Tuesdays With Tag - Tag (and Bella) And The Beanstalk...

Brynwood's Taggart

Hi, Everybody!

Goodness, it's hard to believe it's already June!

 

Before I tell you about the "beanstalk", I just wanna stop a second to remember someone special to Mom and Dad. Yesterday, my Corgi predecessor, Fezzik, would have been eight years old. Mom marks her calendar so that she can stop to tell the universe how much she loves and misses him. I wish I'd met him. I think we would have been good pals, runnin' zoomies, and splootin' in tandem in the middle of the livin' room floor. Mom says he was a good boy. 

Hope you're havin' fun at The Bridge, Fez. Happy Birthday from Mom, Dad, Bella and me. We miss ya, man.

Now, for the rest of my post for today...

Brynwood's Taggart & Liljegren's Suncoast Bella

Well, they're not beanstalks, but I'm tellin' ya...this year's rhubarb crop is HUGE! Remember that Mom and Dad transplanted these two hills just last spring? Well, they must be in hog heaven, 'cuz they just went plum crazy in their new spot!

They came up so fast that Mom's only had time to do that one pickin' from when the Stitches ladies were here to visit. Since then, they've flowered and gone to seed. I'm not the biggest of critters, but look how these plants dwarf Boo and me! I could make a fort under their stalks. Heck, MOM could make a fort under their stalks!

Check Out That Rhubarb!

Our plan is to have rhubarb all along the front of the compass barn. We don't think there'll be any problem at all splitting these plants to move in next to these. What do you think?

Mom's been stitchin' away on her "Flax Farm" piece. She should have made quite a bit of progress by the time she comes back tomorrow for her post. You'll have to tell her what you think about these plants.

She wanted me to tell you that (apparently) Blogger has changed one of their services. They no longer send emails to Mom when someone leaves a comment on her blog posts. She said that she'll start leavin' replies right on the same place as you do from now on. Of course, if you'd like, she'll also send you a personal email if you'd rather have a private conversation with her. Please be patient as she figures out all these changes. She's kinda tearin' her hair out right now.

 

Thanks again for stoppin' by!

 

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then...  

"Chase A Dream - Or A Squirrel".

Looking Back on 2011...

As I reflect on 2011, I look back upon a year filled with joy, sadness, anticipation, fun and new experiences.

I promise not to dwell on the moments of great sadness, but I can't close out this year without remembering the beautiful lives of my Labrador, Kes - and my first Corgi, Fezzik Inconceivable. They filled our days with unconditional love and laughter.

Both left me this year. I miss them every day, and will never forget the lights they brought into our lives.

We had the adventure of our lives when Handsome, Kes and I embarked on a four month trip last summer. We packed our essentials along with too many extras into our Airstream and set off on our travels.

Together, we covered nearly 11,000 miles, 13 states, enjoyed friends and family, and were a part of some incredible music performances. We learned that we can live happily together in a small space, and that less "stuff" is actually liberating. We're already planning our next big destination!

Brynwood's Taggart (aka Tag) joined our adventure mid-trip (July 4th) and he immediately fit right in. He was a natural for traveling, and did his best to make friends with Kes.  We're so glad that he's a part of our family now,  and we're looking forward to spending many more years with him. Even now, he considers the Flying Cloud his home, and he gets quite animated when he realizes we're going out to spend a little time there.

Although Kes didn't return home with us, she'll always be with us in spirit. I miss her silly ways, and her ability to teach the puppies by example.

I also had fun creating beautiful things in 2011. If you click here, you can see my 2011 Completed Projects Flickr album.

I want to thank all of you for the comments, love and support you've given me. You help lift me during the most difficult days, and made them more bearable. You shared all the good times with me, too. You may never know the true effect that blogging has had on me. What started as a little personal diary, grew into new and wonderful friendship and a celebration of my creative and personal life. Thank you for being a part of this adventure.

Now For Something New...

I've been working on a new project for a while now, and I'm finally ready to share my excitement with you! You know how I've become totally smitten since my first exposure to Corgis, and how much I loved Fezzik, and now Taggart. I wanted to create a line with which to share my new found Corgi love.

You'll find a new category in my Brynwood Boutique and my Etsy shop called "For The Love Of A Corgi".

You'll find note cards, mug mats (mugs not included), can coozies and more. I've been so busy in the studio, and I'm still working on new things for you. (Quantities on some items may be limited before Christmas, but there's still plenty of time to place an order.)

I hope you enjoy browsing my newest creations.  They'll make perfect gifts for your favorite Corgi lover - or anyone who knows the love of a dog (or two, or three!).

This has really been a Labor of Love, and I'm looking forward to creating new Corgi items for other Corgi fans.

If you're traveling to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, take care and travel safely. This year I'm thankful for all of you!

I'm Ready...

I'm ready for the "Paws & Whiskers" guild competition.

My entry is complete. I finished it yesterday afternoon.

My design was inspired by an art card I purchased last year.

It's a watercolor image created by David J. Rogers.

I fell in love with the image the instant I saw it, but I

adjusted it so it had the same markings as my muse.

It measures 25" x 28", which is well 

within the guidelines for the competition.

Our pieces will be judged on November 15th, 

and I promise I'll tell you how it's received.

 It's my tribute to my first Corgi -
my sweet Fezzik.

 I've called it

"For The Love Of A Corgi".

It was a true labor of love, and

although it would be fun to win a 1st Place ribbon,

the satisfaction from creating something

in memory of Fez is really enough for me. 

Winning would be the icing on the cake.

Don't forget!

Today is the last day to enter my 900th Post Giveaway.

Click here to enter.

I'll chose a winner this evening and

announce the lucky name tomorrow.
Good Luck!

A Peek and A Treat...

I'm in the process of creating some new things for The Boutique, and I think you're going to like them...especially if you like corgis! I'll have lots of handcrafted stock just in time for holiday giving.

Fezzik was my original inspiration, but Taggart jumped right on the band wagon! He pops into the studio at random moments during the day to find out what I'm up to...and to remind me to stop to play with him. I'm always happy to do that!

My new line is called "For The Love of a Corgi" and you're looking at my new logo for the line. I'm planning everything from fabric creations to t-shirts.

I have a new link in my menu bar at the Brynwood Needleworks Boutique and will start posting new items in the upcoming weeks. I've also been working on a new look over there, so I hope you'll check back and let me know what you think.

I recently came across these little acorn treats. They're so clever and you just know that I'm going to be making a batch (or three!)

Maddie of Six In The Suburbs came up with these Chocolate and Peanut Butter Acorns and shared the "recipe" on her blog. You can click here to read her post. Mini nutter butter cookies and Hershey's kisses. Sounds like the start of something beautiful to me!

The girls at Six In The Suburbs have a great place to visit for all sorts of inspiration. I'm sure you'll find other goodness once you stop in to visit!

Well, I'm going to run for now. The Corgi and those tasty chocolate kisses are calling me!

Tuesdays With Tag - It's Official...

 

Yes, my friends. It's official. I own a second, bona fide swimming corgi! In the tradition of Fezzik, Taggart loves playing in the pool, and he's worked out some unique and amusing techniques.

I mean, just look at his entry. Impressive, right? Wearing nothing but a corgi smile, parabolic ears and that cute little nub of a tail! Look at how he's tucked in his front legs! Adorable, I tell ya.

I know it looks like he's a little frazzled, but trust me. The whites of his eyes are only showing because he's looking "downstream" to catch up with Handsome. It's a look of determination.

He now knows to turn around to head back to the swim-out. That's where he can safely climb out of the water to rest a bit. He knows right where he's supposed to go for a teeny rest before jumping right back in.

One of the things that makes us laugh is when he does a tight turn. Where Fezzik used to just stop kicking one leg to make his turns, Taggart prefers a little butt roll. This technique causes his back leg to break the surface just enough to splash some water. It resembles a turtle flipper splashing around, and it's so cute. It only slows him down a bit.

He knows that he can trot along the top step (it's an extension of the swim-out) and jump out from there. This shows the beginning of his exit.

If you click on this picture, you can see just how much water he hauls out with him. He's not too interested in shaking off the water, mainly because he's only going to jump right back in!

If he's out of the water, he'll run to whichever end of the pool Handsome is heading toward. That way he can give a little "Hi, Dad!" when Handsome surfaces.

What I really wanted to show you is my six month old corgi's beautiful topline. If it weren't for his boyish, frowsy coat, he'd win Best In Show, don't you think? No. I'm not going to show him in the ring. He's gonna be a working boy true to his breed. Once we get down the basic commands (which, so far, His Little Boldness obeys when he's in the mood), we'll find some tests and trials for him. (Don't tell me about using treats, because he knows when I have them and at those times he's a perfect gentleman. He also knows when I don't. That's a story for another day.)

After a little towel and blow drying from me, it's off to his kennel with a nice dry towel to dream about his next swimming escapade. Or perhaps his dreams involve herding a few wooly, runaway sheep? I'm so proud of my charming, pool-proof, swimming corgi.

So, 'til next time...More wagging and less barking!

Tuesdays With Tag - Clickers and Snaps...

I've been working on obedience with Tag lately. I came across a little gadget called a clicker. It's an inexpensive and interesting training tool that, when combined with a treat, promotes the most wonderful behavior from my Corgi. (He's even heeling next to me off-lead when this technique is employed.) It reminds me of a toy that we played with when I was a kid - sort of a little noise-maker that can easily be held between your thumb and fingers.

We've always used whistles for training our retrievers and I may yet decide to go back to whistle training for Tag, but the clicker is quieter in situations where there are other people nearby.

It's also a great device to use when taking pictures to get the dog's attention, and doesn't sound as silly as some of the sounds I've made in the past. (I've got a killer pheasant call that I'm really proud of, but Handsome says it sounds like I've got a bone stuck in my throat. For years he's been trying to teach our dogs to call "911" when I do it!)

Now that Tag's four and a half months old, I'm able to get on my knees (Corgi-level, you know) and take a few nice portraits of him.

Uh...well...most of the photos were sweet and cute. He's always got to toss me at least one "disapproving Corgi look"! He's got that one down pat. I swear he practices this one when I'm not looking!

Of course, I'll admit that Handsome stood behind me making some noises to get Tag's attention. He really knows how to bring out the best poses. Handsome said that Tag is following the Rules of Good Canine Posture by keeping his tongue out the front...which is a good thing, considering he's got so much of it!

In tribute to Fezzik, Taggart asked me if we could sign off the way his predecessor used to. I think it's fitting, so I said yes. We'll be back next week with more Corgi attitude.

'til then...

More wagging and less barking!

Derailed...

I had so many plans for the past two days, but you know how it goes. You run an errand or two, come back home, start on something, get distracted, start on something else, and the next thing you know, it's time to make dinner and another day is in the archives.

That's how my last couple of days have gone. I've managed to finish...nothin'. zip. zero. nada.
I have spent what seems like forever joining two rows of granny squares to start assembling my cardigan. It's looking good, but it's not any further down the road than that. Am I a little frustrated? Uh, huh. It's ok. You know me. Never one to stay down, I'll pull up my socks (figuratively, of course. It's already too hot for socks!) and just keep after it. I can already tell it's going to be a neat sweater.
You might like to visit The Daily Corgi today, too. Fezzik would have been one year old today, and Laurie has put together a little memorial for him. It's meant to be happy, like he was, so please don't be sad. He made us laugh every day and I hope today's images make you smile at his memory.

A Feeling Of Accomplishment...

I spent yesterday in the studio, thoroughly engrossed in the process of assembling the blocks for my Summertime quilt. Every cut mattered, and if I cut a square the wrong direction (which I did when my mind slipped from time to time) I rendered it useless for this project and had to put it off to the side. "Concentration" was the word of the day, but I really made progress.

After the blocks were assembled, I cut 2" wide strips for sashing. I love the soft green swirls that remind me of watermelon rinds. Don't you think it fits in perfectly for my theme?
The green shows up a little "yellower" on my screen, so I'll assume it might on yours, too. The color works really well with the actual blocks and I promise to take a photo outside in daylight when it's all finished.
I'm posting this photo again so that you can see what the inspiration from Rebecca Barker's postcard looked like. I think I've managed to stay pretty true the original as I created this quilt without a pattern. I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't waste a little fabric in the process of calculating and assembling the blocks!
I ended the day with all the sashing completed. Next, I'll add a border or two and then it will be on its way to Kathy for quilting. I have to get in line for her services (she's got room in her schedule for me the end of June), so you won't see my Summertime quilt again until I bind it and it's all finished.

Tomorrow is Silent Friday in honor of Fezzik, so I'll catch up with you on Saturday. I'll be working on my crocheted sweater, so perhaps I'll have some progress to share with you then. Happy creating!