09-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Cupid's Arrow Point

Finished size: 12"

08-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Federal Square

Finished size: 10"

07-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Dove in the Window

Finished size: 14"

It has been 1 week...

I have forgotten how much patience a puppy needs. Plus how much they are full of piss and vinegar!

How can I puppy be such an angel in one moment and a complete terror in another?

Lucy sure has been a journey this past week. Besides upsetting my routine - I haven't worked out nor have I been able to quilt - but I think she is worth it. The little monster. Dad sure loves the little pup.

Paige took a few days to come around and now they are wrestling buddies. Paige tires her out as they wrestle. Paige is still a little reserved with her at other times but I know they'll get along. Just wait until those sharp dagger puppy teeth change.

As for Snoopy - well she won't have anything to do with Lucy. Lucy chases Snoopy around and Snoopy doesn't like it. She hides and tries to get as far away from Lucy as possible. A friend of mine has an older beagle like Snoopy and when her daughter brought over her little pup, she said it took 2 months for the older beagle to want anything to do with her. We'll just have to wait to see what happens. I do have to remember to give Snoopy lots of love, even though she has always been a distant, reserved dog.

Lucy is slowly getting house trained, only a few accidents so far. She has a bad habit of eating her own poo, which I've never had to deal with before. I'm going to give her a few more days as she has had diarrhea (for some reason!) and been eating that. If she stops after getting solid poo again I'll leave it, but if she continues I'm going to go buy a product to make her poo taste nasty. I've heard of it before and the vet recommended it.

Yes she has been to the vet twice now. The first time unofficially - we stopped in to get food for her and he gave her a deworming pill (I think he also gave her some monster pill as she is a terror!). The second trip was official. She has had diarrhea since Wednesday and could thread a needle from 50 paces away. It doesn't seem to slow her down any though. So a $90 visit and some food/pills but her poo is getting more solid.

I am crate training Lucy and she sleeps in it during the day and at night. I have to let her sleep with me on the bed until she falls asleep BEFORE I put her in the crate otherwise she howls to high heaven. This pup has a set of lungs on her. She starts with the basic "I'm pitiful - please get me out of this thing" howl, which then turns into "I'm pissed off - out of here NOW!" howl and finally into "I'm throwing a temper tantrum" howl.

I've been very lucky that Lucy is at home all day with mom & dad. I don't know what I'd do without them. They've had to bear the brunt of Lucy during the day, but I think they enjoy it. At least I hope they do! I feel really guilty for going to the Dominican for a week at the end of the month. I didn't intend this to happen. I had booked my trip in early January and then Lucy came along.

It sure is quiet when Lucy is sleeping. I've been trying to a week now to update my blog and only after she fell asleep in mom's arms have I been able to work on this.

Mom was holding Lucy last night and Lucy wanted to be put down. Mom didn't put her down so she struggled and struggled. Lucy put up a big temper tantrum, whaling and wiggling but mom didn't let in. Lucy finally fell asleep in her arms and then mom & I weres able to go into the quilt room and sew. We put Lucy in a laudry basket and put a cover on it. Lucy slept the whole time, which was nice. I want to try this again today as I have some blocks partially done that need to be finished and posted.

I was doing so well and ahead of the game with my quilt blocks getting done, photos taken and them uploaded & scheduled to be posted. Since Lucy came I've fallen behind again. I would like to get ahead especially since I'm leaving at the end of the month.

We'll see how much Lucy let's me get a routine going again. We do have a routine so far from this past week:

4-5am: Get up, take dogs outside to do their business & then feed them; try to read some emails to clear out my inbox but spend most of my time keeping Lucy occupied and playing. I did used to get up this early BEFORE Lucy came and I would work out on the Wii Fit which I really miss.

5-5:30am: Have a shower and get dressed. Lucy doesn't like it when I go behind that curtain and wimpers/whines until I get out. She then has to lick the water off me to ensure that I've dried completely. As I get dressed, she redecorates the bathroom rugs for me.

5:30-6am: More play with Lucy. I try to tire her out so when I put her in her crate and leave for work, she isn't howling up a storm and waking mom & dad plus the whole neighbourhood.

6:15-6:45am: Wind Lucy down and get her to fall asleep before putting her in the crate.

Now after we get this routine going and she is more reliable doing her business outside, I'd like to work my workout routine back in here somehow. Plus quilting on a daily basis. I used to be able to cut fabric in the evening and sew in the morning while I'm eating breakfast. I guess we'll just have to see what the future brings!

The weather hasn't been the greatest since getting Lucy. I would have liked to take her for a little walk to see how she does but it has been cold this weekend. Dad & I got her a harness on Friday but we haven't been able to test it out.

Here are a few pictures taken last weekend. Dad has more on his camera catching her in the act during the week so I'll have to get a few of those up as well.

Are you talking to me?

Trying to act all innocent.

Bugging dad when he's trying to nap.

Attack dog - poor dad!

06-Feb Quilt Blocks

Block name: Solomon's Temple

Finished size: 10"

05-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Fun and Games

Finished size: 9"

04-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Cobblestones

Finished size: 12"

03-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Calico Puzzle Variation

Finished size: 12"

02-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Prairie Queen

Finished size: 9"

01-Feb Quilt Block

Block name: Balkan Puzzle

Finished size: 8"

31-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Winter Stars
Finished size: 16"

30-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: X Puzzle

Finished size: 9"

29-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Windmills

Finished size: 12"

28-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Twinkle Star

Finished size: 12"

27-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Totem Pole

Finished size: 6"

26-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Tea Leaf Variation

Finished size: 8"

25-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: St. Gregory's Cross

Finished size: 18"

24-Jan Qult Block

Thanks to mom AGAIN! for helping me with the appliqué. At least it gave her something to take to quilting.

Block name: Snake Trail

Finished size: 12"

23-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Sawtooth Squares

Finished size: 8"

22-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Road to California

Finished size: 8"

21-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Right Hand of Fellowship

Finished size: 8"

20-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Patience Corners
Finished size: 9"

19-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Patch as Patch Can
Finished size: 18"

Dear Jane has ARRIVED!

Well I received the first month fabric and instructions for my Dear Jane quilt. This is my 2 year project but it is really challenging so it might be longer than that. I will try to be as diligent as I am with the 2010 Block a Day project I have going.

Each month (for a total of 24 months!) I will receive a pattern and fabric kit for a part of the quilt. This is a wonderful pieced and appliquéd Civil War reproduction sampler.

Here is the fabric for month #1.

18-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Louisiana

Finished size: 12"

17-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Ladies' Aid Block
Finished size: 9"

Introducing ... LUCY!

I was looking on Kijiji the other day and found this ad for beagle puppies:

Our gorgeous beagle puppies are nearly ready to go to their new homes.

Hailey and Jones, our purebred CKC registered beagles' litter was born on Dec 2nd 2009 and so they will be 8 weeks old and ready to go on Jan 27th.

We have 9 in total, 5 girls and 4 boys.

All of them are mostly black and white, with some brown markings. No two are the same!

They are weaned, eating puppy kibble, and playing. All are healthy.

The puppies will have had their first shots and be dewormed before they leave us, and come with a health guarantee.

Mom and Dad are both on site and can be viewed.

I checked on the location and it was in Crossfield - the same town I got Snoopy, but not the same breeder.

So Mom, Jacki & I took a roadtrip up to the Green Acre Kennels in Crossfield. There was only 4 females left so we took a look at them. They were all cute and cuddly but something about one of them caught my attention. Yes she is the smallest in the bunch but I could tell she had a personality. She seems to be independent but a cuddler as well. After spending a lot of time with each I finally made the decision to get her.

So I put a deposit on and will be picking her up on January 30th. Introducing a new member to my pack - LUCY.

This it the money shot!

Me and Lucy

Please take me home now!

Lucy looking around to see why everyone else is sleeping.

16-Jan Quilt Block

Thanks to mom for helping out on this block. She did the appliqué for me.

Block name: Indiana Puzzle Variation
Finished size: 12"

15-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Birthday Cake

Finished size: 12"

14-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Hayes Corner

Finished size: 12"

13-Jan Quit Block

Block name: Greek Cross

Finished size: 9"

12-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Gamecocks

Finished size: 15"

11-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Four Crowns

Finished size: 12"

Happy 12th Birthday Snoopy!

Today is Snoopy's 12th birthday. I can't believe I've had her for 12 years now. It just seems like yesterday that mom & I were driving up to Crossfield to look at beagle puppies, not really expecting to bring one home. She took me by storm my little monster. The only puppy who came and sat at my feet as if to introduce herself and then run off to play with her siblings. Then after rough housing, she came back & sat at my feet looking up at me. She definitely picked me that day.

We have been through a lot together the two of us. From multiple moves, Cali's health issues and growing old together. She is still as independent as always, stubborn and loving. She is a unique dog.

She was a great companion to many when I managed two call centres. She and Cali were great riding the elevator, checking from crumbs in the kitchen and greeting all staff when they were working. If Snoopy could have 1 job, it would have to be a Walmart greeter as she loves people.

Coincidentally my picture from Las Vegas showed up today. So I had to get a picture of my two favourite Snoopys!

10-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Five Spot

Finished size: 18"

Comedy Show

Last night mom, dad & I celebrated my friend Sheila's birthday. Her birthday is actually New Year's eve but her husband John didn't want to go out that evening as it is usually a zoo. So he arranged for everyone to go for dinner and then the comedy show afterwards.

We went to the Blackfoot Inn, the same place that my 40th birthday party was held. Back then it was still Yuk Yuk's. It has now changed to the Laugh Shop.

Dinner was buffet which was good for me as I was still able to stick to my diet plan. They had a good selection and I was good and kept to what I could eat. Overall everyone enjoyed the meal.

We then hit the comedy show afterwards. The comics were really good and this time they were all enjoyable. I've been before where 1 or 2 are good and the rest suck. We all laughed really hard.

The evening was a success and really enjoyable. Happy Belated Birthday Sheila!

09-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Duck and Ducklings

Finished size: 10"

08-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Double Arrow

Finished size: 12"

07-Jan Quilt Block

Mom picked the colours on this one.

Block name: Facets of Color
Finished size: 9"

06-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Prairie Flower

Finished size: 8"

05-Jan Quilt Block

Block name: Capital T

Finished size: 6"

04-Jan Quilt Block

Ya! it is a nice block.

Block name: Black and White

Finished size: 12"

03-Jan Quilt Block

Another appliqué.

Block name: Bay Leaf Corners

Finished size: 9"

02-Jan Quilt Block

This sucker too me all day because it is appliqué..... I don't like applique.

Block name: Four Leaf Clover

Finished size: 9"

01-Jan Quilt Block

Here is the first of 366 quilt blocks for the year.

Block name: Happy New Year

Finished size: 9"

Happy New Year!

Welcome to a New Year. I'm not sure why, but I know 2010 will be a great year.

It might have started with me getting healthy. No this is not a New Years Resolution as I break those like most people. This actually started in December. You wouldn't know it to see me but I can feel it. In the month of December I lost 14.4 lbs - even with Christmas in there. But I didn't go hog wild during the Christmas holidays. I limited myself to 1 treat.

I had a scare with my last doctor's visit saying that I'm borderline diabetic so she sent me to a diabetic counceller and have cut sweets and carbs completely out of my diet. This is not forever, but until I get my weight under control and know how to eat healthier. I can have those again but will have to limit them as those are bad for me.

Enough about weight! I've got a few projects on the horizon for this year. First will be my Dear Jane quilt that I'm starting this month. I can't wait for my first package to arrive so I can start. This is a 2 year project ... well getting all the blocks at least.

Also I bought a 2010 quilt calendar so with my 1930s reproduction fabric I will be making 365 blocks. Yes this includes stupid appliqué (can you tell I don't like this). So by the end of this year I will have my 2010 quilt blocks completed.

I've been busy with quilts and have quite a few tops done.... now I just have to finish them. That's the part I hate.

So I'm looking forward to this upcoming year with vim and vigor!