Monday, September 15, 2008

Mist


My creation




It's been a while, since I last posted some spinning. I haven't had time to spin lately. I finished the first skein in the middle of June, and the second skein at the beginning of August.



This is 8oz of 40% merino, 60% bamboo, dyed and sold by A Piece of Vermont. Oh how I loved this colorway, and still do.


It was hard for me in the beginning to work with this fiber. As I was starting to tear it into strips, it drifted apart in my hands, like clouds. Or did it melt like butter? It frustrated me at first, but I had to change my outlook on this one. Before I handled wool, fine, and rough ones, and it can stand rougher handling quite well, not so this fiber. Needless to say, I got used to it, but this fiber wanted to be spun very thin, unbelievable thin. That's why after I finished the first 4oz, there was some time between getting started on the second half. Spinning thin takes forever, and while I enjoy spinning, looking at the same color for such a long time, I needed to spin something else in between, before going back and finish it up.


It came out as lace weight yarn, both skeins together ~ 1,407yds, which will make a lovely shawl someday.


Sam update: Sorry about the blurry picture. If I had a better one, I would have chosen that. That's typical of Sam right now. Holding up his leg, trying not to put pressure on it. It's the one he has this darn arthritis in. He's limping everyday, always, nothing seems to help him. Just yesterday I was thinking, that I'm getting used to seeing him limping, that it seems normal.

I guess because of the prednisone, he's got an anal gland infection as well. (as I understand it, taking this medication makes it easier for infections to take hold) The left anal gland was full of blood, last week at the vet's. He's on antibiotics now as well. After the treatment last Thursday, Sam was fine until Saturday, when his bum started to bother him again.

I'm so tired of it all. I want a healthy puppy, with which I can go for walks etc. It's unbelievable how fast he adapts to his life, how he enjoys going outside (of course he did always enjoy that), playing in the backyard, which for him means, limping outside, finding his ball, taking a pee or two, and lay down to chew on his red ball, listening, and looking around, sniffing the air.

Poor guy, why has he got the short end of the stick? One of the Vet's said:"He's got all the personality, none of the legs." And that's true. He's the best dog we've ever had.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

The yarn is lovely!! I just love the colours.

But reading about poor Sam (and you) makes me feel very sad. I am so sorry for both Sam and you. I wish there was something I could do that helped. The only thing I can do is sending good thoughts to you.

Maggie said...

Poor Sam. I know what it's like to worry about a beloved pet, and feel so frustrated.

The fibre is beautiful and the yarn is gorgeous! Such nice work. :)

Teresa said...

Aww..poor baby! Too bad there's not something you could rub on it. I know what it's like. My cat has had his fair share of injuries. He's got it (arthritis) in his hind leg.

The yarn is gorgeous! I've been lazy about my spinning. Running low on fiber and such, so..not really lazy, just apprehensive about spinning my last batch. Saving it for a rainy day and all that :D.

sgeddes said...

Both the yarn and Sam are beautiful! I hope Sam's spirits stay good- but he seems like a very happy go lucky kind of dog that will always have a good time.

picperfic said...

oh dear....poor Sam!

Your yarn is wonderful...I will make yarn like that one day!

momsue84 said...

So sorry for you and Sam. Life sure can throw us a curve once in awhile. I know it just kills you to see him in such pain. But so fortunate for him that he has you to care for him and love him despite his infirmities.

lexa said...

Love your yarn! It's gorgeous!

Poor Sam. I really feel for him cuz I get arthritis in my hands and arms, even my legs, and it's no fun. I can't imagine what a poor Doggy thinks about it.

Päivi, Lankakomero said...

I love the colours of your yarns, too. And this yarn is absolutely beautiful!

vanessa said...

your spinning is gorgeous!
poor puppy :-(

Penny said...

Holy cow, that yarn is gorgeous! I can only hope to someday spin half as good as that - I'm just learning, although I've put myself on a spinning hiatus after a frustrating experience with some superwash merino nearly 4 months ago.

shannon said...

am i correct in thinking he does not like the pool, or swimming? i would think that to get him swimming laps it would get him exercise that was less painful (but i'm no doctor/vet).

give him a snuggle from me.

bockstark.knits said...

oh my!!! so pretty and look at all that yardage!!!

Claudia Bugh said...

The yarn is beautiful and will indeed make a spectacular shawl.

I feel so bad for Sam.

Anonymous said...

The news about Sam is heartbreaking. I wish him pain-free days and I wish you strength.

As for the yarn, where do you find all the good stuff? It's lovely!

Anonymous said...

Das mit Sam ist schlimm, ich habe ja hier selber 2 Hunde (Hovawarte)und die Hündin hat auch ganz schlimm Athrose in den Hinterlaäufen, aber sie wird bald 14 Jahre alt.
Wir hatten auch Metacam, aber besser geholfen hat Rimadyl. Der Wirkstoff heißt Carprofen. Vielleicht einen Versuch wert!

LG Gudrun

CelticCastOn said...

Poor Sambo, I hope you get things sorted out for him, or the vet does I should say!!
Yummy yarn as usual :)

Tara said...

That yarn really is beautiful. Feels very romantic to me, somehow.

Sorry to hear about Sam's continuing issued. I hope he feels better soon.

Dreams of Yarn said...

oh my gosh that roving and yarn is stunning. I love those colors! you did an amazing job!

Anonymous said...

Mist is beautiful!

And Sam, be healthy!

hakucho said...

Awesome color yarn!

Poor Sam,....here's a hug for Sam and for you....{{HUG}} {{HUG}} Poor baby :(

Unknown said...

Ohhhhhhh WOW was what I said when the photos started coming up...

Sam - it's so sad when a wonderful pet gets a chronic problem. Wishing both of you well.

Anonymous said...

I love that yarn color as well. I have some bamboo fiber in my stash but I haven't tried spinning it yet.

Poor Sam! They do seem to adapt but it's never easy to see them hurting. I do hope this is all sorted out and he can be your loving dog that goes on walks again.

lookinout said...

I love the colours! & I send a good scratch and rub to Sam. Poor chap.
Gillian

Deborah Robson said...

Gorgeous spinning.

I'm sending good thoughts to Sam. One of our pups has had arthritis since she was about 6 (she's almost 14). We recently got her a stroller, so she can go for walks (hard to find one for a bigger dog, but we did). We also started massage and physical therapy--we're learning to do it ourselves. And have taken her for swimming therapy twice; not feasible when the weather turns, but hugely helpful. Scary, though, the first time, because she got out of the water and couldn't stand. Only about 4 minutes of swimming total, with a flotation vest on. Each time she went in, she got stronger.

I hope there is some trick like this for Sam. Every little bit does help, wherever it comes from. Give him pats for us.

weebug said...

that yarn is heavenly!

Anonymous said...

Hallo Monika,

dein Garn sieht super aus. Die Farbe ist klasse und die Weichheit kann ich fast fühlen.

Kann man deinen Sam denn nicht operieren? Arthritis ist ja oft dadurch bedingt, dass da Kalk im Gelenk ist. Und den kann man wegmachen. Hab ich an der Schulter bereits hinter mir und davor konnte ich nicht mehr stricken, jetzt kann ich es wieder.

Vor der OP hab ich es lange ohne OP versucht. Geholfen haben damals nur sehr starke Schmerzmittel. Diclophenac haben die geheißen. Gibts für Hunde solche starken Schmerzmittel nicht?
Warst du mit dem Hund schon in einer Tierklinik? Vielleicht hat eine Klinik mehr Möglichkeiten als ein Tierarzt.

Grüßle, die Bea

Susanne said...

Liebe Monika,
ich bin sehr traurig über Sam und seine Schmerzen, die er so tapfer aushält. Es tut mir auch um Dich leid, die vielen Sorgen, die Du Dir machst und das ganze Drumherum. Es trifft immer die Besten, möchte man da mal wieder sagen.
Die Idee von Shannon mit dem Schwimmen im Pool finde ich ganz faszinierend. Vielleicht ist das eine Idee? Ansonsten habe ich das Gefühl, dass der arme Sam mittlerweile zuviel unter Drogen steht. Da gibt es einfach zuviele unerwünschte Nebenwirkungen, wie Du auch berichtet hast. Aber was gibt es für Alternativen. Beim Menschen hilft Krankengymnastik und warme Kompressen mit Heilkräutern - zumindest bringt das Linderung bei den meisten. Ach, wenn ich Euch bloß helfen könnte. Ich drücke Euch beide ganz fest.
Liebe Grüße
Susanne

P.S.: Trotz allem möchte ich Dir sagen, dass Dein selbstgesponnenes Lacegarn einfach wunderwunderschön aussieht. Eine edle Mischung in umwerfenden Farben, die ich liebe.

Cloudberry said...

I'm so sorry to read about Sam!
I really wished for him to get better.

The yarn is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Thank you the lovely lace scarf patterns.

I have a White Shepherd Jake and a "pure bred brown dog" Emma.

Hope Sam is better soon.

Colleen

Angelika said...

Looking at that much blue, who can resist feeling that way, especially reading about poor Sam. You guys sure don't have it easy these days. Nevertheless, the yarn is beautiful.

Susie Hewer said...

What beautiful yarn!

Poor Sam, he looks such a beautiful dog. It is so sad when they are poorly and you can't rub it better.

Anonymous said...

Deine Wolle ist atemberaubend schön! Ich bin begeistert! Sie macht Lust aufs Spinnen, was ich schon eine ganze Weile nicht mehr gemacht habe.

Dass Du wegen Sam so traurig bist, Du Dir Sorgen machst, er Schmerzen hat - es tut mir sehr Leid, das zu lesen.

Für Euch beide alles Gute, Juli

Kris B said...

I absolutely love this yarn you made. It is beautiful.

I'm really sorry to hear that the meds aren't helping Sam. It is heart wrenching to think of what you both are going through. As always I'm sending good thoughts your way.

Knatolee said...

Oh poor Sam, I do hope he feels better soon. It must be so hard for you to see him hurting. It's tough watching our beloved doggies get older. Your dogs both look lovely.

I'm in love with the yarn you spun. Such ethereal colours. Sehr schön! (I'm dredging up my high-school German... did I get it right? Or even close? :))

Robin said...

That roving and handspun are fabulous! What a beautiful shade of blue. I love the finished yarn. Very very nice! I'm so sorry to hear about Sam. We had a German Shepherd who developed arthritis in her hind hips, too. Hope they do something to offer him some relief.