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It's been a rough month. Like, really rough. This has pretty much been me since March...

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I've spent the last month fighting to get out of the lease for my office, finding a new office and taking my dog to the vet. Yep...that's right...more doggy drama for 2013.

We noticed a lump on Piper's leg in March. We watched it for a couple of weeks and then decided to take her in once it didn't seem to be getting any better. The vet took a look and decided to try to aspirate it...no go. So he did a needle biopsy. We got the preliminary results of a sarcoma a few days later. So...we scheduled for an excisional biopsy.

The day before that visit, I let her out in the yard, heard her bark once, and then she came back limping. Best I can figure, she either fell in one of Sadie's holes or slipped off of the rocks in the walking path and hurt herself. When the vet went into do the removal of her lump the next day, he diagnosed her with a torn ACL. Oy. She was back for surgery the following week.

Two weeks, two stapled incisions and nearly two thousand dollars later, Piper is now an indoor dog and a cancer survivor. The lump was indeed a sarcoma, though an early stage with low chance of metastasis. We have to watch her for recurrences.

Crashing out on the bed after ACL surgery. Don't mind the blanket pile in the background. I've been lazy with housework.

The staples came out last week, but she made a quick trip back to the vet today after we noticed a new lump in the area. The vet confirmed that it's just the nylon knot from the suture used to tie her new ACL, so we're breathing easier and we've also been informed that she's healing very well. A good thing to hear. I don't think I could bear losing another dog this year. Piper's my baby.

As for work...I finally got to the point where I was sick of paying through the nose for my lease. So...I hired up my lawyer. I wound up settling with him for a sizable amount of money and we're moving out this week. In the meantime, I've been searching for a new location. I had my time wasted by a colleague with an open space who very nearly had a deal signed with me before he managed to double the price he wanted and then also sprung on me that he wanted me to pay for all of the tenant improvements on his completely unbuilt space. Umm....no.

That sucked up almost three weeks that could have been used concentrating on lining up things for the space that I am currently signing on. VERY frustrating.

In the end, I found a great location for a good price and I'll be pretty happy. The office is a bit further from my house and requires me to wake up earlier, but it will be a great deal in the end. I also managed to get myself an additional job offer in the mix.  More about that on another day...once it's all finalized.

So...ya. Needless to say, I've been burnt out and not really feeling it so much in the crafting department. I'm finally starting to pull it back together though. This weekend I made this...

An apron for 2 year old Marley...it matches the one I made for her Mama.

...and did some lazy scrapbooking. Hey...it's a start.

And now I really am getting going on stuff for the Etsy shop. I'm super excited. Things will begin being posted to the shop this weekend. Yay!!! Progress!

It will be a slow start, but once things start to settle again I WILL be posting more regularly. I'm glad to be getting back to things...it makes life feel a little bit more normal. Thanks for waiting it out with me. Craft on!!