How appropriate to start the new year off with Friday Felines!
May 2021 make you has happy as Burton, belly-up after a good meal!
Author: wanderingcatyarns
So long 2020… you weren’t all bad…
Well, here we are at the end of an “unprecedented” year. (I am so sick of that word now.)
And while there of course, have been challenges, I really can’t complain. Both Dave and I were able to keep our jobs. And while my pay was cut for a while, and Dave’s hours were (and are still) reduced, we still managed to pay off a couple of debts, and our finances are in better shape than they were at the start of the year. If that’s the only thing 2020 brought, I would have been happy.
But 2020 brought lots of others smiles. You’ve already seen my knitting and quilting retrospectives, but 2020 brought a lot more!
After the first lockdown, and before the second wave, Mom and I were able to get north and spend a lovely summer day with our girls.
In September Dave and I got all gussied up
And took the fancy car out to celebrate true love with his uncle and new bride.
There wasn’t much more traveling than that, but I had plenty to keep me occupied at home.
I merely had to step outside my door to experience a beautiful world
My gardens, and all the critters that inhabited them, kept me plenty busy
And let’s not forget my adventure with the swallowtail caterpillars…
Even if it didn’t have a happy ending.
And then, of course, there’s been hours of entertainment with Squirrelington’s!
And while we said goodbye to our gorgeous Torti princess in November.
She hung on for 11 long months and went peacefully in the end. And we still have Los Trios Diablos to keep our spirits up
Did 2020 turn out how I expected? Absolutely not. But overall there was more good than bad, and that’s the most I ask of any year.
So now we move into 2021 with hope. Because if 2020 taught us anything this, it’s that anything can happen.
Knit year in review 2020
While it didn’t really feel like it, my time with the knitting needles was just as productive as the sewing machine. I completed 36 projects this year, which is right on par with my average.
As usual, there were lots of socks!
There weren’t as many garments as I would like, but there were a couple..
Including the sheepiest cardigan ever. Let’s just say working on the girl’s cardigans was an absolutely delight after that nasty yarn
There were several great hats
And a few fun little whimsies!
I’m not sure what 2021 will bring to the needles, but whatever it is, you can bet it will be warm and wooly!
Quilt year in review 2020
This year was a fabulous year for me when it came to quilting. I completed a whopping 31 quilts of various sizes.
There were some great collaborations with Mom.
There was the quilt-a-long with the Moda Blockheads which gave me two quilts, and a tonne of inspiration.
And two of our quilts helped raise a few thousand dollars to help our some kitties in need at Bee Meadow Farm!
Our biggest success by far was opening our Etsy shop, and selling all the stock by early November!
And of course, there were quilted gifts galore
I hope 2021 is just as productive and successful!
Meanwhile in Bogatell
I’ve spent the last few days diligently stitching away, and as a result, the body of Paisley’s Bogatell is done!
I believe I mentioned that I’m forgoing twisted ribbing on this one, so that’s making it go a little faster. The sleeves should go fairly quick compared to the body. But the hood will slow it down again. I’m still aiming for a New Year’s Eve finish, but it will probably be down to the wire!
Under the sea…
The other night, I couldn’t sleep, and came downstairs to get a glass of water. There I found Burton keeping an eye on the fish tank.
He has to sit on the dining room table to do so. And the dining room table is out of bounds for cats.. at least when Dave is around to see…
Burton is absolutely enamoured with our plecostomus. But our pleco is very shy. He only comes out late at night when he thinks no one is around. I took the opportunity to get a picture of him.
He was only an inch or so when he first came to live with us. Now he’s a good four inches (or more) long!
We also have this pretty blue Opaline gourami too. Neighbour Krista bought him for me a few years back (she used to work at a pet store)
He mostly hangs out with our angel fish. I’ve had fish for many years, and always have at least one angelfish .This the is first time I’ve ever had one that is solid black. He’s the boss of the tank.
There was also a neat little surprise in the tank. You may recall that I have the whole thing planted with live plants instead of plastic ones.
But I was amazed to see that one of them had bloomed! I’ve never had that happen before. It’s similar to a peace lily!
Denouement
nounnoun: denouement; plural noun: denouements; noun: dénouement; plural noun: dénouements
- the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
It is all over… presents were wrapped…
and gifted….
Cookies were baked….
Peanut butter, and Ginger Snaps 
Chocolate Macaroons, and “Grinch”er Snaps (Lemon sugar cookies with lemon icing)
..and delivered to friendly neighbours.
Turkey was cooked…
… and devoured. Normally we eat turkey at my parent’s place, so Burton has never experienced it fresh. He thinks we should start a new tradition of cooking turkey at home!
For me, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without Mincemeat Pie. But Dave’s not as keen on it, so I made tarts instead.
I made enough for me, my Mom, and Dave’s Grandma, as they both feel mincemeat is an essential Christmas food!
Dave spoiled me with a stunning pair of silver and emerald earrings.
And I got my other Christmas wish…
Snow! It started coming down late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and continued all day Christmas Day.
But Relic was decidedly less pleased about it than I was.
However you spent your Christmas, we hope it was a happy one.
Merry merry!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas,
Love Valerie, Relic, Rupert and Burton!
Back on track
As I mentioned the other day, the needle to finish Paisley’s cardigan finally did arrive. And as soon as I got Ray’s socks done, I turned all my attention to it.
As I’m sure you can surmise, it’s not going to be done by Christmas, as I had originally planned. That’s ok. I’m off work now until the new year, so I’m hoping to finish it by New Years. That may be a little ambitious – it just depends on how distracting the sewing machine gets!
Bear necessities
The weekend gave me a chance to try out one of my birthday presents.
Unlike mom, I’m not all “Gotta have all the gadgets!”, but every once in a while, she does find one I have to have.
These triangles are just the thing to make HST making better. I love using HSTs in my quilts, but I really hate making them. Well, trimming them mostly. That’s because I sew them (in multiples of 2s, 4, or 8s), then I have to get up from my machine to cut them apart. Then I go back to the machine (where the iron is) to press them open, then it’s back to the cutting table to trim them up.
But with these triangles, you trim them before you open and press them.
So I sew, then cut apart and trim, all at once. Then I go back to the machine and press them all open. So much more efficient.
In no time, I had 48 little HSTs trimmed, pressed and ready to go!
Next thing you know… Bear Paws are just flying out of the machine!
And seamingly with in moments… and entire top for a baby quilt!
Now that’s what I call one handy little gadget!
