She's (or He's) Back -- the Mountain Lion, that is ...

She's back! Or maybe she was never gone ...

We just have a dusting of snow, and again, big kitty paw prints show up, surrounding our house. I wouldn't mind so much if the paw prints didn't circle our house -- it's like she is hunting for something in the house. I am thankful mountain lions can't open doors or windows.  I also know Neko is communicating with her. In the last couple of days, Neko has been running from window to window (and we practically live in a glass house), howling and stalking. He obviously sees something we don't.

It dawned on me today that I only notice the paw prints when there is snow on the ground. And it seems to be every time there is snow on the ground. Now part of me wants to think that the lion only comes around when it snows, but it more logical to think that she is there all the time, but we only notice her when it snows. Hmmm.

We have lived in Roxborough since 1986 and have been visited by mountain lions several times even though we have never actually seen one. Some of the neighbors have seen them and even taken pictures of them. Our first experience with a mountain lion is when one killed a deer in our driveway and dragged the carcass under our swing set. The boys were just pre-schoolers at the time (they are now 25 and 28), so we were a little more worried at the time than we are now. I called the wildlife department after we found the deer and asked what to do. They told me that as long as we had deer around, we don't need to worry about our children. I asked them if the mountain lions knew this as well; did they send a brochure to the mountain lions?  As long as everyone knows the rules, we should be fine, right?

Before you start thinking that we are crazy to live in an area with lions around, there are a few times that you need to remember:

First, lions are nocturnal so they hunt when we are asleep. I also understand that they are most active at dawn, and that's when I am making coffee. If they want to come in and have a cup, that is fine; other than that, they don't bother me.

Second, lions like deer. I am not a deer. I think I am safe.

Third, they don't like animals that fight back. They hunt deer and rabbits and such -- animals that run away. I don't run, but I would have no trouble socking a lion in the nose. No fear.

Fourth, I have Neko. Neko will take on anything. That's why he is not an outside cat.  We strongly believe in preserving our local wildlife and we do our part by keeping Neko out of their way.

DON'T MESS WITH ME!  --Neko

The truth is that I am not that worried about mountain lions in the neighborhood. Yes, we have to be aware of them and careful when outside, but that is one of the pleasures of living in the Colorado foothills.  We share our surroundings with coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, bears, and thousands of birds, including owls and eagles. It is worth it.

Wolf hat on Etsy

I added some new items to my Etsy shop. I put my hats in an artisan shop at the local mall, and my sales really didn't do very well. I sold lots of my catnip mice, but only sold a few hats. I have been giving many hats away, but I thought I would make one last try to sell some of them online. I have never had any luck before, but there is always a first time.

This is my wolf hat. I love wolves almost as must as I love cats. It is actually a little too small for me to wear, so I will have to make another to fit my big head.

If you want to see more of hats, just visit the shop using the link below. http://www.etsy.com/shop/kniceknitties

One of a Kind Hat

My son Dane graduated from the University of Colorado (go Buffs!) a couple of years ago, but he still loves his CU hat. I designed and knitted this hat for him to wear when he traveled with the CU Marching Band to all those football games in distant states such as Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas.

However, don't ask me for the pattern. Although I can make it and give to my son, copyright laws would prevent me from creating a pattern and promoting it any way.

That is fine with Dane. He likes having a hat everyone at CU wanted to have and he was the only one who did.

Ashley's Lacy Scarf

 My niece Ashley wanted a lacy delicate scarf in purple, so being the cool aunt that I am, I pulled out my knitting needles and designed this one. It is make with Cascade Alpaca lace in a beautiful color. If you look really closely at the yarn, it is variegated blue and pink. However, it makes this lovely lavender and seems to shimmer in different lights.  The only thing that I don't like about Cascade Alpaca Lace is that it is so delicate that it breaks easily.

Thank goodness I have nieces because I love knitting lace. Never could talk my husband or sons into lace.

I have never been big on blocking, but for some reason, I love blocking lace. It is so stretchy and pliable. I made the points on the ends very prominent for more effect. I may have to make one of these for me as well.

I posted this pattern for sale on Craftsy patterns, but if you really want it, leave a comment and I'll get you a copy. http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/knitting/accessory/ashleys-lacy-scarf/41087?fresh=true

How Dumb Does He Think We Are?

Every morning Neko plays a game on Ken and me. No matter which one of us gets up first, he meows, cuddles up against the leg, and basically looks cute and adorable. With all our defenses down, we head to the pantry to fill his food dish.

Then the other of us gets up and he pulls the same trick. At first, we thought he was just a Hobbit trying to get Second Breakfast, but after 9 years of this behavior, it dawned on me: He really thinks we are that dumb! Doesn't he know Ken and I talk to each other? Instead of "Good morning" as our sunrise greeting, our first words to each other is always "Did you feed Neko?" The answer is always "Yes."

Yet there are those two yellow eyes staring at me, pleading for his food dish to be filled again. His fur is so soft, his tail is so straight, and his gravelly meow is so sweet that you can't help melt and grab the Ocean Whitefish or Tuna Treasure flavored cat food can and spoon out another morsel or two. And maybe this time, he will appreciate me, or thank me, or maybe just not be so distant to me.

Fat chance. Maybe we really are that dumb. Maybe he really is a Hobbit.

Gotta go. Time to feed the cat.
.

Merry Christmas

Here is wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season filled with love and stitches!

Today ...

My heart is breaking for the victims of the shootings in Connecticut. Words cannot express my sorrow. Colorado has had our share of sorrows. We lived through the Columbine shooting when my son was in high school. He went to a different high school, but some of the youth group in our church attended Columbine. My son said that they used to talk about friends, dating, parents, school classes, and their future before the shooting, and afterward, they talked about friends who died. I grieve for the children, their families, and for our country.

And Now the Fingerless Gloves

I wrote about my piano gloves on this blog
back in October 2011.

I found this ruffle in one of my
books on edgings. I like it
on these gloves, but not good
for a sweater.

 I just wrote about not liking to knit gloves, and I have had a few requests to post pictures of the fingerless gloves that I do like to knit. I have made several pairs and I sell them at that Renaissance Fair in the summer and a holiday artisan store in the winter.

I don't always feel obligated
to put thumbs in

Fingerless gloves are a great way to try out patterns without having to make a sweater or even a scarf.  I have tried several different lace patterns, slip stitch methods, and even fancy cables. I always use double-point needles because that's how I learned to make socks and like them. I know lots of people like the Magic Loop method, but this works well for me.

I love knitting socks as well, but I realize that if I had to separately knit each toe, I wouldn't like doing socks any more than I like knitting gloves.

Does this pattern look familiar?
If you follow the book/movie
series Twilight,
you will notice it is the
cover of the book.
Very popular
design.

This is a slip-stitch herringbone
pattern. Not only fun to do, but the slip stitching
makes it double layered and warmer.

Lace. How can you ever go wrong with lace?

Gloves - ugh

I decided I don't like to knit gloves. I like knitting fingerless gloves, but not regular gloves. Obviously, that must mean that I don't like knitting the fingers.    It isn't just knitting a few stitches on double pointed needles, it is also having to weave in the beginning and end of ten fingers.

I like the results, but I couldn't wait to finish this project. The yarn is a sock yarn that I have had a long time and I don't remember where I got it. Also, the gloves don't fit quite right. There is more material on the web between the thumb and palm on glove than the other. I am ready to go back to knitting hats and shawls. I don't want to work with fit right now. Besides, I have several scarves that I need to finish before Christmas.  Scarves always fit.

Back to the needles.

Foothills Living

Living in the foothills of the Rockies has its advantages, such as the beautiful views and ever-present wildlife, but every few days we have to traipse into town to run errands. We try to combine as many as possible, which always means that Ken needs to stop by one of the homer stores and shop. I enjoy hardware store about as much as he enjoys doing through a Cold Water Creek store. We are about to solve this huge divide of interests by visiting a shopping center in Highlands Ranch that has both a Home Depot and a Tattered Cover book store. Thank goodness for cell phones. He drops me off and I can wander around or sit down and knit, waiting for him to pick up some plumbing pipe for his solar panel invention, or some piece of lumber that he needs to shore up some joint. He calls me when he is done and I don't have to look at paint samples to pass the time.

My idea of heaven is a yarn and book store combination with a really good brand of coffee. The Tattered Cover is about as close as to heaven on earth that there can be even if I need to bring my own yarn. First, I head to the magazine section to see the most current knitting magazines. I have a rule that I don't buy a magazine unless there are at least three projects in the magazine that I would definitely make. I don't buy a book unless there are at least five projects that I would make. Additionally, if my local library carried the book or magazine, I take it home first to see if I am still in love with the contents before investing in it.

It's a dumb rule.