For the first time in I don't know how long--years--I don't have a cat-sitting gig for the holidays. Obviously I need to give some thought to rebuilding my clientele.
Meanwhile, I've been invited to dinner with some friends. Amy says she LOVES to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Our menu is turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, squash ring, spinach souffle, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and key lime pie. I thought maybe it could use some crunch, so I'm going to take some raw veggies: baby carrots, celery, radishes, sweet gherkins, jumbo black olives, cauliflower broken into florets, and a red and a yellow sweet pepper cut into strips, with some dip.
Last year I found a lace sampler scarf pattern online-- Kalenderhalsduk 2008 . The designer posted one section of the scarf every day between December 1 and December 26, and you could print it off free and make your scarf. Since then the pattern has been for sale, but I don't know anyone in the US or Canada who's bought it since it seems to be difficult to purchase. This year she's going to do another one, so I'm all set to print my patterns out--though how I'm going to manage when I'm home over break I'm not quite sure.
At any rate, having been reminded of last year's scarf, I decided that was my perfect lace project. Found the pattern printouts, rummaged in the stash and found a wonderful yarn--Texel Cashmere, which is 40% cashmere, 30% wool and 30% lambswool. Someone must have given it to me, because I would never buy this hot tomato red for myself, but it's just a lovely yarn to work with, so soft and warm as I knit it up that I can't wait to finish the scarf and wrap it around myself!
I've completed the first two patterns:
Frankly, I don't see how anyone could do a pattern a day unless they had nothing else to do, no job or little kids to chase after. I'm going to try for the next four days, since I'll have the time, but once I go back to work I expect to fall behind. But I also expect to enjoy the knitting and the finished product!
Tomorrow I have to stop by the vet's to make an appointment for surgery for Timber. He's got an ugly, nobbly growth about the size of a grape on his neck. The vet says it's probably benign,, but it's getting so big it needs to come off, and I agree. As long as he's out I'm going to have her x-ray his hips, too, just to get an idea of what's going on in there. I think he's probably okay, but it never hurts to know for sure. If they look a little iffy, I'll start supplementing him with Vitamin C and glucosamine/chondroitin.
He was a very good boy at the vet. In the waiting room there was a young, bouncy Airedale and an old grumpy miniature Schnauzer, as well as a bunch of cats not in carriers--to my surprise, because bringing a cat to the vet just wrapped in a towel or blanket is SO dangerous! But Timber was very good, not a bark or a growl, and he sat between my feet with just a little coaxing. In the exam room, I had him do some sits, downs, and heels for treats, and that seemed to help him focus and relax. Then he sat by the door and watched the vet techs moving around, and greeted everyone. I did kind of have to put a headlock on him to get him to hold still while the vet looked at his growth--I don't know why he got so anxious about that, she was only trying to get down through the hair enough to see it! But he was very good, and I was proud of him. If I'd had any cash on me, we'd have stopped at McDonald's for a burger.
He's going to look so funny with a big shaved patch in his mane!
And for the first time I left Taenzer loose in the house when leaving with Timber, and she was good too. She gets so anxious sometimes she'll tear things up, but apparently she coped just fine. I got her "Oh thank God you're home!" greeting, but nothing was damaged. Good girl!
I'm hoping to bring them turkey scraps from dinner today.
1 comment:
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everything goes well with the T-boy!
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