Mosaic Monday

Here is another "potter person".....this guy was one of my favorites.

I named him Mr. Fu.

peace in the house

Over the course of a few years, our sweet Leo


has turned into a tyrant

When we adopted him, we really had NO IDEA what we were getting into. I'd had several cats throughout the years but they were mainly outdoor cats and barn kitties.

Between furniture shredding, closet and other stuff spraying, dog pouncing (in their sleep of course) and Suki bombarding, he has shown us the really bad side of cat ownership.
Throw in an unhealthy dose of "being high strung" and you get the picture that Leo is one neurotic cat.

He's been on meds and Feliway...you name it....and quite frankly, I was sick of it. Leo had worn out his welcome. I decided to give him up for that and another more serious reason...the dogs.

Ginger who used to lovingly clean him and play with him now wants to kill him. Once her attitude toward him changed Mojo picked up on it. They would growl at him and charge him. I knew it was just a matter of time before they teamed up and took him out. The thought of coming home to shredded cat wasn't very appealing.

Before that could happen, I decided to put Leo outside part of the day. I put his old collar back on and basically tossed him out. He had been out with us before lots of times...but never on his own.

I called the shelter I got him from and since they've known what has been going on, they said to do it. They didn't think anyone would want to adopt a high strung, mean tempered cat who only had eyes for yours truly. (he'd even started hissing at Dean and the kids...not good....not good at all.)

The good news is that "King kiss my butt" Leo has turned back into "I'm so glad to see everyone" Leo.

Now he goes in and out of the house with the dogs throughout the day....which totally cracks me up. Most of the time he stays outside...sometimes until 11 PM. He doesn't even mind the rain.

He loves to lie in the sun on the patio..



but when it gets too hot or starts to rain he gets up under the baker's rack...way at the bottom, there is even a tiny dish under there with water in it...for the toads....
I wonder if he drinks out of it?




All our poor lizards have half tails right now...should have warned the poor beasties...a few have become kitty chow...
here he is stalking one now...



Leo hasn't left the backyard yet. He hasn't jumped the fence but I know he might one day. He has been out for three months now and so far, he's been content to stay put.

He walks the fence line and then finds a sunny spot to relax...and watch the squirrels...he almost caught one the other day....he is getting pretty quick.


sometimes he plays with the willow branches when it is windy....he looks like a kitten when he does that.



When he comes in, he greets everyone lovingly...then he'll eat and promptly go to sleep.


All the other fur babies are happier too. Ginger and Mojo greet him now instead of growling at him.....whatever bad vibes he was giving off are gone.....so far...

I hope for good.....

peace is good.

Must be love

So who do I see hanging with my gnomie the other day? None other than Suki....again....


no doubt she's in love......remember this post from February? Glad they found each other.....


but WAIT!

Seems like little Suki snuggles up to other men in the household...


and Dean? He doesn't even LIKE cats (not really...)

Ironcraft #30 "Hot"

For this week's ironcraft challenge I made a sarong to match an existing bathing suit.

I had already purchased some material that matched (back in MAY) but it sat on my sewing table while I did other things.

Thanks to this challenge, I got busy and crocheted a trim and made the sarong....which matched the bathing suit quite well.




Then I got carried away because the sarong turned out so well...so I made a top.
It isn't complete though....not enough time.
I have to add ties which will improve the look under the bust line....the edges stick out in the photo.


close up of the crocheted trim I made.


no more over sized t shirts for me :-)

fairy bells....

Do you hear the bells?



They're overgrown now but the fairies can hear them...


and they come out to play...

if you are quiet you can watch them here...


they love to play hide and seek in the deep recesses of the vines...



they explore secret hideaways...




and snoop around their neighbor's house when no one is home...



sometimes, they fly across the yard to play in Guido's hair...


or tease the gnomes that live nearby...




and when they grow tired of playing, they go home to rest...its not very far.


but when they hear the bells tomorrow morning, they'll be back...

come back with them on Monday...I'm hosting a giveaway perfect for fairy lovers of all ages......

getting older

Mojo isn't as tough as he used to be.
Thunderstorms scare him now.
They never did before.
I think its because his eyes are getting a bit cloudy. The vet said he doesn't have cataracts so not to panic...yet.

The thunder was really loud last week so here he is under the computer desk, hanging out while he waits for me to finish typing.

Being a herding dog, he is very independent...but now he shadows me like a puppy.

I adore the affection but it breaks my heart because I know the reason behind it is insecurity.
I much prefer seeing him play...dragging his blanket behind him.



We really missed the boat on his name...should have been Linus!

Ironcraft # 29

This week's ironcraft challenge was to make something using buttons.

I went through my buttons and when I saw this little triangular shaped one, I knew I was going to make an owl.
It didn't take long. I just crocheted the background and then added the features using vintage buttons.

I wired the little owl to the twig (after baking it a bit to kill any wee critters....) and then added the flower and leaves. I finished it with a sprinkling of white glitter to give it a bit of sparkle.



After making the owl, I decided to try making a button fairy. I had wanted to make a water sprite to fit this month's YOE theme.


I found a lovely zeigfeld girl for the torso and went from there, then wired the buttons so they would hold their curve...
Here is my inspiration for the fins. I used wine bottle foil for them...and some glitter. I originally had them curled but decided I liked them better wavy.