DOT -- Deserted Dog Park

Yes, it rained the night before. Yes, the dog park was a muddy mess. Yes, it was threatening to rain again. But I didn't expect the dog park to be totally deserted on Saturday morning. For the first half hour we were there Lucy had the whole thing to herself!

This sign always makes me laugh. Lucy demonstrates proper "dog use" of the pond.

She's a natural-born swimmer.

Sitting pretty, waiting for me to throw the ball.

What a retriever!

Mud between her toes makes this girl smile.

A note on the fire hydrant: There are several scattered throughout the park. I was beginning to think that was just a myth, the story about dogs and fire hydrants. I'd never seen a dog "use" a fire hydrant in the park...until a few weeks ago. Hershey (yes, I know several of the dogs' names but not the parents' names) used the fire hydrant. So I guess it isn't a myth after all.

Another note: iPhone photos aren't bad at all!

DOT -- Art Car Parade (again)

Every year since we've had her, we've taken Lucy to the art car parade. She gets a lot of attention and many people (especially kids) want to pet her. This year I caught some blue beads and gave them to Lucy. Can you see them around her neck? Made her look quite festive, I think.

I am pretty sure this tennis-ball covered truck was her favorite entry.

I was intrigued by this Bug. It had a custom-fitted cozy made of crocheted afghan squares.

I highly recommend this parade!

What Came First?

There is that age old question: What came first? The chicken or the egg? I have no idea. However, ask me: What came first? The bluebird or the egg? The egg. Definitely the egg.

From these eggs came a flock of bluebirds. I think it's two boys and two girls.

I was lucky enough to have them visit my yard in Houston for a while before they migrated north. Cute little things, no?

Specific knitterly information about them can be found here on Ravelry if you are interested.

Bouquet of Flowers

I spent some time recently knitting a bouquet of flowers. These are actually Squash Blossom Bookmarks (Ravelry link) from the 2010 Knitting Calendar. They are fairly quick to make. I got lots of practice using DPNs and I am now really good at making i-cords.

These flowers are also a good way to use up small bits of yarn that are looking for a purpose in life.

The book they are resting on is Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. (Amazon link) I am really enjoying it.

May Day

Happy May Day! That's a holiday I don't think we celebrate nearly enough in the United States. Wouldn't it be fun to make cones, fill them with flowers, and leave them on the doorknobs of your friends and neighbors?

I recently participated in a spring swap in the Ravelry group Knitting and Tea and Cookies. Look what I received: a May Day cone filled with flowers complete with a butterfly on the handle.

I also got chai, tea, chocolate, and stitch markers.
Thank you, Costumatty in Pittsburgh!