A Dog Sweater, Finished

I recently started back to knitting.  Well, to be honest I never really was a knitter, even though my grandmother taught me to knit sometime before I was 10 years old.

My Gramma was born in England, near London Bridge actually and she taught me what is now called the English Method...  At age 10, it seems my mind absorbed things it is only now realizing that it learned so long ago!  Good thing too, because if I had to learn how to knit now, I'm not so sure that I could!

 

So I have been practicing my stitch tension by making a few cotton dish/face cloths...

I had promised a niece of mine that I would make a doggie sweater for her 'not-for-profit' dog rescue that she is the organizer for in Manitoba.  Her group does not actually rescue dogs to be re-homed.  Her group raises funds and goes into small northern communities and provides veterinary care to dogs that would otherwise never be seen by a vet.  Mainly they spay and neuter any of the dogs in the community many that are feral (and then release them) or if residents request that their owned dogs receive the service.

So I finished up my first completed sweater, tho it has a couple of "oops" in it, it looks like it is supposed to!   This sweater is made with Red Heart Supersaver -- this is a great yarn for trying out one's skills, because it is not so expensive to waste on a novice project.   I quite like how it turned out...

In fact, I so enjoyed the process that I have started a second dog sweater!  The first one, in the photo above is a middle size for a dog such as a American Cocker or perhaps a Havanese or a Shih tzu.  My second project is for a smaller breed, like a Pomeranian or a Chihuahua.  I am getting a bit fancy in that I am giving this sweater stripes, turquoise and bright red!

So, hopefully these sweaters can be sold at her next fundraiser for a good price and perhaps help out some outside dogs that would perhaps have a bit better life.

I haven't committed to further items for this organization, but hey! perhaps my crafty streak can be more effective.   I don't know about you, but after awhile of making and giving, crochet or quilted items I have got the distinct feeling that some times people don't really look forward to these kind of 'gifts'...

If a person were to buy what I make then you know they want and need it...

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And unusual - Archie, my Siamese rarely poses for a picture, but today the sun was streaming in the kitchen window and he was enjoying the warmth of it on his back so I took the opportunity to catch him, catchin' a few rays...

The Absolutely Most Common Quilting Dilemna

Scraps, yes scraps are our most common quilting dilemma!  I don't want to call it a Problem because, really, How can fabric be a problem?

I am talking about a couple of solutions to this actually great and wonderful dilemma!  Having scraps means you have already been sewing for awhile.  So you are a very rich and somewhat experienced quilter!  How wonderful!

For the past few years I have been working at organizing and re-organizing and sorting and arranging and sifting through all my piles of fabric....

A couple of years ago -- the summer of 2012 to be exact-- I spent the summer with my sewing machine and cutting table set up out on my backyard deck and made a dozen scrap quilts that I donated to a charitable quilt distribution program run by my local quilt guild in the fall of 2012.  Click on the tab above if you want to see the quilts that I made - Super Summer Snippy Challenge)

But.  That project did not make a very big dent in what I had on hand!  It did help my community and kept me busy and engaged for 4 months, which was a very good thing.

My next step was to resolve not to buy ANY new fabric -- and I haven't!  That means tho I have had very little new INSPIRATION for quite a while.  Then my Janome 6600 developed a problem and until just this week, I have not been able to afford the repair...  I don't think that not buying fabric has been very successful...  The main reason is because I am not INSPIRED to work with just what I have!  I think a injection of a new fabric in combination with my stash fabrics would have kept me inspired and producing quilts or other sewn items.  So ultimately, even tho the stash has not increased, it also has not decreased...

Well, now, my Janome is at the sewing machine repair guy, and I figure I have a week or so to do something with this wonderful conundrum of too much
fabric...

I came across a suggestion, just this morning, so I am thinking, that since my husband doesn't have to go to work today, I will use him as a assistant organizer -- he did spend most of his working years as a warehouse worker guy doing everything from organizing cleaning supplies to shipping and receiving hazardous waste materials, and sorting and moving a warehouse from an old building to a new built facility -- so he should be a good helper, you think?  His "life's work" has been as an ORGANIZER!

(the first step is to iron all your scraps so you can cut them into the appropriate sizes but there is always something or someone who insists on interfering in the process!)

So, basically the idea is not necessarily to actually use up the scrap stash right away, but it is to stack and organize what I have into 'categories' or potential shapes and begin cutting the scraps into squares, rectangles, strips or maybe even into triangles and then to put like shapes and sizes into boxes or containers or baskets -- which I already have an abundance of!  (I also have a tendancy to SAVE shoe boxes and now I know why!)

Check out this post from  Martingale Publishers - Organizing quilt scraps blog pages (written almost 1 year ago)  so this will be my current WORK IN PROGRESS...  I suspect I will be at it for quite awhile, but I hope that my stash will become more compact and manageable.

I do suspect that much of what I create in quilts will be SCRAPPY!  I think tho, that with alot of scraps I will be able to allow myself to buy an occassional fabric to FEATURE in a project, perhaps as background or sashings or borders....  I'm already thinking about what would go with what!!

Here's hoping that Third (system) time is the CHARM!

Now, you must realize that I have not done all of this in one day, in fact, I have for years kept a box of 2.5 inch squares cuz they are just so darn handy!  The hexagon box is also a work in progress that I have been hand sewing hexagons together and adding cut hexies as I need them...

 I am planning to increase the selection of sizes - one of those boxes contains 6 inch by 10 inch cut pieces because a few years back I made a "Broken Crayons" Quilt (http://www.abbotsfordquilters.org/broken_crayons_instructions.pdf) I wrote these instructions for my guild newsletter but got the original idea from another guild website and re did the instructions to make them a bit easier to understand.  ** the instructions are free to use but if you reprint, it would be nice if you could link back to my instructions -- but I'm not going to sue you if you don't**

So, I think this is a reasonable start, with even a growing collection of selvedges that I am sure I will find a use for -- as you see, I made a cover for a journal with a previous bunch of selvedges...

Little Granny Lost...

On Monday of this week, I decided to go for a wander around my local Value Village store.  I don't seem to be 'hunting for treasures' as often as I used to -- perhaps because I already have too many 'treasures' and am more often looking for ways to get rid of them!

Well, I came across a couple of things but the one that really fired my imagination was a small bag or granny squares.  They looked to have been made quite a long time ago as the colours were a kind of 'muddy' selection.  Turned out there were 36 squares in the bag, but two were really not well made and were unraveling, so I chucked them in the waste basket.   I kept pawing through the remaining squares, piling and re-piling them and finally decided there was no single favourites.   The pile of granny squares sat on my little chair-side table while I thought about what I could use them for.

Even tho I had made myself a new "purse" just before Christmas, I was again thinking perhaps a crochet "project bag" might be in order...

So I began.  I decided to just pick up the little granny squares without too much decision making and using a favourite joining method I started.

The joining yarn, a bright red -- really was the only yarn I had in the same 'weight' as the grannies had been created in, so I settled for red -- but then I really like RED!  So that was okay...

I have been noticing quite a few granny square projects on Pinterest, so I suspect that is why I bought that little bag of squares at Value Village, plus, they were only $1.99!   Some of the granny square projects, especially the ones that were made into bags, were made wider, but I just wanted something to carry one small project in, and maybe my wallet, so I decided a classic simple rectangle shape... BUT, it did take a bit of figuring on how to connect the squares to make a bag without having to cut off any square...  It was an interesting puzzle getting the squares to conveniently fit together!  16 squares only!  And just the right size!

A year or so ago I saw a crochet 'braid' in a book or magazine and since it has stuck in my mind I decided to use it as the handles for the bag.  Have you tried this one before?  It is much like a knitted "I-cord".  Chain 6 and join to form a circle.  Then single crochet in each chain but do not join with a slip stitch, just keep going round and round and round, making sure to maintain that 6 stitches around.  Make the 'braid' as long as you need.  I really like this and have even used it as an edge on crochet hats and a few other things as a detail edge.  It is simple and quick and is easy to attach, longways or just at each end to make the handles for the bag.

The granny squares all connected and looking like a very bright little bag -- it has the 'feel' and 'look' of a time gone by -- it very much reminds me of a "Hippie" style from the late 1960's or early 1970's -- Very Vintage -- Ah Well, that is my Vintage too, so we should work well together!

Well, then.  Keeping with that 'Summer of Love" idea I thought I would check through my fabric stash, as I was sure I had a couple of fat quarters of cotton sheet fabric from that era...

I put the lining together, simply by tracing around the crochet bag shape, which when the seams were sewn allowed the lining fabric to fit perfectly inside the crocheted bag.  I did put a pocket into the lining -- just in case I wanted to carry a small item or two, like a pen or a crochet hook, that is always hard to find when it is just plopped into the bottom of a bag...

And there.  My 'Summer of Love' Project bag!

And.

I have enough granny squares still to make another one!  But do I need two such bags?  I don't think alot of other people really would want to be seen carrying something so "old fashion" but like the poem by Jenny Joseph says 

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple. With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me, And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves." 

Enjoy your Sunday!

Beginnings - 2014

It has been a month since I wrote anything on this blog.  I have been thinking about a slight change in focus here...

Now, to me Susan Being Snippy has always meant that I am trying to nicely say that I am a bit of a contrary person...

I have to find things out for myself - even though I wonder sometimes why I just don't take well intentioned and truly good advice.  Some things I should have listened to but was too pig headed to follow and often paid for my folly in some manner.

My very favourite thing to do has for many years been quilting, quiltmaking, fiber art, sewing and anything that falls into that category.  And I mean anything, from handpiecing hexagons to creating a crazy quilt with every seam embroidered with different stitches and patterns of stitches to making a series of wool and beaded quilts, experimenting with pieced images, and just plain quilt blocks sewn for fun or to make quilts to give to charitable causes.  I have loved sewing since I was a child.

Something has happened to my enthusiasm for sewing in the last few months.  I am not sure why I am not inclined to sew...  I think about colour and pattern and wake up with ideas for quilts or projects swimming in my head and I go into my sewing room, look around and go out of the room again...  It must be much like what a novelist calls Writer's Block.   I do believe I have Sewer's Block.

I have let go of some of the extra things that I do that goes along with my quilting interest -- membership in my local quilt guild, participation in writing for the Canadian Quilter's Association (a feature on the members page), and no interest whatsoever in creating in or taking part in a local quilt show, something I have done at every opportunity.  Yes, definately Sewer's Block!

(on Christmas Day, everyone, even the animals are waiting for dinner!)

So, to refocus myself for a time and yet to keep my blog current, I think I will be posting a variety of opinions or statements or ideas.  And I hope that there will still be a bit of a craft focus as I do seem to be doing crochet and even knitting.

I do have to say, one of the reasons that I have refrained from posting for the last month is because I have very contrary ideas about the consumerism of the past month.  It upsets me.   My immediate family stopped buying stuff during the shopping frenzy of what is referred to has the holiday season -- we have not done the traditional gift exchange for close to 10 years now -- most people think there is something WRONG with us because we don't need that part of christmas.  So rather than 'buck the trend' openly, we just quietly let it pass us by...

                  (sun in my kitchen window -- thats a shadow of a holly tree)

Back to a couple of posts a week, beginning this week! So here's hoping to get back into a rhythm with perhaps an bit more attitude showing...

Come along and explore a few new subjects with me!

( I have a large plastic bin full of quilt batt scraps and my cat thinks it is the most wonderful place to make a nest)

Work In Progress.... well, Actually its Finished!

The season change seems to have affected my self motivation -- slowed it down, ALOT!

Mind you, I have been THINKING of the stuff that I should do and of the things that I want to do and of the things that I have to do...

May as well start with the fun stuff...

I have been thinking of making myself a new purse, bag or tote, whatever you like to call it, but it is the thing for carrying the stuff that has to go where ever I go...

One thing about being able to sew and enjoying sewing, not just quilting is that really I can make anything with fabric, thread and scissors along with a good sewing machine and other bits.  Least of which INSTRUCTIONS always help....
Anyway, I have not carried a commercially made PURSE or Bag since I can't remember when -- well I did have a nice leather purse in the 70's, but since then...

I had bought an actual Simplicity Pattern a few years back; I think it was one of those buy one get one free or similar and I had been on a "Make the Dog a coat tangents"  so along with the dog coat pattern I picked up the PURSE pattern.   And just SO's ya know, it is Simplicity 2617 from about 2009 or thereabouts...

Not being in any big rush to complete this project, I took my time with thinking about what I wanted in a purse -- actually more thought on what I wanted the outside to look like.   I'm not one to worry about an organized interior -- a wallet and keys, and sometimes the passport -- I don't usually bother with a phone...   And I like a bit extra room in case I go to the thrift store and find some goodies that will fit in the purse...  (ha!  that sounded like I was using the purse to facilitate a five finger discount!  but no, most thrift shops always seem to be short of bags, so if I can save them a bag I try to tuck the purchase in my purse!)

So I used some of the 2 inch squares (I have hundreds cut, maybe even thousands!) and top sewed them to a bit of denim that my friend Ellen gave me awhile ago.  I expect the squares to fray as time and use progresses...

I pretty much followed the basic pattern, no fancy extras...

This is the only part of the sewing I don't like, the sewing of the front and back to the bottom/sides.  This time for both the exterior and the lining all went smooth and even with no folds on the curves and no missed bits...  When things go without problems, sewing is alot of fun!

 Now this part I do a bit different than the instructions say...  On the seam at the bottom of the lining I leave an opening on one side for about 6 or 7 inches, then I put the strap on where it attaches on the sides and with the lining and the exterior with right sides facing I sew all the way around the top edge (I had already done the inside pocket and the magnetic closure), then, trim threads and pull the bag right side out through the opening in the lining seam.  Tucked all back the way a bag is supposed to be, and pressed around the top edge, it is DONE!!

Not including making the 'patchwork' front and back the whole thing took about 3 hours, cut, measure, pin, sew, press...

Now, back to thinking on what the next project is...  I have a Oatmeal Pumpkin Pie Bars recipe that I saw in Pinterest that I am thinking will be a nice Christmas treat (make now, or tomorrow, freeze, eat on Christmas)  In case you love Pumpkin and are curious here's the link for the Bars  http://keepinitkind.com/oatmeal-pumpkin-pie-bars/

Thanks for stopping in and reading my little story!   Hope the snow is not too awfully deep where you are!!

Work In Progress -- Crochet in the Morning

This is the first time in a couple of months that I am purposefully writing a Work in Progress post...  I am still concentrating mostly on crochet (because the sewing machine needs a repairman and I am poor so I have to wait a bit yet -- might Santa bring a repairman?)

There is a crochet stitch pattern that I keep coming back to and have been using this stitch, which comes from the Red Heart site and is actually featured as a "Corner to Corner" Afghan (you can link to it here http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-corner-corner-throw ).   I keep finding things that I can make using this stitch.  I find the texture of it pleasing to my eye...  There is even a video on You Tube how to do this stitch.  I think I discovered it first about 15 years ago.  I think I have talked and shown previous projects done with this stitch.

Lately I have bought some nice cotton and/or cotton-bamboo yarns and with one of them which I think is now a discontinued yarn, I decided to make a skinny long scarf.

The stitch is exactly what is shown in the Red Heart Pattern except that it is only 6 "shells" wide and then I just keep following the pattern until it was 72 inches long.

The way this yarn feels against my neck is quite nice, not too soft but cozy, wrapped around a couple of times

Looking like a difficult stitch pattern but really all it is, is double crochet and chains... oh and slip stitches ...

And that is actually a finished project....

Now the Work in Progress is also crochet; and I don't even know exactly why I decided to pick this pattern and start on it.

My Friend Ingrid dropped off a "Pound of Love" Baby Yarn the other day and I was going to give it to a neighbour of mine as she (Sandy) makes up knitted toques for our local community services and the hats and scarfs are handed out to those in need.   But then she said, even tho it is a lovely yarn -- no one living on the street would choose to wear pastel turquoise... They prefer blacks and browns and dark greens and very dark blue or burgundy...   

So I thought I will just make use of it as a baby afghan...  Hmmm....  Looking on the internet  I get lost in all the available free patterns and I am not quite sure why this one caught my eye...

Crochet Victorian Jacket  (http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/pattern-correction-crochet-victorian-jacket )

Maybe it was the super cute baby shown to be wearing the finished sample...

As I progressed along the 'skirt' part of this pattern, I got a bit lazy -- the pattern calls for a 3 row lacy design.   Now I do a fair amount of my crochet while I sit and watch the early morning news or in the evening when I am watching Person of Interest, or Elementary, or Blacklist or Survivor, so I prefer a more simple lacy design and decided to go with a stitch that is simply double crochet that is sort of an X stitch...  So this little jacket pattern is quite simple and quite easy to create your own little changes -- I think as long as you make sure that your count of stitches is the same as the patterns requirements...

It is really quite quick to work up too!  The neck/shoulder YOLK area I think was only about 3 hours  and now the skirt part is just whizzing along...  It should be done in a couple more days...

My last Work in Progress is just something that I have nothing to do with except to provide water...

My Avocado from a grocery store fruit is now 1 year old...  For that past 6 months or so it has been in a cut down plastic drink bottle - I didn't want to get too attached to it in the early stages!   I went out to my local thrift shop and found a nice ceramic plant pot and transplanted it... I think, it now is officially part of my indoor garden!

And also part of my little indoor plants is this little experiment.  I stuck a leaf into the soil (beside another plant that is in too big of a pot) and it has sprouted up a new little plant.   I can remember this is how my mother started new African Violets - she would pull a leaf with its stem and stick it into some 'MUD' as she called it, so she always had a few plants to give away and a few new ones of her own.   Now this one is a succulent but I guess the technique works for alot of different plants...  So I will keep an eye on this new little life (and protect it from KITTY teeth -- see those marks on the old starter leaf?  Yep, that was WALTER -- he just can't leave things alone!)

Linking up with The Needle and Thread Network's Work in Progress Wednesday...

Oh, and has anyone noticed that Jamie Oliver has a new (to me, anyway) show on Food Network?  It  is called Save with Jamie and it is somewhat like Micheal Smith's Chef at Home series where he shows, economical home cooking methods and ideas.   I am so glad to see this type of instructional show back on, those competitive cooking elimination contests just seemed to be so depressing -- so many people told over and over and over how badly they do can't be good for the ego or even for the watcher, can it?   Anyway, thanks Food Network for bringing some intelligence back!  Now, how can we get Home and Garden Network to show some instructional sewing, quilting, drawing, crochet, embroidery, colour instead of people buying houses in exotic locations....

The Black (and White) Cat who tried to be a Red Bunny

AH, yes!  There are many beliefs and stories and myths about black cats.   Halloween is particularly a unsettled time for our pets, particularly for those little black cats that some of our friends and neighbours have living in their homes...

Walter is just one of many cats living in nice cosy homes, but Walter has a somewhat strange owner...

Walter's "Mom" makes up stories...

Walter's "Mom" makes things with needle and thread and fabric or with balls of yarn that with a bit of "know-how" often turns into something useful, but sometimes becomes a bit of fantasy...

Halloween is upon us.

Children dress up as people and creatures and things that they usually are not for Halloween evening and head out to collect sweet treats...

Now, It really isn't a good idea for the family black cat to go out Yowling at neighbourhood doors or even to walk around the streets or slink behind trees and bushes and burnt out lamp posts on Halloween night - their intentions could be misinterpreted..

Some people still believe that black cats and even black dogs are EVIL and are BAD LUCK...

does that look like a growl?  it is not, it just happens to be mid-sneeze!

Really, they are not.  They are just family pets that happen to have a black coat on....   Black is slimming, don't you know!  Models and Movie stars are known to put on a black dress now and then...

Artists draw a black cat against a full moon, but its not really a scary image, it is actually a scared image!  The instant you see a black cat all fluffed up it is scooted away to hide!

So, Walter who recently was told about these and some of the other strange beliefs that seem to have followed black cats through history, hopefully, knows not to go out into the night on any night, especially on Halloween night!

But.

Walter is a very fun cat, and quite accommodating when his "Mom" gets a strange idea...  Refer back to that first photo.... Doesn't that kitty foot, look alot like a LUCKY RABBIT FOOT?  Mind you if you are carrying a LUCKY RABBIT FOOT on your key chain, Walter would perhaps suggest that the rabbit who's foot that is, is not so lucky him or herself!!

Now, Just for Fun.  And with alot,  I repeat ALOT of co-operation from a very special cat named WALTER (who by the way, seems to not be peeing in corners since his litter box was moved to a more 'socially' acceptable spot) allowed his crazy and somewhat creative "Mom" to dress him up as a Red Bunny for Halloween, so that no one would mistake him for an unlucky BLACK CAT...

Just to remind you, that is a kitty tail, not that little puff ball that is at the back end of a bunny...

Oh, oh, what the HALLOWEEN is that?

Is this really necessary?

She thinks this is funny!  Yeah, she is still laughing!!

REALLY!

HO HUM!  This has got to end sometime!  Doesn't it?

Well, Happy Halloween Everybody!

And remember keep your pets indoors or close to you and on a leash if you are out and about tonight.   The noises and the excitement out there is probably more scary to your pets than they are scary to you...

Two into One

When I first learned about sewing and sewing on a machine I learned to make clothes--first clothes for my dolls and then clothes for myself.  I must say that by the time I got to high school and HAD to take the Homemaking class, half the year sewing a skirt and the other half cooking -- I was way ahead on the sewing.

I continued with sewing clothes for myself and my children and even a shirt or two for my husband, but when I discovered quiltmaking, I left clothing behind...

Recently an aspect of clothing sewing caught my eye -- on Pinterest actually.   A thing they are calling Refashioning...

I decided to try my hand at it...

There is a knack to it, not as simple as you would think it might be!  Or maybe not as simple as I thought it would be...

I combined two, not particularly liked t-shirts into one, that I am hoping will be much more useful and being only ONE, take that much less space in the closet.

A black t-shirt type of top with very short cap sleeves and a neckline that dipped a little lower than I wanted and then had peek-a-boo features that definitely were WAY too peek-a-boo!   The second t shirt was just okay but was a bit too form fitting and was always riding up my belly!

So  The result is...

I slit the black shirt from the bottom side seams up through the sleeve.  From the back body of the purple t shirt I cut a elongated triangle for each side and fit the triangle from the bottom of the black t-shirt to the bit of sleeve on both sides.  Then I trimmed off the longer sleeves from the purple t shirt and simply sewed them directly onto the hem of the black t-shirt sleeves, now making them 3/4 length...

Now that too-low neckline still needed something so I settled for the already created neckline, but behind the peek-a-boo holes I just did reverse applique so that now, instead of seeing skin and the top of my bra, you see the purple fabric, cut from the belly of the purple t-shirt.

An experiment in refashioning two t-shirts that I had no real use for has now become, not something dressy, but at least something I can wear and feel comfortable in with a pair of jeans or slacks around the house and yard.  A much better result than two t-shirts hanging in the closet for 3 years...

I am going to give this idea another try.... I have a skirt that might benefit from being a straight line to an A-line -- maybe gusset inserts that sort of flare out?

Well, I think I will look again in my closet to see what doesn't get worn and maybe put together something that does.

How 'bout you? Got anything in there that has been in the closet just too long and that you are willing to sacrifice to the idea of experimentation?   Remember, sometimes you have to fail to learn, but sometimes things work well enough to again be useful!

Life Used to be so Hard...

Just a line from a song...

I know I have not been posting very much lately and it is because it seems my morning  routine has changed somewhat.  I generally write best first thing in the morning.  For some reason I have started to sleep later and my early morning writing time has suffered...

I did not move this morning til almost 10 am!  My bed was just so very warm, and extremely cozy and I did not want to move because my cat Archie was laying snuggled beside me.  The peace and the warmth and the comfort was just something that anyone is reluctant to give up, I would think...

So I layed in bed and thought about little things and some big things and some things that have been puzzling me this past week...

I have been wrestling with government forms online....  The way things are done and the way instructions are worded can be quite confusing.   I have mostly muddled through...

Now after I finally did get my body to move and break the peace and comfort of the morning, I put on my shoes and my sweater and went outside in my little backyard and photographed some of the birds who are gorging themselves on my generous supply of black sunflower seeds...

This one -- a woodpecker type (I an not one to look up species or official names) is way too big for this feeder, but he/she has been around a few times and works very hard to get a hold on the edge and snatch a few seeds...  There are actually a pair, but only one ever seems to manage the trick on holding on...

A very frequent visitor all summer long. But doesn't stay through the winter, so I suspect he is filling up for a flight south...

I think these are both chickadees, tho I am not sure if  they are the same variety...

again one on the feeder and one on the fence and if you look close, the ghost of one in flight...

this is the crowd scene, two on the fence one on the bracket and one on the feeder, and invisible another 4 or 5 just above in the branch of the cedar tree.

I and Walter (the cat) and Archie (the boss cat) and Pearl (the dog) spend long minutes everyday watching these and a few other birds visiting our little safe environment (the cats never go outside and the birds have no idea they are being watched and meowed at! and dreams of feather plucking going on in little kitty heads)

Now, back to my Lazy Sunday Afternoon.... Watching birds, petting cats, thinking about what to make for dinner... Pork Chops?  Yes, that sounds fine...

I'll try to get back into the habit of writing -- it has been a bit of a lull, but we all have those don't we?