New Arrival(s) at Scorpion Hill

Her Royal Highness, Victoria, has come to bear her litter at Scorpion Hill. 

While my niece was working, this lovely tuxedo demanded to be petted, fed, petted, fed, praised for her beauty, petted, fed, and to have access to a midwife. This bundle of love is rather young stray and this could be her first litter.

She is reposing by the door where she knows her loyal subjects await.  Said subjects are not too sure who is in the guest room, or why she's getting the good food (kitten food is best for expecting queens).  I'll be looking for homes for her and the expected princesses/princes.

Well whoopsie doo!

I should have gone with my gut instincts (and sister Nancy's too): Toby is a Tabitha!  She had a day of firsts today:

• First Vet visit - Dr. Pippin confirmed Toby is a Tabitha
• First time in a pet carrier - pink, of course (thanks Sofie). She was not amused
• First medications - worming, tummy meds
• First visit to Auntie Nancy's house
• First time to meet a dog - Zelda was a sweetheart and didn't respond to the hissy fit
  

Whew, after a day like that, a girl needs her rest.

 Tomorrow: pictures of the mice, pre & post felting.

Size and Siblings

Size is relative they say. You can get a perspective of tiny Tobias and my two smallest cats, Imbrium and Wolfgang.

Imbrium was content to let me pet her and play with her tail to the extent of not caring that Toby was climbing all over the couch. She was stretched out and purring as I slowly took my hand away and let Toby play with this new toy - a long black tail. All was fine for several minutes until Immy peeked my way and realized it wasn't me tugging her tail! If looks could kill...but she just jumped down after.

Hey, you're not Mom!

Wait, where'd you go?

Wolfgang wasn't nearly as amused at sharing the couch with Toby. Using the grooming mitt, I kept him calm while Toby was investigating. Again, all ended on good terms with my well adjusted Wulfie jumping off the couch after sharp kitten teeth sunk in to his tender tail tip.

Toys for Cats

Since I have five cats of my own, and the new foster Tobias, I think it's time to knit up some more cat toys. As my kids love catnip I'll be trying out the Felted Mouse by Jo Chandler and Jen Kubeck's Knit Felted Catnip Mice. 

It will be interesting to see when, or if, Tobias shows interest in catnip. He's fairly young and I'm not sure when that will interest him. Currently, everything interests him!

Here's a picture of my youngest, Wolfgang, with "his" mouse.

Tiny Tiger Tobias

Meet Tobias, a 4-week old abandoned tabby kitten. His eyes are still blue but will be changing over the next few months until they settle to their adult color. Tobias, called Toby, is just learning to play and doesn't always have his feet beneath him. He's learning to drink his KMR from a bowl, eats softened kitten chow and is trying out some canned kitty food. All in all - not much knitting getting done!

Here he is after his first flea bath:

He is playful...

2011 - the year of Five

Well, it's February and thus far this year I have successfully kept only five projects on the needles at any one time. I won't cast on (or pull from that sad, sorry pile of UFO's) until something comes off.

I'm currently working on a preemie size ribbon baby blanket in a pale, sunny yellow. I'm on the downhill side now, decreasing every row. And I need to get it done soon so I can start on the Mermaid Gloves for my BBF C3. The blanket is a fun to knit; it's garter stitch and started on a diagonal. The ribbon isn't as tricky to work with as I thought it would be. The twists seem to work themselves out with just an occasional untwist from me.

So what are my February Five? Besides the blanket, I have a preemie baby wrap (kimono) that needs a neck band and sew up (ugh!). I'm working on a sweater for myself in a lovely gradual green to blue color change. The sweater is called Elsewhere, the wool is KnitPicks Chroma. I've cast off my Snowy Daze Shalom, but need buttons before I can really say it's done. I have a bulky purple Moshup on the needles as well.

Back to Blogging & Knitting

I took a hiatus from blogging for a time, but now am back to knitting and blogging. This month I'm working on Seaweed Socks and finishing up some UFOs.

Cats are happy I have the yarn out. Imbrium and Simon are looking forward to helping with the socks.