Some of you may think that this post is going to be a knitting lesson if you look at the picture............but trust me, it is not. What it is, is the beginning of what my day was going to be like....an omen you may say.
Seed stitch. love it.......hate it. As I sat down with my coffee this morning to work on the LL vest, after the dogs so graciously let me sleep past the "Crack O' Dawn", I noticed that I had knit where I should have purled and purled where I should have knit on the seed stitch border.....an easy mistake with seed stitch. Out comes the old reliable red plastic crochet hook that has had quite a work out lately. Note to self......."Self, wine and seed stitch are not good partners".
So after fixing my seed stitch and enjoying a quiet hour of knitting, I set about the day's business. Hannah was playing with the dogs in their sun room when I heard the call for MOOOOOM, come quick!!
Oh crap.... 2 of the dogs were in the midst of a serious fight! Now mind you, Cavaliers are the mildest mannered dogs that ever were, but they are still dogs. I only have 4 cavaliers currently, but Kali, my young b/t girl has been challenging one of the older dogs, who is what we call the "alpha" for a few months now. Usually the dogs will sort it out between themselves without any drama...however, that has not been the case with these girls. Two days ago, there was a minor fight, but today it was a full fledged fight of the scary variety. :(. Once 2 girls (yep...the girls are worse than the boys) fight, you can count on more fights of this type and it is unacceptable here. It breaks my heart that one of them is going to have to leave, but I can't risk one of them being hurt or even worse, one of the kids getting bitten accidentally while they are fighting.
Soooo.......after breaking up the fight, talking to a few breeder friends and resigning myself to the fact that I will have to place the younger dog, I took myself out shopping for a little spell....a stress reliever of sorts you might call it. It took my mind off of the dogs for a few minutes, and relieved the stress a little until ...........BANG........ Yep, a driver of the ski tourist variety slammed into the back of my car. Thankfully other than a good teeth grinding and a few dents, there was no harm, but oh my.........Ei Yi Yi.....what a freakin' day! Thankfully tomorrow, as Scarlett so aptly put it....is another day :-)
So sorry to hear about the troubles with the girls - I can't imagine breeding animals and having to part with them - Ii'm not strong enough. And the fender bender? I'm so glad to hear you're all right. But it doesn't sound like a happy day at all. Hope tomorrow is better!
Posted by: Cassie | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 09:49 PM
Yeah, I've been letting my new puppy play with the other male dog, but really try to keep him off my old girl. I'm afraid she'll just haul off and give it to him good. So far she's been very patient, but still, she could.
And I've felt challenged with three. Can't imagine handling four or six dogs - yet....
Posted by: donna | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 01:48 PM
Maybe you spoke too soon when you said this Christmas was the most relaxing in years. Sounds like all the chaos got saved up for this one day. Glad you were not hurt in the fender bender.
Posted by: Wool Winder | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Ugghh... Glad that you are not hurt, though. And let's face it - it can only get better from here!
Posted by: June | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Hugs!! Those days when lots piles up certainly suck. How heartbreaking for you about the dogs. We had some dominance fights here resulting in several bloody ears as well as a slashed leg requiring a trip to the emergency vet for stapling, so I know how serious those issues can be. I wish they had worked it out for you and hope today is better.
Posted by: Chris | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 09:18 AM
Yikes! Glad you're ok.
Posted by: Annie | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 08:53 AM
The only good thing is that today will HAVE to be better, right? Can't get much worse.....
Posted by: Anne | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 08:42 AM
That day sucks. SUCKS. The good news is that the other driver is at fault, and all you are out is hassle rather than $$.
Posted by: Laurie | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 06:52 AM
Awww... Kim, I'm so sorry! I can't believe you have to say goodbye to Kali! I was so looking forward to meeting her. That just sucks, Kim. I feel horrible.
Posted by: Jean | Friday, December 29, 2006 at 04:39 AM
Yikes - what a day. Tomorrow has to be better!
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 11:56 PM
Oh you poor thing. I don't like seed stitch because it takes me forever and I avoid it at all cost. It looks pretty though :) You're brave!
Posted by: Jen | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 10:53 PM
Girl dogs (you and I how they are called, but I don't want to get in trouble) are dominant and will not put up with anything if you happen to have two alphas. I have 6 dogs and THREE packs! The setter is by herself, she is not a fighter but there are two little ones (yorkies) that are alphas. They HAVE attacked the setter. I don't think she would ever do anything intentionally but she can just paw and brake their backs. One of the alphas lives with the other two girls, not a problem. The real alpha one lives with the only male. They are all in the house, is separate areas. We are very careful and never ever let them together in the same place. Not after the last fight that ended in an injured eye (not bad thankfully) and a very well bitten ME. It does brake your heart to have to separate them. But you found out the hard way that dog fights are not pretty or easy to end. Never pull or tug. Grab the closest one by the hind legs so she looses her balance and lets go of the grip. Then as fast as you can, pick her up! and let them both know who is the alpha.
Posted by: Laritza | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 10:53 PM
Boy, I'm glad my second dog is a boy. But then again my female Rosie is spayed and not an alpha. I'm sorry you'll have to place Kali. That must be hard, though necessary. Glad you weren't hurt in the fender bender. May tomorrow bring better things with it.
Posted by: Manise | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 10:18 PM
Geeeez, Kim. Isn't it fascinating that dogs are apparently just like people -- there is sometimes no rhyme or reason why two people just canNOT hit it off...apparently it's the same with canines.
Posted by: Norma | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 09:26 PM
Ugh. Sorry your day was crappy - I hope tomorrow is FANTASTIC!
Posted by: Cara | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 09:19 PM
what a rotten day! i hate dogfights.
Posted by: vanessa | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 09:19 PM
Oh boy. You did have a doozy of a day, poor dear.
Posted by: Carole | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 09:07 PM
That's awful news, Kim. Give me two scuffling boys over two scuffling girls any day. :(
Posted by: Beth | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 08:59 PM
What a day! So glad that you are okay.
Posted by: Kathy | Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 08:56 PM