Blogging due to frustration
First a Bella update. We think a critter came through the backyard mostly because she’s trying to mark her territory with her fancy feet dances. She normally doesn’t back down from critters but they usually run or fly. I think something challenged her, maybe a snake or a ‘possum, and it’s scared the shit out of her. We’re pretty sure neither of our neighbors would do anything and have ruled that out. Anyone trying to open the gates of our fence would either give up before they ever got them open, or give up because they were making so much noise, so we’ve ruled out strangers in the yard too.
Toys don’t motivate her much into going far out into the grass, so I’ve been using pieces of hotdogs. It’s the only way to get her to poo because there’s a Bella law that says no taking a poo while on the leash, and I don’t want to force her into the backyard with the leash. I don’t know what the hell is up with that but that’s the way she’s always been since we’ve had her. Aren’t you glad I shared her poo habits? Anyhoo, this morning I sprinkled some Seven Dust near the areas she’s afraid to go to, thinking maybe that will help mask the scent of whatever scared her, not to mention it will help with the bugs. It did help a little. (I wouldn’t let her get close enough to it to inhale or eat it, just so everyone knows I’m not going to poison the dog.) She went out a little farther. This afternoon, the guys came to mow the yard. Even better distraction. These people that she normally only gets to bark at, the WHOLE FRIGGIN’ TIME THEY ARE HERE, she got a chance to go play with. She almost forgot that there’s supposed to be something scary about the backyard. (I keep typing backyarN, gah.) Our friends have a dog that Bella likes to play with so I’ve told The Man that I think it would be good to borrow him for a little bit. Let her see him back there playing and having fun.
I’m frustrated with myself and the cardigan. Why do I always choose things that frustrate me? I mean, I know it’s because I like the challenge, but when I get to the challenging part I get pissed and wonder what the hell I was thinking. The cardigan I’m making is here. The challenge is picking up stitches all the way around. I can pick them up fine on straight edges, but that curved edge is driving me up the wall! I used the loop cast on to increase for those curves on the front and now I’m regretting it. I can’t say for sure that another method would have been better but I know this one is driving me nuts. And having the whole edge of the sweater on a circular that isn’t long enough to gracefully handle all those stitches isn’t helping. Ugh! I’m not going to give up, I just needed to set it down for awhile and bitch about it. Next time I post, it will be to bitch about the crochet edging.
June 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Glad to hear Bella’s doing a little better! Fingers x’d for a complete recovery.
And don’t worry — your knitting friends are here to listen to you vent and go “uh-huh… I know EXACTLY what you mean” and/or “poor baby — it’ll get better soon!” as required.
June 27th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Very pretty sweater! I haven’t used it much, but I’ve found that loop cast on hard to work with. Glad to hear that Bella is doing a bit better. Hopefully she’ll forget about her fears soon.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
Don’t worry about the Sevin dust and the dog. We used to put it right on our dog to kill fleas. I know there are several strengths of it, but as long as you aren’t using the most concentrated, Bella should be safe.