Creation

I am working on a pair of socks for my friend Anna.  Together we chose this subtle gray Opal sock yarn, and initially we decided on the Pomatomous pattern - but that just wasn't to be.  The Opal is just too thin and hairy for Pomatomous, but it's just right for cables.  Besides, the understated gray calls for a more classic pattern.  I looked at the different cable patterns I have and finally came up with my own rib and cable pattern.  Roughly this is a K4, P1 pattern with cables worked every 8th round.  Instead of turning the cables in the same direction each time I have reversed them and had the cables run as a curving zig-zag down the length.  At the heel I worked a cable then extended the ribbing down to the sole where I worked short rows for a nice rounded heel. 
Sunday was spent knitting and watching scary movies (The Exorcism of Emily Rose, & The Bone Collector), I finished the patterning and have started on the first toe.   With luck I'll finish sock one tonight and cast on for sock two.  If I get my Knit-Picks order today (not holding my breath) I may have to swatch for my hat instead.  I have no project fidelity lately.  As long as I get these socks into Anna's hands by the end of May I'll feel good about it. 
Maybe I should flash all of my WIPs, keeping myself honest may be a good thing.

Last week was a rough one.  Brody, our lab mix baby who isn't even 3 yet, went to a vet and we thought we were going to lose him.  He has a big red growth on his side.  My research shows that it probably isn't anything to worry about and we were keeping an eye on it.  Last weekend he developed a kind-of unspecified pain.  He started crying when he would get up from a nap, and sometimes would cry for no visible reason.  He stopped getting up on furniture (very unusual for him) and seemed really worried.  We took him to a new vet (long story, maybe in another post) and she said the lump had to come off right now, and she wouldn't even touch him.  Her quote was way beyond what we can afford and we were in shock.  We don't want any of our animals to hurt, and we want to do good by them - but you can't spend your mortgage on the dog and then lose both house and dog.  Fortunately we decided to get a second opinion from the "old" vet practice.  The vet said the growth should be removed, but it wasn't an emergency and he's not terribly worried about it.  The pain was already starting to self resolve and can maybe just be chalked up to sore muscles, or an injury caused by playing hard in the back yard with the other dogs.  We have time to save up for the procedure, and are happy that Brody isn't actively dying (as we first thought).  I'm more than a little shaken up, on the first vets advice and quote I was preparing myself to have Brody put to sleep.  This is a major lesson learned.

Comments

[Kim]

I am so, so sorry. Hugs to you and Brody.

[Patti]

Eeks! Glad you got the second opinion. I totally quit going to my old vets (NW vet clinic) and changed to NE vet clinic - they actually listen to me, and seem to think things through well. What vet did you go to?

[Carry]

Yikes! That *is* a scary story. Glad to hear everyone is doing ok. I've had vet issues too. It's easy to fall into "they must know what they are doing/talking about/etc. and not question them. Though, funny because I DO feel it's ok to question my doc! ;) I had to switch vets, but now I'll be switching again when I move, any suggestions for the North End?