Well, here we are at the beginning of another week and we’ll be entering a new month before the week is out. September comes and brings with it the promise of autumn and cooler weather - at least as a general trend.
This morning, Myria opined that I would leave the windows open at temperatures as low as 20°F if I could find a way to do so and still be comfortable. I’m not so sure she’s wrong :) I love fresh air. I appreciate the comfort an air conditioner can impart - especially in the dehumidifying area - but I hate closing the windows. It feels as though I have shut out the world. True, the sounds of traffic and construction (and there seems always to be some kind of construction going on within a block or so) are shut out, but so are the bird songs and the evening symphony of peepers and crickets. So I’m looking forward to being able to open the windows again :)
Half a hat
This is the first half of my new hat in the luscious pink Waterspun I was fortunate enough to find a few weeks ago. The cables look a lot better in the solid color, don’t they? As always, Waterspun works up beautifully (this is being worked on size 7 US needles) and is a pleasure to knit with. The temptation to hoard this (because Classic Elite has discontinued it - though some colors are still available at Elann for a while) is tremendous - but what would be the point? I could stash it and periodically haul it out to admire or I could use it and enjoy both the working with and the wearing of it. Seems like a better deal all around :)
Potter scarf, redux
The second HP scarf is just about done - one final burgundy band plus fringe and we’re there. I must admit it’s been fun - but I probably won’t be making another one - at least not any time soon. On the other hand, I had never considered the possibility of making a tubular - or two-sided - scarf and the HP project ably demonstrates how simple that really is.
I have enough of the above mentioned Waterspun to seriously consider the possibility of such a thing - perhaps with an adaptation of the cable from the hat? Definitely worth thinking about! I have size 8 wooden double points which would probably work fine, though I think size 8s are generally a bit big for this yarn. Oh boy - now that the idea has occurred to me, I can’t wait to work it out! Heheh…yes I am a nerd, why do you ask?
Jade, contemplating life
Scream training has begun. The goal is to get Jade to understand that she will get her breakfast promptly even if she doesn’t wail to the high heavens about how hungry she is. We began on Sunday morning. I got up, she started yelling, she got squirted. I got her dish and the can of cat food and she started yelling again. I showed her the water bottle and she shut up. She remained quiet while I got her food ready. We went through the same thing this morning. She is learning and, thank goodness, she doesn’t seem to hold a grudge - very un-catlike, that. I have faith that we can work this out. She just needs to realize that I’m not going to let her starve and that she can stay completely dry and comfortable as long as she doesn’t sing.
Simple, eh?
No trackbacks yet.
Sounds like you have a good start with training Jade. We need to do much the same thing with Emma. She’s one helluva watch dog - barks at everyone coming to the house - but she needs to understand when we say, “It’s ok!”, she must STOP barking. So far we haven’t had much luck. Sigh. I need to hunt up some training tips.
I really like that pink Waterspun. Tell me again why I shouldn’t stash & hoard it? As a severe stashaholic, I think I need some intervention. 
And you’re really sounding like the voice of reason today!
i look forward to the start of autumn too- we can safely expect its arrival by at least the first/middle of november here in this area of the world- then a few days of autumn and another few (very few) days of winter and we’re on the slide into summer again- because we live in such a perpetually warm climate, perversity insists that i want to make hats, scarves, and mittens!!fortunately 2 of my children live in more appropriately seasonal climates and they get to use my efforts-
much luck training your singing cat- we have accepted the fact that our pets train us to do their bidding and just live with the results- we are treated to the ‘get up and play aria,’ the ‘feed me now chorale,’ and the ‘i wanna go out NOW symphony’ at all hours-
you had a productive weekend- i just love that hat!
stay happy-
Bron - All I can tell you is that is it stays in the stash, I never get to play with it or wear it - and both those things are more important to me than having the yarn :) But I know others feel differently.
I don’t know what to suggest about training Emma except that once you decide of a course of action, be firm and consistent. Animals handle wishy-washing teaching even worse than kids do. If she’s as intelligent as she seems, all she needs is to understand what you want her to do. Unless she completely inner-directed - in which case she’s be a cat :)
Barb - I love the description of your animal choirs! And I agree - to a certain extent, they train us as much as we train them.
I love that hat too - this is the fourth time I’ve made this pattern and I’m generally hell on doing anything more than once. I guess, not having been a hat person most of my life, once I found something I did like, I just stuck with it.
Yes - I understand your stash philosophy and really wish I was more like you. But I think I’m one who enjoys looking at/fondling the skeins almost as much as using them in a project. Sometimes I’m just beyond weird. Sigh. Luckily I don’t take food from my children’s mouths in order to buy yarn!
I’m going to blog about the training tip that finally works with Emma. I know we can’t be the only family in the “dog barks too much” boat! :)
That’s a great idea, Bron - I’m sure other folks with gogs will greatly appreciate hearing about it!
