I miss having a dog for company, someone to hug, someone to talk to and yes, make me get up and walk him/her. Since there isn't a companion here to share a photo of now, will share pictures of my departed fur babies from the past.
This is Shumba, our first Rottweiler pup at about 8 weeks. We purchased her from a local breeder who also shows their dogs. Her chew toy is almost as big as she is.
And here she is about 2 years old and a mother of 8. We had her hips OFA certified to ensure healthy pups and to show potential buyers the k-9 parents' hips were certified. Our intentions were to breed her once and have her neutered. We were not going to ruin her health by over breeding.
Shumba was a fantastic mother. Bruce built her a whelping pen and it was in our living room so we could watch over the group. No way did mom want that. She wanted to care for her brood in the basement out of the prying eyes of others. So we made a place for her down there.
We sold 7 pups and kept one, a boy named Panzer. He was a silly, funny dog who made me laugh all the time. When loose in the park area behind the ball field if there was no ball to play with and they got tired chasing one another Panzer would pluck a wild flower and tease his mother with it. Once his endeavor got him a bee sting on the nose....poor baby.
After Shumba passed we adopted Shadow from a local vet. She was supposed to be half pure bred Rottie and pure bred German Shepherd. Here is Shadow at 10 weeks ~ she sure looks like a Rottie doesn't she?
Then she grew up, 😏 and her behavior was 100% German Shepherd. Her behavior changed faster than her appearance which was that of a Shepherd.
We had both Panzer and Shadow together. As rotties are more relaxed than hyperactive Shepherds, the elder Panzer had no patience for Shadow. After my precious Panzer died it was me and Shadow.
Shadow was a loving dog and full of energy which Shepherds are known for. Sadly I lost her too and she is also missed.
One day I received a phone call from the same vet from whom we adopted Shadow, asking if I was still looking for a Rottie. Heck yeah!!!!! In comes my boy Ben. He was 6 years 7 months old when I adopted him.
Ben was a very affectionate and protective dog. He was my warning system whenever anyone came into the yard. He loved my grandson too and let folks know if they were being too rough with him or me. Ben would growl and jump up but not bite. And I miss my big boy Ben a lot.
When I hear of new pets up for adoption at the local shelter I consider inquiring. But in reality know that at my age it probably isn't wise. Besides, I'd want another Rottweiler or Pittie and if rug camps ever begin again would have to put them in a kennel. Not only do I NOT like putting dogs in a kennel, but most kennels don't take those breeds in.
Be kind to your beloved dogs and I do promote adoption over buying from breeders.
Saundra
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Just 9 days and a wake-up until leaving for Cape May camp known as Rugs by The Sea. It is well organized by Norma Batastini and her associate Linda Woodbury. So I've started pulling things together for the trip across the Cape May Ferry and to camp. This is the first brought down from the wool room so far.
Inside that one flat container is probably the least amount of wool I've EVER taken to a rug camp in my life. Perhaps mostly because I know the colors that my departed Shadow had in her coat and that is all that is required...... no color planning, as she provided the color plan. Oh, and the background which is the soft green you see.
The picture of Shadow is the position I've chosen to hook but have another picture of her in a different view which doesn't have the flash back wash of her true hair colors. And, in the event I don't have just the right colors will buy what I need at camp.
In an earlier post mentioned that I was taking a few things to put in the hooking shop. Norma and Linda encourage us hookers to sell our items thru the shop where they tend it and take 15%. Hey, that's fine and I can play all day and maybe make a couple dollars while there.
In addition to the flower pins I posted on a previous blog post, I'm also taking these handy hooker helpers. They are known by various names.... snippet bags, magnet pouches, snip-n-tucks, but any way you look at it I cannot be without mine. I'm only taking 6 this time because I just don't have the energy to make more this close to camp.
Some people use them to put their snippets in the pouch and scissor on the top part which has the magnet. Me? I keep my scissors on the magnet and my hook or hooks in the pouch. Before I had this my scissors and/or hook would be lost between the cushions of the sofa. Construction of this is two parts.... one single magnet goes below the foundation of your project and then the top magnet with pouch goes on top.
I've lots to do in the next 9 days and here I sit in front of the computer updating my blog. Most importantly is getting my house in shape for the house/dog sitter.....wellllll, gathering my camp stuff is right up there too.
Have a great evening everyone and drop by again.
Saundra
Cape May isn't until September but am in the planning stages of a design for class. My sweet Shadow departed July 8, 2011 and now think I'm ready to hook her. For some of you who have followed me for a while have already seen the profile of my departed Rotties hooked in a narrow cut and then a primitive wide I did of them right after. With my girl Shadow I'm going straight to the wide cut profile. Besides, I think she was that kinda girl anyway.... just like her mom.
So I've been looking thru some pictures of her and haven't made up my mind yet. Unfortunately she is not here to take more photos so I'm reduced to the ones I already have. Some are too small or too dark so it will require some photo adjustment program to get something good to draw from. However, here are some of my options.
This one seems to be the one with the most natural look in the eyes but the blasted picture is small and when enlarged it looks grainy and hard to determine the lines.
When speaking to Shadow she would twist and tilt her head as if she was intent on hearing every syllable and anticipating a task like, go to garage, go to feed fish, fill the bird feeders. And after hearing the sentence would lead the way. But when she tilted her head I would roar with laughter she was so dang cute. Not good photos but here are some I tried to capture. Unfortunately there is the eye flash back here.
Again the eye problem ~ both are cute pictures of her listening
There are also the profile pictures I have but not so sure they are very flattering. However, profile might be easier to hook than frontal.
And then here is my girl facing me when I had a hook-in here at the house in April 2011, just 3 months prior to her departure.
Thanks for listening to my thought process of what to design for Cape May in September. Hope you have a great evening and are staying cool; it is hot as hades here in Delaware.
Saundra
Shadow is a German Shepherd Rottweiler mix but I have no clue which part of her is Rottweiler unless it is the floppy ears. She is a wired and ready-to-go Shepherd from first thing in the morning until bedtime. Which makes me understand why police use them ~ because they need something to do.
Shadow is 9 years old but acts like a 2 year old pup. She could have easily been taught to be a working dog with the disabled, and sometimes I think I should have spent more time with her so she'd do my laundry tee hee, kidding. But she does have a very abundant vocabulary. If I say that I am going to fill up the bird feeders she leads the way to the garage is since that is where I keep the black oil seeds. If I comment that I'm going to hang clothes outside she leads the way to the laundry room; and, if I say that I'm going to clean out the fish pond filter she heads straight to the back door. Of course there are many other words that she knows and will respond accordingly.
However, sometimes when I am just talking and she isn't quite sure of what those words are, she will tilt her head and jerk it back and forth as if one ear could understand better than the other. That is when she is the cutest and I just break out in laughter.
She certainly does keep me entertained and she is a great companion to have around. Hopefully she will live to a ripe old age as her mother (a Shepherd) did because she lived to be about 15 years of age.
