Valentine's Day

Astrid is really getting excited about Valentine's Day. It's one of our faves. Maybe it is yours too? We got Astrid's assortment of Valentine bandanas up in her Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago. This week, even though it is still January, Astrid wanted to get a little decorating done. Astrid's best friends, Sugar, Brody and Logan, gave her a tree a little while ago. Standing 3 feet tall,  we decorate it year around for seasons and holidays. Strung with purple lights which seem to glow with a nice pinkish tint, we added crochet hearts, plastic fairies, and a bright red tree skirt on which not one, but two, fairy princesses stand.

We'd like to share the easiest crochet heart pattern we have. It is all done in the very first stitch (away from the crochet hook). The picture marks the fourth stitch where all the stitches are done. This pattern is so easy, you can whip up as many as you want while enjoying your favorite TV show.

Crochet Heart Pattern

1 H/8 5mm crochet hook
Small supply of worsted weight yarn in desired colors. This project is a great stash buster as each heart only requires a small amount.

Chain 4.
Work 3 triple crochet in first chain. (That would be the first chain away from your crochet hook, not counting the on on your hook.)
Work 3 double crochet in first chain.
Chain 1.
Work 1 triple crochet in first chain.
Chain 1.
Work 3 double crochet in first chain.
Work 3 triple crochet in first chain.
Chain 3.
Slip stitch into center hole in heart, pull through leaving as much of a 'hanger' as you like, snip off yarn leaving a few inches.
Gently tie the two loose ends of yarn together two or three times, snip close.
Have fun!

Spring Has Sprung At Astrid Nicole's!

Spring has sprung at AstridNicoleEtcetera's Etsy shop! Lots of fun dog fashions and gifts for their people! Many are modeled by your faves such as Sugar, featured here and Astrid Nicole herself!

Cheese and Carrot Doggie Muffins

Thursday's Multiples will return next week. Today we'd thought we experiment with a little baking for dogs. Our recipe is Cheese and Carrot Muffins. You will need:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup shredded cheese
1 cup shredded carrots
2 large eggs
1 cup  of milk
muffin tin for 12 muffins (or 2, 6 each)

Combine the two flours 

Work the carrots and cheese into the flour mixture with your fingers

Beat the eggs.

Add milk to beaten eggs.

Pour milk and egg mix over flour mix and gently stir together.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

Astrid is the 'Taste Tester'! I think it's a YES!

Mistfit or a Match For Life?

Are shelters full of misfits? Of course they are! There are high energy dogs taken home by mellow, homebodies. There are dogs that would like nothing more than to lie at your feet all day but end up in a house full of children that want to dress them up. There are dogs that love to 'work'. By that, we mean is they love to learn, learn, learn new things! They may find themselves in a home that wanted a dog that was just content to be there. And there is nothing wrong with any of these dogs in and of themselves! But the harsh truth is that they are labeled. Labled "odd ducks", "square pegs", "odd balls" and many other defamatory words included the worst, 'returns'. This....all because the word that could really describe the situation was 'misfit'. A situation that didn't work. It didn't work, it wasn't right and it all could have been avoided from the beginning with a little bit of help. First, one needs to make the right fit between dog and potential family. Once assured that the match is right,  the rest is called 'rehoming skills' and there are lots and lots of books written about it. Tons of info on the 'net, too!

So, when adopting a dog, make a list of what you want from your new family member. Want a dining companion? So did we! And here she sits. Astrid Nicole, social butterfly and you can tell, she is a little 'older'. And so are we.

There's A Story Behind The Mistakes

I've been trying my hand at these old fashioned crochet doilies lately.  My Swedish grandmother had the time and patience to surround herself and her home with homemade things like this. Well, maybe not quite like these as you may find mistakes in mine. Especially that little white one. Why is it all scrunched up against the others you ask? Of course, there's a story behind it.  And of course it involves Astrid.

Astrid is well trained. I could put a sandwich on the floor and if I told her not to touch it, I could leave the room and return and still find the sandwich on the floor. She touches nothing that isn't hers. Except once. It was Christmas time and a dear friend sent Astrid a stocking with her name on it. Of course, she joined in the excitement as we opened it but I was super surprised when she picked the stocking up and ran off with it! That was a few years ago and she hasn't 'stolen' anything since. Until last Friday night.

Astrid's dad had come home later than usual. We were in the living room. I was working on crochet. Apparently, she got a little beside herself with jealousy as her dad and I ignored her while we talked. She grabbed my work out of my basket and ran off...leaving a nice little trail of unraveling crochet thread. She only traveled a couple of feet, but that was enough to undo my work a little. Wow...talk about guilty looks! You should have seen her face when she realized what she did. I'm not that experienced at this tiny (and tedious) work, so I tried putting it together as well as I could. But there's a mistake(s) and it's noticeable. Hence, the scrunching up of the little white one for the picture. 

I don't imagine Astrid will continue in her wayward behavior. We all act irrational when our emotions get the best of us so I forgive the doily runaway. But the stocking? Do I think she is so smart she can read? Of course not! But it did have her name on it.

Spring and Summer Dog Fashion

Spring has sprung and Astrid is showing off her treasure trove of Spring and Summer fashions from her Etsy shop. All sizes, you will find bandanas, collars and even some matching totes for Mom. All sales from our AstridNicoleEtcetera Etsy shop benefit the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. Astrid is a proud alumni of the shelter, finding her 'for ever' home with us in 2006.

Graying With Grace

Tomorrow is the last day of 2011. One of the things that means is before all of us see the last day of 2012, we will be a year older. If we are in the second half of our lives, we may be discovering some gray hair, stiff joints or other age related characteristic. Here's Astrid, peering out of her big brown eyes through rings of gray. Astrid just turned approximately age 7 a couple of days ago. She's aging gracefully, aging well. And how is Astrid's mom doing? I'm aging with gratitude that I have Astrid.

Fashion Paws...Yule Is Cool

It's official! What we have known for a long time has recently been confirmed by a reliable fashion source. This holiday season, Christmas fashion is 'in'. So pet moms and pet dads, pet sisters and brothers...get out your Christmas and other holiday fashions. Dogs have always known when it comes to fashion, Yule Is Cool! 

Fashion Paws...Oh, The Parties!

Even being homeless didn't stop this little reveler from enjoying the party! A Christmas open house at Carolina's Veterinary Hospital last weekend gave him a chance to strut his holiday finery. He is being fostered by the facility while he awaits his forever home.

A perfect host, big or small he greeted them all.

The gala event featured the big man in red with Miss Astrid not missing the opportunity to pose.

Rounding out the day with a stop at her fave cookie bar, we found even the plastic dogs in glittering attire!

After relaxing outside of Caribou Coffee with her mom and dad enjoying an espresso while she ate her cookie, she took one more opportunity for a photo in her Christmas finery.

Stand Up For Senior Pets...Take The Pledge

Today may be the last day of November which is Adopt A Senior Pet month, but it should not be the last day that we stand up for senior pets. For various reasons ranging from the economy to the death of the pet parent, senior dogs sit in shelters across the country. They wait for their second chance to be loved and to give love. Let's not forget them. Take the pledge today, but in your heart make it a pledge to keep the promise of a home for senior pets alive every month and to mention them often in your Facebook and Twitter posts and other opportunities. 


Pictured here is Fred. He is an adult dog waiting at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Suddenly Senior

Look who has turned all 'senior' on us! Or maybe not. Astrid should be in the neighborhood of being 7 years old. She came to live with us in 2006 at the approximate age of two. Being a large mixed up breed, some put her into her senior years around 7 to 9 years. This is 'Adopt A Senior Pet' month. Astrid...she's mine but the shelters are full of senior dogs that would make perfect pets. There's lots of good reasons to pick a senior dog....here's 10. 

Fashion Paws...BIG is Beautiful

When it comes to dogs, big is beautiful. Sure, all the cute clothes only come in tiny sizes but being big has it's advantages too. Go to any fabric store and you will see why. The most eye catching and colorful fabrics have large patterns! In this picture, Astrid makes it obvious. The bigger you are the more you can show off dazzling patterns and colors. 

Fashion Paws...Focus on Color

This week's fashion paws has us celebrating the colors of the season and seasons to come. It all starts with the bright oranges of Halloween and whoosh...the flood of colors starts with the reds, greens, browns and all the others associated with Thanksgiving and the holidays to come. Like no other time of the year, the photographer in all of us comes out, preserving our joy and memories awash with color. 

Senior Pets Are Special

November is 'Adopt A Senior Pet' month! There are so many good reasons to adopt a senior pet...here are ten that relate to senior dogs. My favorite is number 7....what you see is what you get. On this site, you will also find several resources for locating a senior companion plus information about those participating in a 'seniors for seniors' program. What could be more perfect than a senior individual providing a home for a senior canine? 


No matter the age of the dog you choose from a shelter, you'll want the best 'rehoming' situation possible. There are articles on all aspects of introducing that new dog into your household on Petfinder.

Easy Peasy

Often times I think that if I would make the time, Astrid would stay engaged in learning new things most of the hours of every day. I tend to get caught up in trying to encourage more difficult and complicated behaviors and tricks. When I see the fun and satisfaction she gets from a simple game of 'touch', it reminds me to sometimes scale things back and let her enjoy the gratification she gets from the easier games in life. One of her favorites is 'which hand is the treat in'. She's right 50% of the time...and even when she is wrong, she is right with her second guess.

Fido's Manners Matter

That expression says it all! Miss Sugar Cookie has just read in the book Miss Fido Manners that she isn't supposed to bark out the window all the time. Your dog doesn't have to be a graduate of Miss Fido Manners school of charm to become a welcome member of the community.

Astrid is about to study her own copy of the book. She (and we!) know that learning a few 'meet and greet' skills for when she is out in public makes a big difference. Learning is a never ending fun experience.

Here, Astrid enjoys music on the patio of a very dog friendly Earth Fare store. We are lucky here in North Carolina. Restaurants with patios allow pets to dine along with their people, at the discretion of the restaurant owner of course. If the issue of dogs on patios ever comes up in your community, let your local officials know that a 'yes' vote is important to you and that you plan to vote in the next election.

Proud To Be A Canine Good Citizen

We adopted Astrid on December 28, 2006 and that following May we moved to Charlotte, NC. At that point, I was totally unfamiliar with BSL - Breed Specific Legislation. When it comes to BSL and a dog's temperament, there are all kinds of opinions out there but the facts are that a dog's temperment is determined by the nurturing and training methods used. 

I quickly became aware of Breed Specific Legislation when we were denied insurance for the house we rented while looking for the home we wanted to buy. Astrid had been labeled a Rottweiler at the shelter and Rottweilers were discriminated against by our first choice of insurance companies. Being unaware of the magnitude of the BSL issue, I didn't take it seriously at that point but started to do a little research. Turned out, BSL is everywhere usually starting out with a dog bite incident that is sensationalized by the media spreading fear throughout a community. 

Immediately, Astrid and I took action. Yes, we absolutely understood that Astrid will be judged by her color. Even though she is a mix of 'who knows what' and about 20 to 60 pounds lighter that a Rottweiler...she will be labeled such because of her black with brown markings. Our very first course of action was to show that Astrid and most Rottweilers are good companions and community members. We discovered the AKC Canine Good Citizen  program and learned the requirements. Having fun with the training required, that following year Astrid became an AKC Canine Good Citizen proving that she meets the program's standards for being a good member of her family and community.

An excellent, common sense approach to the dangers of Breed Specific Legislation can be found at 'NO BUTS ABOUT BSL...Stand Up & Help Stop Breed Discrmination.

Many dogs sport the same colors. Here's just a few that show a striking resemblence to Astrid's own colors...and no, that last picture is not Astrid. It appears to be that wonderful breed called 'All Mixed Up'.

Freeze

We don't think of Astrid's concentration skills as a 'trick' but I guess in many ways it is. If our dogs won't pay attention to us, how can we ever teach them the fun stuff? This one...that we call 'freeze'...is something we play anytime and anywhere, even when out on a walk. Today, Astrid was having trouble with the number 5.

It's That Time Of Year

While the spring weather remains unpredictable, one thing we can always count on is Astrid's pose in front of the azaleas.

Fit For Royalty?

With all the talk of the royal wedding going on, Astrid insisted I make her a new bandana fit for  a  queen.