Muddy Paws Whistling Dixie

I just realized that I forgot to tell you all about Miss Dixie. Dixie is also our resident counter surfer, intruder alert (be it boogieman or UPS driver), and cuddlebug. Senior girl now at the ripe old age of eight and a benevolent if heavy handed dictator.

It has been a hard year for her. Dix never really showed her age, but since Lucy (our first newf) died last Halloween, it seems her age has caught up with her. From the time Dixie came home with us at 16 weeks old, she and Lucy were inseparable -- for the next 7 years they weren't apart for more than 12 hours... EVER. It wasn't a plan, it was just always easier for the newfs to be together. She has bounced back for the most part. Dixie plays with the boys and gets into her share of trouble, but not with the same carefree attitude she used to have. She takes the world much more seriously now that she it our pack leader.

Mystery Stole 3... Me too! Me too...

This is another in a long line of accidental projects. I have been looking for a stole/shawl pattern to use for a knitting project to donate to the auction at the Newfoundland Club of America National Specialty which our local club will be hosting in March of 2008 using my own handspun of a Newf/Merino blend. As I was poking around the web looking for a pattern that fit, I stumbled on the Mystery Stole 3 KAL. When I read that the yarn recommendation is a black or white, I was hooked... I get to participate in the KAL and produce a stole that will be appropriate for the auction. What more could I ask for. So what if I hadn't spun any of the yarn yet? So what if I have never knit with beads before? It will be a learning experience. LOL...

Here is my stole completed thru clue #2. I am a little behind, but I think I will be able to catch up this week.

Here is some detail of the metallic multicolor 8/0 beads from Caravan Beads.

If you haven't seen Melanie's work before... Check out her blog: http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/ I am sorry to report that if you are not one of the 6700+ people already participating in MS3, you are gonna have to wait until next year as the group has been closed. The patterns for previous mystery stoles are available from Melanie and the MS3 stole will be available sometime at the end of Aug. or beginning of Sept.

Time to start Clue #3...

All Branched Out

Pattern: Branching Out
Author: Susan Pierce Lawrence
Source: Knitty
Materials: Alpaca/Samoyed Handspun 2-Ply Light Sport Weight
Needles: Clover Bamboo Circulars - Size 5

Another Finished Object to add to my collection! As this is as a demo project for my "Spinning Dog Fluff" seminar, I am not sure what will become of it. Kerri has her greedy eyes on it, so in the event I don't give it away before next winter that's probably where it will end up! Here's some press for my Clematis and a look at the fuzzy halo...

M