Why We Foster Dogs

We have a one year old boy.
My husband and I both work full time.
We have a small house with a fenced in yard.
We have three dogs - the third one is a recent addition, but none of our pups would qualify as "small".
We have a limited budget.

There is a rescue that is local to us, Ruff House Rescue, and they need volunteers every day, twice a day, to walk the dogs in their kennel and to clean the kennels. Our lifestyle, between work and the baby, is not one where I can give them a lot of time, because their morning shift is when I am at work, and their night shift is when I am putting the baby to bed (and going to bed myself because that baby gets up at 5 or 6 am). I cannot volunteer to help them the way that I want to. So, I have found other ways to help.
1. As often as possible, we foster. We had fostered this lovely girl recently, but I knew we would keep her as soon as I saw her. Her name is Peaches and she has had a rough life. We had to take her to the vet, and found out (unrelated to the malady she was there for) that someone had shot this girl with BBs! She is sweetness and light, and around eight years old, and my family will make sure that she has nothing but the most wondrous of lives from here on out.

We will foster other dogs, and are currently having play dates with different dogs to see who fits in with our three!

2. We try to collect items they need and bring them to the rescue. They are often looking for dog toys, newspapers, plastic bags, bleach, paper towels, dog treats, etc. 

3. We volunteer when we can. Sometimes it is to take a dog to the groomer. Sometimes it is to take a dog for a playdate. Sometimes it is to walk. Sometimes it is to help when they get a lot of dogs in on transport. 

4. We share posts on Social media for the rescue. We share Facebook, Twitter and Instagram photos. We take pictures of our foster dogs and talk about what kinds of situations we feel they would shine in. We try to share as many of the dogs as possible without being super annoying (well, it is probably super annoying, but whatever). Having hung out with some of these dogs, I get extra attached and really want them to find a loving home where they aren't crated 23 hours a day.

5. We raise money. This year, I participated in a yard sale where we raised some bank for the rescue! It was great to work with others for a great cause! I have created an art print in various colors to raise money as well!

These are just a few examples. If you email me at feathermar@yahoo.com, I would be happy to send you one FOR FREE in exchange for donating directly to my favorite rescue Ruff House Rescue. Soon enough, we may have them available for purchase through their site. They are in a tough place right now, and need to relocate as soon as possible. I am amazed by these dedicated volunteers who put so much time and energy into saving so many dogs (and sometimes cats) and trying to find them wonderful lives.

Tubby

Obligatory re-introduction post about baby Henry, who is One Year Old.
He's pretty cool.

This Weekend!

I volunteer for an awesome local animal rescue called Ruff House Rescue . I go when I can to walk dogs, and bring newspaper and plastic bags, and clean up puppy poop, and we have fostered one dog (so far). With a full time job and a fairly new baby and two dogs of my own, this is as much as I can help on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.

But, sometimes you have to think outside the box!

I have certain (hoarding) talents that lend themselves to yard sales - I'm pushy, I'm a collector who has to get rid of things, and I can do this with a baby in tow. So, with many donations, and a new location - I am helping to host a yard sale where ALL profits go directly to the rescue, who will use them for food and boarding, toys and vet bills and other awesome things for the dogs and cats in their care!

I also made a few totes to sell:

They are simply blank canvas totes with heat and bond appliques in silhouettes of puppies and cats! I thought they were really cute, and had bought the stuff to make them a while ago! I hope we make a lot of dough for a great cause!

Here's Sophie with our foster pup, Reuben, who has already gone to his awesome forever home!

And this guy will be at the sale, too! Henry will give you a smile and a giggle and maybe a snore if he is taking a nap!

If you live on Long Island or close to it, we'd love to see you for a great cause! Or go to their website (ruffhouserescue.com) and check out the awesome animals they have ready for adoption and lists of their adoption events! You could volunteer as a dog walker, which will help YOU get exercise while giving the dogs some MUCH NEEDED attention and exercise! Why are you paying for a gym when you could help out a puppy instead? They need help, and I know you are just the person to do it! If you don't live close to hear, find a shelter in your neighborhood! One morning or evening a week could make such a difference in the lives of animals - sure - but it will get you right in the feels, too!

A little Look at Our Life

Fairly happy baby - teething, drooling, watches the dogs move around, likes to watch the kids move around at Nanas - he smiles a lot!

Baxter, pretty much a lay-about. Always excited for food and drink and likes to pee on the fence, behind which a possum may or may not live.

Sophie has been sick again. She has an auto-immune disease that makes her back legs and jaw especially painful. The answer, unfortunately, is steroids, and everytime we wean her off she gets sick again. We are trying an immunosuppresent, too, but I've got low expectations. Steroids aren't great for her, but her quality of life without them is pretty gross.

Fingers in mouth, mostly.

Hanging with our puppy.

Every morning, Baxter gives Henry some Good Morning kisses!

Drool. 

Time Flies

Easter came and went, with a furrowed brow. He wasn't too impressed.

He's a smiley baby a lot of the time, though he is sick right now, with glassy eyes with purple circles underneath. Babies with a cold are quite pathetic looking.

Going back to work was surprisingly easy, because we have the best Nana-babysitter in the whole world. Quinn told me "Don't worry. We are going to take very good care of Baby Henry today." He is three and amazing. Baby Joe even loves the baby a little...most of the time.

In which there is a baby

This is my Henry. He is six weeks old today. He is a really big deal. He's sort of blond with blue eyes so far, and he likes to eat and sleep. He was almost ten pounds when he was born and we are very lucky because he is a very nice baby. The dogs have accepted him into the family very easily and he is not bothered when they go crazy every day when the postal man comes to the mailbox. I guess he got used to their barking while he was growing in my belly.

So many people have been so generous with gifts, and we are so blessed with handmade items. I'll have to go back to work in a couple of weeks, so I'm trying to really absorb everything that's happening now.

So, it's hard and it's easy and that's weird. And we bought a minivan and that's weird. And some days I can't do more that put on new socks and feed myself and the baby and other days I can do 40 chores, make dinner, bake a cake, take a shower and do something nice for someone else. What's the difference between the first kind of day and the second kind of day? I have no idea. I don't know it when it's happening. It doesn't seem like it's the baby, it doesn't seem like it's me - I don't know. Whole days pass where nothing happens - whole days pass where everything happens. Interesting.

 

Trying to Clean out

Before the bebe comes! We have a lot going on - potential house construction, a leftover Superstorm Sandy tenant (who lives in our basement, but should be moving soon) a new baby coming...I'm trying not to add to the clutter, but to take away! This means making sure everything is listed (maybe it will sell for the holidays?), making sure I don't buy MORE and trying to use what craft supplies I have on hand for all of the delightful baby gifts I have yet to make (did I mention that there are three new babies just born and another one on the way before my baby comes?).
So here are a few things you might not have seen that I have listed in the ol' etsy shop.

Wheaton, NJ tiny bottles

Murray-Allen tins!

Tulip candleholders!

 

I have also relisted any Christmas stuff I have lingering in inactive listings...Man, I hope this works. Our house is full of good-intentioned buys and many things that I thought I had sentimental attachments to can go right out the door - wish the weather was warmer, because I would totally have a garage sale...oh, well.

I did go thrifting with my best bud, Kate yesterday. I bought a couple of baskets for the house and a couple of sweaters to cover my giant belly, and a couple of records for my dad for Christmas. I restrained myself and the only silly non-useful thing I bought were two lego sets - both turkeys...hilarious.

Taking a Break

I'm taking a break from blogging and etsy and thrifting and buying and selling. I'm having a little self-maintenance time, trying to be a little healthy and a little restful. It's interesting. A little summer nap...

Catch up or Ketchup or Catsup? eh.

 Just a few favorite pictures as of late, to tell you what's going on with me:

 Andy and I, twinsies in our Converse. He's my best friend, and has cool shoes, to boot!

Kate and I drove for hours through the pouring rain to go to the Country Living fair in Rhinebeck, NY! It was pouring the whole time we were there, but it was WORTH IT! We saw so many cool things and it was the happiest place I've been in a long time.

You know who was there? Cari Cuxley from Cash and Cari on HGTV! I bought a red "M" from her, but she didn't recognize me as her long lost soulmate, so I didn't take a picture with her...She's really pretty, guys. Really pretty.

Look at these awesome wooden tulips! They were big, like two feet tall. I love love LOVED them, but if I brought them home and put them in the yard, Sophie would eat them. That's what she does. Wood is fair game.

And last but not least:

Quinn. You're welcome, Interwebs.

Big Sigh

Well, in the past two weeks, I've been sick as a dog, attended two weddings, took a bus trip to Brimfield (!), washed the house from top to bottom for houseguests, gotten prepared for more houseguests, and had a puppy eat part of our couch. She also ate the brand new dress that I bought for one of the weddings, and was fixed at the vet (unrelated but around the same time). I haven't had time to thrift, so I've been "shopping my stash," which is a knitter's thing to do. I'm reminding myself why I bought things in the first place. I was supposed to have a yard sale next week, but I can't, because there's too much going on here. Boo. But, on to the stash:

This is a very HEAVY picture frame with a swivel back, so it can fit a vertical or horizontal picture. I saw another listing of a very similar one that said it was solid brass. The picture doesn't do it justice.

 

Three bar glasses in tomato red and turquoise.

401 Pyrex snowflake pattern. I had stopped selling them because they are such a pain to ship. But I have to get rid of stuff. I'm starting to feel like a hoarder.

And this awesome trivet:

"Oh weary mothers rolling dough

Don't you wish that food would grow?

How happy all the world would be

With a cookie bush and a doughnut tree!"

It's pretty awesome. Don't be jealous. I'd sell it to you if you wanted it.

LInking up to Sir Thrift a LOt

Memorial Day

It's Giveaway Day! (Well, Giveaway Week!)

It's Giveaway Day, complete with a linkup over at the Sew, Mama, Sew blog, where you can enter to win hundreds of handmade items, just by visiting blogs! Superfun!
Today, I offer you three hand knit organic cotton baby hats that I sell in my etsy shop: Feathermar.

 You can enter to win three organic cotton, hand-knit baby hats in colors of your choice! All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog with your email address or another way to contact you!
These hats fit most newborn-3month olds. They are available in cream, blue, light blue, dusty pink, hot pink, shell pink, white, cream, tan, dark brown, Caribbean blue, pumpkin orange, aqua, marigold yellow, lemon yellow, grass green, green variegated, pine green, plum and aqua variegated (actually very pretty), and I can make stripes on many of these colors. They are super cute and make a wonderful present for babies and mamas and daddies alike! Organic cotton is grown without pesticides, which is important because cotton holds the pesticides long after manufacturing and washing, and then you are putting all those pesticides next to the baby's head!
I also resell vintage home items, like mid-century planters and owl banks (doesn't everyone do that?). I'd be happy if you visited my etsy shop Feathermar, but it isn't a requirement of this giveaway!
Have a great GIVEAWAY DAY, and go back to Sew Mama Sew and enter to win more more MORE! YAY!
Giveaway is open until 5/10 at midnight. I will email the winners the following day for their address! This is open to everyone, regardless of what continent you live on.

Just a Couple

I only went to garage sales in the afternoon on Saturday. Just a little bit...as I'm supposed to be prepping for my own and figuring out how to sell what I have. It's addicting though...thinking the most amazeballs things could be out there for me to find...

 This beautiful UPco planter

 A glass making book

This beautiful ballet dancer in an amazing frame. It's old, maybe forties, and I have no idea who the painter is. I want to keep it for myself, but it is so far from anything I own already. I mean, completely different. Maybe I'll have to paint a room around it.

And this wasn't from this weekend, but this is a selection of vintage wallpaper I found in someone's basement. I think it is awesome.

I feel like I always see posts where people got a jar of beads or buttons or something and they had something special in them and I NEVER see anything like that.
Except.
Except for YESTERDAY! I got a JAR OF WONDERS! A big giant jar of junk jewelry!

Magnificent!

Some Weiss earrings (singles, of course), some crazy bangles...they're all a little mushed or squished or have parts missing. But, I'm pretty sure I can make something amazing with some of them, and find some use for others. The best feeling was breaking it open when I got home and looking through it. BEST BEST BEST!

Did a lot of cleaning

and no thrifting. But I thriftily found some things I had forgotten about:

70s family

Very heavy nursery frame with field mice and balloons.

You me and ours bar set.

And, because the Easter bunny brought me some new craft punches (bless you, Martha Stewart), I made some nursery art for friends of ours who are having a baby. They have a gender-neutral woodsy themed nursery, and I liked the idea of making a very colorful tree.

I spent a lot of time cleaning and trying to get things sorted for the Mother of All One Day Yard Sales...hopefully coming this May to a yard near you...my yard...