Fandango, Please

And here's my latest dilemma. I made this quilt top using a 5" square charm pack of Kate Spain's Fandango fabric line. I decided I want to make an appliqued vine and leaves/flowers border using the brighter green, coral and yellow fabrics but my local shop doesn't have these. So I went online and have found a couple of options, including buying yardage, jelly rolls or more charm packs, but it would require an output of $20 or more. Come on! I spent $9 for the original charm pack! So I decided to go on the Quilter's Board forum and post an "In Search Of" message for scraps or pieces and have had no response. It's looking more and more like I'm not going to be able to finish this quilt the way I'd envisioned. However, if there is a quilter out there who reads this and you have what I'm talking about, leave a comment PLEASE!

xxoo

Patty's Folly

These are the rain barrels we had installed last month. This is not at ALL how I thought it would look. Now I am trying to figure out how to "camoflauge" them. At first, I thought I would dress them in grass skirts so when the wind blows they would appear to be dancing. LOL! Let me say, this is not what I thought I was getting. I contacted the local Urban Agriculture group and this configuration cost over $500. Each barrel holds 33 gallons of water. That means I have paid $5.05 a gallon for rain water. PLUS, it is not available on demand unless it has rained and the barrels are full. I am calling this Patty's Folly!


Seriously, I'm thinking about having a Camoflauge Contest, but I'm not sure what the "prize" would be. Got any ideas? xxoo

Ides of April

Guess where we live. But at least we have a basement. Bhu does not like the basement. When the sirens go off we have to put him in the pet carrier and keep him in it otherwise he runs up the stairs and sits on the landing at top.
Bhu: I'm not afurraid of no tormatoes! And I will only go into the basement when you are not looking.
Patty: Yes, I know. You like to eat the sweet potato plant and then puke it all up immediately! Bhu, that stuff is poisonous to you! I moved it to the top shelf so you can't get it anymore. Now Bhu has some more problems, but I'll post about them this week. I will need the help of our furrends to provide information or insights. They always come through with the info!
xxoo

Moon Dance

BHU: Mai mom couldn't sleep last night and once the clouds rolled north to some unknown spot in the midwest, the moon came out full and bright as could be! She went to the window and looked out and could see little shadows skittering about on the lawn. She looked and looked and finally saw that they were bunnies! She thinks they were dancing in the moonlight!

Schprummer! The Start of Something Small.

Today will be 90 degrees, they say. I believe it. I've been outside to hang two loads of laundry and it was every bit of 75 at around 9 am. Instead of spring, we have summer! I find this to be a bit ominous, but I'm also afraid to say we haven't had the heat on for two weeks because I'm afraid to jinx it! LOL! Anyhoo, here is the Heart of Gold quilt hanging for a dry -- washed because Bhu decided to puke on it.
The sweetgum trees are going nuts with the reproduction. Every inch of the west side of our yard is covered with these things and my eyes won't stop watering! Actually, I'm having a sight issue today; I think it is a retinal detachment but I refuse to go to the emergency room. It doesn't hurt or anything; just annoying. Tomorrow I'll go to Urgent Care. My health issues ALWAYS occur on the weekend, Saturday to be specific. This means if you go to the ER, they stabilize you and keep you in the hospital until Monday morning when the specialists come to work. Unless, of course, there is blood spurting or bones sticking out of your body.
Work that needs to be done: my favorite quilt is wearing out. Fortunately, I saved a lot of this fabric in anticipation of the repair. A couple of years ago I replaced one whole section of the background. The work is tedious . . . ripping out some very tiny, unregulated long-arm quilting stitches is the worst part. The binding in this section needs to be replaced completely, also. Fun, huh?
Work in progess: the Start of Something Small! These are 5" squares of the "Fandango" line. Love it! I'm thinking of vines and leaves for the border, but we shall see.
Bhu is sleeping, of course, and won't let me take his picture. He seems to be doing okay, except I'm going to have to find out how to "sedate" him for his next grooming appointment. Have you ever had to do this for your kitteh?

Wish me luck at Urgent Care tomorrow! xxoo Patty

UPDATE: Just in case anyone wonders, Urgent Care sent me to the Opthalmology Clinic and I spent four hours there. It's always the same with University Healthcare: a big FAIL. I still have the blurs, but at least I know it's not a retinal detachment or a corneal abrasion.

Wha' Happend?

Patty: Okay, so we have been without internet for some time. It started raining Tuesday and it didn't stop until this morning. Everything is totally SOGGY and very bright GREEN! Dandelions have sprung up in just a few hours. Red buds are bright fuscia and the crabapple is about to do its work and BLOOOOOM!
Bhu: Yes, and I can watch it all right here from my little perch in the window. BTW, birds need more seed, mom.
Patty: Well, everything is easy compared to figuring out why no DSL! I called the "hotline," (the word implies, you know, like you'll get some HELP) and they had me pulling plugs and cables and pushing on/off buttons and watching blinking lights and whatnot and then the phone disconnected and I just put everything back and went off to do a load of laundry (LOVE hanging sheets outside in the spring). When I came back, there it was: our wireless connection returned. What happened? Who the H*** knows!
Bhu: Hey mom, I need more foods.
Patty: Oh, really, Mr. FancyPants??!! How about your behavior yesterday at Josie's? I heard you screaming all the way in the front while I was waiting for you. She tells me you wouldn't let her finish and that she was only able to get your left side done. She EVEN said that we might have to get some "sedatives" for you. What is WRONG wichu?
Bhu: But, mom, she is trying to STEAL MAI FURZ!
Patty: Bhu, you have enough furz for five kittehs. Chill, dude!
Bhu: OK, effurybuddy -- March/April showers bring lotsa flowers.
xxoo

Schpring!

Magnolia blossoms do not last long enough . . . which is why it is important to linger when they bloom. Stand close by and breath deeply . . . touch the petals and enjoy the smooth coolness . . . revel in the color! Before they bloom, the buds are big, furry things that remind me of this:

Sabbatical is Over!

We apologize for being "on sabbatical" for such a long time, but we have been visiting all of you as much as possible.
Bhu: "Whatchu talkin' about WE! YOU have been on sabbatical. My exkews is I got no thumbs!"
Patty: Yeah, yeah, Bhu, they all know this. As I was saying, ahem, thanks to Wanda of Afrayed of Fibers for the very artistic photographic interpretation of Bhu. If not for her, we would have no photos. All my photos are trapped on the camera disk and I haven't been able to get to the Photoshop computer to size them properly. A lot has been happening, some of which I have photographic evidence, some of which I simply refuse to admit (in denial) so no photos. But today my sewing machine got sick and I had to take it in for "urgent care." Turns out it wasn't threaded right. DUH. I admit, though, that I have been using it a lot and kind of abusing it, really . . . not changing the needle when I should, using embroidery thread instead of sewing thread, not taking the time to dust or cover it between uses.
Bhu: "Blah, blah, blah. Tell them about me."
Patty: Okay, you don't have to be so mean. So, Bhu is doing okay with his CRF food. He prefers Appetizer, but he will eat the Royal Canin if there is nothing else. He had to go to the vet yesterday for more blood work and this morning the doctor called me to say Bhu's lab results were a tiny bit better than the last time. Woo Hoo! Which means he doesn't need to be artificially hydrated!!! Thanks to effurryone who has contacted us with information and links and encouragement! We are very grateful! xxoo

Purresident's Day

Well, I owe you all a post but I broke the adapter and can't upload my photos. So, close your eyes and imagine:
(a) bright, golden crocus blooming out from under a mulch of dry brown leaves.
(b) rows and clumps of daffodils just about to blossom.
(c) rain barrel and irrigation system installed today by two young urban agriculturists. I'm thinking about dressing them up with hula skirts. Seriously, I've got to figure out a way to "camoflauge" them, although I am really proud of them. Of course, it's probably going to take ten years of "free" water to recoup the cost. LOL
(d) a pile of cute little crafter/gardening/harvest aprons that continues to grow as I still rifle through my stash for interesting print/plaid/stripe combos. I learned something about myself today, too: the more I do something, the worse I get at it. I think I just stop paying attention when it is no longer new and exciting. Most of the people I know who have a similar affliction are men.
(e) gift bags made for Valentine's Day. I think I have perfected the pattern, but quickly losing interest as recently stated.
But I know you are all anxious for a peek at Bhu and here he is! It's a Bhu Valentine, compliments of Ann of Zoolatry (although I tell Bhu it's from Maggy). By the way, Bhu is doing well these days, having taken to his new CRF food. He actually likes it but boy is it STINKY! He also insists on at least one Appetizer, preferably two. One thing the vet gave us that really helped with the transition from Fancy Feast to Royal Canin Renal LP: FortiFlora. These are little packets of probiotics that can be sprinkled on the food.

Hope the next time I post I will have fresh, new photos to share! xxoo Patty & Bhu

Be nice day!

We hope you all open up your hearts to the love around you! xxoo Patty, Bhu & Sabryin.

Valentine compliments of Jessie Lawson, proprietess of The Flying Cat Arthouse on Etsy. http://www.flyingartcathouse.etsy.com

Can you help us?

Bhu had his annual vet appointment yesterday and got his shots and "behaved well." Generally, it went well: he acts much younger than his age and he impressed with his handsomeness and masculine demeanor! He hasn't lost any weight, but he is in the early stages of CRF, which means no more Fancy Feast and no more Appetizers!

The vet has made several suggestions for low protein foods that will help and I asked her if she knew of any recipes for home-made versions. So, I am asking all Bhu's furrends out there if you have any opinions or experiences with these foods and if you have recipes would you please share? I am googling the topic and finding information and some recipes, but nothing beats personal experience.

There was also some chatter about subcutaneous feeding, about which I am currently in denial. Have any of you had experience with this?

Today's photo is courtesy of Ann at Zoolatry. She made this portrait of Bhu long ago and I love it. Thank you, Ann! xxoo Patty

"Busy"

Bhu: Hai! I wants to apawlogize fur mai mom 'caws she hasn't been blogging very much lately. I will let her 'splain.
Patty: Well, I've been busy Bhu.
Bhu: You always say that. What exacktly duz that mean "BUSY?"
Patty: Doing laundry, ironing, going to market to get Appetizer and Fancy Feast, going to the office every day, mailing stuff for Poppy, going to the doctor,sewing, reading and taking care of you and Poppy!
Bhu: Well, yes . . . the Appetizers and Fancee Feests IS impawtant!
Patty: How do you like my new fabrics? I'm going to be making more aprons and bags from these. Most are Amy Butler, but there are a few other designers in there. By the way, I am going to start "Give-Aways" this year, so keep an eye open for that. In the meantime, don't forget next Tuesday is Valentine's Day! xxoo Patty

A lovely weekend

The weekend was very nice! Wonderful sun puddles everywhere I went. Mommy and Poppy had a good time together and I even got lots of ear scritches and pets! We went to visit GJ and he is doing better, so purrayers do work, sez mom. I'm kinda missin' Maggy, but mom sez Zoolatry is "off limits" fur a couple of weeks. Hope Maggy is okay! Anyway, mom is makin' another cheezecake -- she sez this is a diffurrent one than the last time (it has creeem cheeze in it). She's also been sewing lots of diffurrent things and sez she will show pitchers this week.
"That's PICtures, Bhu. You know, photographs."
Oh well, whutteffur. Hope you all had a lovely weekend, too. xxoo Bhu

How I want to be fed:

Effurrybody needs a purrsonalized kitty bowl. Get one here!

Plasma Blob Zooms Toward Earth!

Seriously! The sun had a hissy fit and this thing got disconnected and is hurtling toward us at the speed of 2 million MPH! Should be here by early morning (EST, CST, PST? Who knows!) Aside from that bit of news, I have a few photos to share. If you notice the blog has a "new look" also. Unfortunately, my banner is now undersized, as are most of my photos. Anyhoo, this is my interpretation of the bull's eye quilt using Flora fabrics. It is double-sided and I had so much fun designing this (copyright pending)! Also, I have become addicted to making these bull's eyes! This is 40 x 40.
I also made this prototype for an apron that I plan to make for a friend who moved to what she calls a "hobby farm." It is, essentially, a harvest apron--the front part is one huge pocket. I got the idea from one of thirty or so sewing/crafting books I borrowed from the library this winter, so don't ask me which one . . . but the apron I've made takes only it's shape from the one in the book. My version is much sturdier, easier to wear and embellished. The fabrics are vintage (cotton by Peter Pan) and reminded me of feedsacks -- perfect for a farm apron.
Oh, and just in case the blob interrupts electronic communication in your area, here is a book I highly recommend. Flowers of the Renaissance! Perfect read for a cold winter day.
Bhu is sleeping, as usual.
The niacin is still causing horrible side effects.
We're having meatloaf for dinner.
xxoo Patty