New Header

I took a little inspiration from Natalie and finally got off my arse got a little creative and created my new banner / header! What do you think? I've looked at it at least 534 a whole bunch of times this morning, so if you see something blaring (its true that you can not proofread your own work, no matter how hard your try), please let me know ...

I've also fought with blogger to get it centered. Left to right? Success! Top to bottom? Not so much. I can't decide if it bothers me or if I like it though. Thoughts?

As I type this it also looks like the "by Nichole" is way too big... ugh... am I being too much of a perfectionist?

Afternoon Update: Annoying pain in the arse Perfectionist "me" has taken over... I've changed it a touch... the "by Nichole" is smaller and title is bigger. I also managed to change my "comments" to "woofs" -- yeah! OK, I'm done tweaking for awhile! For those of you who've asked, I have some basic graphics & design experience and use Photoshop. If you need some help, let me know.... Coming Soon: Blog Headers by Lapdog Creations... ha ha ha ha! Seriously though, I'll help you with some tips/pointers if I can.

9 and 0!

We're 9 and 0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO PATS!

Notice the smile on his face... while under pressure to throw? Only our Brady!

And he runs too!

Sorry Adam... you've been replaced!

Yes Tedy, we are 9 and 0!!!!!!!!

Did I mention how great it is to be a Boston girl?

A Monday reminder... the Nov. 30th deadline for entering my contest is getting closer! I'll be posting photos of the wonderful prizes later this week. Special thank you to The Princess, who sent some wonderful doggy treats & toys to contribute to the prize loot! You rock!!!

Summer Anklets... just in time for winter!

I finally finished my Bob Marley Grandma's Footsies!

I started these back in May for a pretty, lightweight summer anklet... and just finished them last week. No, the pattern wasn't difficult... but it was pretty boring.

Now, don't get me wrong though, they are cute socks, I just kept tossing them aside to work on other things. Also, this was the first pair of socks I knit using a merino / tencel blend and I don't think I'll use it for socks again. The yarn is Sereknity Triple Scoop and I do love it, but I found that the tencel made the looseness between needles (I knit these on DPNs) way more noticeable. See?

I haven't had such noticeable problems with my other socks, so I do chalk it up to the tencel. Don't get me wrong though, its a beautiful yarn - the tencel gives a gorgeous sheen, but its just not for me, for socks. I am using another of Heather's merino/tencel for a lace headband and for that, it is working out lovely!

I have some other finished objects too, but didn't photo most of them since they went right in to the stash bag for items for the Christmas Open House at A Knitter's Garden. I'll photo most of that stuff when its more complete and ready for sale. I did felt a few items yesterday though and snapped some drying photos.

Some coasters in Wisdom Poems...

A "night out" bangle bag (I have to get the

bangle bracelets for it) and a wine cozy...

I've been busy knitting items for the Christmas fair and drinking lots of coffee this weekend. Yesterday, I spent much of the day with one project or another in front of me. This is my Yarn Harlot One Row scarf, which is for me, not the open house. I'm using the yummy Wisdom Sonnet...

This morning I worked on my scarf some more, but after I finish this post its back to knitting items for the open house.

Left to right, works in progress are a cabled coffee cozy, my scarf and another bangle bracelet night out bag. Also pictured is a delicious cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I'll leave you with some photos from my BMG Footsies photo shoot that ended up on the cutting room floor, due to some "helping paws..."

And curious faces...

Winter Wonderland Week 1

Well, its certainly not winter yet in New England, although we are experiencing a "November Nor'easter" today with high winds and rain, remnants from Noel. The winds don't seem all that bad right now, but the rain has begun. The kind Fed Ex man just came running up the driveway to drop a package while being pelted with side sweeping rain....

But back to the Winter Wonderlnad.... coffee swap, that is. Its time to answer the first Topic of the Week question.... When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell?

Well, to be honest, I don't really recall but I'm guessing I was around 16 when I was bitten by the addiction started taking part in a New England ritual... daily visits to Dunkin Donuts! And yes, the myths are all reality... you really can not go more than a couple miles without finding a Dunkin' Donuts around here! Some of my earliest "coffee memories" were going out for a drive in the evenings with my brother, stopping for a medium coffee at Dunkins and driving around. Good times... chatting, hanging with my bro... I do miss that time and closeness with him. He's 8 years older than me, so the time we really spent the closest was from when I was about 18 - 21. We'd hang out at the same clubs (some of which I, ah-hum, might not have exactly been legally old enough to enter.... ah, the perks of doing PR work for local bands and going in to the bars/clubs at soundcheck and "blending in"... I won't mention the time I actually worked the door and was checking IDs of people coming in when I wasn't even old enough to be there myself... ah, fun times, fun times...), have a lot of the same friends and interests. Big bro even became a bouncer at my favorite hang out for a bit. The club was one I was old enough to get in to, an 18+ club. Of course, once bro was on staff I never waited or paid admission to get in again (break in to song momemnt: At the door we don't wait cause we know them... love Pink!) and gained a half dozen new, very protective "big brothers." How Matt never ran the other way screaming, I don't know...

So anyway, back to the coffee. My name is Nichole and I'm an addict since the tender age of 16-ish. I'm now an average of 2 cups a day, sometimes more... depends on the work stress! Its all about the caffeine, taste and smell... and in the winter, the warmth & comfort... in the summer, the iced cold & refreshment! I've even crossed the line to lattes!

Only 53 Shopping Days Left!

Yes folks... holiday insanity gift season is upon us! I officially realized that yesterday when I walked in to Belden jewelers and they had Christmas tunes on their muzak system! Oh boy... at least they waited until after Halloween, right?

So, with just 53 shopping days left to go (that does include Christmas Eve for you late bloomers), I thought I'd tell you about a couple of holiday open houses coming up much too quickly very soon! (Let me know how you like the flyers, designed by yours truly)

First up, the annual Holiday Open House at A Knitter's Garden on December 1 & 2. I will be selling some Lapdog Creations items at the shop (thank you to Joanne for the wonderful opportunity!), as well as some other very talented ladies. There will also be open houses at Violet Bleu and The Guest House in conjunction, making for a little "Christmas Tour" in Chester, NH. Be sure to stop by if you're local!

For all of my fellow doggy lovers, another wonderful holiday open house is happening on Sunday, December 2 at The Grooming Emporium in Lowell, MA. If you're local, please go visit Tanya and get your pooch's photos with Santa!

Well, its Friday ... wanna have a little TGIF fun? Sure you do... Hop on over to the hilarious, wonderful, infamous Shut Up I'm Counting blog and check Cass' 333 contest! Please tell her I sent you too... it'll earn me an extra entry. And don't forget, you have until November 30th to enter my first ever contest (and I promise to post photos of the prizes next week)! Come on... I'm really trying to reach my goal of $1,000 to the ASPCA and every little bit counts, whether its $5 or $10... or $25 or $50... everything counts! There are also several other ways to enter, so check it out!

Do I Smell Cake?

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes for my baby boy last week! I finally got a chance to download the paw-ty pictures off the camera!

There was cake from Woof It Down!

What do you mean I can't touch it??!!

Aw, heck... its mine, I'm licking it!


Gifts, ordered from Planet Dog...

And although not birthday presents for Mr. Tut, the Halloween bobos debuted the same night.

Lola & Sophie (as always, click the links for more pics) discovered Devil Bobo...

Then out came The Great Pumpkin Bobo. Here's Lola and Zeus...

Tut must've been guarding his new birthday toys while we were taking pics. Later we found Sophie with a Bobo stash!

Miss Sophie is still looking for her forever home! Her Petfinder profile is here if you know anyone interested in this beautiful, special baby girl. How could you not fall in love for this?



Can you believe its November already? Remember those pretty fall leaves from last week?

Well, we got some rain this past week. The view looks like this now.

Not so pretty anymore, huh? Damn rain. I snapped a few pretty "ground shots...."



Matt's not looking forward to cleaning this up (and mind you this is only a portion of an acre filled with leaves).

I promised you finished objects and forgot to photo all of them. For now, here is a pretty weave style dishcloth that I did for my Fall Into Autumn Swap pal. Its hard to see the neat pattern in the photo, but I'm sure you can see the curious nose!



In other fibery news, I found a place to spin my dogs' hair once I collect enough... a place that prefers to spin it alone (not mixed with some wool or something not my babies)! I ordered a lab yarn sample card, bag to store Zeus' hair (which is about all I'm getting lately - for some reason there's plenty of black hair on my rug, but when I brush Lola & Tut I get next to nothing) and a skein of oh-la-la yarn... 100% handspun baby camel!

Oh my stars, this baby camel yarn is soooooooo soft and yummy! I'm thinking of fingerless mitts for me, but haven't totally decided yet.

That's all for today. Don't forget to hop on over to the Dogs on Thursday site. Paula did a fantastic memorial for Chan's beloved Fred today, so make sure you stop by. Its been a sad month in the doggy blog world. Hop on over and give some cyber hugs to Michelle and her family too. They lost the beautiful Chewy earlier this week.

Halloween My WHAT? And Count Dustee!

Happy Spooky Day! This is what's on my desk, staring me in the face today (I have the "Bad Dogs" 365 day calendar)...

Cute, huh? How about something even cuter? I present to you... Vampire-Dog Count Dustee!

Love those cute fangs and funny faces! Yes folks, its a Dustee update! I got some new pics from his Mom last week (she is the best at keeping in touch, which I am so thankful for... it means the world to me to get updates on my foster babies). Dustee will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Lola still gets her big curious ears & eyes whenever someone says "Dustee" - its too cute! Here's a couple more pics of the little guy, including one with his sister Kaia....

Aren't they gorgeous furbabies? I'm happy to hear Dustee is doing very well also!

I'll leave you today with a little more Spooky Day fun (which is a little too eerily correct with some of the things!). Enjoy your Halloween!

What Your Halloween Habits Say About You

You're a friendly person, but not the life of the party. You like making someone else's day - and you'll dress up if you think of a really fun costume. Sneaky and devious, people should really watch out for you. You are usually underestimated and forgotten. Your inner child is open minded, playful, and adventurous. You fear people taking advantage for you. You are always worried about protecting your own interests. You're prone to be quite emotional and over dramatic. Deep down, you enjoy being scared out of your mind... even if you don't admit it. You are a traditionalist with most aspects of your life. You like your Halloween costume to be basic, well made, and conventional enough to wear another year.

What's Your Halloween Personality?