More To The Story -

After Hazel Grey had been hanging around for several days - we noticed something else.

There were two littles coming out from under the old general store - 

OH NO!

How many more were there? 

Hence the nightmares of invading cat colonies started disrupting my sleep.

Were they born under the general store? Or was Hazel dumped with these babies by someone who didn't want them?

This is number two. A bit bigger than the one above, but the smaller one could just be the runt?

We were so covered with snow and ice and there was no way to catch them.

Until yesterday.

Thanks to the help of son Jeff we were able to catch them, crate them and drive them to the animal shelter.

Perhaps they'll have a chance at a better life. They are young enough to learn to love a pampered home.

I mean - who would not want this little floof?

This is the larger one.

So off we drove to the shelter, meowing all the way.  I'm so sorry, babies, but enough is enough and it's not safe out here with the road and whatever.  Just. No.

While at the shelter I learned that they are having a spay/neuter clinic this coming Monday and I made an appointment for Hazel right then and there.  No more babies.

I think she will be okay with that.  This is yesterday when I got back - she's asleep on my lap in my big comfy chair.

And once again in my mail order basket -

And if I fits, I sits?

Evidently she'd rather be a pie baker than a biscuit maker? LOL!

You came to the right place, sweetie.  We've got you.

This also arrived yesterday thanks to my friend Nola!

I am the lucky recipient of one of Nola's knitted Melt The Ice resistance hats!

For any interested knitters, the pattern is $5 and is found here:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/melt-the-ice-hat

All proceeds from the sale of this pattern will go to Immigrant Aid agencies.
Please share this post with knitters you love who feel the same way that we do.

More info here:

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/31/nx-s1-5693767/red-hat-protest-minnesota

And that thing on my nose? Don't worry - it is a healing cyst from my visit to the dermatologist last week. Now if I could only leave it alone it would heal faster.

Yesterday I did get the inner border attached to the quilt center all the way around. Even after the run to the animal shelter.  I was bound and determined to make some progress before the February Quiltvillians began to arrive.

I've had questions on how I make these.  I'm not once to piece on adding machine tape.  That takes too long - I need to move things faster.

I cover the entire phone book page with strings, trim the edges of the page, and then subcut the page into the border widths I want.

Then I remove the paper.  It's not needed anymore.  The paper just adds stability when working with narrow strips of fabric which can be stretchy and unwieldy.  The pages also keep me from going off in a crazy direction and give me a size to shoot for.

Once depapered, its the same as regular sewing.  I join them end to end to end into one long length.

And this is as far as I got.
I am hoping today that I can add the string border to the quilt top.  I have no kittens to catch, no animal shelter runs, no snow to plow, just quilters to enjoy!
And the sun is shining. It's going to be an amazing day.
How about you? What plans do you have for today?

Quiltville Quote of the Day

You are strong enough to handle your challenges, wise enough to find a solution to your problems, and capable enough to do whatever needs to be done.
⁣
But don't forget to breathe!

  
This is the vintage quilt that inspired my own scrappy sugar bowl quilt from recycled shirt fabrics.

The pattern is found under the Free Patterns tab at the top of the blog.

Have you made one?

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!