Friday Felines

Apparently I brought home a cat who's part Meerkat...

FO: Dishcloth Blankie

It's finally starting to feel like autumn around here. The days are still nice and warm, but the mornings and evenings are cool. The hand-knit socks have been pulled out and I figured it was a fabulous time to finish up the last few colours on the Dishcloth Blankie.

The yarn used was five colours of Rowan All Season's Cotton that Mom had been collecting here and there. She did a large de-stash and I figured they would be just perfect for a snuggly blankie

It's a soft, squishy 60/40 worsted weight blend of cotton and acrylic - perfect for a rumble, tumble blanket that will need a few good washings in it's lifetime.

Colours are Ecru, White, Mulberry, Giddy (light pink), and Lime. Finished size is 36" x 64" and I forsee it getting lots of use in the years to come.

I don't claim it as my design... but I have created a bit of a "recipe". If your want to make your own, you can find the details on Ravelry. Now excuse me....

I'm going to see if I can convince a certain someone that it's time to cuddle....

Cats and quilts

My coworker will be back from her maternity leave soon, so I figured it was time to get boogieing on her baby quilt.

I got all the  squares cut out and settled on a design...

...after I extricated the cat (though he does match the colours nicely...)

Cutting is enough for one day, but hopefully by the end of the week I'll get them all sewn up. Then I just need a big piece for the backing... what do think...

...Should I got for the leopard print?

Kwestions from KathyB

*Do you work better in groups or alone? Generally alone, unless I can be the leader of the group. That said, if the leader is actually organized, and a decent leader, I happily ride shotgun – but I find that’s a rare occurrence.  
*Butter or margarine? I prefer butter, but it’s more of a treat because its so expensive. So it’s generally margarine for everyday and baking, and butter only when it comes on sale (or I have a hankering for buttertarts... can’t make those with margarine.)

*For a day : no phone or no computer? Phone. In a heartbeat. I hate the phone. Samantha and I lived about an hour apart as teens, but we never phoned each other like other teen girls. We wrote letters…. Snail mail letters!

*Gym shoes: wear them out or replace regularly?
I don’t wear gym shoes – the only shoe I have remotely resembling a gym shoe are my high-top Converse knock-offs. They get worn so rarely I won’t need to replace them for at least 15 years.

*More likely to find in your couch cushions: money or needles?
Needles…. But also stitch markers, beads, and cat toys.

*What kind of knitting hurts your hands/arms/fingers?
Big yarn on tight gauge – like when I’m working on a stuffie. You need tight fabric so the stuffing doesn’t show, but it can be murder on the limbs.

*How do you feel when someone asks you to knit for them?
It depends on the person. Most people close to me know better than to ask – and the rare time they do, it’s for something special and I’m usually happy to do it.

It’s the people who don’t know me well, and think knitting is cheap and quick that annoy me. I’m pretty good at sending them on their way with a simple, “Sorry I don’t have the time.” If they are persistent, they then get a lecture on the cost of yarn, the hours involved, and are  then questioned as to why the feel their wants are so important that I should give up said time and money for a mere acquaintance.

*I choose my patterns based on : 
My mood…. What do I feel like knitting at this moment

*I store my yarn in :
A combination of open shelving, bins and reusable grocery bags (I really do need to reorganize it again.) 

*Last company you called customer service .....
Bell – for our internet … but I have to sort out a billing issue with Fido soon (my cell phone). Not looking forward to that.  

Birthday lady!

Today is the birthday of a very special lady!

As you know, I think she's the best (that picture was taken last year when she was tinking back eleventy billion stitches for me on a shawl), so Saturday, I popped up to take her a present. We also played with the puppers

And made a carrot cake to celebrate

Oh and that present...

A pair of lounge pants, just like the pair I made for myself. Except I made her version as capris. I even used the same print, just with a purple background instead of green.

And since I did hers shorter, I still have a nice chunk of this fabric left!

Happy Birthday, Mama!

One step forward, two steps back...

I spent most of last night working on the boot toppers. Let me rephrase that - I spent most of the night ripping out the boot toppers.

First, I couldn't get the lace to work. Then I couldn't get the cables to work, Then I realized I'd design it too wide, and had to go back and rebuild my chart.

And oh - you'll notice that somewhere in there, I also realized that the Alley Cat was a touch too variegate, and was fighting with the pattern....

So I went and dug out some Twisted Top Cat adn I think we're back on track... for now.

Ah the fun of designing.

It's fall....

.... but this is not quite what I had in mind....

Friday morning Dave and I awoke to the sound of rain and chainsaws. I'd forgotten that a neighbour told me they were going to be removing 22 trees in our complex (probably about a third of the trees). I don't know the reason, but I'm guessing they weren't in great shape. And sad as it is to see them go, it's better than letting them fall on their own.

The street certainly looked different when they were through. Every one of those lawns had a tree. Luckily, it looks like we get to keep ours.

While being serenaded by chainsaw and wood chippers,  I spent a good chunk of the day contemplating a new fall project.

I've settled on designing a pair of boot toppers for the green leather boots I got this spring. I ordered them online, and when I got them I discovered they were just a touch too narrow in the calf. I can get them zipped up all but one last inch. They are leather, so they will stretch eventually, but until they do, boot toppers will provide a nice bit of camouflage.

The yarn is a skein of Alley Cat I stole from the dye studio a few months back. I'm pretty sure it was one of Mom's but we have a hard time keeping track nowadays. It's a nice mix of muted green that match the boots perfectly.

I'm thinking of some sort of lacy leaf motif... because... what else?

Friday Felines

I know it's been a week of almost nothing but felines... but what's one more...

 .... or two.

Happy Friday!

No kitty for me....

About four hours after I got the collar on him, his owner texted me. His name is Ollie and he lives on the other side of the complex.

While I'm glad he isn't lost or abandoned, I'm also kind of sad. I was kind of hoping we would be able to take him in. I told his owner that Ollie is welcome to come visit my yard any time he likes. (I suspect he won't be around as much since now we won't be giving him food).

But he can still come for the catnip. And the sunflowers

The foxglove

And the Delphiums...

The lavender...

And the roses.....

Still here...

This big, beautiful boy continues to grace us with his prescence. Yesterday, I got home from work and he'd already been here for an hour. Dave gave him something to eat, any they were hanging out in the yard BBQing.

After dinner, I sat in the yard with him and watched him chase one of Rupert's sparkle balls for a bit before he got bored and wandered off.  Today, he showed up around 2 p.m. Sitting at the back door, waiting for me or Rupert to notice him.

While he was eating, I was able to get a collar on him (with only a little growl). Taped to that collar is a note, asking his owner to call/text/email me and let me know he has a home. If I don't hear anything, or he comes back with the collar still on, Friday I'll get him in the carrier and up to the vet for a microchip scan.

He's far too lovely to be left out on his own.

All natural

In between playing with stray cats and lounging around, I managed to finish up one half of the Hallowe'en project.

I've wanted to design a lacy, fold-over cuff ankle sock for years, but this year's costume finally gave me the push to do it.

I'm using natural Alley Cat, which is always a pleasure to work with. And there's just something about a white, lacy sock!

Look who's back...

Yep. Sunday night, right around dinner time, he sauntered up to the back door and let me know he was looking for a bite.

And yep - I said "he". I got a better look at his floofy back end this time, and I'm 99% sure she is a he (but boy is there a lot of fur back there!). This time around I was allowed to pet him, and even got some purrs.

After dinner, it was time for some more nip

And some belly-showing

And despite how inviting that belly looks...

Don't fall for it!

He hung out for about half an hour before wandering off.

 After a good stretch and scratch on my fence.  I went back inside to finish cooking dinner, but soon enough, my attention was drawn to the back door once again.

Visitor kitty REALLY wanted to come in, but as you can see, someone wasn't going to let him pass.

While I finished dinner, Dave went out to make friends.  (he ended up with a scratched hand too, despite my warnings.)

I finally spoke with my neighbour and their cat is safely inside, so I'll have to keep looking.

Such a gorgeous kitty definitely belongs somewhere!

Local Lynx

Friday night, not long before bedtime, the temperature dropped and I went to close the back door. Naturally Rupert was there and making quite a scene, but that's not unusual - he loves to talk to the moths.

But it wasn't a moth he was talking to this time.

This beauty was in the garden, having a good roll in the cat nip. She came right over when I called her, but was still pretty nervous. I wasn't allowed to pet her, though she was happy to rub up against my legs.

I brought her out a dish of food, and though she sniffed it, she didn't eat it. She did have a few cat treats, but she was far more interested in the nip patch. After about half an hour she went on her way. While she was beautiful, I didn't think much more about her. It's not unusual for neighbourhood cats to wander through.

But the next morning, I went out to pick some raspberries for breakfast, when all of a sudden I turned around and there she was again...

 This time she gobbled down some wet food, and about half of the dry food I'd brought out the night before.

In the light of day, I could see she was in immaculate shape, with a beautiful long coat that had obviously seen regular grooming from a brush.  I started to worry she was someone's house cat who got out. While she ate, I checked all the local lost pet listings. No one had reported her missing. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn't bring her in the house.

She was still too nervous, and there was no way Rupert was going to let it happen. I decided I'd keep food out for her, and come Monday, if she's still around, I'll get her in a carrier and to the vet for a micro-chip scan.

She didn't come back for dinner, and we haven't see her today. Hopefully she was just pulling an all nighter and is back home curled up in a nice comfy bed like the princess she is.