Thursday, June 30, 2011

That's not a CAT!

I have finally finished the Down On The Farm baby book! I had taken last Thursday & Friday off to enjoy a four day weekend for my birthday. I got my driver's license renewed, applied for my passport and did a little shopping on Thursday. I planned to work on the baby book on Friday so I could get it mailed off to my cousin and get started on The Wedding Spots, which arrived in the mail at the beginning of last week.






While I was enjoying my coffee early Friday morning I heard the crunching of cat food at the front porch. I have been feeding and working on gaining the trust of a young, stray black and white cat that has been living in the barn next door. But it was not the b/w cat on the porch, instead it was an orange tabby. The first thought I had was oh boy I am in trouble when the hubby learns that another cat is eating on the porch. I watched it eat very quick and nervously, then I notice it was carrying it's front left leg oddly. When it moved back down the steps I noticed it was missing it's foot. The leg appears to be healed over and it can run and walk well. Now I am extra concerned about new cat that I have never seen in the couple of months I've been watching the b/w cat. To make a long story short I bought a havaheart trap to catch the orange cat and bring it to the local shelter. Around 8:30 Friday night I checked the trap and I heard something carrying on in it. I had caught the little b/w cat, the orange one was sitting next to the trap. I was a little disappointed at first because I wanted to catch the orange one. But I set up a large dog kennel up for the rescued cat until I could have the vet check it out.

In the mean time I reset the trap Saturday evening as it had rained all day saturday, I figured I would not see the orange one again until Sunday. Sunday morning I got up and went to peek out at the trap and saw some cream colored fur. I was so excited and squealed to my husband, "I caught another cat!" I put my garden clogs on and ran out in my pjs to check it out. I came right back in to tell my husband that I caught a critter but it was not a cat. I had caught one of the OTHER residents from the barn, a skunk. So the dilemma was how do I let it go without getting skunked. I put on my rain coat and grabbed the polo mallet I had in the garage(a find from my old house) and went to free Pepe le pew.

The only way to open the door on the cage is to release the catch with one hand and lift the door with the other. The skunk was quite antsy but kept in the back corner. Once I had the door slightly ajar I placed the mallet under the door to lift it all the way open from a distance. I stood on the other side of the shrub I placed the trap behind, so the skunk could not see me. It took almost ten minutes before it finally came out. As soon as it cleared the door I took off in the opposite direction. No harm, no foul - odor! It never sprayed!!

We took the b/w fella to the vet and he passed all tests with flying colors. The vet estimates he is around 12 months old, when they put the health info in the computer it calculated 12 months and 2 days. So my girlfriend suggested that his birthday be the day we caught him (6/24).

We have not put the trap out yet for "orange juice". We just saw him again tonight, so I put some food out for it. "OJ" kept a short distance and did meow when I shook the bowl of food. It was up on the porch eating as soon as I went in. I plan to set up the trap during the day time this weekend, as I do not want to catch the skunk again. I got lucky once.

I have made good progress on the wedding spots, but not sure I like the colors. The photo on the cover of the pattern looks more neutral with browns, creams and grays. It calls for tin bucket and tin roof but they seem too much on the teal side. May need to edit some of the colors. Other wise I am loving working on this project.

Will update the cat happenings. I think we have settled on the name Opus for the b/w and slowly getting him adjusted to his new environment indoors. He's doing well so far. The Bassett hound is excited but well mannered with him.

Off to bed, need to get up for work.

Keep on stitching. :-)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

A wedding project

My cousin and his wonderful bride were married on 6/8/11 at a tropical destination. I will not be able to make it home for their reception which is a real bummer. My aunt is working on a beautiful wedding sampler for her son and NEW daughter-in-law.

I have ordered the fabric, fibers and pattern for The Trilogy's Wedding Spots. I am tickled over getting to do a wedding project, as I have done several baby projects for the last several years. Speaking of baby projects, I am really close to being done with Down on the Farm!

As most of you stitchers have experienced; I have at least six other projects on my mind that I want to delve into. I don't know how some of your girls crank out the projects. I know I do get more stitching done in the winter. I try to get outside every good day possible. Maine's long winters is something I am still adjusting to. Don't get me wrong I love the snow, but the season usually starts in November and lasts into April/ May. And as soon as the snow is gone and the sun is shining I want to be outside.

Need to get some stitching done. I was already out in the yard at 6:45 this morning working in my wooded area flower beds. I want to get some stitches laid before I get back out in the yard.

Keep on stitchin'. XxXXxX

P.J.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Return from the south with stash in hand

We had a great time with family; including the surprise party for the husband's 80 year old grand mother. My mother-in-law(MIL) and I spent a girls day out at the stitch store, lunch at a quaint little tea room and a few other stores. I was thrilled, of course, to be visiting the Stitch and Frame in Rock Hill, SC. My main goal was to pick up some fabric for a few special projects.

The projects I got the "fixins" for are Plum Street Samplers - Salem Sisters & Salem Sister II, Shakespeare's Peddler - A Weary World Rejoices and the Forthmann 1880 Sampler as adapted by Robin Laukhuf. This sampler was found in the July 2007 Cross-stitch & Needlework magazine. My MIL and I hand picked the floss for the Forthmann sampler. I am really looking forward to working this one! Again once I get the picture thing figured out I will post a pic of the fabric and floss with the pattern. My girlfriend has stitched both of the Salem Sisters and a fine job she did, over one. I just love over one!

I picked up another needle minder from Kelmscott, I got the crow w/ stars, a thread picker ( a needle w/ a nice beaded tail) from My Big Toe Designs, they have website of the same name and of course a few new patterns. I also wanted to get the crown needle minder as a souvenir from Charlotte, the Queen's city; my MIL bought it for me. She is too sweet. I am a very lucky woman; my husband's family is so loving and kind hearted. Not only do I have a wonderful MIL she is a great friend as well.

I picked up Little House Needleworks- Home of a Needleworker which I plan to do over one. Jennie Bean's pin cushion pattern and the wooden box for it to go in. I was really drawn to Blackbird Designs - Winter Wonderland. This made me think of our home here in Maine. Our house is white with a burgundy door and we have black birds, squirrels, deer, foxes and turkeys that make their way through our yard and the field out back. Granted the pattern has geese vs turkeys but still. I do like the star patterns on the roof and the colors are very cheery.

I have really gotten into samplers and I saw the sampler The Simple Gifts: Hope by Praiseworthy Stitches; I know just where this will be hung once it is stitched and framed. I picked up The Witching Hour by The Primitive Needle. I will miss the works of Lisa Roswell, she will live on through our stitching. The last pattern I picked up was from Homespun Elegance Ltd - The Ferry Farm Cherry Sampler. I have a liking for things linked to the colonies and our early Presidents. Growing up in Virginia I visited several of the colonial plantations and other historical sites. I guess some of these patterns make me think of those places. I am by no means a history buff, but growing up just out side of D.C. and just down the road a piece from Mt. Vernon (George Washington) and Gunston Hall (George Mason) I learned to appreciate the history of early America.

My MIL picked up a couple of patterns herself; two from Lizzie Kate - Time for God #141 and It's a Jingle Out There. That one made me chuckle, may have to stitch that one up for the office.

I don't usually buy store models just because I love to stitch the darn things myself, but I could not pass up buying the Carriage House Samplings- Spot the Horse model that Stitch and Frame had on sale. I always liked the pattern and had planned to add it to my collection, but considering that Karen has retired again from cross stitch designing I figured I probably would not be able find it now. Besides it was framed so well by the ladies at Stitch and Frame. One of the ladies in the back called out to ask if Spot was going home and I assured her he was going to a good home. Right now he is hanging at the landing of my stairs but will find his way to the "stitching room" when the daughter moves out. :-)

I need to get a few stitches in tonight. BTW I am on the final page of the Down on the Farm Baby book. But tonight I am working on Jennie Bean's pin cushion, a little guilty pleasure. Just don't tell the three other works in progress (WIPS).

Keep on stitching!

P.J.

Trying to add pictures

Now that I have an Ipad2 I have been trying to add pictures to this blog. What I am finding out is that I may need to get on my PC to add my pics. I am kinda bummed right now. I have a cache of pics to work with and was hoping to do it right here on my pad. :-/