Distracted Stash Report

Things have been a little off kilter here (even more than usual) since bringing home a whirling dervish.  But what a little cutie.

We've been laughing at his antics ever since setting paws inside the door to the house.  He loves to run and can get up quite a head of steam running from one end of the house to the other.  He starts in the dining room and has a clear shot through the kitchen and into the laundry room.  He goes so fast that he can't get stopped, and then slides into the wall with a loud thunk.  Then he picks himself up, shakes his head, and runs back the other direction, ending with the same loud thunk.  The house is littered with cat toys, paper sacks, and catnip mice . . . anything to keep little busy britches occupied.  

No cat comes into this household unless they are prepared to wear an alter ego of some kind.  Of course, George was Captain Cat-tastic.  He was also, at various times and depending on his mood, Jorge (pronounced Hore-Hay), the Latin lover.  Sometimes he was Yorge (pronounced Yore-gay), famous Russian spy.  Often, he was Georges (pronounced with a soft G . . . like Zjorzje . . . the way the French say it), famous French chef and cat about town.

Like George, Smitty is learning who is alter ego will be.  He has tried on Mr. Smithers, helpful doorman and assistant, as well as J. Smithington Cat, furreign policy advisor to Mitt Romney.  Given Mr. Romney's unfortunate trip to London, that one isn't working out so well.  Oh well.  J. Smithington could probably find another line of work.  We're thinking about it.  Like Smitty, it is a work in progress.

Gracie is lightening up a little.  As a few of you already know, she actually spent several hours in the same room with him last night, and she has even walked on the same floor!  It only burned her paws a little bit.

We've been letting her know that she is and always will be the Queen Bee.  I've reminded her that when she came to live with us, Krissy was the Queen Bee, and she (Gracie) was the intruder.  She's had to ascend to the Queen Bee position over time, and once there, enjoys a lifetime appointment.  She will inhabit a special "no bother" zone and she needn't worry that Smitty's furs will ever touch hers. . . . unless she allows it, of course.  On the other hand, she can't walk around hissing and spitting all the time.  Such behavior is considered rude.  Everyone has to make allowances so that we can all live in harmony.  She's doing her best to be flexible, but it gives her an acid stomach and a sour disposition much of the time.

So beyond Catdom, a few other things have been going on.  Yesterday, I took Smitty out into the yard for a little walk around.  We noticed that one of the dahlias has almost opened.  I'll be showing you a picture of that soon.  We also noticed these interesting petunias.  I love this variegated variety:

Most of the blossoms have the white extending all the way to the edge of the petal.  But then there are a few outliers, like this next one that has the purple coming out to the edge of the petal.  Interesting, huh?

We didn't spend much time outside.  Smitty actually napped for a good portion of the day yesterday, which was absolutely amazing, given how active he's been since we brought him home.  I think we finally ran the wheels off of him.  

In any case, it gave me a chance to do a little more work on this White Birches quilt.  I'm thinking about calling this quilt "Snowy Evening" in honor of Robert Frost's poem, Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening.  Yesterday, I made the first two of twelve tree blocks.

I believe I bought this white fabric as a remnant, and after sewing one of these together, I was disappointed to discover a cut in the fabric that left about a half-inch-sized hole.  (Sigh.)  The quilt also has some red bird appliques on it, and I'll probably just applique one of the birds over the hole.  It will be fine.  It is annoying, however, to find imperfections in fabric when the sewing has already been done.

This is my July NewFO quilt.  How are you doing with your NewFO projects?  The linky party is Tuesday.  Don't forget!  I'll be on my way to California, but the linky party will be here during my absence.  Everyone who links up will be eligible to win this month's quilt pin.

Also, I've been working on hand sewing the binding onto the Home is Where the Heart is quilt.  I love the way a freshly sewn binding looks, and I can't resist turning it to the other side to look as I go along.  I like the way the striped binding is blending in.  I used the striped fabric for the back of another quilt, but I think it was perfect as binding on this quilt.  I love a happy accident like that.

And how I ever sewed a binding on without my little helper is beyond my comprehension.

Well, did you forget why I started this post?  I was going to give you my stash report, which is by far the most interesting part of the whole narrative.  Am I right about that?  Come on, you know you're dying to see how much fabric I used this week.  Well, since I cut out a whole quilt, I get to count a lot of fabric.


Fabric Used:  5 1/4 yards
Fabric Used in 2012: 109 3/4 yards

Fabric Purchased:  None
Total Fabric Purchased in 2012:  77 3/4 yards

Net Used in 2012:  32 yards