Buster update

This is really hard for me to report, especially because of all the magic that happened last night.

Last night was a truley incredible experience for me. I had a friend reach out to some friends of hers and a snowball effect took place. This was so fast and furious that I was overwhelmed with emails and convo's and forum posts, it was so hard to keep up with it all. I went to sleep last night with the comfort knowing that I had a woman in Maryland (Chris) who was going to pick Buster up at the shelter and drive him up to Staten Island, NY. Then I had a woman in Brooklyn (Francine) who would pick him up from Chris in Staten Island and transport him as close to me as she could...probably somewhere in Connecticut. I was giddy.

I could barely sleep last night thinking about Busters trip, and wanting to get up as early as possible to call Jane and give her the good news. I left a message at 8am on her answering machine, called my two angels who were all ready to go as soon as I gave the word, and tried to do some busy work waiting for my call back from Jane.

10am rolls around and Jane has not called, so I called Pam, my other Northeastern Boxer Rescue contact. Pam was so happy with the news, but told me that the last time she spoke to Jane, she got the feeling that Jane was prepared to make the drive down to get him by herself. So I called my angels again, thanked them up and down and told them I would keep them posted, but for now it is on hold until I hear from Jane.

I spent most of today getting totally stressed out waiting, and not knowing if she drove down to Delaware or not, and not knowing if I was getting Buster today or not, but deep down inside I really was thinking that she just drove down there to get him.

At about 3:30pm, I got a call from Jane's husband. He said that Jane was going to drive down to get him, but that Massachusetts requires that all shelter strays be quarantined for 48 hours in a state approved facility before they can be fostered or adopted here. I had never heard of anything like this before.

So, now it looks like the earliest he will be with us is Wednesday or Thursday.

I feel defeated, depressed and just totally worn out emotionally right now. But I am still hopeful, and I just know that this will eventually end in Buster's favor...he needs to get out of there!

Buster's Hell

I spoke to Jane from the Boxer Rescue a couple of times today.
The first conversation was very disturbing to me, in fact, I find myself completely disgusted with the Kent County SPCA. Jane told me that she put a call in to them earlier this week and they just returned her call today. They say that no one can get close to Buster, he is acting aggressive. She did find one woman who works there who can pet him through the bars of his cage, but she is terribly afraid of the woman who runs the place and the rules there are that you 'do not pet the animals'. I also found out that this shelter does kill, so that is why they do not want their employees getting close to any of the animals. Jane is paying them NOT to kill Buster.

This is especially disturbing, since Buster was doing so well in his previous foster home before he was pushed from behind to get back into his kennel. He was getting into it with no problem following a treat thrown in. I fear his stay at this shelter is doing more damage to him than even being left on the street to fend for himself. So, in trying to make me understand how this shelter works, Jane told me that they shake the cage doors to get the dogs to move to the back when they feed and water the dogs. I'll tell you, if my cage door was being rattled, I would not be so happy with my keepers either.

Now this brings us to the snafu. Delaware is so far out of the area of volunteers that NBR has, it is proving almost impossible to find someone to drive him out of there. Jane actually asked the only girl at the shelter who can pet him, if she would be willing to drive Buster for a distance, with pay. She is so scared of her boss that I am worried she won't do it. I am hopeful tho, Jane said the woman is working on Sunday and Jane will plead with her again. I will pick him up as far away as I have to, hopefully no farther than New Jersey. Obviously this shelter is not out to rehabilitate dogs, they are nasty and disgusting and I am appalled.


Picture of Buster lifted from NBR, photographed by previous foster person.

Buster WILL be a good doggie. He will gain trust, have security and love here. He will eventually give love back, and I am eager and willing to work with him until he can.
The word 'Rescue' has new meaning to me now.

My Impatience is epic!

I can think of nothing more than a dog in Delaware.
A dog that I have not even met.

Impatience is a virtue. No, that's not right, it is patience that is a virtue...anyhoo....impatience is what I have right now, and I am virtuously waiting.
I am just about ready to take the next two days off and go pick him up myself. Too bad I cannot do that right now. If this was last week, I could have totally packed up and made the drive down there...oh well. I will remain virtuous in my waiting.

This is really hard. The waiting, that is.

Home Visit

The home visit with the Boxer Rescue volunteers went so well!
If Buster turns out to be even half of the great dog Winslow turned into, I will be a very happy girl!
I didn't want to let Winslow go home with them. What a great dog!
The couple and their two dogs stayed here for a little over an hour, we talked dogs, played with dogs, petted dogs, and got kisses.
When they were ready to leave, they asked us when we would be ready for Buster. We said as soon as possible, so they think they are going to collect a bunch of volunteers from Delaware to Boston, and make a driving train to get him here. Currently the Rescue is spending $50 a day to keep him in a no kill shelter, so I assume they will do it quick.
I am so excited! I really can't wait. I know he is going to be trouble at first, but I think we can do our magic and turn him into a trusting and loving member of our family.

And our new bed is just AWESOME!!!!! Scott's already had a couple of naps on it, I layed down for a while, but it was before the volunteers got here, so I couldn't sleep.

Oh, and it's a beautiful day, sunny in the 40's...Life is good!
Yay for Saturday!!!

Movin' on up....to Queensize....

New mattress coming in the morning...
new mattress coming in the morning...
new mattress coming in the morning...
no more sleeping on a bag filled with hay and twigs!

I just want to remember my last sleepless night on this lumpy sad excuse for a bed.

This has been a long week waiting. We bought the mattress on Monday, and couldn't have delivery until Saturday. Not entirely Jordan's fault, but they do TELL you when they will come, and then they GIVE you the 4 hour window, so since we couldn't pick, Saturday it is. The 4 hour window that Barry gave us through his recorded message is 7am - 11am...so we are getting up EARLY!!! It's okay tho, cause chances are we won't be sleeping too well anyway.

Tomorrow is a big day for us!
I bought new sheets...QUEENSIZE sheets....and new curtains for the windows that match...heeheee, I am giddy. I even got a bedskirt.

Buster

As some of you may already know, I have been in contact with the Northeastern Boxer Rescue recently.
I had been hoping to adopt a dog, but after a few conversations with some of the volunteers, and learning of Buster's situation, we are going to try fostering him.
He was in a foster home in Delaware, but seems to have gotten himself back into a shelter. This is heartbreaking to me. He will need a lot of work, including training, but I think I am up for the challenge. I think that after some love, affection and training, he will turn out to be a great addition to our family.

Picture of Buster lifted from NBR, photographed by previous foster person.
How cute is he?
Saturday we will have a home visit with a couple who volunteer for NBR and they will be bringing Winslow with them. Winslow has a very similar background as Buster, so they want to show us how much he has improved. They fostered him and recently adopted him. Winslow is a lucky pup!

Jewelry II Bezel Class!

I just recently signed up for a new metals class, and I am so excited, I can hardly wait for it to start!

This class will be at Metalwerx in Waltham.
The class I will be taking is Jewelry II - Bezel making for cabachons taught by Ann Cahoon, we will even cover odd shapes, not just round and oval. Did I say I can't wait?!?

I have already been creating my own bezels and setting cabachons in them, but this class will really give me some great tips and new techniques to really take my jewelry to a whole different level.

I fear April 17th won't come fast enough for me.

A few pieces from this weekend

I made a bunch of new stuff this weekend.
The Earth Bazaar has a sale called "Deal of the Week" on a fairly regular basis. I try not to look, because when I do, I just want everything. I think I need to ban myself from ordering from them. These new pieces are using some beads that I got from my last order with them.
Hessonite garnet crocheted necklace.

Labradorite earrings.

Tourmaline crocheted necklace.

Rainbow moonstone and garnet earrings.

I love tiny beads!

Jennifer's ring and pendant

I tried to capture what we spoke about but it was impossible to get the heart low in the corner because it needed two points of contact to be secure.

Here is the ring





And the pendant which has not been polished yet.




The two together, you can really see a difference in the finish here, but they will look the same when the pendant is polished.

March already?

I can't believe it is March already.
I feel like this year is slipping away from me, where does the time go? Ok, that was a rhetorical question...disregard please.

Anyhooo, I have been making a lot of stuff, listing almost daily and getting a decent amount of sales from Etsy and a few from the gallery. I need to check on Cheeky Diva this week, it's been ages since I have been there to check my stuff. I don't want to do consignment anymore, I think that's why I've been dragging my feet.
I have actually been getting a few custom requests from Etsy, one last week, and four this weekend that I am working on right now (they are in the pickle pot) and will list them as soon as I finish them.

This afternoon, Scott and I went to our oldest nephew's birthday party. It's nice to chat with the inlaws for a few hours (there were kids everywhere), but I am glad I can come home to peace and quiet.
I thought I would share the cutest thing I saw there...little Nicky rockin' out playing GH3.

Leah is playing with him, standing behind him. Check out the giant TV in the kids basement playroom.