Fashion Flashback Friday

My sister got married (for the first time) in the fall of 1971, I was 15.  It was my second wedding that year (my oldest brother got married for the first and only time) in the spring.  But this was my sister, I was so excited, after only one clothing class in H.S. I was going to make my own bridesmaid dress!  This is the pattern she chose:

Here is our version:

 It was made from simple cotton yellow gingham and fully lined.  I did need a little help with putting in the zipper on this style of dress (thank you, Aunt Virgie) but aside from that I did it.  The other girls had to have someone make it for them.

This is the only picture I can find of something that I made in my early sewing years.  I do not like to have my picture taken but I am glad that I have this one!

Nothing to see here, folks....keep moving.......

This has been one of those weeks at work.  Can you say computer crash with no current backup, can you say corrupted Quickbooks data file?  It is amazing how a plastic box can bring a company to its knees!  I have spent the last 2 days rebuilding data from our last good backup (8/31).  Monday the IT guy is coming with a new machine (we run a 3-machine network) and we are redoing our years old network setup. Hopefully by Tuesday we will be close to normal (my fingers and any other flexible appendage are crossed).

I had hoped to have a jacket from this pattern finished this week:

I am making it from a black cotton pique.  I made a muslin a few weeks ago and the fit was perfect.  So far it is turning out very nice.  Maybe I can get in a few minutes this weekend and get it finished by the end of the week.  I have lots of things I want to get started on for fall/winter as I got some nice fabric in the mail about a week ago.

On a more positive note, Lily had her first chemo treatment this week and is doing great! No ill side-effects and she is learning to maneuver better each day.......in fact she is back to charging dogs on the TV......not necessarily a good thing.  But we are just glad she is happy, pain free and being herself.

Fido Friday

What Can a Three-legged Rottweiler do?

A three-legged Rottweiler can help wash the dishes!

A three-legged Rottweiler can guard the backyard!

A three-legged Rottweiler can guard the from door (or wait for Dad to come home)!

A three-legged Rottweiler can eat standing up!

A three-legged Rottweiler can help Mom with shipping orders!

A three-legged Rottweiler can taste test all the biscuits to make sure they are still good!

But most of all a three-legged Rottweiler can love you!

Hello TS Lee!

Yesterday we had a little rain ( well by Florida standards it was little) and LOTS of wind.  Today TS Lee has started its turn from Louisiana back NE across land and it is pulling moisture off the Gulf like no ones business.  And since we are to the east of Louisiana,  today we are getting rain and lots of it (even by Florida standards).

This large bowl is on our back patio.  It is about 6in deep.  I was out at 5:30 this morning before the rain started and it was empty.....it is now overflowing.

We are waiting for a break in the deluge that should come around 10:30 so that we can get Lily out for her morning "Business".  She hated going out in the rain when she had 4 legs.........she certainly does not want to go out in it now that she only has 3!

This weather should be like this off and on for the remainder of the holiday weekend.  Good time to get some sewing done....................

It's letting up .....now's our chance!

Fido Friday

Thank you all so much!

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for all the well wishes and furry hugs for Lily.  They really helped brighten her and my days.  A special thanks to Bart, Gizmo and Ruby over at Rottrover for sending the Power of the Paw our way.  It is truly appreciated.

 Lily had her checkup today. She is healing nicely, the stitches are out and the surgeon did a very good job.  She is adapting and getting around quite well for a 100+ pound dog on 3 legs.  She has been a little depressed (who wouldn't be!) but really perked up for her outing to the vet.  She is quite exhausted now.

She will have her first chemo treatment on September 13th and on we will go from there.  At the moment if all goes well we are looking at 5-6 treatments at 3 week intervals.  We can only hope for the best.

I will make sure and visit everyone to offer my personal thanks but again, thank you all so much. I can't tell you how much your comments meant to us.

Road to Recovery

Dogs are amazing. Lily had her surgery Monday afternoon.  We brought her home Tuesday afternoon.  I was heartbroken when I saw her......what had we done.  She was still suffering the effects of the anesthesia and it took 4 of us to get her in the back of my Jeep.  We purchased a sling harness for large dogs but I was still worried just the 2 of us wouldn't be able to handle her when we got home.

But we got her out without incident.  That night The Husband and I slept on the floor with her.  She really enjoyed that....everytime I took my hand off her back she scooted back closer to me, her way of saying 'don't stop'.

Every day she showed amazing improvement.  When the UPS man came she ran a few feet to the foyer (stopping where the carpet ends and tile begins....are they smart or what?) and waited to see what he brought. She is standing on her own to do her 'business', with Mom or Dad nearby in case she teeters too far.

We will find out more about our next course of action next week.  But she is definitely on the Road to Recovery!

Nobody Ever Said Life Was Fair.................

And it's not.  After losing our little boy, Edgrrr to lymphoma in February we have now learned that Lily has bone cancer.  It is centered on her front left leg at the paw and leg juncture.  We have consulted with our vet, who in turn consulted with others including one at the University of Florida.  And while there is a somewhat experimental bone grafting procedure the consensus to relieve her pain and prolong her life is amputation.

We are not strangers to cancer or amputation.  Our second Rottie,  Echo had a nasty tissue to tissue cancer in a rear leg.  We knew she had less than a 50/50 chance but the procedure gave her 10 good months.  A front leg is a bit more difficult for deep chested big dogs, but they adapt.

It is not something we do lightly.  But she deserves a chance at another 2 years, maybe more if we get lucky.

She has a consult with the surgeon on Monday, we are hoping they can do it Tuesday.  There is no evidence it has spread to her lungs yet and there is a chance with the weakened bone she could break it, so the sooner the better. 

 These darn Rotties and their cancers.......but you gotta love em'.