2010 wishes

It's been a while since I last took my camera for a walk, or have gone for a walk without my Pig in tow. So, for the sake of enjoying some peace and quiet to myself, with the weather promising that there probably wouldn't be a (sane) soul out there, off I went.

When I get out there, it's always the chilling silence that lures me in. Enchanting, delightful; the rhythmic sound of breathing and footsteps. The bitter breeze tends to whisper that there are blankets, waiting at home.

Though New Year's Day is just the same as any other day, I like to play with the thought that maybe things will be different; things to come, the following Spring, the following Summer, (peas!) things to anticipate, the unknown. Like approaching a mysterious fog.

And while the scenery will change, as the seasons will pass, I look forward to the days to come; a new year, a new number. I kind of like the number eleven, though it's not as cool as 12 (my birth date.) I think it's time to go inside, for blankets.. and for tea.

With frosty fingers, toes and nose, I wish you all a wonderful New Year.

willy wampa

It looks like monsters are (finally) making an appearance in our toy line-up. Much more fun stuff to come in the new year!

peace, love & fuzzies

Hoping you have a warm, cozy, holiday season, with those who are dear to your heart.

Love, Libby, Ian, Tim & Pig

topsy turvy

While it's no secret that I am almost always racing with anxiety, I always find it fascinating when my internal, racing, thoughts present themselves in front of me when I turn out the lights at the end of the day. From tornadoes, getting lost in airports, losing my sense of direction, being chased by some sort of animal or person I can't identify, to riding elevators that look like laundry baskets that spin awkwardly into buildings about to topple; it's quite a funny thing to pay attention to your dreams and what your subconscious is telling you. I must be lost.

With the holidays approaching, I am hoping I can figure out how to shut off and relax, as I have been so unable to focus lately that even attempting to write anything is quite difficult. Frankly, I am not in the spirit at the moment, but I am hopeful that once things settle down, I am going to do my best to backtrack; even if I make something of it after the season passes. Winter -over Christmas itself- is really the time that I come alive, so all is not lost if I can't be bothered to look at my Christmas tree fondly or even think about what kind of cookies I want to bake to make the season bright. It's what you make of it, when you can. So until then, I'll be boarding the laundry basket elevators to take a ride into the unknown. I hope to return to myself, soon.

leave

I love cooking stew with pretty leaves.

root for spirit

It makes me kind of sad to admit that I haven't been feeling the Christmas spirit this year. At least not yet, as it is still early. Usually by the first snowfall I start to feel all warm and giddy inside, but somehow it just hasn't tickled me much. Maybe I just need time? I'm not sure. I even tried making some of my grandma's ginger cookies, for the sake of sentiment and nostalgia that it brings to me over the holidays. Sadly it didn't do much at all, except maybe make the house smell delicious, like gingerbread.

I'm not even really sure what I'm expecting, as it may even just be the expectation itself that has me wondering when it's going to get here. Perhaps I'm just a little occupied with other things to bother to pay attention? After all, a lot has happened in the last month to bring the energy down a notch.. or two. Or maybe I need to sink in a little deeper, find my roots and what it is that brings me home for the holiday season. I have no idea what that is. Oh well, I'm not going to force it down, though I do hope it comes to me soon. Ho-hum.

lost dog

So, how is our little Pig? He is doing rather well, thank you, as he had surgery last Wednesday for a luxating patella. Genetic, they say. Disappointing, is my reply.

To keep from going off on a rant, as this whole thing has me clearly upset, I will carry on to say that he is already coming back to being his usual fun-loving self, though he definitely slows down easily, as recovery time is an estimated 6-8 weeks.

With a shaven backside, the mortifying cone to keep him from picking at the bandage patch on his hind leg, and the gross details of what sort of pins and incisions and cutting of bone he had to have done, I think he is hands down the bravest little pup that I have ever met. Only 10 months old and having to endure so much discomfort? He never complains. And for that I admire, respect and love him even more.

Learning that this issue came from how he was born is a definite eye-opener that I can only offer the advice to ask your breeder (if you choose to go this route) to provide everything in documentation; medical history, you name it to avoid any sudden surprises such as this. And though I am beyond disappointed to have gone through what we have in this past month with vet visits, medications and of course the surgery itself, I wouldn't trade our Pig for anything in this world.

While I am well aware that this was completely out of my control, being a genetic issue and all, I tell you that it has been the most helpless and heartbreaking situation to have to watch, without feeling responsible, or that it could have been prevented, somehow.. magically(?) Irrational, I know. I hate it. I love him. It's like being torn completely in two, to put it into perspective.

I can't even describe how much I look forward to the day when he can run and play like he did so well, over the summer that we first got to know him. And it hurts in so many ways to miss someone when they're sitting right there in front of you. I want my dog back. All fours, all smiles, running and pain free.

Thank you all so much for your kindness, concern and endless support.

sold out!

Thank you to all who made it out to the craft show on Friday. It was a lot of fun getting to meet everyone, and see those eyes light up when approaching my table. We did very well, leaving an empty table (sold every toy!) nearly an hour before the show ended. What an awesome outcome. My insides are oozing with delight. I can't wait to do this again.

Maybe a spring sale is in order?

mugshots

We hope to see you at the craft show tonight! Very excited and looking forward to Zzzz . . .

no breakfast for breakfast

So just like that, our sweet Pig is having surgery on his knee. Yep, right now. Not later. Today. My brave little Pig.

We originally took him in for a consult this morning to see what could be done, where after hearing all of the gruesome details -that's just me being visual and squeamish- they asked if he had eaten this morning. *insert red X sound from Family Feud* He had not. So because he was technically fasting already, they gently took him in to get all fixed up, stat. That moment. Today. Now. Not later.

I just about barfed.

Call it luck or bad luck that Breakfast hadn't eaten breakfast *har har. I can't wait to have him back home again... on four legs.

coming swoon

The Holiday Market is just around the corner and we're -finally- wrapping up the last little bits before I can sit down and fill you in more on what's been going on this past month. It's been a whirlwind, as usual. I love it.

With the pinning, pressing, snapping, stitching, tying, snipping, stuffing and squishing, there is only enough time to do some split second swooning over Johnny Depp, in between pieces.

This has been such an enjoyable experience, in more ways than one. We hope to see you, this Friday!

almost there

Thankfully, I have Tim 'helping' me with the last bits of assembly for the craft sale, next week. Someone needs to keep an eye on those pesky buttons.

chewy for the holidays

If you have been following along, you are already acquainted with the new addition to Dear Libby's toys; Chewy Lewis. Originally named John Long, this stretchy fellow was designed specially for my little stink; who loves to chew, fetch, tug and shake the ever living stuffing out of whatever he can fit in his mouth. Spoiled as can be, he has gotten to test out my various experiments to get to where we are today.

The first toy I made for Breakfast was a little frog, which I had put in his kennel to keep him company when he was little. It was an instant success, as he carried it with him everywhere he went, including on many of our summer afternoon walks. And what stuck with me most, as I looked at its tattered face and crusty exterior, is that it had lasted 4 months before I finally decided to give it a toss and make him something new; which is when the wheels started turning. Enter Chewy Lewis.

From observing how Breakfast liked to play with his toys, I came up with a design to fit his needs and preferences, along my own, in regards to concern for his safety. Anything with plastic pieces to swallow was out of the question, as dogs are so oriented by feeling with their mouths, and can fixate on objects of interest; eyes, squeaks, little bits, interesting textures. I decided to keep things relatively simple, to stray from the expected destruction.

To tell you about Chewy Lewis in greater detail; he is constructed of two separate pieces (head and body) where we make sure to double stitch the seam to ensure stability between tugs, pulls, chomps, shakes and mass destruction. The piece is stuffed with cotton Poly-fil that is hypoallergenic and machine washable. His skinny neck may be deceiving, but it really does hold up to the test of tuggy abuse.

We definitely recommend this piece for smaller to medium sized breeds, as we haven't quite figured out what to do for our larger friends as of yet. Keep your eyes peeled for more experiments to come, as this is only the beginning of Dear Libby's puppy stuff. I'm so excited to share this new creation with you and your fuzzies this upcoming holiday season, and look forward to much more fun to come.

Welcome Chewy Lewis, and thank you all for your endless support.

for pig

I don't like asking for help. Never have, even since I was a kid. I guess I just prefer to do things on my own for the sake of learning, personal growth and little bit of fearing weakness or burden to others. Maybe it's a recipe for pure stubbornness. Yes, that's definitely what it is. Where to begin is a bit awkward, and I've probably spent the last hour deleting each sentence as I go along. Truth is, I just don't know what I'm doing, but I'm going to give it a try.

For the last couple of weeks we have been having a bit of trouble with Breakfast, where he has been prescribed with 10 days of rest (and medication) due to a limp that he developed quite out of the blue. Definitely the word "rest" isn't part of the puppy vocabulary where even I have had some difficulty in learning how to keep him even close to semi-sedentary.

I'm doing my absolute best to take Ian's advice to take each day at a time rather than get sick off of senseless worry, though I have no idea what is going to happen next. I figure the best thing I can do to keep a level head is to continue on with the things that warm my heart, by offering our newest Dear Libby product for puppies; Chewy Lewis! *more details about this product will come in our next post.

For each Chewy Lewis purchased, we are not only asking all of our fellow puppy lovers to lend a hand (or a paw) to get our wobbly boy back on all fours again, we encourage you to share with us your own heartwarming stories about what it is that makes your dog so fabulous. What have they brought into your life? What have you learned? How have you grown? This sort of approach makes asking for help feel so much easier because I know what it means to be head over heels in love with a dog, and that the world would be a very boring place without them.

Breakfast and I thank you all for your tremendous support, as we enter the next phase of this process. All of those who wish to help, send your inquiry to our Libby mail.

zen tim

I've been receiving a lot of questions about Tim lately, as it has been a good while since I have written much about him . . . or anything for that matter. I guess you could say that it has been a bit of a blur, this last little while, for a variety of reasons.

Fortunately, things have been pretty good for Tim, when it comes to adjusting to the new, four-legged, body in the house. Ian and I were actually surprised how quickly Tim became curious about the situation; sniffing and getting nervously close to a softly snoring time bomb. Quite funny at times to see that certain flick of the tail that is just asking for an invitation.

Recently, Tim started to have a bit of a poor reaction to his altered schedule, and expressed his anxieties through an old habit that we have struggled with for years: oh glorious pee. Not cool. He has had issues with urinary infections and anxiety for most of his life, so when this method of 'sharing' started to show it's ugly face again, every other morning, I started to worry about what to do.

*To shorten the story* Our vet's recommendation for the situation was to make our boy feel more zen; through loads of affection, appropriate medication, some slight changes in his environment, and a solid routine. Considering he seems more chill than I've seen him in the years that he's been around, our quest for "Zen Tim" seems to be on the right track. It's nice to have him back.

Thank you all so much for your concern and curiosity!

me & my stink

surprises to come

For the first time for the holidays, I have decided to try out the craft sale scene. Eek! Plug your nose, shut your eyes and cannonball it out! It's going to get crazy. Preparing for such a great event is quite exhilarating, as I have stocked up on coffee, movies, music and exfoliating soaps for my -already- calloused hands. I love the beauty behind challenge!

The biggest bummer within this good news is that we're going to have to cut a few threads from our routine -this year- and limit availability in order to keep up with the capacity of the event. The hardest part is going to have to say no to extra orders and remain true to what I'm physically capable of. Unless, of course, I figure out how to construct a robot.

To lift the spirits of those who cannot make it to the craft sale -and are hoping to indulge in some Libby goodness for the holidays- we have a few tricks up our sleeves to make sure that no one feels left out. * Hint: like special and 'exclusive' gifts that will only be present via our social network; paintings, ceramics, illustrations, cards, photos AND the launch of our newest product in the Libby stream of things!

Until then, let's continue hoarding toy parts in baskets, upon notes and post-its of things to do, charities to explore before the season of giving really sets in. Again, can I just say... eeek! Fun is on its way, though technically it has already begun.

Stay Tuned!

breakfast in bed

While the dog park (yesterday) may not have been the best plan for our boy -who does not slow down no matter what- we are kinda bummed to say that he will be on the mend for a good 10 days of rest, thanks to an inflamed tendon and a wobbly knee cap in his left leg; which he has been sporadically hobbling on for the last few days, after taking a spill up the front steps to the house. *They're a big leap for a little guy who doesn't always pay attention to his footwork when excitement strikes.

It's going to be a bit of an interesting experience for both of us to slow down, as I find that I too get kind of bothered when we can't go outside to walk off our pent up energy, but hey.. we all need a little time to wind down to wind back up again.

With some sympathy belly rubs and a new blanket to curl up on the couch with -as the days get cooler- I doubt he'll have too tough of a time getting back to his usual level of being Breakfast.

Get well soon, Pig.

breakfast in the park

I decided to introduce our Pig to the world of dog park(ing.) He was a little reluctant at times - much like myself - but definitely had a blast getting to know other butt sniffers. We will be returning for sure.

praries

Taken from my iPhone, on the way home from Canmore.

monkey town

Looks like it's time for monkeys!

go for treat

Wishing you and your little monster(s) a safe, fun and Happy Halloween!