This, That and the Other

Today I managed to make the other three blocks for the side swap.  Here's one; they are identical.  I like them. 

The swap-out is in a little more than two weeks.

So, I need seven more to have the size top that I want.  Six will come from Piecemeal's site and the last one will be Basket of Chips from Quilter's Cache.  I was a little bit surprised how quickly today's blocks went together.  Piecemeal's methods of construction are simply brilliant.  And she writes good instructions, too!

Blackberry isn't feeling well.  Without being too graphic, he's experiencing a couple of kinds of gastrointestinal distress.  This began in the middle of the night on Thursday and has worsened.  Our theory is that the training treats we started giving him on or about Thursday are a little too rich for him, and we need to lay off.  Meanwhile, he's kind of lethargic.  We've put together the old standby Sick Dog Meal of cooked hamburger, rice, and cottage cheese, but he's not interested.  As long as he drinks enough water, we're not real worried.  We've stopped the treats and just need him to get any residue out of his system.  We'll try again with the SDM in the morning.

He's a bright puppy.  He had his name down pat within about three days and is beginning to understand what "No!" means.  Not that he is in agreement all of the time.  And we've decided on his formal name, the name to go on his papers when they come.  Being's as how he's not only an English springer spaniel, but also comes from UK bloodlines, he's going to be Lord Hazelmere of Blackberry.  What do you think of that, Goddessa Binx?

And finally, a bit of a MOOOOOOOO from a Cranky Old Woman coming along here.

What the heck were this girl's parents thinking?  My hunch is that they were misoverestimating her skill and pretty darned aware of the book, appearance, and movie money to be made.  I'm not implying that they don't love their daughter, but rather that their judgment just really wasn't any better than the 16-year-old's.  They thought it was so important for her to take a chance at being the youngest person ever to accomplish what she set out to do that they let her go off without an escort boat "just in case," therefore knowing full well that some generous strangers would have to put their lives at risk to rescue her in the all-too-likely event that she became imperiled on the sea.  And they'll still get all the $$$$$ from the book, the appearances and the Lifetime Channel for Women movie that will likely be made. 

I find the whole situation utterly disgusting.

Moo to you, Sunderland parents!