But, really, the dog comes first
Sam
70% Drier
Oct 29th
The headlines alone amused me and got my attention (back in August.)
(Because, really, how do they test: ”Dogs can shake 70% of the water from their fur in 4 seconds?”*)
The science and photography behind the study is really cool. (And I suggest you go read The Atlanic article by Alexis Madrigal for pix and video.)
The full study is available for download here.
Basically it says that a dog’s backbone twists about 30 degrees in either direction. But that loose skin whips around farther and faster – 90 degrees in either direction. According to the math, the skin travels at three times the speed of the backbone. The water droplets on the tips of the hairs attached to the skin are flung off by 9 times more force (than twisting the spine alone.)
(But we knitters all ready knew this, yes?**)
They did not explain why the mammal shake starts at the nose. Or why most dogs wait to shake near a human. Or why Sam gets curlier when wet.)
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With respect to Sandy: it is wet. Power is still on. Wind is supposed to be worst from 5 pm tonight till tomorrow sometime.
*That line is from various sources. Try here, here, here, here, or here.
**To speed drying raw fleece or delicate knitted wools, place item inside a pillow case. Tie pillow case shut. Go outside and swing in great wide circles over your head. The centrifugal force pulls the water to the outside and flings it off.) (Never mind what your neighbors think.)
One week later
Oct 28th
and just over a week before my next Knitting Extravaganza (and hours before Sandy* takes it all away):
I am still in “overwhelm”**
As a long term veteran of Maryland Sheep and Wool, I can say that Rhinebeck is further away, more charming, and has a better chance for wool-appropriate weather. (Even the name has more charm.)
The weather could not have been more perfect (well, it could have not-rained on Friday during setup.)
Trees:
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Colorful Trees:
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Awesome yarn:
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Behold The Source:
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Different Source:
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(So, how is it that I did not take a (reasonable) picture of sheep? The Mother Lode of all Fiber?)
And then, to come home to this:
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and this:
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and this:
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And some excellent news. I’m just in stunned awe.
*About Sandy: not that it would be obvious, but we’re supposed to be amidst a hurricane the next few days. We’re prepped, the puppy is was tired. (He’s napped and over that now.) We’re ready to hunker down and knit for a few days.***
**Well, no longer. This was written on Saturday morning. I’ve been getting ready for Sandy’s arrival. To wit: I baked brownies (because who wants to be without chocolate and electricity at the same time?) I figure I can sort yarn by flashlight.
*** I suppose Dude will find alternate methods of entertaining himself. Sam will chase Ned. Nickie will go into hiding.
And the winner is …
Oct 17th
Sam!
(Sam wins because he is a sweet happy dog with lots of time in the woods, good treats to snack on, and great friends.)
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(For contest details, see here.)
Right after Sam gained 5 lbs in a week (that would be week 13), I spent some time looking up canine growth rates and adult vs puppy weights. The best guess I could come up with went something like*:
(Weight at 14 weeks) x 2 + 7.5 % will be the dogs weight at 6 months.
Then, (depending on breed) 6 mo weight x 10% = adult weight.
/ahem
Sam at 14 weeks weighed 25 pounds. So the estimate was 53.75 pounds.
Today, at 6 mo, Sam weighted 53.7 pounds. (Yeah, go figure. Spot on.)
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And the Guesses:
Diane – 41.5 lbs
Bekah – 45 lbs
Liz – 46 lbs, 5 ou
Barb Cooper – 48 lbs
Kmkat – 52 lbs
Linda – 53.5 lbs –> Linda knows Sam in real life and she does not knit. Therefore, she wins a hat. (Also, freaking good guess.)
Leslie F – 55 lbs –> Excellent Guess! (For the record, I was guessing 55 pounds. And hoping for less.) Leslie wins yarn (of my choosing but I will offer a selection) or I will knit a hat.
Gwendolynne – 57.2 lbs
Marfa – 63 lbs
ValleyGal – 67 lbs
Gayle – 75 lbs –> Sam says he would happily accept food bribes.
*And this particular formula only works for dogs whose adult weight will be about 50 – 70 pounds. Giant dogs (over 120) and miniatures have vastly different growth rates.
And mostly, it seemed like a wild-assed shot in the dark.
Catch up: Sam
Oct 13th
Here’s all the update I can think of with respect to Sam*
1. The Contest ends next week. (That means that Diane, Liz, Linda, Bekah and Barb have all ready lost.)
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He still gets dirty. (Like, every day.) (Sometimes twice.)
x He is really fun to watch romp in the woods. He has an awareness, self-awareness, that there’s a log or a ledge that he hasn’t been able to “do” (jump over or high enough) before. And he’ll wait for everyone to leave or give him space, then he’ll line up to attempt it. He ducks his head and stares at the obstacle. Then he flies through the air. When he gets it, he’ll give a little leap and a spin and looks at me (probably because I’m cheering for him) and then he takes off to romp again.**
But he cleans up well.
xToday, he ran 8 miles (plus). He’ll be 6 months old tomorrow.
He’s learning to catch treats and he can almost get onto the bed by himself.
He squeaks when he yawns. He barks at the neighbors.
*He’s perfect
**When he misses, he’ll usually try one or two more times. Deliberately, lining himself up for his the trick, waiting for no interference. But after a few tries, I can see him get tired. He’ll pick himself up, give his body a shake, and go off to play some more. I am unable to catalog all the places/logs/ledges/gullies he thinks he should be capable of flying over/on. I just see it when he’s trying a new trick.
And just like that (version 2)
Oct 12th
Another month is gone. (Wow. Really? It’s been a month?)
Quick summary:
Sam is delightful. (No change there.)
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Also he brings us out for fabulous morning walks:
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Dude is blogging. (And he is also wonderful.) (And we have a new venture.)
Fall really is coming.
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Actual fall:
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I’ve had a birthday and an anniversary and been to NYC.
I’ve missed you.
And just like that
Sep 12th
Summer is over.***
For some people, it’s the start of school (which should be in the fine New England tradition of after Labor Day. The August 20 start is just weird.)
For others, it is Labor Day itself which signifies the End of Summer.
For me:
Pooooooch Plunge!! That annual last-day-of summer when they let the dogs in the community pool with their humans.
I know I haven’t been posting much lately, so here’s a few pix to make up for lack of frequency.
O.k. Kids! Listen up and watch Reese demonstrate proper form!
Sam demonstrates excellent form!
But he's a little weak in the push off.
His entry is off-vertical but he makes no splash.
Poor Sam - the pool edge is so slippery, he can't get a good lift!
Sam's enormous paws give him quite a speed advantage in the pool.
Do I have to swim back there to get out?
Keep it up Sam! Soon you'll be a big dog!
Yes, I am lieing on her dry clothes. What's your point?
*** Also, today is one year from the onset of my Month of Chaos. Here’s hoping I’m coming out of my recent funk.
p.s. Sam is almost 5 months old and he weighs 40 pounds.
No joy in Mudville
Aug 20th
There is no joy in Mudville – little Sammie has grown out
There is an air vent behind/beside the toilet. Given the small room and tile floor, the bathroom tends to coolness in the summer. Sam smooshed himself into the spot and hung out with his nose next to the cold air. Except now, today, he is Too Big.
And Ned is sitting on the toilet hoping someone will turn on the bathroom faucet for him. There is no toilet paper because Ned has not yet out-grown festooning the house with it. (He’s almost 4 years old; I’m not holding my breath. Toilet Paper is in the middle drawer facing you when you sit where you would need it.)
Be careful what you wish for
Aug 17th
As I was going through the photos for yesterday, I thought (to myself) “Wow, Lucky is really going to have to get his game on if a wee 14 week old puppy can get Sam dirtier than a full grown year-old yellow lab.”
And Sam and Lucky went for their normal walk romp in the woods.
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Lucky is up to the challenge.
I’m pretty sure Lucky is laughing at me.
Sam is exhausted and I can post something
Aug 15th
Or empty the dishwasher. (Tough Choice!)
(A note on the contest:
a) not many entries, your chances of winning are good
b) I’m separating the pools – one for people who only see Sam on line and one for the cheaters who see him in real life and are waiting to guess.
c) wrt Mom: I asked why she hadn’t guessed. She said it wasn’t fair; she could have a hat any time she asked. She’s right. Mom, if she guesses, will get a special prize.
d) I’ve no idea what that will be. Onward …
Sam has a new friend; her name is Geisha. Geisha is week younger than Sam and she will be an assistance dog* when she grows up.
This is Sam and Geisha’s first play date:
So most of the photos look like this.
Geisha can’t go to work with her trainer-human till she’s 5 mo old, so she’s hanging out with Sam for a bit.
This is how Sam looked at the beginning.
And this is how Sam looked at the end.
Geisha takes Sam into the pool.
And then rolls him in the dirt strategically placed next to the pool.
And they romp ... hmmm maybe that pitch fork should be put away ...
And romp
and romp
and romp
and hide behind bushes
and chew on each other
and hide under the stairs
And then they get tired.
And they sleep. But I don’t have pictures of that. I’m exhausted too.
Geisha is a sweet little thing. Who totally takes Sam down and wears him out.
*I neglected to check anonymity issues with the human so this is all I can tell you at the moment.
