Saturday, January 30, 2010

essentials



did everybody in the world know how much work one tiny little two pound one ounce puppy is except for me? am i the only one that doesn't know dog language? and is it really fair that even if your not in the mood to care for one. more. thing. (i've raised five babies you know), tiny little puppies slip into your heart anyway. oh owen. while we've been busy 24-7 with him it seems the storming ended and spring is creeping in! see the green buds in the above photo?! we are trying (that's a big word here) to train owen to do his piddling and pooing outside, so i've, we've, been spending a lot of time looking around the yard while he looks at everything too.





here are some of the things the trainer said we ought to get. we are taking a puppy training class. did you know there is such a thing too? owen thinks it is the most fun. i don't know how much he is actually learning, i guess time will tell... in the meantime, we have assembled our own puppy training kit. see below.








essential puppy training kit.
includes lots of wine
lots of chocolate
then more wine and chocolate.
to be replenished as necessary.



here is what i look like at the end of the day. a day with owen. except i don't sleep with my feet in the air and i'm no where near as cute.





some non-puppy things are, i've been working (and working out! more on that later), and then dealing with computer people again, it turns out i needed something called ram or more of it on my computer. sigh, you pay so much money for these laptops and internet you really just want them to work. and still finding a little time to knit. my scarf is almost done, it looks funny since it still needs blocking and all. i've tried to smooth it out a bit to show the pattern.




in case anyone is interested it's from a book called A Fine Fleece, knitting with handspun yarn, called the road not taken. i've used rowan true 4ply botany a 100% wool in a lovely silvery grey, i found the yarn in a shop in amsterdam a couple years ago so i'm not sure if it's still available. i hope it gets cold again so i can wear it.



and i really hope you are all well and finding the beauty where ever you are. a training kit can sometimes help. ;)




♥ lori

43 comments:

  1. Hey Lori!!
    I'm the only one who doesn't have a life this Saturday night so I'm online! Good news is that I read your post!! It made me totally crack up! After raising my Boston Terror, Otis, I swore I'd never do a puppy again. Just like a baby right? lol
    Ok..... so your wine training kit is the way to go!! Believe me!! lol!
    Loved, loved this post! I can totally relate! Good luck and drink up!

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  2. Owen is as cute as a puppy can be! As I would have expected, you have found the wine/chocolate connection to the training process.

    Have fun! I added 2 gigabytes of memory to my computer several months ago and now it flies!

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  3. Mine is now in the toddler phase. Into everything and he loves yarn. And shoes, and garbage cans, and anything else he can stick his nose into. Good luck with the training. I was never good at it.

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  4. Yes darling,he is MOST cute.
    YES, I see your point about a training kit.......hmmmm. I think I will take that fine advice, and apply it liberally at the very first convenience!
    I love the scarf colour and the pattern, it is very feminine. It should beautiful on you with your fair hair.xx♥

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  5. Too funny! I was going to suggest the wine, then I saw you mention it! LOL Owen is adorable! Blessings to you all!

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  6. Lori x6 - owen is just tooo precious! enjoy the 'training'.
    I am soooooooooo impressed to see Amarula in your stockpile. Nothing like a shot in a mug of hot black coffee on an early morning game drive. . . . .
    Less said about the technological treadmill we've all got ourselves on, the better.
    xx

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  7. aw he's so cute! no wonder.....
    good luck with all that goes with it ;-)am totally impressed with your knitted scarf! sshh dont let Owen find it. I like Janet's Lorix6 haha - have fun always xx

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  8. Lori, I read your comment....lol! I know your life too well! When I eat out with my parents it's like eating at the *blue plate special*! Most nights I'm in bed at 10....omg!! What's happened to me. Maybe I'm morphing into my mother.....yikes!!

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  9. Lori, that pup is adorable! I remember when my hubby brought home Fritz, completely unexpected. I think puppies are just like little babies - they need just as much love and attention. Just when you thought your mothering days were dwindling ... : )

    I like puppies new name too - so sweet. And I just bet he is spoiled by his mommy and daddy (and grandkids).

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  10. I love that scarf! Your whole room is so well organized and attractive; it's very enticing.

    I remember when we got our dog; I slept on the sofa with him for a couple of weeks so that I'd be able to take him out (and avoid nighttime accidents). We also took him to puppy training class. I think we learned more than he did, but it was good for him to be 'socialized' with so many other types of puppies. I will say, crate training him was the best thing we ever did. We only ever used it when we left the house and we haven't used it in a few years, but it made a world of difference!

    No matter how much trouble they are, dogs do have a way of stealing your heart. Much, I have discovered, like children.

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  11. Owen is the cutest li'l furbaby ever! I would love to have one too, but Mr. is so dead against it! may be sometime in future :)

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  12. I find beauty in you.

    I am sorry to hear about your Mom too, I know how much you said you and your sister love her.

    xoxox

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  13. Wine and chocolate..definitely an essential tool for puppy training and essential for lots of other life challenges as well. Owen looks as though he is thriving on all the attention, what a sweetie is is.
    I love the scarf...beautiful ! I have that book too, it's a favorite of mine..
    xxx

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  14. Beautiful scarf!

    Wish you luck with your little puppy - they need a lot of work and love.

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  15. Oh, I love it!! Your training kit is perfect and so appropriate for dealing with a puppy! I remember briefly thinking about getting another puppy for Winslow, but then remembered how involved that first year really is. And how long it takes to be able to leave them alone for any stretch of time... Crate training was wonderful for Winslow (and a life saver for us), but still, you can't leave them for long. And then, when you dare to leave them out of the crate you wonder what you might come home to... Now, Winslow is just wonderful and your Owen will be trained in no time at all!! In the meantime, keep that wine replenished and eat plenty of chocolate... Love, Silke

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  16. Hi Lori! Wow, a new puppy and a new how to class. What fun. Okay you know I have a dirty dozen of dogs here (poor little rescues!) We have been treating them with various pills- rather it all falls on my shoulders. (Push the pill down the throat, then stroke under the chin and neck until he/she swallows! Oh and reward with cheese!) I know the work involved in training puppies. They are so cute, though. I think they fill in a bit of heart space as I attempt to let my youngest flee the nest.

    Lovely photos, too- especially in the previous post. Gorgeous sunsets!
    What a pleasure to visit you and your blog, Ms. Lori. xx

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  17. Motherhood, in all it's forms, is tiring but rewarding to watch them bloom in front of you...you provide the support and love and training...all they want is guidance and love. Enjoy Owen and the wine 'n chocolate, too.

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  18. owen is adorable. :)

    ps - what is a bento ball?

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  19. thanks manon, and your comment made me laugh. yes it's a bit like a baby. except i'm not breastfeeding so i can drink! haha.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thanks helen,
    isn't it amazing, that combination? wine and chocolate, amazing. yes to faster speed and more memory, it's great.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    coco,
    my husband is better than me i'm afraid. oh well, as long as one of us is getting the hand of it. i really hope mine doesn't love yarn.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thank you natsy, i never wanted to be one of those moms that bragged about her pup, but it cannot be helped! i appreciate the compliment on my scarf.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thanks janis,
    of course you would know with all your sweet pets, you must have enormous patience. i only have one tiny puppy and look at all the wine we bought!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Janet,
    AGREED, about the tech stuff and the AMARULA! it's my favorite, since being introduced to it in 2001.also i lost all train of thought when you said early morn game drive + amarula. sigh.sigh.sigh.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    val, oh he'd better not find my knitting. i've heard horror stories. it's definetly fun here.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    manon,
    hahaha, i doubt that very much. i do the same, early to bed (most times) but i hope to never eat dinner in the late afternoon(bps), hahaha.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    lyn,oh yes you've reminded me about that. I am still in a bit of shock. I love him, but i would not have brought him home. but, i'm glad that was not up to me.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Whitney Lee,
    you are so right. and thank you so much for the kind compliment.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    cj,
    maybe he'll come around, i'll cross my fingers for you!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thank you renee,
    you have a good memory. maybe i'll find the courage to write about her.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    sally,
    he's a precious little guy, so smart and healthy and most, happy here. so glad.
    have you made anything from the book?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    merisi,
    thank you very much! your right, lucky we have alot of both (energy for the work and lots of love).
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    silke,
    haha, i'm so glad you liked my training kit, things are going so much smoother now! we are trying the crate, we can see the benefits. i hope owen will too.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thank you cynthia,
    i don't know how you do it, that is alot of pets! i would imagine they would help fill those soon to be empty spaces. i appreciate your kind words.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    teri, thank you for the beautiful comment.i love it.

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  20. kavita,
    i'm not really sure, i think you put some treats or kibble inside and dogs love to chew on it. i have to figure that one out still...☺

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  21. Oh. My. Heavens! Owen!! I'm smitten!

    Oh, puppy training. In a few short months he'll be ready, and you won't even remember this phase. I can't even believe his charmingness.

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  22. Oh he's so cute. I have an Eoin (pron. "Owen"), too! Only he's 16 and nearly 6 ft.! And I have to agree, although my Eoin is cute, he's not as cute as your little one.

    Enjoy

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  23. I love the training kit! Good for parenting too, I think! And your scarf is devine! I crochet but am intimidated by knitting...maybe when I have more time:-)

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  24. Owen can't get any cuter! I'll bet he would like to help you with that beautiful scarf...

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  25. Oh my goodness, that Owen is SUCH a cutie! But I'm with Manon, no puppies for me! I got my Nelly when she was 10, already potty trained and cutest dog EVER!!

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  26. sweet friend, how clever you are to come up with your own training kit.

    you are indeed a new Mother again! that picture of owen with his feet in the air like that made me smile from ear to ear and back again. maybe we should both learn to sleep like that sometimes too :)

    i remember the first year with my springer spaniel, rosie. i don' think i had one relaxing meal for 6 months.

    but the love was worth it. who else runs toward you at full speed tail wagging and eyes a glow just from the sight of you?

    love you lori, take good care,
    kj

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  27. Yum Lori

    Cadbury chocolate - the best!

    Owen always appears as a toy...I have to look twice at each photo...

    Happy doogie days

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  28. sallymandy,
    oh good, i'm tired already, he's a rascal this one. but so cute i can't believe it.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    aden,
    i'm betting when eoin was that small he was. aren't all babies? i love that name.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    diana,
    you can do it, watch a tutorial and have a go! knitting is not hard, really. don't forget your training kit.haha!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    nancy,
    oh yes he would. he already found my yarn. i need a plan b.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    my frogs,
    you are much smarter than me. i am writing it here. no. more. puppies.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    kj, i am so glad to hear you say that. i was worried there for a minute since chuck and i haven't really shared a decent meal in 2 weeks now.
    love you too kj.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    delwyn,
    he really looks like a toy when he is sitting in between his stuffed animals. so funny.
    and yes. cadbury. as good as the most expensive designer chocolates i think.

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  29. Are you sure you didn't give Owen some of that wine?! Seriously though it is like having another baby for the first year.

    Anyway, you need help getting through all that chocolate..i think i should pop over and oblige!

    Beautiful scarf Lori.

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  30. Hey Lori,

    Owen is so cute, he is sweet. You cannot help but love puppies. Puppy training is cute, not sure how well it works, dogs are like kids they all learn differently.

    The scarf is awesome.

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  31. This piece is so interesting, Owen is cute cute cute. Loving this post!

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  32. Oh, cute thing, needing so much of your time and attention, essential things only a good mother can provide.

    I love coming here, Lori ann, for you have a calming tone to soothe all pain. That puppy is lucky!

    And the wine and chocolate: good things.

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  33. ah...great stuff I say...the pup is so adorable
    love the puppy training kit...classic
    write lots more
    are you a photographer?
    cam

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  34. Oh YES Joanne, come! i'd love to share, wine, choco and Owen! :) :)
    thank you too for the compliment :)
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thanks Sammi, i'm getting that feeling. he sure is smart though, maybe it won't be too hard?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    welcome *danielleious*, he is isn't he? he's a rascal too. thank you for coming over.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    thank you very much Rosaria, that was a really sweet thing to say, i am touched by your words. we think we are lucky too.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    hi cam, your photo is adorable too. yes, i am. and thank you for coming over, welcome!

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  35. I spy a hedgehog! And wine and chocolate are actually wonderful coping mechanisms for just about everything - apply it to speeding tickets, leaks in the roof, mid-life crises AND puppy-training.

    Owen is just about the cutest thing ever.

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  36. heya sweetie, thank you for your comment, appreciate it...I see you are following my class mates, my good good friends, spoon fingers, algerian angle, and wild african indigo. Wow its amazing, what a small world it is out there.
    xx D

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  37. Lori- as long as you start young... old dogs and new tricks remember ;o) x

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  38. Hi Lori! Owen is so cute , if I show him to Camila she will want one , too!
    Your scarf is gorgeous , I hope it gets cold for you to wear it. I guess it´s gonna be so beautiful on you!

    Good luck and tell us more about the training course + wine & chocolate week!

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  39. Waow!! This is a brilliant post!! Hilarious and cute at the same time, so real and out there!! By the way your puppy is sooo adorable! I love your blog and your style, it's quite unique!
    xXx,
    Johana

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  41. owen, it's me, emily.

    if you need help learning how to get all the cookies you want, just let me know. i will show you for free.

    sincerely,

    emily rabbit

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  42. Owen is too cute! Puppy classes are great fun, though it definitely takes alot of time for them to learn! Hope you get to nap when he does!x

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  43. Puppies are A LOT of work. It's deceptive how much work it can be. lol.

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xoxo lori