7/30/19

Cactivity

There was a lot of cat activity yesterday...or cactivity, if you prefer Smitty's name for it. He often lies in the window while I write my blog posts offering up translations of Catonese when necessary.


Downstairs, Sadie helped me sew the binding on my mystery project.


It's small, and so it didn't take very long. For now, I can only show you the back. I'll try to remember to post a picture on Instagram, and you can see it there if you just can't wait any longer. Oh, and actually, I can post this one on Facebook. Send me a friend request if you like. You'll need to go to my personal page...Barbara Stanbro.


Small or not, Sadie was completely exhausted by that effort and so she needed a good long nap afterward.


So while Sadie napped, I stitched on the October heart. Just the words around the outside are left now...oh yes, and the running stitch around things. I might finish it this morning...for sure, I'll finish it by tomorrow morning.


After that, I made the Tomatillo Apple Salsa. My yield was 8 half pints, and a little bonus I added to a jar already opened in the refrigerator. This is a great recipe. It's easy to make, and the whole process from start to finish took about an hour and a half. I used to make a chunky tomatillo salsa verde, but it seemed no matter how long I cooked the tomatillos down, the salsa still ended up watery. I think the natural pectin in the apples helps to thicken the salsa so that the consistency is just right with only 15 minutes of cooking. This is my go-to salsa verde from here on. Oh yes, and I used four jalapenos with seeds and ribs mostly removed. It has a nice little kick, but not enough to knock your head off.


Okay, and I want to thank all of you who had suggestions about growing grass on the catio for Smitty. Smitty thanks you too. They were all good ideas, but Smitty is very purrticular about his grass. He only likes the long wide blades. These are the blades that will actually cut your fingers if you run them along the blade. (They don't call them "blades" for nothing.) So I've been harvesting the long blades at the edges of the property where they don't get mowed and bringing them inside to my very grateful kitty. Here's a video. Be sure to turn up your volume so you can hear the purring. If you can't see the video, then click right here.


Okay, and so he can't really eat the grass unless I hold it for him. I've tried cutting it up and putting it on a plate, but he can't really pick it up off the plate that way. It lies too flat. He needs me to hold it for him so that he can bite it off like he does when he's outside chewing on the vertical blades. I might decide to give the pet grass a try...it's cheap enough, after all...but, honestly, I think Smitty likes these little sessions together. It's good to stay close as a family, you know. Also, I'm going to plant some catnip in a pot that can stay on the catio. They like the fresh catnip too, and it would be easy enough to keep watered if I put it close to the fencing.

Now here's something else. Smitty was looking intently out the window this morning. I looked out to see what he was watching, and I saw this guy hunting squirrels. He'd just pounced on something, but he missed it, whatever it was.


Moments later, he was joined by his partner in crime.


A piece of slightly good news is that one of our neighbors called yesterday to get the scoop on Coyote Man. We told her the whole sad story. She has a dog she's had to keep confined to a run, and she believes the coyotes have taken up residence in the ravine behind her house. She's found their scat around, and she believes they are marking territory there. She also shared that our other neighbors are worried about their dogs. So far, we are the only ones in the vicinity who've shelled out any money to try to rid ourselves of these predatory critters. Now that we know at least two other neighbors are concerned, we might get some help. The neighbor who called also informs us she's acquainted with a wildlife specialist from Yellowstone National Park, and she was going to see if he could give us some advice. Of course, I'll keep you posted. For now...indoor kitties only, and it makes me so sad. The kitties are adjusting, but I'm not.

There was nothing accomplished in the sewing room yesterday. All the sewing I did was hand-sewing. Today I need to make two more Tiny Tuesday blocks, and I'd like to get to work on the third of my mystery projects. I'll intersperse today's sewing with housekeeping chores, so everything will get a little attention today. Our weather is back to cloudy and cool after a nice warm day yesterday. We seem to go one day on and one day off with the summer sun. It's been kind of nice.

9 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Con Ed should look into their removal if they are endangering 'livestock' or considered too close as a threat to humans - they are too close at a constant daily activity. They will attack as a pack - carry a horn when in the yard.

QuiltShopGal said...

I'm glad the kitties are staying inside right now. Coyotes can be sneaky devils when they are plotting to get their pray. Sadly, they love cats.

Quilting Babcia said...

Those coyotes are getting entirely too brazen. Time for DEC to step in and capture or otherwise get rid of them for your neighborhood. I'd be happy to send you some of our tall wide-blade grass, the scourge of our gardens.

gpc said...

As much as I would sort of love to have coyotes close enough to watch from the comfort of home, that is just TOO close. I hope you can find the strength in numbers that you need to get someone competent to help.

Debbie said...

Hoping you can get some help to clean up the neighborhood. Those creatures are so destructive. I like Sharon comment about carrying a horn to announce you are here.

piecefulwendy said...

Well, it's bad enough that the kitties can't go out, but now you have to be concerned too? Uffda. Time for those coyotes to go. Curiosity may make me go to Facebook, just to see what you've made. I didn't get much done yesterday either, certainly not anything post-worthy. I've been making 4-patch blocks, so many but still so many more to do.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

that salsa recipe sounds good. I love salsas especially if they are not the typical red sauce kind. My nephew bought a house on 2-1/2 acres that butts up to a National Forrest in mid Michigan. He has bears visiting all the time. I guess I'd rather see Coyote in the back yard and not bears, lol.
xx, Carol

Kate said...

I'm sure Smitty loves you all the more since he make sure he gets his grass. So sorry about the new residents. Do they move on once the babies are grown or do they stay in their marked territory?

quiltzyx said...

More yummy, spicy food! I just finished lunch, yet you've made my mouth water with your tomatillo/apple salsa!!!

Danged coyotes. Sheesh. I would think there should be some municipal entity that could help with them.

At least Smitty appreciates that you are bringing him his favorite grassy snack!