Something Evil This Way Comes...

Callie Jo is the youngest member of our household. She is not a complicated soul. Her needs are simple: an infrequent snack of canned, wet food, a sizable right breast to knead her "biscuits" on and a fluffy feather toy to chase.

Callie also enjoys her various scratching apparatuses:

...and the intermittent brown paper bag...

But Callie Jo's existence is not as idyllic as it seems. There is a lurking Entity that stalks her unceasingly. It is the face of Oreo-Cookie-Cuteness. It...is a Tuxedo. And it wants no part of the Calico interloper. But said Tuxedo can be distracted (temporarily) by this:

And if the above temptations fail to work, we take solace in the fact that at least they're both getting exercise.

My Noro Scarves

My sister died, unexpectedly, last year on the day before Thanksgiving. One of the first (coherent) things I did, after the initial blow, was to buy 2 beautiful skeins of Noro Silk Garden. All I knew was that I needed color-therapy. It was very therapeutic to focus on the gorgeous color scheme that developed on my needles.

The pattern was a free one that I found on the web, it looks like a whale tail. I placed the scarf down to take photos of my process, but I have another fiber-phile in the house who wanted to be included in the picture.

The scarf below is also knitted with Noro Silk Garden. The pattern is from one of the Stitch 'n Bitch books. Callie Jo thought it was an adequate background to showcase her beauty. (I agree with her).

3-Day Weekend!

I took today off because I've been suffering with nasty back-aches and migraines this week. Between school and work I sit a lot on my bum (where else would I sit?) and all this sitting contributes to my chronic migraines.

So this morning I got up at 7:30 a.m. and did stuff around the house to prepare for a weekend of "post-spring" cleaning (woo-hoo...). THEN at 2:00 p.m. I had me a deep-tissue massage, ahhhhhhh....

It was a good massage, given to me by the teensiest masseuse I've ever had. I mean, this wee girl was barely 5 feet tall and barely 95 pounds. Her technique was good, but I have tension and I needed more pressure, so I requested it. Her response felt like, "You want more??" She wasn't rude, but I got the feeling she was already putting everything she had into it...so I felt somewhat guilty. She proceeded (with the increased pressure) and eventually started to huff and puff with the exertion. I felt even more guilty.

I learned today that guilt makes me tense up...not good for the back. So I considered eliminating guilt altogether from my life...but then I would become a sociopath and if I became a sociopath I would probably hurt people's feelings and just thinking about that makes me feel bad...

Potential Knitting Convert

I am always looking for potential knitting converts. Isn't every passionate knitter? I mean, when you kinda eat, breathe and sleep something--you wanna help create/develop other possible enthusiasts (addicts).

Molly, for instance, has always shown an avid interest in my yarn. Unfortunately, that interest has never progressed much beyond her oral fixation with it.

Although she does wear the yarn well. Perhaps she's more of a model of fine hand-knits (as opposed to a creator of them). Someone's getting a knitted halter-top for her birthday...

Interweave Ascot and Ribbed Hand-Warmers

"Huckleberry Ascot" from Interweave's 2007 holiday edition. Knit here in Malabrigo silk and merino. Love the gold color (and it has bobbles on the ends)!

Ribbed hand-warmers in Manos silk and merino. Great fit! Pattern: http://www.dawnadcock.com/pdf/FingerlessmittensheadbandDawnAdcock.pdf

Hipster Hat by Ebony Butterfly

Awesome hat pattern I found on Craftster. Easy pattern. Here is the link: http://knitology.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/felicityv2.pdf

Cascade wool

Malabrigo!!

Children of Another Species

My husband and I decided not to have our own biological children. We chose, instead, to adopt. Let me introduce you to our little ones:

Molly

The Original. The First. 10 years old and originally hails from the Humane Society in Tacoma, Washington.

Sam

Half-Siamese. Suffers from "Middle Child Syndrome" -- wants everyone to get along, but then will act out in an attempt to get attention.

Dudley

Reformed Street Cat. Currently giving motivational speeches to America's youth on the national circuit. Topic: "Don't Follow the Pack. Do Your Own Thing."Callie

Also a former street-kitty. After being in a loving home for 3 years, her values now are strictly traditional. Here she poses with a book her Godmother gave her (because we all know the importance of healthy religious training).

Popping My Blog-Cherry

My first official blog-entry. I am no longer a complete techno-klutz. In the photo you will observe 3 of the 4 reasons why we did not make the bed this morning. Okay, I lie. I never make the bed.