Fat Cats Corner

View from Pisgah Inn , Blue Ridge Mountains

I don't often think about all the people and things in my life that I'm Thankful for.  I wander through my days until something smacks me in the face.   Two months ago Hurricane Maria smacked Puerto Rico in the face and it got me thinking.  My husband has co-workers that live there.  They are still with out power.  Many people are without homes and jobs.  This co-worker joked that he really missed toilet paper!  So I'm trying to open my eyes and be Thankful every day for the little things like toilet paper. Like the way the afternoon sun lights up the Hickory in the yard. Like a warm house, a man who can put up with me, electricity and shoes. Family and Friends I know I can count on anytime of the day or night. Laura Ingalls Wilder said.... "As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful." ~ Laura Ingalis Wilde Be T

Two years ago I saw this beautiful shawl pattern (Miya Shawl by Mari Chiba) on display in the Bijou Basin booth at SAFF and I just had to have it.  And a hank of Bijou Basin 100% Goat Cashmere (Xanadu)  to knit it in!    I had never done lace knitting like this before and was therefore completely intimidated by it and put it on the shelf to await my better knitting skills.  Yea right.  This from the woman who requires a lifeline in her Garter Stitch because she has the attention span of a gnat. Well last week I decided to Hell with my fears (and lack of knitting skills) and to just go for it.  How difficult could it be?  Let me tell you.  Cast on 31 stitches, knit 3 rows of pattern = wrong ending stitch count. Frog. Begin again.  Turn off TV.  CO 31 st.  Manage to get through first 12 row repeat, YEA!  Put in Lifeline.  Knit 2nd repeat.  Correct stitch count! YEA! Move lifeline. 3rd pattern repeat... 4 stitches short. F%$&*!!!!!!  I think I'll let it sit in time out a

Mist on Lake Keowee

Table Rock

Crochet is always faster than knitting for me.  I guess 40 years of experience will do that for you ;-0   Feather and Fan Baby Blanket by Alexis Middleton I used Red Heart Soft Baby Steps for this blanket.   I always use acrylic for baby items.    Acrylic these days is  way softer than it was when I first started crocheting back in the stone-age '70's.  And what new mother has time to hand wash a blanket or the room to it lay flat and wait for it to dry????   Free pattern can be found   here . Whipped up Dakotah's Fabulous Scarf by Kathy Lashley  at ELK Studio Handcrafted Crochet Designs in a couple hours.  Don't let the 'crochet through the 3rd loop' scare you off.  Super easy!  So quick and easy I made two!  Again I used acrylic for wash-ability.  Above is Red Heart Unforgettable in Dragonfly colorway, below is same yarn in Echo colorway. This is a free pattern as well. And because I'm fancy and all, I purchased these lovely label