Socks and Logan

I've finished my first Mermaid Avenue sock and I'm working on the second one.  This stitch pattern has a lot of lengthwise stretch so when it's relaxed, it looks short and wide.  The finished sock almost looks like a child's sock to me, but it does fit!  You can see how I chose to handle the pattern on the instep - I just worked it in a narrowing triangle down the foot.  This isn't in the directions, but it wasn't too hard to figure out.

Here's a close up of the pattern and the yarn.  I love the subtle color variations in this yarn.  (It's Dream in Color Smooshy in Milky Spite.)  I don't know what the technical term is for this dye style, but I really like it.  

In other news, Logan is having some health issues.  He turned 11 in June, and for a Golden Retriever that means he's getting up there age-wise.  We don't have exact answers yet but are hoping to get some test results later today.  I've been knitting on these socks and sitting with him and it reminds me of when he first came to us.  He was five months old and he knew he was supposed to go potty outside, but he wasn't sure how to tell us and we weren't sure what his "gotta go" cues were.  So I followed him around and knit socks and watched him.  We soon figured out how to communicate with each other despite the fact that we're different species.  He is our Sweet Marshmallow of Love.  He could use some prayers right now.

Thank you.