Vintage Pillow Disection

There's a vintage pillow on my sofa that is often in my pictures of the dogs...

I need to clean it because of said dogs....it was sewn together, no zipper, so I undid the stitching and took the cover off. 

Notice there is only one tassel, a certain nine month old puppy decided to make confetti out of one of them so I'm in the process of removing the remaining three since the chewed one is not salvageable. 

I knew it was a handmade item and wasn't sure what was making up the pillow form. When I uncovered the form I found seersucker fabric pieced together and sewn up. I should have photographed the opposite side, the creator used the pocket side of the shirt. 

This is what I found inside. 

The blue and bright red material looks like it could have been material for footed pj's. I love that there is one lone knee sock. The rolled knee-hi could be frightening if you're squeamish, and I think I'll find a project for the colorful floral bedspread piece. There's also a few pieces of flannel from a nightgown "Heavenly (something) of Salzberg." Yes, it will all get placed back inside. 

I have a stuffed baby bear of The Three Bears that my mom crocheted for me when I was about 7 (about 40 years ago) and I can see through the crochet that the stuffing is made up of cut up clothing or towels. I want to take a bit of it apart to see what's in there. I'm wondering if I'd recognize the material.

The funny thing is I have 2 large bags full of scrap material and cut up clothing that is no longer wearable. Instead of throwing it away, I'll be using it for stuffing -- recycling at it's fullest. It will become the innards of planned dog beds. 

PBS: The Civil War

Have you watched this documentary? We've watched quite a bit and it's interesting history not just about the war, but all that surrounded it.

It reminded me of a poem my Dad wrote a very long time ago, I don't know when, I don't know why, I just know it's one of quite a few I had copied from piled pages of his. I have a few journals stored in a hutch in my office, this poem is in one of the journals that hold just poems. I pulled the book and I read the poem to R. the other night. A few years ago my brother requested a copy of it. I received an email from him tonight asking if I still had it because he lost his copy. Interesting how all that happens. I wonder if he watched the program. Maybe my dad's around and making his presence known. Who knows how these things work.

Here's the poem:

My head in hand, I sit lonesome tonight

Thinking of the day I joined the fight

Night and day I shot the Yank

My uniform is gray, a private in rank.

I'm chained to a jail cell you see

A Major was shot because of me.

I saw the Yankee that fired the shot

I could have killed him, as easy as not.

I saw him raise his rifle high

I aimed carefully and began to cry

I couldn't shoot that Yank in blue

He fired a shot, his shot was true.

the Major fell right by my side,

I fired a shot and then I cried.

Forgive me, I didn't wan to, Mother

I shot the Yank, I killed my brother.

It's Not What You Say But How You Say It from YouTube

Little Bug, Beaner, Bug Bug, Love Bug, Little B...

Yup, those are the names she is called and she answers to most of them. 

She's a funny girl. Easy going. A snuggler for about a minute, unless she's really tired out. She doesn't stop going. If she's resting and sees movement, she's got to find out what it's about. She continues to want to play with Weezie, who just yells at her in return, but Bug keeps at it. When she lays down to rest, she plops on her side. Up one second, plopped down the next. A few minutes of rest and she's ready to go. 

She was surrendered to us because she is too active. I believe an older couple had her. This is what happens... they're cute on the internet (she came from MI,) or in a store, or on tv, but they are puppies, they are active, and they need attention. To their credit they did teach her to sit and down and rollover. The rollover was an easy teach. She does it most of the way, all you have to do is encourage the full turn, which is a great way to take advantage of and encourage tricks. She gets a treat? she's willing to do it again. Thing is, like other Schnauzers I've known, like my Hanzie, she thinks that if she does all the tricks one after another and in succession over and over again, it will get her her food faster. Doesn't happen. We're working on concentration, focus and patience. Patience for the trainer is needed because their little brains are spinning and have difficulty focussing. But, she's learning that if she sits and waits, then she gets her food. She's a smart cookie...in an education sort of way, not in street smarts. Reminds me of another girl I know, Tink (now Olive) she was like that, too. This characteristic makes them very lovable...you have to watch out for the smart ones...they train you! 

R's girls fell for her right away. Her 'design' is very attractive and how can you not fall for a dog that as soon as you get in the car it plops it's head into your lap and snuggles in for the 20 minute drive. She knows how to work it! LOL

R continues to show her affection and guidance and I think I heard him say, "she might end up mine" or something to that effect...whoa! words like that have never come from his lips....he was just probably caught up in the moment. 

I keep thinking the Universe is trying to tell me something. It keeps bringing to me these good dogs that make me think, "should I?" Ever since Lucy. Don't get me wrong, I've had affection for other dogs before Lucy but I don't really recall the thoughts of keeping any. At least not with this much thought. Maybe a "if no one adopts it, it would be a good dog to have around" but not this "should I shouldn't I?" Lucy and her growth and spirit and loyalty to me must have softened me. I considered keeping her, then came Tink a year later and days later we have this little button. The Universe is trying to wear me down, I swear! LOL

This is the first time that I've actually thought of the longevity of a dog's life and how old I might be when it dies and if it lives to what could possibly be 16 years. When I've gotten dogs in the past I didn't think of the fact of having them for so many years, I was just in the moment, as many other people are. Once I made the commitment I knew I was committed forever, but who knew that Weezie, that 10 week old little blondie that I found on the sidewalk, would still be here 17 years later? So, I think, wow, if I adopted Bug, she might live until she's 16 and I'll be 63. ...63! ...63. ...63. ...63. Not old by today's standards by any means but hello? 63. what the heck might I be doing when I'm 63? or 54 for that matter. Ahhhh, better to not think of such things and stay in the moment and cross bridges when I come to them. 

2 More Schnauzers Go Home

Pepper and Phoebe are off to be spoiled in their new home. 

We had them listed separately even though they came in together, they didn't appear especially bonded and their personalities were so far on different ends of the scale. An applicant, Susan, put in for one of them....then for the other. When I called her and told her I had them both with me she asked if she could adopt them both. When I told her they came in together, she said, "well, they can't be split up!" So, a couple days ago she made the 2 hour trip here and whisked them both away. Now they will be able to roam a large backyard and what sounds like a large home, and I'm sure will be spoiled. 2 more lucky dogs. 

Words and a Glimpse

I've been very busy with the rescue dogs' vet appointments that are an hour away, getting a new dog in (I'll give you a glimpse in a minute) working and putting my stuff and a client's stuff on ebay. I just sold some needlework kits and I had to write about it. How sweet are the women that bought these? They paid quickly and left notes of 'thank you.' One actually thanked me for finding the vintage sampler she bought. This makes me smile and warms my heart. It's so simple, and unnecessary, but a reminder in this world of negativity and media doom and gloom, that people can be kind. I also have other things listed and was told by a guy that I had something in one of the groups of things, that I might not know was of value. He just wanted me to know. Nice Nice Nice people.

By the way...if you like Longaberger baskets and cross-stitch, I will be listing many many many of each over the next few weeks for a client. MANY! a few baskets have already been listed. Also,  Garden Gate magazine, Needlework magazines and embroidery thread plus plus plus.

Now, onto the new girl...

First, I have to say -- Tink will always have my heart -- but like lovers that have come and gone, they become a sweet memory, sometimes the longing lasts a short while, sometimes a long while, sometimes a new girl comes over and helps you to put that longing in a pocket.

Her name is Little Bug. Bug, for short, but you'll also find these words spoken: cutie, peanut, li'l bean, bugger...Tink will always be in my heart, she touched something deep in my soul, but Bug has a fighting chance to win it over, but in a different way. I loved Tink's 12 pounds of long thin body, moldable, pliable, lazy. This little thing is 12 pounds of stocky, muscular Schnauzer. Not lazy. Not going to stand for being laid in your arms on her back. She's more like a wind up toy. She's 9 months old and will grow only a little more...she's like a mini Mini.

She came in with the name 'Tipsy' which I didn't think suited her and that night R. asked, "where's the little bug?" and I loved it!! So I started calling her Little Bug - and she is a little bug.

She is such a good girl. Busy, busy, has to know what's going on. Smart. Excellent in the car. Snuggler. 12 pounds of cuteness....and if you don't know it already....I love the petite Schnauzers and teeny dogs in general. One thing that's great about her and I wish I had this quality...things don't bother her. I mean noises and stuff until she gets used to them, yeah, she'll bark. But, being tripped over, pushed around by another dog, tripping over something? nope, she just carries on. She's not a worrier. Obviously R. has taken to her, he doesn't let the fosters sit with him normally, I think he likes to maintain a distance so attachments aren't created. This little bug may have gotten under his skin. ;-)

Better pictures will come but you needed to see her.