Step into my sewing room

The grandkid's project is proceeding.

 Since this was taken all the machine stitching has been done, and now it needs to be stuffed.

Way back when I was a teenager a very very long time ago when life was just crawling out of the primeval ooze I bought a second-hand sewing machine, a pattern for a top and some fabric (it was called 'material' in those days), followed the instructions, cut out the fabric and made myself a top.  I was so thrilled with myself!  It was probably very imperfect, but it was an achievement that started me on a journey which is still continuing to this day.  In all that time I have made countless garments, quilts and other projects for myself and for other people, for friends and family.......and I don't think in that time I have ever come across instructions like those for the grandkid's project.  That is not a compliment, you know.

For the quilters among us, have you ever heard of "tossing the cat"?  It is an old quilting custom whereby a group of young women would take a newly finished quilt, place a poor unsuspecting cat on it, and toss the quilt in the air until puss decided that enough was more than enough, thank you, jumped off the quilt and ran away.  The woman who was closest to where the kitty landed as it took off for places unknown was supposed to be the next to be married.  Last year I found this plate in a junque shop and couldn't resist buying it - you can see poor Felix in the centre of the quilt.  It hangs on my sewing room wall.

One of my music books, Jean Ritchie's "Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians", has a photograph of the same custom!  I emailed her to ask about it and she replied that it was done in the 1940s when the photograph was taken, she was one of the women in the picture......and she married the photographer.  My friend Cathy Miller has even written a song called "Toss the cat".

I don't think throwing Bianca up in the air would impress her.

She is back to her usual self again, for which we are all relieved.  For a couple of days she was licking her front leg (it had to be shaved to take blood for testing) until it looked a bit raw, and we were concerned that she would need to go back to the vet  for more treatment and perhaps wear the Cone of Shame to stop her licking it, but it is healing very well now.

Today is not nice, the wind chill factor is taking the temperature down to low single figures.  Very low.  We even had a welcome shower at lunchtime and because of the wind, the rain was almost falling horizontally.  Up in the hills less than an hour south-east of here it has been snowing.  Did I mention that it's not a nice day at all?

"Results of good-breeding in the home circle.
The laws of good breeding in no place bear more gratifying results than in the home circle.  Here, tempered with love, and nurtured by all kindly impulses, they bear the choicest fruit.  A true lady will show as much courtesy, and observe the duties of politeness as unfailingly, toward every member of her family as toward her most distinguished guest.  A true gentleman will feel bound to exercise courtesy and kindness in his intercourse with those who depend upon him for protection and example.  Children influenced by such examples at home will never fail to show to their elders the respect due them, to their young companions the same consideration for their feelings which they expect to meet with in return, nor to servants that patience which even the best too often require.  In such a home peace and good-will are the household gods."

I hope you all show patience with your servants, because it seems that even the good ones need it.

Enjoy your days!