Making babies!

Look! Knitting!!
Admittedly, I've been in a bit of a knitting funk lately - I want to knit, just not on any of the projects I have on the needles.

But, as today's car run got rained out, I decided to make good use of the suddenly free time and finish up a project.

This little baby is for a former coworker, who's wife is due with their first child any day now. A bunch of us are going out for dinner on Wednesday, so I figured I'd better get it finished. It's not quite done - as it's getting a special outfit - but I'll explain more on that later.

I knit this in our Stray Cat - a nice soft yarn that can be washed is baby decides to goo all over it (likely - babies are gooey). It was also a perfect choice for the hair - just tie in knots and split the plies - instant baby fuzz!

I'll post more pics when this little guy gets his outfit.

In other updates - we looked at the house - and it was almost perfect. Perfect location, perfect yard, perfect parking... but not so perfect square footage. We aren't opposed to down-sizing, but we are under no delusions about the amount of space we need to keep from killing each other....

... so, we're still looking. Fortunately, there's no rush.

Oh - and Mom's been sneaking some new things into the shop... BFL, Lace, and even some Top Cat DK.... that's right, the luciousness of Top Cat.. but in DK!!!! Use the code WCYMAY10 when you check out and save 10%!

It's not my fault

... I had a post already to go yesterday, but blogger was BROKEN!!!!

I guess it's okay, because my post wasn't all that exciting, and now most of it has gone from my head (where it spent most of the day percolating)

So what to post about now? Lets run through the usual suspects...

1) There isn't much knitting - I have one project I want to focus on, but it's a little scary at the moment, so I'll wait until it's more complete to share.

2) Work is crazy, and doesn't show sign of letting up any time soon, but I can't really find it in my heart to complain, because this job is SOOOOOO much better than the last one.

3) It's Friday (woohoo) but I have the night to myself, because it's also band practice night, and Dave won't return from said practice until late.

4) Tomorrow we are going to look at a possible house to rent, which is a closer to work for both of us, but still not in the city. We had planned on staying put - but increasing gas prices are making me rethink that. We aren't in a position where we have to do it right away, but I've been keeping my eyes open for a place that might be suitable. I'm not completely opposed to an apartment, but if I can swing a townhouse or small bungalow, I'd much rather go for that. I'll keep you updated.

5) Sunday we have a classic car run - from Mississauga to Hamilton and back - if you are driving along Lakeshore Road in that area Sunday morning look for this (minus the parrot):
We most likely won't have the top down - it's suppose to rain.

6) The cats are up to their usual antics. Rocky howls, Tux sleeps and Peno is just a Princess.

I promise more knitting content by Sunday - stay tuned!

Excuse me... have you seen this week?

... I seem to misplaced it.

I can't believe it's already Wednesday night. I've been working crazy hours trying to finalize a campaign.

So I have nothing to share - no knitting, no cat stories... nothing.

Here's a random cat picture to tide you over... hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with something more exciting

Solo Saturday

Dave is off organizing and overseeing his students' recital today, so I had a rare Saturday to myself.

I started off by sleeping in, snuggled up with the cats.

When I finally did get out of bed, what was left of the morning was spent stretched out on the couch, enjoying the sun, and finishing Mom's Mother's Day socks (I got a big surprise on Wednesday when I looked at the calendar and realized Mother's Day was THIS Sunday, not next)Pattern is Undine, in our Jungle Cat (Merino/Bamboo)- colour is Laguna.

I took the boys out with me while I was taking pictures too (not that I'm allowed out of the house without them now).
Yep - they are back on their leashes. Tux isn't too bad, he's usually quite content to settle in the garden and just watch the world go by. But Rocky has lost most of his fear, and now he wants to explore. He much faster and harder to catch than fat Tux.

So, harnesses and leashes it is. I'm on the look out for some inexpensive outdoor loungers. Then I can get some longer leads, and relax with a book while the boys explore the yard safely.

After I determined the sun was going to stay out for a while (there were a few rain clouds threatening to darken my doorstep) I took the top off Stella and delivered Mom's gift (with some flowers too!)

After the visit, I stopped, picked up a pack of cigarillos, and let Stella stretch her wheels. I live in the middle of wine country, and I'm surrounded by beautiful landscapes that I don't often get a chance to enjoy.

Now, it's after dinner and Dave should be home any time now. No doubt he'll want a quiet evening after all that music - but if tomorrow is nice, I hope he'll be up for a shared adventure.

On a tuesday, dark and dreary

It's a cold, dreary rainy day... in a string of cold, dreary, rainy days.

It's the kind of day that makes you want to call in sick, curl up in bed with the cats and spend the day reading.

But I didn't. I got up and went to work like a good little girl and the cats got the bed to themselves.

And while, I did go to work, I wasn't nearly as productive as I could have been (of course that probably has something to do with the fact that my tasks today involved far too much html coding). I found myself constantly clicking back to Ravelry.

And while I was was there, I noticed two very strange things....

1) a surge in members to the Wandering Cat group
2) a HUGE surge in the download of my Baby Janes pattern

We get a new member every so often (maybe one new member a week, but probably not even that often) but this was a whole bunch all at once.

As for the pattern - it is by far my most popular pattern (I think it's the combo of "free", "quick" and "stupid adorable") usually with about 5-10 downloads a day. Today.... wait for it.... 117 downloads.... WTF????

Now, after talking to Mom, we deducted that the new members might be the work of Miss Monika, who received her Wandering Cat KAL prize the other day. We thought she might be bragging and her readers were hoping to get in on some Wandering Cat action.

Mom checked her blog and sure enough... she sent them all our way with promises of a the next KAL in the Year of the Cat.
So, I had to light a fire under my butt and actually get the details up


So, without futher ado, I give you the Wandering Cat "S"ummer "S"titch-A-Long
(You must be a member of the Ravelry Wandering Cat Group to take part)
Wandering Cat “S”ummer “S”titch-a-long --Dates: May 23rd- September 5th 2011.

• Projects must be knit or crocheted in Wandering Cat Yarn.

• Project type must start with the letter “S” (ie socks, shawls, sweaters, stoles, scarves, skirts.. even snails. If it begins with an “S” - you’re good!)

• Projects must be completed between May 23rd & Sept 5th, but can be started before May 23rd.(so if you have already started something as long as it is finished on May 23rd or after or after you can enter it.)

• Tag your projects with yearofthecat

• Each completed project = one entry. Enter as many times as you like

• FOs that are also knit from a Wandering Cat pattern will get an extra entry.

Prizes

There will be three prize kits, drawn at random from all entries.

• Shawl Prize Kit - Any Wanderingcat or redknitz shawl pattern, and enough yarn to complete it. Yarn base is in weight corresponding to pattern, but is choice of winner (from bases in stock at the time) - custom dyed to semi-solid shade of winners choice.

• Sock Prize Kit - Any Wanderingcat or redknitz sock pattern, and enough yarn to complete it. Yarn base is in weight corresponding to pattern, but is choice of winner (from bases in stock at the time) - custom dyed to semi-solid shade of winners choice.

• Stripey Prize - A custom dyed (winner’s choice of two colours) self-striping skein in Top Cat, Barn Cat or Alley Cat.

So.... if you want to join in the fun - come join our Ravelry group!

But... as for the Baby Janes....
Does anyone know what's up? Is there a Baby Jane knit-a-long somewhere? Or is someone on Ravelry just REALLY click happy? Either way, I'm just happy to advance the shoe addiction of little girls everywhere......

Winner, winner, winner

That's right! We've got a winner for the Eostre Kit!!!Congratulations Pendie!!! Now your cats can have their own Aristocat shawl too!

Thanks to all who entered!

Spoiled cats and a sock

Dave and I made another trip to the Flea Market today, and came away with another great deal... for the cats of course
A fun fur cat tunnel for only $10. Miss Peno was quite interested in it, but she hasn't quite worked up the courage to actually go in it.

The boys however...I think it's going to be Tux's new favourite nap spot.

Not much else going on today. After all the fun at the Frolic, I'm a little worn out. But I did manage to finish the first of Mom's M-Day socks.Normally, Mom and I have very different taste in colours, and I'm not a big blue person, but I have to admit, I really like this pair... it's going to be hard to give them up!