Bon Soir Sweet Girl

My little dog Daisy had not been well 
since this past holiday season.
At that time she was diagnosed with 
congestive heart failure.
And although she had many good days since then,
the bad days seemed to come 
more and more frequently lately.
Yesterday I made the decision it was 
time to let her go.
I was with her until the end
and she went very peacefully.

Today has been a day of remembering. 

I am remembering my 
constant walking companion of many years. 

 I cannot begin to tell you how many acquaintance 

I made on our walks because of Daisy. 

 I am remembering her love for her toys 

and how she lived for me to toss them

 into the next room 
so she could chase them down.

  I am remembering my constant evening companion, 

on her pillow snoozing and snoring 
at my feet as I knitted. 

    Most of all I am remembering 
her absolute favorite thing 

of lying on her back 
so I could give her long belly rubs.

Daisy keeping me company while I stripped wallpaper.

Let me be completely honest, 

Daisy was a high maintenance girl 

and could drive me absolutely nuts.  

She was a barker from the very beginning 

and I tried EVERYTHING to train her to not bark.  

It was a real compulsion with her. 
Once she started she could not stop.  

We did the training sessions at Pet Smart.  

We tried the ultrasonic anti barking device 

that emitted high frequency sounds 
only Daisy could hear.  

She wore an anti-bark collar for a while. 
She was on anti anxiety meds for a while.

  We got a calming pheromone atomizer.  

But still... she... barked.  

And she drove me crazy.

Daisy and her cousin, Chaos

But still…
she was my “Daisy-Doodle,
the Brown Noodle."

Daisy and her newest cousin, Cooper

She was my "Baby Girl." 
She was my "Pretty Girl." 

She was my “Sweet Girl.” 

But most of all 
she was my dog

and she will be missed.
Sweet dreams Sweet Girl.

Spring Has Sprung...

...according to the calendar at 
Buttermilk Cottage:

 December/January/February (Winter)

March/April/May (Spring)

June/July/August (Summer)

September/October/November (Fall)

So, we are in the midst of Spring!!!

All the pretty things popping out in

my yard and neighborhood

proves me right.

In another day or two 

I will be rich in daffodils,

my all time favorite flower.

I hit the jackpot when I bought

this house!

It has been a long while since I have blogged.

I have just come through the busiest time

for my business.

November through February

are always the most active months for me.

After doing a quick tally I see I managed 

to send out 379 orders during those months.

Many of those orders were for multiple items.

So, there has been a LOT of 

sewing and knitting 

going on around here.

With March has come a little

slow down, so I am using that time

to restock and make new things.

Yesterday was the first time in about

six months that I did no sewing at all.

Instead, I spent the day giving

Buttermilk Cottage

a bit of Spring cleaning.

Off came the slipcovers,

which were a bit on the grimy side.

I sprayed the worst spots

with stain remover and after

three loads of laundry...

...they were ready to be put back in place.

A rug at the front door also

got shampooed.

It's nice to get everything back in order

and know it's not only neat,

but CLEAN!

Did you notice my new chair,

or "the knitting chair"?

(I feel a little like Archie Bunker.)

All this cleaning reminds me

of another new purchase.

I just bought myself a 

faux Roomba.

Have you gotten on board with these yet?

Because of all the fiber work I do,

constant clumps of fuzz and

the ever shedding Daisy,

I have been wanting one

just for my office, kitchen

and the hallway that connects the two,

where the laundry is done,

(more lint).

I call the one I got

the "faux roomba"

because it is an off brand,

and I was not going to spend the

$300-$1000 you can spend on these things.

I only intend to use it for spot cleaning

in the rooms mentioned.

After doing a bit of investigating

and review reading

I found the one above.

I did not expect any bells and whistles,

especially since I only paid $100.00 for it.

But it does talk to me,

has a remote control 

and will even mop the floor,

although I probably will not be 

using it for that.

I have only had it for a few days,

but I think I am going to like it.

I have begun anticipating my 
spring and summer house project.
This year I hope to rework the front entry a bit.
I have already ordered a new front door.
I hope to have the porch covering
and railing redone and add 
new outdoor lights.

Something else I am anticipating
in the next couple of weeks
is a visit from my college roommate, Virginia
and another college friend, Marie, 
whom I've known since high school.
(Probably the motivation for all 
the cleaning this weekend!)
The three of us were part of a 
tight group of five 
during college, 
one of whom we have lost track of
and another who is not able to join us.
They will be here in mid March and 
I can promise there will be good times happening at
Buttermilk Cottage!

Happy Spring everyone!