I make my bed for my cat

I'm a big reader of the Happiness Project. One of Gretchen's maxims is about making your bed, and I totally believe that. However, that's not exactly why I make my bed every morning. Rather...


When my bed isn't made, Biscuit likes to sleep at the edge of it. She's disapproving, really. She carefully sprawls on just the hand-made quilt, risking no contact with the sheets underneath.

Same thing today. She was at the edge of the bed, slightly irate. I displaced her in order to make the bed. (No hospital corners in my world - I straighten the pillows, drape the flat sheet over the bed, drape the quilt over the flat sheet, and I'm done! 30 secs max.)

Seconds after that, Biscuit approvingly settled herself at the base of the pillows, and embarked on a cleaning routine.

And after a thorough cleaning, it's time for a nap.

Unfortunately, right after this picture was taken, one little kitty spit up on the handmade quilt, a gift from my aunt. Sorry, Chandrama! My chores for today now include washing a quilt.

What I'm working on...

I'm quilting (badly) my brother's t-shirt quilt.

I will say that quilting is not easier if a cat refuses to move out of the way.

Cat cuteness

Ok, I've no actual blog content (UFO finishing + boring projects + camera batteries dead.) Instead, I give you pictures of the little bear.




Seriously, how cute is that? Right?

The best kind of packing

I'm going away to Cleveland and the surrounding areas for Labour Day.

I didn't really intend to, but evidently, I'm taking a cat.

Yikes!

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been! I got back super-late Sunday night from Montreal, and have had social engagements every single day this week. A few nights, I've been getting back home past midnight. So, no time to sew. My white shirt is languishing, half-sewn.



Biscuit is super annoyed with me, due to all the neglect. When I was in Montreal, my mother took care of her, and she was doted on and treated like the little princess she is. Then she returns home, and I'm flying in and out of the house? Serious cat crankiness. Yesterday, when I was leaving for work in the morning, she bit my ankles every time I went near the front door. Poor little bear! I felt really bad for her (and also for my ankles, a little.) To make amends, I went home for lunch and sat with her for a half-hour.

Ah, little cranky cats, the things we do for you!

I did have time to sew yesterday evening, but I didn't. Hmm. Anyway, I hope to get back to my white shirt tonight. Sure, it's a bit boring to sew, but I really actually *need* a white shirt.

Rummage Sale Goodness

Saturday morning, I did something that's pretty unheard-of in my world - I set the alarm, and woke up before 10. (Look, don't hate me. I'm single - there are pluses and minuses.)

Why? Because I'd seen a rummage sale advertised at a nearby church, and I was convinced I was going to find stacks of vintage patterns there. (Food, beer, patterns, fabric. Things I'm moved by.)

I didn't find any patterns (insert sad face here) but I found fabric! Yay! Here's what I got:

This is a skirt-kit - the kit has lining, this beautiful yellow fabric (Scottish wool - with label) and even a zipper. I paid $5 for it.


More Scottish wool. Check the tag. Also $5. I see this as a sheath dress. (Seriously, this kind of fabric is stuff I fondle on vacation, and then decide that 100 euros for fabric is a bit much.) It has a bit of an open weave to it, and I'm afraid it'll fray like the devil, so I'll have to do some research into cutting, sewing, etc.



There's only scraps of the red wool, but I thought it'd make a fun tank-top, if I can play with the bias a little. The white on the left - I figured I'd use as the hem of a petticoat. (As if I wear petticoats. It was 50c - I just bought it.)


Mustard dupioni silk - this will become a shirt.


Ombre chiffon-like fabric. I see a dress or a top, but at the same time, sewing with chiffon is the project-from-hell. We'll see.


This blue wool will be a skirt.


Assorted hem & bias tape - I can always use this stuff.


Sleeve presser thing (it is called a clapper, right?) By this time, I'd bought close to everything, so the lady at the counter just gave it to me for 50c. Score!


As if that wasn't enough, I headed over to the linen area, and bought these.

A circular table-cloth that seems destined to become a circle skirt. (My brother pointed out that I'd be walking around in a tablecloth, and then decided it would be no worse than this.


I love vintage embroidered tea-cloths. This one was lovely. I don't have many, since I have no storage room, but it is always a struggle to keep myself from buying them. This time, the tea-cloth won.


And then, there were pretty glasses I couldn't resist.(There's 5 of them.)


It was a *good* rummage sale.

Parting Shot (shamelessly copying Summerset): Never annoy a little Biscuit.

Biscuit is a pretty independent little cat, and she rarely will come sit on my lap. However, as the weather gets cold, she's been significantly more friendly (Reethi = Source of Body Heat.) Here - she's sitting on my lap, disrupting any sewing progress.


And here, she's annoyed with me because I stretched my hand out to answer the phone. Silly Reethi. Sources of body heat are supposed to sit very still.

Ahem...

Ahem. That's my water, little Biscuit.

Lost & Found

Warning - cuteness overload ahead!

See this bag?


Yup. There's a Biscuit in it.


Cuteness overload!!!!! Am I the only one who runs for the camera at moments like this?

It's a cat's kitchen...

Read more here about the Madhur Jaffrey project - one of my 2010 goals. For an index of recipes, click here.

To paraphrase Karen:

It's a cat's kitchen... I just cook in it.

See something?


Here's who was hidden behind the dishes.


I had my back turned for 3 seconds, I swear. Biscuit is quick to make mischief.

Oh, the food? I made Mung dal na poora (Savory mung dal pancakes with onions) last night. Here's a photo of the batter (turmeric makes it yellow...)


And here's a photo of the finished pancakes. I had these for dinner, breakfast and lunch - they were very yummy. (And easy to make. Just some pre-soaking and grinding involved.)

Who, me?

Nope, I didn't wake Reethi up at 4.15am, by putting a paw in her nostril.

I didn't walk all over her stomach until she got out of bed at 5.30am.

I didn't insistently clamour for treats when she crawled into the kitchen, looking for coffee.

Who, me?

Nah, I'm just sleeping in the sun.



Postscript from Reethi: If I treated humans with the patience I treat this cat... I'd be a saint. Biscuit gets away with *everything*, and she never even gets yelled at. Instead, I take adoring pictures of her, and write blog posts on her behalf. Ugh. I disgust myself.

Why I didn't sew very much this weekend?

One reason - a certain Biscuit was playing paperweight. Awww, adorable.