Trick or Treat!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
from Goose and Duck

Only a face....

Only a face a mother could love......

Only a face a mother could love??????

Okay, the first one is Eros that cute puppy who actually still is a puppy but getting bigger everyday. He is a cutie and a good one at that!
The second is not so cute (not with this makeup on anyway)...but I still love him. It's my son in his Halloween costume.....okay,I'm not going to brag (yes I am) but I think I did a pretty good job as makeup artist. So good in fact, that some girls actually thought it was real (sorta makes you question the intelligence of today's college students when they think gashes in one's body are held together with safety pins...hopefully they weren't pre-med!) He's a cutie too underneath it all! My son started working at Starbucks last week (oh, yeah, coffee for MOM!). First he had no job and then he was offered two. (remember the Panera Bread one) He chose Starbucks (good boy)....seems to be a great company that really cares about their employees....and he looks good in green!

Oh, and my doc appoint went good except for a case of acne rosecea (adult acne sometimes occuring in pre-menopausal woman....I guess that would be me!) At first the doc thought it was contact dermatitis but since it didn't clear up he now thinks it's the acne thing. He gave me antibiotics and a topical gel that is drying the heck out of me....(don't expect any close up pics in the near future). Wish me luck!
And last but not least, this pic is my first try with knitting on circular needles....I think I posted the partial hat on straight needles but I didn't like it so I frogged it and attempted circular. It was supposed to be in my son's college colors but it was a little big for him so Sweetie Man said he would wear it. I did start another for my son in brown and smaller.

Well, that's about all for tonight. Have to do a little homework with the "kids" as tomorrow is puppy kindergarden. I think we aren't going to get as far as the other puppies as it is very difficult to do homework with two dogs and one older one watching the other two get treats. If we put them in separate rooms, they hear the "click" of the clicker and practically try to break the door down....being a MOM is tough! Anyway, till tomorrow, and another Manic Monday....tootles!

Come on, guys.....

It occured to me today, while I was getting ready for work, how crazy some of the things we do really are. I mean, take for instance what I did this morning. I have a doctor's appointment today and as I was getting dressed, without really thinking mind you, I went to put on my under garments and thought to myself "Oh, I can't wear that, I have a doctor's appointment." I proceeded to my drawer picking out my best stuff then even crazier still, again without really thinking, thought to myself, "mmmmm, and the bottoms match the top....perfect!" Let's all think about this....does the doctor REALLY care what the heck you are wearing underneath it all? I don't think so. You take half of it off anyway, before he even comes into examine you, and put on those lovely paper gowns (which I never get on correctly or rip while I'm trying to). Do you really think, when all is said and done, the doctor sits in a room after work with his nurses reviewing what everyone wore underneath it all....."Did you see Mrs. Smith today and those flowered panties....ugh!" "Hey, Mr Brown really should check his underwear in the rear before putting them on!" "Oh, I just loved Ms. Jones' garments today....wonder where she got those...probably from her boyfriend!" Does it really matter? I mean, before I even put on the paper gown, I hide my under garments under my clothes on the nearby chair anyway....no one EVER sees them! So with that thought in mind, wish me luck at the Doc's today (it's just routine...not to worry!) and know that, though it doesn't really matter......I do match!

Sorry....

....that I haven't blogged in a few days....

(this picture was so cute...I couldn't wait to use it.....even if it isn't one of my dogs!)
I really have been busy with a couple of projects as well as the puppies and my son with a few things. Not to worry....I'm still here going strong. Catch ya in a day or so.

What have I gotten myself into....

Okay....so now the secret is out...I need to lose 40 lbs. (Thanks for the link to weight tracker, Kari) At least according to my doctor (who I have an appointment with next week) I really realized this is serious when after walking the puppies and playing with them alot on Monday (check story below), I was aching to no end on Tuesday. I mean, all I did was a little bending and chasing, but I literally felt like I was 100 years old! That is ridiculous. Anyway, to make a long story short, I thought I would attempt to do this two different ways that I've never tried before. One is to post this on my blog for the world to see (and if I fail, I will be totally embarrassed) and the second, alot more extreme mind you.....ask my son for help!! My son is really into this fitness thing and he's done excellent.....then again, if he wasn't, he would be liken to the skinny guys on the beach who get sand kicked in their faces...he just has that type of body. (tho not anymore...he's pretty well-built and I'm really proud of the way he stuck to it for so long) He religiously goes to the gym and eats right! Anyway, I figured he would think one of two ways on this: (1) this is a chance to torture my mom for the hell she puts me through sometime or (2) I could help her get healthy and live longer so she is around to keep working and give me MORE money. I'm gonna go with (2)! Last night was my first workout with him...he gave me a schedule and everything. I did it...30 minutes on the treadmill (I've usually only do 10 minutes...every 6 months!) Tonight the schedule says a Long 60 minute walk....better make out my Will before doing that one! Anyway, wish me luck....I've gotta do this.....alot of crappy things run in my family like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes of which I'm already on medicine for the first. Weight loss seems to drop alot of the problems if I'm anything like my dad and brother who passed away from heart problems. (and I seem to have their body types) I'm not a smoker so that's in my favor and I'm at the doc's every 6 months for blood tests and check ups which so far everything is good....but I still need to drop 40 and by golly, I WILL....EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!!!!
Now onto crazier things...puppies! First puppy kindergarden last Monday. Sweetie Man was going to take pics but forgot the camera....will remember next Monday. Both pups did well learning some basic sit, lay down, etc with the clicker. Chloe the Terrier threw up in the car on the way over.....she doesn't do well in cars. My son complained I didn't give him good treats for her. (come on...do you want to eat after throwing up...geez, kids!) The trainers told me to not feed her any evening meal class day and give her a couple of ginger snap cookies a little before putting her in the car. (ginger calms their stomachs) Also, put some dryer sheets under her crate in the car to reduce the static which upsets them also. Tonight is a vet appointment for the second round of shots, so we'll see how this works. Eros, the black Mastif/Lab fell asleep in the car before we even got to class.....he snores and he's only a puppy at 20 some pounds...can you imagine the sounds he will make at 140 lbs? That will keep potential burglars away from my house...oh yeah!
Anyway, that's it for today...I'm working on a couple of things that I will try to post pics on tomorrow if my son lets me get into the computer when he's not doing homework or working as an online guide for Cha Cha...his laptop died again and will have to be sent away for a third time. He finally got a job at Panera's also, so I'll definately be able to get on when he is working! So till tomorrow....(gosh, I'm hungry!)....tootles! (PS...thank you all for the wonderful comments about my Monkey stuff.....yinz guys are sooooooo SWEET!)

My Monkey!

Okay, I went to a baby shower for my new neighbor. You know I was working on the sock monkey afghan from the Happy Hooker book and I did finish it but I was concerned that I wasn't giving her enough. (I also added the hat and I made a pair of matching booties). I questioned some of the ladies on my Cal Pal about whether this was enough to give. Being as I don't know her all that well, yet anyway, the ladies said that they felt it was enough also considering the fact that is was homemade. Well, they were right. She got alot of great things mind you but when she opened mine, alot of the ladies looked in my direction saying, "Did you make that?"...."ohhh, I want one!" So, needless to say, I felt better. Oh, and my neighbor of course loved it...she was really impressed that I made that for her as I don't think she got any other homemade gifts. So without further adieu.....for your viewing pleasure.....the Monkey Afghan, Hat and Booties.....




The fact that she like it so much makes me want to make more stuff for her. The baby is due in December, so maybe I'll do something for when the baby is actually born.
Oh, well, that's it for now...enjoy your Sunday and....GO STEELERS!!!!

I'm famous!!!!

Found this on Deneen's blog.....so funny!!!!!! I personally think mine and Ed's are waaaaaaay off...my son's is a little better. Check out Deneen's tho....I think they matched it pretty good on her.

What I learned at kindergarden....

Puppy Kindergarden that is! Yep, we went to our orientation of Puppy Kindergarden....no puppies yet as this was just parents night. Ya know, Ed and I met later in life so we didn't have kids together (other than my teenage son), so this is like we're going through an abbreviated version of what it would have been like if he and I raised a child from birth....I mean really.....they were born in May and July and they are already going to attend kindergarden. I think I like this quick version! (and no college expenses!)
Anyway, we did learn alot...first off....

THIS IS A BAD TOY

THIS IS A GOOD TOY


THIS IS A BAD TOY


THIS IS A GOOD TOY



Neat eh? He told us some horror stories about what certain toys can do to your dogs should they swallow pieces, etc.... So needless to say, the pups were a little baffled when I took away some of this crap and replaced it with nyla bones and kongs....they did seem to like it though...especially since there were small treats in the kongs that they could hunt for.
We also learned that depending on what food you feed your dogs, will affect what they poop and the frequency of poop. Here I thought that it was just dog companies charging outrageous amounts of money for the same dog food I can get for half the price...mmmmm....we definately are going to look into that one, especially since I seem to be the designated "pooper scooper" at our home!
Our teacher was very very informative and knew his stuff but (since I'm sure he doesn't read this blog) I must tell you he looked just like a human sheep dog with his long hair, the shape of his eyes, and his beard..so funny! He uses the "clicker" training method which incorporates a clicker to get the attention of the dog and reward them. Very NON-violent...no choke chains or hitting....I'm not a hitter so I really like this method. We had some homework and the pups are taking to it very well...Chloe (terrier) is really quick as I expected she would be.....very smart. Eros (mastif/lab) got the idea too, but he moves a little slower than Chloe. My son and I have both been working with them....I think Chloe may be "Vale-pup-torian" of the class tho.
Next week the pups go with us....Eros is in the young pup class and Chloe is with the older pups.....definately should be fun!
Just for an update for, yinz guys, here are some pics of the kids that the Sweetie Man took this past weekend....(before the yard was cleaned up of all the "bad" toys)...

FIRST ON THE RUNWAY, WEARING A CLASSIC CHIC BLACK AND BROWN COAT, PERFECT FOR THOSE COOL FALL MORNINGS IN THE GRASS, IS CHLOE NICOLE.....

"WHEN IS IT GONNA BE MY TURN?"

THIS LOVELY WRAP-AROUND VERSION CONTAINS A SLEEK OPENING IN THE BACK FOR THOSE EVER SO FREQUENT PEE BREAKS.....

"WHATTA YOU LOOKIN AT....I'M BUSY NOW!"

"PSST.....CHLOE, YOU LOOKED REALLY 'HOT' UP THERE ON THE RUNWAY!"

OK, that's it for now, yinz guys...hope you enjoyed the show!

A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETIE MAN!!!

I know you’ve probably wondered
Tho not to be forlorn
Just what the Lord intended
The day that you were born

He said, “I’ll take an angel
The sweetest I can find
The one who smiles and laughs the most
For what I have in mind”

And then on Ten October
Send you to be a man
He knew that you’d be needed
For this His special plan

For down on earth I waited
My soul searched far and wide
To find that special someone
The soul mate by my side

The Lord knew I’d be lonely
My spirit He would see
Would need some special caring
So He’d send you to me

So never should you wonder
With God there is a plan
For all my prayers were answered
with you....my SWEETIE MAN!

(cough-cough)

Yep...I've got something....not quite a cough...sorta just alot of congestion! I really haven't been doing much and I'm bummed cause it was such a beautiful weekend and I sorta missed out on it. You see, the Doc gave me some medication that I thought was supposed to clear up the congestion but it was actually a cough suppresent.....so needless to say, the congestion was not going away. PLUS this stuff made me woozy and sleepy and gave me a slight headache as well as the itchy's. (I think I may have been allergic to it!) Anyway, I went back to the old standby....Vick's Vaporub, standard vaporizer, hot tea, Cough medicine that has an expectorant in it, and tropical flavored halls (don't you think I smelled yummy!) Oh, and that sweet sweet man of mine made homemade (from scratch) chicken soup with fine noodles and it tasted just like my mom used to make....was so so good!!! Anyway, I'm feeling a little better and a little less congested and no woozy. So, I'll be getting back to my yarn...I hate feeling yucky! So, that's about it...nothing new other than that. Oh....check me out tomorrow for sure....someone EXTREMELY SPECIAL is having a birthday and I need you to send some special wishes!!! Catch ya later!

Thought you might enjoy this...

STITCHES
One day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "My dear child, why are you crying?"The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family. The Lord dipped his hand into the water and pulled out a golden thimble set with pearls. "Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked. "No," replied the seamstress.The Lord again dipped his hand into the river. He held out a silver thimble ringed with sapphires."Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked. Again, the seamstress replied, "No." The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble." Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked. The seamstress replied, "Yes." The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy. Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, "Why are you crying?"Oh, Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!"The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney." Is this your husband?" the Lord asked."Yes," exclaimed the seamstress.The Lord was furious. "You lied! That is an untruth!" The seamstress replied, "Oh, forgive me, My Lord. It is a misunderstanding." "You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt. Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three. "Lord, I am not in the best of health and would not have been able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney." And so the Lord let her keep him. The moral of the story is: Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honorable reason, and in the best interest of others.
That's our story, and we're sticking to it.
AMEN!

You've waited long enough...

Actually I wanted to get enough of the baby stuff done to show you something productive. And here it is!!!

You remember this from the SNB Happy Hooker book? You know how much I like sock monkeys...well, if you don't....I do. (if you don't ALREADY have my button on the sidebar...and shame on you by the way....you will see it is a sock monkey!) Anyway, I just loved this when I saw it and since my new neighbors are having a baby and a baby shower, I thought it would be so cute. I plan on making the hat, some matching booties, and if I have time, a crocheted sock monkey. I think this pattern is so adorable.
And since you know I took a couple of days off from blogging, I WAS being productive. I was working on my sock as you can see. I started the heel but have a sneaking feeling that I'm going to run out of yarn so I may have to change colors at the toe...but what the heck, I'm the only one who will see it.
And then just for the heck of it, I started this skull cap using the SNB knitting book. I used different yarn and different hooks but sorta got the idea from there. The Bernat Satin is really soft. This isn't done on circular needles (since I'm afraid of them....tho I haven't tried!) either. We shall see what happens with this...it's in my son's college colors...Go Penn State!

That's about it. I've been feeling a little yucky...think I caught something from the Sweetie Man who was feeling this way this past weekend...just a little cough and a little fatigued. Oh well...think I'll head to bed early and take two tylenols...once I get the "kids" to bed! Don't worry, I'll definately show you all the completed projects once they are done. Oh, and thanks to all of you who voted for my name on the Crochet Dude's web site. I think I got a total of 9 votes. The winner got 18....and the name that won was "Purl McBig Bottom". (no comment) Anyway, keep an eye out cause he plans on posting that knitted pattern for free and it's a really cute purse. Well, that's it, yinz guys.....catch ya all on the flip-flop!!