Archive for the ‘Greta’ Category

As we learned yesterday, Barnie was feeling a little left out. Someone has taken over his Invisi-Cat Shield. Just who is this new guy, and what do the other pets think about the situation?

First Argos.
He has actually shown the least interest, especially if it is nap time.

Next Sophie.
She is always the referee/nanny/babysitter. Remember when Barnie joined us?

So intense. Checking out the new guy.

Next, Greta
She has been a little cranky. I would say it is because she is 19 years old, but she has pretty much been this way her whole life. But we love her anyway.

And finally, Barnie!
The playmate he has been searching for. Maybe…?

So the new guy – still kind of nameless, but considering Quincy or Pete – is pretty cute. Warning… Cute overload:

Barnie tolerates Greta fine. He sometimes tries to get her to play, but is only met with cranky get-away-from-me growls. Greta appears to totally ignore Barnie, but is secretly pleased to have another cat in the house. They aren’t BFFs, but they share the space amicably.

Previously, this was as close as Barnie and Greta have “cuddled”

Several months ago:

Big Barnie and petite old Greta "bonding" in the same cat space.

A few weeks ago:

Barnie and Greta sharing their space.

Now this…

Greta and Barnie snuggled on a Cat Mat

They are touching! What’s up?

Details coming in the next few days…

I mentioned the Cat Mat the other day when talking about my snoozing pets. I had the idea to make essentially a mini blanket for the back of the couch and another one for Barnie’s window seat.

Lucky me – Michael’s had Lion Brand “Thick and Quick” wool blend on sale. It is 20% wool, 80% acrylic – great for easy washing – in an olive color called Cilantro. Normally $6.49, marked down (clearance, actually) to $1.99. This was the only color on sale – hmmmm!? – maybe it doesn’t sell well or people don’t like it, but I would have selected it above all of the other colors. So… not sure what that says about me, but I was happy about that.

Here is the finished mat and the Cat Mat recipients. I have written down the “pattern” below for any knitters out there.

The Cat Mat on the back of the couch, Greta's perch

Greta on her Cat Mat (that IS her happy look)

Window version of the Cat Mat, modeled by Barnie

Barnie figures this is a good deal

Make your own Cat Mat
I used just a few yards over 1 skein (to make the last 5 rows, ~10 yards) of Lion Brand Wool Ease “Thick and Quick” using size 15 (29″) circular needles. I would recommend casting on fewer stitches and it should be a one-skein project. I plan to make more of these and will try that out. For now, here is what I did to make this Cat Mat.

I am not a pattern-writer, but here goes.

1. Cast on 54 stitches. I used a Long Tail cast on.
2. Garter stitch (knit each row) for 5 rows.
3. Garter stitch first 5 stitches, then stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next row), then garter stitch last 5 stitches.
   *Note: garter stitch = always knit the first and last 5 stitches to give you the garter stitch side borders
4. Continue step #3 until the Cat Mat is as ‘tall’ as you want it, then finish off with 5 purl rows.

Finished size: 22″ x 14″ (unblocked) and 2.5 stitches per inch

That’s it!

For my next Cat Mat
I purchased some 14″ size 15 straight needles for the next go-round. That will make the ‘short’ edge of the Cat Mat, and the stockinette stitch will go length-wise. Just to try a different way (and an excuse to buy another pair of needles).

What do my pets do most often? Sleep!

Sleep, sleep, sleep. The pets have fun, too. They… go for walks, play in the yard, go for hikes, chase stuff (and each other) and enjoy meal time excitement. But mostly, they lounge around, living the easy life.

They also swap sleeping places. Never fighting or aggressive, but definitely on the “first come, first sleep” basis. Here is a typical day in the life of lounging pets.

Nothing is more "typical" than a Greyhound loving life on the couch.

Unless we find this...

This causes trouble for Argos, who must find other accommodations.

This IS a very nice dog bed, by the way...

Deaf 19 year old Greta minds her own business. She sleeps very soundly in her Princess Bed.

Unless we find this...

Barnie insists he is comfy (and fits) in Greta's Princess Bed.

I have recently taken up the sport of knitting, and am obsessed! But … I don’t like to just make random things. Schtuff to fill up your house. Nope. I am all about functional art. In this case, I decided that I would make Barnie his very own Cat Mat for napping coziness.

My “in my head” pattern turned out a little too big for his window perch, so I thought it would make a great back-of-the-couch cozy for Greta. This is “her” spot nearly all of the time, when she isn’t in the Princess Bed. I worked until late at night and left the Cat Mat project on the back of the couch, where I was figuring out how wide I want to make it.

Cat Mat in progress, laying on the back of the couch to measure size.

Greta approves of the Cat-Mat-in-progress.

You can see where this is going here.

My sweet Sophie is happy wherever she lays her head!

We are having a hot/cold spring. Sunny and beautiful one day, and snowing the next. When the sun is out, we all gravitate to it like the barely-blooming flowers. The pets love a good sunbath, too.

This is as close to snuggling as almost-19-year-old Greta and young Mr Barnie get.

Barnie and Greta sharing their space.