The vet, the bills, the knitting...

photo of clappy: finally done!

Today I went to work. NO DOGS on my schedule. No money to be made.
I left early, thanking my lucky stars that Peanut had a vet appointment. (I was really bored of just sitting around wishing a dog would magically appear on my table.)

Little Peanut had to get a checkup and shots, etc. AND, my most dreaded nightmare: a heartworm test. A drop of blood, no biggy. Except for the fact that the vet techs can NEVER FIND HIS VEINS. It took 2 of them today, one of them made swiss cheese of both his front legs; before handing him off, wimpering, telling the other vet tech "here, you try". She proceeded to slide the needle in and out, around and around, back and forth. I was almost crying, and Peanut was trying to be good but I could tell it was hurting him.
Then Peanut had enough and he nipped the vet tech on the thumb. I silently told him "good job" because I was upset about the whole situation, but later I did feel guilty about thinking that...
So they muzzled him.
I apologized like 5 times and she said it was no big deal, it happens. I understood, being a dog groomer, I have my share of bite marks. They finally got blood out of his neck! Poor little guy.

All in all, Peanut's bill was only $105 including meds. For once I didn't mind seeing the words "office visit" itemized on my bill, because the vet and I had a good long chat about "all things Peanut". I really like my vet, he seems to care about my dogs.

I call him Dr. Vet Dreamy.

No just kidding Joan.

I came home and bought a year's supply of Heartgard plus for all 3 dogs, from PetcareRX.
We are done with annual heartworm testing. All of my dogs have tiny veins and it is unbearable.
Price for a year's supply of Heartgard for 3 dogs who aren't used as pincushions: $118

Then I see I have a new "explanation of benefits" in my email, from my health insurance company. It was from my neurology appointment, earlier this month. Only $35 for the office visit, and over $200 for the blood work. What???

$200. For blood work?

Now, unlike Peanut, they NEVER have any trouble finding my veins. The whole walk-in procedure takes under 5 minutes. And I have to pay $200? It was only $70 last year, and I thought that was high!!!
I think a mistake has been made. I am trying not to let my head go spinning off in the meantime... It is listed as 2 claims with the same claim number, but one says $80 and the other says $120. IT MAKES NO SENSE.

All in all, quite an expensive day, considering I had no work! Thank goodness for tax returns.
Plus, I didn't even mention I stopped at the gas station, and got a McChicken sandwich!

In other news, Clappy is finally done!

It is a blurry photo because Peanut was uncooperative and wanted to snuggle back under his blankie.
I knit clappy from start to finish with only the tiny knit Bunny to break up the monotony! I love the clappy, the yarn (a present from Benne) is SO soft.
I am happy to be moving on, clappy wore me out!

So now I'm looking for a project to get really really really excited about!!!
I am thinking of doing the very popular lace ribbon scarf from knitty.

I do still have a pair of jaywalkers on the needles, and I need to pick a baby knitting project once I find out from my cousin if it'll require pink yarn or blue yarn...

Knit on fellow knitters!

Woo hoo, spring is here!

Sadie says: "I think it's spwing-time, because something's growin' in your dead leaves"

It was so nice today I took TWO walks. One with the grumpy Peanut, who grumbles at dogs, neighbors, and large noisy vehicles. Oh and motorcycles, he HATES motorcycles.
And then another walk with the girl puppies. I will never walk Sadie with Peanut, she is way too impressionable. She hasn't figured out she could act naughty while walking, and I aim to keep it that way.

It was so nice out today, upper seventies, and now? IT'S RAINING. Sigh.
I spent all day pruning shrubs and doing other annoying chores. I am trying to finish knitting clappy by the 31st, I might make it if this rains keeps up! Otherwise, I'm lost to the outdoors. You can't keep me inside.

Edited to add: speaking of amazing discoveries, which I wasn't, I JUST YESTERDAY found out I have picture-in-picture on my tv. And I knew I had it, at one time, but I forgot, because stupid ex-husband said it didn't work with the TiVo. AND IT DOES. So I am happy, AND, I am a genius to boot. Yay me!

I finished knitting something!

No, it's not Clappy!
I knit on clappy each day until my wrist gives me the hint to knock it off. (Still a bit tender.)
My go-to project, when I can't be clappy-ing, is Bunny! Detail at ravelry, this is a very popular pattern I bought awhile back. Bunny is easy! I used Patons "Be Mine" in Wuzzy White. How adorable, and with a 50% off coupon, this bunny set me back under $3. I may have enough yarn for another...

This bunny is for my cousin Michelle, who is having a baby. It damn well better be a girl, I do not have blue ribbon!!! Seriously, it better be a girl. My family is tired of boys, and I never thought I'd say that:
My mom one of 5 girls. They all had babies, tons of them. 90% girls, give or take. My poor brother thought playing with Barbies was normal. For boys. (Don't yell at me, I am not trying to be stereotypical, I'm just saying is all). The family get-togethers: One BIG gab-fest of girly women, jewelery, perfume, talk about recipes, clothing, yadda yadda BORING.
(I spend my time in the basement with the lonely men who married into this girly nightmare, watching baseball. My ex-hubby didn't like sports and was always upstairs with the women...I should've known he was no good. ANYWAY...)
When all these cousins of mine grew up, and started their own families, we were like "WELL we've got the frilly pink clothes in storage, let's go".
And surprise surprise! ALL BOYS! ALL of them!
Finally, after like 10 years, (and I have a h-u-g-e family) my adorable brother had a baby girl! We all went crazy with happiness! We were starting to think it was a generational problem: all girls, then all boys? But my darling niece broke the trend.
And we are still needing a few more girls to round things out.

Isn't Bunny cute? I put a little blush on her cheeks:
In other news, the same adorable little brother of mine has a puppy, actually she's one now...and she is a crazy lunatic puppy, and I get to groom her again on Saturday. Her name is Lulu but is should be "Devil puppy." So I'm preparing myself for that. (And actually I love her, I just get a kick out her and how spoiled she is!)
Have a great rest of the week everybody!
P.S. my avatar's Obama T-shirt is in the wash, so I'm sporting the Twins jersey today.

Happy Birthday Dottie!

Happy Birthday, Baby Dot!

Today Dot Gwendolyn turns 9 years old! The photo you see above is my very favorite of Dottie, ever.
Dottie came from a pet store, before I knew of the puppy mill problems associated with such things.
As it turns out, however, she is one of the smartest, sweetest, healthiest, most obedient, and most thoughtful dogs I've ever met. Hands down.

From day one, she was so different from any puppy I've ever seen...considerate, thoughtful even.
She matured so quickly, never tore up anything, she was like a grown up dog in a puppy body.
Not that she doesn't like to play; she loves to play chase and hide-and-go-seek, although she has never liked dog toys, or balls.
Dottie has a way of looking at you, her eyes searching yours, trying to figure out what will make you happiest. If you tell her "no," she'll avert her eyes away and usually take about 3 steps backward. She doesn't like to disappoint.
I came up with her middle name, Gwendolyn, because she had such an old-fashioned way about her. It suits her to perfection. When my sister met her the first time, she said "Dottie has such an old soul".

For Dot's birthday, we plan on celebrating with some Rice Dream frozen non-dairy dessert.
(Well, that's for the dogs. I, on the other hand, will have the traditional delicious ice cream. Or maybe a root beer float? I haven't decided.)
We also plan on taking a walk.
The weather has finally turned towards spring; we've had a few days each week of glorious sunshine, and just when all the snow melts, and I wash my car? It snows. We had over 6" on Monday. It's almost gone...

I don't seem to have many comments lately (and I do SO love comments) and I figure it's due to the total lack of "knitting" content on my "knitting" blog. Who has time to knit with all this overtime I'm putting in at work? To show for it, I have a very sore tendon or ligament or SOMETHING in my left hand, and knitting seems to aggravate it. I'm begrudgingly staring at my Clapotis, and trying to knit with my mind. (It's WORKING!) No of course it's not working.

Anywho, give your dogs an extra treat today, on Dottie! And knit a few rows for me.