Earl Grey has fallen in love with my wool. It is black Shetland that I bought from a lady in Pilot Mountain, NC, and he just can't wait for me to open the plastic box in the evenings and begin spinning!! He "slithers" into the box and rolls over and over, then he holds a bat up to his face to "sniff" the wool (sometimes he actually chews on it!). He does this every time I sit down to spin. He has not done this previously, so guess he just likes the smell or whatever of this wool. We usually have to go get the flashlight (another favorite game of his) to distract him to get him out of the box as he will bite and scratch to stay in it otherwise. Ah! A cooler and rainey day today. Perfect for working on projects...which is what I usually do anyway! Have a blessed Sunday.
THE LITTLE BLACK DOG
by Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds
I wonder if Christ had a little black dog,
All curly and wooly like mine:
With two long silky ears and a nose, round and wet,
And two eyes, brown and tender, that shine.
I am sure, if He had, that that little black dog
Knew, right from the first, He was God;
That he needed no proof that Christ was divine,
And just worshipped the ground where he trod.
I'm afraid that He hadn't, because I have read
How he prayed in the garden, alone;
For all of His friends and disciples had fled
Even Peter, the one called a stone.
And, oh, I am sure that the little black dog,
With a heart so tender and warm,
Would never have left him to suffer alone,
But, creeping right under his arm,
Would have licked the dear fingers, in agony clasped,
And, counting all favors but loss,
When they took him away, would have trotted behind
And Followed Him quite to the Cross.
I found Gracie Girl hiding amongst a couple of other photos of Ricky! She is such a beautiful cat, and loves to have her picture taken!
We had such a good time last year at Leslie's Greenberry House in Meadows of Dan, VA, that I asked her if she was planning to have the event again this year. She agreed, and we are hoping that the weather will be great. My daughter, son, and myself were up on the mountain last Friday getting apples. (My daughter makes the absolute BEST applebutter!) The weather was quite warm yet, but it is always a treat to go to Fancy Gap, VA. I am looking forward to Saturday, September 18th!! Thanks, Leslie, hope to see you soon!
Hurricane Earl came and went in our neck of the woods without much notice. Living in northwest NC, all we got was a slight wind, not even a rain shower. Earl Grey, on the other hand, is a different story. He was born last September, date unknown, so this whole month is his birthday month!! He continues to be a "souped-up wildcat" and enjoys life to the fullest. He has always been a housecat ever since last November when we took him in, when he had an ear infection. He has been entertaining us ever since. He has never seen a stranger, unlike Shizuku, who runs when the doorbell rings! Our birthday wish for our Earl Grey is long life, good health, and much happiness.
Susuwatari is Japanese for Soot Sprite. Those are the little soot-ball-spirits in the film My Neighbor Totoro, by Hayao Miyazaki. I think this "kitteh" looks like my Boo Boo Kitty, who is entertaining the Lord now. She passed away three years ago tomorrow. Guess that means this is my 3 year blogaversary as well, as I had just begun this blog when we lost her so suddenly. Life goes on, eh?
On a happier note....I finished reading "State Fair" by Earlene Fowler in the wee hours of this morning. I love a good mystery, and this one is one of her best. I highly recommend it. I have all of this "quilt mystery" series in hardback books. I think I love my books every bit as much as I love fabric and yarn. This week I have found three drawers full of walmart quilt-of-the-month projects that I had bought the fabric for and put them away (and then forgot about). So far this week I have completed one top and have cut out a second. (And about a dozen left to go, ack!) Photos later. Have a blessed weekend!!
Awhile back, and please don't ask me how long ago, I made this quilt top as a quilt-a-long with the Quiltville yahoo group. A new "clue" is given each week or so & everyone uses their own fabric. Well...this quilt fought me all the way. It just wouldn't cooperate at all!! So I finished it, and made an ugly backing (I called it "clown fabric") and set the whole mess at the bottom of the pile to be quilted (someday). Last month I machine quilted an internet friend's quilt for her while she was in the States visiting family. You can see the quilt at the Taniwa blog, if you are interested. Anyway, it reminded me of my, now forgotten, monster. I got it out yesterday and decided to (despite the heat here) get-er-done. It still didn't want to cooperate, and the last two borders kept "growing" and the thread kept breaking, but I don't think it turned out too badly. Might even let it stay on my bed for awhile, as it does fit ya' know.
