Will She Need a Dowry?

A certain Tenten, a 3 year-old, neutered Tom who lives in Turkey, has asked for Kate's paw in marriage. His proposal came about after his person saw a photo of Kate that I had given to one of Simon's colleagues (along with a very lovely and tasteful 'Barcelona' magnet purchased at the airport).

In the interests of full disclosure, I believe that Tenten deserves to know more about Kate (also known as Princess Horrible and Get Off the *&#$% Counter).

A few fun facts about Kate
In November 2004, Kate adopted us from the Wake County SPCA. She wouldn't tell us her exact age, only that she was approximately 2 years old. Little is known of Kate's first two years. Did she live on the street? Was she a kitty of loose morals? (Tenten, please note that Kate is an older woman.)

Kate's hobbies include napping, shredding paper (newspapers, bills, important documents -- she's not picky), demanding treats, taking over my pillow during the night, and looking out the window.

Kate has been known to scratch furniture.

Kate does not attempt to drink from the toilet (which anyway would be impossible here in "Toilet with a Shelf Land").

Kate flirts shamelessly with new people, often tapping them on the knees with her paw or simply standing in their laps until they pay attention to her.

Tenten, perhaps now you have a fuller picture. If you're still besotted, Kate will consider considering your proposal.

Thanks, Jim!!!

Back in February, I not-so-subtly mentioned that Noro had come out with a sock yarn.

This afternoon when I returned home from running errands in Leiden, a package was waiting for me. It contained this sublime skein of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn (color S188, to be precise). My pal Jim sent it to me from Halcyon Yarn (what a nice online shop!). Kate and I are both extremely excited about the yarn. I'd like to do socks for myself, but Kate is lobbying me to knit her a catsuit.

Like me, Kate always looks disgruntled in photos.

When Bad Cats Get, Umm, Worse

As an artist, Kate embraces all media, but is especially fond of household items, particularly paper towels and toilet paper.

Creativity in action

The aftermath, I mean, masterpiece with the artist's tail.

Kate Loves Jim

All the way from the US of A, Jim sent Kate a package of Spicy Micey catnip mice.



I think she likes them.

Where the Wild Things Are: My Apartment

One cat, three ducks, 19 slugs

First Kate conquers the Netherlands.

Then these three ducks take over the garden.

This one is particularly sassy.
And the slugs are everywhere -- I just looked out the window and counted 19. But no, I didn't take a picture.

The Recycled-Bag Bag

Simon and I watch BBC Breakfast (basically the British version of Good Morning, America) every morning, so we know lots more about what's going on in Britain than in the Netherlands. The BBC covers environmental issues pretty well and has lately run several pieces on excessive packaging, including the overuse of the plastic shopping bag. Here in the Netherlands, I haven't found any place that recycles plastic bags, and though I use my own bags for groceries, I still have a stockpile of plastic bags that I just can't throw in the garbage.

I had seen several patterns for knitting shopping bags into a reusable bag, so I decided to come up with a design of my own.

The bag with a kilo of apples in it

Supplies

• “Yarn” made from loops of plastic shopping bags*
• Circular needles, size 15 U.S.**
• Long DPNs, size 13 U.S.** (I’m guessing here. I used 10s because that’s what I had on hand. The decreases were very tight and quite uncomfortable to knit. In future, I’ll use 13s.)
• Large-eye needle

Gauge: Doesn’t really matter

Directions

With circulars, cast on 60 stitches. Join, being careful not to twist your stitches.

Rows 1-3: Knit

Row 4: *K1, Slip1 (yib)* around

Row 5: K11, BO8, K22, BO8, K11

Row 6: K11, CO8, K22, CO8, K11

Rows 7+: Knit until your bag measures 14 or so inches from cast on.

Prepare to decrease by dividing stitches evenly over DPNs.

Row 1: *K4, K2tog* around

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: *K3, K2tog* around

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: *K2, K2tog* around

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: *K1, K2tog* around

Row 8: Knit

Row 9: *K2tog* around

Thread yarn onto needle and carefully cinch up remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

*Making your yarn (use about 30 bags of comparable weight)

1. Roll a shopping bag lengthwise. At the top, cut off the handles, and at the bottom, cut off the seam.
2. Cut the rolled bag into 1” inch segments.
3. Unroll each segment.
4. Carefully link your loops with slip knots. Pull firmly being careful not to stretch the strips or break the loops.
5. Roll your yarn into a ball.
6. If you run out of yarn while knitting, just make more and tie it to the end of the yarn in use.
   

**Some of your plastic bags may stain your needles, so I strongly recommend that you use needles that you can clean with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.

Kate investi-"cats" the bag. Mmm, plastic is so delicious.

Weekend Round Up!

Today's post is just a collection of this 'n that.

The little duckers are doing well and entertaining everyone in the neighborhood.



And I'm de-diddily-lighted that an Albert Heijn is opening in our village -- in just a 10 days! No more schlepping the groceries on and off the bus or balancing a loaded-down bicycle! Soon I'll have just an 8-minute walk to the supermarket.



I knitted, felted, stuffed and sewed up this toy for Princess Horrible. And yes, it is stuffed with catnip. Mmmmmm, catnip . . .


Simon and I have finally gotten back on the tandem. Simon replaced my seat post (I'm much happier -- no comments from you, Jim C), the bottom bracket, and the handlebar tape. Today we rode east along the Kagerplassen. Going out we averaged about 16 mph, but coming back we averaged around 24 mph. Here are the official stats:

Distance: 25.5 miles
Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Average speed: 19 mph
Top speed: 25 mph

A Cautionary Tale

Kate indulged in a little catnip yesterday. She's an angry, wild-eyed drunk.




Afterwards, she slept it off.

Kate's Big Sunday

Look who was hanging out this morning in the canal by our garden! And isn't the duckweed attractive?


What a fulfilling day it has been for Kate the Cat! You'll notice that I took this photo while also trying to prevent her escape.


Kate is now recovering from all the excitement by taking a big nap.

Whoo! It's Like a Sauna in Here.

Apparently Kate thinks that I take showers just to create a relaxing, kitty cat sauna for her.

Here she is on the washing machine (and under the washing) in her peaceful sausage pose.

Cat-Tired

Unless you've been cat-tired, you've never been tired.

Almost Mobius Kitty or . . .

Jazz Hands?

Snoozing Beauty

This is the only way I could get Kate to model two of the hats I knitted this week. The striped one is yet another London Beanie, and the watch cap is from this pattern. The watch cap looks a lot better when it's being worn -- by a person.

Bad Cat

The other day, Kate's dreams came true. She took over both the remote and the couch.

You may be wondering where we got such an ugly couch. Well, underneath several layers of cat-proof materials, there's a rather nice couch. In spite of what Kate thinks, the couch belongs to our landlords, not to her.

Obligatory Cat Photo

Here's Kate the Cat, adopted in November 2004 from the Wake County SPCA.

This photo, I think, captures Kate at her Kate-iest. And yes, she is snoozing in a Kitty Pi, one of my first felting projects.