Today was PugFair 2008 and what a terrific day for an outdoor event. It was very warm in the sun and the occasional cool breeze would blow through to remind a person that autumn is here.
We'd started preparing for the event a few weeks before. I'd made some scarves and donated them for auctioning or prizes. Jo-Ann's had one of my favorite yarns, Moda Dea Ticker Tape on sale ($1.99 a skein which is $6 cheaper than the regular price!) and I found a free pattern on the internet and was able to knit up a few. One in Sunset (a variegated color scheme that is very autumnal) and one in a variegated shades of pink. I made some cute gift bags using Pug greeting cards and bows and was able to donate a couple of nice packages.
After getting the scarves done, I started working on Titan's (aka KP) costume for the costume parade and contest. Patrick and I had pondered
what kind of costume we should make for him, and in my constant striving for yet another bad pun, I opted to make him a "Beer Pug." (Beer mug/beer pug, get it? Apparently neither did the judges. Or maybe they drink from steins?) Perhaps next year I'll try a coffee mug joke.I started out with a dog "sweatshirt" pattern from one of the pattern companies (yet another $1.99 sale at Jo-Ann's!) and changed it for my needs. A beer colored fleece fabric was the body. A gray felt handle (soft sculptured) and also a strip of gray felt at the bottom (you can't see it in the picture, he's sitting on it) was meant to look like the bottom of the glass. Sherpa wool was used for the collar to look like beer foam. I opted to not use the sleeves in the pattern and just left the leg openings rough. Patrick got lots of compliments from other fair goers, but we didn't get any awards for humorous or homemade costume. I think if we had just bought the lobster costume from Target and strapped it to his back, we would have fared a lot better. Patrick was disappointed, but he doesn't stay down long and is planning on his best friend Trick-Or-Treating with him as a Beer Pug. Not sure yet what Patrick will be wearing.
I could try to figure how to make Patrick a Pretzel. :)We enjoyed the PugFair quite a bit though. It was almost surreal to be surrounded by so many pugs. I think Titan made sure his nose sniffed the butt of every single dog there. What was amazing, there was a large pen where the pugs were placed sans human companion and leash to play with each other. No snarling, no barking, no aggressive behaviors were witnessed. Pugs just seem to enjoy socializing with each other playing and butt sniffing. Those that chose to wander alone when another pug came along and invaded his solitude, he just dealt with it and there was no snapping or growling. A very interesting breed of little dogs. Oh and Titan was wonderful! He was so compliant and even happy getting into his costume and wearing it.
One of the highlights of PugFair was the almost constant performance of Dr. Dan and the Stray Dogs Band. It was fascinating to hear just how many times they could work the word pug into a song (Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl became Brown Eyed Pug for this audience -- it's almost worth going to the Greyhound rescue gig they have on Sunday to hear how he does that one!). I avoided the deep-fried Twinkie for diet purposes, so I can't review those... though they looked delicious as I stared at other people eating the lard soaked snack cakes on a stick.
