Kobo Vox ARGH!!

I got a Kobo Vox at Christmas. Sound didn't work from the speaker. Called Kobo and they said to reset it to factory defaults. Did that and still nothing. Told us we would hear from a tech. Never did. Got an email saying the problem was solved!!?!?!. Emailed again, and was told to reset it. HA HA. Around this time I began to search online and see if Kobo had good customer feedback. Clearly not. Only wish I had known before money was spent. We just kept getting standard "Thank you for contacting us etc etc" email. Finally I got pretty fed up (that is putting it very politely) and I found an online message board for Kobo. And I posted my complaint for all to read. We finally began to get somewhere. Sadly, the postage label they sent was Fedex and they do not take shipments in this remote town. So we contacted them again on Jan 2 to let them know and they said they would get back to us with another shipping method. Now we are at Jan 11 and still nothing. Emailed on Jan 6 to ask how long it would take and received another auto response. Today I blew a fuse on their message board. Response - we have checked your incident # and see that somebody is dealing with you. HUH??? That was back on Jan 2!

The reason I chose a Kobo Vox was that I wanted to deal with a Canadian company. BIG MISTAKE. Lesson learnt....research much more re customer service and faulty goods before buying. They have a really bad service record and it appears many people are pulling their hair out trying to get service. I should have just bought a Kindle and not have had to facility to have books read to Jesse in colour. I also wanted to install other apps and ordinary Kobos and Kindles can't do that.

New Hooks


Just received a shipment of Symfonie Dreamz Crochet Hooks.

Very impressed with the finish on these hooks. Smooth - so sure not to snag yarns. They are not too long either. I often find wooden hooks to be longer than metal hooks for some reason. These are a perfect length for me. I get a feeling these might become a favourite of mine.

I am not normally one for New Year's Resolutions. However -- having taken a long hard look at all of the recycling bags in my closet, I feel this needs to change. My New Year Resolution is to actually finish some of these projects/designs.
The list so far:

1. Border Baby Cardigan. My own design. Needs sleeves. Knit
2. Baby Headband with flower. Crochet
3. Santa Hat - crochet. This will be unravelled. Umm think I missed Xmas!!
4. Baby Car Seat Heart Blanket. My own design. Have made many squares but then just stopped for some reason. This is a great portable project.
5. Santa Hat - knit. I will still try to finish this one. It shouldn't take too long.
6. Cardigan for myself - knit. My own design.

This is the Border Baby Cardigan - I need to find my notes for the sleeves.

Also realised I have a few sewing projects. Have the fabric but haven't even begun to use it. Considering I purchased a Serger especially for some of these, I really feel I need to get a move on.

1. Speed Skating Skin Suit for Jesse - have some great Speedo Lycra for the top part.
2. Fleece Lounge Pants. Polar Bear Fleece is ready and waiting.
3. Pajama pants. Cats and Dogs Flannel.

And just because Jesse (in green) is so funny here is a photo of him with his best friend Jack. Picture was taken at our November Speed Skating Camp.

I tried and I failed. What can I say? I HATE Wordpress. We are not friends and I have moved my blog back to Blogger.

The blog is moving. Blogger is ending its ftp access so I wouldn't be able to host it on my own domain.

So we are moving to a Wordpress blog instead.

Please update your links to http://karpstyles.com/wordpress/

Come on over and see my new dog.

Coming Sooooon

I can't wait to see these crochet hooks in "real life". They are inline hooks which I personally don't use but I have thousands of customers that do. Made from the finest wood which is slant cut. And what amazing colours! I also have double pointed knitting needles on the way too.

Stunning New Designer Knitting Patterns

A designer contacted me and asked if I would be interested in stocking her patterns. Personally, I think they are stunning. I only wish I had the time to knit them for myself. The unique patterns come from knitwear designer Vladimira Cmorej - Vadis Designs.

OOps I did it again.

I have a bad habit of not being able to control my arm when somebody asks for volunteers. This time it was at the AGM for the local Speed Skating club. My son began speed skating this season. They needed executive members and I volunteered. I have to admit that I find speed skating great fun. I only wish I was confident on ice myself. Didn't grow up with skates on my feet like my own son.

Halloween and Pumpkins

I was looking through some work of mine and remembered a design I came up with a few years ago. It is a Jack-0-Lantern bookmark pattern. Fast to crochet using size 10 thread. You can find the pattern free on my website.

For Halloween, my son, Jesse, will be Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. He will have a flashing red nose. Christmas will reach us early LOL.

Addi Click Interchangeable Knitting Needles

At last some of these sets arrived for the store. I have to say that I am really impressed with them. The joins are so smooth and there are endless combinations of lengths and needle sizes. They aren't going to stay in stock long, that is for sure. I think I will get a set for myself too. They would be great for when I am travelling. All those needles in one small case!!!!! I love Addi Turbo needles as they just glide through the yarn. An A+++++++++ from me.

Snow, Snow, Snow

Woke up to a blanket of that white stuff this morning. GROAN.

It was supposed to be a day off for me at the Shelter. Then I got a call and realised that something was going on that shouldn't have been. So I had to clear all the snow from my van and head over there. There are 8 cute puppies that need caring for right now. I see it is snowing out again and I need to back there at 8pm to feed the little bundles of fur again.

Life has a bad habit of getting in the way of my blogging.

So what is going on here? Well there are now 4 dogs here. Fostering a dog that was found near death's door. He is doing great. It will be really hard to say to goodbye to him when the time comes. That could be a couple of months off yet though.

Hockey starts again tonight. Not sure how I feel about that right now. Jesse will be doing a speed-skating camp this weekend and I think he is going to be really good at it. Then we might have to drop another sport.

I am supposed to be coaching Indoor Soccer for the Under 8s. Finding it hard to get information from the organisers so we shall see if that ever comes to fruition.

Was happy to be asked to judge crafts in the local Fall Fair. Not too much was entered though so I was asked to bring some of my own work in to add to the crochet on display. Both of these dolls won 1st place ribbons a few years ago. I never time to crochet anything like that these days.

RIP Michael.

May you now find peace!

Happy Birthday Itsy

Well it actually took place on Feb 22nd. She is now 10 years old. I cannot believe how fast those years went.

I copied Paula's idea and gave her Beneful with candles on. She loved it. So did Kiah.



Today Kiah had her ears up a lot. It is really odd as they tend to stay up until hubby gets home and then they go down. She is clearly way more submissive with him. Kiah is now 5 months. If her ears are not up properly by 6 months, we might need to aid them a bit.

Kiah at 4 months and one week.

She has two rows of front teeth - which probably accounts for her starting to bite me again. One ear keeps going up and down so I assume they are both on their way up.

Merry Christmas

Jesse singing in the school Christmas concert. He is in a white shirt. With the santa hat. All about brusing teeth in French as he goes to a French school (not immersion).



And at home somewhat more confident singing Feliz Navidad. THIS is how Jesse normally is.

First Goal of the Season




Hay River Novice were due to play High Level on Dec 13th. The temperature went down to -30C so High Level cancelled. Some of the older Atoms made up a team so we could still have the matches.

Jesse #77 scores his first goal of the season. Brad shot and the puck rebounded off the goalie and Jesse put it in the net. One really proud mommy here......

Please Welcome..............


Mottopride Memories of Kizzie

Known to the Karp family as Kiah.

Born Oct 1, 2008
































Kiah was supposed to arrive on Nov 30. She was being flown from Edmonton International on Canadian North to Hay River. The breeder, Sandi, of Mottopride had her at the airport with plenty of time to spare and checked her in. We were ready for her. Then Sandi called to say she had heard from Canadian North that Kiah missed the flight. They wanted Sandi to come back and get her. It was impossible for her to do that due to circumstances. Canadian North then had to find a kennel for Kiah for the night. We were beside ourselves with worry. We needn't have been. The kennel called. They had Kiah in their home. Even sent us the photo below. She was doing great and I think Kiah just took the time to socialise a little more before she came to us.



A huge thank you to Perfect Place Kennels of Devon, Alberta for the care and love they showed Kiah. (Pic of her at kennel)

Kiah finally arrived on the plane in Hay River, Northwest Territories at 10am on Dec 1. She was fine after her flight. Honestly, I think most humans would have been upset after the ordeal she had but she was fine. And she is right at home with us. I call her NO BITE as she is typical puppy and has to bit everything and everybody. But talk about SMART. She has only been with us for 5 days ans she can sit, lie down, stay, come (although not constant yet).

The day she arrived we also had a vet's appointment booked for her and cat. Little did we know that two hours after getting off the plane, she would be travelling in the van to the vets.

There was a really sad part to the vet visit. We collected the ashes of Kizzie. The girls who work with the vet had decorated the box with flowers and a photo of Kizzie. It was so sweet of them. They don't normally do this evidently. I think they really felt our grief. And yes, we still miss her like mad even though we have a puppy in our lives.

Still Sad.......


Added after I posted this. Forgot to say that this photo was taken two days before she passed.

More than one month has passed since Kizzie left us. We all still miss her terribly. The cat still looks for her, our other dog still looks for her and her ears twitch and she looks around at the mention of Kizzie. A wonderful testimonial to her was when the neighbours behind us said how much they missed her too. They said they always knew when somebody was in their driveway as Kizzie would bark. She was not one of those incessant barkers as she was trained not to do that. She just let us know that somebody was there. I felt protected. I am constantly checking to see if doors are locked since she went.



I found this poem and it still makes me cry when I read it.


The Spirit of a German Shepherd Dog

was standing on a hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And the spirit of a German Shepherd Dog
Was lying at my feet.

He looked at me with kind dark eyes
An ancient wisdom shining through
And in the essence of his being
I saw love there too.

His mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day
And he told me of this story
About a place so far away.

I stood upon that hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And in a twinkling of a second
His spirit left my feet.

His tale did put my heart at ease
My fears did fade away
About what lay ahead of me
On another distant day.

"I live among God's creatures now
In the heavens of your mind
So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.

My collar is a rainbow's hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.

There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God's heavens
Among my Shepherd kind.

I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me
And dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be.

The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
And Milkbones line the walkways
Just waiting to be found.

There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed.

For we're all winners in this place
We have no faults, you see
And God passes out those ribbons
To each one, even me.

I drink from waters laced with gold
My world a beauty to behold
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side.

At night I sleep in an angel's arms
Her wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.

So when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait.

Kizzie

1997 - Oct 14, 08

Our loyal protector.