Knitting is a little difficult lately

Knitting usually is challenging however knitting at my house has become almost impossible. Why? Because my foster kittens seem to think they are my knitting buddies. At least one of them is always attempting to assist me ... usually by trying to hold my needles or yarn in their teeth. Granddaughter's dress is coming along even with all the help I've been getting.

And I casted on another one in the pink tones. Moe doesn't seem to like the pinks as much as the purple/blue/green. Must not taste as good.
It's kitten adoption weekend this weekend so hopefully these guys will be placed.

When you see this ...

you can't help but grab the camera first before assisting the kitten.

Notice that Curley and Moe did nothing to assist poor Larry.

I {{{heart}}} yarn

Part of the fun of picking out a project is picking out yarn for the project. I wanted to make a couple things for my granddaughter for her 2nd birthday. After clicking around Ravelry I found this cute little dress . So cute but I knew my daughter would prefer something not a solid color. I found these colorways on knitpicks and decided they would make great looking dresses and socks.

Larry says: I'd like yarn a lot better if mommy let me bite it to pieces. Of course my brothers and I just wait until she goes to sleep and then we have our way with her knitting.
I found this on ebay. Looked interesting and really can one ever have too much sock yarn?
And this was interesting too.
I've finished knitting 2 pair of socks and will be casting on a couple more things. Since I've designated August the month to put the finishing touches on things I find myself knitting more to gets more things put aside for August.

My little white and tiger guy Curley is getting adopted tomorrow. I'm happy to see him go to a nice home. Hopefully Moe, Larry, and Grey will find homes soon. I love how I can come downstairs in the morning call out, "Babies" and have everyone come running for a little petting. I'll miss that once they are gone. The ladies who run the feral cat program do an awesome job at keeping track of every cat and kitten. I think I'll be a foster home for a long time to come.

Why Brooke Hogan isn't running for political office ever

Los Angeles (E! Online) - "You know what? I am actually not that much into voting. I think it's kinda crazy that a woman is running, because I think that women deal with a lot of emotions and menopause and PMS and stuff. Like, I'm so moody all the time, I know I couldn't be able to run a country, 'cause I'd be crying one day and yelling at people the next day, ya know?"

I'm kinda glad she's not actually that much into voting because I'd hate to have someone in power who doesn't really know all that much but has bitchin' shoes.

This posting brought to you by cats

Grey: Hi everyone. Mom's a little busy cleaning up around here. You wouldn't believe how much of a mess a couple knocked over plants can make. Plus there was that issue with the broken glasses in the kitchen .... knocked over cat food .... oh and the yarn. I won't go into the whole yarn thing but Mom said something about not thinking she would be spending her first day of vacation like this. How are the other kittens doing you wonder? Haven't seen them lately. Nope just laying here all by myself.

Curley: I don't want to rat Grey out since I'm still recovering from 2 days at the vet but I know where Moe is. Think I'll go hide before mom finds me to give me my medication. I don't know what it is but it definately doesn't taste like chicken!
Moe: No I'm really not in trouble at all. I'm actually sleeping. Larry decided to sleep under the table but I wanted to sleep on this nice soft loveseat. I think Larry might have made a better decission.
Curley: I'm going to watch from up here where I'm nice and safe.
Curley: Ok mommy, enough computer. Once you finish cleaning up in the living room you might want to take a look at that suprise we left you in the bathroom. It involved open conditioner and some towels pulled off the towel rack. Here's I'll put my shaved leg in front of your face so you'll feel sorry for me. Is it working?
Diane says: OMG!!! It's like having a 4 man wrecking crew around here. Curley is recovering well. I had to treat all the cats including my own for tape worms. Not fun. Curley's 2 nights at the vet's ended up costing the Friends of Cheshire Ferel Cats about $1000.00. He's got medication every 12 hrs but is recovering well.

I've been knitting but not really sticking with anything long enough to finish. Think August will be the month to finish everything before I start anything else. Well, that's the game plan for now but we'll see what happens.

What I did last night

Curley was sick Saturday night and most of the day Sunday. He seemed to be a little better Monday as show in this picture. Curley says: I don't feel well but somehow sleeping on a downward slope with my head 2" lower than my butt and my paw tucked under my chin makes me feel better.

Monday night he threw up what I thought looked like string but wasn't, was gagging more and couldn't catch his breath. After 5 minutes of freaking out I packed him up and ran to the emergency vet. 7:45 pm to 12:30 am I waited in the waiting room for news. They ended up keeping him overnight. I went home and got 5 hrs of sleep before I had to be up for work.

Thankfully I had taken the time to stuff a ball of yarn and some needles in my purse so I knit away of this sock. Larry says: Moe! Get away from that needle. Mommy doesn't like when you bite those. Just look cute and gnaw on the string like I do. Turns out that Curley had tape worms so bad he couldn't eat or use the litter box. His entie intestines were filled with them. The vet said it's probably the worst case he's ever seen and Curley could have died in a matter of hours. He was treated 4 times with worm medication since he was captured in May but obviously the treatment didn't work for him.Curley is resting comfortably and will be home tomorrow. Poor baby.

I've been plugging away on two pair of socks. Obviously I've got startitis so maybe for the Olympics my project will be to finish every project I've started so far this year. Larry says: Moe! Stop with those needles already. They aren't yours!
Moe says: Hummmm nice tail you have there, Larry. Think I'll give it a little nip or two.
And Grey says: Zzzzzzzzzzz silly kittens. Why can't they just grow up already. Chasing tails is so 2 weeks ago.

Ray of sunshine on a cloudy day

Here's the latest picture of my foster kittens. Moe is laying down with is eyes closed pretending not to notice and Curley was walking over him. Larry has that deep thoughtful look probably thinking something like 'When's Mom going to put down that silver flashy thing and clean the litter box.'

So yesterday was a picnic at my parents house. Usually I love family get togethers but now they are just making me sad. Is this the last birthday with my Dad? The last memorial day? Last 4th of July he'll be around? And to make matters even worse my oldest brother is pissed about all this. He thinks my father should do everything possible to fight this cancer. He can't come to terms with non treatment.

Now I understand that everyone goes thru stages of grief. Heck last month I was pissed at all 3 of my brothers because they don't have kids so they only have to come to grips with this situation and don't have to help young adults and small children thru this process. Irrational? Yup but I was going thru the process.

So by the time I got home yesterday I was just drained. Too emotional to cry. Brain just racing a million thoughts a second. I sat upstairs with my kittens for about 2 hrs and went to bed but didn't sleep a wink. Today? Super sad for everyone. Just trying to get thru the work day. And then this came.

Who is it from? I'm not sure but I do know it's from someone in the Ravelry Brave Whores group. It's a hysterical group where you can freely admit that you are addicted to far too many reality tv shows. The discussion are light and lively. I love all the people in the forum like they are neighbors I'll never actually see. It's a great escape from real life. The note says: To wear Sunday's reading the paper with dad - and in the years to come to remember him by - Not expertly knit - but knitted with love - A Bravo Whore

Now I've never discussed any of this on Ravelry so someone took the time to read thru my blog, knit a beautiful shawl, get my address, and mail this off to me. I'm so touched. Thank you fellow BW. I love you for doing thing.

Grey runs the house

I thought that little Grey would be lonely once his sister got adopted but he seems to have adjusted well. Now that he has the run of the entire house he has found some great napping places. Grey says: Hey not like Charlie was using it.

I've finished enough squares for 2 kitten blankets and have 2 more on the needles. These are so much fun. Should make for some bright colored blankets for my new guys
And I finally casted on some socks for the summer of socks but I'm having a huge issue.
Grey loves to bite yarn and knitting needles. In particular he loves to bite my beloved bamboo double points.

The boardgames of childhood as skill training

When I was growing up we didn't have video games. We played board games. My oldest brother was the king of Monopoly. My younger brother was a whiz at Stratigo and my baby brother could beat the pants off anyone on chinese checkers. Me? Operation was my game. I could take out a funny bone while standing on my foot (which my brothers made me do so the game would be even). Who knew a board game skill could be used in real life. Notice the dryer lint trap in the front? D2 took out the trap before she removed her clothes and at the exact same time an underwire in her bra fell out and landed in the trap.
There's a little ledge and the wire caught on the ledge. How to get it out? No one's hand was small enough to reach. And then it hit me .....
Operation .... salad tongs .... no buzzers as I touched the side. I felt like George Costanza when he was moving the Frogger machine in Seinfeld. lol

My calico foster kitten was adopted on Friday. We've been calling her Calli and her formal name according to her new owner is Calli so I guess they were ment to be her forever home. Grey's adoption fell thru so he's still with us. Grey has now been moved downstairs where he's made himself at home.

I picked up these 3 on Friday night. 3 tigers which I've named Larry, Curley, and Moe.

They are a little skidish around humans but when I come into the room they will usually come running over and after a couple minutes they'll let me pet them. Hopefully sometime this week they'll like me enough to where I can let them out of the bathroom to have the run of the hallway.
Just adorable! Love being a kitty mama.

Monday ramblings

I've got scarves that just need the ends woven, shawls that just need to be blocked, socks that just need the ends hidden and yet I can't seem to focus enough to finish a thing. However does that stop me from casting on new things??

These are going to be blankets for the kittens to sleep on. I figure 4 washcloths is about the right size for a kitten. Hummm what pattern to use? How about a cat?

And a paw print?
I started a pair of socks for the Summer of Socks. SOS. Since I also signed up for the 52 pair plunge 2 I thought I'd better cast something on.
In the middle of making the bed this morning and had to stop to answer the phone. I came back to see this. Guess I'll wait until Joey wakes up to finish.
The grandkids were over this weekend so I've been entrusted with a couple treasures left behind. Lucky for me the rock and plastic mouse haven't given me much trouble although Oscar did try to make off with the mouse. Oscar says: Well it's your fault since you won't let us carry the real mice into the house.
This is kitten central aka the 3rd floor bathroom. Hard to believe that every night this gets swept up and cleaned because the following day it always looks like no one has cleaned it in weeks. Such is the life of a kitty mama. Grey and Calli say: numm numm numm This kitten food is the best. Be back soon mommy ... we'll be needing you to clean the litter box shortly.

Crochet? Here? WTF! Yup I crocheted a couple blankets for the current kittens before I had the idea to use squares. Grey says: Acrylic!?!? Come on mom and cough up the good stuff. I know you have wool and alpaca around here somewhere.
2 kittens 2 blankets.
All the knit squares to date.
My kittens have turned into great escape artists which means if you are a human then you have to get past this in the hallway. I've got to spring for a couple baby gates and modify them for the kittens. Until then my poor daughters will have to figure out how to get to and from their rooms every day. Hummm maybe they'll think it's a hint to move out? Hope not. D3 is leaving the end of August for college and that's soon enough.

My father is not doing well. The cancer has spread more into his liver and is now showing up in his lungs. He's really slowing down but still manages to get out and about a little. I think I'm finally at peace with his decission for no treatment. Not happy but at least at peace.

When the grandkids were over Saturday my parents came over too. Dad sat on the couch the whole time and all 3 of the kids surrounded him for attention. I find myself watching their interaction more; almost like I'm trying to capture it all in my brain so I can play it back for years to come.

The classic distraction ....

When you've got nothing people will forget that there is no knitting content if you post with pictures of small creatures or children. No small children around today soooo

Grey: Mommy, why do you have to work all day. You should hit the lotto and just stay here and play with us all day.
Grey: Gotta get the stuffed fish before it gets me or Calico. Must use all my strength to protect us from the stuffed fish.
Calico: Maybe if I lay on my side and look cute and helpless the stuffed fish will go away.
Calico: Or maybe I'll just sit here and look so sweet that it'll make your teeth hurt. Turning on my extra sweetness NOW!
Charlie: Thank God Diane put those kittens upstairs in the hallway. When they got out and came down they scared me. I was so frightened that I had to jump onto the bed ..... and stayed for a nap.

**** gotta love it when the 16 lb cat is afraid of 2 little kittens.

It's been a while ......

but I'm still alive and kicking. In kind of a knitting funk with is odd for me. Gotta set some goals and get back in the knitting project saddle again.

In the meantime ........ cute picture distractions and new yarn will have to replace finished project.

D3's guy with N at the Memorial day picnic. I love the 'tude N is giving his auntie.
Miss A: Who has time for a 'tude when there's yummy food to eat while sitting on daddy's lap? More watermelon please.
The foster kittens are growing right up. Hard to get a picture of them since they are in constant motion.
Grey: Excuse me but you damn photographers just need to back off. I've got to go chase my sister's tail. Please leave now.

Well, if I don't seem to have it in me to knit at least I haven't lost my ability to purchase new exciting yarn. I LOVE THIS COLORWAYS from Ray. I saw it and had to buy it. Of course it would have been lonely in the mail by itself so ................
And there have been ebay purchases like this teapot. D1 will be getting it for christmas. What an artistic piece. And some mindless knitting but nothing finished.
Today is D3 and S1's 20th birthday. Hard to believe they are 20 yrs old. Time sure flies when you are busy raising kids.