Old Cats Learning New Tricks

We know how the saying goes for dogs...but is it true of cats? We decided it was time to find out...

The scenario: Can 2 senior kitties have the will and aptitude to shimmy their portly bodies through a hole in a door to voyage to an underground lair containing their litter box? Perhaps, if there were a handsome reward.

Here are the pics of the event...

You'll notice how only one cat went through the door yet two are claiming treatitude...in our scenario, Clete is the old dog refusing to learn new tricks but we're slowly getting there..

New Baby=More Knitting Projects!

The only thing superior to a friend requesting a sweater, is a friend having a baby! This baby, I assure you, will be heaped with plenty of knitted goods, school work permitting. I made this cardigan for him, albeit he'll swim in it now but this stuff is just too much work to see him wear it twice and outgrow it.

Sweater Request

I think there are few things that my knitter side likes more than being asked to make something for someone. Our friend S was visiting the other weekend and I was talking about how I was trying to make my commute 'worth it' by accomplishing things in the car when it's not my turn to drive. I was listing off numerous knitting projects that I've gotten underway since the commute began and he benignly asked if I was knitting a sweater. Yes, of course I am! A cowl neck in eggplant/burgundy for yours truly, a baby blanket, and a stocking.

Then, he requested a sweater! I let him choose from various designs (he chose the Elizabeth Zimmerman Seamlesss Hybrid--I've made two now, one for M and one for me). Then we talked color, something in an earth tone. I chose a heathered forest green for him, Cascade 220 Superwash (the ability to wash was a must).

The color is more accurate here...

but here you can see the heathering a bit more...

Tonight, I'm checking my guage and plan to cast on!

Knitting Update

Ok, I would like to say again how incredibly difficult it is to load pictures to this site. The loading is fine, it's the arranging I guess. And somehow amidst me trying to unsuccessfully rearrange the pics, I deleted all of my previous text.

The long and the short, I made the below baby blanket for a coworker whose baby shower was today. I also think Debbie Bliss could make easier patterns. Lucky for you, you missed a much longer winded and verbose version of this. The blanket is two sided, colors blocks on one side, stripes on the other and then sewn together. Was a big hit!

Eyeing...

Boden-Brondsbury Blazer $148

Boden-Marlybone $278

BR-Cotton Zip $125

Nordstrom-Trotters Margot Pump $90

Agenda

Goals for the week
1. Call Dear Mother
2. Finish paper--need to eke out one more page, type reference list, make some edits, make title page
3. Finish baby blanket for coworkers shower on Friday
4. Put cookbooks on newly stained bookcase (pic to follow)
5. Organize office better
6. Organize master bathroom better
7. Grocery shop
8. Get library card

Boooooorring...Yawn.

Last Friday, I got out of work a little bit early and thought I would head to my local retailer to see what the early Fall lines look like. What a disappoinment! I know I said this last year, but seriously, I feel like no one is putting any effort into designing the clothes. Maybe I need to shop at more inventive stores...maybe I'm just old.

Store after store, it was very basic clothes in very boring colors. I think I wrote a post almost exaclty like this heading into last fall. I should go back in look, my memory fails me in my old age. I went to Banana republic, same old same old and in the same boring colors they have had forever. Gap, another stand by, same old same old. Was slightly intrigued by an olive green v-neck which was $39.50, I of course have been shopping long enough to know this will come down at the end of August and I'll buy it then. I did see one very very soft flesh tone leather bag that I liked there, for the price of $168. That's a definite wait and see item.