Thursday, March 3, 2011

Use it or Loose it!

March 1st, Pippa went to the vet to be spayed and have her nails trimmed.  NO! Not de-clawed because that deforms their paws (they cut back to the first knuckle).  Personally, I think that is cruel.  The assistant did a good trim job, really short and they no longer snag in the silk duvet or ME!  But it played havoc with her ability to scamper up her cat tree!  She’s pretty intelligent, since her tummy hurts, she goes to the bottom level, looks at DH and goes “MeeeeeYOWWWWWW”; and, being a well-trained parent he gets up and lifts her to the top.  And yes, this is repeated when she wants down!  Priceless.  She always licks his hand when he sets her on the top perch.

I decided to do my March bookmark for the Forum; and, chose Jane Eborall’s Butterfly Bookmark with beads. I haven’t worked with any beads for at least six months.  And. . .well, I forgot how to add beads to a picot.  “Use it or Loose it”.  Have you noticed that if you don’t use a technique for quite a while, it is similar to re learning the technique?  It isn’t just like learning it ~ but close enough.  The doubt is there, the indecision.  Tippy-toeing into the next double stitch.  I’m using a lavender-blue (I’ll give the color when I finish and put it on the blog) thread with Diane C’s beautiful shuttle she sent and a larger one to be my “ball” shuttle.  It is a 2-shuttle pattern.  I haven’t decided about the smaller butterfly on the opposite end...but I’ll probably add that, also.  It is a time thing.

We now know tentatively from the Doctor that the great grand baby, due to arrive in June, is a girl.  No pictures as yet; but, the doctor said she wasn’t a “turtle”. A turtle is her idiom for a boy;  evidently, the baby had the wrong ‘equipment’.  A girl will be named Zella (after my Mom ~ 1914 to 1991).  A Boy will be Daniel (from the Bible).  That is about as far a part for the personality of names one could get!  LOL  My Mom was a mixture of titian-haired Rita Hayworth and Imelda Marcos. (if you know the first name, you are mature; if you know the second name, you are . . a boomer)  A good Biblical name that would embody my Mom would be Delilah!  LOL  Exotic and lovely, but very practical, talented and very assertive.  Very!  She had wanted to learn to speak French (some of her ancestry) and be a lawyer.  Of course her families economic status (and 9 children) precluded higher education; and, she married at 19.  If she’d been on the scene in the 80’s, she’d have been a lawyer!  LOL  She also wanted to sing and dance on the stage at Chautauqua.  I could write a book.  Auntie Mame had nothing on Mamma.  If the girl inherited any of her traits ~ Look out world!

Well, back to the butterfly. Let’s see how far have I gotten.  Oh!  I just did the practice piece for review at the top of Jane’s tutorial and here it is!

This is the first step of the pattern with practice  thread I had wound on shuttles.  When ever I do a pattern and get stuck, I go to one of Jane’s tutorials.  Reminds me of a song, “A little help from my friend(s)”
By next post I may have a butterfly!

7 comments:

Maureen said...

So you will have a "pink" baby joining your household! That's fun, and I think it's lovely to call her after your mother, she sounds as though she was a very strong character.
My "pink" granddaughter has extended her single-mindedness about the colour to books, and will not look at one, or even agree to having it read to her, if it doesn't have a pink cover. I find this a little worrying,and can only hope she will have passed the phase by the time she is 3! I took the twins to the library the other day and Emily spotted the revolving stand of Mills and Boon PINK books and was in heaven - so I took one out and read her the story of The Three Pigs from it - I like to think that ALL books are magical, and can transport us to anywhere we would like to be!

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

Your post made me chuckle! I love the name Zella... never heard it before. June is a great month... two grandchildren, two daughters, one son-in-law, and me! I'm sure that baby girl will choose a great day to make her appearance!

Gina said...

I seldom tat clunies but at one time I got pretty good at them. Now...I have to look it up every time and practice before I do the real thing. Or substitute a ring. If I could tat a cluny like Elise, I would make them all the time, but I don't think I ever will.

Miranda said...

If this is a bookmark for the month, today is only the 4th! You'll get it done.

I've learned to trim Squijum's claws when he is sleeping. If I take my time, he barely notices what I'm doing. It doesn't seem to affect too much his ability to climb, either, so I'm sure Pippa's climbing ability will return once her incision heals.

Crazy Mom! said...

I love seeing Pippa - she is so darling!

Your mom sounds like she ws quite a character & a fun person.

Fox said...

Poor Pippa! But she will be right as rain in a few days.

Congrats! Very exciting times coming up for you! Great name.
♥ Fox : )

Marilee Rockley said...

Congratulations for the great grand baby on the way! Your mom sounds like she was very smart, talented and energetic.

Jane's tutorials are so nice and clear. Good luck with the beaded butterfly!