frogged (only the one on the right)

a pooper of a gift

a pooper of a gift

Gene-weasel in the tulips at Grandpa Bert's house

Gene-weasel in the tulips at Grandpa Bert's house

Monday, April 25, 2005

Genevieve's first check-up

She had her first visit to the our vet this morning. The vet said that she was "very brave". She received an "A" so that's good news. After the vet trip we visited PetSmart for some appropriate vet-suggested chew toys, so now she has cheese and BBQ chicken flavored edible Nylabones. Of course she'd rather chew on my birkenstocks! She had a great time at the store saying hi to everyone there, except the big yellow lab which made her want to run away- and the Rottweiler puppy who was scared of her!

On the knitting scene- I will be taking a needle-felted gnomes class at the Sheep and Wool festival in Lake Elmo. I am looking forward to it since I really love gnomes-like the Amelie gnome and the Travelocity gnome, and learning new techniques.

Also- I have been knitting on my Gloria/Noro cardigan sleeves. I completely redid one of them after trying to add the increases in the middles of the sleeves rather than at the end per the directions. This resulted in bumps on the 2 middle parts of the sleeves on each increase row. I began the new sleeve, and began the decreases for the sleeve cap only to realize that it was too short for my arm. So that part was frogged- and I have begun the decreases again. From my armpit to my wrist is a whopping 22 inches! I have some seriously long arms which wouldn't be a problem if I could only figure out how long to knit my sleeves! I remember a time in high school where the science teacher said about me "Imagine her arms on little Jessica." Little Jessica was about 3/4 as tall as me, and very fine boned- which I'm not. My arms would be like ape arms the science teacher said. I know that was to illustrate a point about our body being well-proportioned by design in science class- but I will never forget the awkward looking image in my head!

Thursday, April 21, 2005

A tribute to Great Grandma Tena and Grandma Martha

She died on early Tuesday morning in her sleep. She was 101 years old. Last year I crocheted my first scarf for her in teal and purple- she loved vibrant colors as much as me- and I gave it to her at her 100th b-day party. I have lots of fond memories of her including eating lots of cookies at her house, exploring her attic, and when she tried to teach me to knit when I was little. She was an avid knitter and crocheter- and I have no idea how many afghans she turned out, only that there were many made. I have one from her that is a black granny squares afghan with all multicolored squares.

I wrote a song in memory of her on April 19th it refers to her dying in her sleep and waking up to a new life. It also applies very well to my dear Grandma Martha who died on May 14th- just 4 days after our wedding in 2003. God bless them both. They were friends, and neighbors- and they can know hang out together in the heavens as they watch over us.

Here it is:

You woke up in the heavens
Far above the sky.
And you heard the Father say,
"Well done, well done"
When you woke up in the heavens.

You woke up in the heavens,
The sun's rays extended down to earth
To lift you high- far- above the sky.
'Cause you woke up in the heavens.

Your time on earth is done,
But eternity's just begun-
Since you woke up in the heavens.

Where there's love,
Where there's peace
Your time in heaven will never cease,
Since you woke up in the heavens.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

When nap time's the best time of the day...

For two days in a row the dogs have taken nap time simultaneously. It's a beautiful thing when the furkids tire and the knitting can come out and I can watch 30 Min meals on the TIVO without barking.

Today I got a bit of housework done- I did most of it yesterday- and of course, tended to the puppy's needs. She has a new game where she chews on a thick cardboard tag that is still attached to the duffle bag we had to buy in CA to haul back my text books to MN. This was needed since we were billed extra for our luggage since it was 15 lbs over. I'll blame that on my books- not all the shoes that one must bring while traveling. The game part happens when she tries to entice Buster to check out the duffle bag as she uses it much like a time out base while playing doggie tag. Buster tried to figure out what was so special about that bag, but couldn't unlock the secret. Yesterday during a particularly thrilling game Genevieve jumped off her suitcase mountain and DH reported having seen a piece of poo go flying! We knew it was hers, since Buster's trained. now does that count for an accident, or not? I think she was just moving too fast for too long, and it just flew out of her!

Now there's a corgi pup tail!

Now there's a corgi pup tail!

watch out for this end- you never know what it'll do!

Dad's suitcase is getting good use at our house!

Dad's suitcase is getting good use at our house!

It's Weasel the Mountain Goat our tailed corgi's playground

SnB's big bad baby blanket

SnB's big bad baby blanket

The surprise knitting project- my first baby blanket

Elizabethan's yummyliscious cake

Elizabethan's yummyliscious cake

The eight hour day

The eight hour day

baby-time baby food guessing contest at baby shower

Monday, April 18, 2005

A no accident day!

Yesterday was our first no potty/poo accidents day! Yippee!

Saturday we were watching Saturday Night Live and I was talking to DH about how well the day went- with no a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t-s. Yes- I actually spelled it out- and then she had one. She pooped in her crate. We were doing so well!

This weather has been marvelous. It is absolutely perfect outside now. The birds are singing the dogs are playing...

I even had a moment of peace this morning when both my dog and my puppy slept for about an hour. Otherwise my days have been filled with busyness. Bring the puppy out, supervise the puppy, bring the puppy out...let the dog out...

My knitting has been discouraging. I am trying to alter the Noro sleeves so that they shape my arms instead of how the pattern was written. Like my purple sweater these sleeves are going to be knit 2 oe 3 times before they are finally done.

have a lovely spring day!

Saturday, April 16, 2005

McDuster & Genie-weasel

Genevieve is my blogging assistant today. She is now nibbling my capri pants and squirming. She is adapting to our house quite well, and Buster has taken to his big brother role with fervor. He is more than willing to notify us with barks if it becomes apparent that Genevieve's needs aren't being met immediately. Kind of like, "Hey you- she's barking. She wants to play, NOW!" .

She has been alternating between calm angel-like dog and a pooper. Yesterday I was bringing her to my office to show off amd she was in the crate in the back seat. I was driving along and suddenly smelled a horrendous smell. It was coming from the back seat. Yuck! We stopped at Petco to investigate. Lo and behold she had pooped in her crate. Not only that but then she'd walked in it, thoroughly dirtying her little puppy paws. We went into our local Petco's grooming section. Two girls were grooming dogs. They greeted us and asked if we had an appointment. Hello, no, we don't have an appointment. I said all this with flat emotion. I told them about our housebreaking emergency, and asked if she could get rinsed off somewhere. The groomers were very kind and offered their sink, and clean towels, and all this for free. I thanked them profusely, and we went on our way to my work, only about 10 minutes away.

There, she was exhausted from the excitement of the spray-down and after a short time of exploring and walking around she settled into my lap and napped while I did my work. From that point on she was out, and a little limp rag doll puppy. She slept on her back in my lap with white belly exposed, and charmed and distracted all my coworkers.

The Conference

It was a really good conf. albeit cold. It was the Child and Adolescent Mental Health conf. in Duluth. On Sunday we left the 70-degree temperatures of our part of the city to head up north to the 30-40 degree weather. Brrr. While I was there I saw some people I knew from an art therapy internship of mine, drank 2 coffee drinks a day, and knitted through most workshops. I made a good amount of progress on my Noro sleeves- I started knitting them at the same time, and then decided to focus on one sleeve to get it just right before finishing the next.

I have also been busy working on a surprise gift for someone. Today it will be revealed- after I finish the last 12 rows of it and binding off.

Monday, April 11, 2005

And now for something completely different...

Namely, nothing. Or rather, the absence of something. That being new stuff. See, lest you continue to think that nothing is happening at our house, I've been instructed to post for my traveling bride - she is currently in Duluth attending a conference, and will most likely be out of blogging range until the latter half of the week.

Little did I know the trouble I would cause that one fateful night at the computer as my wife was reading her favorite knitting blogs and me casually mentioning "You know, hon, you could do that too if you wanted..."

-DH

Sunday, April 10, 2005

You probably think nothing's happening at our house...

Well, you're wrong. There is a lot going on here! On Thursday morning I felt like a daycare provider, trying to meet the needs of my older "child" while taking care of the dependent puppy's needs. I was exhausted at the end of the day!

My friend Beth reminded me that I need to spend some special time with the older dog and make sure to give him treats so he feels acknowledged and like he still belongs.

So on Thursday while the little pup was sleeping I took Buster on a fast jaunt to the post office to mail a letter for another conference that I am attending this month on Bowenian family systems. He seemed to really enjoy the time that was all about him, and not his puppy sister.

I am learning, I think, what it is like to be parents of an only child- and then to introduce a new baby into the house. Wow. What great lessons provided by fast-growing fur friends.

The cutest thing happened yesterday. Besides the fact that Buster and Genevieve (wow that's a long name for a 5 lb. pup!) love to play together, Geneweasel- a new nickname for her since she likes to weasel out of my arms to go play and run- shared her "cookie" with Buster. She was in the IKEA kitchen chewing on a Scooby Snack right near the doggy gate where Buster watched on with concern. She broke it in half and shoved half of it under the gate to Buster on the other side of the gate. Buster looked at me as if to ask "Can I eat it? She gave it to me?" And I said, "Go ahead.". So he happily ate it, and Genevieve ate her half. So cute. My corgis share!

Housebreaking is an adventure. I think I've brought the pup out 3 or 4 times today already. That doesn't include when Troy took her out at 4am.

Yes- I have been doing a little knitting despite all the dog care action here. I am working on my Noro sleeves. I adapted them- can I leave anything the way it's supposed to be on the pattern anymore? Rhetorical question. Of course not. Why should my sleeves be loose and sloppy when they could be fitted and contoured to my long arms?

Speaking of rhetorical questions. We watched this video called "FAT City" in class on Thursday night and it addressed a simulation of learning disabilities in a population of educators and others who work with children. One of the points that came up was the sarcasm that is used when a child doesn't get an answer right in school, and the use of rhetorical questions. The video said that the fastest way to get teachers to stop using rhetorical questions is for them to hear a student respond back to them. For instance, a teacher asks, " What part of no talking don't you understand?" The student replies, "the 'No' part". The class chuckles. Hmm. Do you think that teacher was very happy?! Well, from my experience my health teacher Mr. Grose was not happy with that answer when I gave it to him in seventh grade health class. Just a little sass to start your day. And to let you know that some rhetorical questions are better off staying where they originate- in your brain.

Happy tired poochies

Happy tired poochies

Happiness

Happiness

Already buddies

Already buddies

They LOVE to play together while Mom or Dad supervise

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Buster learned to shake paws tonight

Buster learned to shake paws tonight

Big brother, little sister, and Troy

Big brother, little sister, and Troy

I cut Troy's hair. I think he looks really hot with product in his fun
hair:)

First bath

First bath

She cried a bit- but she'll get used to being a clean puppy

baby Genevieve in Lamberton, MN

baby Genevieve in Lamberton, MN

What a foxy face!

Buster goes to work with Troy and co-worker Adam

Buster goes to work with Troy and co-worker Adam

what a pal!

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Interviewees beware!

I had two responses from people willing to get interrogated. I mean interviewed. Since I am a therapist and am very skilled at asking h-a-r-d questions I have purposely tried to be nice and simple here. Though if you are really daring I could ask you things for which you may never have an answer!

Amy the movie buff. You are the first winner!

1. You can play any character in the movie "Sideways". Regardless of their gender, etc. which character would you play- and why?

2. If you were a type of cheese which cheese would you be and why?

3. If you could knit any kind of sculpture what would the sculpture be?

4. What is one thing that you hope your children learn from you that you do, and what is one thing that you do that you don't want them to do?

5. Your dogs haven't scored a place on your blog yet, but I know they are cool. What is the funniest dog story that you have about them?



Kelle- the all-knowing knitter
1. If you were a type of cheese which cheese would you be and why?

2. Are there any knitting techniques that you haven't tried? Are there any knitting projects that you started and gave up since they were too hard for you?

3. Have you ever been hesitant about knitting in public or hae you ever been reprimanded by strangers for your behavior?

4. Double dare. Are you willing to post a picture of your stash online?

5. What is one thing that you hope your children learn from you that you do, and what is one thing that you do that you don't want them to do?

If either of you want to answer the other's questions in addition to yours go ahead.

A weird situation

Awhile back I was in this weird situation in which nearly everyone, myself included got unfavorable grades on our papers. Yuck! It was an unprecedented situation and we were given a few options like re-taking the class for free, fixing our papers, or taking another class for half the cost. I figured that I'd already spent enough time working on this particular project that I may as well fix my work and re-submit it. I went to a help session with the prof that felt more like a nightmarish piano lesson in which nothing makes sense and nothing goes right. (I've been there. I had a traumatizing piano teacher for too many years of my childhood).

Then I thought, another paper. Are you serious? I don't want to do it all again! So, rather than fix my paper I decided to take a different class. I figured, I can learn some other stuff, and even though I will be giving up another weekend and will just have had class the Saturday prior this seems like the best decision. Plus, my class will be with my favorite instructor of all time, Wes Wingett. He lives in NE and comes and teaches periodically throughout the year, so it's kind of a special treat to be in his classes. He has this uncanny ability to get to the deepest part of a person's soul within a matter of seconds. Wow. He is so wise that when I first met him I asked if I could follow him around like a puppydog and watch everything he does and do everything that he does. He said no to that, but said I could take whichever classes he teaches and learn that way.

So now I have turned an unfortunate event into a positive learning time. And I will be learning about the psychology of addiction. I just hope he doesn't make me give up sugar for a month and journal about it like my undergrad addictions class prof required! That was rough. I found myself rationalizing eating things with sugar whenever I heard about the relapses of fellow students. I dreamed and fantasized about indulging in high quality treats. My friend Elzbieta and I drove across the city to Cossetta to indulge in the most fabulous amaretto gelato. If I was going to have sugar it was going to be the best treat I could imagine. None of that tootsie roll pseudo-chocolate stuff for me!

Yes- I did get my two papers done and in the mail yesterday. Yes, I did write another paper this morning. If my counting is right, I am estimating that I will write a paper for my current class, a paper for my next class, then 2 short papers, and my big thesis paper a total of five papers remaining to be written in my grad school career. I think I can handle that...

Look what I get!

Look what I get!

I love koalas

Does this scare you or inspire you?!

Does this scare you or inspire you?!

Look at those eyes on that doll!

So cute, so naive, tomorrow his world will be turned upside down!

So cute, so naive, tomorrow his world will be turned upside down!

He doesn't really know that his little sister is coming home tomorrow!
Prepare to be
de-throned only child!

A good as this was, it didn't inspire me to write a paper!

A good as this was, it didn't inspire me to write a paper!

it did induce some serious knitting, though! Mmm. Caffe Breve with
caramel, white chocolate, and coffee-flavored whip cream. Indulgence at
it's finest!

In such a beautiful place there must be knitting!

In such a beautiful place there must be knitting!

Potter's Shed, Shell Lake, WI

My husband's grandma made this quilt! What talent!

My husband's grandma made this quilt! What talent!

I bet you want one too!

Microwave, by special request

Microwave, by special request

Voila!

Friday, April 01, 2005

Purple sweater in bedroom

Purple sweater in bedroom

Help! My world has been turned upside down by the Mac Mini

I no longer have my lovely Picasa 2 to work with, and seem to not get the option from the Mac to add links to my blog, and now, I don't know how to control the size or titles of my images! All this and more!

If you are in grad school and you are almost done I recommend that you NOT switch from a Mac to a PC or a PC to a Mac. Stay with what you are comfortable with! I will try nearly any new food, drink, visit any new place, etc. but when it comes to me learning a new computer program I have a hard time. I just want to stick with what I know.

So, apologies for the Clifford-the dog sized images here. Yikes! Well, maybe if you have a really huge monitor and fast internet you'll be fine, but I do not find my blog aestheticaly appealing now.

I do however find my purple sweater fantastic, though. I knit with a friend at Betsy's Back Porch Coffee in Mpls while drinking a mayan mocha, and finished up the collar and part of the long sleeve to waist seam. I really didn't want to leave for class, but I was a good girl and went. We got out early- and I excitedly went home and finished my purple sweater at 1:43 am. I think it was actually closer to 1:30 but I was ecstatic that I did it, exceedingly happy with it, and it was oh so cozy. It felt like a big toasty sweatshirt- but looks much classier than that. Needless to say, I didn't want to take it off. Whatever am I going to do sitting around in a sweater on a caffeine and adrenaline high when the rest of our neighborhood sleeps?! I reluctantly took it off and went to bed- but it's back on right now as I type. I think it is helping keep me calm despite all this computer craziness due to its comfort, calming deep colors, and the warmth that I love.

If you know me, you know that I love to be warm. In college I would go to class in a sweatshirt and realize in the evening that I wasn't even cold, in fact I was hot and was making my body dehydrated while it tried to keep me cool. All that for cozy comfort. The flip side is that if I lived in a really hot place I would bask in the sun like a lizard while lounging around in tank tops. I love wearing tank tops, too.

Noro Gloria

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