Kitten rescue

This is part of an email I received last night:

I want to get your opinion because I know you r a cat lover-aren't you? My sitter has taken in 5 kittens about 1 month old. They were left by their mother in their backyard and they r temporarily taking care of them until they can find a home for them. One of the kittens has a mouth injury that has caused trouble with eating. They took this kitten in to a vet for an opinion on fixing it's mouth and it will be a lot of money. So my question is, do u know anyone that is willing to adopt any of these kittens or know anyone that is willing to baby this injured kitten?

So locals, I need some low cost vets who work with those who rescue animals. I've gotten some suggestions - Spot Society, Lifeline Animal Project, Good Mews, Furkids, but if you know of a local vet who can help, please mention them in the comments. I plan to find out some more about the surgery because we all know "a lot of money" means different things to different people. Please keep these little ones in your thoughts. Thank you.

Better late!

Here are the Sunday pictures. Yes, I know they are late. Yesterday got away from me.

First of all, you see Lily sleeping in an urn outside. I really need to pull the weeds from the urn and plant it with something fun that can hold up to cats sleeping on it. Maybe catnip?

Next up is what happens when I remove the crockpot liner and leave the empty outer ring sitting on the counter overnight. I had no idea that it was the perfect size for a smallish cat to fold herself into.

In fact, I didn't notice Lily in the crock pot until I went to take a dish from the cabinet above her. She moved and startled me. Then I took a look and started laughing. She slept there for several hours, got up to eat and got back into the crockpot. I had to leave her there until Keith could see it for himself. We did put it back up, but I think I'd better wipe it out well before I use it again. And you can't tell from this picture, but the crockpot is unplugged.

The blueness that is next is a gift that I'm knitting. I'm not sure if the recipient reads my blog.

I thought I'd take a chance and just post a small portion showing the wonderful color. It's Marble Chunky, and I can't remember the color number. It's a really nice yarn to use.

Next up is another sample sock I'm knitting for Gale's Art. This colorway is Autumn Fire. The color is a little washed out as I'm using a different camera, so I have to learn all over again how to take pictures.

Finally is a hat that I'm knitting as a shop model. The yarn is Mochi Plus, and the colorway is Autumn Rainbow. The tam is a free pattern from Crystal Palace. It's so fun to knit with the short rows. I'll admit that I had a devil of a time with it at first as I found the pattern just a wee bit confusing. I got it all figured out, and I'm rocking along with it.

As you can see, the inspecter is there to make sure my knitting is up to par.

Dog days

Yes, it's the dog days of August. I've started working again part time, on a sort of flexible schedule which means it might different days each week. You take a break from retail, then you're back at it, on your feet all day long, and you feel tired. Not a little tired, but bone tired and yawning so widely that it seems your head might split at the ears. Add to that an unusually packed calendar, and you get someone who not only isn't knitting, but not blogging or doing much else besides sleeping when she can.

Thus, these mini posts are to say I'm still around, but dreaming of a second nap today. I've already napped a bit today, and when I got up, I found hubby lounging on the sofa with his eyes closed. Some days you just have to rest. Besides, it's one of those days where it's cloudy and rainy, then the sun peeks out, heats it back up and it sprinkles again. In other words, it's a good day to nap.

Check back later!

I've been kind of busy this week, and unfortunately not with anything blog worthy. There's work, a stealth knitting project and a day full of laundry in the past week. I can, however, see the bottom of the laundry hamper. Well, I could for a little while on Thursday. I'll be back soon, with pictures if I can stop reading Elizabeth George and get back to knittin' and sewin'. Yes, I'll admit that I read Deception on his Mind in 3-4 days. I have to get back to the "real world" and get my nose out of books for a few days. (I'll admit, I don't have In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner yet, so that not reading thing is, well, you know, is something I'd ignore if I had the next book.) :)

I'm still here

The heat and humidity of a southern summer often has the effect of slowly steaming your brain.

I have been knitting, but it's a stealth project (gift), and I can't post pictures of it.

I've been experiencing that slight downtime after finishing a project. I put a lot of energy into getting the socks finished for Gale so she'd have them for her next show (this weekend). The things that I've done that are blogworthy either need me to take pictures, or they are in a state where I can't share them yet.

I'll end here today with a picture of Keith's "angel", or as she's better known, Lilydammit! I'm not sure why my sewing machine was the place to be, but I really need to get a cover stitched up for it. I'm sure, however, the sewing machine maintenance place has seen cat fur in the machines before now.

By the way, I have donned my new rainboots and sprayed herbicide on the poison ivy. I must add that I really hate using herbicide, but as I can no longer pull it up by the roots while wearing shorts, flipflops and a tank top, I have no choice but to resort to chemical warfare. Poison Ivy, it's on!

Second sample sock finished.

I actually finished it on Wednesday night, but I had to take photos yesterday, and yesterday turned into one of those days where it seemed I was gone for hours. (I was gone for hours.)

Early in the morning (for me, that is), I headed outside to where the quality control agents/knitting models were sniffing things and using my former vegetable garden area for a litterbox.

I presented the sock to them as required upon the photography bench.

At first there was little interest. (The photography bench is also a great place from which to watch the bird feeders.)

However, squirrel watching gave way to sock inspection. Here Inspector Mr. Chubbikins joins Grey, who is regrowing her fur from her lion cut and starting to look like Princess Plumeria again, at the sock.

The sock receives a very thorough sniffing. Hmm. Smells like wool and our human. What's that other smell? Maybe a hint of lavender from where it was stored between knitting sessions.

And finally, the finished sock for you to see. I delivered the two socks to Gale yesterday, and in return, she gave me more yarn to knit for samples. I have never ever knitted a Jaywalker sock. Sorry, I can't find a picture of one that I want to use. The pattern is a Ravelry download now, so I don't think it will link to where non-Ravelrers can see it. Soon, but not too soon as I have other knitting to do, you will see a Jaywalker here.

So, what else is going on around here? Not a lot. Our yard almost looks like our house is abandoned. There are tall weedy things growing that are either box alder or poison ivy. Keith told me not to mess with them, just in case they're poison ivy, so I haven't. However, when he's working 6 days a week, he can't really get to them either. Thankfully, he doesn't do that too often, and this week is back to normal. I really must find where to buy those disposable suits painters or hazmat teams use so I can tackle some of the poison ivy. I just really don't want to do it while it's so terribly humid outside.

I'm no longer looking for Scooter in the house as I go about my daily chores or napping. Keith and I still talk about him and miss him, but it's nice the keen edge of grief has dulled some. Things still set me off crying, and I'm sure Keith has those times too, but as they say, life goes on. I'm not sure that time actually heals all wounds as the saying goes, but it does take the edge off to where you can think about the person or pet you're missing more easily. We're about to go through it all again with one of Keith's relatives. He has an uncle who has just been moved to hospice within the past few days. I know where we'll we spending some of our time. Thank goodness for knitting.

ETA: Why does Blogger feel the need to change the way I space my paragraphs? They are not all run together when I type them up or re-edit them 3 or 4 times, so why does Blogger insist upon doing it upon publication? There, my rant is finished!

Fear me Poison Ivy!

I'm back! Nothing like a pair of rainboots for tromping through poison ivy. At least now it won't be sneaking onto my ankles.

Sock in progress

Not much going on around here, so enjoy the sock picture.

Since I work mostly toe up, socks reach an interesting point just before the heel turn where they look like willy warmers. By tomorrow it will have a heel and be back to looking like a sock again.

Have a great Sunday!