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Monthly Archives: December 2008

Catnip Mouse: Knit

I am going to make a few of these for my kitty to put in her stocking.

Lion Brand® Fun Fur

GAUGE:

24 stitches x 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

MOUSE
Make 2 — one in pink and one in grey
Cast on 20 stitches.
Work 20 rows in Garter stitch (all knit). The piece will be square.
Bind off all stitches. Leave a trailing end of about 4 inches of yarn when cutting the extra yarn.

Fold square in half and stitch as shown

Tie the yarn 'tail' onto the trailing end of the yarn. Knot it well — your cat will be pulling on it and the knot needs to be strong!

Please note that this toy is designed for you and your kitty to enjoy together. If you plan to allow your cat to play with this toy unsupervised, you should leave the tail off so you can be sure that it does not get eaten. Yarn is not good for a cat's tummy!

Turn the fabric and open it — it will be a cone. Put the catnip into it and pack it down.

Fold down the flap at the top of the cone, tucking the ends of the yarn inside the mouse and leaving the tail hanging out. Sew the open edges closed.
To put eyes on the mouse, pull the crochet hook all the way through the mouse's 'head' and use it to pull the black and white yarn through together. Tie it off securely on one end (use several knots). Pull it tight and tie off on the other end (use several knots). Trim closely.

If you plan to allow your cat to play with this toy unsupervised, you should probably omit this detail, lest the yarn for the eye get ripped out and eaten without your knowledge.

For extra fun, tie a tuft of fun fur at the end of the mouse's tail.

This item was rigorously tested by our expert!

Ouch

Did you know that Plantar Fasciitis is also known as the "flip flop disease"? I never knew this.  I am surprised this hasn't happened to me, as I wear my flip flops all summer long, and for as long as I can until the snow flies.  I do wonder tho if I may have it as it really hurts when I first get up in the morning when I take the first step.   Some mornings it brings tears to my eyes.  I should go have it checked out, but I just don't want to go see the doctor.  

Cookie tips

I saw this on my Christian parenting board and wanted to share it here as well. Great tips!

If you have a cookie recipe that you love, but aren’t getting the desired results, use these tips to get your perfect cookie:

Flat If you want your cookies on the flat side, you can do some or all of the following things: Use all butter, use all-purpose flour or bread flour, increase the sugar content slightly, add a bit of liquid to your dough, and bring the dough to room temperature before baking.

Puffy For light, puffy cookies, use shortening or margarine and cut back on the amount of fat; add an egg, cut back on the sugar, use cake flour or pastry flour, use baking powder instead of baking soda and refrigerate your dough before baking.

Chewy Try melting the butter before adding it to the sugars when mixing. Remove cookies from the oven a few minutes before they are done, while their centers are still soft but are just cooked through. The edges should be golden. Use brown sugar, honey or molasses as a sweetener. Let cookies cool on the pan for several minutes after baking before transferring to cooling rack.

Crispy For crisp, crunchy cookies, use all butter and a proportion of white sugar. Use egg yolks in place of a whole egg. Cookies should be baked completely. Let cool on the baking sheet for one minute before transferring to a cooling rack.

Shopping

Hubby has been asking what he can get me for Christmas. I really want a new camera lens, so I am thinking that is what he will end up getting me. If I even suggested a sexy corsets he would laugh and say no way! This is one area he will not go to shop for me.  He is so funny when we are walking around the mall, if I even suggest we go into Victoria Secrets, he gets all red in the face.  Men!  So if I want something like this then I have to go shop for it myself.