This must be the hottest, dryest summer (if you don’t count the oppressive humidity) that I’ve ever experienced. The forecast is cruel, often predicting rain that never actually materializes. I’m trying to keep my plants alive, but I’ve mostly lost the will to be outdoors. I think it’s time to start fall vegetables, but I can’t seem to muster up the motivation. I keep telling myself that I’ll do it “tomorrow.”
In more positive news, I officially hired my 17-year-old son, Keats, to help me with my little business. I should have done this a long time ago, but I am terrible at delegating. I had no idea how much stress this would relieve for me, or how much mental space it would release, but it has! This is life-changing for me! Keats is doing most of my prep work now and some of my finishing work as well. He has always been very attentive to detail and it’s so good knowing that I can trust his work. He’s cutting fabric, ironing, trimming, and reskeining yarn. I can hand him a bolt of fabric, give him dimensions, and he returns a tidy stack of whatever it is that I asked for. Last weekend we spent a couple of hours listening to violin concertos while working on sachets. He cut all the fabric for me ahead of time and then I sat and sewed the sachets while he turned them right side out and ironed them. It was wonderfully productive and all-around happy for me. I think it’s a good situation for both of us. I am freed up to focus on the more creative side of things and he can save more money towards purchasing a viola. He plans to continue to make things for the shop as well: little bird shawl pins and hopefully cutting boards as well. We will be updating the shop next week (Friday, I think) and I’ll have more details about that in my next post. I’m super grateful for Keats’ help and hope this can translate into some great shop updates for all of you!
p.s. Jonny and I visited our county animal shelter this week. I promise our intentions were completely innocent, just your typical date night (afternoon, actually). I assured Jonny that I just wanted to visit the cats, and possibly adopt one, but only if I felt a strong connection with one of them. (I’ve been a little sad because Intruder and Rosie have chosen to stay with our neighbors after all.) After spending about half an hour with the cats, we decided to visit the dogs too, for no reason really other than that we like dogs. There were only about half a dozen dogs there and we were immediately struck by the presence of a funny little white, long-bodied dog. I’ll tell you all about him soon, but in the meantime, could you help us name him? We can’t seem to come up with anything that fits.
Something regal like Edward (Eddie) or Archie or Winston.
He looks like Falcor from Neverending Story to me.
I saw that dog and thought: Banjo! Haha.
Regardless of what you’ll name him, he’s so cute. I can’t wait to see more pictures of him. I hope he is settling in well, with all the kids and animals around! 🙂
I also love the pictures of the goats! Interesting to see that one of them has “regular” ears (instead of the tiny ones).
I hope you’ll get some rain soon 🙂
Mulroney
Cotton. Bright, soft, fluffy, pkayful
Shortstop -What an adorable dog! I don’t think I could have passed him up either.
He reminds me of a dog from a kids picture book from the 1940’s.
I also like Teddy or Scrappy.
How about sparky for your darling dog, he looks delightful. Thank you for your wonderful blogs you are such a ray of sunshine, I adore your beautiful children, and lovely that Keats is now helping you to get through some of your workload, so good for him and a great help to you xx
Pamuk!! It means cotton in turkish and I think it is very appropriate given his beautiful colour!!:)
That’s great to have Keats helping you with the business. he learns “the ropes” of a business – you have less stress! It’s a win-win!
The dog is so cute! He looks like he should be named, “Cherrio”!
Have fun choosing! 🙂
Newton.
He looks like a real little Dandy.
Hi Ginny
He is so white it has to be snowy.
And he does remind me a little of Toto from the wizard of Oz.
But he actually resembles a marshmallow ?
Good luck choosing x
He reminds me of the dog in the Belgian comic series Tintin et Milou (if his hair was longer). That is an extraordinary and very funny dog. So maybe you would like to call him Milou. The “i” is pronoubced like in ‘me’ and then add the lou. What a cute dog!!!
I’m going with something vaguely German, though I’m not sure why. (Maybe the long bodied/sausage dog connection?) Hans, Schnitzel, Gustav, Fritz… I am also a fan of the Finnegan suggestion.
When I first scrolled down I only got a glimpse of his head next to Mabel and I thought he was a terrycloth stuffed dog he was so cute!
How about Terry? Mr. Terry C. Sheller?
He also reminds me of my wonderful dog Ragzee who looked like a bunch of white rags bundled together.
He reminds me of Harry the Dirty Dog, without the spots.
‘Noodle’ came to me too
Bosco. Then he will have a feast day to celebrate too!
Snowy…..He looks a lot like the spunky sidekick dog from the TinTin comics! ☺️
How about Merry or Pippin from The Lord of the Rings.
What a cutie !!
We have two cats named Merry & Pippin!
He reminds me of Mr. Peabody, so cute good luck with naming him!
Olaf
Ruckby (from “struck by”)
Coconut! You can call him “Coco” for short! What a cutie!
Clyde
I immediately thought Chesterton – Chester for short. He’s really cute!
I thought Chester, too, when I saw him
He looks so proper and gentlemanly, ‘Mr. Bixby’ or simply ‘Bixby’??
Oh how great Keats is working with you!!
The dog is precious and the first thing that came to mind is he looks regal and needs a proper name maybe and – English, Scottish or Irish perhaps
Gillan
Allistair
Finnegan (Finn)
Douglas
Tam
Murphy
Toby
Oscar
Have fun naming him! What a cutie!!?
What a sweet little guy. He’s equally cute and distinguished looking. I suggest Scruff or Teddy. Or Waffles
I like Graham:)
For some reason the name that came to me first was Wallace. So I’m going to go with that. ?
He is a real cutie! Needs a strong name….what about just Jack!
My boys like Cannoli or Casper.
We have a few suggestions for names…
1.Noodle
2.Snowy
3.Blanco
4.Daisy
5.Darcy
6.Mishka
Oh, the dog is lovely.
My son works with me since he was 11, being a single mom with no family in the same country than us and homeschooling, this has always has been a reality for us.
Is not always peaceful, but sometimes is just beautiful, we teach violin to kids but mainly babies and toddlers and we love it, plus he has been able to save for guitar pedals and such, so it’s kind of similar.
Thank you for writing, when I have the time to read you it always fills my heart with nice feelings.
I think the pup should be named Macaroon. So nice that you and Keats are working so well together. Aren’t older kids the bomb. Can’t wait to see your update.
Noodle (the poodle)
He reminds me of a tiny version of my sweet white Golden Doodle, named Castiel after the angel. I think you are going to fall in love. I never expected to love a dog the way I love mine. I’m so happy I named him for an angel, because that’s what he is. So, maybe an angel name?
Curly. He’s cute.
Snowball
Puddin
How great for Keats and for you! Good call.
He looks like a Beau to me!
We have a Beau and as soon as I saw him, he looked just like Beau to me.
Doodle
Oliver of Teddy. Although he does look like Snowy from Tin-tin!
Ginny,
Oh the colors of the LofL fabrics!! They are to die for! Thank you thank you for my sachets??.
Your pup is so so cute. He struck me as a Champ. I am not sure why. Never had a dog by that name. My friend had a dog that looked exactly like that he was a Bichon frisée mixed with a dachshund. His name was Buster…but that was because he was a Buster. I hope you all enjoy him.
Your goats are the cutest.
Love to you all.
Frosty!
Chipper
Rory or Stuart.
How about Snowball? What a treasure. Best wishes, j in down under
My cousin had a pup that looked just like him and his name was Teddy. Such a sweet little guy!
Ugh, the grass is so crispy! And I agree, I’ve nearly given up watering anything at all. It’s all crisp.
But Jamie is bringing her goats here next week so I have to drag myself out there to erect pens. Blahhhh
Love those helpful older kids!!!
Ok, your doggie is just too cute! He reminds me of Ginger Pye from Eleanor Estes ?
I’m going for Snowflake or Finnegan! He is adorable!
OhFinn would be a great name!