Ring out the old, ring in the new

Another year has come and (almost) gone. It has been a hard year, hopefully the next will be better.

I didn't blog too often this past year. Just never seemed to have (find) the time. Maybe next year will be better or maybe it will be worse for my blog. Only time will tell.

The pet bakery took up a lot of my time this year. Business seems to be picking up a bit as we go along. This weekend I am going to work on getting a new website up and running for us.

D's business struggled this year. With the economy down there just was not a lot of work. We made it through and things seem to be picking up for it also.

My kids were all here for Christmas. That was nice. I guess I am very fortunate. My kids are 28 and 33 and I have never had a Christmas morning without them. They have their home Christmas on Christmas Eve and then come up here Christmas morning to open gifts. We then go to my darling MIL's for Christmas breakfast then back up here for lunch. I am blessed.

All the Christmas decorations are down and put away. I leave my candles in the window until sometime in January. I love the look of them shining after dark when I come home. It seems so welcoming. I sometimes think I should leave them out all year, but that takes away from the specialness of them.

Hoping everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year. Where ever your party takes you, be safe.

Until next year.

Judy

The ramp....continued

D got the ramp extension all finished and in place. Now I have to be very careful when I go out into the garage as the extension is permanently attached to the step just out of the door. I know I am going to fall off of it sooner or later. I told D that I need to make a signe and tape it to the window of the door (just at my eye level) to remind me to be careful of the step.
Kate is doing fine for an 11 1/2 year old St Bernard. We need to get her up into the main part of the house so we can have our annual Christmas picture taken. Maybe this weekend we can do that.

Sliding....

My Katie and I had a thrill last Saturday.
It has been snowing all day long and we had about 2.5 inches, which is really a lot for us this early in the season.
I had been gone off and on most of the day so when I finally came home for good for the night around 10 pm I let Katie out to pottie, went into the kitchen to put my purse and knitting down and told D that I was going out to make sure Katie had no slid over the hill. Our back yard has no yard now due to the pool, the hot tub and my deck but it does have a rather large hill. I was just a tad late going out to check on her.
She had evidently squatted to do her business and had slid about 1/3 of the way down the hill. I still had on my dress shoes which are rather slick on the bottom so when I tried to carefully get down the hill to Kate I slipped and fell and slid to her. She seemed to be ok, was not struggling, just laying there waiting for Mom to come rescue her as I have done countless times in the past. I got myself up on my feet and went around to the rear of her and tried to get her up. I kept slipping so I could not get her up. Finally I just v'ed my feet around her hiny and began to yell for D. Every once in a while Katie would help me yell by going "Woof". Every time she would woof we would slide about an inch down the hill. I kept telling her to be quiet and not bark that Daddy would be there to get us soon.
Our house is rather well insulated. If you pull up in the drive and blow the horn we cannot hear it in the family room. I knew there was no way Dale would hear me but I yelled and screamed anyway. I figured that my MIL or my daughter would probably hear me and call to find out what was wrong. They didn't.
Dale had gone on upstairs to change his clothes. The dressing room is in the front of the house, naturally. When he finished changing and came back into the bedroom he noticed his dog sitting up on our bed looking out the window. She never does that so he went over to see what she was looking at and saw me standing part way down the hill.
When he came out he was in Christmas shorts, a sleeveless tee and his house slippers. He asked what I needed. I told him to get some shoes on that were not slick so we could get Kate back up the hill. He asked what I needed to get her up and I told him to bring her harness. (She has a car seat harness that we use when she goes in the van, and I thought that would be the best thing to use.) He went in and got it and changed and came out to help me.
I somehow managed to get her harness under her and before I could actually fasten it D took hold of her and she got up. With me pushing from behind and him gently tugging we got her back up the hill to the patio and she walked on in to the house on her own.
I was really worried that she might have hurt herself since she is old now (11 1/2 years old, which is very old for a Saint Bernard) and is having some mobility issues. She has hip displasia.
I gave her an extra pain pill before bed and the next morning she seemed to be just fine.
Monday she went for her weekly laser treatment on her hips and knees and there does not seem to be any damage done.
We decided that we needed to make her a ramp so that she could go out in the front yard from now on. So Monday evening Dale was working on a ramp extension from my embroidery shop door out into the garage. I have a ramp I use to get her in and out of my van and I suggested that he just build a sort of cheater ramp that we could attach the car ramp to and make it dual purpose. He had just about finished it. He was out in the woodshop hand sawing something on it when the saw jumped and cut his knuckle. He came to the house and asked for some steri strips to fix it up.
When he showed me the cut I told him that it was going to have to have stitches. This was about 8:10 in the evening and the urgent care at our clinic closes at 8, bummer. We called our son to drive us to Chillicothe to the emergency room there (I don't like to drive after dark out of my comfort zone). On the way there we decided to try the other urgent care clinic in town first. We got there at 8:45 and they didn't close until 9 so we got lucky. They stitched him up (4 stitches) wrapped it up and sent us on home.
I think that this is the end of the Saturday night saga but then he hasn't finished the ramp thingy yet.
I take Kate out to pottie and don't let her get near the edge of the little bit of level we have out back.

I must have lost my mind......

I have this really pretty sweater that I knit a few years ago and I managed to felt it. (Time out to cry about it again.) So I reknit it. I love the sweater, just not the yarn. It is a cotton/wool mix and is just not warm enough for me.
My mother-in-law asks me every time I wear it if I made it. When I tell her yes, I did she always tells me how pretty it is. Sooooo, I decided to knit one for her for Christmas. I went and got my yarn Saturday afternoon and I am almost done with the back already. I have about 4 more inches to do at the top and it will be on to the fronts. I think I just may finish it up in time.
While getting the yarn for her sweater I found a yarn that was almost like the original sweater yarn. I may have to go back and get it to make yet another one for me.
At least having knit this one twice already I know how it goes.
Pics when done.

My New Toy

Last night we went to Office Max to return some paper I bought and then did not need and I found the bestest little camera. It is a Canon PowerShot SD780 IS. It was marked down as it was the last one they had. It had been $230.00 and was now only $106.47!!! Can you believe that?
D told me to get it. Since I had been looking for a new smaller camera for me to carry I took him up on the offer. I love it.
I had to charge the battery last night so I didn't get to do anything with it until this morning. The first picture I took was of little Coley. He always ends up with weird glowing orbs instead of eyes. This camera made him have eyes!!! That alone makes me love it. (I forgot the cable at home so I can't post that pic yet.)
It is 12.1 megapixels which I think is pretty high (but what do I know about such things) and has zoom and all that sort of thing. A great little point and shoot camera which is what I want. I have gone the route of the big ole 35mm SLR camera that you can set everything or go auto and I was ready for a small bit of camera.
Here is a link to it: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/dcc/data/2009-2010/2009_ixyd_210_is.html?lang=us&categ=srs&page=ixy In case anyone wants to have a look see at it. MIne is black, don't know why they do not show that color. hmmmm....
Maybe I will take and post more pics now. Time will tell. I do at least have to post a pic of Coley with EYES. LOL

Why me?

I am going into a third week of bronchitis and laryngitis. I dutifully went to the doctor as soon as I got sick.
My regular doctor left on a cruise the same day I called to see him. So I had to see a NP instead. I told her the cocktail of meds that my reg doc gives me. We have worked on this same ailment for years and this is the concoction that he has found will make me better is the quickest time. The NP would only give me 2 of the the 3 meds I need so guess what? I am not better. My reg doc won't be back until the first of Nov and I just can't wait that long. Guess I will go back to another doc and see what they will do. Problem is that most doctors don't like to hear what your reg doc gives you. THEY know best. I guess I can't win.

MunchMan

My sweet little Munchkins went to be with his twin brother yesterday evening.
Munch got hit by a car last Saturday sometime between breakfast and 4 pm. He made his way back home but was pretty beat up.
His jaw was broken way back by the hinge and he had a fractured skull. The skull fracture caused swelling and trauma to his eye so that it was blind. His whole nature changed. When I went to see him he did not even seem to know me. He did not respond to my voice. Our vet was worried that the head trauma would change his personality and he would no longer be my loving little lap kittie. She was also concerned that he might not even make it through the surgery. Also, where the jaw was broken it would have to be pinned and would more than likely develop arthritis which would cause him pain later on.
Because of the blindness in the eye he would have to be an inside cat the rest of his life (he was 7 years old so not too old of a cat) and he dearly loved being outside.
All things considered we opted to let him slip away. It was a hard decision but one that I am sure was correct. I will miss him.

Where did the summer go?

I have such good intentions of posting more often and then they just go by the wayside. Well, here is a new post and I make no claims as to when I will decide to post again.

Zeus is doing really well here at the store. He seems to be totally content to just stay here. He has the complete run of the store of a night and has the large front windows to look out and keep up with what is going on.

He loves meeting all the people who come in to the store. He is such a social cat.

We are beginning to gear up for the Apple Festival and fall and Christmas here. The Apple Festival will be going on right in front of the store on the street. The Apple Festival has been going on for somewhere around 55 or so years, maybe a bit more. I can't remember which year this will be. It is a big thing here in town. We have people come in from all around to visit it and see the parades and the booths. A big money maker for our local Jaycees. It ofttimes is a pain in the a** for the businesses down town but it only last a week so we get by.

I need to take some pictures of some knitting I have been doing and some pics of my animals and post them. Maybe in a few days(months?).

Zeus update.....

Zeus has come home for the last time as far as I am concerned. He is not a happy cat when he is not here at the store so I don't plan to try to adopt him out again. This is his home and this is where he is happiest so here he stays. To me it is just too much like rejection to have someone take him and then bring him back. He may not think so but I do and I don't want to upset him. :)

He won't even be going home with me on weekends anymore. I'll just come in a time or two each day and spend some time with him. He is usually such a loving cat and always wants to be on my lap or near to me. When I had him at home in my embroidery shop he would not sit on my lap when I would go out to spend time with him. He would jump up on my lap, meow loudly, and then jump down and get in his carrier and look at me as if to say, "Are we going back to the store/my home now?"

He is doing ok being left out to have free roam of the store. He doesn't tear things up or potty in the floor, things he did before he was neutered. I try to keep a few toys that I only give to him of an evening when we are closing. That way they are new and interesting to him.

I have been making bandanas to sell in the store and yesterday I decided to put one on Zeus. It is a red/white/blue fabric and it looks so cute on him. He doesn't seem to mind it either.

I had to take him to the vet yesterday. He had really crusty yucky ears. I never gave a thought to ear mites as I had had a white cat years ago that had the same looking ears and the vet checked her for ear mites and it was only dirt. When Zeus began shaking his head and digging at his ears I decided it was time to take him and have them checked out. He did have ear mites, they put meds in and he is ok now.

They all thought he looked so cute with his little bandana on. What do you think?

Can you say tired?

My girls, bless their hearts, have gotten me into Zumba.
It is a lot of fun and I am having a ball doing it, BUT it is a real workout. For a solid hour you are moving, jumping, dancing, spinning, and sweating.
We have been going for 2 weeks now (4 days total) and I am beginning to learn the moves. Some of them I just can't do, but I give it my best. I know I am a sight to behold while trying to do some of it, but then, I am not alone in that.
There are all ages who come. We have little girls who look to be about 6 or so and some older ladies who I will not try to guess their ages, but I know they are older than I am. :)
I need to find me a belly dance hip scarf and some really comfortable and light weight dance shoes. Maybe I can find them before next Monday. We go on Mondays and Wednesdays. I know I can't find them before tomorrow night.
Well, the hip scarves can be bought online, but shoes I HAVE to try on first. Most of the dance shoes I have looked at online say to buy 1 to 2 sizes bigger than you wear. Not even going to try that online.

Zeus

Zeus has come home. He did not get along well with the other cat and dog in their household. B asked me if she could bring him back. I said yes, because I had told her from the get-go if it did not work out she could bring him back.
So now he is traveling back and forth to work with me. This situation is also not working out as he and my cats are not getting along. Maybe I should just put them together and let them fight it out, but I am not going to. I am trying to get them used to each other by being in seperate rooms and being able to smell each other. Not working. I have tried taking one of my cats in at a time to meet him. Not working.
I am looking for an older person who loves cats but has no other cat at this time who would love to have him. I have several people looking for a good home for him. Hoping to find someone soon.

Socks, socks, and more socks......

Actually I think there are only 3 pair of socks, but that is ok. Yep, I just looked and there are 3 pair.

The first pair was made back in December. I wasn't thrilled with the yarn color so my DIL was the lucky recipient. When I was knitting on them here at the store she kept telling me that she really liked the colors, so I made them bigger and gifted them to her. The second picture of the brown socks shows Zeus. He used to be the store mascot until he started peeing in the floor because he was mad at us for not being here 24/7. He now has a nice home when he has people around him more often.



This next pair is a real joy to wear. I forget what the yarn is, I'll look and try to post it this weekend. They are really soft and warm. The pattern was from Wendy Johnson's first toe up book. Can't remember the name of that either. The brain has left the body. (edited-- I just remembered it was Cherry Tree Hill yarn, don't remember the colorway, just that it was a limited edition one)





This last pair is made from KnitPicks, and I think it is Pallette. The pattern is a mix of January and February Sockamania socks. I knew that there was no way I would finish them in Jan so I did the heel in Jan pattern and the leg in Feb pattern. Smart of me, wasn't it?





This is me and 2 of my knitting helpers. The black one really is not happy. He does not want Munch on Mom's lap. I "belong" to Cole. I am surprised that he allowed Munch to stay there as long as he did. That is why I had Dale take the pic. Cole usually does not allow any of the other cats to sit on my lap long enough for a picture.







I also have my lace stole to take a pic of . I will have to have some help with that one. It is all blocked, ends woven in and ready to wear. Maybe I will get someone to take a pic of it on me. We will see.

Hello

I try to do better, honest I do. I post on here and have great intentions to post again soon. Time just somehow seems to get away from me.

I have some knitting that I need to take pics of and post. Maybe this weekend. Hubby keeps taking the camera. I need to get one of my own. *sigh*

Maybe more this weekend. Just wanted to post a shortie.

Y'all take care.

Crit

My son just told me this morning that Crit died sometime during the night. He was around 2 and that is pretty good for a hamster. He also told me that the past week he has been acting crazy. Poor little thing.

I had planned to bring him to the store with me but with Zeus I was afraid to.

I enjoyed having him but don't plan on replacing him.

Coley was always fascinated by him.

The Zeus Man

Zeus says, " Come to the store and see me. I love people."
This cat is really a people cat. He loves to see people come into the shop. He is afraid of no one and seems to have never met a stranger, just a friend that he has not met yet. LOL

Just For Paws Part 2

I have some added (may I say unneeded) help on my chair. Zeus, the deaf store cat, is sitting on the back of the chair as I perch on the front of it. He is "helping" Mom. Well, in a way he is, as long as he is there I know he is not off committing mischief, which he is well known for, bless his sweet little heart. LOL


Most of these pictures are back in the kitchen area. It is small but adequate at the present time. If we need to in the future we can knock out a wall and expand the kitchen without too much trouble. But that is later. We are all sick and tired of renovations right now. We are struggling just to finish up the projects that were not finished before we opened.

This is our fantastic oven (that we bought secondhand and got a fabulous deal on) and our brand new microwave oven that also grills.

This is our work area where the magic begins. This L shaped table is really great as M and I can stand on either side and cut out the treats. Makes things go faster.

Back to the front now. This is the front counter which I think was also in the last post. The wall hanging was made by a friend of ours for my DIL. You can't tell it in the picture but some of the prints have dog paws on them. It is really adorable.


A look out the front window. I wish I had thought to take pictures while we were still decorated for Christmas but alas, I did not. Maybe next year.

When we took all the Christmas decorations down it looked so bare in the store. We want to find some kind of lights to hang around the windows. They are so big and look so plain. The outside is ok since we have an OPEN banner and the American flag on either side of the door.

This is the computer area, which is my domain totally. Well, I share it with Zeus. He is the white blob on top of the printer. Before y'all tell me, I know that that is hard on a printer. Now if only you would tell Zeus.

The web page is still a work in progress. I hope he gets it done quickly. We really need to get it up and running. I'll keep you apprized of it.

That is all for now.

Have a good one.......

Just For Paws

Finally here are pictures of our store. I am pretty pleased with how it looks. We worked hard to get it to this point and the hard work really shows.

Soon we hope to have our website up and running so that y'all can order online from us. We do make some awsome treats.
I was trying to arrange the pictures and put some explanation with them, but alas my skills today are null and void. So here are the pictures. They are pretty much self explanatory so enjoy them. Any questions, just ask.

We are supposed to be having a major winter storm (for our area) but so far it has not happened. It is snowing, but not hard and not fast. We will see.

I want it to come so I can go home early, LOL. I have a lot of work I can be doing at home and with the snow, no one is out shopping for pet treats. I imagine they are all at Wal-Mart stocking up on bread and milk.

I'll try to post a few more pics in the near future. I have a couple of sweaters that I need to post on here and a couple of pair of socks.

Stay warm and I hope to be back soon.