The Red Sweater

A Fashionable Puppy is a Happy Puppy

First of all, if you’re not a little dog lover, you may want to move on down your blog list because this is going to get very mushy and cutesy. You’ve been warned.

I hate to admit this, but as I’m pretty sure many of you will understand, I will go ahead and say it. When I dreamt of getting my new little pup Kenny, a lot of my excitement surrounded the prospects of dressing him in elaborate costumes, making him the best dressed doggie in the city. And yet, he’s been with us now for over 4 weeks and is still running around the house completely NAKED! Oh, the horror. But it’s been summer, so we’re not too concerned. However, with fall just around the corner (yippee!) I’m starting to gather ideas to fill out my baby’s wardrobe.

There’s a lot of fluffy pink sparkle that is catching my eye, and I’ve tried to justify it in that he is a dog and doesn’t really know that a fur boa is a little girl thing. However, Kenny is quite intelligent and, in reality, I’m pretty sure that he would be embarrassed with that and hide under the sofa. His personality would be better described by a T-shirt with “Stud” or “Killer” written across the back. So we will compromise. And he will be a sweater dog anyhow.

I came across a wonderful site today called Glamour Dog. They have some very innovative designs for the up and coming pup. The cabled number to the left being one of my favorites. As a knitter I will more likely make something like this myself, and a little more boyish for Kenneth, but there are also great toys and carriers and a darling Rock Star tee that my fashionable little dog NEEDS but that I would not make him.

I know, I’m getting completely swept up in the whole Chihuahua lifestyle thing, but when I come home from work and this little ball of energy bounds across the house to great me and lick my face and then SIT ON MY SHOULDER, how can I help it? I want him to have everything I never had as a child. I want him to have the little yellow raincoat.

I’ll be putting in my order later today.

Extra Extra! 30-year-old knitting needle kicks the bucket with a bang.

A couple nights ago, just before I was going to switch off the news (as who really can watch that crap anymore?) one of the reporters says “And coming up! A Washington woman’s knitting needle explodes! Heh heh.” - I’m paraphrasing, except for the laugh at the end. So I kept watching. I almost posted about it right after the segment - what a timely post! But didn’t - it seemed too hokey.

Today, however, I ran across the discussion that had already been circulating across the internet about the incident, and thought I’d post about it, just in case you hadn’t already heard.

Video from a Washington TV station.

The article from a local paper

and the thread from Knitter’s Review

All riveting - the best theory is that there were gases or particles left inside from the casting process that oxidized and were just too much for the old, worn-away metal of the needle’s tip - more information coming as soon as the bomb expert(!) finishes his analysis.

I actually just like seeing anything knitting-related in the news. Personally I knit exclusively with bamboo or wooden needles. I like the organic feel of them. But they can give splitters, so really, no one is ever completely safe.

Kenny takes center stage

Bob and I made a big life decision a couple weeks ago. We adopted a little boy. He’s a good little boy. He generally poohs outside and has only marked on the doorway to the hall twice. He’s 11 months old and has a bucket full of energy and the energy of 5 others just like him. He sleeps well in his crate if we put a towel over it to shut out all the street lights. And he listens very well when you tell him gently, “no bites”. As short as his legs are, he can run 30 to 40 miles per hour (at least!) and he loves to wear sweaters. The latter making him a perfect little buddy for me, of course. Everyone, meet Kenny.