Catknits

Whiskers on Wednesday

Since the "children" haven't done anything exciting this week( unlike Darlene's kittie), I  found this picture from the Happier Days when everyone got along.

 

I guess the heat has slowed all of us down.  Have a good day and stay cool!

Another Hot Monday

Yes, Monday has come around again and there was actual knitting this weekend.

Flat Feet Sock Yarn in Plain Vanilla Pattern

Size 1 1/2 DPNs

These socks do look a lot better after blocking.  There was a lot of bleeding which might have been avoided if I had read the label and added vinegar to the water while soaking.  Oh well, the color looks good anyway.

Noro Striped Scarf from Brooklyntweed

Noro Silk Garden in #225 and #8

Size # 8 needles

Love the scarf and all of the color changes.

No Purl Monkeys

Whimzy Pinzy Yarn from Loopy Ewe

Color  7 Seas

Size 1 1/2 DPNs

We also were invited to a friends surprise 40th birthday party.  Her sister and family pulled it off and everyone had a great time.

The newest pair of socks on the needles is Pheasant Run Socks from Wildhorse Farm Designs and I am using Cabin Cove Merino in Orchid.

   

Whiskers On Wednesday

Beamer goes through stages playing with his toys and now he is in a very active stage.  He always loves Big Grey but last night he actually brought 3 toys to bed with him.  As you can see Beamer has Big Grey, a funky catnip frog and I guess Cisco is sleeping on the small squeaky black mouse.  Last night all of the toys were in the living room so he was busy before he went to bed.

   

Taz decided to join the pile of fur.  You can't tell me that cats aren't smart!

I did make pesto and here are the pictures to prove it.

After I finished the regular pesto, I had enough basil left to make some sun-dried tomato pesto.  I use my regular recipe and add enough sun-dried tomatoes until it tastes good.  I don't want the tomatoes to overpower the basil so I just keep adding until it's right.  Oh so good on pasta or bruschetta.

Stay cool!

Knitting and Stuff

The Art From The Heart benefit and auction is tonight.  I finally decided on knitting a Mother Earth's Net Carry-All with an attached dishrag and Wisp a lacy scarf.

This is such a great bag and I have already knitted one for myself.  I used Araucania Nature Cotton color #06.  The pattern was free with purchase from Knit Nouveau.   I forgot to include the dishrag but it was the Ballband Dishcloth pattern and I used Sugar'n Cream in a vanilla color.

Wisp is a scarf pattern which I love from Knitty.  I used 1 ball of Kidsilk Haze in 627 Blood.

You never know at silent auctions how much these items might bring, but I just hope someone really likes either one and there is a bidding war.

I also finished the Tidal Wave socks for the SOS.

   

Tidal Wave pattern knit with Claudia Hand Painted Yarn in Oops

Size 1 1/2 DPNs

Started and finished in July

I am also working on the second pair of plain vanilla socks using Flat Feet Sock yarn.  Since I wasn't how this yarn was going to knit up I took the easy way out.  I do think the socks will look much better blocked.  These socks do not qualify for SOS since I started them before SOS began.

 

My next goal is to finish CeCe and a tank that I started for my sister's birthday.  I also have basil which needs to be harvested and made into pesto.  Pictures to follow if I make any progress on my goals.  Have a great rest of the weekend! 

Whiskers on Wednesday

I got back from Atlanta late last night so here is an older picture of Taz and Cisco lounging and napping.

Later.

Saturday Sky

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  I am off to Atlanta for the market and will be there until late Tuesday night.  Have a great weekend!

Whiskers on Wednesday

Today is Wednesday and you know what that means!  Last but not least Beamer is in the spotlight today. 

He is a Champagne Burmese and is the oldest (by just a little) over Cisco.  He has been our problem child recently and we have even taken him to a behaviorist who put him on medication.  For some reason after living in harmony with Hershey for at least 4 years , he decided he didn't like him anymore and started attacking him.  We have had to keep them separated but recently we have been able to at least leave the door open where the two have watched each other but with a little growling.  We have been using Feliway and think that might have helped.  Beamer is a real sweetie and loves to fetch.  He has a large grey mouse (aka big grey)  he loves to play with and will keep fetching until you give out.

In knitting news, I have turned the heel on the second Tidal Wave sock.  I have also hard time deciding what knitted items to donate to the Art From the Heart silent auction which benefits Studio by the Tracks.  SBTT is a non profit agency that provides a place for adults and children with autism to create art.  I stopped by Knit Nouveau to pick up the latest Spin Off magazine and saw a cotton net shopping bag on display.  That was it and I picked out Nature Cotton in this fun green.

All About the Spinning

First of all I would like everyone for their very helpful suggestions for plying my first hand spun yarn.  I read a spinning book and checked the internet for any videos and decided to just go for it.  Since my 2 bobbins weren't equal, I spun some of the yarn from the larger one to the smaller one.  At the time I didn't take into consideration that my first yarn was a lot bulkier than my more current yarn ( I first started spinning this in January ) so as I got down to some of the finer spun yarn I decided to split the 2 skeins.    I think the thing that excited me the most was that the yarn hung straight after a bath.  So here they are!

 

Corriedale Pencil Roving in Avalon from Crown Mountain Farms  8 ounces

Bulky skein- 133 yards

Smaller skein -56 yards

I realize that I just need to practice more so that I did this weekend.  My spinning and plying have gotten more consistent and I might actually have yarn that I can knit.

Gale's Art BFL in Stormy Sea - 4 ounces - 175 yards

I also finished the first Tital Wave sock.

After a restful long weekend, back to the grind today.  Have a good week.

Whiskers on Wednesday

 

Hershey our youngest, is in the spotlight today.  He is a Sable Burmese and therefore the name Hershey. 

He always closes his eyes in pictures and I have a hard time taking a good one.  This morning I told him he had to help me since he was on the blog today and he cooperated!  Poor baby has had to stay in the back of the house the past several years since Beamer( the oldest) decided he didn't like him anymore.  With the help of Feliway we can at least leave the doors open and have not had any major cat fights.  Hershey doesn't venture too far from the back though and seems happy especially when Cisco and Taz visit.

He is very loving and when he wants to be petted or fed he has a very demanding meow.  He is a real sweetie and we are lucky to have him!