Happy Thanksgiving

As we enter into the holiday season, I am reminded how lucky I am.

 

 

I have 2 healthy, responsible girls.

I have 2 healthy elder dogs.

 

I have a good job that I'm really, really enjoying.

I have good friends.

My husband loves me.

 

I am able to make things.

We have enough.

 

I am thankful for each of you that read my blog

and take the time to comment and give suggestions.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Week of Happy

 



One of the blogs I read regularly, is not a sewing blog - she's a knitting blog.  And I've developed a relationship with her and have done a fair amount of test knitting for her in the past.  She is currently participating in 52 weeks of happy.  (No links - because I don't feel like it.)

I love the idea of a week of happy.  It rather goes along with my Thankful Thursday theme - in that it really is the small things in life that make a difference.  So - with not a lot of sewing going on lately and big complicated knitting projects - I'm giving you sneak peaks and talking about the small things that make a difference. 

The shawl, over <--- a="" and="" borrow="" bride="" chair.="" enter="" fair.="" from="" going="" hanging="" i="" in="" it="" m="" nbsp="" p="" s="" shawl="" that="" the="" there="" this="" to="" wedding="">




As Beau gets older and is more willing to listen and hang in the front yard with JB, he's allowed to do that more.  He was laying in the sun and I stepped out to see where he was - he sat up and looked at me.  To me, his face just says 'what?' to me. 

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen some of the other things that made me happy last week, they include:

*the view downtown from my office
*impromptu parties on the deck with friends
*smoked bacon

What's brought you happy this week?

Dog on Thursday

apparently, I only have one dog. 

Not true - I still have 2 but Abby doesn't do much but sleep.

Not that I've shown Beau do anything else lately.

 

10 days ago or so, I found a lump on Beau.

It was successfully removed with clean margins.

He has to wear a shirt to keep it clean and keep him to scratching while it heals.

He's taken over my loveseat - as you can tell - he uses the whole thing.

 



It's also Thankful Thursday, what are you thankful for today?

I'm thankful for:

*Spring*back up sewing machines*coffee*

*cake for breakfast*knitting*new babies*

*green*friends*Maroon 5*

 

Happy Pie Day!  3.14

Ohhh Beau

 

I missed Dogs on Thankful Thursday.

I really need to get that funny picture of me off the top of the blog.

This dog has my heart.

 

Today (a day late), I am thankful for:

 

*a very supportive husband

*the ability to create with my hands

*fabulous blog friends that I have met in real life (and those I haven't)

*dogs who don't care about the rules and flaunt them in your face

*rainy days off - they are cozy

*books

 

What are you thankful for this Last Friday in February?

It's Thursday - Are You Thankful?

So - once again we get another Thursday in the week - that's a good thing right? It means the week is almost over. It's at this point of the week, when I'm tired and it feels like the weekend will never get here that I like to remember the little things that make me smile.

:: cute puppies - this is Titus, my brother's dog who visited for Christmas :: clear, cold, crisp days and warm houses and cars with heated seats for the commute :: knitting, I love being able to take two little pointy sticks, some string and make something that will keep someone else warm.   :: good friends

:: fabric, yarn, and the sewing, blogging community.  I have taken a sewing dare!  more info soon.

:: friends who share their knowledge

:: short work weeks.

I shared mine - won't you share yours?  Happy Thursday Everyone!

Dogs on Thankful Thursday

I know this isn't a great photo - but it tickled me to have the boy in silhouette like that.  Sorry about the background - my house is cluttered and messy. 

 

Beau was laying on the chaise last week and wanted to make a fuss about the garbage truck coming.  He was sitting their 'howling' at it - but couldn't be bothered to go to the window.

It's early in 2013 and it's time to do a Thankful Thursday again.  Today I'm thankful for
::  How pretty it's been with the clear, cold, crisp weather
::  Crafty friends - I have an idea to save the dress
::  Knitting classes
::  Health and Fitness
::  Credit Card Monitoring
::  Small local restaurants with good food and people who remember you
::  Good friends.

What are you Thankful?

Thankful Thursday

All over facebook - people are writing a little post of the things they are thankful for daily during November. 

Honestly - for several years now, I've tried to be conscious of the little things in life that make a difference.  The things that not everyone has.  I started a Thankful Thursday series, but honestly - I haven't been very good about posting.  But I think remembering the big and small things in life that make getting up are important.

So today, I wake up my Thankful Thursday series again.  Please share your thankfuls in the comments - I love reading them.  Today, I am thankful for:

*friends, sitting and knitting, laughing and visiting
*healthy dogs and the ability to pay their vet bills when they aren't
*the ability to fill my gas tank - that's no small thing these day - no lines to get gas and I can afford it.
*having a job - it may be stressful, but most of that is my own doing.  Plus I only work 4 days a week.  I do put in long hours regularly, but not 10 hour days. 
*weekend get aways


Still No Dresses

How about some old business for Dogs on Thursday and Thankful Friday?

The Princess gave JB these lovely dog themed beer signs when we went to visit her in May.  What?  You didn't know we were in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island back in May.  Oh dear.

Bloodhound Brew
Beer So Good It'll Make You Drool
100% Howl-Ahol 



Headstrong Hound
Beer & Biscuit
"All Hail the Scented Trail
That Leads Us to a Pint of Ale"

I do love them and need to find a place and a way to add them to my decor. 

Now if you want the true take on retreat - or sew camp - click over to my friend Maris' blog and read her post all about it.  You can even see Wendy wearing the border print dress from the other days' post.

Thankfuls :: good friends who act as shrinks and help you work through body image issues :: having my own yarn shop in the basement :: new recipes that work :: Fall and the changing of the leaves - yes it happens here too :: healthy dogs :: kids who grew into responsible adults :: instagram :: good books::

What are you thankful this week?

Thankful

I haven't posted a thankful Thursday in a long time and I think I need to.  Everything is all out of joint right now and I need to line back up and get on track, because no matter how horrible I think my life is - it could always be worse.  And truthfully - it's not that bad.  So today I'm thankful for:

*the wisteria blooming in the dog yard.  I love this flower which is considered a weed.  This little tree was planted 8 years ago and this is the first spring that it's bloomed.  They flowers don't last long, so I'm really thankful that I didn't miss them.

*the dogs - who can always make me laugh and smile - even when they are being goobers.

*the ability to take vacations to see The Princess graduate, see how happy she is, meet her employers and spent time with her Boy and his parents.

*meeting friends, having dinner and chatting for hours.  Spending time catching up and it feeling like it's been weeks since we last got together and not years.

*the Internet and blogs in particular.  Meeting new friends online and in person.  Coincidentally being in the same place at the same time - miles from our homes.

*the ability to make just the right curtains.  No matter how painful the project was.  Knowing that it's perfect is worth a lot.

-- So, would you share a bit of your thankful list with me today?   g


Thankful Dogs

Combining a bit of Thankful Thursday with Dogs on Thursday -
I thought I'd let the dogs tell you what they are thankful for.

I'm thankful that Dad brings bones home and gives them to us! - Lucy

and for long walks on weekends.

I'm thankful that Mom let's me run in the yard when it's sunny - Abby

I'm thankful for the blueberries Mom adds to our kibble - they are yummy!

and for her just laughing when I climb on the furniture - I'm not suppose to - Beau

Thankful Thursday

 No doggies today - just a list of all the things to be thankful for.  The photos are mostly taken by JB - except when he's in them.  They were taken the Friday after Thanksgiving when we did a little covered bridge tour through the Lancaster PA area. 

~ a husband who loves me - even when I do root for a rival football team

~ daughters who crash vacations

~ doing fun things together

~ kissing bridges

 ~ beautiful architecture and lovely photos.  I want this one on my wall

~ meeting blog friends in real life

~ doggy kisses

~ friends who understand all of it and never judge ~ just love you

~ the ability to have, not taking my job, house or marriage for granted.  It's not something everyone has

~ recalling The Princesses excitement at watching the buggy go through the covered bridge

~ healthy dogs

~ crafting, creating and designing.  The ability to get it from mind to wearable

~ my health, although I often lament my size (which is average) I am healthy and my body does amazing things.


~ please share your thankfuls in the comments.

Today I'm Thankful For

Holiday Light Displays.

Healthy Dogs and family.

Friends to make holiday memories with.

Snow!  Even if it's in lights.

All photos from Bellevue Botanical Garden's Annual Holiday Light Show.

Random Thoughts on Thursday

I'm just filled with random thoughts that don't make a ton of sense these days.  I was trying to get a photo of Mr. Beauregard's eye - it's recently got all cloudy.  But he didn't want his photo taken - and this was the best I got.  And I had to hold his head to get it. 

I'm thankful that a dog's sight is not their first sense - especially in a scent hound.  But it still makes me sad.  He's coping well and other than his eye being super cloudy - he's not acting like his vision is impaired at all.

We've started adding frozen blueberries to all of the kibble because a very good friend said that it could help with his sight.  I don't know if it helps or not, but they are all enjoying the purple  goodness in their food.

Do you give your dogs only dog toys?  My big hounds *love* anything that makes noise - seriously.  So last week - after an especially long day - I bought them a noise making pig from the angry birds game.  Yes, it was a kid's toy, and it was fairly expensive for how long it lasted.  But for 3 days Lucy adored it.  She pranced through the house with the piggy in her mouth, she'd bring it to me so I could throw it (yes - we do throw balls in the house) and chased it.  She wrestled with Beau over the piggy and she made it oink.  She was in heaven.  When her not so gentle mouth broke the noise maker - well she was done and she ripped it apart to get the offending broken part out. 

The good news is she will still play with it a little bit.  But now it will become one of Beau's treasured babies.  He picks one every morning, takes them around the house and yard, carries it everywhere until he had breaky - then he's done with it until next time.

Until next time - have a safe and happy Thursday.  Remember the little things in life that make your life worthwhile.  Hug your pups and humans and tell them all that you love them.

Digging Deep

I have been tired and cranky this week, so I'm digging deep to find things to be thankful for - you know, to remind myself that my life really is good in the grand sceme of things. So - here goes:

~ 3 healthy dogs sleeping in a row.  This means they are aren't barking at the kids walking to school and that is something to be very thankful for.

~ the pond in our backyard.  JB put a new pump in and it sounds like rushing water our there now.  I also love the fall colors happening and how they look against the fence I found against having installed - but I really do like it.  I'll try to get out and get a good picture this weekend. 

~ the moon hanging in the sky.  Can you see it there?  Just behind a tree?  Love it!

So - what little things are reminding you that you have a good life - come on, share your list with me.  

Thankful Dogs

Today I am thankful for the following:

~~ Friends who send lovely, thoughtful trinkets as reminders and remembrances.
~~ Crafty Friends who can take a piece and make it something you will love.
~~ Being able to take a piece that I love from Lapdog Creations to Orange Box Jewelry (see links above) and have Krissy make something that holds Dudley and the rest of my pack in my heart each and every time I wear it.
~~ Having a job - regardless of how stressful - I create some of the stress myself, but it's hard to let it go.
~~ Four day work weeks - giving me Fridays home with just the dogs allowing me to sew, clean or just veg.
~~ The ability to plan a great vacation to meet velveteen friends and visit with The Princess and treat JB to something he's always wanted to do but never done.
~~ Of course the obvious, but for now - I'm gonna get ready for work.  If you are in the market for some interesting jewelry - please go check out Orange Box Jewelry and don't forget to stop by Lapdog Creations.  LDC has a review of some dog treats and a give away! 

Happy Thursday everyone - what little things are making you smile today?

Thankfully

Today I'm reminding myself of the all the really simple things in life there are to be thankful for, here's some of mine. Wanna share yours?

::charity dog washes::

::being able to keep these houndies in kibble::

::beautiful weather and health to be able to walk the dogs to get their bath::

::side benefit is that the car doesn't still smell like wet dogs!::

:: affording the perfect finish to our yard::

::safe kids::

::knowing that buying fabric because I'm not sewing isn't going to bankrupt us::

::JB asking "what is Webs" while reviewing the credit card statement, and then saying - cool::

::webs is a yarn store - I bought another cardigan's worth of yarn::

::having knitting plans::

So - what are you thankful for today? 

Thankful Thursday

I need a little attitude adjustment these days.

so - must be time for a Thankful Thursday - as most weeks I'm always thankful for my spouse who loves me and healthy kids, but this crazy week has also brought others things to the forefront:

*healthy dogs

*my creativity and it's ability to sooth my soul

*learning to dress myself (finally)

*my job - as hectic, crazy and stressful as it is, I'm a valued employee and they work with me and the craziness my life sometimes contains

*taking dogs to work.

Photo from All Saints Clothing in downtown Seattle - I love all the sewing machines in the window.

Thursdays for Thanking

~Nordstrom's Holiday Windows (yea, I'm way late)

~Nekkid Winter Trees

~Beautiful sunrises over the lake

~Opportunities

~Sewing, knitting, creating

~Have a free weekend coming up

~Family and friends

Thankful Dogs

*~   Dogs in good health

*~   Friends

*~   New Recipes (strange thing to be thankful for, eh?)

*~   Weight watchers (yes, I'm following the plan again)

*~   A supportive husband - I'm lead to believe that not all husbands will cook from a ww recipe or eat anything put in front of them.

*~   Surgeries that went well

*~   Beauregard James

*~   Abigail Jane

*~   Lucy

*~   Real life friends

*~   Blog friends (if you don't blog, you don't know how real they are)


*~   Enough

Thanksgiving

One of the things that I try to remember on Thursday is all the little things I'm thankful for on a daily basis.  Some of that is really easy - jobs, health, family, home.  The other thing I try to do is find joy in something - whether it's the stars on Macy's windows, the lights, knitting, sewing, or sometihng that just looks pretty. 

Tuesday I had an "ice day" off work.  Monday it snowed in Seattle.  If you live anywhere besides Seattle, you have no idea how the tiniest dusting of snow impacts this City.  We left work at 3:00 and it took almost 4 hours to get home.  I wish I was joking.  On Tuesday the main road through my City still hadn't been plowed, bridges were a mess and they closed the office for our safety. 

At one point during the day - I was doing dished, looking out the window and noticed how lovely the house behind us looked with the sun shining on its dusting of snow.  Isn't it a pretty little picture?