Max

Here's a picture of Max in his collar.  See, he's even embarrassed by it.....

 

 

Max update, Secret Pal goodies, and Monkey Business over!

Max came home today. Earlier in the week, we thought we were facing euthanasia as his blood work was all bad. After being on IV antibiotics though, the values went back to normal!! His tail was amputated. After the amputation, he got back rectal tone. The vet seems to think the dead weight of the tail was causing the problem (not allowing the sphincter to shut properly). He isn't having diarrhea over everything now, and can control his bowel movements. Still some trouble with urination, but we can express the bladder once daily and he can live fine like that. I'll try and post a picture of Max soon with his little collar on so he can't rip out the stitches.

I got a package from my Secret Pal today!!! It was sooooo nice! And just topped the week off perfectly! She sent me More Sensational Knitted Socks!!! I had been wanting this, and I was soo happy! I can't wait to make some socks from that ... with my new sock yarn. Trekking that is PINK PINK PINK!! I loooove it. Pinks, purples, and blues. It's beautiful and squishy, and I'm casting on tonight! Burt's Bees lip gloss, which is yummy raspberry! A chocolate bar not seen that is in the refrigerator firming up... (but I already had a bite, and it's delicious... it has ROSEMARY in it. Rosemary is my favorite herb, and I could eat it on anything... but it's really delicious in chocolate!!!) A cat toy, which Loverbunny is actually playing with right now! They love it - addicted to the nip! And some tea that is the most interesting stuff ever - and yes, I already tasted it! It's an organic tea with cocoa in it! Yes, chocolate. Pixie Mate is the brand, and I never heard of it before. It's like tea, but you get a very subtle aftertaste of cocoa. I had it over some ice, and it was very refreshing!

Oh, and see that rose picture? That's from her garden. I am so jealous. I would love to grow a garden like that!! Maybe she can give me tips one day?? She sent me a picture of a flower in the last package, and I'm assuming it's from her garden too. It takes talent to grow flowers like that!

I also finished my Monkey socks, and I am driving up to see my mom tomorrow, so I'll give them to her then!

Max

Max is the cat we inherited when we bought our house.  About 10 years old, a rough looking outdoor brown tabby cat.  Skinny, with a permanently snarled lip and deformed right ear.  He looked very scary, but turned out to be a very loving cat.  We jokingly call him Pirate Max because despite his rugged looks, he also meows like he is saying "ARGH!"

We went out on Saturday, and he was limping and incontinent, dragging his tail behind him.  We took him to a local vet who said he had a fractured pelvis and nerve damage.  He wanted us to keep him indoors for 2 weeks in a room where he could not jump or run so he could heal.

Today, we walked into the basement to diarrhea everywhere... and we decided to take him to a more specialized small animal vet an hour away. He is now in the kitty hospital.  His tail is to be amputated tomorrow, after much thought.  His tail is completely severed and will never regain feeling or function.   His liver and kidney function tests weren't great, but we are going to try to save him anyway.  His bowels are now spastic and he can't feel bowel movements, but there is a chance that nerve innervation can come back?  His bladder was so full, it was causing the sphincter to involuntarily open to relieve the pressure... so he manually emptied the bladder, which I can do at home....  once a day.  He is on IV antibiotics right now...  Hopefully, the fracture can heal over time with rest.

I will know more tomorrow after the surgery.  I told my husband if he gets his bowel control back, we are making him an indoor kitty, whether Max agrees or not.  If he cannot get bowel control back, but can heal, he can go on living outside where he has lived for 10 years perfectly content...

Anyway, I've been very sad over the Pirate named Max.

FO: Reversible Stripes and Dots Hat

Finally finished!  I do love this little hat, but I don't think I'd make it again.  The dots took FOREVER (at least for me!).  However, I do think it'd look cute in a pink version.  Really cute....  My favorite detail is the little single crochet trim holding it together!

Pattern:  Reversible Stripes and Dots Hat from Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson

Yarn:  Rowan Denim, (Ecru, Tennessee, and Memphis colors)

i...am....so....tired....

too tired to knit.

I worked my last nights this weekend, then started my day shift job today.  So, I'm super tired.  But, happily so.

But, I do have my reversible dots hat drying separately now.  Maybe it'll get finished this weekend!

It's August!

And it's very hot. And sticky.

I've been putting off blogging because I have absolutely nothing to say that feels important.

I've been reading. I read The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. I listened to her speak at the Bluegrass Festival of Books and she was so lovely and captivating. Her book is, as well. I think I cried from page 1 to the end.
I also have been reading Knitting in the Old Way: Designs and Techniques from Ethnic Sweaters by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts. It's very interesting to see the progression of the sweater over time.

My husband doesn't wear sweaters. But, he saw the preview of Interweave Knits (well, more like I forced him to look at it!), and he said that if I knitted the Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood, he'd wear it!! He specified that he wants it in a darker color though. A navy or a chocolate brown... For myself, I love that Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan. I think I'd go for a chocolate brown, also. The only thing I worry about is that it would be a lot of knitting, and I seem like I have attention deficits when it comes to large knitting. Oh, well, nothing like a challenge?

As for my knitting projects currently - I'm on Monkey #2, almost at the heel flap. I finished up the knitting part of the Reversible itty bitty hat... but I just need to wash it now, embroider the dots, and sew them together. I am also thinking about picking up my Wicked and finishing her once and for all. She's been haunting me.

 

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