When my daughter was in high school, her best friend’s mother was the art teacher at the local Catholic grade school. I can’t explain how much I admire this woman! She is an amazing artist, an amazing parent to her children and grandchildren, she has a sense of humor that can’t be beat and so much more! Don’t let all the little cracks make you think she is broken. Those are just all the little pieces that have been put together to make her who she is.
One day my daughter was talking about her friend’s family dog; a greyhound who had been rescued from the racing industry, and how adorable he was, and that his name was CJ.
Sometimes as a knitter (admittedly with a vaguely twisted sense of humor) you hear things that make your sense of humor perk up. This is exactly what happened when I heard my daughter say that her friend’s dog was named CJ. You see, her friend’s mother is Catholic and her dad is Jewish. I would put money on that being where the dog got the name CJ.
My mind began to race! I could make them a gift-a life like crocheted greyhound. I could anonymously leave it on their front porch. The dog would have a collar and a name tag to make it as realistic as possible. The tag would read JC because if the real dog was CJ, the imitation would have to be JC. They would understand and appreciate it and laugh hysterically. They would love it.
I shared my idea with my daughter. Her immediate reaction was “NO MOM! NO! DON’T DO IT! NO! Her reaction confirmed it was the perfect idea.
First, I had to learn to crochet and I’m left handed so that added a little bit of struggle. I found a simple pattern for crochet skulls and I taught myself to crochet left handed (it makes a difference.) Then, I began searching the internet for a lifelike greyhound pattern. I found the perfect pattern-very realistic looking. So much so that if it were in a chair or on the couch when you walked into the room you would look at least twice. I ordered the pattern and started to work on the head. I made it to the neck before I ran into something beyond what crocheting skulls had taught me. The project went into time out and remains there today. I know more about crochet and I promise I will return to JC and finish the job. Even though CJ is long gone, I will deliver the dog and explain the original plan. The looks on their faces will be just as priceless and they will love the dog just the same.
My Patio 