Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Amazoning ... September


My husband & my bank account will be happy about my Amazoning this month...

but be warned, I am placing an order today that will null & void all of that savings.

Anyways, for my Amazon orders this month, its just 2 things... seriously...2 things.

... but what 2 wonderful things I got this month.

Martha Stewart Crafts Knit & Weave Loom Kit



Since I started loom knitting, I have been looking for a loom with a tighter gauge.  In regular people speak, that means stitches that are tighter together.  This is perfect for that.  Plus, it comes apart & makes different shapes for different projects.  I loved it so much that I actually went out to Michael's & got another one.  Cheaper.  I ended up paying $28.00 for mine on Amazon - although right now, its marked down to $18.88 - WHAT?!?! That drives me nuts when they do that...  but I wanted to make sure I had more pegs if I lost some, & extra pieces to make even different shapes.


See - different shape looms with the same kit

I have one complaint though... the pegs slide out pretty easily.... while WORKING on a project.  Which is scary.  I'm constantly pressing them back in.  Its frustrating.

There is another loom that is out there that is more pricey, but I'm keeping an eye out for it to go on sale or to get a coupon for... or ask Santa for it :)

Here's the one I want... its beautiful


Long 14.75" Rectangular Long Loom


My other buy of the month?  Another loom.  This one is the one I made my first cowl with... & I love this loom... its just really long & now, I can make a loom to fit my needs & use chunky yarn with my Martha Stewart Loom.  BUTTTTTTTT... I do like that the pegs don't come out of this. So I will definitely be using it again.

Cowl I made with this loom

So not an exciting month for Amazoning...  but it made for a productive month for me.

& with everything that has happened with loosing Sydney, I keep saying that God brought looming into my life to save my sanity.  I have missed knitting so badly with my arm & it really keeps my mind busy & focused on something other then sulking in sadness.  So it may sound corny, but these 2 purchases?  Made a different in my world...

If you haven't ever loomed & are interested, you should do it.  Ask me any questions & I'll try to help. It's so stupid easy... I mean, STUUUPPPIIIIDDD ridiculously easy.   Someone asked me if they could do it.  I said a 6 month old baby could do it.

Check out YouTube & type in "Knit Loom" & just look at how simple.
Plus, normal looms are really cheap in stores.  Hobby Lobby & Michael's always have coupons too so it's worth it to get a loom & give it a try...

& then you can be like me & have a tote full of cowls & scarves to give away :)


Monday, September 29, 2014

The weekend that we just keep pressing on.....


We made it through the weekend...

I knew this was going to be a tough one.  Ricky avoids being at home at all costs because it just doesn't feel the same with Sydney gone, so I knew it was going to be hard on him to not have work to escape to.

Friday started with a kick in the gut when I got the phone call our babies ashes were at the vet to be picked up.  I will say, Faithful Companions was so kind & caring.  They called me on Thursday to let me know that they had Sydney with them, told me when she would be cremated & extended sympathies. I thought that was so kind.  They called me on Friday to let me know they would be delivering her ashes back to the vet by the afternoon for us to pick up.  I am grateful they took the time to keep me informed.  I stopped & got her ashes on the way home & was surprised when they had even made a clay mold with Sydney's paw print in it.

It even has her hair tucked in the clay...


I took it straight home & baked it so it would harden. I didn't want to mess it up in any way...

Bless Ricky's heart... he didn't want to see it... didn't even want to know I got Sydney's ashes. 

Saturday, I had a baby shower to go to & I felt bad leaving Ricky at home by himself & asked him to come with me but once he was home, he didn't want to leave.  He was too upset to get in the 'real world'... I understood totally....

But it was good for my heart to get out with my cousin & celebrate her upcoming baby.  It felt good to just get in the car & drive... & drive... & drive...

Goodness gracious - that shower was a long way from my home.  It was about an hour drive, but it was a beautiful day, so I had the windows down, wind blowing my hair & singing to my Chris Tomlin CD all the way.

I even felt like I hit the lottery when I found gas for $3.15 a gallon.  WHAT?  I felt like jumping up & down when I spent $50.00 on filling up my gas tank when its usually like $65.00 #winning

The shower was so nice.  I rarely get to see my cousin's 'other side' & they are just the cutest little family. I shouldn't say little. There are tons of them on that side.  I'm the 'little side'... about the only time the word 'little' can apply to me.  I'm the only girl cousin (first cousin) on Jasmine's side, so I had to represent! :)  Our other cousin - which I'm not sure which kinda cousin she is, she's my dad's cousin, so does that make her my 2nd cousin?  I get so confused... we'll just call her the AWESOME cousin.  Makes it easier.  It was just the 2 of us from Jasmine's dad side of the family.  It was great seeing her again though. We were able to sit & chat & catch up on the latest in the family & just talk about old times.  I love that lady.  I need to find more time to spend with her.


I ended up leaving the shower as a co-winner in a competition to make a baby out of play-doh.  I had no idea I could even be creative.... but look at my baby, complete with a baby bottle, a diaper, a belly button, a balloon that says, I love mom & even has hair that looks just like her momma's hair when she was born. I remember.. I was there.  The hair is what won it for me I believe :)


My momma always taught me I can't leave a shower unless I'm a winner of a game.  We take baby showers seriously.

Sunday, Ricky didn't go to church. He said he couldn't handle anyone saying anything to him about Sydney, so I went to Merge without him.  It was probably good he didn't go. I even teared up with hugs.

I was glad though he was ready to go out when I got home to get something to eat.  We both had to suck in the tears when Ricky prayed over our food & he said, "God, please let Sydney not miss us as much as we miss her"... we both just did that, tilt your head back so tears don't run out of your eye-kinda-move... oh mercy...

Heading home, Ricky said, this is what I hate the most. Going home to a house without her. 

Its tough... but we survived the first weekend without her.

Ricky had fantasy football to keep his mind busy on Sunday.

I had knitting to keep me going.   I keep saying its my therapy.  I think God brought my knit loom into my life just in time for me to keep my hands & mind busy.

I've made 3 cowls since Wednesday trying to keep myself from thinking too hard, too much...




Ricky asked me if I'm making them for Christmas & I tell him, that was the intent... until I finished them & I want to keep them all :)

Everyone's been asking me how the dogs have been.

With Zoe, its hard to tell - she's such a loner & always sticks to herself.
Harvey - I think he's too ADD & hyper to notice... although this morning, he got in the spot Sydney laid on the bed & he just pouted there this morning. I couldn't get him to play... totally not like Harvey.  I think he's realizing something is different....
Bruno is the one that shocks me.  Sydney never really had anything to do with him & he just is sad. He just shakes & follows me around & if I stop, he claws at me, wanting me to hold him.  I think he misses her presence... & I think he can feel our sadness.

But, as my life verse reminds me ... I look forward to what lies ahead.... we are pressing on. (Phil 3:13-14)

How was your weekend?
 
Did you make a play-doh baby?
 
What do you do to keep your mind busy?


Friday, September 26, 2014

I'm taking a sad day...

I was going to post something today...

Join in the Five on Friday link ups... something...

but I can't...


Heartache is still heavy.

I just wanted to say thank you for all the kind words, comments, texts, emails & prayers for Ricky & myself.

Yesterday totally 100% royally sucked going home to a house without our girl, & at 9:52 pm, I realized it was 24 hours we had been without her.

& even last night as I was going to bed, I thought to myself that Wednesday night was the first time ever in that house we went to bed without Sydney under the roof.

It's true.

We moved into that home with her.  She's never been away from us in that home.  We have never fell asleep without her there... all the other dogs have come since we've been in our home....that realization made me cry once again as I drifted to sleep.

Our home is different.

I know anyone else would think 3 dogs in a home is a lot...to us, it feels empty.



I know time will help. I know God heals broken hearts.  I just know today, I'm sad.  I know today, Ricky is sad.  The other dogs in the house are sad.

So yeah... no big fancy blog post... just chalk it up to a sad day.


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Our baby is gone... Sydney Louise Vincent


We are just devastated.... our home doesn't even feel the same.... it was especially quiet getting ready for work.  No need to carry Sydney around to her bed & make her comfortable for the day.  No need to carry her out to the bathroom before I left.  No need to nurse an aging dog.  ....

Our old girl is gone...



Having 14 years with this girl, you can imagine all the pictures I have of her. I could probably post a picture every day for a year & still not post them all...

I hate that when we got her, it wasn't easy to upload pictures.  Most of her puppy pictures are sitting in albums & not online anywhere.

14 years...

We had lost our last Aussie, Pandora, at the beginning of 2000 & we decided to hold off on getting another dog.  But by the end of the year we were ready. 

We had met up with an Aussie breeder & she took us in to see this puppy.  She was precious. She was playing with 2 of the breeder's kids so we just assumed it was their puppy.  Then the lady told us, This is the one for sale.  We both gasped.  She was so beautiful.  The breeder had to get rid of her because she was a 'misfit"... seriously... a misfit.  Why?  Because she had a white spot on her ear, so she 'was useless for show'... I'm not even joking - this is what the lady said to us.  Useless.

How Lord... how wrong that word could be to describe our Sydney.

We were happy to take this misfit & make her a part of our family.


She rode home in the floorboard of the car, in between Ricky's legs, scared to death.  That formed a bond between the two of them that is indescribable.  Whenever she was afraid, she would head right to Ricky.


Always, even in her old age, she wanted to be in Ricky's lap

My mom came over the day we got her & couldn't believe she had the Aussie butt as a 6 week old puppy.  But she had it.

She was the cutest little pup.

We named her Sydney since she was an Aussie & Louise was in honor of my mom & my mother in law who both have Louise as the middle name.  Hey, when you don't have children, you treat your pets like children... including using family names.


The first night home with her, Ricky said, "She's not sleeping in this bed" & made her an area next to the bed.  She was so sad being away from her home & cried all night long.  So in the middle of the night, guess who was in bed with us - right in between... & there she stayed our whole lives.

She loved TV... seriously LOVED TV.  She would watch it all the time.  Whenever we would leave her, we'd put it on Animal Planet & no kidding, we'd come home with her on the couch just watching it.

She loved Happy Meals.  All thanks to my mom.  When she was little, she would have to be let outside, & I would try & come home during lunch but on days I couldn't, my mom would ride over & let her out & spend time with her.  Every time she'd come, she'd bring a McDonalds Happy Meal.  Sydney knew the words "Happy Meal"... she loved her grandma.

She's seriously talking on the phone with Grandma here...

Sydney knew a LOT of words really... its bad when you have to spell around a dog.

She loved to play hide & seek with her daddy.  She was AMAZING at finding
him.  We would even go to a park that had trails & we'd let her run loose & he would hide in the woods, underneath leaf piles & she would track his scent down every time.   It gave her such joy when she would find him.

For 3 years, it was just the 3 of us....

Then we moved to Indiana...

Funny story - when we were moving, we locked her in a back room so she wouldn't get lost in the confusion - well she got out.  We were freaking out.  We were running the streets screaming her name.  Our neighbor across the street said as we went one direction, she went in the house... as we went in the house, she came out & went looking for us - we kept crossing paths.  We finally ran into each other & we never ever gave her a chance to run out again.

When we moved to Indiana, Sydney had never been around other dogs. so when we moved & our neighbors had dogs everywhere (which is why I wanted to buy this house) she was so unsure.  She went in the yard & all these dogs come running at her - she literally laid in the yard, submitted, rolled over & was so confused.... little did she know, those dogs would all be her best friends. I would just have to say their names & she would perk up & get excited to open the door to see them.  Sydney is the last of those original dogs with the neighbors... an era has ended...

But we ended up getting her a friend in Buffy.  As much as she loved the neighbors dogs, she wasn't sure when we bought a puppy home. It took awhile for her to warm up to Buffy, but her loving personality soon took on "momma" role & they were the best friends all the way up to Buffy passing away last September.


Praying God is merciful & these 2 are together again


Sydney was so smart... I mean, scary smart.  She would know when it was time for her daddy to leave & she would go find his socks and his shoes & take them & either make him chase her to get them...a fun game in her eyes... or she would take them & hide them.  Not even joking.  Hide his shoes, he can't go anywhere.

She was so jealous of her daddy too.  Anytime she saw me hugging Ricky, she would bark at me & if I would say, "My daddy" she would run & jump in between us, nosing her way to get to him.  It was the funniest thing. 

Ricky has truly lost one of the dearest things to love him in this world....

She'd watch him from the window whenever he was outside
Sydney also had a way of making her daddy move heaven & earth for her.  If Sydney wasn't happy, no body was happy.  I can't tell you how many times Ricky & I would go sit in recliners to watch a movie & here comes Sydney wanting in the recliner & Ricky ended up sitting on the floor while Sydney slept comfortable in a recliner all to herself.

Sydney loved having grandbabies run around the house.  It made her herding skills come in check.  Little ones?  of course they needed to be watched over. 



She was picky about people too.  She particularly didn't care for men, but she loved our friend Ryan.  She would see him & just wag her nub... same thing happened when she would see my mom, or Lindsay, Ricky's youngest daughter.  She actually knew them by name when I would say, Want to see Lindsay?  She would run to the door & wait to see her....

Sydney is the dog that has been there through the years... through so many moments in our lives, so many holidays.  She was with me when I was pregnant & lost those babies... when I cried... when I was sick. She was such a comfort. A best friend.

She never wanted to be alone...always wanted to take care of someone or something.




She slowed down as she got older... as dogs do...

& again, how smart she was, she would just stare are the hardwood floors in our house & refused to walk on them.  Our house has been covered in throw rugs for the past 2 years.  Something we were happy to do for our old girl.

I'm telling you - throw rugs everywhere

But when the limp came this past February first & we got the news that she had cancer.. you could have knocked the air out of us....
The day after we got the diagnosis of Bone cancer

& we were told we would be lucky to have her make it till April.

Let me tell you, this girl is one tough girl.  She showed the vet what she was made of making it all the way through Spring, all the way through Summer & into the first few days of Fall...

our fighter...


You saw the post that happened on Monday...

& we would have been happy to keep carrying her wherever she needed, given her the care she deserved... but you could tell she was so tired... that her body was giving out on her.

She was just sleeping more & more... & then Wednesday night, she sat up all night - I mean, ALL NIGHT, & barked & yelped.  Her breathing was different.  We couldn't do much to comfort her.  Ricky finally took her into the other room where no dogs where & put her in bed & she got a little bit of comfort rest....

but we knew it was getting near...

We both took the day off yesterday.  Spent it with her.  Ricky even put her in the wagon I got to carry my photo equipment & took her for walks.  She enjoyed it, but still didn't even lift her head... just watched the sky.  Even the neighbors dogs came over to see her & she just stared at them....



I took her to our favorite spot - the front porch & we sat out there for a few hours.  I don't know how I'll ever go back out there with a book & not miss her.  She turned into our old country dog....



I kept praying all day for God to give me a sign that this was the day...

It came for me when Ricky took her & put her in bed & we turned on Animal Planet again.  Raccoons & dogs were running across the screen... we got no reaction. Ricky told her to get them, which always starts up a bark.  Nothing.  Not even an ear perk.  Just staring.

We knew...

even though we 2nd guessed ourselves to the very moment where they came in with the needle.

I just can't believe she's gone...


Last night, walking back in our house & seeing her empty beds & pillows & rugs & how our house has been shifted to make her comfortable... & she's no longer there... oh my heart...

I kept hearing a dog drink water in our bedroom last night & my instinct was, don't let Sydney have too much or she'll get sick... & then I realized it was Zoe, & not Sydney .... & I realize how different life is doing to be for awhile....

Learning the new routine...

learning to adapt without our 'misfit'

How lonely it will be without her...

How broken hearted we are...

How thankful we are to have had her in our lives for so long. 

.... but all still sucks... even more then ever....

I told someone that having a dog you love this much is 99% wonderful & the end is only 1% ... but that 1% makes you miss the other 99% ... which is a lot of missing & heartache...

Sydney Louise, you were the best dog in the world.  There will never be another dog as wonderful as you, as smart as you, as caring as you.  You have touched our hearts in a special way & made us appreciate the gift we had in you for so many years.  You will be missed forever.  Momma loves you.

Keep watching for us baby girl... we'll see you soon

__________________

Be warned... I took a lot of pictures the past few weeks so I'll have a bunch more pictures of our beautiful Aussie....
 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

This just sucks....

Oh mercy... I don't even have much to say today because we're just heart broken in the Vincent house.

Our girl is nearing the end...

Yesterday, I got home from work & she was laying in between the patio doors & the enclosed room - laying right over the medal bar.  Well, that can't be comfortable.

So go to lift her up & she's just not acting right.  When you go down to lift her up, she's like a small child - she'll help lean into your arms or raise herself up so you can get underneath of her.  Not this time.

I took her in the yard & she just laid right now. I didn't think anything of it.

Sydney

I went & got my computer so I could do my work out outside & still be near her.  I'm working out & see her trying to get up, so I run over to help her... & she couldn't stand up.  Oh no... no no no no no no...

Ricky gets home & tries to get her to stand on her own... she can't do it.

We put a towel underneath of her & try to help her walk & we noticed her back leg wasn't working right either.  We don't know if she tripped over that medal piece in the patio door & hurt her back leg, or even her hip... but she can't stand now... much less walk.

Ricky said he just wanted to be alone with her for awhile...

He laid in the front yard with her & she put her head on his chest & fell asleep. 
Love


oh the feels....

We decided it was time to take her to the vet.

We load her up, take her to the park, which we did for Buffy... & she just got out of the car & laid - couldn't even stand there.

We hug & kiss her & put her back in the car & head to the vets...

& when we get there, Ricky puts her in the grass .... & then she stands up... even squats & pees!!!!! 

Where did this come from?

Ricky looked at me & said he couldn't go through with it today... not after she just did that. 

I didn't push Ricky either way.  He has to be 1000% sure of the decision that is being made to let her go, so we picked her back up & took her back home.

We covered her bed in puppy pads in case she needed to potty & couldn't get up, which is funny though because Ricky & I were up with her all night long.... hello iced coffee, my friend...

& Sydney loves TV & she barks at any animal on TV or anyone that runs or moves really fast.  So Ricky left the TV on football... a screen full of running men.  She barked in happiness all night long...

Today, we'll see what it holds.  If her back legs are better... if she can't move at all...

we just know this is nearing the end...

& it all sucks...

sorry to be so blunt.. no other words for it...



Monday, September 22, 2014

The weekend I survived busy overload....



I went into Friday getting off work with a little bit of a panic attack because my calendar was on overload.  That makes for a not-relaxing weekend, which is exactly what weekends should be.  By the way, what is a relaxing weekend?  I rarely get them so I'm not familiar...


Friday had me stopping at the grocery, which drives me nuts.  I honestly walk out with like 5 bags of groceries & its never below $100.00 ... Ricky always tells me it literally doesn't pay to eat healthy.

I ended up having the most relaxing time of the weekend Friday night when I sat next to Sydney all night & worked on my cowl I started when my dad was in the hospital on Wednesday.



I finished & was so excited... only to have Ricky sound asleep & missing the happiness of a finished product.

Thank goodness for social media that tells me they like my new cowl....

& for the record, I wasn't tired so I started a new one already... & as of this morning, I'll finish it either tonight or tomorrow... I'm a little obsessed.


Saturday had me trying to get some things done around the house  & loving on Sydney & checking on her to make sure she was comfortable. 

She isn't eating much at all now & we have to carry her from bed to bed.  She can get up, but she is wobbly on her legs so we just try & take out the possibilities of a fall that could cause more problems.  Plus, she knows she's spoiled ... she was out in the yard walking to go to the bathroom & Ricky went out to stand next to her to make sure she didn't fall.  When she saw him, she limped over to him & just basically leaped into his arms knowing he would carry her.  She knows we're going to take care of her...

This picture... oh my aching heart....

Then it was time for me to head out to a Senior Session with a young Ricky Vincent....

Honestly - this guy, once we got talking, cracked me up to see how many similarities he had to my husband.  He is a jam skater .... he works at Hollister & is all about their jeans ... he is a UK fan... he is a huge comic book fan & loves Batman...


I told him to come see my husband so he can see who he's going to be in 35 years.

It was great seeing this family again. I did their daughter's senior pictures & her prom pictures 2 years before & they said they were so excited that I was still doing pictures so I could capture their son's portraits.  I love meeting incredible families & having them return... its like a mini-reunion.

Saturday night had me trying to prepare for my youth lesson I was teaching the next day.  I had been running everywhere the past week with dad in the hospital, Sydney being sick, all things photography, I honestly didn't even look at my lesson till last minute.  I'm one who likes to be prepared WAY in advanced, so this was freaking me out to no end....


Ricky asked me to stop for a minute & watch a movie with him... which I knew he wouldn't make it through. He never makes it through a movie.  Old Man Syndrome catches up with him & he's snoozing about half way through & then wakes up at the end & acts like he saw the whole thing.  I'm just supposed to ignore all the snoring that was happening I guess.

But we watched Oz the Great & Powerful... a little behind, I know... but finally got to watch it. I wasn't too thrilled with it at the beginning, but loved how it ended.  Loved how they set it up for the Wizard of Oz....

Oz - The Great and Powerful Poster.jpg


Sunday had us at church & me teaching.

It all went better then I expected - thank you Jesus for giving me the words... but I was excited because I got to incorporate the time I volunteered at Ironman into my lesson.  How we need to serve others & show God in everything... it doesn't have to be a 'church' thing all the time. You can serve anywhere... & how the Bible refers to our lives being a race & how no one can get through without others helping them along the way.  It really did all work together...

As soon as church was over, I had to head up to grab my computer, my notepad & a wedding album & head to Starbucks.

Starbucks is my wedding central.

This could be me

I met with my next bride & groom whose wedding is in 3 weeks.  She is just so excited & bubbly.  Her groom is just laid back & smiles at her.  He has opinions of his own so he's not like, "Whatever"... but he says he has to stay calm... one of them has to.  Such a cute couple. Can't wait for their day.

As soon as they left, my last bride came to pick up her album & disk.  As soon as I saw her, I just got up & ran & hugged her. I literally love my brides.  It's so special being a part of their day.  I was so excited about her album too & couldn't wait for her to see it.  Plus, its always fun to go over the day again & laugh about fun memories & shrug off the bad things that happen.

Note to future brides - you do actually end up laughing off 'drama' of things that go wrong on a wedding day.  They are memory makers.

The bonus of meeting at Starbucks was they were having a Happy Hour of buy one get one free.  Chasity was with me so it was a perfect excuse to get 2 drinks.  We had heard for my awesome blog friend Katie to try pumpkin in a chai tea since I'm not a pumpkin latte fan... I know, I know... but let me tell you, this is probably the most amazing fall drink I could ever want to know about.  This could be dangerous.  Is it Peach Green Tea Lemonade dangerous?  That is yet to be seen.



I left Starbucks & headed to meet Ricky at Sam's Club to pick up some things I forgot the week before... & then got home & remember I forgot toilet paper... once again.  GAAWWW!

& then it was time to wrap up the weekend...

& by wrap up the weekend, I mean sitting in front of the computer editing pictures till 10:00pm ...

Whew... I'm exhausted.

But I guess that's what weekends are about.  Keeping life going.

How was your weekend?
 
 

Social Media World

Come Follow Me