There's a reason I haven't updated my reading list in three days.

Bang Goes Another Illusion

 

captured, in a rare moment of repose...

Kittens are supposed to sleep 16-20 hours per day.  Clearly, we were issued a defective model.

Caturday!

 

Open To Suggestions

 

 So a foster kitten has been added to our happy home. Names suggested so far: Bouncer, George (of course), Michael Finnegan, and Eddie. I have been trying to find the Latin for "Destroyer of Sock Knitting" but  Google Translate has been singularly unhelpful. "Bearer of Dog Spit" isn't showing up, either.

Quote Of The Day

 

An' little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin' bugs in dew is all squenched away, --
You better mind yer parents, an' yer teachers fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' help the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns'll git you
    Ef you
        Don't
            Watch
                Out! 

James Whitcomb Riley

Grrrsday

 

A Modest Announcement

 Guess who has passed all his tests/prerequisites and is now a certified therapy dog?

EDITED TO ADD:  a real therapy dog (as opposed to one who has been kitted out with a $24.99 vest and certificate that the owner bought off the Internet) has to provide to one of the AKC-recognized national therapy dog associations, a signed veterinary health form, pass an obedience test that includes - in addition to heel, sit, stay etc -  someone zipping past him in a wheelchair and dropping a massive bunch of metal keys on the ground next to him to see if he will flinch, and undergo no fewer than 3 observed visits conducted by an evaluator who works for the national group.

The handler (moi) has to pass a background check and an oral exam.  The Little Man and I in addition took an 8-week course that is offered at the county kennel club by the local ATD-affiliated organization.  With this certification comes insurance as part of our annual membership fee.

There are currently in the United States no legal standards or qualifications that must be met by therapy dogs, so our clients prefer to deal with us because they know that we are the real deal.

Vintage Tatting - A Cigar Case from 1871

 

From the Ladies' Own Paper, June 24th, 1871.  And here are the instructions - evidently we are expected to figure out the tatting pattern by looking at the illustration.  Good luck!

Vintage Holidays - Hallowe'en

 

Copyright-free image from the Graphics Fairy

Caturday!

 

Quote Of The Day

 

Tonight the winds begin to rise
And roar from yonder dropping day
The last red leaf is whirl'd away
The rooks are blown about the skies. ~ Tennyson

Grrrsday

 

Vintage Knitting - Bedsocks from 1965

 

From Workbasket magazine, January, 1965, and just in time to combat cold clammy winter bedsheets.  Left-click to enlarge.

 It was still Workbasket and Home Arts at that time, and the entire issue is on the Internet Archive as a free download. For the crocheters, and just in time for Hallowe'en, there's a kitten potholder on page 11.

Holidays We Can Get Behind - National Chocolate Cupcake Day

 

image from thecupcakeproject.com

Today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day.  It is also - at least in Manitoba - National Health Care Aide Day.  Other states take note.

Buy your favorite health care aide a chocolate cupcake.  It's the least we can do.

Showing My Age

image from Pinterest

I was interviewed by the county 4H robotics club this morning.  I tried to offer an analogy of what my job as a logistics/transportation manager on a Red Cross disaster response entails and I used this as example.

Does anyone out there even do things like this any more?

Caturday!

 

Quote Of The Day

 

image from the Graphics fairy

 

Time's the king of men; he's both their parent, and he is their grave, and gives them what he will, not what they crave. ~ William Shakespeare

Grrrsday

 

Crafts For Christmas - A Kitten and Some Tatting

 

From Workbasket magazine, January 1957 - a kitten to crochet, and a tatted edge that would make a lovely bookmarker (one of two in this issue).  Lots of other projects including a stunning doily for those who can knit fast enough, in a free download from the Internet Archive. 

GENERATIONS OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS ARE ROLLING IN THEIR GRAVES DEP'T

It was pouring down rain when we got to the kennel club for class tonight and somebody refused to get out of the car because he didn't want to get wet.

Vintage Magazines - Columbus Day

 

Caturday!

 

Quote Of The Day

 

image from the Graphics Fairy

Through golden noons and purple eves, and shadows cool and tender
From scenes of tranquil happiness and dreams of deep delight
October like a princess in her oriental splendor
Comes down the valley singing with her retinue of light. ~ Katharine Brownlee Sherwood

Grrrsday

 

Crafts For Christmas - Gardening Apron from 1945

 

To get us all started on our Christmas presents, here's a gardening apron and kneeling pad (that doubles as a trug) from Workbasket magazine, March 1945... 

And the same issue has some two-color tatting (as well as instructions to make crocheted china dishes - thread crochet that you starch the heck out of).  The entire issue is on the Antique Pattern Library site as a free download.

Vintage Advertising - Haig Whiskey

 

From the Illustrated London News, Christmas Number, 1940 (a time when the average Englishman or woman could definitely have used a nice tot of whiskey).

Caturday!

 

Quote Of The Day

 

image from the Graphics Fairy

Listen...
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,

The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees

And fall. ~ Adelaide Crapsey