Iphone makes blogging easier.

While I did not love blogging from my iPhone, I do turn out a lot more pictures thanks to the phone!!

Anyway, during my in bed blogging post, I promised a link to the little mug rug tutorial I was using, and it was from Sew Mama Sew. It's a pretty nice little tutorial, and my little mug rug is coming along nicely. Mug rugs are great practice pieces, and are a much more manageable size.

Also, I have to tell you that I bought some fusible fleece batting. Sometimes, I do worry about my intelligence level, or at least common sense. I wish I would have taken photos of the disaster. I didn't read directions.

I placed my hot hot iron down flat onto the fabric with the fleece showing around the edges and it was smoking and smelly, and got stuck to my iron. So, in my frustration, I just flipped the piece over, then, and stuck my iron straight to the fusible fleece batting. It scorched it. Quickly!

I failed to read the whole - always place a damp cloth over your piece - part of the directions..........
Like I said, I wonder at times. How is it I learned to knit safely?

My two year old loves Goodnight Moon. Our book is falling apart. At night, we tell EVERYTHING goodnight, including the cow jumping over the moon. When I found Goodnight Moon fabric, I couldn't resist it. I had to buy it - although I'm afraid to cut it. It's too cute.




Also, thought I would share a few little views of my little sewing area. It's very humble, but it's my spot.





Totally random, but I bought these children's books in Beijing 10 years ago. I like them. Wish I could read them to my son.



A little kitty love:

Caught in the act of being cute...

Sam says you must enjoy his cuteness while the Tangled Yoke is blocking!

Come on Friday...

It has been a long week. Not a bad one, but long, and I'm tired!!!

My kitty, Sam, loves to sleep on the radiator when I take a shower. He gets extra nice and toasty, plus he gets the bonus of being in the same room with me.
After getting out of the shower tonight, I said, "Sam, you think it's time to get into bed?" He said "Meow" and jumped down and ran to the door. Even Sam is tired.

I must say I love my knitting group. They were all supposed to bring finished hats tonight, and I was all ready to take pictures for you... but none of them finished. I think Christmas and gift knitting became priority! We had our meeting today and it was so much fun.

One of them is making the Baby Surprise Jacket, and I must say -- it's very hard for me to understand. I must confess to all knitters, I have never read an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern until tonight. *hanging head in shame* And I'm wondering - are they all that difficult to understand??

Warmer house, warmer hearts?

We got a new side door!! Our back staircase was always FREEZING because the door that was up let in all the winter air. It showed an inch of daylight or more at the bottom, and as we found out when we took it down - it was hollow! We got a new door, and wow... does it make a difference. It made the staircase much warmer. It will be painted in the spring, but until then, I'll just enjoy keeping the cold air out.

(Yes, our side stairwell is painted a lime green. There is no point of me fixing it until electricians come....)

One of Molly's eyes always looks super-dilated and dark. Here is a picture... can anyone tell me if it's just the way her eye looks or if it's a problem? She seems to see just fine.

My husband has asked me to knit him a pair of socks. Any suggestions for patterns? I told him they would have to wait until spring because I have too many things on my needles, but I would make him some.

I keep jumping from subject to subject - I know.  My brain has been working that way all week.  I have been doing a lot of planning and plotting for projects (house and knitting) , but not really a lot of DOING.

If I don't blog before then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Happy December

I haven't got much of anything to post as far as knitting goes. I've been sick this week. (I felt too bad to knit or to watch Pushing Daisies if that tells you anything.)

So, some cute kitty pictures. Molly always looks grumpy - here she looks at least slightly intrigued. That's the most emotion I've seen from her in a while! The second kitty is Loverbunny. It's a miracle to get his picture. He is scared of his own shadow. I wanted to take pictures of Sam too, but he thought otherwise.



And, last but not least... my new shower pictures. It was freaking expensive, but at least I have a shower. However, I have to buy a new riser because the person installing it didn't measure correctly and cut a riser too short. Due to it's instability until the new riser comes, I can't even use it. (Yes, this caused me to almost lose my head yesterday. I was very upset.) Ignore the dirtiness look from around the new faucet - it's from the old faucet and it scrubs out. I just need to buy a toothbrush to get in the little nooks around it. I bought this conversion kit for the claw foot tub from Clawfoot Supply. They are very fast with shipping, and while expensive, you get what you pay for -- it's good quality. (And please ignore the ugly wallpaper. I haven't redone that bathroom for good reason! There isn't any electricity that goes to it, and it just recently got in working order. It used to flood the floor below it, but it doesn't anymore!! And for light, I use a battery powered light.)

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!

Shaved Kitties

So, Molly and Loverbunny were outside cats until we moved. We live on a main road, so it was too dangerous to keep them outside. When moved in, however, they still had the outdoor mentality of "must eat food before someone else does". So, they have no idea of when to quit eating. In the last few months, they have gotten a little chunky. I noticed they also weren't cleaning themselves as well as they should be, and so.... they are now on a diet, and they got their hair shaved. They aren't too happy about their diet, but I do think they like being shaved... Molly especially. She has been prancing around and showing off since....

 

 

I know she doesn't look happy in the picture, but she always looks grumpy... really, she is acting very cute with her new look.

Still working slowly on the pea pod baby sweater. I'm on the sleeves. I've been working the last three nights, so that has really slowed me down on it. Maybe I'll make progress this weekend! I also haven't forgotten my Brea bag, but I'm having trouble ordering a handle... I also plan on finishing up the sewing on my little Crafty Alien raccoon this weekend.

I also finally got an invite to Ravelry. It is well worth it's wait!!!!!!! You can find me here.

Well, I'm off to go scrape a little wallpaper in the library. We've had in four electricians, two heating and air people, a plaster person (what title do they have?), a plumber, and a roofer. So, once we choose who we want to hire, and get the finances straight, we'll be ready to work.

Rip Rip Rip

I just started a new project and have already ripped it out. I always pick things they are probably above my level, but I *hate* dishcloths. And I'm a sink or swim kind of girl.

I got my provisional license today. It made my stomach turn a little bit. I'm very excited about it, but you also realize what a big responsibility you have taken on. I start on Monday. First two weeks are classes.

Also, another kitty milestone with Loverbunny. He actually let me trim his claws yesterday. I couldn't believe it!!! Now if Miss Molly would just let me trim hers......

Rip Rip Rip

I just started a new project and have already ripped it out. I always pick things they are probably above my level, but I *hate* dishcloths. And I'm a sink or swim kind of girl.

I got my provisional license today. It made my stomach turn a little bit. I'm very excited about it, but you also realize what a big responsibility you have taken on. I start on Monday. First two weeks are classes.

Also, another kitty milestone with Loverbunny. He actually let me trim his claws yesterday. I couldn't believe it!!! Now if Miss Molly would just let me trim hers......