06 January 2010

DIY wonderfulness

Before I started writing this blog, I browsed through a number of blogs without leaving comments. I’m not sure what that is called today. In a previous professional existence years ago, more than I care to admit, we would have called it lurking.

The kind of blogs I liked to read had a home interior decorating and design content theme. Most were produced by a content generating staff or were written by individuals who were professionals in that line of business. I still read them and they remain among my favorites. These days, I leave comments from time to time when particularly struck by a topic or item of interest.

I wish I could say that I have a flair for home and interior design, but I do not. In order to compensate for my lack of innate ability, I really pay attention to the folks who are in-the-know. And I’ve gained a little knowledge.

Well, not that much.

One of my favorite blog themes for decorating and design, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone here, is the DIY: before & after. The kind of fabulous project that someone, just like me, accomplishes at home on their own, without a consultant, contractor or other design professional. Some of these blog posts are completely inspiring. I have taken a lesson or two and completed two or three of my own DIY projects. Not enough to start my own decorating blog, but had I taken some good photos of the before and after, they might (MIGHT) be comparable to similar projects that have been featured on said blogs.

Today, in a light-hearted attempt to remind myself that I’m not a professional, I present my latest DIY project. The homemade canine haircut. The subject is Jackie, my 14-year old mixed breed. Last Saturday, he was in dire need of a haircut. And he doesn't seem to mind the haircutting process. Much.


In the before image, we see Jackie with his nice fluffy fur. He had become a dog-hair shedding machine. Thus, the genesis of my DIY project.


And in the after image, the same dog, but with a choppy-chic new do. Hey, if Kate Gosslin can get the world's attention with a new hair-do....


Sorry Jackie, I promise it will grow back.
Some tasks are best left to the experts after all.

8 comments:

  1. You tried and that certainly counts for something!

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  2. Aw, he doesn't seem too fazed by the whole experience!!

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  3. Good job! My labradoodle grows out quickly, so I trim her with scissors because I don't want to scalp her. It is tedious and time consuming. My hubby took it upon himself to grab the clippers and go at her. While, I didn't want to go that short, it has grown on me(pun intended!) and she seems to fell better. The things we resort to for our pets!

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  4. I think the most important thing to keep in mind, is that Jackie doesn't seem to be too fazed by the whole ordeal. Her experession hasn't change from the before to the after picture.

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  5. this is true. Jackie has plenty of aches and pains, but his primary activity involves moving from one comfortable resting spot to another.

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  6. Oh don't kid yourself, it's gorgeous! SO much better than the haircut I gave stepson a few years ago that turned into a SHAVED head because I couldn't get it even and it got just too short to make it happen. I felt so bad. ...Amazingly I was forgiven, but it still comes up every now and then. Jackie looks pretty good for a 14 year old pooch. So sweet.

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  7. Very thrifty and sensible to trim the pup yourself. His expression hasn't changed much but you can tell he has enjoyed the attention.

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  8. That is so funny. You must have felt just awful! I have plenty of photographic evidence of homemade haircuts gone terribly awry when I was 3 or 4 years old and my mom cut bangs. They were never quite straight and always too short!! But she refrained from shaving my head - gotta hand out credit where credit is due :)

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