Lexi's big adventure!

Good grief! How much more grief can those dog quilts give me? Everything was going just great - the backing for the seventh dog quilt had one seam. That was easy. The top was done, and the three pieces for the batting were on the ironing board. 

The other quilt was loaded, and I started it in plenty of time, but alas, it was not to be. 

While I'd like to blame this one on the machine, I can really only blame myself. Why? Because I need to change those leaders. 

There is a weak spot in the center of the leader, which shouldn't be a problem -- the backing doesn't need to be pinned within an inch of itself. The case being that with magnets, it's attached sporadically along the edge. However, occasionally a pin may interfere as the machine passes that spot. 

I have babysat it as it goes past that spot, and nothing has happened. BUT when I looked at the pattern at the end of the FIRST row, I spotted this. You can see where the machine got bumped (got stuck on a pin, I suspect) and jostled the pattern by one inch! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 

The pattern shifted by ONE INCH!!

This has happened before, but of course, I wasn't standing there either. These things never happen when you're watching - only when you are having a great day and things are going well, and then, poof! I debated leaving this in, but decided that I couldn't. 

I spent most of the rest of the day ripping out the stitches. There is still a small section to rip out, which I'll do later today. It should take no more than 20 minutes (OK - more like 40 minutes), but I was done by last night. 

Ripping out stitches

Of course, I had other running around to do, and I didn't even get out for my walk. 

Everyone needs a humbling day like that. I wasn't happy, but would it help if I got mad? Not in the least. But now this has happened twice in the last couple of months, and it is something that I can prevent. So, I'll have to watch the machine like a hawk in that one spot for the next month, and then in December, I will have to change those leaders and start using the magnets. 

I know -- I should do it now. It just takes a few seconds. Well, that's a lie. It'll take me a day to get it all organized, and my November is now full with minimal extra time. I know - feast or famine. October was so quiet, I wondered if people had forgotten me, and November came in like a lion. It's not crammed, but still busy. 

However, there is good news, and thankfully, Lexi's little escapade provided enough humor to last the entire day. 

Now that it's brisk in the mornings, Lexi and Murphy love to play in the backyard. Lexi usually just stands on the deck and lets Murphy run in circles around the yard, bounding onto the deck, and perhaps takes the occasional swipe at Murphy to keep her wound up! Once in a while, Lexi engages in actually running before or after Murphy, depending on which direction Murphy is running. 

They were outside, Bear was inside with me, and I heard Murphy start barking. I thought she wanted in, so I went to the back door. 

OH MY GOD -- what happened? There was WATER everywhere, all over the yard. The deck was wet, and the patio stones were very wet. 

Where did all that water come from?

I first checked Murphy, who was panting but dry. WAIT - Lexi is wet! It's hard to see wetness on a Husky!

MOM - I'm wet!

And OH MY --- there is an opening among the leaves on the pond! 

OH -- something disturbed those leaves in the MIDDLE

Yep --- she forgot that there was still water in the pond and either thought she could run right across those leaves, I doubt she would have jumped. Either way, it was hilarious, and she was not a happy camper. I bet that shocked her a wee bit, as she is not a fan of water and is happy to put her feet in the water in the summer, but certainly not unless it's hot and she needs to cool off. 

OH MY -- I would have given anything to have seen that and the expression on both of their faces. Oh, Lexi and Murphy - you are forever bringing joy to my life, and thanks for the pick-me-up - just when I needed it. 

I need to clear some of those leaves away because we got new fish yesterday as well. My landscaper was closing someone's pond, and I said that if they had extra fish, I would take some. So Mike was in the driveway last night (I had no idea who it was at first), and he had two pails. So we dumped two pails of fish - lots of babies apparently. 

I bet my fish were totally traumatized yesterday. First, this huge monster invaded their space, and then a bunch of little guys!

The afternoon was spent getting the little guy to his appointments. First, the groomer. He was looking scruffy. And now he's looking cute again! And he got a little bow tie!

Grandma -- look at me - I'm adorable

Since I was out of the house in the car, I decided to venture down to Fabricland to finally get that flannel that I needed. OK, a couple of interesting fabrics also came home with me. 

Then back home to rip some more until I had to pick Bear up and take him to the vet because he has a badly infected ear. I didn't realize how red the inside of his one ear was until after he was groomed. One is nice and pink, the other is angry red. 

This new veterinarian has the philosophy that there is always an underlying reason why things happen, and we need to conduct this test or that test. Sigh --- I don't have time for two weeks of steroids to open his ear canal, which apparently is so inflamed that it's closed. So for the moment, he is on eardrops, and I'll let M deal with him when he gets home. 

He is not a fan of sleeping in Lexi's bed - perhaps it's too big for him. But what this little guy lacks in size, he makes up for in attitude!!!

Grandma - This bed is too big

On a positive note, I completed a significant amount of paperwork, which was a welcome development. I also had to pack, as I'm the guest speaker at the Kawartha Guiltmaker Guild in Peterborough today. So the suitcases are packed and need to be loaded shortly, as it's a morning guild. That's civilized!!!

Have a great day!

Ciao!!!