Knitting Progress, Spring on the Farm, Charlie, and Sight

I've made some knitting progress this past week even with a very busy schedule and not feeling quite up to par. The Trellis Scarf is growing and the 16 row lace repeats are coming along a little more quickly. I changed from bamboo needles to some wonderful Lantern Moon needles and the knitting seems to be smoother and sliding a bit easier along my needles.

I finished the 3rd pair of fingerless mitts for the caregivers of CIC and hope to complete one additional pair before mailing my package. I also hope to knit an additional child's vest or sweater from the Kiwi colored Cascade Eco Plus yarn in the upper right of the picture above.

I also have completed spinning and plying my *first skein* of chocolate colored Lincoln Lamb wool. It isn't perfect by any stretch, but I am pleased with my slowly improving efforts. I find spinning to be fun and quite relaxing, except when spinning in front of other spinners. I think I get stage fright and find myself dropping my drop spindle with more regularity and wanting to switch over to knitting right away. : )

Spring on the Farm

We've finally had a soaking rain for the first time in, literally, 6 months. This is such a blessing and hopefully will end our season of wild fires. The trees are leafing out, the Redbuds are showing their color, the peach tree is in full bloom, and the birds are singing and preparing to nest.

Generally Spring is the season for livestock babies on a farm. We aren't having any for this year. Well, at least we didn't think we were! It isn't exactly in the *livestock* category, but we have discovered that Doogie (our senior male, smooth coat, chocolate and tan Dachshund) and Strudel (our long haired, black and tan female Dachshund) had evidently maganed a secret rendevous. They have apparently managed a successful escape from their separate housing, a date (unbeknownst to us), and return to their separate housing areas sometime a few weeks ago. Just this past week it has become very obvious that Strudel and Doogie are going to be parents once again!

So, this Spring will not pass on our farm without the arrival of babies once again. Anyone interested in giving an excellent home to a Dachshund puppy in the not-too-distant future? : )

Charlie

Charlie had a return appointment to our vet this morning. He seems to be healing well and our vet is pleased. Charlie did have just a slight, low grade fever, so we are checking his temperature daily and reporting to our vet clinic. He continues on his antibiotics and is eating well.

Charlie is managing stairs without difficulty now and is very energetic. He even wants to play ball when we take him outside!

The plan is for Charlie's sutures to be removed next week. As long as we avoid any infection, Charlie should be *over the hump* in his recovery soon.

Charlie has been a real trooper. He has not attempted to rub or scratch at his sutures even without his Elizabethan collar. He is sleeping well now and seems to be adjusting to his sight limitations quickly.

I'd like to say a huge *Thank You* to everyone that has expressed concern for Charlie. We certainly appreciate it, and I'm sure Charlie appreciates it, too.

Sight

Witnessing Charlie adjust to the loss of his left eye has been both difficult and encouraging. I hated to know that he would never have vision from his left eye again and was concerned deeply for him. However, to see his acceptance, rapid adjustment and compensation for this loss has been uplifiting to my heavy heart.

As soon as Charlie was fully awake after his surgery, he began *feeling* his way on his left side by staying next to one of us. He would *feel* his way through the house slowly, moving right when objects brushed against his left side. The following day, Charlie began turning his head from side to side to check both directions frequently when moving about. By the second evening Charlie could bound the stairs on the deck in two strides and was obviously making accurate distance judgments even with monocular vision. By the third post-op day, Charlie was wanting to play ball.

While Charlie still looks like a rugged pirate that came out on the bad end of a duel, he seems happy, energetic, and looking forward to his next adventure. He seems to be maximizing his remaining sight and abilities rather than focusing solely on what he has lost. Oh, what we can learn from God's wonderful creatures.

We have such a wonderful gift of sight. How many of us have perfect vison but do not see?

My prayer this week is that each of us would have clear vision to see the truth of our Heavenly Father's love for us. I pray that we see His care and love for us in our daily activities and through each difficult time. I also pray that each of us grow closer to Him daily and grow stroger in our trust and faith in our Heavenly Father and are forever thankful for His sacrifice for us.

Also, please continue to pray fervently for Susan and Will as they continue their battles against cancer and undergo exhausting treatments.

Your Friend,

Shelly

P.S. The picture below was taken 2 years ago. The father Eastern Bluebird was teaching 2 of his young the location of our mealworm feeder and teaching them to enjoy its bounty. A caring father provides well for his children. : )

NIV
Proverbs 20:12
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.

Isaiah 32:3
Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.