Time to Say Goodbye.

I don't know if I've written much on here about our lovely old dog, but he's been part of our lives here for over nine years and was always a central part of our 'family'. Since the start of this year he really started to show signs of his age and back in April we took him up to Paudie our wonderful vet because yet again he had dislocated one of his hips (this was something poor Henry was increasingly prone to) and he noticed that he was standing very bow-legged on his back legs.

It turns out he had a nasty form of arthritis in his spine, which we were told would increasingly affect his strength and mobility in his back legs. The prognosis wasn't good at all but we hoped that the progression of the disease would be gradual and very slow.

Well the months have passed and at the end of last week Peter and myself had a talk about it all and decided that his quality of life wasn't great and it was time to make the hardest decision any pet lover could make. For most of the summer month he lived as an 'outdoors' dog - he just wouldn't come into the house (he had to be dragged in), I think because he was worried about making a mess in the house (he was always a really clean dog like that) but he had a happy life, lazing around in the sunshine on the grass and still able to go for his evening walk.

The local vet came out on Monday (we couldn't get Paudie out as his surgery is too far away and it would have distressed Henry so much to have tried to get him in the car) and Henry had a very peaceful passing. We discovered that there is a pet crematorium up outside CastleIsland so we took him there later that day, and then yesterday Peter went back to collect the casket, which is now in our sitting room.

It feels so so strange now that he isn't here; when I've come home from work all this week I still expect him to be out in the garden, waiting for me to come up to him and give him rubs (ear rubs were his favourite!); I guess that will be easier in time - at the moment it's all very raw and hard to take.

He was with us for over nine years (it would have been ten years this December) - we got him from the amazing HUG (who were known as 'Kerry Greyhound Homefinders' back then I think) -- this is their website homes for unwanted greyhounds - HUG - he was Peter's and my first dog together and we loved him so much. He was a big, gentle clumsy dog with a big heart who was totally bossed around by all of our cats and who lived happily here with our free range chickens too: dispelling a lot of the ignorant 'myths' about greyhounds not being able to live with smaller animals. youtube clip watch this if you don't believe me ;)

I've made a treasury on Etsy as a kind of memorial I guess ---  I was always there

We were so lucky to have had him in our lives, and for such a long time too but that doesn't make having to say goodbye any easier to stomach.

Crochet keeps me sane..

 I thought I'd post some photos of my recent work spaces! Crochet really does keep me sane; it is my quiet ''me time'' and I love that it is so portable that I can bring whatever I'm working on with me where-ever I go (usually to the beach or out in the garden)

 I'm at my happiest when I'm sitting in the shade of a big rock down on the beach and working quietly and mindfully on whatever is next on my 'to do' list. (most of our beaches are rocky and rugged wonderful places rather than sandy - I love that my favourite spots are quite inaccessible for most people so I am usually the only person on the whole beach). It truly de-stresses me and keeps me present in the moment instead of letting my thoughts run ahead of me - while I'm crocheting I have to focus on the individual stitches and the movement of the yarn and hook in my hand; it calms me down and makes me shut out all the chaos and stress that that time of year always brings to me.  

While my day job is just so bonkers busy and frantic this time of year, my crochet becomes even more important to me - even though I'm left so tired and frazzled to do as much of it as I would like to, it is even more precious for me to be able to sit down and relax and make something with my hands, and I treasure the photos that I have posted on here as they help capture those precious moments of peace and quiet.

August

Ugh, sorry - I had been hoping to update on here more frequently but it has been so busy at work that I am just so tired and can't think straight when I am at home; it's the same thing every year and I don't have much energy or spare time for my beach combing or crochet either but I know it will pass and things will be back to 'normal' again soon.

I haven't started to use my wonderful gifts from the ladies at Lighthouse Yarns yet click to go to their facebook page but I can't wait!

I kind of have a back-log of yarns now (and actually just ordered some more from Deramores this morning) - this could be worthy of a blog-post all of its own; but I will work my way through them all in the fullness of time and once things quieten down at work again, and of course come October my day job will be over for the winter and I will be spending most of my time working on funky wrist warmers, hats etc etc etc...

I have been some bit productive though! My friend Helen gave me a 'bread board' (a great big wooden tray which is used for bread deliveries) and I've upcycled it to make a display for my greetings cards for use at craft fairs/markets etc.

I really LOVE how it turned out - and it certainly made my cards way more eye-catching at Portmagee market last week -- much more than when I just have had them on the table.

Still on the subject of my greetings cards, I've gone and ordered some brand new ones from Moo! buy greetings cards here! click on the link to see them all! I now have quite a selection of different photos in stock so hopefully there's something for everyone...