Saturday Sampler: Window Babies Edition

 

The babies are almost 8 months old and both weigh over 8 pounds. It took a while to get Butterfly over that mark, but she finally made it. Marigold is well on her way to 9 pounds. When we carry them around together, we're carrying a solid 17 pounds of kittens. Chonky girls. They both had a massive growth spurt this past week and looking back at my early March update, I can't believe how much they've grown just since then. They're also finally starting to shed their baby coats, although slowly. They've mastered their window manners and that's their favorite spot. They are a handful, but they have the sweetest temperaments and are little purr machines.

Winter Sampler: Deer

 

One quarter of the sampler finished! Will I be able to get the remaining dozen blocks stitched by the end of the year? I don't know! No one knows! Stick around and let's find out together!

Prescription: Goodies

 

Y'all know I am a big fan of small goodies to lift the spirits, especially in times of stress and busyness. We definitely have stress and busyness here! In case you wondered, I do not recommend moving twice in one year. Yuk. Anyway, goodies!

This little thread book (Old Tin Roof) and notions bag (Travis Creek) are from two Etsy shops in the same town in Tennessee. I don't know if they're connected in some way, but I've noticed they sometimes use the same fabrics, so when I found the thread book, I went to the other shop to see if there was a matching bag and... hooray! I simply could not resist this sweet, sleepy little calico. 

While I am thoroughly enjoying my therapeutic Year of Winter stitching, I do love spring color and it's not against the rules to buy spring goodies and stash! Year of Winter is for stitching, not shopping! (See how I worked that?)

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Meows

So here is a weird thing about the babies: they don't meow. They are very vocal and talk to us and each other quite a bit. They squeak, squeal, grunt, trill, and howl (yes), and we've even had a small bark (?), but they don't just meow. It's so odd. They even do this pathetic fake meow, where they "mouth" a meow but no sound comes out. They do it when they want something and are trying to be pitiful. Tiger Lily did this. It's so hilariously manipulative.

We've never had two cats before, let alone two kittens, and I'm wondering if this is common. Wondering if when they've been together since birth they develop a different language. I have no idea, we just find it so adorably weird.

A Year of Winter: Winter House Trio, Part 1

 

I've started my next Year of Winter project, Winter House Trio by Waxing Moon Designs. I'll be stitching them together as one piece, using the recommended threads, and making only one change.

The only change I've made is stitching the windows with DMC 3820. I wanted the houses to look warmer, as if all the lights are on during a snowy evening.

Moving prep is coming along, babies are thriving, I'm hanging in there. As we say where I'm from, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll be in our quarters in about five weeks. I cannot wait to get on the other side of this move. I really, really need to feel settled. 

Hope y'all are doing well and getting into your spring stitching. I'm just over here stitching winter, and moving, and trying to raise these wee werewolves to be ladies. (Look how big!)

Breaking News!

 

We have a house! After a year of waiting, we have finally been assigned quarters on base! When we transferred here a year ago, we were told our wait for housing would be 6-8 months, but it has taken an entire year. While we were very grateful to have found this rental we're in (in a very challenging market), it's been hard not feeling completely settled, knowing there was another move to endure. Two moves in 12 months is definitely not ideal. We have been active duty for almost 20 years and have never had to wait for quarters. Anyway, we get the house 4 May, so the next six weeks will be busy busy.

More headlines from our house!

Marigold Learns to Use Windows

We have been working on window manners and she has finally figured out that what's outside is much more interesting than the blinds and curtains. Butterfly hasn't quite gotten this yet.

Butterfly Shows Off Her Fancy Eyes

Back in this post I tried to get some shots of the babies' dichroic eyes. This one is pretty good.

Bonus: Butterfly Practices Her Window Manners

Free Giggles

 

Brought to you by Marigold! Have a wonderful week, y'all!

Winter Sampler: Ice Skate

 

Stitching away on my Winter Sampler (available here) and so far I'm on track for one or two blocks a month, in hopes of finishing this by the end of my Year of Winter. That may seem like a pretty low bar, but most of my stitching time is being taken up by this year's mega Christmas Open House, and when I can, I squeeze in my other Year of Winter projects. It's only March, but I'm loving just stitching winter. I think next year I'll really be ready for spring and fall projects, but this year is definitely therapy stitching for me, as I learn to adjust to living without winter. This sampler is a really fun stitch and it motivates me to finish the companion piece I started ever so long ago, Autumn Sampler.

A Year of Winter: Snowy Wren

 

My latest finish in my Year of Winter is Snowy Wren, from the February issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine. It's been ages since I bought a copy of that magazine, but I had to stitch this sweet little bird. I love the look of early darkness on a winter day, and the warm light from the cabin spilling out onto the snow. Stitched with the recommended DMC on 28 ct. Bridesmaid evenweave. 

This design is currently available to purchase as a PDF on the Annie's website, but I think they change availability frequently, so if you want it you probably shouldn't delay.

Big Girls

 

Babies have hit seven pounds! They have just recently started to shed a little. I noticed last weekend that I was having to pick tiny black fibers out of my stitching and I couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Finally realized it's baby fuzz! I think we have a while to go yet before their adult coats come in, but their britches are getting very floofy. 

Bonus wee ear floof!

Saturday Sampler: Colors and Critters Edition

 

Winter Sampler: Snow Angel

 

I am proud to say that I made a snow angel most recently in January of 2021, at the ripe old age of 48. Mr. Wonderful and I had been out sledding on a hill in our neighborhood one evening (yep) and I made one on the way home. I had wiped out while sledding, and was returning home cold, wet, banged up, with a busted lip... and thoroughly happy. It was glorious.

I spent most of February working on my first project for this year's big Christmas Open House. I finished it last week and wanted to try to squeeze in a block or two of my Winter Sampler before the month is over. Two down, 14 to go!

Baby Update: Floof Report

 

Babies are nearly six months old and both are over six pounds. They're losing their baby teeth but have not yet started shedding their baby coats. 

However. 

We are on Floof Watch and we do have signs of things to come. In addition to Magnificent Ear Floof, we also have what Mr. Wonderful calls "werewolf paws." 

We even have floof poking up between toes.

And tail floof is progressing.

Super soft, glossy baby coats. Butterfly had a lot of dark grey in her coat when she was tiny, but that has darkened to black. She still has her blonde patch.

Marigold has always been very red.

So that's how they're doing. They have very sweet temperments, are very snuggly (when they've burned off some energy), and purr almost constantly. They are really beginning to look like adult cats.

Long Things

 

Chocolate Chip Bread baked in my tea loaf pan. I much prefer this long pan to a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Thick batters bake more evenly and the slices are small and cute. 

Another long thing.