To Dog or Not to Dog, that is the Question

"Tempest Meet Teapot" says S.L.

My fiber guild board has just passed a vote stating that dogs need to be kept on a leash and by the individuals side during guild meetings and Spinning Saturday due to some individuals being allergic or afraid of dogs if I understood the issue correctly.  Keeping a dog by one's side is a reasonable request as opposed to having it roaming around the room.  I commend the board for taking a measured approach to this concern.  I'm not sure what sparked this discussion or decision on the part of the board to take a stand on the dog issue.  As anyone who knows me knows, I love dogs and have brought my own to the Spinning Saturday meetings as have several others.  My dog is a major PITA, being young and still needing to learn to be good in public, and I keep her leased there. I bring her as a training exercise and don't keep her there very long.  Her idea of greeting a new person is to launch herself at them like some kind of offensive tackle.  But dogs, like kids need to be courteous members of the group and not cruising the room, going through a person's personal items or pawing people. 

There has been some public dialogue that this is about having "clean air" and not have dogs because of airborne allergens, if this is part of the issue I personally find it ludicrous.  Spinning Saturday is a guild event that happens monthly at the local library.  Requesting dogs be barred because of air born allergens is, in my opinion goofy (or a serious control issue on someones part).  If you take 20 people spinning every fiber possible the air is going to be anything but clean.  It is a melting pot of allergens all airborne.   It is going to be filled with bits and pieces of wool, camel, tensel, rabbit, silk, lama, alpaca, and dog hair.  Yes, people spin dog hair - you can't tell me the air is clean or that people need to make sure a dog can't be there because of air borne allergens. If you are allergic to some kind of fiber, what the hell are you doing at a group meeting that will have fiber everywhere?  And then you are going to complain about it? 

My dog is my constant companion (yes, I do leave her at home sometimes) and I work hard to make sure that she continues to learn her social manners.   I think it completely reasonable for the guild board to request that dogs brought stay by the individuals side and be under leash or voice control.  I feel the same way about people who bring their kids to guild events.   People can be afraid of dogs and should not have to have some strange dog trying to sniff their crotch which is polite doggie behavior, but doesn't go over well with people. 

Again, I must commend the board on their measured approach to this issue,.  I think well behaved dogs should be allowed at meetings.  Well behaved being the operative word here.  But leave the airborne allergy card at home, it's a fiber meeting.  You might as well call it an airborne allergen meeting.  Next we will have people stating that members of the guild can only spin yak, because wool makes them sneeze.

Unfortunately, the public discussion just took a rather ugly and personal  turn for the worse this morning. 

Back to Nana

Nana at 3 months

Nana at 16 months

Nana is a 17 month old Briard,  she is currently doing fine, not having had a head shaking seizure since November 30th.  I keep thinking it is a deficit in the neurotransmitter dopamine.  I wish I had a neurological vet student in my pocket to study this.  Her seizures also seem to be food triggered. As long as I keep her food tightly regulated and consistent she seems to do just fine.

This first year of dog ownership has been roller coaster ride of new and exciting medical events.  Some expected, like being spayed, others well not so much. The Briard breed can be a handful. They are busy, smart, independent and inclined to think they can get back to you later.  It isn't that they don't love you, they just aren't the type of dog you micro-manage.  The border collie lives to be told what to do.  The Briard is the independent contactor.  "So you want me to take care of the sheep?"  "Got it......and don't tell me how to do my job and what are you still doing here, if I need you I'll let you know".   She still thinks it is an equal partnership and obedience is optional.  Thank goodness she is a slut for food - my secret weapon.

They say people are their dogs, after listening to my trainer (who has border collies) about what I needed to do with Nana after one particular difficult training session, I realized I wasn't a lot different.  "Let me think about that and I'll get back to you".  Can't fault the dog for a personality trait we both share - but it sure can be annoying.

The Problem of Fair Isle

I have just discovered a problem with designing Fair Isle....what the *bleep* do you do when they discontinue one of the colors you used for shading?  I thought I was so done with that pattern, I sure don't want to redesign it again.  Blech!   Call me naive, but it didn't occur to me how quickly it would become stale dated.  I, of course, posted my dilemma to Ravelry and got some wonderful advice - Rav is really one of the nicest places to hang out.  So I am trying to figure out what color will work as a replacement and then if I can weasel some friend to knit a swatch with the new color and compare the results to the old colorway.....    I have an email in to KnitPicks to see if they have a color recommendation, but haven't heard back yet.  Maybe I should try just sticking to one color or maybe create my very own line of hand dyed stuff......that would be a no.  I can hardly find the time to continue on the winter tam what with the tawny tornado around the house, much less start dyeing and selling yarn.

Much of my time lately has been caught up trying to entertain a year old animated dust mop who after a bit of a tough go with her tummy is now on an eating regime that works for her.  Of course the relative down side of this is she feels so much better and is one very, very busy girl.  Trying to keep her entertained is time consuming. I finally broke down and took her to the groomers to so they could do something with her bangs.  They are so long they generally need a scrunchy so she can see.  This is relatively ineffectual.

This before picture shows that the eyes are completely hidden - can't see a thing. 

After a facial trim, you can see eyes!!  Rather sad eyes actually and her ears are all wilted from the stress of the groomer.  Poor puppy, but she has recovered and is currently sleeping after a morning at the barn. 

Well, I am avoiding the Summer Dragonfly Tam problem hoping it will magically solve itself, but I had better get back to it and patch together some solution for those who don't already have the color "mustard" from the Palette fingerling line

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify....or NOT!!

Today in a fit of over enthusiasm I created a Facebook and a Blog for Nana.  Yes, I probably am "way over the top", but really it wasn't my idea.  Ok, that was a pretty poor excuse - but what a great way to go on and on about my dog.  But frankly, I've done easier things.  The Blog was easy to create and is currently a work in progress and I blatantly stole a post (with a few edits) from here to start.  The Facebook was a nightmare.  I created and deleted a couple of facebook pages and of course I had to create and delete a couple of emails that were linked to the facebook pages.  Deleted forever, does not mean deleted in cyber space I discovered.  I got so twisted around I'm hoping I remember what I finally ended up with as an email and login. 

As a goal of simplifying my life and I have definitely fallen off the wagon.

Find Nana on Facebook at Nana LeBriard

You can find Life with Nana at the following link.

http://thetawneytornado.blogspot.com/

The Tawny Tornado

My Life has been hijacked by a tawny tornado. Ok, that is my excuse for not posting in 4 months. I have no idea what happened to my sense of time or maybe I am just lazy. I do know that for the last 2 months I have been deep into puppy madness. I am owned now by a Briard, commonly described as “a heart wrapped in fur”. They fail to mention the teeth. At four and half months she can sit, down, shake, come, stand, and bite with enthusiasm. Vampire dog! For awhile I was thinking about getting stock in bandaid companies.


I have been fortunate to be able take her out the barn and walk a lower pasture. Three laps is about three miles. Nana does about four to five miles with all the running and zooming back and forth. That’s good for the morning, but doesn’t cover the afternoon exercise requirement. But we are working on it.

So now is the time for resolutions as we move back into the light and out of winter darkness. This will be the first year that I will be completely through with the messiness of divorce, court dates, and the expenses and paper work that comes with it all. Nana, the biting machine, was part of my commitment to building the life I wanted. So I am going to risk more, spend less, try to be a better friend, blog more (lucky you), and craft a life filled with laughter, love and simplicity. At least that is the plan, oh yes….and try and teach the tawny tornado that “bite me” is only an expression.