10/22/13

Smitty's Bad Day

Today was Smitty's turn to go to the vet. You would have thought someone was killing him. He has a distress meow that sounds something like a dog howling. A "mehowl", if you will. He mehowled in the car all the way to the vet. When I took him out of his kennel he continued mehowling and trembling like a leaf.


Then they gave him two shots, which made him mehowl even more. How rude! Fortunately, he was given a clean bill of health. He continued to mehowl all the way home until I let him out of the kennel. Then, he walked away, still mehowling, his feelings obviously terribly hurt by the whole experience.

I decided it was a good time to try out this new recipe for Blueberry Oat Scones. I was thinking a good scone would make him feel better; but then I remembered, cats don't like scones. Shoot! Oh well. Guess we'll have to eat them.


These were quick enough to mix up that you could easily put them together for breakfast if you were in a scone mood. They have just 1/3 cup of brown sugar to the whole mix, and so their sweetness comes from the fresh/frozen blueberries. They also have a full cup of oatmeal in them, and so they're relatively healthy...unless you're eating gluten free. Thankfully, I am not.

So then I farted around most of the afternoon. I think I was avoiding going into my sewing room to continue on with quilting the White Trees quilt. I've worked on it almost nonstop for the past two days, and I'm getting tired of it. Still, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. The blocks are all quilted now. It'll be very hard to see what I've done, but I've messed with the contrast in these next images, hoping you'll be able to see the white thread against the white fabric.


I quilted snowflakes into all the open areas...


Birch tree bark onto the trees...


and collecting snow where the tree branches are. I simply outlined the birds.


I did my little bird feet in the red border. The gray border has given me more trouble. I tried doing a symmetrical design, and that didn't turn out at all. So then, I took a cue from Leah Day and tried her Tree Bark motif. I was starting with the lines I'd originally sewn, and so mine doesn't look exactly like hers. I was just trying to approximate it, figuring it works with the tree blocks. 


It isn't perfect, but I wasn't going to rip the whole thing out either. I might decide to add some pebbling between some of the lines, or maybe in the "eyes". It will just have to be good enough. I think when it's all finished and the quilt is seen as a whole, it will be fine. I still have three sides of the gray border to finish and then the outer white border. I'm going to quilt swirls in the outer white border.

So that's about it for my sewing day. I'm hoping to finish the gray border tomorrow, but I have to go to PT too, and that always takes a big bite out of my time. My knee is improving quite a bit, however, and so I feel more inclined to go. I still have no improvement in my range of motion, but I can at least walk without limping. I'm not sure what they're going to do about the range of motion problem. My fear is that the tear in my meniscus is what's causing it, and that may mean I can't avoid surgery. All I can do is keep going and wait and see.

Now I need to go tend to my dinner that I've been neglecting to write this post. I hope your Tuesday was fun and productive.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh dear poor Smitty, although it does sound like he may have been over reacting just a tiny little bit...

Your quilt is looking great, I love the quilting in the grey borders, I don't think it needs pebbling added. I have had that pattern printed ready to go for about 12 months now but still haven't chosen the fabric LOL!

sophie said...

I love the bird tracks quilting design ... I might HAVE to use that one soon.

Curiously, last night my tabby boy also me-howled. I've never heard him do that before ... he sounded absolutely DOG-like. When I went to find him to see what was wrong, his back was up and his tail was fluffed out as big as I have ever seen it. He was soon back at the sliding door in the studio, scratching at the glass in order to convey some threatening message to whatever creature outside had inspired his behavior. I don't know why, but lately he has been extra-dilligent in surveilling the yard from the window or from the roof deck.

Diane Wild said...

The tree quilt is looking great. But, I totally get it. You have to walk away from a project like that sometimes. Then you'll be re-inspired. Hugs to Smitty.

sunny said...

Did you explain to Smitty that this was all for his own good? And that it hurt you more than it hurt him?? Poor little guy. When I'm finished with my tree quilt, you'll be a pro and want to quilt mine, too. Right? LOL!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Poor Smitty - luckily my vet is less than a mile up the road from me, so by the time the first me-owl comes out, we are there. Moe is an excape artist and must ride on the passanger seat so I know where he is at all times. (at the vet - free range to him). Your trees quilt is coming along beautifully - you're too hard on yourself.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Smitty is going to be man for a long time. Poor Kitty.

Your quilting is fantastic.

Betty said...

Bless little Smitty's heart. That had to be so scary! A few extra treats should make everything OK.
It is almost time for my 3 boys to make their trip to the vet. They cry all the way in the car but don't make too much fuss while we are there. Thankfully it is a short drive!

WoolenSails said...

Poor Smitty, but I am sure he will get over it, lol.
That is a lot of stitching, sometimes a break helps.
Those scones look good, wondering how they would be with apples.

Debbie

Kirsty said...

Oh Smitty, life is harsh! Zorro and Lil' Fluff got mail today from their vet saying it is time for their annual shots. I am waiting for them to wake up from their afternoon nap to tell them. Or, I may just make the appointment for next week and surprise them...with their cat cages open and waiting. Yes, I think that might be the best option. Love the quilt progress. Just beautiful. Well done!

Quilting Babcia said...

Give poor Smitty an extra cuddle tonight for me! I know just how he felt - went in today for the yearly big squeeze - well, in my case little squeeze is more like it, lol! Birch trees are looking good.

Sher S. said...

Oh poor Smitty :( I can hear him doing his meowwww! One of my dd's cats had a meow similar to that, you would think he was dying. It just tore your heart out. Maybe he needs an extra treat or two or three? Definitely some cuddle time.
Your tree quilt is turning out beautifully. It is really great to see how you are quilting it.

Brown Family said...

Sweet Smitty! We understand your pain! Angel yowls all the way to the vet and all the way home. Iv my husband drives and i hold her carrier on my lap and lit her stick her head out, it makes all the difference. She just wants to see where she is going!

ipatchandquilt said...

Cats are curious creatures! Mine is for sure ;-)
Congratulations on all of that pretty FMQ on the tree quilt. It is an inspiration!!!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com
ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

gpc said...

Such a brave kitty. I have a friend whose key phrase is 'I long for a day that is not today,' and it sounds like that might have been Smitty's mantra. Your quilt is beautiful, I love the bird tracks and snowflakes and the overall look is lovely.

Lyndsey said...

I love the quilting on the tree quilt. It is looks fabulous. Poor Smitty, such a hard done to kitty. Never mind you're fit and well so shouldn't need to see the vet for a while - hopefully not until next years check up

JLVerde said...

What is it about large and in charge male tabby cats that make them so vocal like that?

My dearly departed Cecil used to make "chewbaca noises" when he was bathed that would reduce my husband to tears. Cecil also howled in the car and was so crazy at the vet they had to wear big leather gloves to hold him down.

Dar said...

Poor Smitty. The vet should have given him a kitty treat after his shots. Then each time he equates the vet visit it would be a welcomed visit. Your white trees are looking really good. I like what you did with the grey border. Original and realistic too.

kc said...

Oh, poor dear Smitty...I hope he's all over it by now. Just gotta keep telling yourself (and HIMself) that it's all for his protection and benefit...

Your quilting motifs are absolutely PURRRRFECT! I look at a quilt (any quilt) block and all I can see are lines, straight lines to quilt. So you're really quite an inspiration to me!

Lifting a virtual glass of wine to toast your PT success!

Anonymous said...

The quilting is looking great! I think Leah Day would approve of your modification to avoid ripping!

quiltzyx said...

Oh Smitty, you silly boy! zzyzx used to do her "siamese" yowl in the car, to & from the vet. But, if I stuck one of my fingers into the carrier, & she could touch me, she would be quiet. Once I had to leave her overnight, and I guess she yelled all day & night & day long until I picked her up. Boy was she hoarse when I picked her up!!

I really like the way you quilted the trees & in the red border! But I can see why you needed a break from it. It will be so wonderful when you're finished!!

Judy said...

Poor Smitty........he needs a BIG hug and kiss!!

Tami C said...

So sorry that Smitty really didn't enjoy the trip to the vet at all. Both of our cats cry all the way to the vets and home again. They don't seem to mind being there at all and do pretty well with their shots. I would have thought that Smitty would be okay with the trip there & back since he likes going in the camper. Your scones look really yummy. I really like how your White Trees quilt is coming along. The little bird feet are so cute. I like the quilting in the gray border too. It's going to be beautiful when you finish!

c said...

Lovebug was terribly hurt Meomommy!
He deserves a treat, or he can come down here and live in my Scraphaus, to twirl and watch birds and snuggle in my stash. LOL

Kate said...

Poor Smitty! Has he forgiven you yet?

Love how the quilting is turning out on the White Trees quilt. I had thought about the name. Maybe "Snow Flake Forest"?

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Poor baby-cat; making him do all that nasty stuff with those strange people in that place that smells so ... weird to his little kitty nose buds. Good that he's done for the year.

Your white trees quilt is coming out amazingly well, Barbara, your fmq improves a lot with each new project-I love this one.

Michele said...

I so remember what that mehowl sounds like. I'm sure he is fully recovered by now. The trees quilt is looking great.