A Sheep In Wools' Clothing

Ireland, Addendum

For those who've inquired, Hero et al (my female GSD, our collie, the cat, the two parakeets and the bunnies) are staying at home, in their familiar surroundings, with my eldest son.  Even at times when all of us leave on vacation, the critters get sat at home, in our home.  My retiree sitter comes to feed, dewater and water, and she generally even stays overnight and spends time during the day with the critters.  So, they are not being boarded or ignored.

On a good note, Hero's residuals on catheterization are starting to get below 200 ml.  If he maintains that progress, then we can stop the catheterizations.  On the gut issue, he now gets pumpkin pie mix for fiber (dogs love the stuff) to help decrease the neurological sluggishness in his gut leading to stasis and bacterial overgrowth, which causes the diarrhea.  He is also on another course of Flagyl for a week, then we'll continue the Flagyl intermittently to keep things normal for him.

Also good, all three dogs went to the doggie spa today, and got baths, nails, brushing.  They are all fluffy and fuzzy and clean.  I've never taken all three at once before, but they needed it.  Chase, the rough coat collie, is going to be put on a regular schedule since he won't let us brush him much at all - he gets nippy with us, but behaves for the groomers.  We're thinking that will more regular visits a) he won't be so tangled b) each visit won't take so long and c) he'll get used to the grooming/groomer and it will be less stressful on all.  In that light, he returns for more brushing tomorrow, and in a week.  Then we'll put him on a six-week schedule to keep things neat and tidy and comfy.  The shepherds I generally only take seasonally when they are blowing their coats.  Hero loves to be brushed!  And Furminators are wonderful brushes for double coated animals!

All the dog beds are being laundered to go with the clean dogs.  Thank goodness for front loading washers!

Ireland Coming, and I am Remiss in Blogging

I've been remiss in blogging.  Hero's needs and my exhaustion have taken priority, but I have been productive this year in knitting, despite being quiet about some of them.  I still need final photo shoot of Flying Cables and of Gale which are both finished.  I should be able to cast off another pair of socks tonight, Cascading Leaves by Jeanie Townsend, knit in Spunky Eclectic's Lichen SuperSock.  I also have Zephyros  of MimKnits on the needles as a part of the Change of Seasons lace club.

Soon on the needles are, Violets Rising , That Little Scarf by Knitspot using my handspun from The Yarn Wench as well as the Forest Canopy shoulder shawl to be knit in my Snow Squall handspun .  All of these will accompany me on the trip starting next week to Ireland.  This trip is the Irish equivalent of the Scotland trip I did with my two youngest children.  One of their English teachers is interested in Neolithic stuff, and takes kids to England, Scotland and now Ireland to learn about these Neolithic cultures and study.  I went last year as a chaperon, and will do so again this year.  This time, we have more kids, a 50-50 split in gender, and the same number of chaperons, but they are also a 50-50 split in genders. 

We're organizing the kids to help with meal prep and clean up this trip, so I am hoping to get more knitting in.  I am also hoping to get some Irish barn photos this trip... will post photos after returning home.  I won't have means to download and upload my photos until I return, but I have a 4 GB card for my camera, so beware!  I've requested teatime daily on this trip.  It seems the only civilized way to do things now!  First stop at a grocery will find some good Irish tea!

If anyone has food suggestions, limited shopping suggestions (three days in Dublin though, at museums and such), and yarn shop suggestions, please forward them along to me at   knitmdster at gmail dot com    Thanks in advance!