Mylo Monday IV

This Mylo dog of mine is going to be a big boy (I just know it!). When Mylo came to live with us he weighed in at 6 lbs and, a short month later, here he is at 9.6 lbs! That's apx. as he wouldn't sit still on the scale. (Black floors make him feel like he's going to fall into the abyss so he wasn't too keen on staying put.) This boy is strong, healthy, and smart as a whip. Training him is a pleasure because he IS so smart. (Yes! Proud mom!) He now can "play dead", "roll over" (with lots of prompts and treats) and "leave it" (he's got a perfect record!) along with the usual "sit", "stay", "lay down", and "follow me" (he's getting a C so far in walking beside me). He's fun, fast, cool, and cute!

Mylo has puppy fur like nobody's business! It's black and it's beautiful and it isn't that easy to brush. I fill my hand with treats, let him go at them for all he's worth and then I comb the curls as long as he'll allow. He's good (for the most part) as long as my hand if full. 

Mylo has a busy schedule. I am the soccer mom equivalent for puppy play. We had a play date with Daisy on Tuesday, then Wednesday was Puppy Playtime at the training school. The next day we had Puppy Training where we were both put through our paces.  Calling All Dogs has been a life saver when it comes to training dogs AND humans in the art of getting puppies in line. I don't know where I'd be without their wisdom, common sense, and no nonsense training. 

Mylo needs constant stimulation and we're always looking for new ways to keep him occupied and self-entertained. Schnauzers are good at self-care and if they don't have appropriate toys for stimulation they will get into YOUR stuff. We've had 5 schnauzers, we know their tricks, and we (think we) know how to distract them away from trouble. The house is full of fun, colorful, exciting toys, made all the more exciting if a human is attached. I use the toys for (stealth) training, as well as for play. 

Mylo doesn't just have JUST a dog bowl for his food. He has an interactive dog bowl. He will inhale (as will most dogs) a bowl full of food in 30 seconds, but with the interactive bowl he has to work at getting the food, think about how to get the food, and play while getting the food. I can see him puzzling things through, figuring out ways of getting his tongue around the kibble, or popping it out of the bowl altogether. He has been learning a few tricks when it comes to kibble retrieval. I just sit back and laugh.

(Someday Smith will remember not to leave his shoes at the back door.) Having a puppy has totally changed. It's not only a LOT more expensive than last time we had a new boy, it's a lot more work, AND a ton more fun! Having Mylo in my life is not only a job, it's a lifestyle!  Who knew? 

3TT - Of This and That

For some time now I've wanted to stop by a vintage shop that's on my usual route. Their time of business and my time of leisure haven't quite coincided until last week. My main reason for stopping was to look for vintage stationary and to see if they had porcelain teacups that weren't outside my budget, as most teacups in vintage store are. I don't remember the name of the shop, but she had one box of usable stationary and the most beautiful pink teacup (Wedgewood) that was the nicely priced. Score! Exciting!

Last night the sky above the garden looked painted, so vibrant and clear. The clouds were the tail end of a cool (?) mass that just made the humidity higher (20% is high around here) and rose our hopes for rain. Rain it did not and no precipitation is in sight. We're burning up, wildfires rage, mostly man caused, but now we have new fires due to dry lightning. So far, July has been its usual dry, hot, miserable self. 

One of our gardeners has spend the last 6 years growing artichokes. No one has ever seen artichokes grown in Utah, but she's babied her plants along and now gets about 50 chokes a year. She leaves one or two to blossom which is one of the most wondrous sights. The flower looks very much like a large thistle. I love how the bees burrow down between the spikes to reach the pollen (one is in the lower right). This blossom is about 4" or so across and about as vibrant a purple as you'll ever see. 

Have you seen anything wondrous this week? 

Making lists on 3TT with Carole and the gang. 

Well, Look At That!

I've finished a pair of socks!! This pair of socks has taken the whole of 2018 to complete. I've stated my intention was to have a pair done every two months but, as it turned out, that was a pipe dream. If I'm lucky I'll have two new pair of socks by the end of the year. In any case--

They are done! AND, I'm so pleased! The yarn came from Cara (January One) in one of her destash extravaganzas. I'd never knit with, or even heard of White Birch Fiber Arts, but I enjoyed knitting with the perfectly striped yarn. The socks are very matchy, matchy, which is the point, right? The yarn is high quality and the dyeing suburb. 

The pattern I knit is the tried and true Carole's Picot Edged Sock pattern (yes, THAT Carole), which is available FOR FREE on Ravelry. The pattern is straight forward, easily understood, with perfect pictures of how to create the picot stitch cuff. You can't beat it. 

I'm pleased as punch. Here's the Ravelry link. 

My reading has been going well and I'm pages away from my second Bingo and working on my third.  I didn't have a chance to take a picture of my card, but here's a picture of what a little mazik can do when you turn your back for 30 seconds. 

Mylo pulled the bookmark out of my current read, The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander, and chewed up the end. I am very grateful he only wanted the free bookstore bookmark. The coaster was a casualty of the same variety a few hours later. Puppies will be puppies, do not take your eyes off him or you'll be paying for it. Next week I'll give you the lowdown on the books I've read this week.

 

And, just so you know, Mylo does not like to be taken for a walk when it is near 100 degrees, nor does he like to be told to "sit" and "look at me" while on said walk. (Training never ends around here.) As you can tell by his look, he was less than thrilled to "performing" in the heat of the day. Poor Mylo. (Poor me.)

I'm Unraveling with Kat and friends! 

Mylo Monday The Third

Because of the excessive heat Mylo and I didn't get out much this week. Temperatures of 100 or more do not make a comfortable situation when you have black curls. Mylo gave up after walking about 30 yards. He was done in. I believe there was a little backtalk as I told him we needed to finish his walk before we could go in, which he did, in his own good time. 

Mylo and I went to a concert in the park Saturday night. I had hoped being in the open air, sitting in the cool grass, listening to fun movie tunes, would cool us down, but sadly, it only made the heat feel more oppressive. Mylo dropped and didn't move the whole 30 minutes we were there, then finally, (to his mind) we left for home. 

Mornings and evenings we enjoy long walks in the outdoors. In the first 5 minutes or so he sniffs EVERYTHING, does his business, and then we're off, getting on our walking legs and walking without stopping around the half mile of our circle. We love the feeling of the cooling air on our faces and walking side by side. A walk with Mylo is one of life's "good things". 

Watching Mylo discover the world, bit by bit, step by step, can be a truly hilarious and wondrous thing. As he learns about something new, or spots an item he hasn't seen before, I can see the understanding and enlightenment slowly cross his being. He will some times growl, maybe a short high yip to get its attention, and then a sniff around or touch his nose to it to see what said thing smells like. Slowly there is realization that this is just one more new part in this larger world of many new things.

Smith and I watched when Mylo found the Japanese lantern on our patio. We think he thought it an alien (it has a pointed top and one hole that could be eye, you know) and he jumped back, studied its features, growled and gave his warning yip, and then, after a minute or so, decided it was a benign alien. (If only I'd had my camera!) He hasn't looked at it since.

This weekend it was the water in the hose that caught his eye. He saw stuff pouring from the hose and after sniffing a bit, jumping back when it hit him, he realized it was water. Of course, he wanted a drink, which took a little doing, as well as a wet head, but he got his drink. Discovering the world through the eyes of a baby, is so much fun. Mylo the silly has my heart. 

July 4th Unraveled - Just Another Day

You may have noticed this picture in my June collage amidst all the Mylo pictures. This is Cyd, a new needlepoint student who finished her first needlepoint piece (a small crow) and had it finished by the shop into an ornament. The look on her face when the shop owner handed her the finished piece was just priceless. I enjoy teaching people so enthused with the process, the project, and the social interaction of a class. Cyd's delight makes my heart happy. 

There has been considerable knitting and reading going on and I am nearly finished with my socks! This is quite an achievement after  six months of work! After missing my goal of a pair every two months, I had hoped for a finished pair the end of June. I'm only off by a few days, but should finish today, July 4th! I am listening to "The Cross" by Sigrid Undset, the third book in the Kristin Lavransdattor series. Over the last few months I have enjoyed this trilogy and hate to see it end. This book will give me my first Bingo! I lucked out with the books I wanted to read and found 5 places in a row which comprised the Bingo. There wasn't a bad book in the lot. In fact, all the books I've read for Book Bingo have been topnotch. 

Mylo and I will spend the day alone, but in the evening Smith and I will be playing and distracting Mylo from the exuberant number of fireworks in our neighborhood. He isn't too bothered by most of the noise, but the occasional loud boomers disturb us all! Pretty as they are, fireworks are not good for dogs. 

Speaking of Mylo...can you stand the cute!!?

Mylo's Big Adventure(s)

Last Thursday, Mylo and I spent the evening in a puppy training class, something we will do every Thursday for the next 5 weeks. Mylo did well and to up the game, we have homework to do together. We (I) want one of the 3 awards they give to the team who made the most progress. (Mylo is already ahead of the other puppies so there is hope!)

Friday Mylo had has first trip to the groomer, which included a shampoo and blow dry, a pedi, and a trim of a few unruly tresses. The main reason for the trip was to get him used to being handled and groomed. Mylo was a trooper and the groomer said he would be a wonderful client. A nap was in order and he slept the rest of the day! Oh, Mylo. You are so cute!

Saturday we went to Sugarhouse Park and enjoyed a morning in the shade of the trees (Mylo's happy place) while celebrating my nephew (in-law), Jordan's graduation from med school. Shauni and Jordan make a great couple and I'm so happy to have them in SLC (from AZ). More of my family is morning into the valley from other states and I predict more family gatherings. 

Sunday was a relaxing day for Mylo and I. I went to SnB, but spent most of the day with Mylo (and Smith). Every once in awhile Mylo goes from puppy to crocodile in about 3 seconds. That mouth is full of sharp little teeth, but he is responding to commands, such as "gentle" or distractions of nearby toys (stuffed into the open chasm of teeth).  Puppyhood may leave me with bleeding and scared arms. (Not really.)

The world went a little topsy-turvy mid-month when Mylo came into our lives. Every day is about Mylo, as not one thing can be done without having him in my thoughts. He's had numerous adventures, met many people and other doggies. It's fun to watch him discover the world, to learn, to play, to just be. He's going to be a wonderful companion.