Pillow sewing and Pit Bull Awareness

October 23rd was Pit Bull Awareness Day so we celebrated by going to the Dog Park. Wilbur is now a fixture there and everyone is always happy to see him. I like this park because several of the dogs that go there have bully blood in them (our shelters here are over run with them right now) and almost all are rescues. They are so social and will play for hours, and I have yet to witness any aggressive behaviour on the part of these dogs. Actually a Golden Retriever spent the day last week terrorizing everyone, and when it went after Wilbur, he hid under a picnic table.





Here is Wilbur and Toby. Toby spent the first 5 months of his life chained in a basement. He was rescued when his owner was arrested for gassing dogs in his garage! Nice guy, huh?
Toby loves to play and his sister Gracie (a brindle pitty who was rescued from a kill shelter in Ohio the day she was to be put down) is unbelievably sweet and spends her day fending off suitors (if you know what I mean).


I find it amazing that dogs who have gone through so much can be so loving.




Check out Toby being very patient with Hurley, the tea cup Chihuahua (all 4 pounds of it!). Wilbur, Toby, and Gracie were fascinated yet never even tried to wrestle with him. They all touched noses and were very careful around him.
Wilbur has a strong prey drive and this dog is the size of a large rat so I was very nervous. The owners later remarked that the only dogs who were nice to Hurley, were the pit bulls.

I only wish I'd had my camera ready when Wilbur let Hurley chase him all the way across the park. That would have made a great YouTube video!


I'm leaving today to join Hans in Annapolis so we can get a move on and sail our boat to Florida.
Poor Hans spent the weekend on it with no electricity (so no heat, not hot water etc...). And this is after we spent a ton of money having the electrical system upgraded! The electrician is coming back today to look things over and I hope for his sake the problem is resolved before I get there!



My baby will be boarded while we're gone and I wanted him to have soft pillows and a blanket for his bed. I used a very soft plush fabric and covered two pillows and zig zagged the edges of the left over piece for a blanket.

Apparently I need to be supervised when I sew.













Enjoying the end results.





















And no pampered pitty should be without a fur stole.

I found this gorgeous fur at the Salvation Army for $20.00. Some poor old woman must have died and her family cleaned out her closets!

Hans nearly choked when I told him how much I paid for it. Years ago, his father bought a very similar one for his mother and spent well over a thousand dollars for it (and then he had to buy another one for Hans' grandmother because she was jealous!).

I interupt this sewing blog to bring you news about our new baby!

Wilbur practices his snobby 'I'm too good for everyone' look.

He loves the color orange.

He told me so!

When we move onto the boat we're hoping to have Wilbur trained to go potty on a mat. We would like to think he's young enough to learn.

This mat is supposed to be Wilbur's port-a-potty. But with the warm sun on that black background, he had other ideas!!

The futon was to be "paws off" to all poochies.

But it only took one day for me to walk in on this!

Hans, who outweighs Wilbur by about 240 pounds, said Wilbur wouldn't allow himself to be pushed off!

I was trying to make a floor pillow for Wilbur and I discovered that he likes to sew too! Chlorox (who is not at all happy with this newcomer) jealously watched from our bed as Wilbur wiggled all over his fabric.

Wiggling on fabric is her job!

Here's his floor cushion made from left over Steeler fleece.

All I know is, Wilbur's a lot better looking than Ben on any given day, and a lot nicer too!!

Can you see the smoldering eyes of an unhappy kitty cat??

A truce?

Maybe, maybe not!

Hell's A Poppin'! Big Time!!!!!!!

I'm not even sure what "Hell's A Poppin' " means but that's how things seem to be around our apartment these days.

Hans is very busy trying to finalize the details for our trip to Germany this May for The Wedding of the Year, all the while trying to make sure all the work that needs to be accomplished on our boat gets done.

Our main sail is being repaired, the canvas people are whipping up a bimini (complete with a proper frame) to replace our red-neck awning, a new bank of batteries will be installed, and our Knotty Cat's bottom is being sandblasted to make way for the coat of barrier paint that we discovered she never had!
If anyone thinks living on a boat is cheap; it's not, it's just a house on the water, that's all!

Hans is also getting us a new cell phone plan and it literally took an entire day of phone calls to make a final decision.

As if things aren't heating up enough around here, we had a huge house fire right up the street from us last night.

We drove past just as the fire companies arrived and we could see black smoke rolling out of the garage doors on the lower part of the building. The houses on that block are built into the hill, with their garages being the lower level and then continuing into three story homes. Here are the firefighters on their ladders waaaay up in the air.

A little bit closer.

We had gone out to eat at a restaurant a couple of miles away and you could see the smoke from there.

Two hours later we came back by and the place was fully engulfed in flames. Two hours!! This was only one house so I can't even imagine how awful an even bigger fire would be.

I know it seems like we must be a couple of rubber neckers, but we didn't stop with our car, we walked back and stayed far out of the way.

Here's a video. Look at all that water! Today the smell of smoke is still very heavy in the air. Luckily no one was home at the time, and no firefighters were hurt.

Remember this little fellow?

Well holy cow, check this out!

He's coming along very nicely (look how much he's grown!) and Vet Tech Girl brought him for a visit to our apartment last night.
He's getting passed around to anyone at the clinic who will take care of him and it was her turn on the dog sitting rotation.
She brought him in and he waddled over to me, stuck his muzzle in my neck, and grunted. I laughed and said he sounded just like a pig.
"That's why his name is Wilbur," she said. "Like the pig from Charlotte's Web."
This is because in addition to the smashed orbital bone and lacerations of the face and ear, his throat and sinus cavities were damaged and he can't bark properly so he grunts. He also snores very loudly!! I found this out when he decided he'd had enough of us and fell fast asleep underneath my sewing table.

But sadly, no one wants him.

How can that be?

I just need me a man!

Hans only found out yesterday that while he's been in Germany these past two weeks, I moved another man into the apartment.

Okay already! I admit it, I'm weak!

Anyway this new guy is a charmer, and in addition to being adorable, he's a sweetheart and loves to cuddle.

I was pretty sure that Hans wouldn't approve, and during our many overseas conversations he had no idea that another man had usurped his territory.

But last night I caved and spilled the beans.

He wasn't thrilled but I convinced him that my decision was sound and that I (and my male guest) have been very happy!

I also told him that by the time he gets home tomorrow I'll have this fellow and his belongings out of the apartment.


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









Tell me, just tell me that you would turn down a chance to have this handsome devil spend a few days with you!

I didn't think so!

After all, he was on Pitter Patter again this week.

Vet Tech Girl is out of town and while her new roommate agreed to watch him, I wanted Duncan to myself for a few days.

And oh, have we had fun!












Even though he knows he's not allowed on the futon, that's exactly where I found him when I got out of the shower yesterday.

And he refused to get off.

But that was the last time he pulled this stunt and he's been a good boy ever since then.

In an effort to keep Duncan off the futon I put a pillow and blanket on the floor and like the good boy he is; he used it.









We made a trip to Petco and got him a Kong and some treats. Unfortunately we didn't get out of there in time to avoid the very large Pit Bull who found Duncan to be very desirable and tried humping him right there in the middle of the store.


Later that afternoon we ran into the same problem at a park that has signs all over the place that state all dogs must be on a leash.

Shortly thereafter a family arrived with two dogs not on leashes and their very large pitty mix also thought Duncan was hot stuff, and mounted him several times. I got tired of shooing this horny bastard off Duncan and ended up having to leave.


This leads me to believe that Duncan has been dabbing my perfume behind his ears before heading out for the day.






I've run this boy's butt off all week long. Even tonight, after having cleaned three huge houses, I took him for a run.

I don't think he's used to so much exercise and tonight he bypassed the blanket and conked out in his crate at around eight PM.











Oops! The flash on my camera awakened Sleeping Beauty!

But don't worry, he fell right back to sleep.

Damn!! I'm gonna have a hell of a hard time giving him back.

Just what I didn't need.

I didn't need to get this picture sent via Vet Tech Girl's phone last night when I was already feeling very low!



This 9 week old Pit Bull puppy has a smashed orbital bone and a torn ear. This is thanks to the idiotic owners locking him into a laundry room with a pregnant Pit Bull who is very unsociable.


They thought he would be company!


Can you see his IV line.


Anyway the receptionist had hysterics when she learned the owners were just going to take it home and see if it could survive on it's own. Vet Tech Girl jumped into the fray and the puppy is now at the clinic being treated in hopes that a new home can be found.



It's bill will need to be paid too.


Vet Tech Girl thought I would be happy to adopt it but I just can't take on a dog right now. We travel too much and we want to move onto the boat and Pit Bulls have far too much energy for that kind of situation. I've no doubt someone will take him but I'd just like to know when this poor breed will stop being exploited. You know damned well this is just another case of back yard breeders taking advantage of idiots who want Pit Bulls yet have no idea of the responsibility involved!

Anyway, he's a big 9 week old puppy with a very sweet personality and I've no doubt he'll make a wonderful companion. I just hope the clinic is very choosy as to who gets him.

He deserves the best!

We are all out for Olympic Curling!!

After cleaning three houses and then getting stuck behind 'Oh My God it snowed two weeks ago and I still don't know how to drive' people (thus turning my quickie drive home into an hour and a half torture), I arrived home from work last night to find Hans lounging on the futon and glued to the TV.


He was watching the Olympic Curling Competition.

He then asked me what I was making for dinner.

He is still among the living.


But apparently Curling isn't just for people, but for pitties also! This is Brinks (appearing on Pitter Patter) and he is currently carrying on a long distance relationship with Hayleigh. They correspond their unrequited love through blogdom and depending upon my state of mind I find them to be sweet (un-PMS) or completely heart breaking (full PMS) .

I start every day by reading Pitter Patter, and my brilliant (?), wonderful, exceptionally smart(?) grand-dog Duncan has been featured on their site two times, yet I still remain humble.

Anyway, this afternoon Baby Girl called me once again and wanted to know if I'd finalized my travel plans. For some reason she thinks I should attend spring break, in Florida, with her and her college lacrosse team this March. Since I had no intention of going, I told her no.

"You're going with us." she stated. "Call First Born (my son) and see if he's coming too."

I called First Born. "What's up?" I asked, and he told me he was watching Curling.

Knowing First Born (a former hockey player), I laughed, "C'mon, you're kidding!"

"I'm one hundred and ten percent positive," he stated. "I love curling; it's fascinating and there's so much strategy!" And then he went on and on about the rules (many), the ice (pebbled), and that he and his friends have been researching the whole sport and fully intend to participate in the 2014 games.

Their future coach weighs 310 pounds and therefor won't be allowed on the ice lest he crack it.

First Born and his closest friends will be the 'team,' and my nephew (past state champion hockey goalie), and a good friend (comic relief) will be the alternates.

We talked a bit about spring break, I ran the dates by him, and he said he'd call me back.

The next thing I knew, he'd booked my flight, using his frequent flier miles, and I haven't even asked for the time off from work yet!

So with Hans and First Born (and Brinks) getting all caught up in the whole Curling thing I decided to watch it too.

I love it!!! I found my heart pounding as fast as their brooms were swishing!!!


It's kind of scary though, like what's next? Bowling? Bass fishing? Watching paint drying?


I don't care, as long as it entertains me!

OMG!! My Granddog is on Pitter Patter!!!

I'm not kidding when I say I screamed like a girl when I saw this!!!

Please make sure to take a good look at the packaging around the football.

Now before you start foaming at the mouth and sending me nasty emails, please bear in mind that we bought this football years ago before Mr. Michael Vick let us see his ugly side.

As I was preparing to sell my house, I was emptying it of all my junk. This was purchased for one of my kids' graduation parties but for some reason it was never used, and
Vet Tech girl nearly choked when I whipped it out and showed it to her.
Duncan, who in this picture, was still stuffed in his too small coat that I made, probably wondered what he did to deserve so much abuse in one day.

My quandary at this time is; what to do with it.
I thought maybe I should pass it on to other pitty owners with the stipulation that you post pictures of your pitty doing something 'appropriate' to the football (chewing, leg lifting, etc...) and then passing it on to others. This could go on until it's destroyed.
But I don't know if that would work.
Does anyone have any ideas?

I wonder what people plan on doing with their Tiger Woods golf clubs?

Damn The Big 4 and Their Pattern Sizing!! #*!^%@

If the pattern companies have to be so far off with the sizing of human patterns, couldn't they be just as 'off' with their pet patterns??!!

The answer is NO!

I made my first attempt at sewing a doggie coat yesterday.

Why am I surprised that it didn't fit?

I'm talking about McCall's 5776.

I bought this pattern (sizes S thru XL) specifically for my grand dog Duncan. I then bought a half yard of fleece for the medium size that I figured he was. He's a very fit and trim 45 pound pit bull (I only wish I had his little wasp waist!).

I managed to get the little stinker to sit still long enough to get his measurements and that's when I found out he's an Extra Large.

Extra Large? What about bigger dogs, like Labs, German Shepard's...?

So now I have a half yard of fabric and I need three quarters, and yes it makes a difference damn it!

Then the pattern cutting layout didn't include the collar. But there is a collar. I ended up piecing it together (off grain no less) but in the end it didn't matter.

And since when does a doggie coat need so much bias tape? Honestly, every stinking opening and seam, needed bias tape.

Unfortunately I have to sew something from the directions the first time out before I can figure out how it can be done differently. The next time, the only seam that will be covered in 'bias tape' will be the neck/collar seam, and I will probably just use a piece of the same fleece.

By the time I was done I didn't need Duncan there to realize that his coat was going to be way too small. Which is funny since when I sew outfits for myself I have to use patterns smaller than my measurements.

I made Vet Tech Girl drag Duncan up to my apartment and together we crammed the poor bewildered thing into his new coat. I can't imagine what he thought we were doing to him, and he was so patient!

He looked like The Incredible Hulk. We couldn't fasten the Velcro at his chest and it was all we coud do to yank the damned thing over his shoulders.

Poor Duncan. He's kind of embarassed in his ill fitting coat. It doesn't look half bad in this picture but believe me it's all an illusion.

Just sniffing around.

He knows that strange cat, The Countess von Chlorox lives here.

(She was hiding under the bed)

A very blurry picture of my poor Guinea pig.

Big smooches from our sweetie anyway.

I tore that coat off Duncan and told Vet Tech Girl to give it to a needy dog at the clinic, and then I went out and bought a full yard of fabric.

I was thinking about trying to enlarge the pattern but I'm not sure if I can do it properly. My brain doesn't compute very well in that area.

Then I got online and found a couple of very cute coats that some sewists have self drafted. One lady is a very thrifty recyler and she turns ugly old people coats into cute and fun pet coats!

So tomorrow I think I'll give this coat thing another try.

Hans is puzzled and says since dogs already have fur they don't need coats.

He just doesn't understand and even if I were to suggest it, I doubt he'd go outside in nothing but his birthday suit in frosty weather to take a whiz.

If he did, then I think he might understand.

This isn't really cheating is it?

Imagine seeing this, only twice the size (minus the muzzle restrainer), looking at you while you clean a house.

For comparison sake, this is my grand-dog Duncan who weighs 45 pounds.

Today we arrived at a new client's house and were greeted by Chuck, an 80 pound Pit Bull mix. He immediately took my arm in his mouth and wiggled with glee. Luckily I recognized this gesture as a sign of affection and didn't faint with fear.

We'd already cleaned two houses and this was our third but thanks to Chuck I didn't mind a bit. He became my good friend and I took many opportunities to stroke the soft fur under his chin, scratch his head, and rough up his ears as often as I could.

He insisted I play tug of war a couple of times but I was smart enough to brace myself first or I may have found myself flung into the next county. These are such high energy dogs and they are so lovable and full of life.

But I really did have a deja vu moment when, after being let out for a 'break', Chuck came to the door and insisted on being let in.

And I saw Duncan all over again.

I think I'm in love!