Doggone Christmas

Happy Dogs on Thursday, as we wave a few tails goodbye to 2009 and give 16 paws up to 2010!

Now for a little doggy Christmas photo recap. Everyone highly enjoyed their stockings, overstuffed with toys and treats...

Sophie showing her true royalty colors and loving her new "flat buddy," Mr. Elephant...

When she wasn't looking, Zeus took a peak to see if the Princess' stocking was any better than his and found a shiny new Nylabone...

Teutul checking out the goods with his sisters...

Lola with the gigantic pink Loofa doggy...

Zeus decided to check it out the pink monstrosity too...

We spent Christmas Eve in Connecticut with the kids' cousins, Sammi and Zorro... aren't they just beauteous? I think Zorro's fur would make some fabulous yarn!!!

It was back to CT for Christmas Day. Lola drew the short long straw this year and got to go. She did a fabulous job of overseeing the food preperation and giving bribes for food kisses...

It was hard work, but she managed to look pretty all day...

Such a long day, it really was hard to stay so pretty...

It's hard to believe this was the last Christmas Day in Connecticut... (Lola's GrandpaDan and GrandmaSue are moving)

Happy New Year from the Lapdog household to yours!

Santa Baby

Happy last Wordless Wednesday of 2009! I'll share some shots from one of the most beautiful Santa collections around... and no, its not mine...

Come back tomorrow for more Christmas - and doggy - pictures!

REVIEW: Cardigans

Cardigans
by Louisa Harding
Hardcover: 164 pages
Publisher: Sixth&Spring Books (October 6, 2009)

Love grabbing a little sweater that you can toss on over your tank, tee or dress? Cardigans are the perfect versatile little wardrobe staple that are quickly becoming a fashion favorite once again (thank you Mrs. O!).

In Cardigans, Louisa Harding gives us more than 25 patterns, with variations on many expanding the collection to over 40 unique designs to knit. You will find few traditional button-up-the-front cardigans in this book. Instead, Louisa tosses in a few twists here, turns there... including three-quarter length sleeves, darted waist shaping, one-button closures, embroidery, picot edging, swingy styles, cables, lace and more!

Cardigans is broken up into four sections: Classics; Edgings; Lace, Cables, Fair Isle; and Dressing Up. All of the patterns are written using yarns from Louisa's luxurious collection. A "General Information" chapter at the back includes tips on sizes, yarn and tension/gauge, as well as finishing techniques, a fiber guide and an interchangeable yarn table. The photography throughout is as beautiful as the patterns, using some of the most romantic places on Earth as the backdrop - Venice, London, Portugal, the South of France. Louisa's husband, Stephen Jessup is the man behind the camera. They have been collaborating on photographs from her books since 2003.

My favorites include: Gypsy, a cropped Grecian-inspired little number knit in ribbon yarn; Otello, a classic go-anywhere jacket; Ginger, a 1950's inspired number with a single button closure and cable edging; Minnie, versatile to knit and wear - choose long sleeves or short, cables or lace edging - it would look just as fabulous with jeans as it would over a fancy dress; Kitty, an allover cable and eyelet pattern produces a complex looking sweater and allows the knitter to keep a secret... it's all about mock cables, knitting stitches together on one row and working yarn overs on the next!

About the Author: Louisa Harding is a knitwear designer whose designs have appeared in many magazines, including Rowan Knitting, Vogue Knitting and Knitting. She is also the author of many books on knitwear and has created and marketed her own line of yarns.

Merry Doggy Day

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Doggy Day! We hope you have a wonderful day... whether its full of hussle and bussle or whether you get to relax like Teutul and Sophie.

My hooey hounds truly know what maxing and relaxing is all about...

Zeus is pretty darn good at it himself...

Lola, on the other hand, is a little confused and thinks Daddy makes a great chair...

Merry Christmas from the Lapdog household to yours...

Merry Merry

Happy Wordless Wednesday (and a little pre-Doggy Thursday) and Merry Christmas Eve-Eve...

Sophie wants to know if your Christmas will be white?

Zeus would love some fluffy white stuff to romp in, so long as its not super cold out...

Lola says to leave her alone please... she's busy watching for Santa!

Tut's waiting for Santa and some new fresh snow...

REVIEW: Debra's Garden Animal Rescue Needle Gauge Pendant

Debra's Garden: Needle Gauge Pendant
Where to Find: Debra's Garden

Debra's Garden has combined two of my most favortie things: cute - and useful - knitting notions and animal rescue! Debra created a purple paw "Animal Rescue" version of her fabulous Needle Gauge Pendant, with all proceeds being donated to The Animal Rescue Site.

The Needle Gauge Pendant is as beautiful as it is practical. Measuring just 1 1/2" x 1 1/4" and made of a light weight metal, it is the perfect size whether you want to wear it or toss it in your knitting bag. The gague measures US knitting needle sizes from 0 - 17 and the numbers are lasered in, which means there is no paint to wear off. The special purple Animal Rescue version also has the word "Rescue" surrounded by two adorable paw prints on the bottom.

Debra's Needle Gauge Pendants are also available in eleven other colors, as well as in 14k gold and sterling silver. There are also metric, sock/lace knitter's and crochet versions available. Debra's Garden offers several coordinating chain and cord options available for purchase as well.

Show your knitting and rescue pride with one of these special purple paw Needle Gauge Pendants - wear yours as a necklace or use it as a key ring, bag charm, or even a zipper pull on your knitting notions bag. No matter your preference, you'll find it useful and a must have tool in your knitting bag.

About The Animal Rescue Site: The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the eight million companion animals relinquished to shelters in the U.S. every year. Over four million animals are put to death each year in the U.S. because they are abandoned and unwanted.

Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need at the Fund for Animals' renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation , North Shore Animal League and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation.

CONTEST WINNER! The winner of the Creating Crochet Fabric book was drawn by random number generator. First of all, thank you to everyone who entered - I hope some of the new readers will continue to come back. And now... drumroll.... the winner is Deja! Congrats! As soon as I get your mailing address, this fabulous book will be making its way to your mailbox.

Christmas is coming...

... and its coming fast, whether we like it or not!!!! Although I had sworn off any last minute Christmas knitting (you know, all those wonderful knits I had planned a year ago and swore I'd get started on over the summer?), I did manage a few fast Christmas knits...

Super fast knits, the Daria Bracelets (ravelry link for my fellow knitsters) are just awesome. One of those simple knits where you can really say "aww... it was nothing," yet they look really cool. I even whipped out a couple of necklaces. I attached a beautiful glass pendant to one of them (thanks to my other half's creative input), but forgot to photo it before wrapping.

Speaking of gift knitting, I've learned the hard way that when someone requests a hand-knit item multiple times and you are so happy to fulfill that wish... be sure to inquire as to any possible fiber allergies prior to knitting up the request and checking it off your list! Remember this?

The intended recipient informed me last week of a mohair allergy... and of course, I used nice and soft Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride. F*&K Bah humbug! I had eyed some alpaca before choosing that Lamb's Pride too... ah well, said scarf goes back to the gift giving pile and another not as lovely, soft or personalized was choosen from the pile for the recipient this year because there was not a chance in hell no time to whip out another appropriate scarf.

I do have one more scarf OTN that I need to finish for Christmas and that will be it for this year's gifts... and I will start Christmas knitting in July next year!

Fenway Gets Icey

Its beginning to look alot like... a Winter Classic in Beantown!

The game is still 2 weeks away, but the rink is in... and the promotion for the New Year's Day game is underway...

I just hope the weather is a bit warmer in two weeks than it is today... please... that's my Christmas wish! That and I'd love to actually skate on the rink...

RIP Trixie

Its a sad Dogs on Thursday for me this morning. I opened the mail to find a Christmas card from the family who adopted Trixie back in May, 2007 to find out that she had passed away this past May due to cancer.

Rest in Peace Sweet Girl...

Trixie is the first foster we've "lost." I thought sending them off to their forever homes was hard... until now. It makes me happy to know that we found her the perfect home, with a retired couple who adored her more than words can say. Trixie really needed to be an only dog (such a diva!) and they really needed a dog to adore.... and I know that her two years with them were wonderful and loving.

Here are some pictures from Trixie's month with us... if you click on the Trixie tag below this post you can scroll back to older posts if you'd like to read more about this sweet gal.

Trixie with her foster sister and brothers...

Showing her Diva status... she only went out on the leash and loved walking with her foster Daddy...

Rest in peace Trixie... I know you're ruling the roost on that Rainbow Bridge...