The cat motto is -

"EVERYTHING is BETTER with ME in it!"

Having no photographable knitting content (I sewed the side seams and started a sleeve on the SU&KI sweater. It doesn't photograph well.) and knowing it would be cruel to show more pictures of our grey incipient spring to those of you benighted and suffering with REAL weather, I decided to photograph another card-table cloth. As I prepared to display it, Candy came along to offer her highly decorative services. Fly was jealous that he didn't wake up in time to help, so on the left side of the picture you can see his disdainful profile.


Here is a close-up of the corner motif. This is done on even-weave linen with counted cross-stitch, all faded now and yellowed a bit with age. Come summer, I will dampen it and spread it on the grass in the sunshine. Grass and sunshine do a wonderfully gentle bleaching job. Try it.






Yesterday, I took GED tests to the jail again. Four young men this time. I mentioned that in June, the college offers a cap and gown graduation ceremony for all the GED completers for that year. You should have seen their eyes light up! I would have thought that they were too "cool" and "Tough" to be interested, but the idea of the whole cap and gown pomp and circumstance is really, really appealing to them. "Yeah, well, it's mostly for my mom." is the disclaimer for their interest, but I can see that they will be immensely proud to go through the process. Rites and rituals ARE important!

On March 4th, I will turn 57. Usually I plan a big party of some sort, but this year, for no particular reason, the time just slipped up on me. But rites and rituals and celebrations ARE important. So you are all invited to my virtual party! Come as you are. Come when you can. Screw the diet, I'm gonna make cupcakes for all! What kind of tea and which teacup would you like?

the cat and the hat

Here we see a mildly silly chemo cap made with fun fur and cotton. The blue palstic pony beads in the side tassles don't show very well, but the big green wooden beads are easier to spot.

Miz G. was consolidating while packing to move, and found this wonderful wicker head that wanted to come live with me for a while. Now I can show off finished hats without having to put them on, hold out the camera at arm's length, and hope that it is pointed in mostly the right direction.

Fly, the fat and handsome boy that he is, wanted to help with the picture. "Everything is better with me in it!" is his motto.

The SUandKI vest persists in growing. this is how I decide which yarns go in the next diamonds. Then I stand across the room and squint at it. Then I go back and try a different ball of yarn at the top, and stand back and squint. DH is very patient with me squinting and frowning at things.

Dear old BlackJack is in surgery as I type. His leg just was not healing without being pinned. And he really, really hated being stuck with that clumsy cast, so we are biting the bullet and hoping for the best. he's sixteen years old, and this is major surgery on tiny little cat bones. And he cried when I left him at the vet's this morning. Man, THAT broke my heart! I am hoping that we can bring him home tonight, but they may want to keep him overnight and monitor him.

The vet's technicians and receptionist are just as sweet as can be, and were kind enough to let me in a little early so I could make it to work on time. Their kindness has sweetened my whole day. And it's not as if I'm the only frantic working pet owner they have ever dealt with. This must happen all the time. Blessings on their generous spirits!

Of course, I now want to knit hats or scarves or socks for all of them. Knitter's response. Gardeners probably bring them flowers, cooks bring them cookies, and investment bankers . . . I dunno. The only investment banker I know suffers from adult-onset violin and plays the fiddle wonderfully, so he might come in and play a little tune of gratitude for them. Wait, I am also a writer. I can write them a thank you note! I'll do that!!

It's raining and raining today. Making up for the dry start to the month. I'm not complaining. This is how we stay so green.