All the wings have been wired now. Next, I'll tape the ends down so they stay out of my way and don't catch threads as I work. Once I add a few directional lines to keep me on target, it will be time to bring out my threads.

I had a restful weekend, and hope you did, too. I'm relaxed,  refreshed, and ready for the week ahead. I'm hoping to get a lot accomplished. 

I have a PT appointment, and Handsome and I have to pick up some "supplies" for Carly. She surprised us with a heat cycle on Friday. This will be her last one. She's five, and after discussion with Mike (our trainer friend) who has retired, our source for breeding/puppy sales is no longer available. So, once she's finished this heat, we'll have her spayed. No more doggie diapers in her future. 

It's kind of bittersweet for me. I would have loved to have a litter of her puppies. We've bred, raised and trained hunting retrievers for about forty five years. Although I'm sure we'll always have dogs, Carly signals the end of our breeding programs. We're definitely ending on a high note with this girl.

Time to get moving. I'll see you again tomorrow. I hope you make it a great week!

I Took The Day Off...

By the time I finished work on Tuesday, I was spent. Handsome took me out for dinner, and we had a relaxing night at home.

Handsome had an early appointment, so I was just getting ready to take Bella and Carly out when he got home. I made coffee and he went to get the girls. Carly was sick overnight, and we had an awful mess to clean up. Poor girl. She almost acted embarrassed. I guess she partied too much for her birthday.

After making coffee, I made rice for her and she went on special rations for the rest of the day. Handsome gave her a much-needed and appreciated bath. It took a while to clean her kennel and the room (we tossed the rug that was under the kennels), and I lamented the fact that we don't have an actual kennel building on this property. It was so much easier to just hose down messes! lol

After all that, we had our coffee, and all my motivation had vanished. We hovered over Carly the rest of the day, and the best I could muster was to clean off one of my work tables in the studio, and then make dinner for us. 

I was an "airhead" for the majority of the day, so there's nothing butterfly-related to share. Tomorrow will be different. I'll share the first step to creating my Monarch wings next time you visit. See you then!

 

Happy Birthday, Carly!...

Liljegren's Suncoast Carly

Happy Sixth Birthday, Carly! Six sure looks great on you. You're a source of laughter and pride in our household, and we're so glad we get to share our corner of the world with you.  

Carly Puppy

From the moment we chose you, we knew you were something special, and every day you prove us right. 

We love you bunches, and will make today extra special for you, Carlita Puppita Mamacita (Mom's nickname for you)! 

WMBBD is 11...

Liljegren's Suncoast Bella

We're going to spend today, and this weekend celebrating Bella's eleventh birthday. She's the best girl, and she deserves all the affection we can give her. There shall be treats, too.

Look at her face. You can see where loving in her has rubbed off black, and now her face sparkles. Old dogs are the best. 

Happy birthday, beautiful Bella. We love you very much. 

Working On A Special Project...

Brynwood Needleworks - Jerry Gadamus Labrador Fabric Panels

This project is long overdue, but I'm going to do it now. If you've followed me for a while, I've sung this song before, but I really am doing it this time.

Handsome had asked me to make a new quilt for him to replace one that I made for him forty years ago. He loved the last one so much that I'm still patching it so he can keep using it.

It's not one of the highly embellished quilts like those I've done more recently. He wants fiberfill batting and minimal finish quilting just like that first one I made from a single, repeating, long panel from all those years ago. 

So I went looking for retriever fabric to stay with the same theme. When I saw the fabric that used the paintings we recognized and loved from years ago, I bought what I could find from the line. Unfortunately, a long repeated panel wasn't available. That means I'm going to have to piece it with other fabrics to create the size I want. He asked for a larger one this time. 

The last retriever quilt was about 76" long by 48" wide. This one will finish closer to 85" long by 60" wide. I began with a drawing of how I want it to look, and worked out measurements from my drawing. From there I started cutting and piecing. 

I'll be working today, so I won't likely won't complete the top tonight, but I'll get it done soon so I can share it with you. I'm really happy with what I've got so far. I think Handsome will like it, too. More soon!

Happy Birthday, WMBBD!...

Here's our beautiful girl, Bella on her tenth Birthday. There's nothing more sweet and dear than an older dog...especially this one.

She recently rebroke her foot from an old injury before Carly was born, so she's fully retired now. She was simply running to make a retrieve and came up carrying her foot. Of course, we immediately packed her into the truck to the vet's office where the diagnosis was made. 

We aren't no longer allowed to throw retrieves for her anymore because the "push off" force she uses to get to the mark could further injure her. She loves nothing more in this world than to retrieve to Handsome or me. It's always been so much fun to watch her work, but now Bella will only be able to run on her own which doesn't have that same force as with the effort to retrieve.

Her foot is healing and doesn't need a cast, splint or bandages, so we're very careful not to over stimulate her which might cause her to relapse. I guess it's a hazard of her getting older, so we have to curb her activity, as she won't. She'd happily fetch until she dropped.

While Carly's features are finer than Bella's, you can tell who her mama is. I took this of the two of them and love how they're both so focused. Like mother, like daughter.

Today I'll be making some special pup treats for them, along with extra snuggles and pets for Bella and Carly. I think it will be a perfect day for a little Birthday party!

The Girls Are Dropping In Today...

Carly and Bella (WMBBD)

It was such a beautiful morning yesterday that Handsome and I drank our morning coffee on the porch. Of course, the girls (all four of them) joined us. 

Carly and Bella just wanted to stop by today to say "Hello". Mama has more grey now, but we've noticed that Carly Dog is developing a little grey on her chinny chin chin, too. Time stops for no man (nor beast). It's just a little reminder of how short their time is with us, and to appreciate every moment we can share with them.

How Ya Doin'?

Carly's head tilt continues to be a source of laughter and joy for us. Bella's a sweet, old soul we're so  grateful to have around to pet and cuddle.

I'll be at work today, but Handsome will spend the day with these girls. Claudette and her daughter mew to be let out every morning, so by the time I go to work, they're usually snuggled in our porch chairs and enjoying the sunshine. If the weather is less than favorable, they'll ask to be let back in soon enough.

Handsome and I are watching the weather reports for Florida the past few days. Our friends have either evacuated or are hunkered down as they await the next hit. We're praying that everyone will make it safely through the storm. 

As so many are trying to rebuild following Hurricane Helene, the last thing they need is Milton knocking at their door. Perhaps a miracle might save them from the worst of it this time. We'll continue to pray.

Dog Work 0r Working Dog?...

Earlier in the week, I watched as Handsome got the girls outside to stretch out a bit. The weather was just right for a little training and fetching. Carly went first. Get the bumper out into the field, and then send her.

Well, that was easy. Of course, she went straight to it and ran back as fast as she could to deliver it back to Handsome. Carly would do this until she dropped. She's a real fetching fool.

Mama Bella quietly watched over the exercises, wondering when it would be her turn. She stood up a few times during the throws, but sat and patiently critiqued her kid. Not bad, Carly. Not bad.

Bella said it was time to show her daughter just how it's done. Of course, Bella never misses. Straight out and straight back - even on blind retrieves (the ones she doesn't see being placed). She's a joy to behold...a real thing of beauty to see her work.

Watching her return with her retrieve - even if it's a plastic bumper - is enough to make your eyes water. Her daughter is definitely stylish, but this is the dog from whom Carly inherited her drive, brains, and talent.

Pay attention, Carly. You may yet learn a thing or two from your mama. Bella still has a lot to teach you, so stay alert.

Another morning training session in the books, and just enough to take the "p & v" out of this youngster - at least for half the day. When she's really cranked up, they'll get a second session in the afternoon, but I'm not kidding. They'd both do this until they drop. We'll be right back at it again tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Carly!...

Carly turns FOUR today!!!

Happy Birthday to the prettiest (she's the daughter of WMBBD, after all), silliest, and most talented little Labrador around. 

It's hard to believe she's already four. Time sure flies. As serious and driven in the field as she is, get her in the house and you just can't imagine how goofy she can be. We laugh at her nearly every day. 

Yesterday, her fixation was a rolled up sock she stole from Handsome. He took it away and set it aside more than once, only to find her sitting - alert and singularly focused on her prize. She always ended up with it in her mouth, carting it around like it was a field retrieve.

In the field, it's hard to stump her. You only can accomplish that one time for a new drill, and then she masters it as though she's done it one hundred times...with much flair, I might add.

She yodels for her meals, and talks when she has something on her mind...which is almost all the time! 

I'm sure we'll come up with something fun for her to celebrate her special day. I'm off to Portage for the morning, but the day won't pass without us giving her a special treat and letting her know how much she means to us. You know we do that every day for all our critters, but there's always something different on their birthday. As Handsome is home, it won't involve a "frilly, girly collar" like I got for Bella, but she'll be treated, nonetheless.

Happy Birthday, Carlita Puppita Mamacita!

Love, Mom and Dad (and your real Momma, Bella, too)

Happy Birthday, WMBBD...

She's the mama of talented field dogs, including her daughter, Carly, and the best companion we could have ever hoped to have. She's silly, smart, and still - even at this age - a rocket in the field in her own right. 

Today is her special day, and Handsome and I will do our best to honor the World's Most Beautiful Black Dog.

Handsome took this picture of her yesterday. Her face is a little grayer, and her eyes a little bluer, but her spark is still burning brightly and there really is nothing sweeter than an this older dog. She owns our hearts, and we thank Heaven every day that she's our Bella dog.

Happy Ninth Birthday, Mama.

We love you.

From Mom, Dad, Tag, Carly (and the Barn Girls)

Tuesdays With Tag - Countdown...

 

 

Hi, Everybody!

 

It's been unseasonably warm around the farmhouse the past few days. It gets cold at night, but it was actually sunny again yesterday, and we really like that. That's why I decided to use this picture from last fall.

The reason I used "countdown" as my post title today will be apparent in the next couple of pictures. They've moved in. Bella and I aren't really happy about it either. These two belong outside, but Old Soft Touch (Mom) went out to the barn last week to find MORE CATS! She figured the only way to make the interlopers go away was to take up the food and water and make it more inhospitable out there.

This ottoman seems to be Claudette's favorite perch. It doesn't matter if Bella or I are roamin' around the house or not. She can be found here most times of the day. (At night, she's upstairs prowlin' around for non-existent mice.)

Crystal, on the other paw, prefers hangin' out on Mom's bed. I'm not happy about that either. But when I'm not with Mom, I'm in my crate - because Bella is still on a rampage as far as I'm concerned. She or I are in our crates while the other of us is out. It's just safer that way - for now. Believe me, Mom and Dad are still workin' with our vet to figure out a solution to that. In the meantime, felines are takin' advantage of the situation.

Anyway, I always hear Mom talkin' in the middle of the night, and when I asked her about it, she said this little wench is always wakin' her up. She starts lickin' Mom's face and tryin' to chew her hair. Plus, Crystal jumps on and off the bed all night. Who knew the bloody things were nocturnal? (I guess you're probably laughin' about now. Of course, everybody knows they're nocturnal, but Mom never thought about it before invitin' them in. She's thinkin' about it now!)

 

This one is scarce when Bella is out, but whenever she sees me, she's all cuddly and stuff. As you can see, I'm not much of a fan of this sort of harassment.

 

While Claudette would happily be a house cat, Dad will never tolerate that...and Mom wouldn't make Crystal live outside alone. The kid prefers to have more freedom than to be an indoor kitty. So Mom is workin' hard to work on evictin' the new squatters. (So far she's seen two of 'em.) She's hopin' she will have pursuaded them to move on in the next week. (I'm guessin' it's gonna be somethin' loud and scary.) Like she doesn't have enough on her plate already right now.

If you have any suggestions I can pass on to her, please leave a comment. I'll make sure she sees it. In the meantime, Bella and I are the downstairs critters, and those two cheeky felines are the upstairs critters. We need to change that toot sweet. I'm missin' sleepin' on the bed with Mom! Paws crossed she figures it out soon.

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

"Be A Good Dog."

Tuesdays With Tag - Carly. Carly. Carly...

Brynwood Needleworks - Puppy Taggart 2011

Hi, Everybody!!
This is a little blast from the past - ME, as a puppy!! 

Now, I have a good reason for sharin' this. I've been takin' heat for my glorious ears since I was just a puppersnapper. I mean, people would stop Mom and say, "Oh, he's so cute! Look at those ears! Will he grow into them?" 

Well, no. They grew right along with me. I'm still cute, and I still have these ears. But the real reason I'm writin' about this is to show you somethin'. You really aren't gonna believe it!

Brynwood Needleworks - Carly Rally Ear

Mom was talkin' to The Kid last week, when all of a sudden, she broke out laughin'. This is what was goin' on. Mom calls this her "Rally ear" (she thinks it's some kind of sports reference, but she's not sure).

Okay, The Kid's still cute, but seriously. People are making comments about my ears? Give me a break. I really don't think this is how hers are supposed to look.

Brynwood Needleworks - Carly. Carly. Carly.

So Mom continues chirpin' at her, and The Kid tips her head again. Oh, man. How does this happen? Are they broken? Are they gonna stick like this? She's gonna put her cute designation at risk, if she's not careful. I'm really startin' to worry about her.

Brynwood Needleworks - Carly. That's More Like It.

Whew! Just in time. Her reputation might be saved. I'm not sure. You'll have to be the final judges. I can't talk anymore. I'm outta here.

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then..."Corgi On, Corgi Strong!"

Happy Halloween...

Brynwood Needleworks - Full Moon via Collective-Evolution.com

We let the black dogs and Tag out Thursday morning, and Bella immediately spotted interlopers in the yard by the old apple tree. We had an adult black and white cat, and one of this year's black kittens (who live up at Andy and Shelly's house).

 

I had to swear to Handsome that I haven't been feeding them-which would attract them here. (I haven't!) They were immediately dispersed, without harm, by Bella, with Carly close behind out of curiosity. Kitten literally flew up into the apple tree, while the adult ran to the safety of the woodshed. I think that one has established winter accommodations in the woodshed, so I did admit that, as long as it was going to be there, I placed a nice, comfy bed inside (which I've seen him using).

As soon as Bella and Carly were called back to the house, black kitten made tracks for the woodshed, too. I'm sure that once it felt like it was safe to do so, the kitten scooted back up to her mama at Shelly and Andy's, and away from the scarey black dogs. All in all, it was pretty exciting.

Although there's plenty of candy around the farmhouse, (What can I say? We each have a sweet tooth - or four! lol) we don't get any trick or treaters around here. Do they visit your house? Are you having a little family party? Do you have black cats (or dogs) at your house? 

Whatever you do, or however you might celebrate, take a moment to look outside an enjoy that gorgeous autumn moon. It's simply magnificent!

Tuesdays With Tag - Five Weeks Old...

Brynwood Needleworks - Taggart

Hi, Everybody!!

The puppies turned five weeks old yesterday, and I've got pictures for you!!

You're gonna scream, they're so cute.

Brynwood Needleworks - Bella's Five Week Old Puppies

How would you like to be greeted by these mugs first thing every day? Wouldn't you just squeal with delight? Mom said she sure would. Dad saw these pictures and turned into a puddle of mush. Really!

Brynwood Needleworks - Bella's Five Week Old Puppies

They're lookin' like real dogs now! Their little waxy flaps look like real ears now - even though they're not standin' straight up like mine. They've got long waggers, too, just like their mama. How many different ways are there to say "cute"?

Brynwood Needleworks - That Face!

That little guy is almost as handsome as his Uncle Tag. Look at that face!! He's gonna be a real lady killer.

Brynwoo Needleworks - Breakfast Time For The Puppies

I'm wonderin' if these guys (and dolls) are part Corgi. Look at 'em belly up to the snack bar. No shy kids here. Keep after it, babies. You need to grow big and strong to wrastle with me!

Brynwood Needleworks - Tag's Gotta Run

I don't know about you, but I just can't stand any more puppy sweetness today. I'm gonna run...

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

"Just Do It...but not on the rug."

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Tuesdays With Tag - Runaround Boo...

Brynwood Needleworks - Chasin' Boo

 Hi, Everybody!

Sorry you aren't gonna get a full-frontal of my handsome face today, but I've been chasin' Bella since the doctor gave her the "all-clear". She still comes up limpin' after our sessions, but that's not keepin' her down.

Truth is, she'll probably need a surgery in the future to fuse her ankle, but the doctor said that she can't make it worse, and you can't keep a runnin' fool down. We can hold off until it really affects her gait, and then he'll do the operation. She's been so restricted for so long (almost twelve weeks), that he said it's gonna do her good to run free for a while. So, for now....we run!

Brynwood Needleworks - She's Back On The Run

The day we got home from the specialist vet last week, we pulled in our yard, turned off the truck, and Dad set her free. She ran around the whole yard...around the barns, up the hill, into the north field...she just ran and ran. I chased after her, but Mom and Dad stood in the yard cryin' happy tears. She was doin' what she does best. It was a truly wonderful day at the farm.

Brynwood Needleworks - Opossum Prints

Yesterday was another happy day. While the Black Dog and I were runnin' around the yard and doin' our mornin' business, Mom was shovelin' the little bit of snow off the walk. She got close to the new porch, and look what she saw!

There, plain as day, were the beautiful, little, star-shaped prints in the snow that only belong to one critter we know...the opossum! 

Brynwood Needleworks - Headin' For The Feeders

Mom said she hopes it's Fuzzy Butt comin' back to sleep in the Compass Barn for the winter. These tracks went from around the house all the way to the bird feeders. Mom put a fruit and nut mix out there for the cardinals and blue jays, but the 'possums love it, too. She's been hopin' they'd come back again this winter, so she always added just a little more to the lowest feeders.

Before the end of the day, she went out and reloaded the ground feeders, just for the furry critters. I bet she didn't sleep at all last night. She probably sat by the windows lookin' for them. She's funny that way. I, on the other hand, always sleep like a log. 

Talkin' of sleepin' like a log...I think it's time for my early mornin' nap. I'll take my mid-mornin' nap after brunch, and then see about gettin' outside to stretch my legs. Eat, sleep, run, I say. I bet Boo will be up for it, too!

 

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

"Live Like Someone Left The Gate Open".