“C” is for…

chickens and that’s good enough for me.

-sung in the style of Cookie Monster.

Adam has found true love, a good cluck, a good lay…he’s found his hens. It is my great pleasure to introduce to the world the newest family members of the Sparks clan.

Marie Antoinette, Lady Jane Grey, Mary Queen of Scots, Catherine Howard, and Anne Bolelyn are two month old Welsummer/Orpington chickens that arrived at Coop Sparks yesterday. It took me a great while to really be “into the idea” of having chickens, based mostly on the poop I know comes with them and the vermin that like their food too. However, I know I won’t be dealing with shit or rats unless Adam is abducted by aliens and so I am so excited to have these ladies around.

Meanwhile, I am also loving Adam’s enthusiasm over my names for the chickens. I do have a sick sense of humor.

Here are our petite poulet!

Adam has been working diligently on researching chickens and building a hen house. Consequently, our vehicles received some hail damage from a storm a couple of weeks ago because the chicken coop was happily parked in our garage. Here you can see Adam has designed the coop to look similar to our house. FYI Adam hates this picture I took. Sorry Adam.

So far the kids have enjoyed feeding their new pets worms and caterpillars. Sage wasn’t too sure he wanted to hold a hen, but after seeing his little sister rise to the challenge he swallowed his fear and held his favorite Welsummer mix chicken, Catherine.

Posh is very interested in the chickens, but she is such a good girl and hasn’t shown the slightest bit of aggression or prey instinct. Supposedly Havanese were once bred to be chicken herding dogs, so in the next couple of months when we let the ladies out to free range, we will be sure to update you all on her chicken herding ability. So far she loves to rest under the coop, and peek in the door when I feed the hens. She hasn’t barked at them at all. Here is my youngest child with her new “sisters.”

Etsy Your Heart Out…

I remember how in love I once was with Ebay. I thought “Man you can type in the word ‘fart’ and find something.”

Well, I’ve a new lover ladies and gentlemen. We met a couple years ago, but I finally took the plunge and purchased my first Etsy.com hand silk-screened tee.

Yes, I realize I’m now wearing crazy dog lady garb. If the shoe fits…okay, I’ve lost it.

Petflys-It’s How Posh Rolls…

Nothing but the best for my little Posh princess…I buckle her safely in her Petflys carrier in the backseat of the car and we’re on our way. We were stylin’ in the plane on our way to sunny Arizona. Posh didn’t make a peep, and this carrier slid easily under the seat.

I can’t say enough kind things about this rockin’ company. Check it out pet lovers with attitude. You’ll be one happy camper. Rock on Tammy and Monkey Boy, you got a good thang goin’.

Miss Posh

A quick update of the queen bee. She is now an agility dog! Every Tuesday she and I go to “dog school” and it’s a blast!

Here are some pics of the princess.

Humilation in the Knitty-est Form

How could I resist knitting a dog sweater for Posh? She didn’t put up a fuss when I slipped it over her head. But the look on her face tells me how she really feels.

Although, it did seem to serve a purpose as she seemed to have more fun in the snow since the last time I took her out “au natural.” I’ve also inherited a cute little pink waterproof “vest” that seems a bit more practical than this sweater. It was a peach to knit this. I think I’ll do another one soon, and perhaps incorporate a little Cuban something…

I used up some scraps I had sitting in my stash bucket that Violet liked. I think it turned out “spicy.” Here are some more photos of little Miss Spice Girl Posh.

Snow Day

Today was one of those Winter days where the snow blankets the ground and tucks one in the silence only fresh snowflakes bring.

We all overslept.

I awoke in Violet’s bed, Sage pleasantly snoring above Violet and me in his lofted bed, the alarm clock near my and Adam’s bed crowing. Adam had fallen asleep at the computer wheel last night, and woke up on the couch in the wonderful “oh shit! I’ve overslept” mode that no one wants to find themselves in.

He wouldn’t be driving Sage to school today. I looked outside at the steady falling snow, and thought, “Neither am I.”

When I was six months pregnant with Violet I was in a bad car accident about a mile from our house. On my way to a prenatal appointment, feeling secure in my four wheel drive car, I headed down the snowy county road to town. Going only about 35 miles per hour, I was “sucked” down into the ditch and hit an extremely large oak tree head on. The airbag went off, my car was totaled and I have since suffered “panic attacks” driving in the snow. Not good when you live in Minnesota. Meanwhile, I have a love/hate relationship with that white precipitation. I love watching it fall whist listening to Rufus Wainwright and baking cookies, sipping spiked egg-nog, and playing board games with the kids. I love walking in the woods near our house on a fresh snow day, enveloping myself in the quiet and reflecting on what is really valuable in my life. I love a white Christmas. I love how the snow masks all the shit I neglected to clean up in the yard. But, I hate hate hate driving in ANY kind of snow.

I’m a big wimp.

I have too many people in my life that need me to take risks when it comes to safety, and so today, Sage and Violet stayed home with Mom. A little bit of an impromptu “snow day.”

It was lovely. One of those days that I think will have a lasting impression on Sage, and yet I can’t fast forward to know what he’ll really value from his childhood. However, I remember days when my parents took me out of my normal schedule and took me to “the big city” to see a play, or go to a museum and those moments are cherished treasures.

Sage started his snow day by playing outside for over an hour. I decided that television would not be an option until the school day had finished. So, I asked him if he would like to learn to knit today. A few weeks ago he had asked me, and of course this warmed my heart. Sage is a fast learner. He decided he didn’t want to learn by making squares, or a scarf, and that what he really was interested in was making a hat. Since I learned to knit “in the round” making a hat as my very first project whilst studying in Scotland for a semester, I thought it would make sense that he learn this way too. We looked through my stash and he picked out some lovely purple wool Grandma Jayne brought back from Canada. It’s a nice 4 ply worsted weight yarn that won’t fray while he learns, is soft on his hands, and he it’s not too dark so he can see what he’s doing. He is a natural. Honestly, I can’t believe how easily he has picked this up and it’s wonderful to see him quiet and still and focused. Tonight he was knitting while watching a movie, knitting while listening to bedtime stories, and he asked me if he could knit in the car on the way to school. The apple sure doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Violet cracks me up. The temperature has hovered around the teens for the last couple of days, and we never keep our thermostat over 64 degrees, and yet she is running around in summer dresses and bikinis. She is my little furnace. I’ve started putting some Christmas decorations up, and the stockings have been “hung with care in hopes of St. Nick…” Violet is always looking for new “accessories” and is a big fan of knee high socks.

Posh’s potty training reminds me of my old days as a smoker, taking seven minute breaks every two hours or so. During those cigarette breaks ideas mingled with smoke rings. Now, I still find my thoughts wondering as I follow Posh looking for yellow snow and poopy piles. Meanwhile, I’m taken back to the days I would freeze my ass off just for one more drag. Sometimes I yearn for that “heat grate” outside the St. Olaf student center. It would be nice to sit down and wait for her to do “her business.” Last week I brought a beer to have with my “cigarette.”

She’s way cuter than a cigarette, smells better, and is good for my health, so I’ll put up with the cold and watch her “go potty” until she gets it down. Lately, she only has poopy accidents, and honestly after having a great dane, picking up turd the size of Lincoln Log really isn’t a big deal.

On Saturday we were able to have a brief, but lovely visit with my good friend Pam, her almost 4 year old son Emmett, and Pam’s amazing mother Debbie. Pam’s visits are always too short. Adam states my feelings exactly every time we say goodbye, “It’s a shame you live so far away from each other.”

Pam is my favorite person to knit for. I was dying to give her a sweater I had knit for her from a 1962 issue of Vogue Knitting. I think I started knitting this for her last March. Everyone who saw the color and the pattern looked at me cross-ways. No one trusted that it would work out, but I had faith and I think that the color x the pattern = modern meets vintage.

I’m not so good at finishing my projects, hello common knitting problem, and so the pockets weren’t totally done, but Pam’s mom is a retired Home Economics teacher and she said she’d sew them for me. Yay!

I had to have Adam snap a picture of the two of us together.

Emmett also modeled the sweater I knit him for his third birthday. He looked damn adorable, as you can see below. For both sweaters I used my favorite Merino wool from Uraguay, Malibrigo.

I haven’t been knitting lately, even Adam has noticed my lack of yarn…I’ve been reading! Imagine that?! I just finished Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams. I absolutely loved it!!! Now, because I’m kind of dog obsessed I’m reading John Katz’s Good Dog.

I think I may have to try and knit while I read, Posh needs a sweater. ‘Cause baby, it’s cold outside.

Spice Girl

Look out world the Sparks’ Family has it’s own Spice Girl and she’s rocking the Casbah!Introducing Picosa’s Posh Panache, or Posh, Poshy, Poopy, Posh Puppy, Little Girl, Honey, these are just some of the names we are calling the newest member of our family!I picked up Posh on Tuesday from the wonderful Char Renslow, to whom I am forever grateful. She is part of an amazing trio of breeders who are dedicated to the integrity of the breed. They really love their dogs and are unselfishly honest, committed, and put the best interest of this incredible breed first.I thought it would be fun to include some pictures of Posh’s parents.This is her “playful” mommy, Ch. Picosa’s Simply Irresistible “Godiva.”This is her daddy, Ch. Jefe’s Reason to Rumba “Rico”I contacted Char way back in July about meeting a Havanese ” in the flesh” and attending one of the Open Houses she, (along with Carol Krueger of Jefe Havanese and Mary Ellen Vickery of Deja Havanese) hosts each month. Char emailed me with an invitation to attend their next information night held on a Sunday night in August.I barely made it to that Open House. I left late, as usual, and got lost on my way. I think I walked in with 15 minutes or so left. My hosts were awesome and I think I stayed, along with others, for maybe an hour or so? You can read about it in my previous post, Have to Have a Havanese, if you are really aching for the details…Anyway, I remember noticing a little brindle puppy Char’s eleven year old son was playing “fetch” with. She looked to be about ten weeks old or less, but Char told us that she was on the small side and that she was really about three months old. She was adorable. I tried to get a picture of her, and she was just having too much fun, the picture turned out totally blurry. I felt a connection with her right away. I even remember thinking, “Well, of course the breeder is keeping her for herself to show, move on Amy.”Fast forward a month and a half or so.Violet becomes obsessed with this book:Everyday Violet tells me, matter-of-factly, she wants a posh puppy.I receive a letter from the breeders that they are expecting two litters in early fall. At this time I send in my deposit money for a puppy, but write a note saying I’ll wait until the October litter is ready to go home (sometime in late December). At this time, I was interested in either a show co-own agreement, or a pet adoption, I just wanted the “right” dog for our family and was open.Skip ahead another month. I check my Google mail account, which I rarely open. There is a letter from Char. “Do I want to pass up both litters? Am I still interested in a show dog commitment? If so, would I like to meet her little show potential girl Posh?”My heart skips a beat.Did I really read “Posh?” Instantly, I think about Violet’s request and I know exactly which puppy Char is talking about. Meanwhile, I’m working at Buffalo Books and Coffee. I look up into the Children’s Literature section, and what do I see? You guessed it. So, I felt I had to buy the book. Intuition scene one.The following weekend, I round up the family and we head up to Ham Lake (about an hour and forty minutes) for another Open House to re-meet Posh and some of Char and Mary Ellen’s newest pups. Of course, the little ones are darlings and they climb all over Sage and Violet. However, it’s Posh who steals all of our hearts that night. Since the last time I saw her she has blossomed into such a beautiful sweet girl. She is a Gold Brindle, and I think her coat will forever change and surprise us. It reminds me of knitting with Noro fiber, you really never know what color will come next, and that is one of the main reasons so many of us are addicted to knitting with it. The surprise element is intriguing. And, as with the Noro, the feeling of Posh’s fur is absolutely amazing, like a whisper, almost like feathers, and yet so much softer.Here are some baby pictures of Posh that Char has sent me where you can really see how much her color has changed already. Don’t be confused by her name, at that time she was a “Godiva candy” baby called Taffy.Taffy aka Posh, was born in May of 2007, on the same day our beloved border collie, Beauty died. When I found this out, I just knew in my heart that she was supposed to be part of our family. Here is a picture of our Beauty girl. April 1997-May 2007. She has gone over the “Rainbow Bridge,” and will always hold such a special place in the hearts of the humans who knew her.I didn’t find this out until we had arrived home from the Open House. Adam and I were pouring of the details of her co-ownership agreement when I noticed the day Posh was born and the hairs on my neck rose. Meanwhile, a week of agonizing over some of the details of being in a show commitment, I had the crappiest reality biting moment. I had to tell Char that while we loved Posh, we just couldn’t commit 100 percent to being in the show arrangement. I knew this really had to be a decision that everyone was on board for. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, because I was already so in love with this dog. I put my faith in God that things would work out the way they were supposed to.In the end, or the beginning for me and Posh, Char unselfishly decided that it would be in Posh’s best interest not to breed her, as she is a smaller Hav and therefore runs the risk of C-section, etc… Consequently, it wouldn’t make much sense to show her in a Conformation ring if she wasn’t going to breed her.The next question from Char was when could I pick her up?I wanted to bolt out the door, the minute I read those words. I had to remind myself that I had waited this long, I could wait a couple of days. So, I puppy proofed. I cleaned, I shopped, I rested, I prepped the kids, I obsessed. And, finally, Tuesday arrived.I left the house, feeling prepared, my empty Pet Fly carrier bag in tow. The carrier ended up being too small, and of course I took off all the tags…So, she rode next to me in the front. She was lovely.When we got home, I don’t think she knew what to think of Otto. In fact, I’m pretty sure she didn’t know he was a dog at first. After a couple of hours they were fine together. Now, it’s like they’ve always been friends, they’re so comfortable.Here is a funny height comparison of rears:She’s doing great on the potty training, sleeps really well in her crate, is EXTREMELY picky about her food, has some work to do on walking on a leash (she likes to do a crappy flop), has already learned how to sit, had her first bath here at house today, and I am totally in love (as is the rest of the family)And, so, I now go to bed. Here are a few more Posh pics. Victoria Beckham eat your heart out!

Cuter Than Cute, If That is Indeed Possible

I am indeed obsessed!

The other day I stumbled upon this lovely lass, Wasabi, and her adventures in Havanese Motherhood.

Check it out, she is so cute you won’t be able to stand it.

And, yes, I’m counting the days until we meet our new wee pup.

Have to Have a Havanese!

Yeah, so I guess I’m a total nerd.

I’ve been doing research on dog breeds for the last two years, always planning ahead, and have been obsessed with the Havanese breed. They are a rare breed of small dog originally from Cuba, designed to be companions to the wealthy’s children. Charles Dickens supposedly had one. These dogs were given to visiting royalty. Why do I think they would be perfect for the royal family of mine?

1. They weigh anywhere from 7-13 pounds, in comparison to our beloved Dane, Otto, who weighs in at 175! Recently, Otto has been having hip problems and it breaks my heart that I can’t carry him where he needs to go. I promised myself I would never again get a dog so large, a dog I couldn’t easily transport when they suffered.
2. They don’t shed the way our Dane does, and they don’t smell quite so “doggy.” ‘Nuff said. I vacuum the floor twice daily. Yikes!
3. They love playing with children. Unlike other toy breeds they are sturdy enough to be carried around by  considerate and gentle small children, and some seem to actually prefer little people. They are little playful clowns.
4. They are intelligent and easy to train.

Sounds perfect on paper (computer screen) doesn’t it?!

So, I just hand to meet one of these little guys “in the flesh.”

Every month a group of MN breeders-Picosa Havanese, Jefe Havanese, & Deja Havanese, host an Open House where you can meet their dogs and have any questions expertly answered.

Last night, I drove over an hour and half to attend the Open House; and it was well worth my drive (and getting totally lost on the way home)!

Upon my very late arrival, three calm and friendly Havs walked quietly to me waiting for a pet. They looked straight into my eyes, possessing an ancient wisdom; basking in their glow, I felt like they loved me! I know we had just met; but, honestly, they exuded unconditional love in it’s purist form. There was one, in particular, that reminded me of Beauty (may she rest in peace), our beloved border collie.  This dog looked at me, directly in the eyes, but non-confrontational, as though she genuinely knew and trusted me.

So, yeah, basically my visit pretty much solidified my obsession. They are pretty rare, and I really want to support a reputable breeder, so I’d better save my pennies! I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for one to show up in rescue, as I would really like to rescue a dog from a shelter, and you’d be surprised how many purebreds end up in shelters. I read something, like 1 in 4! Also, a side note, please don’t be fooled by designer breeds aka mixed with a poodle or in the case of the Havanese, a Havachon (part Bichon), these are mutts people! There are so many mixed breeds waiting for love in the area shelters. Yeah, I realize I’m a bit of a hypocrite owning a purebred, and looking into another purebred. Sorry, but after last night I am most definitely secure in the Havanese decision.

Here is a few more fun photos of the ultimate sweethearts I met Monday night. Note, the pup with her eyes hidden by hair is another rare and cool breed, the Tibetan terrier, they used to hang out in caves with Buddhist monks, supposedly…

This little girl was one of the first pups to come and meet me for a little TLC. This picture is a bit fuzzy, as Carol, her owner stated she’s never been able to snap a proper photograph of her. She’s too busy being a doggie!

This little boy, snuggle up with me and fell asleep. How do I resist such unconditional love?!

I can’t write a post about dogs without putting in a word about our lovely Dane, Otto. He is six years old and terribly arthritic. I have been giving him some supplements and lots of love, it’s so sad, he’s still a happy dog and so I will keep him as comfortable as I can for as long as I am blessed to be in his company. He’s such a lover! He misses his Beauty girl, as do we, our beloved border collie that we lost to an auto immune disease this Spring. Here are a few photos of our little lap dog.