We had our first hard frost last night. The Catalpa tree, always the last to lose its leaves, is shedding them at an alarming rate. The drive is covered in big, heart-shaped leaves. Piles of them. It’s time to say goodbye to the glorious colors of autumn and hunker down for the coming winter.
Happy November. I have a special spot in my heart for this month – the month of my birth. My birthday always hovers within a few days or a week of Thanksgiving. Since I usually feel like I’m somewhere in my late 30’s, the actual amount of years I will celebrate is always a bit shocking. After a sleepless night last night (for both of us), my husband looked around the living room this morning and said “The pack is aging. The wolves are circling the house saying, we can take them.” Scout is going to be 12 in December, a young 12, but 12 nonetheless. Riley’s age is a guess, but he’s probably around 9. And Don and I? Well, we’re young at heart. Cue Frank Sinatra.
I swiffer every day. I vacuum every day. I use a lint brush on the furniture almost every day. Then I sit here in the morning light and all I see is dog hair. Everywhere. See the white hair on the table? Thank you, Scout. We have two very hairy dogs here at MHC. In fact, our new Vet couldn’t believe how thick Riley’s undercoat is. And Scout: lots of fine cat-like hair that flies everywhere. Oh, and leaves. Riley seems to be a magnet for every fallen leaf in the yard. It’s as if he’s made of Velcro. But I forget it all when I see their sweet faces. Sort of.
It makes cleaning a challenge. And it makes crocheting a challenge. I seem to be picking long white hairs out of my stitches rather frequently. I suppose a part of Scout is in everything I crochet or knit! I’ve been hooking away while watching the World Series.
I think I’ve made it a bit too wide, though since Don and I usually sit together on the sofa, I’m aiming for something that can cover us both with room to spare. I love doing these scrappy ripple afghans because it’s such fun to play with color and texture. I’m rather liking this so far.
I’m off to swiffer.
OMG! I have a couple of those trees. The leaves are so ugly in the fall. And yes they are falling like snow.
Our dogs also are aging. Dosen’t it seem like they age so fast when they hit a certain year. Mine are 13 and 10, both border collies and they did their share of running. And think of it as, if there is hair, they are still with us! 8>)
Pattie @ On Hollyhock Farm
Pet hairs are a part of life, Claudia. Those of us that have them, would rather have the hair than not have the company of the dogs,cats or other creatures that have our hearts. I am always sprucing up the area before taking picture for my blog. I know just how you feel.
Love the colors in the new afghan. They will go well in your living room. I think that an afghan can be whatever size you want it to be. Keep up the good work.
Good Morning Claudia Sweetie…
What a beautiful Fall share. I love seeing everything go to sleep for the season. We don’t see that much here in the desert, everything stays pretty much the same, so I love it that you share.
Your critters are so beautiful, and even though we brush and brush some just shed with the seasons, and I think that is what is happening a Mockingbird Hill. A daily job for Mom and Dad. Gotta love them though don’t we?
I love your afghan,how beautiful the colors are. I love it. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Keep us posted sweet friend.
Hope you have a beautiful Monday. We are going to have another 90’s day here in the desert. Beautiful this time of year.
Many hugs and much love, Sherry
HAPPY NOVEMBER CLAUDIA, I LOVE NOVEMBER, THE COLD BRISK WEATHER, LOOKING FORWARD TO THANKSGIVING, THE PARADE, DELICIOUS FOOD, YELLOW MUMS, AND FAMILY. LOVE YOUR AFGHAN, NEVER DID THAT PATTERN, I LIKE IT A LOT, YOUR COLORS ARE PRETTY.
OH….DOGS HAIR, WE HAVE A GERMAN SHEPHERD, AND HE WILL SHED TOO. MUST SAY…
I LOVE YOUR SCOUT AND RILEY, THEY HAVE SUCH SWEET FACES. HAVE A NICE WEEK, AND I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE BETTER…YOU SOUND BETTER… :) RIZZI
Good morning Claudia….You look like a very talented crocheter! The extra dog hairs are just a little bit of personal embellishing on it, right? lol Someday after the furry ones are no longer with you you will find a few hairs and think of them with love! I have a fawn colored chihuahua and I can’t wear anything dark because it looks like I fell into a container of blonde dog hair! Trouble is, alot of my clothing is dark. Enjoy the day and the beginning of a new month! ~Hugs, Patti
Our Schnauzer doesn’t shed much, but he drags in every possible grass blade, leaf or twig — and usually right after I vacuum or sweep! He’s too sweet to scold, though.
The afghan looks so warm and cuddly for coming cold weather! We are watching the World Series, too. Hope our Rangers can pull out a few more wins!
Bentley brings in leaves every time he goes out. The vacuum is working overtime here too. But who cares? Our houses would feel so empty without our furry babies, so we’ll just keep vacuuming away. Good exercise don’t you think??? Love the afghan.
Lots of love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
I’m with Casey on this one. I have 2 dogs and 3 cats- and I am fighting the hair battle constantly. Seems not even 5 minutes after I vacuum there is a nice clump of hair on the rug waiting for me. I would never trade the love I get from them all for no hair though. Your afghan is going to be soo beautiful- I just love the colors so much ♥
I laughed reading the title, Claudia…sounds like LIFE! We always have lint rollers all around, as pugs are prolific shedders, and we even bought our carpet and sofa to match their hair LOL! Love the afghan~ the colors are great~ it has a fun modern look!
What a sweet, sweet post. So well-written!
Who cares about a little dog hair when you have such nice poochies?!
Enjoy every minute of your beautiful life, Claudia, and thank you so much for your kind comments on my blog! ♥
Bisous,
Sandy @ My Shabby Streamside Studio
http://myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com/
♥
I hear ya about the hair! We have a rough coat Jack Russell and a border collie mix and the two of them shed terribly. As far as the afghan, is it possible for one to be too big? I like to have something to snuggle under on cold nights and don’t like any part of my body hangin out, uncovered. Yours looks wonderful, I don’t crochet so I envy those of you who make such wonderful afghans! :) Happy November, Claudia!
Oh the good old ‘swiffer’…what did we ever do without it? Happy November Claudia!
Claudia,
Neat post! Your afghan is going to be beautiful. I need to get back to my projects. We got back to Florida Saturday. I shipped all my treasures back and they are all packed in styrofoam peanuts%#@*!!!*.
I am determined to unpack everything today so that I can start sewing, kniting, etc.. Happy birthday month!
Carol
The dogs are so pretty. Our Gracie doesn’t shed a whole lot… just enough to know we have a dog in the house.
Come and visit and I will give you some Max hair to put in your blanket for extra warmth.
XO, Mere
You know which picture I aDORe…. You are moving right along and what wonderfully fun and warm colors your are working with. So glad to see you pick up a fun winter past time again.
Kate
Aww, look at their sweet faces! They are so adorable. I’m sure you don’t mind picking their hair off of your new afghan…lol! By the way, I love the colors you used. Marshall says even a man could use that as a blanket. He’s saying that because we only have girly colored afghans!
Deanna :D
I can certainly relate to aging pets and pet hair everywhere! Our oldest German Shepherd turned 13 in July and since none of our previous Shepherds even made it to 12, we are taking things one day at a time.
I found an amazing product to drastically reduce the pet hair problem. If you have time, you can read about it here:
http://mycottageofbliss.blogspot.com/2009/08/furminator.html
We’ve added a 3rd German Shepherd (with long hair) to the family (and a Papillon) since I wrote that post so I can’t imagine life without a Furminator. It’s worth it’s weight in dog hair!
Love your afghan! I tried to learn to crochet years ago but for some reason, I could never master it :(
As you probably know, it’s still pretty summer-like here in the Tampa Bay area, but supposedly, some cooler temps are headed our way this weekend.
They are so sweet and you keep up with the hair so well. I know I would not swiffer or dust every day. For the den and bedrooms at our yellow house I picked out carpet the same color as the cat quite unintentionally. ♥O
My favorite tree to climb as a little girl was the Catalpa! Love your dogs and the afghan looks beautiful. You are so busy and yet find time to enjoy all. hugs, Kerrie
We are still green here, Claudia, but the grass is not growing as rapidly. A sure sign that fall is here. And the Rain Trees are in full bloom and gorgeous.
That is a beautiful large tree in your yard, and those are two gorgeous and very sweet pups, hair and all! My mother had the same issue with our collie. Mama ended up keeping sheets on the sofa and pulling them off when company came over. She washed those every day (or you ended up with mohair clothes), and she vacummed about three times a day. That was in the days before Swiffer. ;-)
Hope your back is feeling better. That afghan should be nice and toasty for you and Don, and it’s very pretty. Wish I could crawl under it for a nap. I am just totally exhausted from my looooooooong car trip, and it is taking some time for me to get around to visit everyone on the blogs. Normally, I can visit steadily, but I am just zapped of energy. Hopefully that will change as the week moves ahead.
Off to go vote in a few!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Years from now you will be cuddling under your pretty afghan and spot one of those stray hairs. You’re crocheting memories right into that blanket.
I seem to have almost as many leaves indoors as out. Any long haired dog has to bring a few in to share.
And pet hair in the crafts is far more well received than in one’s contribution to a pot luck dinner.
I think it adds a personal touch, shows it is hand made and really does make a blanket or shawl warmer.
I laughed so at what Don said! He’s a hoot! When I quilted, I usually had two dogs (long gone now) lying underneath my work. They’d snuggle up. They were part of every quilt. Gives it good karma and great memories.
Brenda
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us…our maple leaves are slowly coming down..still lots…it does make me sad when all are gone.
November Hugs. xoxo
As a mom to two long-haired, fluffy, white dogs, I know exactly what you’re talking about. I think I could make another long-haired white dog out of what I vacuum up every day. I love them, but any dogs I have in the future will be short haired and NOT white!
LOL-we always joke about the amount of dog hair thats probably in our lungs. There’s dog hair everwhere! Our Maxie is starting to show signs of getting older – he’s ten now. The most amazing thing is that he wants to go to his bed by 7-7:30pm. He used to not settle down until 9 or 10 before. Loud noises also bother him these days. He’s also a magnet for leaves – get’s them stuck in his busy tale somehow :)
Manuela