Mysteries

Sometimes I think if it weren't for the guys, I'd have nothing much to report on. Well, almost nothing.

I know this much, if it weren't for them, I would probably not be able to say - I now can do this. Or that. Or the other thing.

The other thing being - what's that smell? Atticus, did you step in poop? Roll in it?

Not quite. If you've a weak stomach, by all means hit the next link on your page, or in your favourites. That's OK. I won't hold it against you.

Now, I know they say that animals, especially cats, won't really let on that they're in any discomfort until it becomes intolerable to them. So, when I noticed an icky smell coming from Atticus, I thought at first he had...stepped...in something. If that were the case, he wasn't trying to clean himself like cats do when they're dirty. At least my guys. I zoomed in for a closer look, and noticed a matted section on his back. And STINKY. I took out one of their brushes to get a closer look, and managed with ease to pull away the matted section. Only to reveal a puncture mark on his back, and some pretty vile stuff crusted around the top. And I noticed he had a raised bump around the area. I blotted it a bit, and ooooo the crap coming out of it.

I called my friend Raven, cat-lady and foster mom extraordinaire.

"RavenAtticushasgooponhisbackit'sgrossIcan'tfindanythingonitwhatisitOMGewewewcallme."

And through all of this, he didn't seem overly bothered. I got a clean towel, some paper towels, antibacterial soap, some antiseptic wipes, and um...vodka. Because I didn't have any iodine or rubbing alcohol. Not for me. Really.

I picked him up, stuffed him in the sink, and washed the area. It was mind-boggling the...stuff...coming out of the area. Like pouring out of it is more like it. Oy. Poor guy. You know, for a cat who normally does not like to be man-handled, he was pretty calm. Mind you, I did have him in a head-lock of sorts. Apart from his heart pounding, he didn't protest too much. So, I kept washing with soap, and draining it until it cleared up. I used a bit of the vodka to clean the area, and dried him off with the towel. Blotted with the antiseptic wipes, put him down, and off he went to finish eating. That's how much this whole thing bothered him. And I was very relieved to see that.

Nothing says lovin' like cleaning an abcess from a 20lbs cat on Valentine's Day. And nothing says lovin' like a 20lbs cat actually letting you do so.

"See? I told you I hadn't rolled around in poop."

Judging by the round hole of the wound, and the location, I know there is only one possible explanation as to how it got there.

"Dude, I am so sorry! I didn't realize I'd punctured your skin!"

"They thought I'd rolled around in my own crap."

"I'm sorry!! It's just well...like Auntie Raven said...you came back from "that place" smelling like you'd been clubbing all night, and some girl dropped her drink all over you! I thought you were somecat else! So...well..."

"Crap, Gandalf. My own crap. And when have you known me to go clubbing??? Seriously."

"I'm sorry..."

I know this much. When Atticus comes back from the vet after getting his teeth cleaned, I'm splitting those two up. I'm not going to risk it happening again.

The boys always "fight", but I've never known Gandalf to draw blood or be anything other than an annoyance. So, I hope this was more "accidental" then intentional.

It seems fine this morning. Nothing is running out of it, and the swelling has all but disappeared. And, he let me kneed the area a bit to make sure it wasn't bothering him, without trying to bite or whack me. I'll wash the area again, and comb it out a bit. I wonder if the hair will grow back?

I'll save you the graphic picture, but it's the area around the tuft of grayish hair towards the back.

"If I go bald...Gandalf, you'd better run."

Man...peace. And quiet. That's all I want today. No surprises. No noise. No smells.

I figured I would take out something I had started working on, and am almost finished, and tell you all about it, but. I decided not to! :D

I'll let it stay a mystery!

Somewhere in this picture is a WIP that I'm working on, much to the distress of the other WIP's. I started it because at the time, I just couldn't concentrate on the more complex things. And, it's going so quickly, I've decided to keep going until it's done. (Heh, how novel an idea is that!)

You'll see what it is soon enough.

Until then, fingers crossed that there are no more incidents, funny business, smelly cats, or bald spots that crop up. No more mysteries.

Life Experiences

Sometimes, all you need is a kick in the pants. And sometimes, that kick in the pants has to come from yourself. And it can remind you that for reasons you may not understand, you need to focus on other things.

Of course, had I listened to myself, and realized that I was only stressing myself, I could have avoided the last few stressful weeks!

After finding a great apartment, filing out the forms, getting the certified cheque done, I decided I'm going to stay put. Did I make the right choice?

Less than one hour after dropping off my papers at the (potentially) new place, I received a phone call from my current landlady telling me that her mother, who had originally rented this apartment to me, had died. I can't tell you how sad that made me. As much as my current landlady may frustrate me, her mother and father were exceptional. They treated me as one of their own.

After I got off the phone, a whole bunch of memories came flooding back. Sophie was in her mid-80's, and was very matter-of-fact about life. She was born in the Ukraine, and would tell us stories of growing up there. How she lived through Stalin's collective farms in the 30's. Living through the Battle of Stalingrad during WWII. Escaping to England after the war, and coming to Canada. Her husband George was no slouch either. As a young boy barely in his teens, he was in the Resistance, fighting against the Nazis in Romania. He too escaped after the war, and made it to Canada via Scotland. And they met and married here in Toronto - working several jobs to eventually put both their kids through medical school, and buy 2 houses that they rented out. They really were the salt of the earth. Often I'd come home from work to find a container of perogies or cabbage rolls left inside my door. And every year, Sophie would plant a vegetable garden in the back yard for her tenants from seeds she saved from the previous year. And in the fall, she'd plant her garlic. She'd cover the back yard with leaves, explaining that it was the best way for the garlic bulbs to "mature". Then she'd trudge back to their house, not too far away, and nag George into something or other. I remember my surprise, and everyone else's, when she came around one day to tell me to take $20 off my rent because I was the only apartment with an electric stove - all of the other apartments had gas stoves. When George died a few years ago, she'd continue to come around, but eventually she passed everything on to her daughter to take care of. She still lived on her own; we used to say "as long as Sophie still went to church, everything was OK with her". She was still going as of last fall.

What can I say? Slave to the memories? If so, it's not so bad. I just don't have it in me to call up Lena and say - sorry about your Mom, oh, and I'm taking off now. Let her get Sophie's stuff in order, and I'll revisit moving later in the year. It's the least I can do to honour this wonderful lady who did so much to make this apartment a home for me.

And it's OK. I'm actually a bit relieved. And you know what? Ever since Psycho Sister moved out downstairs - things have been much better. It's up to me now to get that lovin' feeling back. And it's started, little by little. I'm going to take some of my bonus money (whatever's left after Atticus and Mae get their teeth cleaned, that is!), and maybe buy a few new things I've been meaning to get for this place.

So, did I make the right choice? Yes.

Maybe now I can put more focus on KNITTING. Because you know. This is a KNITTING BLOG. Sheesh.

And because of all this, I neglected to show you this beautiful acquisition!

Some Hebridean 2-ply in the "Strabhann" colourway, from Virtual Yarns!

Lordy. It's a beautiful colour. I was going to make the Driftnet Wrap, but, I'm thinking I may end up making something else with it, because the colour is so amazing.

What do you think?

The Little Dudes Have A Pissing Match, or, Neener Neener Jerk-Face!

"...mmrrrrrrrrrrr...*growl*...you stink Atticus! *hiss*... You're not my brother! ...mmrrrrrrrrr..."

"...*hiss* to you too! I went to the vet! So what! Geez... Stop making those engine noises Gandalf, you sound like a old fridge."

"You smell like some other cat's pee, Atticus. And I don't like it! At. All."

"Gandalf! Stop being a jerk! Don't hiss at your brother!"

"Hey, did that sound tough, Mom?! Did I sound all Tony Soprano-like?! Oh wait, he's coming over...mmmrrrrrrrrr...*growl*...mrrrrrrrr...*hiss*"

"GANDALF!"

"He's really trying my patience. Why do I have to be the "bigger" cat? I don't want to walk away. He's annoying. And lame."

"You guys are dweebs. I'm going to eat your food. 'Cause you're obviously too busy seeing who's the tougher one."

Gandalf spent most of the day yesterday growling and hissing at poor Atticus - who had to endure a trip to the vet, a rectal exam, a needle, and a blood test. I was standing in the waiting area with the Captain, cringing at the noise coming out of the exam area! Poor guy. It took 3 people, 3 towels, and a Hannibal Lector-type mask on his face to finally get some blood drawn from his back leg. Well, at least they know what to expect when they put him out for his dental work.

And, he was NOT happy with me for a few hours after we got home. By the afternoon, he had settled down, and was basically ignoring Gandalf's tough-guy growls. But still, it was...annoying. If seems better this morning, although there were a few times when Atticus would whack Gandalf on the head out of annoyance.

Mae? Loving all the food. While these guys are busy trying to out-do the other, she's scarfing back all the food.

Smart girl.

The Continuing Saga

Some things never change. And that can be good thing.

Atticus does his Atticus-thing on one of his Atticus spots.

Mae won't hold still for the camera.

And Gandalf relaxes. He does do that from time to time.

And the stuff that changes? Well, it's all good. Folks, it looks like we have found a new home. Fingers crossed! I had the choice between the one I told you about last week, and another one I came across by chance earlier last week, which I like even more than the first one! In a building! With laundry! And 2 bedrooms! With big windows! And lots of closet space! And heat I control! Me! But of course, until it's signed on the dotted line... but I'm confident. And I remain positive.

Thanks again for all your support! Of course, in the past week I haven't had any door incidents. Then again, I ended up working from home most of the week due to an eye infection that was, well, gross. Thanks to the power of antibiotics and warm compresses, I'm on the mend. But I have to say - I am becoming completely paranoid at every small sound.

I did hear from my neighbour downstairs, she had some *interesting* news to tell me - her mail-thieving, door slamming, screaming shrew of a sister has moved out. Moved back in with her mother. Aw. Shucks. And to think I could be out of this place by mid-March. Apparently, she'd had enough of the streetcars, her sister and the new stud-muffin, and of course, me. My heart. She breaks.

Regardless. The sooner I'm out of here, the better. As a few of you commented - if it no longer feels like home - it isn't.

Moving to a new apartment should send the Little Dudes into therapy. Except for Atticus, he adjusts pretty easily to things. But Mae and Gandalf? Oy. They get freaked if I move a chair, or vaccum their sleeping spot. So, if anyone can offer tips on easing cats into a new home, let me know!

In the meantime...

I made a hat! Cute, huh? Carolyn made one as well, which I thought was too cute to resist. It's "Ardvey" from... AS' "In the Hebrides". I never noticed it until I saw one done up on Carolyn's blog. It does look kind of funny now, but it fits beautifully! And I still do need to block it though. I used some "Black Water Abbey" yarn I had left over from something or other (shhhh...I know, I didn't use Starmore yarns! But what Alice doesn't know, won't hurt her...).

And to go with it?

A pair of moss stitch mittens, also in red. I'm using some Mission Falls 1824 wool. The pattern is from the Mission Falls "Smitten" booklet, and they will grow into the "Blossom" design.

Why the new projects? Stress. I simply could not concentrate on anything bigger or more complicated. I was all thumbs trying to work on Isobel of Mar (and I'm *this* close to finishing the bodice). And Windsor Waistcoat? After having to rip out 3 rounds, I decided I should stick to something easy. Knitting definitely calms my nerves, but this time around, I just couldn't concentrate properly. I tend to internalise stress, to the point I don't even realize what I'm doing to myself. Then I realize I am "out of sorts". Regardless, it's not healthy, I know.

The prospect of moving isn't the stress factor - it's the current living arrangements. Well, I'm dealing with the problem, and I hope that it will soon be resolved.

Fingers crossed!

My Bizarre World

It has still been quite cold here. Although, at one point, the temperature went to above 0C, causing a bit of a melt. Then, as things go in this part of the world, they dropped drastically within 12 hours. Resulting in these:

Pretty, aren't they? These are steroid-sized icicles that formed in front of my living room window. HUGE. And probably more than a bit dangerous to anyone standing below them, should they snap off. Luckily, they melted away after the last mild spell late last week. It sure made for a pretty picture though.

I really want to thank everyone who offered support, and weighed in on my apartment challenges. You guys really are great friends! In a way, it gave me a push to start looking elsewhere! And, I'm waiting to hear back from one location I looked into and really liked. A nice, big 2 bedroom in the area - in an apartment building with LAUNDRY (you have no idea how good that sounds to me). It's in the same area I live in now, and it's practically lake front. As a matter of fact, my bedroom would look out onto Lake Ontario. Nice... So, we'll see! I'll let you know how it went next time around.

So. OK. Maybe I'm being paranoid of late. But. I noticed something odd yesterday, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it (well, of course. It's me, after all...). Mae had her appointment at the vet yesterday morning (more on that later). Now, normally, when I leave the house, I leave by my back door, and will come home through the front door, to pick up my mail. Because I had her in the carrier, and it was -16C outside, I decided I'd leave by the front, and wait on the porch for my ride. I locked the deadbolt on my door. I've only done it a hundred times. I NEVER lock the door handle, simply because I don't want to lock myself out if the door closes behind me as I'm getting my paper or what ever else. So, it's NEVER locked. Ever.

Then, why is it the door handle was locked when we returned home from the vet's???

Does it lock itself on it's own? No. You probably know the type of door handle lock I mean - the ones with a twisty little thing in the handle itself. Either I manually lock it myself from the inside, or I lock it with a key from the outside. Neither of which I've ever done in the 3 years since these new locks were put in. I am quite sure I didn't lock it when I left with Mae. Actually, very sure.

So, my tired brain is trying to figure this one out. How did it get locked??? Who has a key? Few people do, actually. The landlord does...but - she wouldn't come in, would she? I wonder (because I can't shut my head up) - does my neighbour downstairs have identical keys to my place? See what I mean? This is just bizarre. I've gone over every step in my mind, and I just can't figure it out. It doesn't lock itself. The deadbolt isn't connected to the door handle, so locking one doesn't lock the other. And if I had accidentally locked the door handle? I can tell when I pull the door shut - the door handle wouldn't turn.

This isn't the first time this has happened. Other than being away and the guys being looked after by their Auntie Raven, the handle is never locked. I can remember this happening a couple of times before, but just shruging it off. This time, because it was early, and I had Mae with me in the carrier, I made an effort not to pull too hard and "slam" my door as I was closing it. I know I turned that handle - it was NOT locked. I'd like to think that if it were the landlord, they'd at least let me know that they were in my place.

Man, I have to move. And soon.

OK, on to something else.

Yes, Baby Mae had her annual physical yesterday. She's such a good girl, and everyone at the vet's office commented on how pretty she was!

Of course she is.

"I'm not impressed with the probing and needles. But, there are some very nice humans at that office. I'll give you that much."

Completely freaked out, she didn't flinch or lash out. Even when they took her to the back to draw some blood (at nearly 10, it's a good idea to check for age-related issues). Even when Benny the rambunctious 9-month old puppy decided to introduce himself. She does need to have some dental work done though, which is scheduled for February.

I was initially supposed to bring Atticus along as well, remember? Well, I decided that it probably wasn't such a good idea - not because of the hassle of taking both of them in at once, but because someone being left alone at home was an even worse scenario. Gandalf has never been on his own since he came to live with us, and he probably would have had a meltdown of epic proportions if he found himself alone. He does get a little anxious sometimes if he doesn't know where I am. Little munchkin... :(

"Me no like to be alone..."

So Atticus goes in 2 weeks. He should make up for Mae and Gandalf being such well-behaved sweethearts at the vet's... Heh.

And one last thing:

How did this happen?

And this?

I pulled Diva out from the closet earlier this week, and noticed 2 holes on the collar, and one on the cuff. I thought it was moths, but none of my other sweaters have holes in them.

*sigh*

Snow and Cold

Gandalf loves the snow. I'm sure, given the chance (which he will not get), he'd be out there happily romping in the snow. But, he'll have to be content to watch it from inside; and try to catch snow flakes with his tongue from the other side of the window.

"This fluffy white stuff is so neat. Wow, look at that man across the street moving it around with that big spoon! Mom? What's he saying? I think he's saying bad words!"

I like what it looks like from inside.

As long as I don't have to shovel it.

Things look rather peaceful out there in the large back yard. But of late, things have been less than peaceful with my neighbour downstairs.

It's not that she's loud, or has funky smells coming from her apartment. I guess it's just the small things that add up to "time to move". Small things - her dog running around all over the back yard - nothing wrong with that - and her not cleaning up after her. If you get my drift. It's the lack of privacy on my deck. Hers extends further out than mine, so when she's out there, she can pretty much see all that goes on on mine. It's the boyfriend who seems to have moved in, and parks his car in the middle of the back yard. It's her allowing him to smoke in her bathroom, and having the smell waft up to my place. It's her "allowing" our next door neighbours' dog to run around in our yard. It's how everyone must adjust and live around her. It's the screaming matches she gets into with her sister (you know, the one who would toss away my mail). It's also how she scammed her way into paying far less for her apartment than I do mine, despite hers being much bigger (ok, that's a landlady thing...). Oh, and as she controls the heat - she feels it's perfectly OK to turn down the heat when she's warm enough, not taking into consideration that I may be cold. Which I frequently am - this is an old house with little to no insulation in some parts (it was built in 1892). And, depending on the direction of the wind... Yikes.

And speaking of the landlady - she's pretty unresponsive. I've had a list of things that need to be fixed here, which she still hasn't addressed. No laundry facilities is also starting to grate on my nerves, despite the fact she has more than enough space in the basement. When her parents still maintained the property, things were good. But, since she took over, she's pretty much treated this property as a cash-cow.

Oh yeah. I think the clincher is the uh, noises that can sometimes make their way into my apartment. I was getting ready to go meet the Captain for breakfast yesterday, and as I turned the radio off, and put my coat on, I uh...well...heard stuff. Coming from downstairs (her bedroom is below my living room).

"What kind of noises did you hear, Mom?"

"Nothing Mae."

"Oh, I know. Those noises... Hee hee, we hear them sometimes when you're at work!"

Ew. Ew. EW!!!!

So. Taken individually, they do seem like minor issues. However, as a whole they become difficult to deal with. I think my decision was sealed when I realized I was a bit anxious coming home. Not knowing what to expect - will I step on dog poop? Will she have her smoke butts littering the back yard? Will she be screaming at her sister again? And on and on. I've lived here nearly 11 years now, and it is my home. But, at some point, I stopped being it that way.

I'm aiming to be out of here by April 1st. I don't think I want to spend another summer not being able to enjoy what I should be able to, and used to.

*sigh*

Writing about it does make me feel much better - so thanks for reading!

But hey!

(That picture actually looks better than I thought it would.)

I have been doing knitting stuff! How could I not? When it has been -20C, you don't feel much like being outside. I've been working on Isobel of Mar. You know, despite the never-ending rows, I really enjoy working on her. She's very soothing, and I keep imagining how lovely she'll look when she's done. And the colour probably has something to do with it as well. Lovely blue with flecks of green in it (it's the Hebridean 3-ply "Summertide" shade)... Once I get past the bodice, it should be smooth-sailing. No patterning, just the double moss stitch. Oh wait. I forgot that there's a button band too. Well, regardless.

And I've been able to pick up my Windsor Waistcoat again! Ah, how wonderful... Although I didn't photograph it. I'm past the mid-way point of the body. Not bad, considering it's been at least a month since I've been able to work on it. Most of my knitting has been pretty slow though. This time of year, mainly due to central heating, I get icky dry skin and exzema on my right hand, so I have to be careful not to irritate it more than it needs to be.

Well, it sure reads like I'm whining a bit to much in this post - I hope I didn't bore you! Again, thanks for reading. As I said - being able to write about it helps me think things through.

And, as a parting gift, a gratuitous shot of Atticus.

"Dammit. Busted drinking out of the flowery pansy-bowl."

Oy.

I really had a theme planned for this post. I was going to give my progress reports for various projects I have on the go...blah blah blah.

But, I kind of got sidetracked. See, sometime late last year, Lorraine started on about my stash, and how it should go into Ravelry. I think it started sometime after she had come over for a visit, and saw my newly "organized" stash central.

Looks daunting, huh? I do have plans to reorganize it all, somewhat. And, it is looking slightly more "organized" since I took this picture.

I decided that I'd start with the visible yarn, the ones I could see without having to rifle through everything. That was easy enough.

Then I thought I'd list all the heavyweights - the Jamieson's, Virtual Yarns stuff not in kits (2 and 3-ply), old AS yarns, and the "bulk" all-purpose stuff like the Patons Classic Wool and Cascade 220. And wouldn't you know it - I have A LOT more than I thought I did. Including a whole whack of 3-ply Hebridean in Mara and 2-ply in Selkie that I can use for something else. (Why did I get the Mara in the first place? Oh yeah, I think it was for another Sand Dance.) I have yarn for Sand Dance (listed in kit form), with completely different colours...

See? It never ends. AND I haven't listed all of the "remnants" of old projects either, and some have a lot of yarn leftover.

Most of this stuff has been accumulating over the years. Whether or not it ends up getting used is another thing.

Oh, and I keep remembering all of the stuff I know I have, but still haven't gotten too! Some various Debbie Bliss, more Rowan stuff, and I haven't even touched the cotton... Or the Fleece Artist. Or the Fiddlesticks Knitting Country Silk. Oh, and I just remembered some more Cascade 220! A bunch more Shelridge Farm. Oh! And a pile of Briggs and Little.

My head hurts. I'm up to 56 stashed entries in Ravelry. I'm betting it'll get to 75. Not including sock yarn.

Oy.

Lorraine will be entertained for a long while to come.

Oh, and by the way. Speaking of stash enhancement. Fiddlesticks Knitting has two new designs out. Just sayin'.

Someone has just taken up residence on my lap, using my left arm as a head-rest.

"...lalalalala... Who's "Chucky"? My name's not "Chucky" Mom, it's Gandalf."

Maybe it's a simple coincidence, but Gandalf turns into a terror with every full moon. Then, just as soon as it starts, it ends. I've nicknamed him "Chucky" during these episodes. During his check-up last weekend, the vet mentioned that he had a bit of a heart murmur (but not to worry). Judging by his antics of late, I doubt it bothers him.

And his silliness is contagious.

"Hey, what's the big deal? You should be happy I'm getting some cardio and boxer-cise without having to go to a gym. What's that? Oh, you mean we shouldn't be running around early in the morning? When it's still dark out? Why not??"

This apartment is not my own.

Oh, and by the way. Did you know you can organize your queue in Ravelry now? Maybe you always could, but I just discovered the option.

I have 35 Starmore projects queued.

Oy.

Happy New Year!

Hey everybody! Happy 2009! Wow, it always amazes me how quickly the holiday season creeps up on you, then disappears like a bad first date. Did you make it to midnight? Did I make it to midnight? Um, I can't remember the last time I did! I sort of made it to 10:30pm...

Then, all of a sudden, it's January, and life returns to its normal self. I make no resolutions. I figure that if something is worth doing, it should probably be done when the thought pops into your head.

Of course, I can say things like - yeah, I resolve to swatch and finish what I start (HA! OK, finish in a timely manner...) - but things like exercise more, eat better, blah blah blah. You won't hear that from me. Yes, I've been rumbling about joining a gym, but that started late last year when I found out I get a corporate discount with a fitness club chain up here. Then the holidays suddenly showed up, and that quickly got shelved. We'll see.

And eating right? Well, I always give that my best shot. Even when I'm at my sister's, where I tend to eat...more... She is a good cook, but it's all good stuff so I never feel like I'm over indulging. Just over eating. Is that the same?

Taking a break from cooking. I'm pretty sure Finnegan has something to do with it.

Speaking of which!

"Hi. So I'm not a cat. I'm not my cousins. They're cute and stuff, for cats, but I rock. Just look at my face. Now, cuddle me. CUDDLE. ME!"

Finnegan has the cat "stare" down to an art form. You know the one - you're sure you can hear violins playing in the background as the eyes burn holes in you until you are convinced that yes, they will fall to pieces if you don't pick them up and pay loads of attention to them. Oh yes. He won out many times. Little funny face.

So, did you all get good stuff from the Santa Guy? I sure did! And, amongst all that good stuff (and there was A LOT of stuff for me!) was a copy of Folk Vests! Yay!

And there was the giving of gifties as well. My stealth knitting? Well, here is some of it!

A super-dooper mega long multi-coloured scarf for my sister-in-law! Trust me. It's long. I used a bunch of Mission Falls 1824 wool for this. The perfect yarn too - it has good bounce, will wash up nicely, and it makes for a nice, thick scarf. I'm thinking it was a hit! And, I have a request for another one. It didn't take as long as it looks - it worked out perfectly in front of the TV. One of things where all of a sudden you realize - whoops, this may be too long. Well, not really but you get what I mean.

And as for the Little Dudes. Well, as always they were very nicely looked after by their Auntie Raven.

"I'm sorta not impressed by you going away. I guess it's OK that you saw cousin Finnegan. But you're home now, so I'm sorta happy about that too. Hey, what's with the crate? We going somewhere?"

Usually the new year for the guys is ushered in not by Champagne and song, but by needles and butt-probes. Gandalf was the first, stuffed into his crate yesterday for a visit to the V-E-T. You'd never know it was a traumatic experience for him - he purred while being weighed (13.6 lbs. Atta boy.). And didn't flinch while being examined, probed, and vaccinated. And everyone went on and on about what a sweetie pie he was! Aw!

Next up should be interesting... Mae - who doesn't like it but puts up with it - and Atticus, at the same time. In all their years, I've never brought both in at the same time. But, Atticus is going to be getting some blood work done in preparation for some dental cleaning he needs, and it'll be simpler (simpler? Where am I coming up with simpler?!) to take them both in at the same time.

Now, Mae is no problem. Like I said, she doesn't like it, but she won't put up too much of a fuss.

Atticus? Hold on to your hats. He's a sweet and loving boy, but he can be crabby and crotchety in his middle age! He does NOT like it when he's not being in charge of the goings-on. Getting blood from him will require a few hands on deck, and thick skin. He is going to be one PISSED.OFF. kitty when they're done. But, it is for his own good. Not that he cares though.

Stay tuned. That's in a few weeks - I have time to plan my course of action.

"You know Atticus, it probably wasn't a good idea to hiss at Gandalf like that when he got home from the vet's."

"I know, I know... So, he really said that we both have to go in? At the same time?"

"Yup. Something about check ups, and blood work for you. Not sure."

"Oy. Well, maybe he's just being a jerk, and is just saying that to get back at me?"

"Um, I don't think so... *sigh* "

First Day of Winter

Wow. Can you tell?

"Cool! It's like a soft, fluffy bed! I wonder if I stick my face...lalalalalalala...Oh! Sweet Greenies that's cold!"

You know, this time of year, I get busy. Knitting this and that. Yet, because of the time of year, I can't show this. Or that. Because you know. Readership and all...

So. The pickings? They are slim.

Instead, I bring you this -

YOGOURT!

I have a good friend from India, and she once told me that once you make your own yogourt, you'll never go back to the store bought stuff.

Now. When it comes to yogourt, I'm a finicky sort of girl.

"...like Mae!..."

"Who said that??? Oy..."

Anyway. I've been known to spend far too much time in the dairy aisle, trying to find the right yogourt that doesn't taste like...well...cow-ass; or, that doesn't have sugar/fake sugar as the second ingredient. Instead, I started going for the plain, organic yogourt, and loved it.

Of course. You have to like plain, organic yogourt. If not. Well.

Then, my friend Puneet told me how she makes her yogourt.

First, you heat the milk.

I use about a litre and a bit (um, I think that's about 5 to 6 cups of milk) of organic 2% milk. Heat it to JUST before boiling, remove from heat, and let cool. It should be cool enough that you can put your knuckle on the surface without scalding and swearing. Or, no steam should come off the surface.

Then, take your "starter" -

I use about 3/4's of a small container of the same brand of plain yogourt I used to buy. You can also buy commercial yogourt starter, but personally, I like using this better. Plop it in a big enough bowl, and smooth it out with a plastic or wooden spoon (no metal...).

Add some of the cooled milk -

...and make sure to mix just enough so that the milk smoothes out the yogourt starter. Keep adding a bit at a time, and when it's done, cover it up with a lid (not too tight though) and a cloth.

Then -

...pop 'er in the oven with only the light on. Shut the oven door, leave the light on, and forget about it for the 16-24 hours. And what ever you do - no peeking! After all, the bacteria are breeding. Heh.

I used to do this in my gas stove - the heat from the pilot light was enough to do the bacterial job.

I put this in at around 8:30am this morning, and I'll take it out tomorrow morning when I get up for work.

And the result? The best damn yogourt this side of Delhi.

Of course. If you don't like plain yogourt, then all of this means nothing to you. Well, you learned something at least. You may be saying - hey Brig, I'm lactose intolerant! Can I still have some of this stuff? Yes! I have issues digesting lactose, and milk proteins, and I don't worry one bit with this stuff. The heating process manages to banish both nasties, and I feel no ill effects.

As a matter of fact, all that good bacteria? Does wonders for the uh, plumbing.

And hey Brig! Doesn't it seem like a long, drawn out process?! Well, it's not! Apart from heating the milk, which I do recommend you watch like a hawk, there's really not much else to it. While it's cooling, you can go off and do something else for a half hour or so. Once cooled, it takes barely 5 minutes to incorporate the milk into the starter. Then the whole oven thing...well, you really shouldn't stand next to the oven for 16 - 24 hours. Unless you want to. But that's just weird.

When it comes out of the oven, let it rest at room temperature for a couple of hours before popping it into the fridge. The consistency may be slightly less firm than you're used to, but the taste? YUM.

So there you go. Brigitte goes all granola on you.

In other news...

You know when they say you should rummage through your closet, and discard anything you haven't worn in the past couple of years? Yeah, well, I thought I should do the same with a couple of WIPs.

Now, you know what? There is a difference between taking a long time to knit something - not because you don't love it - but because it's a project that requires a lot of concentration (like Fulmar); and those that take a long time to knit because, well, there is NO love. Any longer.

Can you guess what these are?. No, not the black paws and long whiskers. We already know what those are and who they belong to.

Those are Arangenser, and Western Seas. *sigh*

You both were making me miserable. I do not believe in finishing something for the sake of finishing it. Especially if I'm on the verge of tears everytime I work on you, and working on you is usually the result of guilt. While I didn't hate you (after all, I will be reusing the yarn, and would rather not burn my bridges with you), I could no longer stand looking at what I was making with you.

And you know what? I actually felt NO pain while frogging them. It was quite...entrancing actually, watching the ball winder unwind the kinks out of those WIP's. Yes, it represented a lot of work, but, I'd rather have frogged them both knowing I could reuse the yarn, than look at the knitting bags gathering dust and pissing me off.

See? Win-win.

And hey everybody!

Happy Holidays to you all from all of us here (meow!)! My Christmas will start in a week or so, however I'll be thinking of you all, and hoping all is well in your worlds.

All's Well

I am happy to report.

So, remember my problems with the Jamieson's yarn I used with the Hearts Tunic? Well, I'm pleased to say that I received a favourable response from the good people at Jamieson's. They did look into the matter, and provided me with a good reason as to why this may have occurred, and will be compensating me adequately. The response was quick, and the customer service they provided is excellent. I'm quite pleased (and confident) in continuing to use Jamieson's yarns in the future, and really - how could you not when put together they create such beautiful Fair Isle and stranded projects like Delores!

Hee hee! I'm just including this picture to remind you all (and myself, for that matter), of lovely Delores. Who has been sadly neglected. As have pretty much all of my WIP's, due in large part to STEALTH CHRISTMAS knitting. Santa Claws doesn't knit, so it's up to me to fill these Christmas knit wishes.

So, pretend you haven't seen Delores before! Ooooo! Ahhhh!

And thanks Jamieson's! Although it doesn't bring back my Hearts Tunic, your response does go a long way in restoring my confidence in your lovely yarns.

There's very little in the way of knitting to show you. This time of year - what can I say. It's all about the gifties.

Speaking of which!

Look what I got from Tess, Jetsam, and Garden Kitty's mom Bridget!

Gifties!

And for the Little Dudes too! Some toys for them (which have since been scattered to all four corners), some gluten free cookies (the gingerbread cookie? Oh. Wow.), and a SIGNED copy of "Knit So Fine"! I love this book, and have since it first came out. It features designs using thin yarns (my favourites). There are quite a few I'd like to try, including a hat, and the cover design. There's also a Kimono Top, and a vest using sock yarn. And lots of other stuff - go have a peek! Thanks Bridget! And thanks to the lovely authors of the book - Lisa R. Myers, Laura Grutzeck and Carol Sulcoski - for signing the book for me.

"Atticus?"

"What?"

"I'm confused. Can I ask you something?"

"Um, ok..."

"Mom's name is Brigitte, right?"

"Right..."

"Then, how is it that Tess and Jetsam and Garden Kitty's mom is ALSO named Bridget? How can there be 2 moms named Brigitte? See my point? It's weird."

"Dude. There can be 2 mom's with the same name. It's just that the spelling is different."

*silence*

"The spelling is different? Ohhhh. OK. Well, I guess so then. Atticus?"

"Hmmm?"

"So, could there be 2 Atticus' too?"

"Whoa. Let's not get ahead of ourselves!"

Really must booby trap computer while I'm at work. Seems someone is getting too familiar with surfing the Internet.

Oh boy.

Anyway! Hey look! Surprise! Pardon the bad office lighting and slightly constipated look. We had just rolled back into the office after our 2.5 hour group lunch. Heh. But look! Yes, that's right. I cut A LOT of hair off, and boy does it ever feel LIGHTER. I never realized I had so much hair. But, it was a long time in coming, and I'm very pleased with the results.

Yay me! (Nice sweater Brigitte. Why, thank you. :D )

"I'm here for no other reason than to show you all how handsome I am. Despite the crappy lighting. That is all."

Hearts Tunic

Wow! Was I ever excited to show and tell you all about this:

It's my Hearts Tunic!

Hearts Tunic from Simply Shetland 3, knit on 5mm needles using Jamieson's Heathered Aran in the Lacquer shade. Size small, and it fits perfectly.

Yay me!

Did I enjoy it? I did! I became more and more excited as I worked on it, thinking how wonderful it would be to wear at Christmas. You know, being a lovely shade of red and all. I love the picot detailing, and the slightly set in sleeves. It does look a little uneven in the photo above, because it's been steamed and is drying.

But.

And this is where I have to sit down, sigh, and swallow my vomit.

One of these things is definitely not like the others.

It's not a trick of the light.

It's not a "steam" or "wet" line.

It's not a fold line.

It's a very distinct separation between one ball, and another. Despite all being from the same dye lot.

It's not supposed to look like that. After all, all balls come from the same dye lot. But, that one sleeve section next to the body? Looks rather funky to me.

Can I tell you? I think I may have cried a bit. After all, if you remember correctly, this is the 2nd time this has happened (scroll down to 3rd picture).

The placement is such that I will probably not be able to wear this. It's too obvious, and really sticks out due to the red shade.

I can't help but think - did I do something wrong here??? But you know what? I didn't. Wet blocking isn't the cause. I've wet blocked many a knitted piece, and have never had this happen. And let's face it kids, I'm no idiot when it comes to this stuff. I've been knitting for over 30 years, 95% of the time with wool. I think it's safe to say at this point that I know what I'm doing.

So, stay tuned. I'll have to report this, obviously - but I'm in a better mood today than I was yesterday. I don't like using the word "complain"; it sounds too much like "whining". But, I guess that's what it is.

On a happier note -

Isobel of Mar! It's a bit difficult from the picture to see the detailing, but it is an accurate depiction of the colour. I'm knitting it from stashed 3-ply Hebridean from Virtual Yarns in the "Summertide" shade. Stashed 3-ply Hebridean...whoa. OK, actually, it was from another design I had bought that I didn't end up doing. Which one...can't remember now. But anyhoo, it makes for the perfect colouring for this design. You can really see the detailing of the cardigan in Marina's finished Isobel of Mar. And my hat is off to her, because at nearly 320 stitches per row, I'm amazed she finished it so quickly! Wait a minute. No, I'm not. It's Marina.

And hey! Look who it is!

Stewie's back! Well, I'm pretty sure it's him, he has the distinct grey tuft of fur on his tail. And he sits by the door, waiting for me to give him some bread. I haven't seen Brian yet (Stewie's companion), but it's early yet. Brian had a tuft of fur missing from his back. And yes, I did bag up the leaves...

"Aw Mom, I'm sorry about the Hearts Tunic and the bum dye job. Here. Let me lie down and nap here on your lap. I'll totally immobilise your left arm so you can't type properly. It'll make us ALL feel better. Really. It will."

Stay tuned! It ain't over.