My Cat's on a Mission

I really don't like snakes. I mean, they're not the stuff my nightmares are made of. I don't have a phobia of them or anything. I just really, really don't like them. I don't mourn one if it gets hit by a car or meets some other untimely death. I am also not above sending out my dear hubby after one. But it's not like I wish them ALL death and torment. I do know that some of them are good, keeping the rodents and vermin at bay. I just don't want them in MY yard.

Well, we've had a run of them in our backyard lately. They're not poisonous ones, just black racers, I think. And as they're all fairly the same size, I'm surmising they all hatched together nearby, and that's why they are in sudden abundance. But it's freaking me out. I'm afraid to take the kids in the backyard, as even non-poisonous snakes can bite or just plain scare us.

Also, it's not helping that the backyard needs cutting BADLY, as we've had so much rain, it just grows and grows, and it's usually too wet and nasty to cut grass of late. (And don't get me started on the HEAT!!!) And our neighbors vine-thing has grown over our fence and down and is starting to actualy grow underneath our kids' playground, so that's got to go. Hubby's gonna' have to get out there and whack off what's hanging over. Today one was was trying to climb up the fence (and succeeding) while a bird dive bombed him, apparently trying to protect its nest, which I belive is in the vines somewhere. It was very freaky to see that snake striking at the bird, and the bird attacking it back.

BUT, this DOES explain my cat's insane (since the heat index is well above 100 lately, and he's a long-haired cat) desire to be outside at all hours of the day. He comes in to eat and drink, then cries to go right back out. He's already killed two of them. I think he thinks he's on a mission to save and protect his yard and family. It's very honorable of him. I should probably go buy him a case of his favorite gravied cat food. :)

Finished Projects

So, I finally finished that quilt and had to post my pics. Hand quilted and bound--I'm quite happy with how it turned out. It's just a throw, of course, not big enough for a bed, but that's what I wanted it for. I already have hopes for Fall. :) (Note: I now know I should not take pictures in my living room at night. The color quality just stinks. Really, the colors in the quilt are MUCH brighter than they appear. Hmm...I'll have to take another picture outside...when we get some sun.)

And these are some soft books I made for my boys, for their birthday, since they are madly in love with anything farms and tractor. I'm also making them a farm quilt, too, and a wall hanging for their room. Maybe I'll get those done in time for their birthday. We'll see. I'm working on a quilt for my daughter's birthday, too, but I've got a little longer for that one. So, as you can see, I'm not at all busy. Ha! Hope you have a great weekend! I plan to.

In Progress

These are part of my plans for this weekend. Getting my binding put on my quilt (that I finished HAND quilting yesterday--yea!) and finishing a much thinner, more lightweight pair of fingerless gloves for this fall. One down. :) Making this one out of sock weight yarn, and it takes a good bit longer with all those tiny stitches. :)

Also, making food for a baby shower for a friend of mine. Petit Fours, cheese straws, and homemade mints. I'll let you know how they turned out!

Oh, and hubby wants carrot cupcakes. Just because I didn't have enough to do, huh? LOL It's okay. It's rare he asks for something, so I love it when he does. Usually it's "Whatever you want to do is fine." I love to cook for people, though, so sometimes a request is a nice thing. :)

Scenes from my Garden

The one part I really REALLY love about Spring/Summer is all the pretty flowers in bloom. I love to dig in the dirt and plant things, have ever since I was a kid. Unfortunately, we don't have a veggie garden this year, though I do have several herbs up and growing. I love to pick fresh herbs to use in my cooking. Mmm. Basil's one of my very favorites. We might plant a few late tomatoes and cucumbers, but we'll see. My poor husband has hurt his knee and isn't much for digging me up a bed. It also doesn't help that it's about 106 in the shade already...and it's just JUNE! What will AUGUST be like???

Sock Monsters

Just thought I'd share some new sock monster pics. They're about to go up in my shop.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Little Bit Warmers

So, here's Little Bit's much smaller version.



She loves them, which makes me feel wonderful, of course. :) I had fun making them, as I did it after she went to bed, and I had to keep sneaking into her room and measuring it against her little hands while she was asleep. Bless her, the girl can sleep through anything! She wanted a brown pair, but I used up some of my leftover orange first and trimmed it in brown. I might wind up making her an opposite pair, too, brown trimmd in orange. And I did make these a HAIR too big, so there's room to grow. They're for winter, which is quite a ways away at the moment.

Wrist Warmers

So, I have this weird fascination with fingerless gloves. Not sure why, except they just seem so freakin' COOL. :) Maybe it's my love of fantasy/sci-fi. I mean, of course the rougue mercenary archer's gonna' have a pair (made in leather, of course, and looking like they're about a hundred years old...still cool...), or the guys on the run from the mad robots, living underground like in Terminator. They have to have a pair. C'mon. BUT, as I'm not a mercenary archer, nor on the run from mad robots, mine are much more "cozy" in a nice thick, chunky rust-colored acrylic yarn. (Lion Brand Yarn Jiffy in Rust color) They are warm and cozy and soft and were super easy to make. I think they will go great with my orange wool coat, or just with a nice long sleeve t-shirt. And it will free up my fingers, which I love, since I HATE how you can never grip anything properly wearing REAL gloves or (shudder) mittens! (I HATE mittens for that very reason.) Anyway, I was quite pleased with how they turned out and will be making me another, longer (to the elbows) pair probably out of the same yarn in brown. My Little Bit has also requested a pair in brown to wear to school in the fall when it gets cooler. :) I was, of course, flattered. Maybe she'll have my taste in movies, too.