Quietish

Ginevra and Milka seem to have taken a liking to eachother. While Meeper is a meanie and Remus spends his time barking at him, Milka and Ginevra play nicely. And often, very cutely. Here they are playing on the cat-tree-cat-house-scratching-post thing.

I missed SPS yesterday and I’m sorry. I’ve been sick all last night and today so I’m sure I look like absolute crap. I could be wrong though; I have been too afraid to look in the mirror. In fact, I haven’t brushed my hair yet today.

Instead, I’ll distract you with a little montage of cute cat pictures.

Milka has never paid any attention to my yarn, but since last night she's been totally loving on my current ball. She must have heard me whining to Justin that she doesn't spend time with me and that I need attention from kitties.

By the way, the yarn pictured may or may not be for Ariann.

I haven’t posted about her much. Named her after some yummy chocolate. Isn’t she pretty?

Edit: I should have mentioned that I’ve had her since 2002 LOL I just felt that I’ve not posted near as many pictures as I should have.

Well m’dear, I’m not sure what to say. You’ve been my greatest friend, quiet but ever-present throughout every ordeal I’ve faced in recent years as well as every bit of the mundane. Of nearly everyone I know, I’ve known you longest. And probably best.

The first time I saw you, you were merely two glowing eyes staring out from a hiding place in your former human’s apartment. While I’m sure you didn’t particularly appreciate our inaugural meeting in which I extracted you from under the mattress, squashed you into a box, put you into a car, and took you to an entirely new place, whatever distaste for me you may have had didn’t linger long. I’m glad, as your company was completely welcome in my lonely apartment.

I was amused and comforted by the routine we quickly slipped into that first year. I’d return from work to find you, without fail, positioned exactly facing the door waiting for me to come in. I wondered but never could tell if you anticipated the exact time I’d be home, or whether you simply waited there all day. Bedtime would not have been bedtime, either, without your carefully executed night-time procedure of “tucking me in,” waiting precisely 10 minutes, getting up from the bed to visit the food bowl, and returning to bed 15 minutes later.

Our next big move a year later is something I should probably apologize for again. This time the trip was not an easy 5 minutes, but an uncomfortable 12 hours. You rode in your carrier, positioned directly behind my head for maximum MEOW effect amidst the pile of my wordly possesions. I had everything I owned crammed into that car, and would have quickly left out my stereo or probably my clothes if you had not fit.

And then rather unfortunately we found ourselves where I had no place to keep you. I had been optimistically hoping that I could work something out. Instead we were back in the car the very next weekend, driving 19 more hours so you could stay with my family. I hated doing that. I hated it. After a year, it didn’t feel right leaving you and I’m sure they or anyone else could not have cared for you the way I did. But I remained optimistic and yet another year after that, I came to bring you home.

I would never leave you again. You watched as my “real” human family was beginning and growing in numbers, and waited (mostly) patiently for what I hope was sufficient kitty-attention time. I think I did fairly well at appreciating your affection. I know the two occasions we introduced a new kitten to the mix were upsetting and I know you didn’t like when we’d go away for more than a day. In the aftermath of both instances, you were on me like glue and wouldn’t let me out of your sight for quite some time.

But really that is just your way. I can’t say how much your presence has added to my days. There is something about being able to reach down and know you would absolutely be there at any point. If I were to change rooms or tasks, you’d easily just change your position so that you were again perched nearby. Whether I was working, writing, or especially doing arty things, you were right there. Often sprawled happily over whatever it was I was supposed to be working. A muse perhaps? Yes, most definitely. I could look over into your brilliant green eyes, and find just enough happiness there to keep on with.

For years you have been with me, one solitary constant through so much change and often difficulty. You are a part of me, more than I could have ever expected. And certainly more than I can ever explain. I have to say I planned on many more than just 7 years with you. Today I feel like I’ve been robbed but also like I must have missed something I shouldn’t have somewhere along the way. But I also know you’re not hurting now, and that to me is the most important thing. I will miss you.

I posted the other day about being happy that all I have to knit on now is my shawl? Right. Wanna see how I spent my afternoon yesterday and morning so far today?

1. new Pomatomus sock
2. new John Mayer album

I had to have a sock for a long-ish car ride! We’re in Ft. Smith again for a coupla days.

Callie is too.

when you’ve had lots of finished objects over the weekend!

Letsee, what do we have to show first? Well I’ll start with this, the progress I made Saturday night at the GY knit-in.

If you see me often enough, you might recognize these as bits of the yarn I’ve used for the sweater for Jamie. You will also remember that I have complained for every single moment I’ve knit on this thing since I started the sleeves. And that I generally didn’t work on it if no one made me.

And then you might say “Wait, does that mean it’s done?!” Why, yes. Yes it is.

And it fits! I’m so happy! And Jamie is too, despite the odd look on her face.

Pattern: “Pullover” from Dale of Norway “Kids Designs for Sizes 2-14 Yrs.” NR 160
Yarn: Dalegarn Falk. I did some color substituting in this sweater; I used white instead of a pale pink that GY didn’t have in stock, and chose the blue to replace a gold color that I just didn’t particularly like with the other colors. Then I switched all the color symbols around a bit to make them work.
Comments: See above comments. Although I will have to say that I love the finished product and think this is a lovely project to try out fair isle on. I just should have picked something either a little quicker to finish or a little more challenging. But that’s me, personally.

So that was another tick off of my knitting to-do list. Then I started my scarf for the

And promptly finished it.

Yarn: Colinette Prism in “Blue Parrot” on US size 10 needles (big! Eesh!)
Comments: I alternated between blocks of garter stitch and blocks of yarn overs. And as you might be able to see near the bottoms and before the fringe, I added a buncha “Chips” by Trendsetter Yarns. I hope my pal will likey!

The most exciting thing is that this leaves me with just one lone project currently on the needles. I’ve looked forward to this moment for some months! I will now get to work on Peacock whenever I want to and feel absolutely free to work on The Fortunate Traveler in the evenings.

I’ve been meaning to get a picture of TFT up on the blog for awhile, and finally took a pic today. I just left it in the snaps since the places I’ve done any work on lately are showing. I will fill in the most of those parts of the dragon before moving down to the text again for awhile. And so on. I want to get tons done on this piece before the year’s end. But I might have mentioned that already, I can’t remember.

And lastly, since I skipped Self Portrait Sunday yesterday, a pic of my feet keeping Callie company while she waits for some Tuna:

P.S. I know, I know; More pictures from Shimelle’s class, soon.

Well I look now and see it was only one day I skipped, but for a bit it felt like I had been neglecting the blog.

Anywho, what I did over the holiday (Labor Day in the US):

Slept in.
Stitched on Fortunate Traveler (progress pic coming soon!)
Worked on a pattern for some cute toddler socks (pattern coming soon!)
Stalked Callie and watched her closely.

Speaking of Callie, meet Meeper:

He insisted on some screen-time and I gave it to him because he’s put up with a lot between watching Callie get to eat special food and dealing with crazy puppies periodically running around his living room.

Today I have to catch up and do yesterday’s Learn Everything page before then doing today’s.
But most importantly, I need to run (run, run!) to Barnes and Noble and buy The Beatrice Letters.

Here’s my “Learn Something” page for the day:

And a Callie update: I’ve found something she’ll actually eat, and wholeheartedly… Tuna. She gets this as a reward for me ramming her pill down her throat. Here she is on the counter waiting for more of her beloved:

While we were out of town last week, the puppers went and stayed with their doggie-Grandparents, Shelly and Kim. We’re very thankful that we had a place to send them that we were sure was safe and loving. (Thanks again, *mwah*)

Remus and Ginevra came home Wednesday night and since they did so well running with the pack -outdoors and in- at their birthplace, we have started transitioning them to more out-of-the-crate time. It is going well of course. The puppies know where the door is if they need to go out, and in the meantime they have fun running circles around the couch and licking the kids til they can’t stand it any longer.

They’re also learning quickly which of the cats dont mind a good sniffing, and which ones are best to stay clear of at all times. I’ve always employed the method of “let them find out on their own” when introducing puppies to the cats that are already there. The cats do the teaching. As long as you’re there to supervise and keep them safe, it is the most natural and quick way to show them what their boundaries are.

So today’s “Learn Something New Every Day” page goes with this theme:

Ooooh, it’s the last day of August. I’m happy. This means we are that much closer to Autumn, and that is a very good thing. C’mon sweater weather.

I had a knitting happy dance last night; I finished my Grandma’s Branching Out scarf. I got done blocking a bit ago and sadly only one photo from the handful I took came out alright:

You can see the pattern pretty well anyway :) I’ll get a Finished-with-acapital-F entry up for it tomorrow or so.

Thanks to everyone who sent Get Well wishes for Callie. The problem is being narrowed down bit by bit and I hope to report that she is indeed getting well soon. In the meantime I’m holding my breath and trying not to think about it more than I have to.

SitNStitch in Norman tonight. See some of you there!