Monday, January 27, 2014
The Rest of the Story
And the answer is, "but you can, Grasshopper."
Booties to match the little hats posted earlier. These are the same yarn, but the pattern is from Morehouse Farm Merino Knits. Ribbon from JoAnn's, I think.
I've made so many pairs of these over the years that I can knit them in my sleep.
Younger Son asked today if she is ready for a companion. No one special in mind (he volunteers for a rescue organization).
My response was that Queenella has no need for minions. She has staff. (That would be the Other Half and me.)
Some days, I think it would be nice to have a lap-sitting cat. Ella is more of a Put Your Legs On This Footstool and I Will Lean On You cat. She doesn't like to be picked up, though she will tolerate it from the Other Half.
No, I don't think this house is ready for a second cat.
Unless it's a lap-sitter. Then, we can talk.
Labels: baby girl, baby things, cats
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Meet Ella
Introducing the newest member of the family. Ella came to us in October and has become a permanent member of the household.
She is, as they say, a "rescue" and the jury is still out on who rescued whom.
We all (the Other Half, Ella, and I) would like to go on record. Ella is a new cat, not a replacement for anyone who might have gone before.
Let's keep that straight, please.
Labels: cats
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Little Things Mean a Lot!
Just some odd ball useage to report. 
Catnip mice made from scraps (not odd balls, true scraps) of worsted weight wool yarn.
These are a mix of Lopi and some recycled tweedy stuff.
Recipe: (as I remember) cast on 18 stitches on needles that are way too small for the yarn used. You want these TIGHT! Join and knit in the round for about 18 rounds. Decrease 3 stitches every other round or so until 3 stitches remain. Draw up weave in "nose" ends.
Stuff with the yarn ends you snipped off and good quality catnip. Sew "butt" closed.
Thread 3 12" or so strands of yarn through the butt. With 3 6" bits hanging on each side, and using 2 strands together, braid the "tail." Finish tail with an overhand knot. Trim.
Find a cat.
Catnip mice made from scraps (not odd balls, true scraps) of worsted weight wool yarn.
These are a mix of Lopi and some recycled tweedy stuff.
Recipe: (as I remember) cast on 18 stitches on needles that are way too small for the yarn used. You want these TIGHT! Join and knit in the round for about 18 rounds. Decrease 3 stitches every other round or so until 3 stitches remain. Draw up weave in "nose" ends.
Stuff with the yarn ends you snipped off and good quality catnip. Sew "butt" closed.
Thread 3 12" or so strands of yarn through the butt. With 3 6" bits hanging on each side, and using 2 strands together, braid the "tail." Finish tail with an overhand knot. Trim.
Find a cat.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Goodbye, Princess Sparky
You really were a princess in our hearts.
We will miss you forever.
Your silly moments.
Your lazy ones.
And your most dignified.
Day 4 was another good one. Got the cream. Will use it as needed. I'm on the south side of 30.
Labels: cats, current events
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Not So Big Feet
Felting accomplished!
Though it took moore trips through the washer than I expected, the clogs are firmly felted and drying as I type.
I'm very pleased with the fit. They'll keep my toes toasty this winter!
And the Other Half wants a pair of his own.
Sparky's really feeling the heat this summer. (Who isn't?)
She's camped out in the Other Half's office where it is dark and cool.
Adding a layer of cat hair to the keyboard.
And the screen.
In my next life, I'm coming back as my cat.
Labels: cats, fair entries
Sunday, March 01, 2009
I Am Too a Kitten
I think I may have commented that Sparky the Bob-Tailed Wonder Cat does not play with yarn.
This morning, while I was checking email, I noticed a characteristic thump/bump/thump/ thump that generally indicates that she has caught and killed something.
(Since Princess Sparky is afraid of mice--don't ask--I was pretty sure that her prey was inanimate.)
Yep! She caught and killed the dreaded ball of ack. On the hoof, so to speak.
It never had a chance.
And as quickly as it began, it was over.
In knitting news, I have started the sleeves. I will finish in time, barring major Cat-astrophies. This yarn is under lock and key when not being directly supervised.
Labels: baby things, cats
Friday, October 31, 2008
A Family of Classics
and miles of mind-sucking stockinette and garter stitch.
I decided to go easy on myself this Christmas um Solstice Winter Holiday season and stick with classics.
I already sorta showed the neutralish sweaters for the bigger folks, that's the camel Puno Cobblestone (sleeves finished, body started) and a mahogany mix Ultra Alpaca top-down wrap cardigan (body nearly finished, sleeves and edging to go) over there on the left.
But what's this? What is this ridge-y blue addition to the picture?
Why, it's a Tomten for the Tiny Prince! I'm using the Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Superwash Bulky that his mom and I selected Before He Was Even Born for a bunting (project abandoned due to car seat safety issues). There are contrast colors to add in, though it is a very rich shade of Navy and lovely on its own.
It's just. . .how many miles of plain knitting can I do before my head explodes?
The saving grace is that I had to do a little mental work as I downsized (or is it upsized?) the gauge on this Zimmermann classic (do an image Google search for wonderful photos by other knitters) from the 5 stitches/inch called for in the original to 3.5 stitches/inch that the Lambs Pride dictates.
In simple terms, what that means is I cast on 80 rather than 112 to get the approximately 24" that I want for the finished size (fudged a little to get a number divisible by 8, and I'll be adding a narrow button band).
In order to maintain the proportions of the jacket, I will knit 28 ridges (nearly 4500 plain knit stitches) before separating for the armholes. After that, I'll follow EZ's recipe to finish.
Whether there will be a collar or a hood will depend on how far my yarn goes. There should be plenty to finish it either way. Or I might use the excess to make an earflap cap. I would count on the thicker yarn to do the math for me.
Sparky isn't thrilled that the weather is changing. It's been downright cold in the mornings and there is very little warm sunshine in the afternoon when she'd like to go outside and work on her yellow.
What's a girl to do, but snuggle up on a lap and nap? Or help with the knitting?
We're both wondering what our friends Way Down South (southern hemisphere) are doing and whether they'd like house guests.
We will entertain all invitations.
I decided to go easy on myself this I already sorta showed the neutralish sweaters for the bigger folks, that's the camel Puno Cobblestone (sleeves finished, body started) and a mahogany mix Ultra Alpaca top-down wrap cardigan (body nearly finished, sleeves and edging to go) over there on the left.
But what's this? What is this ridge-y blue addition to the picture?
Why, it's a Tomten for the Tiny Prince! I'm using the Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Superwash Bulky that his mom and I selected Before He Was Even Born for a bunting (project abandoned due to car seat safety issues). There are contrast colors to add in, though it is a very rich shade of Navy and lovely on its own.
It's just. . .how many miles of plain knitting can I do before my head explodes?
The saving grace is that I had to do a little mental work as I downsized (or is it upsized?) the gauge on this Zimmermann classic (do an image Google search for wonderful photos by other knitters) from the 5 stitches/inch called for in the original to 3.5 stitches/inch that the Lambs Pride dictates.
In simple terms, what that means is I cast on 80 rather than 112 to get the approximately 24" that I want for the finished size (fudged a little to get a number divisible by 8, and I'll be adding a narrow button band).
In order to maintain the proportions of the jacket, I will knit 28 ridges (nearly 4500 plain knit stitches) before separating for the armholes. After that, I'll follow EZ's recipe to finish.
Whether there will be a collar or a hood will depend on how far my yarn goes. There should be plenty to finish it either way. Or I might use the excess to make an earflap cap. I would count on the thicker yarn to do the math for me.
Sparky isn't thrilled that the weather is changing. It's been downright cold in the mornings and there is very little warm sunshine in the afternoon when she'd like to go outside and work on her yellow.
What's a girl to do, but snuggle up on a lap and nap? Or help with the knitting?
We're both wondering what our friends Way Down South (southern hemisphere) are doing and whether they'd like house guests.
We will entertain all invitations.
Labels: baby things, big people clothes, cats
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Oh, Baby!
Isn't this a cute sew-in?
It came from Button Drawer where I get all the cute buttons that I sew on stuff, and now, these labels, plus some equally adorable ones for sewing into the Tiny Prince's stuff, because, lord knows, he's not a baby any more ::sniff::.
The new baby in the very extended family is the Tiny Prince's soon-to-be First Ever First Cousin, hypthetical (but only for the mo') baby son of the Not-So-New Daughter-In-Law's Baby Brother and his Nearly-New Wife.
(Are you still with me?)
Here's what I sewed that label onto. Entrlac Afghan from Knitting for Babies and Kids (House of White Birches) in Elann.com Superwash Worsted.
And here is a gratuitous review of the yarn: it sucks! Okay, not completely, but. . .
It is machine washable. It came out of the wash all pilly and covered with linty blobs which I guess I should have expected from a first run through when the knitted FO is made up of multi-colors of light and dark. Why, oh, why do the dark linty bits wind up on the light squares and vice versa? Karma? Murphy? You be the judge.
It's soft. It's warm. It's nicer to knit than Red Heart. Is that "damning with faint praise?"
I like superwash for baby and kid things. I have lots, so I'll continue to use it, but what a disappointment after all that
And speaking of light lint on dark. . .
A bit ago, I looked over to my right and saw
No wonder there's cat hair all over my clothes. . .
Labels: baby things, cats
Saturday, October 04, 2008
What I Stepped in
Have I ever mentioned that we have been owned by cats forever? And that we are currently owned by one very pushy feline?
I thought that I might have written something about that here at some point. It's quite true, you know.
I probably have not mentioned that I usually (except when it is very, very cold, or I haven't washed the kitchen floor in a while, like now, OH!) tend to pad around the house in my bare feet.
This morning was no exception as I slid out of bed before dawn cracked (even on the weekend--something about circadian rhythm and just not being able to "sleep in" any more). But anyway. . .
Idid my businesss performed my toilette (euphemism for "peed, brushed, took daily meds") this morning and (still) barefoot, trotted to the "studio" to sit and check the mail of e, and to knit a bit before the day gets underway when I stepped into something damp and squishy.
Not being inclined to get too freaked over things like this (see mention of old, grumpy, cat at the top of this page), I decided to wait until the sun was up before investigating and cleaning (we'll chalk that up to consideration for thedead to the world lump still sleeping Other Half, though the reality is, I just couldn't face what I might have to touch with my hands).
Imagine my surprise when I turned on the studio light to discover that the current (pinky toned) blankie had fallen from its perch and some (not many) of the live stitches were frogged (and not by me).
I followed the trail of the yarn that was (fortunately) still attached to discover:
Former center-pull ball, now damp, tangled mass of yarn.
What a relief to realize that I don't have to clean the bedroom carpet!
And I planned to wash the blankie before giving it away anyway.
(Note: Sparky the Bob-Tailed Wonder Cat does not usually steal yarn. This stuff has been the exception that proves the rule.)
Prizes!!! Did somebody say prizes? I will be photographing the Mittnz prizes (after the Penn State game) and pulling names for 8 fabulous fiber gifts. If you haven't yet reported your Mittnz shipment this is your absolute last chance to get in on the prizes. Midnight EST Saturday, October 4!
Email me: abmcmanus ::at:: verizon ::dot:: com --picture if you took one, or your best description of the 8 (or more) pairs you mailed, or a link to a photo.
I'll be posting the total and the prize winners this weekend.
I thought that I might have written something about that here at some point. It's quite true, you know.
I probably have not mentioned that I usually (except when it is very, very cold, or I haven't washed the kitchen floor in a while, like now, OH!) tend to pad around the house in my bare feet.
This morning was no exception as I slid out of bed before dawn cracked (even on the weekend--something about circadian rhythm and just not being able to "sleep in" any more). But anyway. . .
I
Not being inclined to get too freaked over things like this (see mention of old, grumpy, cat at the top of this page), I decided to wait until the sun was up before investigating and cleaning (we'll chalk that up to consideration for the
Imagine my surprise when I turned on the studio light to discover that the current (pinky toned) blankie had fallen from its perch and some (not many) of the live stitches were frogged (and not by me).
I followed the trail of the yarn that was (fortunately) still attached to discover:
Former center-pull ball, now damp, tangled mass of yarn.
What a relief to realize that I don't have to clean the bedroom carpet!
And I planned to wash the blankie before giving it away anyway.
(Note: Sparky the Bob-Tailed Wonder Cat does not usually steal yarn. This stuff has been the exception that proves the rule.)
Prizes!!! Did somebody say prizes? I will be photographing the Mittnz prizes (after the Penn State game) and pulling names for 8 fabulous fiber gifts. If you haven't yet reported your Mittnz shipment this is your absolute last chance to get in on the prizes. Midnight EST Saturday, October 4!
Email me: abmcmanus ::at:: verizon ::dot:: com --picture if you took one, or your best description of the 8 (or more) pairs you mailed, or a link to a photo.
I'll be posting the total and the prize winners this weekend.
Labels: baby things, cats, charity, mittnz
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Further Adventures of Sparky, the Bob-tailed Wonder Cat
. . .Formerly Kitten
We have gone through "bladder issues" with our cat. A couple of years ago, she finally wound up having general anesthesia and a sterile urine sample removed during a pneumocystic scan (x-ray with the bladder blown up with air).
After all that, the culture was negative for bizarre bacteria. Four different types/rounds of antibiotics later, she appeared "cured."
We finally wound up keeping a Feliway plug-in running constantly in the house. There is some suspicion that part of her problem was stress. She was on an anti-depressant (Elavil) for years and had to come off cold turkey because of her thyroid (the two meds don't play nicely together).
The up side was that her belly fur is growing back in! (Side effect of the mood med was an itchy rash--poor baby was chewing herself raw!) (Digression: this is the second time in recent months that I have self-diagnosed a serious symptom just by reading the package insert. Is it too much to ask that medical personnel do the same? )
Sparky went to the vet this morning for her regular blood draw (now, we are trying to get her thyroid medication stabilized).
Here's what we do: Sparky gets her leash on (it's a figure 8 rabbit harness), then she starts howling. We hop in the car (okay, I hop, she clings and howls). I start the car and turn on the CD player REALLY LOUD. Then we sing along for the 15 minute ride (she's partial to Helen Reddy and Rod Stewart).
When she was finished with the 2 minute procedure, she walked from the door, down the walk, across the parking lot to our car, just like a well-behaved, trained kitty. On her leash.
(The techs in the vet's office are probably still laughing at that sight!)
Labels: cats
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday Night Lite
I'd love to be able to write that I finished Bear Claw last night, but that would be a lie.
Fact is, I finished the second last round of wide bands and 3 of the 4 corner squares and have added the 4th color. So, yeh, almost finished.
One more corner on this round, 12 more rows on each side, 4 more corners, and I can stick a fork in it.
Meanwhile, that yellow blob to the right of Bear Claw is the beginning of a giant dishcloth square blankie. I was planning a 3-piece baby set (blanket, hat, booties), but you know what they say about "best laid plans." The Premium Book for the fair calls a 3-piece set blanket, hat, sweater. ::sigh:: so I'm thinking that a baby surprise might be in the works. Something classic. Or a top down raglan. Or an envelope-shoulder pullover.
Here's the progress on this year's Christmas stocking.
The written out directions for the Pine Tree motif were giving my weary eyes fits, so as soon as I finished Row 16, I charted the damned thing. That's so much better!
I slide the paper ruler up as I complete each row so that the the ruler is above the one I am working on at the moment. I find that this works better for me than putting my marker (ruler) under the row (thereby covering up the already completed patterning). Try it both ways and use the one that works for you.
I have completed 20 of 96 rows (a little over 20%).
Sparky's fans have been asking after her. Here's a picture from earlier this morning. The Other Half was there but he got up to um, you know.
No other cat we have ever owned was ever allowed to sleep on or near the pillows. Either he's mellowing in his advancing years, or Sparky's a lot more aggressive than Cats Past.
She goes for blood work in about an hour. Still trying to regulate her thyroid. The belly gnawing has all but stopped after more years than I care to research. (I posted a picture when it was just starting.) I'm starting to wonder if it was a reaction to the anti-depressants that she was taking for years and years. (Yes, my cat was on mood altering drugs. Trust me. It was drugs or a different home!)
Mittnz reminder: If you want in on the prizes (currently: 7 really great books, bunches of yarn, some tools, some lotion, and I haven't added mine in yet!) you will need to email me (amcmanus@ptd.net) a photo (or send me a link where I can capture the image) of your 8 (or more) completed pairs so that I can post it here. Then you need to mail your mittnz to Cheyenne River Reservation (Cheyenne River Youth Project, P.O. Box 410, Eagle Butte, SD 57625) the last week in September.
There is no requirement to join any group in order to participate in the Challenge and be eligible for a prize. That said, Native American Support welcomes new members to our group. If you are looking for a worthy charity to craft for and some fun people to chat with come check it out.
Children in Common has just announced that they are joining us in Mittn Blitzn again this summer. We appreciate their support!
Labels: baby things, cats, fair entries, mittnz
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Fat Cat Sat on Flat Mat
These are for Peaceable Kingdom from whence cometh the most recent fosterdog.
Better look quick, because he goes to an adoption fair on Saturday. All clean and pretty and smelling less beagle-y. Beetle's hoping to find a Forever Family.
Particulars: two strands of worsted weight ack scraps and odd balls. Size 10.5 needles.
Directions: Cast on some stitches. Knit some rows. Bind off. Pick up on an edge (same colors or different ones). Knit some more rows. Bind off, repeat on all the edges. Do it again until it's as big as you need. (12' square is the minimum for cage cozies like these. Most rescue orgs can use that size on up to baby blanket (40") size. Make a call and check.
Donate to your local animal rescue.
That is all.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Whole Lotta Nothin'
I took a day for me (that would be tomorrow) and a day for the house (that was today) because I have A Lot Of Vacation that I need to use.
So I jumped right on in to the House Cleaning Ritual with both feet.
1) Make a list of tasks to be accomplished.
2) Print it out.
3) Immediately amend to add: Take Cat To The Vet.
::sigh::
But some stuff got done (bathroom is clean, top of stove is clean). Steam cleaning the rugs will wait for tomorrow.
And Sparky got a blood test and 2 new medicines. (Don't a$k!)
Some other stuff got nearly finished, too. Witness:
This:
(Remember my experiment with Excel to produce reasonably "planned out" afghans from a bunch of random squares produced by a bunch of unrelated people?)
Became this:
A reasonably "planned out" afghan.
I'm still working on the half double crochet border all around, and it needs a wash and block, but for all intents and purposes, it's finished and will be on its way to the intended recipient soon.
As I look at the photo, I see squares I'd like in other places, but there is No Way In Hell I am moving anything.
I gave up on this:
Sock/slipper knitting of the intense variety sucks the living soul out of me. There are two to be accomplished for every FO, and though I had done the striped part on both of them and about 1/2 of the toe cap, I Just Couldn't Bring Myself to Finish.
So, I frogged. Rippit, Rippit!
Back to the component parts.
And cast on a hat.
Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!
So I jumped right on in to the House Cleaning Ritual with both feet.
1) Make a list of tasks to be accomplished.
2) Print it out.
3) Immediately amend to add: Take Cat To The Vet.
::sigh::
But some stuff got done (bathroom is clean, top of stove is clean). Steam cleaning the rugs will wait for tomorrow.
And Sparky got a blood test and 2 new medicines. (Don't a$k!)
Some other stuff got nearly finished, too. Witness:
This:
(Remember my experiment with Excel to produce reasonably "planned out" afghans from a bunch of random squares produced by a bunch of unrelated people?)
Became this:
A reasonably "planned out" afghan.
I'm still working on the half double crochet border all around, and it needs a wash and block, but for all intents and purposes, it's finished and will be on its way to the intended recipient soon.
As I look at the photo, I see squares I'd like in other places, but there is No Way In Hell I am moving anything.
I gave up on this:
Sock/slipper knitting of the intense variety sucks the living soul out of me. There are two to be accomplished for every FO, and though I had done the striped part on both of them and about 1/2 of the toe cap, I Just Couldn't Bring Myself to Finish.
So, I frogged. Rippit, Rippit!
Back to the component parts.
And cast on a hat.
Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!
Labels: cats, current events, ship support
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Monty, We Hardly Knew Ye
That would be Himself on the left (Belle on the right). The Younger Kid signed up to foster for Peaceable Kingdom. Monty was (as you can see from the photo) not a puppy. Rather, he was an elderly gentledog of the highest order.
He lived with the Younger Kid (and Belle and Raven) for about a week before he crossed the Bridge.
Better in a house than in a cage!
And wasn't it a great Caterday once the rain stopped?
Can we have Caterday every day, please?
Just a simple request.
Knitting stuff tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A Tail of Cats (and Socks)
Once upon a time, there was a sweet catly princess named Penny.
Penny was rescued from a caged life (do not get me started) of a year and a half. She had given birth to a litter of kittens. They were all adopted, but Poor Penny stayed behind in a big cage in a window where she could look out on her kingdom. But that's no life for a Princess.
Eventually (see note about 18 long months, above), she found her way into Casa Sheepie and into the hearts of those who dwell there.
Last summer she left this realm and crossed the Bridge, but the love and sweetness she left behind was reborn in the dyepots of RabbitWorks
And so, Gentle Readers, the Rabbitch sent me a skein of Toe Jam yarn in the Penny ccolorway, and I (finally) commenced to knit it up into a pair of socks. For me. Me. Me. (Leftovers to become Prince-Feet in due time.)
Toe Jam is soft and wooly and I just know I will ove these socks. Thanks, Janice!
The only place in the world where this particular limited edition is still available is here.
Labels: big people clothes, cats
Monday, February 25, 2008
Little Red Riding Hood?
Using the same pattern as the little green and eggplant sweater (but at a slightly larger gauge) I present the latest sweater for the Tiny Prince.
Regular readers will recognize "Tommy," who has been with me a good long time (oh, about 50 years) and will notice that he's no longer able to serve as model for the Tiny Prince's new sweaters.
The sweater is from Knitting Pure and Simple (and I'm too lazy to link). You can Google it if you don't already have the site bookmarked.
The pattern is free. The yarn is Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I used about 1.5 balls of (discontinued) Cherry Red (about 300 yards).
Expect to see most of the TP's stuff on hangers from here on out.
The buttons are tiny clocks (embiggen by clicking, you might be able to tell).
I didn't make button holes (next time), but rather crocheted loops to go around the buttons.
Heet the Feet 2008 is fast drawing to a close.
Are you entering People's Choice?
If you are, send a photo of your "best" slippers, socks, or booties to me: amcmanus@ptd.net . Be sure to get your stuff in the mail by Friday, February 29.
On or about March 1, I will post the photos and call for a vote. Prizes (besides chocolate) include yarn, patterns, and a book.
Here are the socks and slippers I bought for Heet the Feet.
I mailed them today along with some hot chocolate mix (heet the tummy), a couple of Care Bears (heat the heart) and some nice foot lotion (soften and sweeten the feet).
Here's Sparky picking out her favorite pair of Feet Heeters from the ones I made.
These were mailed today, too.
Here's the address:
Cheyenne River Youth Project
P.O. Box 410
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
Labels: baby things, cats, Cheyenne River, heet the feet
Sunday, February 03, 2008
New Setpoint
In my mind, I have forever had a weight Above Which I Will Never Weigh.
On January 1, 2008, I woke to find myself 4.8 pounds over that number. Naked. After peeing.
I was shocked. Appalled. And depressed.
And I swore that I would get down below that number pronto.
It took nearly a month. But I fell below that number about a week and a half ago (my digital scale was at home so the exact moment is unknown). When I got home from visiting the Tiny Prince and His Mom, I was pleased to find myself back on This Side of That Number. So pleased, in fact, that I set myself a weight Above Which I Will Never Weigh that is 5 pounds lower than the original number, vowed to get below it and never stray above again. Ever.
This morning, I was .2 pound below it! I'm stoked!
Here are pictures of the cat mentioned in yesterday's post. She decided to cooperate this morning.
Sparky's not a yarny sort of cat. But she has latched onto this piece of white acrylic yarn and made it her own.
Do not touch the yarn tangle!
(Photos judiciously cropped to eliminate the bare belly of the cat.)
I think it's Red Heart. Sparky's a cheap date.
Tip I'd like to share: When gathering the final stitches of a sock, slipper, or hat, use a darning egg (or suitable substitute like a light bulb) to firm up the knitting.
You will get a much nicer finish. I don''t remember where I saw this tip, but I'm happy I "discovered" it!
Note to Amy and Lizzy: I am not ignoring your very kind nomination of this blog as a "You Make My Day" site.
I have a short list of blogs (many already nominated by others) that I read every day, and a much longer list that I try to check in on weekly.
I promise to play.
On January 1, 2008, I woke to find myself 4.8 pounds over that number. Naked. After peeing.
I was shocked. Appalled. And depressed.
And I swore that I would get down below that number pronto.
It took nearly a month. But I fell below that number about a week and a half ago (my digital scale was at home so the exact moment is unknown). When I got home from visiting the Tiny Prince and His Mom, I was pleased to find myself back on This Side of That Number. So pleased, in fact, that I set myself a weight Above Which I Will Never Weigh that is 5 pounds lower than the original number, vowed to get below it and never stray above again. Ever.
This morning, I was .2 pound below it! I'm stoked!
Here are pictures of the cat mentioned in yesterday's post. She decided to cooperate this morning.
Sparky's not a yarny sort of cat. But she has latched onto this piece of white acrylic yarn and made it her own.
Do not touch the yarn tangle!
(Photos judiciously cropped to eliminate the bare belly of the cat.)
I think it's Red Heart. Sparky's a cheap date.
Tip I'd like to share: When gathering the final stitches of a sock, slipper, or hat, use a darning egg (or suitable substitute like a light bulb) to firm up the knitting.
You will get a much nicer finish. I don''t remember where I saw this tip, but I'm happy I "discovered" it!
Note to Amy and Lizzy: I am not ignoring your very kind nomination of this blog as a "You Make My Day" site.
I have a short list of blogs (many already nominated by others) that I read every day, and a much longer list that I try to check in on weekly.
I promise to play.
Labels: cats, current events
![[HeettheFeet20083.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRH_T42wVcDuEXnRRcJTi8Xx0pZMjwaEvKKUYxkKGb3RbfVJvbBKJaplnruL4Y1lQGy9LWjb2KhOsPi10kdPRppP6_O47YprEco3m4iD3JMmT1o-7Hc6zuCWJT-0gxesUCp_H/s1600/HeettheFeet20083.jpg)
![[mittnz2008buttin.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkbBquqYIEHAWQxsnQtaptULuJ-jj-mlpdjbffH9r1n1liR1r8yRRkXMgJLBxbeo0x3w2wU_gLhjFzrxzKrMmVgUGSqAzkP89jlWOA04Xhr2pWmVGIDgt8VGWAK-FZMfwB6j6/s1600/mittnz2008buttin.jpg)
![[heet2009-1.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SiW5ds26X6RV2guuohZ5nCdtljV9Pj8cVQCebCBg8EYaQR_DXHlIgLihx-5ddowYTS8hM11_JCwqlbN0qLGhUHjIsea9xw5v9tu4Cdnn0dHCRU5NXLAN-VH_o7jT1WW3w74R_w/s320/heet2009-1.jpg)
![[mittnz 2009 button.jpg]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuGtaAayAUpfk3b8FnVyyIvB5jI1YxPMmcN2M9PyQo9MfDK9JVxgFz2z7rLFuGjebz7CBV-frRyUYMXFzFLmwtP_xmCwd9HEgKylZaZwzwfSV8xTZ5a6vayaG0oEbFxgjYFTa5w/s320/mittnz+2009+button.jpg)