Throwback Thursday: Oh Stamp!

Several years ago my friend Kim sent me custom postage stamps with a picture of my Old English Sheepdog featured. That is Howard on the .39 cent stamp and a quick check on Wikipedia shows that was the USPS First Class postage rate in 2006. I was charmed with such a clever way to share my beloved dog in an unexpected way.

So naturally, KeepHerKitty was granted her own stamp in 2007 with a face value of .41 cents and again in 2011 with an ethereal image of her amongst the Christmas baubles (shown at left), face value .44 cents. Charvie Dog was not to be left out and he smiles with interest on the .42 cent stamp in 2008. I think Charvie and KeepHer, in these images, look like brother and sister!

I hope those who have received mail from us with one of these adorable stamps have enjoyed receiving it as much as I enjoyed sending it.

Clockwise from top: KeepHerKitty 2011, Charvie 2008, Howard 2006, KeepHerKitty 2007.

Throwback Thursday: Sweet Gentle LadyBo

My first grown-up doggie was a purebred Samoyed named Lady Bojangles of Camelot.

"A hardy and eager worker, the Samoyed is known for black lips that curl slightly at the corners into the "Samoyed smile." Bright and alert, he likes to stay busy and enjoys participating in agility, herding, weight pulling, sledding, pack hiking, conformation shows and more! His heavy, weather resistant coat is suitable for very cold climates and should be pure white, white and biscuit, cream or biscuit."  American Kennel Club

Oh how I loved this special creature, and she was equally loyal to me. Don't you just love her "Samoyed Smile"? She and I, we went through some tough times and more than once she was sent away to my parents or to friends as I worked myself out of a most difficult marriage.

I'm sure this gypsy-life took a toll on my girl as her life was shorter than it should have been. But I'm pleased to say she spent her last years in the loving care of me and my forever husband Jim.

Diabetes (see note) took her eyesight, but not her heart. In the last year of her life she made her way about following bells carried by myself, Jim, or her best buddy Howard, the Old English Sheepdog. She never cried or whined a sniff. How brave she was.
 
In this image she was about 18 months old and dressed as a good witch for Halloween. That's me with her, so young and dumb, and so grateful to have her by my side. She's been gone for a very long time now, yet I miss her still.

A white lilac blooms on her grave each spring to remind me of her pure heart, loyalty, and true love. I'm thinking of you sweet gentle LadyBo on this very poignant Throwback Thursday.




Note: "Diabetes mellitus similar but not identical to human Type I (insulin deficiency): The disease occurs in middle-aged Samoyeds, the mean age at diagnosis is seven years. The cause is a chronic inflammation of the pancreas and / or autoimmune destruction of beta cells of islets of Langerhans. Moreover, in affected dogs autoantibodies were found to insulin. Currently, several genetic markers are discussed as possible causes." Wikipedia: Samoyed

Throwback Thursday: Halloween 2013

 KeepHerKitty is a big fan of Halloween as long as it doesn't get too darn scary. If you have a cat you know that cats see things -- things us two-leggers cannot see -- scary things. Things so frightening a cat will scamper from a room with fear in their eyes and a kink in their tail, all at once, with nary a warning to those who cannot see.

So at our house we keep the witches, and the skeletons, and the zombies away in favor of a softer, friendlier Halloween. Here KeepHer poses with some of last year's table decor: glittered pumpkins, sparkling leafs, polished apples. Her little trick-or-treat bucket is at the ready to receive treats. Oh she does love her treats! I featured the stitching on the little bucket a few weeks ago on Throwback Thursday.

 Below is a collage of the 2013 Halloween Decor, as you can see soft and friendly. Even the little ghosts are smiling.

This little gobblin is one of the cutest things ever! I found the idea on Make it Fun with Floracraft website: Ghostly Centerpiece. I dolled this little spook up with a purple mesh hat adorned with ribbon, tiny roses, and a black feather just for fun.  KeepHer took great joy in batting about the little ball of fluff, I think she thought it her very own gobblin friend!

Some of these decorations will come out again this year: I plan to decorate for Halloween this weekend with some things new and some things old and no things scary. Until then, Happy Throwback Thursday everyone!

Throwback Thursday: Baby Toy

For Throwback Thursday I'm sharing this little soft sculpture toy, now nearly 50 years old, that my great grandmother on the paternal side of the family made for me as a baby. All of my grandparents and great grandparents were crafty -- not for pleasure, but for necessity. After all, they were of the depression era. This little soft sculpture turtle is made of remnants and hand stitched. I have treasured it all my life. Thank you great grandma Mary Ada.

Throwback Thursday: Reading is Fundamental

KeepHerKitty has always been eager to learn new things. As early as 6 weeks she was anxious to read and especially enjoyed the great story "Life of Pi" about a boy and his cat, Richard Parker the Bengal tiger. This is one of my favorite pictures of my little buddy, circa 2006.

Happy Throwback Thursday Little Buddy!

Throwback Thursday: Groovy the Sock Monkey

I've loved the idea of "Throwback Thursday" but have not acted upon it with my LivingAfterWLS Blog. The motto of LivingAfterWLS is "Stop for a moment, look where you are. You Have Arrived." So if we are looking and living in the moment how do you reminisce on Throwback Thursday?  And quite honestly, I'd rather NOT look back at my chubby days. I remember well enough how tired and unhealthy I was carrying so much extra weight. For me, pictures are superfluous to those recollections. And nobody needs to see that I had really really bad post-1980s hair. Oh My!

So here, on Crafting with KeepHer and Kaye I intend to Throwback Thursday with a craft or project from the past, not something I've done recently. In honor of my first CWK&K Throwback I introduce Groovy the Sock Monkey.  I crafted this soft sculpture buddy in Spring 2009 ordering the socks directly from Fox River Mills - the originator of the sock monkey.  The socks actually have directions on the label for making the iconic monkey and I followed their pattern.

We had recently thrown a theme party "Give Peace a Chance" with a 1970's hippie vibe, so that's how Groovy came to be attired in rainbow love complete with peace sign earring. In hindsight he looks like he may well be gender confused or at the least in dire need of a fashion makeover. But that would take away the groovy, now, would it not?  

Happy Throwback Thursday Groovy!