Day 1 Year 2018

Did you know the Gregorian Calendar, the one we use today, was set up in 1582. But not all countries used it as their civil calendar until 1923.  Took them a long time to get with the program.  The big difference from the


previously popular Julian calendar was the length of a day.  The Gregorian year equals 365.2425 days where the Julian Calendar Year was 365.25 days.

If you subscribe to the Buddhist Year the date would be 2562.  And the female Tibetan Fire Rooster Calendar is 2144.

So Happy Gregorian New Year to you all.

It was in the teens last night and today the highest number on the thermometer outside my back door only went to 27.  Last year we were in the camper from Hell with no heat.  It does get very cold in South Louisiana, doesn’t it.


I spent the day in my sewing room putting the HSTs on the birds.  I am thinking in either need it make some additional birds or to use some sort of alternative block.

I was thinking that the branch block from the Modern Guild might be an interesting thing.  The birds could appear to sit on the branches and sing their hearts out all day long.

I am listening to The Last Tudor by Phillipa Gregory.  She writes amazing biographical stories about the women in the 1400s and 1500s in Old England.  Lady Jane Grey, War of the Roses, The White Queen, the Red Queen.   The Seymores and the Stewarts.  If you like historical reads, definitely look her up in your library.




DiNozzo oversaw the replenishing of the Dog Bone Inventory.  We go through a ton of Milkbones every week. 

Here is the wine jelly I made from the leftover wine at the CAAWS Volunteer Party. It is absolutely wonderful.    Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio.  And edible flowers from Whole Foods.

And that is my new pig plate.  

And I am making vodka and scotch vanilla extract.  It needs to sit for 8 weeks before you use it.

I am going to be ready for the year 2144.......or 2562.........whichever is your preference.

Looking for a nice dog calendar for next year? Order several

This is, oh, maybe the 8th or 9th year I have put together a calendar for the Southbound Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club.  We are a group of Swissy enthusiasts who are from the southern states like Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, North and South Carolina and a few more northern states like Wisconsin and New York City!

Proceeds from the calendar sales support our activities like the Swissypalooza in Clemson, NC and the Cotton Classic Regional Dog Show and Fun Day Saturday in Perry, GA every year.  The Club also sponsors Pack Dog hikes across the South and individual Fun Day Picnics. 

If you order one now you get free ground shipping by using this coupon.  I think it will work for you, but  you must choose ground shipping to get it.

Use coupon code OCTGROUND305 at checkout, select Ground Shipping and receive the shipping free.

Dutch and Bonnie Doon, my late great Swissy girl, are in there of course and Jackie Mathis' most adorable pup graces the front cover.  If nothing else get the calendar for that face!

You can see the calendar on:

This picture of Ember is so funny.  I have had it for a while now, and i go to it often.  She looks so pathetic with Dan holding her up like that.  I'll bet that dog has damaged psyche from the trauma of the event!  LOL. 

Swissys are supposed to be black with red and white markings.  But in this calendar we have Swissys of ALL colors!  Here is Dash as a gray boy and Deuce, well, as Deuce!  Generally the gray puppies darken as they mature, even still they cannot be shown in the ring.  Dash turned a beautiful steel gray color.  He is most a most impressive boy.  The green ones eventually turn back to normal, except they have to look over their shoulders for spray cans.