A Sneak Peek...

I was MIA yesterday.  I really didn't have a lot to say.  Nothing super exciting was going on, and I am in the midst of half a dozen time consuming projects.  However, I did decide I would pop in today to share some of what my past few days have looked like. 

Warning... When you see this photo, you'll probably say "oh sheesh... that's a hard day's work," but I'll tell you, my hands wouldn't agree with you.

As you can see, I am still being overwhelmed by my current crochet obsession.

If you look closely, you'll see my feet (propping up in the recliner seems to be my most comfortable stance for crochet).  You'll also notice a little red and white lump to the left of my feet.  That's Murphy.  He loooves snuggling beside me feet when I act like a granny and work on these kinds of projects.  On the TV, there's also an episode of Little House as background noise.  Gotta have my Hallmark...

I've been super duper inspired with my crochet craze, so I've been trying to ride this wave of inspiration as long as possible.  I decided I would make some things to put in my shop since fall is right around the corner, so I've been stocking up on yarn...

Lots of yarn... In a variety of colors. :)

So far, I have a few finished products to show for it, and I thought I'd give you guys a little sneak peek of what's to come.

I've been experimenting with variations in patterns and different color combinations.  I've had fun, so I hope everyone else will like them too. :)

Happy Friday everybody!  Have a great weekend!

Thrills to Nil

Well, it's just me and the dogs again for a little while.  I'm not super bummed this time because I go home to Georgia in two and a half weeks, and the hubby will be joining me during my visit.  Then it will be another few weeks, and we'll have a little more time together out here in the middle of the ocean.  

I'm not complaining at all about this little stint.

It is weird, though, when he leaves it's like my house feels different.

I know that might sound really strange, but it's true.  It's like one minute it's lively and filled with laughs, and the next it's quiet and dull... or maybe that's just my mind.  It's hard to tell.  Either way, it feels different to me, and it takes a few days to get used to it again.

In the meantime, I've been falling back into my "alone" routine with the help of the Hallmark channel (gotta have my Golden Girls), my crochet hook, my "emergency" single serve DiGiorno cheese pizza (yes... I keep one of those in the freezer for "those days"), and a milkshake made with homemade Yoohoo ice cream. (side note:  I don't eat crap like that all the time.  I'll be going on a nice 5 mile run to make up for some of it shortly.)  My "jump" back into the swing of things seems to be working, and I'll be fine in my little routine in no time.  

Since I brought it up, and since it's super yummy, I thought I'd share the recipe for YooHoo ice cream.  My mom shared it with me, and we loved it, so we made it a few days ago before the husband left.

Remember this stuff?

Well, if you liked it when you were younger like I did, you'll love the ice cream.  Plus, it's super easy to make!

Here's what it takes:

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 quart of heavy whipping cream

and 2 cartons or a 12-pack of YooHoo (or if you live in Hawaii like me and Yoohoo isn't always available in cartons, just buy what you can find and fill the freezer to the "fill line")

Simply mix these ingredients in a 6 quart ice cream freezer, and follow the freezer's instructions. Then, enjoy!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Jeb and Achilles

Happy Tuesday friends!  This week, we have our first double feature for Tail Wagging Tuesday. :)  These special pups belong to one of my newer bloggie friends from Me and My SoldierMan. I think you all will enjoy reading about these guys, so without further ado, here's what she has to say about her sweet boys.

What kind of dogs are Jeb and Achilles, and how old are they?

     Achilles is a husky. Jeb is a German Shepherd/Coyote mix. They are both 7 months old. (We only knew Achilles' birthday for sure, and Jeb is close enough in age - within a couple of weeks - that we just gave them the same birthday.)

 

What are their stories?  How did they come to live with you?

     Well, the super-long version is here on my blog. But here's a *slightly* abbreviated version. SoldierMan grew up with a husky that was very dear to him and wanted another husky ever since we got married. I've never been a dog lover, but when we moved here to El Paso, we got a house with a fence, so for Valentine's Day we were going to get him a husky puppy. We looked online and came up with several dead ends. So we started making the rounds at the local shelters. We went to four before we got to the one that actually had a husky puppy listed. We were very excited, we might actually be getting our husky! Instead, they bring in this little scraggly, brown, mangy puppy...that was very obviously NOT a husky! But he ran right up to me - the not-dog-lover - and clung to me. After a few minutes we left, disappointed they didn't have a husky. But I couldn't get that little brown puppy out of my mind. So, we went back a couple of days later and got him. We got back to the house and SoldierMan got a call from a family saying they had a husky puppy for us if we wanted to come get him! It was in a different state, but we loaded up the car and made the drive. In one day we went from no puppies to two puppies without planning to! I was in shock but now I can't imagine life without them. :)

How did each one get his name?

    When we began the search process, SoldierMan had a girl puppy name already picked out (his last husky was a girl). But he needed help with boy puppy names. So (naturally!) I pulled up the complete list of Shakespeare characters online. He wouldn't go for "Puck" (which, honestly, would describe Achilles' personality to a T) but we both liked Achilles. Then I suggested historical names, and he agreed to Jeb. So, we had two names, Achilles and Jeb, and we figured we'd use either name depending on how the dog's personality struck us. It was providential - because we sure got an Achilles and a Jeb. :)

What are their favorite favorite things to do?  Any silly things they do or crazy quirks that make them unique?

     Well, first of all, they are 7 months old, which means they have little puppy brains in full grown dog bodies (in Jeb's case, 80 pounds of puppy) so that makes for many interesting situations. 

     

     Jeb lives up to his name. Due to the strange breed mixture, he doesn't have an undercoat, and he has bald patches on his head and his belly. He also is missing half of his adult teeth (so his tongue hangs out a lot more than it does for most dogs). He would sleep 18 hours a day if Achilles wasn't there to wake him up all the time. :) Jeb is also our guard dog. If he hears the smallest strange noise within 30 feet of the house, he get's his "big boy bark" on and goes out to scare away the bad guys. He is very protective of me, specifically. If he thinks Achilles is playing too rough with me, he will pull him off and keep him away from me. He's also the easiest to please, pretty much always happy, loves to sleep on pillows, always jumps up to curl up on the bed as soon as SoldierMan leaves for work, and doesn't like having his picture taken. :) 

     Achilles, though, is insane. He's a husky, so basically like a little kid with ADD. If he's not asleep, he needs constant interaction and attention. He can't really play "by himself" - again, providential that we got two puppies instead of just one. He needed a buddy! And they are best buddies. They love to run together - huskies are runners. Jeb is a trotter. But he loves jogging after him! :) Jeb's game really is tug of war. Which Achilles doesn't have the patience for. :) They compliment each other really well.  

     Achilles is just special. There are probably a million stories I could put here - like how he whines when he thinks it's too loud when he's trying to nap or likes to bring me socks or rolls of toilet paper (both off-limits) when he thinks he's being ignored, or how he lands in puppy time-out at least twice a day (yes, we do timeout, and generally it's a great deterrent, huskies are just stubborn) - but one of the funniest is that he is very jealous of SoldierMan. Super-protective. If he sees us kissing, he jumps in between us to push me off. We tried kissing in front of Jeb to see if he would do the same thing, but he just sat and smiled up at us, like "As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

What makes them so special to you and your family?  Particular times they've really "been there" or special things they've done?
      Well, these are the first dogs I've ever had. So that's special in its own way. And obviously Achilles is very special to SoldierMan, because he's "his boy." :) Whenever SoldierMan gets home from work, Achilles jumps on the arm of our couch to get eye-level with SoldierMan and kisses on him for as long as SoldierMan will let him. Jeb is my puppy. We got him from a shelter, so he had a respiratory infection for the first few weeks we had him. So, the first few weeks he was here he spent basically napping on my lap. Achilles is very definitely SoldierMan's boy, and Jeb is very much mine. Jeb is also very empathetic. Whenever I'm upset, he is there to cuddle with me. And Achilles is there to keep me on my toes and moving all day. I have to say, as chaotic as it is having two big puppies, I love having them here. I'm still not what I would consider a "dog person". But I'm very much a Jeb and Achilles person. :)


Hope you all enjoyed reading about these sweet pups! :)  If you have some sweet furry friends you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you!    I'm always looking for new stories to share.  Just e-mail me at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com, and we will set up an "interview."  

Little Weekend Project

Over the weekend (and the last part of last week), I worked on crocheting another beanie/hat. This time, I wanted to make a girlie one. 

I didn't have a real pattern, as I sort of wanted to experiment a little, so I just started working, and this is what I came up with.

I wanted to include fan stitches and beads somewhere in the piece, so I did.  It was my first time doing the fan stitch in the round, and it was also my first time working with beads, so I was sort of proud. :)

So you can see what it looks like on, yours truly decided to "model" it in front of my camera phone.

Yeah... it's reminiscent of a middle-schooler's MySpace profile pic, but, hey, cut me some slack.  No one was available at the moment to snap it for me....

Anyway... I've been thinking about making more for my shop-- and some beanie/scarf combos-- since Fall will be right around the corner.  What do you guys think about that idea?  Any color suggestions or things you'd like to see in a one-of-a-kind handmade piece?

A Metal Drawer and S'mores...

Today's post will be short and sweet.  Yesterday turned out to be a pretty great day after all.  We took care of the business end of the kennel for "the boys" for my trip home, and had a nice lunch at one of my favorite eating places. :)  Later, we vegged out and watched a little TV, talked, hung out, and cut up on the lanai, and Kent burned a few pieces of "confidential" mail inside an old solid metal drawer... Which leads to this photo...

I thought it would be a great idea to toast marshmallows since there were 3 inch flames in the drawer.

And I must say, it was pretty awesome... I haven't had a "real" toasted marshmallow in years.

And so you can get a good laugh at my ridiculous smoke-in-my-eyes-and-my-shirt-looks-like-a-maternity-shirt  face, here you go...

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! :)

Little Reminders...

**Let me take a moment right now to say that I am not trying to use this post for being all whiny, and I'm in no way, shape, or form looking for sympathy... It's just an outlet where I'm being honest about the happenings in my life right now.  That being said... on to the "real post."*

I woke up in a rotten mood this morning.

Actually, I went to bed in a rotten mood last night, and it just carried over into this morning. It's not a bad mood as in I'm mad.  It's just a bad mood as in I'm feeling a lot of emotions, and it's overwhelming. 

I've been super happy for the past two weeks because I finally felt a little bit of "normalcy" in my life since the hubby came back.  Well, it wasn't quite "real normal" because he's had some time off, and we've been doing lots of fun things, but just having him around has been nice. 

I've also been super excited that I booked a ticket to go home to Georgia in the beginning of August.  I'm so incredibly excited to see my family for the first time in 7 months (I know people go way longer than that, but we're a close bunch, so it feels like forever for me.)  

Since I booked the ticket home, I'm also experiencing intense guilt about leaving these guys in a kennel for a week and a half.

I know they are "just dogs," but having come from turmoil in their lives before living with me, I'm afraid they are going to think they are being abandoned again, and it rips my heart out.  They are always there for me when I need them, so I feel like scum when I ditch them to go do something fun with my family back home.  (And no, with Hawaii's ridiculousness when it comes to bringing animals onto the island, it's not worth it to bring them along for a trip shorter than a year...)  The logical part of me believes that dogs live in the moment and it will just be a blip on their radar, and they'll be back home with me, but the emotional part of me is super guilty and sad about it.

In addition to these things, the husband has to leave again for another few short trips here, there, and everywhere in a few days.  Of course I'll be sad to be without him again for a little while, but he'll be headed home to our families at the same time as me, so it's really not the "loneliness factor" that's getting me here... it's frustration instead.  You see, I'm that personality where I crave structure, order, and routine in my life.  This particular lifestyle does not provide that.  Just when I settle into my comfortable "by myself" routine, he shows up (of course I'm happy about that!) just long enough to get me used to him being there again.  Just as I'm really feeling good about a sort of "couple routine" again, he has to split.  I mean, what the heck?!?  The logical part of me knows it's what he has to do for his job, but the irrational and emotional side of me gets intensely frustrated, a little hurt, and a little angry every time I have to transition... which seems to be constantly.  I'll get over it soon enough though.  I always do.

Anyhoo... As you might imagine, since I'm dealing with this roller coaster range of emotions from giddiness to frustration and everything in between, I was feeling overwhelmed when I woke up this morning.  Even though I wasn't feeling it, I decided to go to my Thursday morning spin class in hopes to sweat it out and feel a heck of a lot better when I got out.  It worked... sort of.   For an hour, I forgot everything and lost myself in music, sweat, and some physical pain (the good kind, of course).  Then, when I walked out the door, everything hit me again.  Crap... It didn't work...

Then, as I was walking to my car, I noticed one single hibiscus in the hedge next to the building.  It was obvious that the plants had just been seriously cut and trimmed back, as there were barely any leaves on the branches, yet this one beautifully brilliant, vibrant pink hibiscus had bloomed and was sitting there in all it's glory. 

It may sound silly, but for some reason it spoke to me.  It seemed to say that even in all the turmoil you might go through or feel, there is a bright spot.  You just have to find it and work with it.  That little bloom sure did, and if it could do it, I can too.  

I needed to focus more on the positive.  (1) I've enjoyed two splendid weeks with my other half, and I'll soon enjoy one more with him and my family.  (2) I'm incredibly blessed that I was able to book a ticket home to Georgia when it's not even a holiday... Flying from Hawaii is expensive!  (3) Even though I feel guilty about leaving my two best furry buddies, they will be fine.  It's only a week, and I know that they will come back home to live with me where they will be loved and spoiled rotten... in a good way.  I took them in so that they would have a good home and no longer be in a shelter or a kennel waiting on their forever homes, so I don't think they will mind a week or so here and there away.  I'd say it's worth the attention they get from me and Kent.  (4) The husband may be going off yet again, but the light at the end of the tunnel is much closer this go round, and there are definite times I can look forward to.  Plus, I can call or Skype or whatever.  It's no biggie. 

It's pretty amazing what a positive attitude and some optimistic thinking can do.  :)  Hopefully I can keep this up so I can fully enjoy a beach day with the hubby today and a lazy evening at home. 

New Shades...

     While the hubby was away, I made quite a few changes in the house.  For instance, I painted the living room, gave new life to a papasan chair that had been trashed, re-covered the cushions on the lanai furniture, put up fun lanai lights, and put down some indoor/outdoor rugs in the lanai.  All the changes made our house a much more pleasant place to be, and the changes to the lanai helped the space transition from a nearly unbearable/unusable oven to a space where you actually wanted to spend time. 

     When he got home, he loved all the changes... especially the lanai.  He carries his laptop out there to eat his breakfast, check e-mails, and read the news every morning.  Although we both agreed that the space was much more welcoming and fun, it was still just too hot during the middle of the day and throughout the mid-afternoon.  (I had secretly wanted bamboo shades, and I came super duper close to buying them while he was away, but I decided against it until I knew if we would spend much time there.)  Sitting out on the lanai the other morning, however, the husband said, "Do you know what we need out here?  Blinds or something.... It would make it so much cooler."  Bingo!  If it's his idea, we can go all out! 

     So to the store we went, and we came home with new bamboo shades.  I love them!  The keep a lot of the bright sunlight out, but they aren't completely solid, so we can still get some natural light and see what's going on outside.  In the photos, you don't get the full effect because it's impossible for them not to be backlit, but you'll get the idea.

Oh... And Kent also had the idea (with a few hints here and there) that it would be super awesome to have a ceiling fan out there.  That's why there's a hole in the ceiling and a light fixture on the table.

Yesterday, we he decided to install the ceiling fan.

This is what my living room floor looked like for about 2 hours...

He had a few setbacks (mostly because he refuses to look at instructions), but it's finally up.

And it rocks!

Yes... That's Duke in Kent's lap in the papasan.  Big baby...

And just so you can see how far things have come, here's a before and after...

Well, I'm off to enjoy my awesome lanai!  Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Keko

This week's special pup belongs to my friend Sarah.  She happens to live in my neighborhood, and we met at the dog park  (I'm telling you... You can meet some awesome people if you just hang out at the dog park!)  She and her husband adopted their sweet Keko when they moved to Hawaii.  Let's see what she has to say about him. :)

What kind of dog is Keko, and how old is he?

     I am not sure what kind of dog Keko is, but that is one thing that I love about him!  He has been to a few different vets, and they all say he might have some Shar-Pei or Rhodesian Ridgeback in him.

What is Keko's story?  How did he come to live with you?

     As soon as my husband and I arrived in Hawaii last July, I knew I wanted a dog of my own. My husband found him off of Craigslist, and we picked Keko up that afternoon from the Marine base. The previous owner seemed to care very little about Keko, so I knew it was meant to be. From what I can gather, Keko was dropped off at the Humane Society when he was just born, and then the previous owner only had him for a few months before I owned him. 

How did Keko get his name?

     I wanted him to have a Hawaiian name since this is where we got him. "Kekoa" means the brave one in Hawaii, but I shortened it to "Keko" because it was too long when I had to say it all the time.

What are Keko's favorite things to do?  Any silly things he does or crazy quirks that make him unique?

     Keko loves to be around people and other dogs. He is a professional sleeper, and can sprint like nobody's business. Keko loves to play catch, but he would rather have somebody chase him while he has the ball instead him of running after it.  He has the best personality I have seen from most dogs, and his facial expressions still makes me laugh every single time something happens to him. Also, he is a huge momma's boy. Oh, he talks back when I playfully get onto him. The first time he did it, I was not for sure how to take it until he started to wag his crazy crooked tail haha :)

What makes Keko so special to you and your family?  Particular times he's really "been there" or special things he's done?

     Keko is like our kid. He is always by my side, and I love it. He listens to me better than my husband which I find extremely amusing :) Keko came with me when I flew back to the mainland because my husband went on a seven month deployment. Keko made every thing easier, and I could always rely on him to put a huge smile on my face. He is very protective of me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Keko is a huge part of my family, and he is the perfect dog for me :)    

A great big thank you to Sarah for sharing Keko with us!  

P.S.  I'm always looking for new special pets to share!  If you are interested in sharing your sweet "fur baby's" story, e-mail me at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com.  I'd love to send you an "interview." :)

I'm Hooked...

Happy Monday everyone!

I was wondering what I would post today when I realized I haven't said much about the arts and crafts front in a little while.  Last week was full of life updates and my overflowing excitement.  I thought I'd take today to say that I haven't stopped my creativity.  In fact, I'm in the throws of a creative obsession at the moment... and I've already told you about it a little while back.  It's crochet!  For some reason, it has me hooked-- yes, that pun was intended-- and won't let me go right now!  

I haven't had a whole lot to show for it lately because I've been working on a really BIG project... a blanket...

Duke was kind enough to pose for me for scale.  He's 80 some-odd pounds, so you can get an idea of the size of this thing.  (Yet again, today's photos are from Instagram on my iPhone... not the world's best quality.)

      I'm slowly but steadily making progress on that project.  It's just really time consuming, so I don't have much to show you guys just yet. 

    When Kent came home and saw me working on the blanket, he got a little intrigued by the whole crochet process.  He started asking me what all I could make, and I said if I practiced enough, I could make just about whatever.  

He wanted a beanie...which I've always called a sock cap (who came up with "beanie"?!?!)

I searched online until I found the general idea of how to do it, and I just jumped in.  This is what I made.

 

And he really liked it!

He liked it so much, that he wore it to a "get-together" that night... Yes, he is that crazy guy wearing a sock cap in Hawaii....

I told you last week that he's a clown.  These are the faces I get when a camera comes out.

You should see his ID photos.  It's like his personal goal is to make each one more ridiculous than the next, and it's always funny when people have to check his photo ID.  They either get a good chuckle out of it, or if they are a real "tool" and take things too seriously they get mad.  Either way, we get a good laugh. :)

Anyway, that's pretty much what I've been up to.  Oh... and I'm also working on a few paintings, but they are for gifts, so I can't show them just yet.  You'll see them all in good time. 

Hope this week is a good one for everyone!

Transitions...

After my posts earlier in the week and my absence yesterday, I think it's pretty obvious that I've been super happy with the man of house returning.  What about "my boys," though? How are Murphy and Duke adjusting to the 6'5" two-legged creature being back in the house?

I'll put it this way.... The following picture (taken with my iPhone, so forgive the quality) was Duke the morning the hubby left on his trip.

He stayed this way for a good 30 minutes after he heard the super loud noise of the Kent's project cruiser drive away.  It was completely pitiful.  For weeks, he ran to the door whining every time he heard a loud vehicle drive by.  When Kent is home, he is Duke's "person," so when he left for a while 

poor Duke didn't know what to do.

In time, he got more used to the situation and stopped running to the door every single time... Instead, his ears just pricked up until the loud sound would pass.  He became my shadow, and I became his "person."  I was super curious to see how the transition would happen when the husband returned. 

This is how it went down.... We walked in the door from the airport, Duke lost his mind with excitement, and I seemed to vanish from the universe.  No transition period needed for him.  He's as happy as a clam following his man around and riding in the truck or the cruiser pretty much everywhere.

Oh, and he gets to sit in the recliner again...

And he LOVES it. :)  Can you tell?

Little Murphy is happy too.  I think he believes he has "his life back."  Since Duke is no longer around me 24/7, little Murphy gets as much attention as he pleases... and I think he's pretty thrilled about that.  I think it's a good deal for everyone. 

Happy Friday everybody!  Have a super weekend!

A Day at the Beach

Yesterday I went to the beach for the first time in about three months.

I know... I know... That's terrible considering I live on an island.  It's just that it's not as much fun if you have to go by yourself, and most of my friends around here had different schedules, had kids that they were taking here, there, and everywhere, or they were expecting babies soon, so it just didn't work out.  Anyhoo... I made friends with the beach yet again yesterday. Yay!

It was a little bit of an impromptu beach day because when Kent and I got back from our workouts, he just said, "Let's go to the beach!"  He wanted to drive around and try to find a beach we haven't been to.  (You should know that one of his favorite activities is "driving around," and one of my least favorite activities is "driving around."  I just like to know where I'm going and get there.)  After driving round and round, I got a little grumpy.  It seriously looked like we were circling the dumpy ghetto, so-- I confess-- I started whining until we just went to the nearest beach we'd been to before.  It happened to be at the Ko Olina resort.  (I know living here has spoiled me rotten when it comes to beaches, but the beaches on this side of the island don't do it for me.  They aren't as pretty to me, and they always feel ridiculously hot.)  We did finally get there, though, and hit the sand. :)  Aaand... It turned out to be a pretty good time.

(These photos are courtesy of Instagram on my iPhone.)

I finally got my toes in the sand again...

Kent had to wear his "beach hat."  Lovely, isn't it? 

I just relaxed some and soaked up some warm sunshine.

When we finally had enough of the beach, we stopped for some shaved ice on the way home.

(I didn't get a photo when they first handed it to me because I just dug in!) 

Strawberry cream shaved ice is yummy!

All in all, it was a pretty dandy day.  Hope everyone else had a day just as wonderful!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Allie

This week's special pup belongs to one of my very best friends from high school.  Brittany and I go way back, and even though we don't get to see each other often nowadays, I'll always consider us close.  Her sweet little dog, Allie, is a cutie-pa-tootie!  Let's see what Brittany has to say about her. :)

What kind of dog is Allie, and how old is she?

     Allie is a 5 year old Maltipoo.

 

 

  

What is Allie's story?  How did she come to live with you?

      I was living alone at the time and decided that I really needed someone to keep me company. I couldn't take our family dog, Taylor, away from my mom. So the search began! I needed a good "apartment" dog that could be left alone and not require a lot of exercise seeing as how I did not have a yard. After TONS of researching, I found the perfect match for me. I quickly found a breeder nearby and brought my little Allie home!

 

 

 

How did Allie get her name?

     The movie "The Notebook" had not been out long and was my favorite movie at the time. I got this bright idea that "wouldn't it be cute if I got a boy and a girl and named them Allie and Noah!?". Of course I wanted a little girl dog first, the boy would have to come later. =) Allie also goes by the nickname of Allie-oopers!
 

 

 

What are Allie's favorite things to do?  Any silly things she does or crazy quirks that make her unique?

     Allie loves to play! I really think she has gained more energy as she's gotten older! She loves her squeak toys, her absolute favorite is her olive. It has been sewn up a few times to keep it alive! Allie loves her little, but big, sister Daisy. Daisy is a one year old black lab who has really helped Allie stay young and active. Allie's signature "thing" is walking on her back legs. It's like she's dancing. If you have anything in your hands (especially food), she'll follow behind you walking on her back legs to see if it's anything for her! She can walk so long that way that it's almost scary, she looks like a little person.  

 

What makes Allies so special to you and your family?  Particular times she's really "been there" or special things she's done?

Allie is everyone's favorite "person" in my family. She is taken better care of than I am!! She has the sweetest personality and can make anyone smile. She can sit and wag her curly tail, turn her head to the side and look at you so sweet that you'll melt. But she'll soon trick you and jump up to give you a slobbery kiss! The whole purpose of getting a dog of my own was because I was by myself a lot. Thanks to her, I never feel like I'm alone. She has been one of the best things to come into my life. She always knows just what to do. If I'm happy, so is she and if I'm sad, she will come sit next to me just to be there. She is my very best friend that always makes everything better! 

 

 

Thanks Brittany for sharing Allie with us!

 

P.S.  If anyone else is interested in sharing their sweet pooch's story, e-mail me at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com.  I'd love to "interview" you and share your sweet furry friend! 

Oh Happy Day...

I'm a happy girl.

The husband finally came back home on Friday, and he'll be around for at least a few weeks. Yay!

Over the weekend I was adjusting to having another human being in the house, along with all the things that entails.  Things like:

~having a toothbrush/toothpaste/shaving cream left by the bathroom sink.

~having all the clutter that comes along with him strewn all over the house.

~having cups/bottles/plates left all over the counter.

~having the toilet seat left up.

~having a ginormous pair of flip-flops left just outside the front door so that I trip on them.

and

~having lost complete control over the remote.

Of course there were plenty of good and wonderful things to get used to, as well.  Things like:

~having a reason to pull out dishes and cook something.

~thinking I'm talking to myself but then having someone answer back.

~being a passenger instead of a driver in the car because I can't stand to drive!

~having someone to run errands with.

~having someone else around who can let the dogs out.

~having someone to sit with on my lanai and talk and laugh with.

and

~having a date!

Speaking of a date...  I finally got my date night opportunity to wear my crochet dress!

Even before I knew he would be home this weekend, I had planned to go to downtown Honolulu to photograph a friend and her fiance before an Army ball, so when my hubby returned, I told him he had to come too.  (He didn't complain at all.)  

I took the photographs at one of the hotels there, and then we wandered through the hotel to a little bar down by the beach.  We sat in pool furniture listening to a live two-man band play The Eagles and just about any other good ol' music you can think of, sipping Mai Tai's, watching the ocean and the palm trees while the sun set.  (Does it really get any better than that?)  Then we wandered down the road for some yummy Japanese food at Benihana's.  Boy, oh boy, I can't tell you how nice it was to go on a date... even though it really hadn't been a super duper long time, it had been plenty long enough.

Since it was just the two of us and I still wanted a picture before we left, I set up the tripod and set my camera for some consecutive shots in hopes we might get at least one good one.  (If you know my husband, you know he turns into a clown when the camera comes out... so although we did get a few "good" shots, we got a few goofy ones too.)  Here are a few out-takes...

Happy Monday!  Hope your week is off to a great start!

Five Things Friday [#3]

I'm back today with another installment of Five Things Friday, a link up with Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.  In case you haven't seen a Five Things Friday post, it's where you list five good things about your week.  Reminding yourself of things you are thankful for does wonders in helping to maintain a positive attitude and not dwell on the negative.

I know I was MIA yesterday, but forgive me because I have very good reason... I was running around stocking my fridge and pantry before a crazy cleaning spree. ;)

1.  I had a grand time learning some new crochet stitches this week, and I've put them to use working on a big project.  I'll be sure to share it when I finish! :)

2.  Thanks to my cleaning spree today, my house is super duper spic-and-span.  I'm talking baseboards cleaned, fridge cleaned out, and underneath-the-sofa-cushions cleaned kinda clean.  It feels great!

3.  I got a new hair cut, color, and some new feathers.  Nothing crazy different or funky, but it sure makes me feel pretty. :)

4.  Earlier this week I got my first e-mail  from the husband in a month and a half, which was soon followed by the first phone call in the same amount of time.  It's SOOOO wonderful hearing a loved one's voice when you haven't heard it in a while!  (Thinking about how that month and a half felt like such a long time makes me super thankful to live in the day and age that I do.  I can't even fathom getting only letters.... every once in a while... if possible... for years...  We are some blessed people today!)

5.  Last but not least, I will be laying eyes on my husband in a matter of hours instead of days!  I can't wait to see him and have him home for a little while!  It will be so nice to have someone around to talk to, enjoy a meal with, go on a date with, and share some household responsibilities with. :)  (If I'm MIA again for a few days, I'm sure you'll understand...)

 That pretty much sums up why I had a fantastic week.  I hope everyone else had one just as wonderful, and I hope that everyone has a super fabulous weekend ahead!

Granny Status

I have officially reached "Granny status."

And you know what?

I don't really care.  ;)

I feel a little like a bad blogger because I haven't been showing tons of new creations and sharing all sorts of new developments in my life lately.  But that's okay.  Lately I've been feeling a little under the weather and battling a sinus infection/cold thingy, so I've settled into a comfortable routine.  I work out when I can.  I sew a little.  I read a little.  I cook a little-- no that's actually a lie... I microwave a little since it's just me.  I walk the dogs.  Then I do a little crochet.

So how did I know for sure that I've officially reached true "Granny status"?

I sat in my Kent's recliner for three hours the other day watching "Golden Girls" and crocheting.
If that's not true "granny status," I don't know what is.

(I'm working on a blanket using a stitch I just learned from one of my new books.)

Anyway... yeah.  That's how I knew it was official.  I've embraced it, though.  I love my simple little life for the time being.  :)  I apologize that I don't have any big developments, but I have a sneaky suspicion that excitement is just around the corner.  

I'll soon share with you another baby quilt that I've been working on for a friend, hopefully some new paintings before too long, and I might be getting my other half back sometime in the not so distant future!  I'm pretty excited about all of that.  Bear with me for a bit while I'm at an "in between" in some projects, and I promise I'll have some real excitement for you soon.

Happy Wednesday everybody!

P.S.  I can hardly contain my excitement because I just got a phone call a little bit ago and heard my husband's voice for the first time in a month and a half!!!  It's SUCH a great feeling!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Nesby

This week's special pup belongs to one of my bloggie friends Erika from Rouge & Whimsy.  She better be glad that she lives a couple thousand miles away because if she didn't I would be stealing this little guy!  Have a look at him, read his story, and you'll see why. :)

What kind of dog is Nesby, and how old is he?

     Nesby is a year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi (same kind of dog that the Queen of England has!) Corgis are bred to herd sheep (believe it or not) so they're bred to have a stubby tail and legs.

 

What is Nesby's story?  How did he come to live with you?

     It's all because of my mom. My mom always wanted a corgi growing up, and when I was in high school she finally wore my dad down and our family got a corgi from a breeder in Portland, Oregon.  Bridget is a darling dog-- one of those sweetheart kind of dogs that never need any training. 

 Here's Bridget. :)

     When I got married I wanted a dog pretty soon, but we were in an apartment that didn't allow dogs. I begged and begged my husband asking if we could move so I could get a puppy. I even talked about it in my sleep, apparently one night repeating "corgi puppy."  Needless to say I wore the husband down eventually and we went to eastern Washington (which is dry and rural) to get the little bugger from a farm. Unfortunately, Nesby is NOTHING like Bridget. Which goes to show you that even dogs have different personalities. 

How did Nesby get his name?

     The deal was that if I got a dog, then the husband got to name him. He's a huge University of Washington football fan and wanted to name him after some aspect of the team. We agreed on Nesby (after Nesby Glasgow, a 1978 football player ) because it was unique and cute. 

What are Nesby's favorite things to do?  Any silly things he does or crazy quirks that make him unique?

   Nesby loves people and other dogs so any activity that involves a combination of those two are great: walks, the park, or whenever people come to visit. Nesby is NOT shy; everyone is his best friend!  

     Now the silliness: Nesby will eat just about anything that drops on the ground: gloves, paper, screws, sewing pins/needles... he loves paper products (he has a major toilet paper fetish. Sometimes if I'm upstairs and don't have a treat, I'll give him a piece of t.p. as a reward) and will steal napkins out of people's laps while they're eating. Another weird thing we love that Nesby does is he moans when he chews on a squeaky toy. Pretty funny. 

What makes Nesby so special to you and your family?  Particular times he's really "been there" or special things he's done?

     Nesby is hilarious. The husband and I are ALWAYS laughing at him just because he is straight up bizarre-- from eating weird things, to sleeping in weird positions to making weird noises or attacking dumb things (i.e. a bag on the floor, the computer, etc.) What's even more funny is when I laugh really hard, Nesby gets a little upset and pounces on me. 

     Also, Nesby was great to have around when I was working nights and on a different schedule than my husband. It was nice to have a doggie around for company. :) 

     One of my favorite things about Nesby is how well he listens. Honestly if you talk to Nesby like "Hey, Nesby, what did you do today?" He'll cock his head from side to side doing his doggie best to understand you. Sometimes we ask him questions like: "Nesby, what's the capitol of China?" or "Nesby, what are your feelings on globalization?" just to get him to turn his head from side to side trying to figure out what we're saying. :)

Is this little guy adorable or what?!?   Hope you all enjoyed meeting Nesby!

P.S.  I'd really love to be able to feature your pup!  E-mail me at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com if you'd like to share your pet's story.  :)