Friday, Friday, Friday!!!

TGIF! Time for some Fill-Ins...

1. I'd like to be at home hanging out with these adorable faces right now...

2. One of my most favorite romantic memories is watching the sunset together from atop Cadillac Mountain.

3. Last night, I had ground chicken sauteed up with onion, pepper and mushrooms, then mixed with garlic tomato sauce for dinner. Delish!

4. Sorry for the boring post today, but I hope to get a couple reviews up over the weekend.

5. Can we take a vacation now?

6. One of my worst temptations is peanut butter anything; it's just too hard to resist!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the start of my 3 day weekend, tomorrow my plans include a special little lady's 4th birthday party and Sunday, I want to see Smoke win in Texas, of course!

No butts about it... it's the weekend!

The 4-legged Dependents

Happy Dogs On Tax Day Thursday! For our doggy day only friends, Zeus wants to make sure you didn't miss his the Big Daddy Biscuit review. I think he's been trying to tell me that I need to go to the BDB website and order a big bag of Cheese Bites with Garlic for him he and his siblings...

So, got your taxes done? I do, but I still think I should get to claim these four dependents. I mean, you really can't get much more dependent than this...

Today is also the kids' Grandpa Dan and Grandma Sue's special day, so they're sending out woofs and lots of sloppy kisses for a very Yappy Anniversary to two of their favorite humans!

Since we have rain moving in for tomorrow (and the weekend... ugh), how about a little sun-spot-pics to brighten the day today?

Sophie and Zeus

Teutul and Lola

Enjoy the rest of your day! Next Thursday is Earth Day and in honor, we will be reviewing the new Planet Dog eats treats and having a giveaway!!!

I'm Tired Of

Happy Wordless Wednesday! What are you tired of?

Iz Getz Em Mommy!

So, spring is in the air and the birds are waking me up far too early chirping away. Before I left for work this morning, I went through the usual routine of letting the dogs out. Zeus was the last one and it turned into... "Zeus, time to come in" .... "Come on Zeus." ... "Okay, let's go, time to come in" .... "Zeus, Mommy's going to be late." ... "ZEUS... IN!" You see, the big guy was busy hunting playing with his birdie friends....

Iz jusz standz over here andz watz for dem to landz...

Oooh... lookz at dem all der! Iz gotz to rrrruuunnnnn...

CHARGE!

hee heez... Iz makz you all flyz faaassttt!!! I getz you my pretteeezes... Look Momz... Iz getz dem!

That's Zeus' favorite game... lying in wait for as many birds as he can stand still for to gather on the feeders... then jumping and carrying on to make them all scatter. He gets such a big 'ole grin on his face after. Not sure how I managed that little rainbow in the corner of a couple of those shots, but cool...

As for knitting news... yes, I still do that. I still need to get this finished. Must work on it tonight... hopefully the baby isn't cold!

Which means I had absolutely no right to cast on these Saturday night... right? Although, I did have to test out this 3AM Enchantments bag for an upcoming review...

REVIEW: Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece

Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece
by Gail Callahan
Spiral-bound: 168 pages
Publisher: Storey Publishing (January 8, 2010)

"Take control of your colors!" - that is exactly what Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece will help you do. Many knitters have found themselves searching amongst endless hanks of yarn stacked in local shops only to think "it's just not the right color." We search high and low - digging through baskets and discount bins - for that perfect skein in the perfect shade to make the perfect gift. Although the commercial choices are extensive - sometimes even overwhelming, there are times when we just can't find it.

With so many options for dyeing yarn these days, it's no surprise that knitters have taken control of their colors and began dyeing at home. Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece is a comprehensive how-to from a fellow knitter who began dyeing for personal use. It wasn't long before the dyeing bug bit her - as it has so many - and she has since gone on to make it her business!

Before you jump blindly into the dyeing, Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece helps by covering safety, equipment, organization, equipment and more in a chapter devoted to setting up your at-home dye studio. Fibers are discussed in detail, including what to expect and how to prepare it.

Are you a little color shy? No worries, Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece includes a chapter on Color Power! How to find your color comfort zone, exploring the color grid, and color value and saturation are just some of the topics discussed. A how-to on dyeing your own "color wheel" is included as well.

Once you're ready to dive into the dye pot, you'll find clear step by step recipe-style instructions, complete with detailed photos, for several different methods. Dip-Dyeing, Hand-Painting, Tie-Dyeing and other techniques are all covered, some in multiple forms, such as specifics for hand-painting silk caps and wool roving. A few unusual techniques are spotlighted... how to dunk full cones of yarn and injecting color with a syringe. Immersion dyeing is covered in detail, from basic to drip-paint-immersion combos to 2 and 3 step processes. One technique I personally want to try is the Knit, Dye, Unknit, Knit instructions (think Flat Feet sock yarn)!

Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece is not just a how-to dye book, it also includes patterns to show off all of your creative color work! Mittens, baby sweaters, leg warmers, socks, hats and scarves - all patterns written specifically for your hand-dyed yarn!

If you have an interest in dyeing or have dabbled a bit and want some more "recipies," add Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece to your bookshelf now! But beware, the steps are easy to follow, the photographs are enticing... and the creative process is most certainly addicting! Happy Dyeing!

About the Author: Gail Callahan discovered weaving in the 1990's, leading her to a small business called The Kangaroo Weaver. A few years later, she began dyeing for personal use. The following year, Valley Yarns asked her to dye yarns exclusive to WEBS, America's Yarn Store, in Northampton, Massachusetts. She now teaches dyeing at WEBS, and continues to dye for them as well as for her own business, The Kangaroo Dyer.

REVIEW: Big Daddy Biscuits

Big Daddy Biscuits
Where to Find: Big Daddy Biscuits

Handpressed All Natural And Organic Farm To Table

Dog Biscuits Made With Human Grade Food

Big Daddy Biscuits owner Lauren Janis began making healthy treats for her rescued pooch out of pure love. He enjoyed them so much, that soon his friends were lining up for some and Big Mama left her career in the airline industry behind to start his namesake, Big Daddy Biscuits.

When the Big Daddy Biscuit box arrived in our mailbox for review, all of the Lapdogs lined right up to get to work! Zeus gave the first sniff to the Mixed Bag...

Zeus and I were in agreement, everything looked and smelled fabulous. I would even say the Cheese Bites with Garlic smell good enough for me to want to munch! Made with certified organic whole wheat flour, natural cheese and garlic, these treats help aid against fleas, ticks and other biting insects.

It's not always Thanksgiving, but Turkey Bacon Bites are the next best thing for our 4-legged friends. Made with certified organic whole wheat flour, turkey bacon, local eggs straight from the farm, chicken stock and a hint of brown sugar, they're sure to have have any dog drooling for more!

Peanut butter anything is always a hit with the Lapdogs, so it's no surprise they all love the Crunchy Peanut Butter biscuits. Certified organic whole wheat flour, fresh ground peanut butter, fresh oat, cornmeal, applesauce and a hint of vanilla combine for a crunch that will keep their tails wagging.

This mama loves Big Mama's Dinner Mints creation! Honestly, who isn't always looking for something to freshen your dog's breath? Made with brown rice flour, activated charcoal for digestion, parsley and mint, these little balls aren't just good for your dog's breath, they're tasty too! Zeus, the uber spokes-doggy-model, posed with a Dinner Mint before gobbling it up (see it there between his paws... the little black ball)...

It's obvious the dogs loved them, but what's the human verdict? I couldn't be happier to feed my dogs Big Daddy Biscuits! I feel great knowing that not only are they made from all natural, organic ingredients, but each treat is handpressed in Atlanta, Georiga by Big Mama herself. I always say I'll bake more for my dogs and then life gets in the way. Big Daddy Biscuits are the next best thing... the "Just Like Mama's Home Cooking" of the dog treat world!

Big Daddy Bicuits officially get the 16 Paws Up Lapdog Seal of Approval! Treat your pack to some now... They are available in several Atlanta locations and, of course, you can order them directly online!

Sophie and Teutul sniffed out their favorite from the Mixed Bag...

After the sniff test, the Lapdogs were hard at work reviewing the product.

About Big Daddy: I am an American Bulldog and was found wandering around by the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. I was so little that my my head was bigger than my body. One look at me and my mom knew I needed lots of loving and care. I had been on the street so long without proper nourishment I developed Toxoplasmosis and now have cataracts in both eyes and am slowly going blind. She has nursed me back to health and today my body is strong and happy. My mom and I are now inseparable and have a large extended family who give me plenty of attention. But most of all I make my mom happy. While I don’t exactly bake, I help by keeping my mom company in the kitchen while she hand-presses each biscuit. It looks like hard work, but after rolling out the mixture, pressing all the cool shapes, and popping them in the oven, smelling them as they bake makes it all worthwhile. Well, at least for me! You can read my blog here.

"You Know You Want Some!" ~ Big Daddy

You're in MY Spot!

Happy Doggy-almost-Friday-day! For those of you who only stop by on Thursdays, please scroll back for great news about Bella, the kids' Easter picture and my exciting news about DogTime Media's blog network!

The kids have been very busy with reviews and photo shoots this week (thank you sun!). They might even tell you they're working hard, but not to worry, their rewards are quite big! Stay tuned for our reviews of Big Daddy Biscuits and Planet Dog eats treats. We're currently awaiting samples of some other new products, but we can't quite tell you about those just yet. Knitters need not worry, I have quite a few reviews coming up for you too - including Skacel, 3AM Enchantments, Peace Fleece and several books, including a giveaway of Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Vol. 5!

Now on with the Doggy-Thursday photos! A couple of weeks ago, Lola decided that she wanted to snuggle up on the couch with her Daddy...

Cute, right? Of course... but what you don't understand is this is Tut's spot. He's infamous for being Daddy's tv-watching snuggler at night. He was none too pleased with Lola taking over his spot.

Sophie thought all of his carrying on was pretty funny... and then decided she'd climb up and join the pile!

Zeus... "I am not getting up there. I've got my own couch, thank you very much..."

Don't forget to check out DogTime's blog network... I was honored to have been asked to join!