Achy joints

I attended a lecture last night about DJD (arthritis) in dogs and cats. It was sponsored by one of the big food companies. They have just come out with a feline mobility diet that contains "nutriceticals" like glucosamine, chondrotin, and fish oils. They have studies to prove that these products actually do help arthritic cats and dogs.

This is not earth shattering news. I've been recommending them since I started practicing holistic medicine - at least 15 years now. The first time I suggested glucosamine, I wrote it down for a client but ask her not to tell anyone I'd recommended it - it was considered anecdotal and unproven - my professional reputation could have been compromised. That was many years ago, I worry a lot less about my reputation these days.

I'm fortunate right now. Nudge is young and healthy and very active, but I can see that with all the jumping and twisting and turning he does while at a full gallop, the day will come when he will suffer, with sore joints as most of our older pets do.

I really did feel encouraged last night to hear that conventional medicine is now recommending not only natural products, but also acupuncture, chiropractic and physiotherapy for these old friends.

Many dogs benefit from underwater treadmills or "hydrotherapy". There is a great clinic in town that offers this. But what amazed me was the recommendation that cats might also benefit this treatment. Cats? I'm not convinced, although if you check on You-tube you will find quite a few videos of kitties tolerating, if not enjoying this type of therapy.

My experience of cats and water has not been as benign. When I was about eight years old I decided, early one Saturday morning, to give my kitty - Tiger a bath. If you ever have the inclination do not fill the tub and try to put the kitty into it. I had to wear long sleeves and hide my mutilated arms from my mother for the next month. For years I wondered what on earth possessed me to try and bath a cat - one that was not dirty in anyway. It was only when I was an adult and packing up my Mom's house that I discovered an old booklet that had come from the pet store with Tiger. In it are detailed instructions on cat bathing. I'm ashamed to say, but even now when I look at the wet cat wrapped in a towel, my heart softens and I laugh inappropriately. I suspect I wanted Tiger to look just as cute as the one pictured in the book.

Today, I am owned by three older kitties. Tumbleweed is sore. I see it when he climbs the stairs. Still, it is my educated guess that he would prefer massage therapy, naps in the sun, and fish oils - preferably in the form of a can of salmon over being dunked into a tub of water, to ease his achy joints.

Quadra Island Colours

During the Retreat I treated myself to some yarn - of course I did.

I couldn't resist this colourway - simply called Quadra Island. It is by Lorna's Laces www.lornaslaces.net and dyed especially for Fun Knits. It captures the Island beautifully.

(picture from Quadra Island Tourism web site)

Knitting Retreat

A fantastic weekend. My brain is full.

The Retreat was sponsored by the Fun Knits Yarn Shop on Quadra Island http://www.funknits.com/ It is a great yarn shop. Shelly and Linda who own it are knowledgeable and helpful, not to mention very nice. They hold knitting Retreats at Tsa-Kwa-Luten a couple of times a year. The lodge is indeed a magical place and the meals excellent. It is not only my brain that is full.

Margaret Radcliffe http://www.maggiesrags.com/ was our instructor for 3 days of fantastic, uninterrupted knitting. I know more ways to finish seams perfectly now, than I'd even imagined were possible. This may seem trivial to non-knitters, but there is nothing sadder than spending weeks making a exquisitely knit sweater from an luxurious yarn - imagining how wonderful it will look on, anticipating years of satisfaction wearing it, only to find it looks amateurish because the pieces just would not sew together nicely. Well thanks to Margaret, this won't happen to any of the women who attended this years Retreat. All of us were experienced knitters - all had been knitting since childhood. One of the most fun aspects of a workshop like this, is simply seeing the fantastic handknits the participants are wearing. I was constantly sighing and asking if I could touch someones sweater.

In order to put our newly learned seaming and embellishing techniques to work, some of us made sweaters for these bears. Very cute!

Homework

Tomorrow I leave for a four day knitting retreat and workshop at Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge on Quadra Island. The workshops include such topics as finishing techniques and making perfect seams. Friday is devoted to working with luxury yarns - silk, cotton, alpaca, camel, dog.... I suppose it is possible, I'll be the only participant with dog.

Just over a week ago a big package of yarn arrived in the mail. It was our homework -15 or more squares need to be knit before we arrive. I was delighted. I knew I'd love this homework and envisioned all my co-ordinated, neatly pressed and labeled squares being packed and ready to go.

It is 11:00 PM. I have not started packing. My squares are neither labelled, pressed or even finished. I am in fact feeling a wee bit frazzled. But I just sat down a re-read the handout that came with the homework.

"Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge http://www.capemudgeresort.bc.ca/ is a magical place where legends live in a land of salmon, eagles, killer whales, soaring mountain peaks, swirling tidal waters and lush evergreen forests. The rooms feature ocean views of the Discovery Passage and there is a sauna and hot tub. "

And my schedule for tomorrow. "Check-in, check out the lodge, meet people, knit, dinner, knit."
It sounds heavenly doesn't it.

Pictures next week......

Underwater Beauty

With the relatives here, we finally made a visit to the Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney. The aquariums feature a fascinating assortment of our local, underwater neighbours , including prickly sea urchins, all varieties and colours of starfish, delicate shrimp, flower-like anemones and exotically, beautiful jellyfish.
My favourite was this ancient looking Wolf-eel. Apparently he isn't really and eel – more of a longish fish. His face just oozes character. Apparently, young Wolf-eels live close to the surface of the water and as they age they descend to live at lower levels. They mate for life and protect their eggs until the young hatch. Some grow up to 8 feet long and weigh 40 pounds. That is pretty big for a fish with long canine teeth!
Eventually, old Wolf-eels find a comfortable crevice in a rock on the bottom of the ocean, move in and stay curled up there for the rest of their lives.
I'm always amazed and delighted when I find a species so completely different from us – yet at some level, maybe his appearance - a vaguly familar jawline or simply the commonality of old age that reminds me that we are all connected.

A Lovely Afternoon

Jon Katz www.bedlamfarm.com/blog has been writing lately about the strong spiritual connection he believes exists between women and dogs.

I believe this also and yesterday was definitely a celebration of these connections. Lorna and I hosted a group of wonderful women. I spoke mostly about home-prepared, raw diets for pets. We talked about our own dogs and cats - those that are with us now and those who have passed on, but are still fondly remembered.

Joan told us about Cat's Cradle - a local animal rescue organization. We ate decedent organic-chocolate dipped strawberries and dates and everyone felt my soft, furry Spirit Baskets and Medicine Bags.

Lorna ended with a Body Talk session for all. http://www.personalglow.com/

There was both laughter and a few tears. Animals do that - we connect to them, and through our shared love, we connect to each other. There are two types of people - those who get this and those who don't. It was great to spend an afternoon with a group of kindred spirits.

And now - back to more mundane tasks. Peter's sister and her husband arrive this afternoon. They are coming from Winnipeg and will stay with us for two weeks. I have exactly two hours to clean the house and stock up on groceries.......

In Disgrace

Guess who will not be attending Dog and Cat Day?

Nudge was supposed to be my helper - I planned to demonstrate some acupressure points on him, and of course he is a great example of a healthy, raw-fed dog. This morning Nudge and I went over to Lorna's for a trial run. I wanted to make sure my slides work on her computer - they do. I thought it might be good for Nudge to get used to a strange house so he wouldn't be overly excited tomorrow.
Nudge pooped on Lorna's carpet. Yes he did. He has never, ever done such a thing - well maybe when he was an eight-week old puppy, but even then only once. I was horrified. Then he bounced on and off Lorna's lovely sofa (he is allowed at home - so I can't blame him for that), but still it wasn't very good behaviour, so we let him out in the fenced yard. Nudge loved this - lots of room to run at top speed -while Lorna and I went back into the house and closed the screen door. Well you can see what is coming next. Still at top speed, and never having encountered a screen door before, the poor little dog hit the screen head first and bounced back a foot or so. He had such a shocked look on his small face. Try as I might I couldn't help laughing.

Tomorrow, Nudge stays at home with a big Kong, stuffed with frozen pumpkin and cream-cheese.



The medicine bags are finished. This one is from a Samoyed Dog.

Getting Ready for Cat and Dog Day

On Thursday, I am giving a presentation at Dog and Cat Day. This will be an afternoon devoted to celebrating our pets. I'm doing it in conjunction with my friend Lorna. Lorna is a Body Talk practitioner. I will talk about my holistic practice, raw food diets and acupuncture. Lorna is planning a distance Body Talk session for all.

I've spent the last few days busily working on slides for my talk. I also want to bring samples of my Spirit Baskets and some Medicine Bags, to show the lovely creations that can be made from pet hair - at least that is my plan - if I get them finished in time.


Partially finished Medicine Bags drying in the afternoon sun

Lining the Nest

Today feels like spring - at last. The early mornings are alive with bird song now. Soon nests will be popping up in the trees around our home. I especially love the hummingbirds. We are blessed, here on Vancouver Island, to have Anna's hummingbirds. They overwinter with us. Because of this, I know the little ones who frequent my feeder pretty well. Each year they raise their young somewhere close by. I haven't yet found one of their thimble-sized nests, but I keep hunting for one.

A friend told me that one lovely spring day, a few years back she sat outside with her wheel and spun up some soft, pink mohair. That autumn, she found an abandoned robin's nest and was surprised to see pink inside of it. On close inspection, she realized that the smooth, round nest was neatly lined with her pink mohair - bits must have drifted off while she had been spinning in the spring. I love this story and so every spring now, I stuff the winter suet feeder with tufts of fibre.

Today I put out the rest of Arran's hair - the bits that pulled apart and reverted to fluff during the knitting. Perhaps this year, the tiny, hummer babies will hatch into the softness of Arran's fluff. Its a good way to start out in the world - in a fur lined nest.

What gives Dogs Nightmares?

It is Nudge's responsibility to alert us to any unusual and possibly dangerous goings on in the house. Or so he thinks, and he works hard at this job.
His ideas of danger and ours are not always the same. Rabbits in the yard, a robin on the deck or heaven forbid a cat that doesn't belong to him on the street can send him into a frenzy.
Last night, Peter was working in the spare bedroom - a place where Nudge rarely goes.I heard a low growl and then shrill, "alert! this is serious people - come now" barking.
In all fairness, this paisley cat has a slightly more animated pose than our three, mostly sleepy ones do.

Arran

Arran started life as a potential Canadian Guide Dog for the Blind. She spent her puppy-hood with a local couple - Doug and Marian. I have always admired the people who raise these puppies, during the first year of their lives. I can't imagine how hard it would be to welcome a 8-week old puppy into your home, love her for a year and then send her off. It must be heart wrenching. Still it is such an important undertaking – these dogs completely change the lives of the visually-impaired people they are placed with. I've been a vet to several of these very special working dogs and know first hand the deep bonds that form.

Arran's destiny was elsewhere however. She didn't qualify for the Guide Dog program as it was discovered she had hip-dysplasia and so happily she came back to live out her years with Doug and Marian.

Arran was an very intelligent and active youngster - “a step beyond crazy” is how Marian described Arran's fondness for everyone she met, both people and other dogs. She was bred to be a working dog, and it was obvious she needed a job. Doug contacted P.A.T.S. - The Pacific Animal Therapy Society and Arran's new career of visiting patients in hospitals began.

Marian and Doug told me a story about Arran that highlights the fantastic service, therapy dogs provide. Many times a visit from a dog to a patient, confined to a hospital for an extended time is the bright spot in that persons day.

This is how Marian described one of Arran's visits:
“ Arran and Doug were visiting the local hospital extended care facility once a week. Like all staff and volunteers Arran wore a photo ID card. Hers said “Pet Therapy”. Doug's said “Volunteer”. I guess we know who was the professional. Arran had her “regular” visits, but often passed through the dining room looking for anyone who showed interest.
One day, there was a woman in a wheelchair facing the window. The woman was howling. Arran immediately made a bee line to her. The woman did not react, so Arran laid her head in the woman’s lap. The woman stopped howling and began to stroke Arran’s head. This attracted the attention of the nurse in the dining room. After several minutes, the woman looked at Doug and said “I used to have dogs just like this”. A short conversation followed. The woman was smiling when Doug and Arran left.
The nurse now approached Doug and said “Wow! That’s the first time she stopped howling. We didn’t think she could talk!”

Arran has retired now and spends her days relaxing, going for walks, eating (she is a lab!) and even traveling with Doug and Marian in the RV.

This is the spirit basket I made to celebrate her life.


I was so happy with the way the short, lab hair spun, but it didn't knit easily. It pulled apart at the slightest touch. The basket is smaller than I'd hoped, but I love the way the basket looks and feels – sweet and very soft – like Arran.

I have no idea how I did it - finally!

Of course I didn't take a break - I kept on and on and on - with no success. We had left-overs for dinner. At the last minute I broke away and went to my Monday evening spinning group. I complained about the hard time I was having uploading my banner. I'm not sure anyone knew what I was talking about, but they humored me - agreeing that computers can and often do frustrate one to the point of tears.
This morning I sat down at the same computer, opened the same program and did exactly what I'd done 150 times yesterday. And yes I do know the definition of insanity but I just had to try - just one more time.
It worked perfectly and I had my banner in place within 30 seconds.
What on earth happened? Either my brain or the computer's brain changed something during the night.

To see my Etsy store and my beautiful banner you can click on the image to the right.


Nudge is relieved. No more waiting. He can get back to the important things in life like playing ball.

Computer Woe's

Today I planned to set up my Etsy store. A friend told me it was a "snap - just follow the tutorials and you will be up in no time".
Hmm - it has been five hours now and I still am not pleased with my banner. The banner is step one of many. I have made at least 30 wonderful banners today, but I have not been able to shrink them to the required 760 x 100 pixels. I got close on the last one - but if the letters are the right size Nudge's face is wide and flat. If Nudge looks like a normal dog, the letters come out teeny, weensy and unreadable.
Here is the one I liked the best, but it is way, way too big apparently.


It is time to take a break. I just yelled, rather shrilly at Nudge, "get out of that litter or you are going to get it...."
Nudge wasn't in the litter - Cecil was, as he should have been. Now I've probably scared him from using the box for the next few days.
On a more positive note, after only two tries, I made a perfect bead with Arran's picture on it. Her basket is made and ready to decorate.

The Etsy store is coming......

A Blustery Day

Yesterday was Good Friday - Peter had the day off. We had plans for hiking and gardening but instead we were forced inside by the wild, windy weather. It howled outside, the huge trees in our yard danced, shaking out their winter-dead branches. The power blinked on and off. It was a great day for a fire in the wood stove, french onion soup and homemade bread - and breaking into my secret chocolate stash.


I spent the day sorting newly washed dog hair, spinning and knitting. Pictures of the knitting to come.......


Tumbleweed enjoying the day.

A Challenge

A few weeks ago, to promote my dog and cat knits, I had a draw for a pet Spirit Basket. The woman who won emailed me to let me know she thought the baskets were "awesome". Needless to say I was thrilled.
Her dog Arran, is a yellow lab. Labs are not noted for their plush, woolly coats. I didn't think it would be possible to spin the hair of a lab, but Marian assured me that she did get fluff when Arran was brushed.
I picked up a big bag of Arran's fluff earlier this week. The fibres were about 1/4 of an inch long. After struggling for an hour or so I got the hang of working with it and to my amazement Arran's hair spun into quite a beautiful and fuzzy yarn. I'll knit her basket this weekend and write more about this special dog.

Arran's yarn drying in the Garden