December 29, 2011

Well everyone made it through Christmas, with maybe the exception of my little four legged guess, Miss Penny. She partied like a rock star on Christmas Day at my parents, and on Boxing Day she didn't move from the couch!  Her habit while she was here was to pull out every toy out of Oliver's toy box and play with the biggest ones, she didn't even have the energy to do that, poor little thing.  She left this morning, and I miss her bouncing around, but I know that Oliver doesn't.  It was very different having an energetic little dog around, I am so used to my big lump of lab!

Just winding down after all the Christmas drinks and food and laying low until the New Year, catching up on cleaning and reading, then back to routine next week.

Christmas Eve Musings

Just some random thoughts the me and Oliver have about Christmas.  Oliver by the way is getting very spoiled at Christmas, just don't tell him I want it to be a surprise!

Anyway back to randomness.  If there isn't a Santa Claus, I want to know just who was it that ate all those cookies, milk and carrots (for the reindeer) that I left out all those years?

And if you didn't have a chimney, how did Santa get in to leave all those presents and full stockings that weren't there the night before?  My mom, bless her heart, told me she left the front door open for him to come in.  Remember that was back in the day that you could actually do that without being axed murdered in your sleep.

And all those Santa's in the stores, again back when there were no malls.  My Mom pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat, and told me that Santa was way to busy up at the North Pole making lists and such that these were actually elves standing him for him.  And you know you have to believe her, because Mom's never lied!

And then when Christmas morning finally arrived, you were so excited that you have been up somewhere between midnight and 6:00am.  My poor parents were tell me to get back to bed otherwise Santa wouldn't come.  I think by 7:00 they let me get up and look at the unwrapped toys under the tree that Santa had left for me, again coming in  by that unlocked front door.  And then we had to go to church and if you went to church on Christmas you had to receive Communion, so you couldn't eat breakfast before. Once you got home you had to have breakfast, clean up, all while x-ray starring at the presents.  Good thing there were no Social Services back then, that was clearing some sort of child abuse.

So my friends Oliver and I wish you a Merry Christmas and remember there will always be a Santa Claus, just how he gets into houses with no chimney these days is a mystery.  But somehow he does.

December 22, 2011

Can someone please explain to me way the smaller the dog the bigger the ego?  As you know I am looking after Miss Penny Parker, a very small, cute and normally quiet jack russell.  Two doors down lives a boxer and border collie sort of dog, and every time we are out walking, Miss P just goes crazy, you would think you had a rotti at the end of her leash. She desperately wants a piece of these dogs, although I keep telling her she would just be a little Miss P on a Ritz she just doesn't get it, meanwhile Oliver is just plodding along not bothering with all of them at all.  All he wants to do is get home and lay down, oh and have a big drink of water, because walking apparently works up a thirst that you wouldn't believe.
We walk twice a day so tonight we will be going through this again, and the dogs don't even have to be in yard, it is like she has radar, or x-ray vision and see these guys through the house!

December 20, 2011

Hi, I 'm Miss Penny Parker Person Brown, I know it is a long name for such a little dog.  I am staying with my Cousin Brother Oliver and his family over Christmas, while Mom has left me for Hawaii!  I still don't get why I couldn't of went, I fit under the seat and I am so very quiet, no one would ever known I was there.  I am starting to come out of my shell , although I did spend most of today in my carrier, with the blanket that my Auntie Donna made for me, you can just see a little of it in this picture.  She makes me come out and go for walks, which is really good, cause there is so many different smells here, I think I even smelled some coyote stuff, and my cousin brother is showing all his favorite places to smell and piddle!  What more could a dog want or need.  I hear that I even get to go for Christmas dinner with my Auntie Donna.  I hope there is lots of turkey where ever I am going!
I even go to snuggle in bed last night for a little while, life is so good.  I am visiting until December 28th so you will probably be hearing lots from and about me.

Saturday Dec 17th

Well started out the day by going to the Dentist at 8:00 am, that is right am!  Even Oliver didn't get up.  So my day had to improve, right?  After coming home and cleaning a bit I decided to go to Southgate Shopping Mal, big fat mistake.  I knew I was in trouble when they had someone directing traffic in the parking lot.  Almost 25 minutes later I am parked and ready to shop.  The mall was packed, a lot of the stores had security guards posted, well ok just the Apple store, but it was crazy and to top everything off the main reason why I went they didn't have what I wanted.  Ok now just get me home without running over someone.  30 minutes later and I am still in the parking lot waiting to turn on to 111 avenue. Memo to self never go to the shopping mall a week before Christmas!  Which is great in theory, but I haven't even begun to do my Christmas shopping.  The only thing I bought was a bottle of Little Penguin and you can bet I earned it, and I am going to enjoy every glass of that wine tonight.

Spinning

washed fleece

hand carded fleece - roving

spun and plyed yard

finish product

start to finish

My 40+ years old Leclerc Spinning Wheel

Christmas Party - December 11, 2011

Well our Christmas party at The Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta, was a big hit.  It was a lot of work to get it all together, get the stuff for the silent auction, food etc all done. But it was done on time and turned out wonderful.  We had holiday pictures taken of  the members pets and  the dogs all got a treat from me or two or hundred.  The dogs seem to know who the treat lady was, and I got so many doggy kisses that I will never have to wash my face again:)  I even got to dress up, something I never get to do anymore since I retired.  Just one question, do you think a man invented pantyhose?  I forgot how much I really don't like them!

The one problem with the party was all the dogs got so excited with all the people and food and lights and you know what happens next. The most well behaved and trained dog, just sort of forgets he/she isn't outside.  But then again it is only pee and not nuclear waste.

Lots of fun has had by all but glad it is over.

December 10, 2011

Well this is my second entry and appartently I am a techno peasant. Sent out an email telling everyone about this and had the wrong address.  I hope it is corrected now, having a blog no one can read sucks!

My Oliver and I went for our usual morning shuffle around the block and halfway through it his back end just couldn't keep up with his front end. It was not pretty, nor was the next scene with me trying to cover every inch of  his 100 + lbs with my body.  We laid there for what seemed like forever before he calmed down, it took Mom a little longer. The poor neighbour came rushing over to see what was wrong.  It takes a neighbourhood to raise a dog!  But he was fine just a little scared.  I had some errands to run this morning and when I came home Oliver bounded up to meet me. Everything working just fine, especially that great big tail.  He practicially unscrews it, wagging it so much, I think one day it will just be wag, wag, way, plop!

December 8, 2011

Welcome to Donna and Oliver's Place.  This is my first blog.  Just sitting in my office with Oliver in his bed next to me, might I add his tempra pedic dog bed.  Anyone that knows me know that there is nothing too good for my Ollie.

I have recently started to learn how to spin, not the exercise, but the craft.  After signing up for lessons, paying my deposit for the loaner spinning wheel, I thought I would be all set. Well not so fast there, it turned out to be more of a" want to huck the spinning wheel out the window but can't because of deposit "class.  There were four classes in all, and the uh-ha moment didn't hit until almost the very last class.  I can now call myself a spinner of sorts.  Who Knew!  Now I am hooked.  Obsessed with fleece and sheep. My partner makes fun of me when I am spinning by quoting Monty Python while I am trying to spin. It is had to laugh and spin, trust me.
Well hopefully I will get better at the blogging thing and Oliver and I will have some interesting stuff  to add.