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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Of Mice, Cats, Birds, and Stitching, Too!

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before, but we live in rural area. Now we are not too far out of town, but we are surrounded on all sides by fields and wooded areas. And we live in a old house. Field stone foundation, plaster walls. An old house. Which of course, means we get mice. Especially when the weather starts to turn cold. Now this year we seem to have alot of mice! I don't know if this means that we are going to have severe winter of not(I sure hope not!) We keep setting traps and we keep emptying them. We also have two cats! They apparently aren't doing their job! I have a story to tell you about that!

The orange cat we have, Copper, is very old, and I don't think he hears or smells that well any more. The princess, Periwinkle, I don't think she really knows what to do with a mouse! Until this fall. Actually, even then! Let me explain. I had gone into my kitchen to move my dishwasher back into its place. (I do not have a built-in) She was staring under the stove, but moved as I moved the dishwasher. A mouse runs out from under the stove and she chased it a little. Now by this time I am shrieking and screaming! My DD runs into the room wondering what is going on! I yell "There's a mouse!" So she is screaming, I am screaming, and Periwinkle is sitting under the table wondering what in the Blazes is going on! So all three of us end up chasing this mouse, which results in us chasing it out the door! Now, one of two things is likely to happen after this. The mouse runs out of this house never to be seen again, thanking his lucky stars that he got out of this nut house! Or he was back in again in under 15 minutes, having found a safer place to hide!

Now all this brings me to our new member of the family! I have been leaving a couple teasing hints on a couple of my groups, so without further fanfare, here is Chloe!!

A couple weeks ago, during DD's last horse back riding lesson until March, I was sitting watching her ride. I usually bring in a blanket to help ward off the chill. And since it is barn, there are always cats and kittens. I was holding a little black one but this one kept biting my nose. The owner was joking around and saying that we needed one. I replied that we had two and that they weren't helping with the mouse situation. "These ones are great mousers!" She said, selling it for all it was worth. Hubby walked in during this and said that if I wanted another one, we could get one! But that it had to stay outside! He and I looked around and found this little cutie! Long story short, (Ha!) we brought her home!She is our Great Mouse Hope! She is a lovely little tabbie with gingery/orange spots on her back and one on her tummy! We spent a couple days trying to find a name for her. We liked the idea of Radar, as she has big ears, but it wasn't quite right, but her full name is Chloe Radar Joyes! My DD came up with Chloe! As soon as we heard the name, it just clicked!
She loves to sleep on the satellite receiver, I think because it is warm! She is very playful and affectionate. She does come in and plays and sleeps, but we put her out for night in a back room that has a bed, food, water and a litter box. Eventually, she will be outside. We are planning to get her fixed when she is old enough, as we don't want more babies and it seems the responsible thing to do.
Now on to the stitching! Here is my latest installment of Castles in the Air, Part 16! Now as I am stitching this for my Mom, she has the choice of the floral or the fantasy version. So far she has picked the fantasy version. I am working on the next section right now, Part 17, the mermaid!
Here is the close-up of it!
During my DD's rowing workouts, I have been working on The Victoria Sampler's Gingerbread Stitching House. But I realized that I have never posted pictures. Here is the one side, stitching completed, except for beads and cutting (which scares the daylights out of me!)
And here is the next side. I like to have something to work on while I am there. And this is small enough to be portable. I love working with the silks! They feel so nice and I find that they do not knot much at all!
This is a sweet little finish from Brooke's Books from The Gift of Stitching magazine from the 2007 December issue. Now I just need to make the border on another piece of fabric with the year and the baby's name! I used some 28 ct evenweave that I had in my stash and tea dyed it myself. And as this was a last minute idea, I did not have the beads, so I improvised with some metallic floss that I had in my stash!
Just a couple minutes ago, I found out the the recipient of this little ornament has been born!! He was born about 10:30 am, Sunday November 28, 2010 and weighed in at about 8 pounds! I do not have all the particulars yet, but DD and I will be going to visit them tomorrow in the hospital! We cannot wait! The new mom is like a little sister me and we could not be more excited!

This next finish is from my DD!! She finished this one for her teacher! I have a little bamboo wood frame for it! Her teacher is a self-described choc-o-holic!! DD did this all herself, except for the french knots! Now she has been nosing around my stash looking for something else to work on!

Here are my bird shots! I took this one last week, and I think it is a blue bird! But I can't tell for sure. Maybe someone could let me know if they know what it is.

And I finally got some pictures of the bluejays I had seen around! There are two different ones here.


And for my parting shot, I saw all these cuties lined up on my hook and thought they were pretty neat!!

I hope that I haven't bored you with my ramblings, but we have been pretty busy around here, running around. I hope that the weather is good where everyone is and I hope to update again soon! Off to do some laundry and hopefully stitch in between loads! Be happy and safe!

29 comments:

Dani - tkdchick said...

the new additon to your family is just adorable! Wow lots of great stitching going on. Your SAL is looking fantastic.

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks, Dani! I don't get to update as often as I would like.

Lynn said...

Chloe is adorable! She looks like a great mouser to me. Your stitches are all great. I really like the baby's first Christmas ornament. I'm sure your friend will love it too.
And I'm almost positive that that is indeed a bluebird. I've yet to see one around our place.

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks Lynne! I sure hope she is a good mouser! But she sure is cute! I can't wait to see the baby tomorrow! We are so excited! It has been a while since we had a baby around! Lots going on! LOL!

Z said...

Some great finishes and a gorgeous kitten.

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks Z! May have been busy, but neglecting my stitching!

stitchesnscraps said...

I meant to say NOT neglecting my stitching! Should always proof read!! LOL,

Babs in Alabama said...

This was such a fun read and great way to begin the week. We experience the mouse thing too out in the country so do hope Chloe proves herself real soon...she's a doll. CIA looking so pretty and I think that is the little Eastern Bluebird I love so much. I always have to stop and watch when they are around their color is so brilliant.
hugs,
babs

Terry said...

The new kitty is adorable!

Stitching looks great and love what your DD did for her teacher. So cute!

Hope you have a lovely week.

Marcy said...

hehe -- we get mice at work every fall. The boss sets his "trap line" with cheese and it's his job to empty it. I'm sure Chloe will become an excellent mouser.
Your stitching is beautiful, especially CITA. I would love to get started on it -- maybe in 2011. Are you using a hoop to stitch it? I'm just not sure how to handle that much fabric.

Karen said...

How lucky you are to have a precious new kitten! She's adorable and your stitching is lovely, too!

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks, Babs! We are really enjoying Chloe! And am loving CITA! I am learning all the time!

stitchesnscraps said...

Thank you Terry! I am very proud of my DD! We love our Chloe!

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks, Marcy! I really love how CITA is coming along! I use a Q-Snap frame for it. I have not added the beads, but will when all the stitching is done. I can't use the Q-Snap if I had beaded as I went along.

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks Karen! I am having a ball stitching and watching Chloe's antics!

Marcy said...

You're welcome Melissa :) How big is your fabric for CITA? and how do you handle all the excess fabric that isn't in the q-snap? I was thinking of putting my fabric on roller bars and, like you, putting the beads on last.

stitchesnscraps said...

Marcy, my cut fabric is about 30 x 30 inches. The excess fabric I kind of roll out of my way, covered with paper towel, secured with elastics around the sides of my Q-Snap. It works for me! I used 14 count natural Aida, as it was more cost effective for me. I would have used a roller frame, but didn't have one large enough. I hope this helps!

Marcy said...

Thanks, Melissa, it does help. I actually bought fabric when the sal first began but I just couldn't wrap my mind around the size of it. I bought 28 count fabric planning to stitch over 2. Since you are doing the specialty stitches on aida, do you have any problems? I was thinking I could stitch over 1 on the 28 ct but was concerned how that would effect the specialty stitches. I hope you don't mind my questions. This is such a beautiful pattern and I really want to stitch it. Thanks!

stitchesnscraps said...

Marcy, I would stitch your 28 count fabric over 2 threads, as some of the specialty stitches call for it, and the backstitching. I haven't had any problems with the Aida, the only stitch I really had problems with was the Queen stitch, but I have since mastered it. I don't mind the questions at all, very happy to help! And you are very welcome!

Marcy said...

I think I will follow you advice and stitch it over 2.

Tracey said...

What a sweet kitty! I'm so jealous!! Beautiful pictures and your stitching is coming along great!

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks Tracey! Now I am getting ready for Christmas, baking and wrapping!

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

Hey Melissa, what a cute little kitty. Cheers to a Merry Christmas and all the stitching you want for 2011.
Maybe we can get together for a stitch or two.
Be always in stitches.

stitchesnscraps said...

Thanks Jayne! Happy Holidays to you and yours! Hopefully we can get together in the New Year!

stitchesnscraps said...

Great blog Lis

your mom

Beeceecreativity said...

HI... just checkin' up on you. Such beautiful work and the new mouser is too cute. Happy New Year ..love yah Bev

Beeceecreativity said...

http://beeceecreativity.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blog-award.html

check it out.. i am submitting your name for the stylish blog award.. check it out to see what you need to do.

hugs Bev

Patty C. said...

Love the bird photos !!
By the way - The snowman ornament i stitched that you asked about on another blog is called "Another Snowman Ornament" from Val's Stuff - It was a freebie

Susan said...

The first photo of the birds is definitely a blue bird, male to be exact. I love watching them, listening to them, and feed them all year.