FFBE Final Question and More Again

Have you noticed that it's feast or famine with my posts? Hope that doesn't bother anyone. It's a matter of time, and it's a rainy, boring day in the working world.

How was your experience in the exchange? Did you enjoy the folks you met? Did you just love the bag you received? Please share any thoughts, criticism, and things you loved!

Well, I just sent out my pal's package yesterday and haven't received mine yet, so there's little to report. My upstream pal has been in touch and has asked questions so I know she's reading up on me, which will lead to a great bag, I'm sure! My downstream pal has been a royal pain in my rear, trying to solicit information about her bag from mutual friends... Oh yeah. Wait. That's YOU, isn't it Miss Question-asker? SNOL!! Seriously though, I had great fun spoiling you, although I do think YOU have more fun when you have a co-host, so I'll be mindful of that next time I decide at the last minute to be less than helpful.

I will of course, go on and on when my package does arrive. But you already knew that, didn't you?

And since I keep forgetting, I really need my SNOL button out in plain sight!

Also, if you're like me (forgetful), you need a reminder that the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap is open for registration. Get that questionnaire posted though!

Anonymous and More

Firstly, my pal wondered about her books. Yes! Yes! They arrived and have been read already. I am pondering the pattern for the Knight's Fred socks, and they are both strong contenders. Thank you so very much!

Then, poor Mugsy got lost in the shuffle yesterday, so a belated Dog on Thursday shot:

Not a great photo, even by my standards, but so cute! (I have an older camera phone. Let's blame it on that.) Pop enjoys having the little imp around to play with his dog, and to play with him. That chair sits on the other side of my desk, and when a human isn't in it, Mugsy is. Or, as the evidence shows, when the human will share, Mugsy's STILL in the chair. I love having him at work with me. My stress level seems lower since he's been there daily. Maybe it's the mini-walks, but I think it's more than that...

Thanks to everyone who wished us well yesterday. It really was a day worthy of a landmark anniversary, as Monica called it. Mr. Flowers Are a Waste of Money Because They Die (aka: the Knight) evidently got caught up in the moment, because when I returned from running a few errands (read: shipping off Anner's package and picking up the Knight's anniversary gift) I found these lovelies on my desk!

You know they're going to be great flowers when even the boxes are pretty. It's as if they were designed for me, with the pink, brown and robin's egg blue and the dark red and pink!

Oh, but you want to see the flowers too! They're still opening up, but the whole house is fragrant. Yum!

Then, we went to dinner at our favorite restaurant. If you're anywhere in central or northern Virginia (I even saw a Maryland tag in the lot), you owe it to yourself to try The Bavarian Chef. Anne, I promise we're going next time you're here!

(And thanks to Nichole for coaching me on how to beat Blogger at its photo loading game. I finally had to try it, as Blogger lost interest in loading photos after Mugsy and Pop!)

She Knits!

I've been knitting all along of course, and once Anne finally gets her package, I'll prove it. But here's a shot of the beginnings of Mugsy's snuggle. The yarn is Amity by Ella Rae. I like it, but it's got that acrylic fuzz thing going on. Mugsy won't care though, and has already decided the ball makes a decent pillow. I'm knitting furiously, as wee Abby desperately needs her own snuggle and matching sweater. Anyone have a great pattern for a mini-dog sweater? Seriously, even with a bit of growing room, it will be 8" x 10". TINY, but a quick knit.

Love this daisy pattern Anne introduced me to. I cast on 121 stitches and will just follow the 4-row repeat until either I run out of yarn (I have two balls) or until Mugsy is content that he old, thin skin won't be so cold. Of course, the pattern doesn't show up so well with this mess of color, but it doesn't show dog hair so much either, so it's all good. I liked the pattern for its heft anyway; Mugsy and the Knight would both be mortified if they knew I was knitting the snuggle in a pattern called "daisy." Mugsy will appreciate it though the next time he has to ride in the Knight's truck with that cold, leather seat!

On This Day...

My apologies to our great friend and incredible photographer; I actually looked for the scanner cable at 3am, but to no avail. Even Adobe Photoshop can't help but so much.

...I married my best friend. If I'd ever done an album, I could show you that our invitations said that, and more. You, my dear readers, have reminded me to pull out the wad of photos and order. Even if they're not here for Christmas, at least I'll FINALLY have ordered my wedding photos.

Ten years. I won't lie; there have been rough spots, but today, they are mere blips in my memory, and they honestly weren't so bad after all. He is indeed my Knight, and I am blessed. He is solid, steady and a saint. He not only puts up with me, but often dotes upon me and caters to my crazy whims. I found a man who loves dogs as much as I do, who understood the female firefighter that I was, who has seen me through all kinds of challenges and changes, and we've loved and laughed through them all. Ironically, a few days before my first wedding, I told the Knight and another long-time male friend that I was marrying the guy because he was the only man in the world who would put up with me. I was wrong, on so many counts, and that title is, and perhaps always has been, held by the man in these photos.

When he's got a good buzz going, he'll even dance with me, and smile for the camera. (Thanks Mona!!)

A great big raspberry to the doubters who said we'd never last. We're still together, still going strong. Here's to many more, my darling Knight!

Happy Birthday, Anne!

Can't find a great picture of her at this hour, but pop over to the birthday girl's blog for a great glance at the life and hairstyles of Anne by her sister. Do wish Anne a happy birthday while you're there!

Instead, I'll give you Anne, her mom and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Happy birthday, my friend. Oh, and folks? Send her some extra good vibes, prayers, etc. The poor woman is having a root canal today. How much does that suck?

Mugsy sends you snuggles, licks and even a cherished tennis ball. Somewhere on the other side of the Bridge, Fred sends Arrrhooos.

Fred's Yarn

Just because I will never tire of this photo... the inspiration for a treasured gift, our beloved Hooey Hound, now, a yarn colorway too.

Jessi included a note explaining why she dyed as she did, including her perfect logic that tweeds and an "old man" of a dog just fit together. Indeed they do. Even the Knight was reduced to petting the yarn and smiling. The colors of Fred are definitely in there, and I can't wait to cast on for the Knight's socks, and then a shawl for me. This should be a Master Card moment, because that yarn is truly priceless. Yes folks, that's the tailgate of the Knight's truck; he insisted that was THE spot for the photo, as the garden was soaking wet from the sprinkler still doing its thing (we have three wells people - no ordinances were broken to water the flowers!).

One more shot of all of the yarn, because it's just so lovely. Oh, and it's as soft as Fred after a bath too, or those velvet ears, which remained softer than the finest velvet through the years. I will be very motivated to finish up what I'm now calling Anne's sleeping bag of a felted bag, so that I can Ravelry my way through some man sock patterns and some shawls. (It's DK weight, in case anyone has any brilliant ideas. Nothing too lacy though; Fred was a no-frills, don't mind the slobber kind of dog.) I also would be remiss if I didn't send you to Alabama Fiber Dreams at Etsy. Jessi does incredible work on her yarn and the stitch markers. I know I say that about all of my Etsy-selling friends, but it's true. I just happen to be well-connected.

Thank you, Jessi. Thank you.

The healing continues, through the kindness of great friends.

Fred's Garden

Warning - photo-rich post.

I'm glad a picture's worth a thousand words, because there's very little I can say. The Knight spent his whole weekend on this project, and I spent several hours trying to find the right flowers too. Mugsy stuck right with us, and even went to the local nursery with me on Saturday.

Yes, we know Fred's not centered. Fred and Mugsy were constant companions and "brothers" in life, and one sad day, it will become a two-dog garden. Just as Fred always hung out on the front porch until Mugsy came out with him, he's saved a forever space for Mugsy too. (Yes, our front walk was torn up for this project, but it needed to be replaced anyway.)

Would that it was a better photo, but it's a beautiful stone, with a picture many of you might recognize.

'Nuff said. Sniff...

Mums have a special place in our hearts; they were EVERYWHERE at our wedding ten years ago. We drove all over Charlottesville and Waynesboro looking for the perfect mums, and the Knight's mother was gifted four we settled for from Waynesboro Nursery. On the way home, the Knight recalled a farm-style nursery, off the beaten path just outside of Afton. I don't even know the name, but they had the most beautiful, monster mums I've ever seen. She also gave us a very generous discount. I don't know whether that came from buying in bulk, or because the Knight had on a fire department tee shirt. At any rate, if you're in the Charlottesville area and need a great spot for pumpkins or mums, leave a comment with an email address and I'll get directions from the Knight.

He selected this one. I guess my mother inlaw's love for purple rubbed off on her son, because a few of the bulbs he planted are also purple. I think there are four or five varieties of tulips, freesia, and crocus. The little grassy looking shoots are the day lilies that used to live about where the garden is, all divided up. One clump was lost in the Knight's grave-digging, so we're curious to see if it manages to push its way to the surface.

I don't know why we selected two large and two extra large plants, but that's the way it worked out.

Likewise, the Knight selected this yellow one too, but it's nice and cheerful, and I like that.

Winter pansies are another favorite, and are special because my mother and I also planted them on my paternal grandmother's grave when I was about five. I'll have to look up my flower lore meanings and see what our selections have to say...

The whole front of the house will now get a make-over, as the Knight and a couple of friends are going to add a large deck-style patio and replace the wooden front porch with some of the new, synthetic decking materials. The Knight and my uncle will be shopping for that this Saturday while my aunt and I do our thing. They just replaced the decks and porches around their home two winters ago (or was it last year?) so my uncle will be a great resource, because I know he did his homework before he made the final selection.

So, there's your tour of the garden. The squirrels and deer had better stay away.