Memory Bears

This week I spent time making Memory Bears from the shirts of a neighbor’s family member who passed away.

I tried to incorporate those things which made the shirts unique like embroidered patches and special tags. When possible, I use the shirt’s buttons as the bears’ eyes.

Fortunately I was almost done before a certain stinkymonster noticed what I was doing and wanted to play with the bears.

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Handknit man's cardigan.

If you are looking for a gift for that special man in your life, consider this classic tweed cardigan so you can show your love for him for years to come.

This cardigan and many other fine gifts are available in my shop.

Thamnophis Brachystoma

It says here the snake will emit a foul odor from its anal glands if you try to pick it up. It farts? I knew I loved these things!

I don’t know if this is the same snake that was the garden earlier this year or a different one. Either way, this one is about 3x larger than the first. I was able to find it because Toby tried to stick it up his nose.

This was the baby that came to visit in the spring.

Snake and dead toad

Geordie was petrified of snakes and wouldn’t go near them. At least I didn’t have to worry about him being bitten.

Real Life Me is a badass.

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Handknit man's cardigan.

Looking for a gift for someone special? Cooler weather is right around the corner. Consider giving that special person in your life a hand knit tweed cardigan. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, all are made with love. And coconut shell buttons.

Cardigans are available from my shop.

The Trash Man Cometh Not

Cairn terrier turns his head away from the camera.

Phew!  I am turning my head away from that smell.

It seems that every day there is another story on the news about bear sightings.  At the close of each one, the helpful reporter reminds people not to leave food outdoors and to keep their trash cans secured.

Last year a new sanitation company put in a bid to take over services for our area.   The municipality declared that all residents now must use this particular company.  They provide recycling and trash collection for a good price, so it seemed like a win/win situation….except for holidays as it turns out.

For some reason, this company cannot keep to its schedule if there is a holiday.  If they know they cannot pick up on trash day during a holiday week, you would think they would notify everyone of a policy of putting their cans out X number of days later.  Instead we have tons of cans and trash bags sitting on the curb for four to five days until the collection company comes around. It was over 90 degrees last week.  You can imagine how ripe that smell must be for animals with acute senses of smell.

In the mornings now, I am worried about walking my dogs.  I don’t know if I am going to find a bear going through the trash or coyotes or raccoons or any one of a number of other dangerous animals.

Notice I didn’t name any names or call anyone out.  I don’t want to find a horse’s head in my bed.  However, if you run a sanitation company, please set a schedule and keep to it.  It will keep everyone safer including your employees.

The New Sweater (or How Rocky Road Can Keep You Warm)

Hand Knit Man's Rocky Road Cardigan

This is the project I have been working on lately, to the great dismay of my pups.  They don’t like when anything takes my attention away from them…especially little Toby.  There was much howling and crying for love as I constructed this dark brown beauty that somehow makes me hungry for ice cream whenever I am around it.

Little do they realize that these projects are what keeps them in biscuits and peanut butter – two things that they are absolutely certain they would die without.   I must make more sales in the near future, though.  Soon the weather will be warm, and they will be expecting doggie ice cream.

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You weren’t kidding about that ice cream, were you?

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Bitey Dog’s new book, A Tired Mommy Is a Good Mommy is ready to order at Amazon books.  (Also available in Kindle version.)  Come check it out!