The arrangements for Sandy have changed a bit. This playpen has been his "room" when we weren't supervising his play time with Dusty. It still serves that function, with some adjustments.
The dogs have different food, and of course, each wants the other's kibble. Eventually they will both be on the same kibble, but for now, they have to eat separately. We've been keeping Sandy's "free feed" bowl in his green crate. Dusty won't go in there. In fact, we realized that he won't go into the playpen at all when the flaps are down, even when they aren't zippered. He doesn't use the dog door, either, so this is more of the same thing, I guess. Sandy, however, moves in and out of the playpen when the flaps aren't zippered shut. Since this photo was taken, we have removed the crate door. It won't be needed again until we take Sandy back to the vet...if he still fits!
We had been taking the green crate upstairs to our bedroom for Sandy to sleep in, but he had grown a lot. He also has a new friend who stays in the playpen with him or gets dragged out and around the house. This new friend sleeps with him, too. (More on the friend in a bit.)
Because the green crate was getting small, we cleaned and reassembled the big dog crates we already had. The brown one was Rocky's we put it into the bedroom for Sandy and his friend to sleep in. The blanket is to protect the inside from any lights that might shine into the bedroom and for additional warmth.
The mauve crate used to belong to Sunny. That one is now in the family room, so we can put Sandy in it in the evening when we're watching TV or otherwise can't watch him.
Sandy and Dusty play a lot during the day.
Sandy has learned how to participate in KP duty. He helps Dusty with the prewash when we've cooked dog-friendly food, like eggs or oatmeal. He quickly learned how to hold a pan down with his front paws.
We gave Sandy another bath on Tuesday. I love the crazy dance they do after they get toweled off.
We had an online get-together after Sandy was dry and partly brushed out. I held him in my lap to finish combing. It was clear he enjoyed it. It was like having a spa day.
He resists the brushes I use, but I've discovered he's OK with this comb once the preliminary brushing is done.
After our meeting was over, I wanted to get a photo while Sandy was still clean. (He doesn't stay that way long!) I got him to pose for me on the dog bed in front of the fireplace.
As I mentioned earlier, Sandy has a new friend. We have a pile of stuffed animals that used to belong to our daughter. I tried to get the kids to take them, but everyone already had enough suffies. Among the toys was a huge floppy cat. I offered it to Sandy, watching him to make sure he wasn't going to chew it up. We named the cat Snowball. I think Sandy has been sleeping better now that his friend sleeps with him, and sometimes he drags Snowball out of the playpen to join in the play on the floor in other rooms.
We've learned that Sandy sleeps better if we keep the last hour or so before bedtime quiet. He enjoys having me hold him in the rocking chair.
Between the breakdown of our pickup and tow vehicle, the delay returning home, having a cold and looking after Sandy, I got behind in making clothes for the grandkids' dolls. Zachary's Josh (A Girl for All Time Modern Boy Max) didn't get much in the way of a wardrobe so far, and Daphne's Nisha (still at our house for fittings) had nothing but the clothes she came in. Things changed this past week.
She comes in a nice dress and boots, but a girl needs an extra dress, a sweater, PJs, dress shoes, play clothes and a jacket. I started out by making her a simple dress. (I still need to press the fold out of the front of it before I send Nisha off.) I bought the pink tights and the dress shoes, and they were delivered while we were gone.
I had made this cardigan for one of my Happy Kidz dolls, but it turned out rather tight. I tried it on Pippa, but it was too big. I thought about shortening the sleeves but hadn't gotten to it. It's a pretty good fit for Nisha, so she gets to take it with her.
I made the pajama pants using the same pattern I used for Zachary's doll, but for a top, I cut and hemmed the cuff on a girl's lace sock, and added a ribbon and a button. You can hardly see the button in the photo, but it's a black shank button.
For play clothes, I purchased a turtleneck shirt and made some leggings. I've tried to find sandals to fit this doll but with no luck so far.
Since Josh is not here, Nisha has been my model for his clothes. I made him this shirt, and the pants were purchased. Josh can wear it with his brown lace-up shoes.
I made simple jackets for both dolls. This one is for Nisha.
With the hood up:
I had enough of some aqua blue fleece to make one for Josh from the same pattern.
It was fairly easy, once I got the pattern worked out. My pattern and instructions are here.
Finally, I'm finishing up this "pullover" for Josh. I'm making the button/buttonhole bands now and still have the neckband to knit. Then I have to sew the sleeves in and sew the buttons on.
We've been thinking of switching out our camping trailer for something smaller and more manageable. Someone posted this on Facebook, and I thought it would be perfect! (Assuming there's a little bathroom, a kitchen area and that the bookshelves fold down to provide a place to sleep.)
I got a surprise package this week from our daughter-in-law, who was sending me paint sample cards for the boys' rooms, so I can make quilts for them for their birthdays. The yarn came from Beyond Yarn in New Jersey, a Black-owned business that has been subjected to racist abuse. They sell online, if you don't live in New Jersey but want to patronize the shop. I'm going to have to figure out what to do with the yarn. Something fun! The fabrics will join other fabrics I have and end up in a quilt or two.
I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry or Spoutible if you need information.
If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for "Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart" in Children's. Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil and Mariah, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.
Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.
What's on my needles: Still the Talvinen cardigan (no progress this week, but soon!) and the EmPower People Kerchief (hibernating). Finishing up the doll sweater.
What's on my sewing machine: Waiting for more quilt work.
What's in The Doll's Storybook: For a doll, life really begins when they are carefully removed from their boxes in their new homes. In Existing Outside the Box Mandy explains to the newly arrived Jolena what their purpose is as dolls and what a doll's life is all about. This was our second story, as I continue to take time off for "pawternity leave."
What's on my iPad/iPhone: Still listening to The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd. Not much progress this week.
What's in my wine glass: Colossal Reserva 2018, which is pretty good, from Lisbon (Portugal).
What's my tip of the week: I have a tiny bottle of Kookaburra Wool Wash I take with me when we go camping. It comes in handy if I need to wash out a few things but don't have enough clothes to go to the laundromat. I just soak the items in a dishpan with hot water and a small amount of the wool wash for 30 minutes or so, then squeeze them out, roll them in a towel, then put them somewhere to dry. I really like that it cleans without needing to rinse. I have a big bottle and a bottle of Euclan (similar product) at home for cleaning and blocking knitting projects.
Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog and they are reproduced with a few changes.
Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook is available from BookBabyBookshop and other booksellers worldwide. The stories are Little Green Greatcoat, The Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.
Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook and Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are also still available from booksellers. The link for Book Baby is here. The three stories in Emil are Best Buds, Getting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.
If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less.
Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.
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