6 posts tagged “cat”

Feijoa Jam and Maddy

So, it turns out that I have two feijoa trees at the end of the yarn (you can just make one out, left, in the picture above). Now, I'm still unsure how I did not notice this fact last year, but it hardly matters as I've capitalised on it this year.

Since first spotting random green things on the ground beneath them a few weeks ago, I've made two lots of Feijoa & Vodka Jam (not exactly following that recipe, but pretty close).

The verdict? Delicious! It's a little tart, a little sweet, and perfect on crumpets!

Jam making isn't all that I've been up to, either. Since my last update, I've purchased a new spinning wheel, done a little dyeing, some knitting, and been rather busy! I'm sure I'll get around to providing details for those not yet in the know about those activities, eventually. ;-)

Something's New

Well, my cat now has his very own jumper. I'm not certain it's a keeper, but he wore it, and didn't freak out too much. It wasn't even a hassle to put it on! It certainly didn't bother him enough to stop him eating, usually a good sign.

I adapted the "Feral Fair Isle" pattern by Amy Swenson from the book I mentioned earlier. Obviously, there is was no fiddling with Fair Isle for Maddy, as I opted instead to use one of the Ashord Tekapo melanges, called Storm along with the Dark Natural shade (it's a dark brown). I love my cat, but I don't have the patience to do colour work for me, let alone him.

As an aside, though the Tekapo is nice to knit with, and very economical, I wouldn't recommend knitting it while wearing white - I ended up with blue/grey finger tips very quickly, so there is obviously a lot of residual dye to wash out.

I made the smallest size included in the pattern, to fit a "dog" with a chest size of 16 inches around, which was about right for Maddy's measurements, and I shortened it a little from the given measurements so he can still lick his podgy little tummy and haunches (it's not that cold). I did use 5mm needles all over rather than doing the neck ribbing on smaller needles, seeing no way I could have got any smaller/tighter neck to fit over his head and sit against his body comfortably.

Another modification I made was to do away with the rows of ribbing around the armholes, and simply did a row of double crochet in the brown to finish them off. That was a good idea, because as it was the armholes aren't quite right, perhaps too small. It's really the arms/shoulders that make me think a style with a band/strap that goes under the tummy might be a better fit.

Now I've got a live garment to work with and compare, I think I'll have a better shot at creating something that is just right - perhaps a blend of what I have and this style.

Not that I'm in a hurry to add new projects to my list (despite my Ravelry invitation arriving today)! I've made hardly any progress of other things this week: not a single row on my blanket, or my red vest/jersey. I started the first of some wristwarmers in Sublime Extra Fine Merino in Dusted Grey, and then unravelled it after acknowledging I should have done a tension square first to check my needle size. I have wide hands, but not that wide! Also unravelled was a washcloth in 4 ply cotton for my sister, after I discovered a very small, but very noticeable error very early on in the piece. So, not a terribly productive knitting week for me, but at least I don't have to feel guilty about neglecting my kitty cat!

Paws For Thought

Maddy has adorable little paws. Well, they're actualy relatively large (as is he), but one tends to associate cute with little, and his little pink and black pads are certainly cute.

Show us something pink.

The only sore point there is that he's very anti me clipping his claws. Get him to the vet and it's done in 10 seconds. Me, I have to do them one at a time, sneaking up on him when he's sleeping.

More often than not, he then reminds me he doesn't appreciate my efforts by making use of the others.

Blissful

My Maddy is cute. And a happy chappy at the moment: not only does he have a new cushion, but he's made friends with the girl next door. At least, I think it's a girl - I'm not about to get up close and personal with the other cat to be sure.

The cat has been coming inside for a while, fearless in pursuit of food. And Maddy lets her. He even sits by calmly and watches. Maddy's not getting skinny, so I figure he's eating someone else's food - the circle of life, etc.

The last few nights though, this cat has been sitting on my window sill, meowing. Maddy wakes, and bolts out the window, to return again in the early morning. What my de-sexed boy is doing all that time I don't know. Knitting maybe? Whatever, I am glad it's no longer the fighting he used to indulge in back in Christchurch. And I'm glad he's settled in enough to make friends. He hid away for a while after the traumatic inter-island move.

I do worry though that my intended move later this year will upset him all over again, though. So, I'm letting him may hay. I guess if he can't make babies (aw, cute little Maddy babies!), he can at least have some fun. :-)