Prana

I’m sad to say that Prana died in February. I wasn’t been ready to blog the news then and it’s still hard to write about it now. These pictures are some of the last I took of him.

Prana

The night he went missing was a very windy one. Even Sieben didn’t want to go outside. But the moon was full and Prana wanted to go outside to hunt mice. That was normal for him. There’s been many nights where I’ve gone to sleep while he’s been outside hunting. But he was always in bed with us the next morning. When he wasn’t that next day we just had a sinking feeling. We put up signs, talked to neighbors and checked the shelter but there was no sign of him. I looked through sage after sage for even a tuft of fur but there was nothing. We’re pretty sure the coyotes got him. Even if they didn’t eat him all the ravens and winds would have gotten the rest. It’s harder when there aren’t remains to bury. We have a little box of his toys Thebes and I are going to bury when we’re ready.

Prana

Thebes and I were heartbroken and so was Sieben. That was especially tough seeing Sieben being so sad over his death. Prana was such an important part of our lives. I still miss him. We had him for 8 1/2 years. He was a shelter kitty and was 6 months old when we adopted him.

Prana

I loved him so much and I feel he knew me better than most people I know. He was a cuddler and such a sweetie. I’m so grateful we got to have him in our lives. It’s nice too that he’s been part of the blog. I got to look through past posts about him and that really helped during the grieving process.

Knit gifts

Abbey knit me some presents for Christmas and my birthday. We have a running joke where she ends up knitting me things on my to knit list that I never get around to making. First up is a pair of yoga socks:

yoga socks

These are great! I still get good grip on the map but my feet stay warm.

yoga socks

Prana often joins me when I do yoga.

yoga socks

Next is a water bottle cozy. I’ve been meaning to make one for years.

water bottle cozy

So cute and so practical! We’ve had negative temps at night here in Taos so water bottles are a must.

water bottle cozy

She used cute buttons for the closures.

water bottle cozy

Thank you Abbey!

Knitting bones

I’ve started to knit over my Bucky skeleton. The whole thing is being covered in yarn-basically I’m knitting bone cozies.

Just One More Row art

It’s both easy and hard. Easy because it’s just stockinette with increases and decreases. Hard because it’s constant customization. I knit a gauge swatch and measure the bone circumference. After knitting a bit I sew it around the bone. Then there’s more measuring, more knitting and tweaking the size and then more sewing.

Just One More Row art

I pulled out the cast on and started knitting the other direction.

Just One More Row art

One thigh bone complete. I’m working on the arms and legs first because I think the ribs will be tricky.

Just One More Row art

Prana likes it.

Just One More Row art

Prana the Three Fanged

Last month Prana came inside with one of his lower fangs sticking outside his lip.

Prana the Three Fanged

We took him to the vet and he had to get two teeth pulled. One fang and the normal tooth next to it. He was put on anesthesia and had to have some fur shaved off. You can see the shaved spot on his neck in this pic:

Prana the Three Fanged

And two more spots on his front legs:

Prana the Three Fanged

I’m happy to report that he made it through just fine!

Then this past weekend furball got into a catfight and got an abscessed cut over his eye. I know! I have been a frantic cat mom as of late. I took him to the vet yet again and thankfully his eye will be ok. He had more fur shaved off so the vet could look at his eyelid better. He’s looking a little rough but his spirits are good.

Blanket blocking

The recent cold weather inspired me to block Thebes’ Noro squares. Putting kitteh goodness into my knitwear is so important that Prana took a nap on the damp squares.

Prana on Noro blanket square

I’ve finished seaming the rows between the squares and am now working on the border. It will be done soon!

Before the snow we had one last week of gorgeous weather. Sieben enjoyed the outside warmth.

Sieben sleeping

Hat decorating

This fall has been so busy! I feel like I have a ton of stuff to blog about. In August Abbey and I went down to Albuquerque for a girls’ trip. We stayed with our friend Polli who gave me a straw hat. I decided to decorate it.

I-cord branch on hat

This is an I-cord branch that is inspired by Abbey’s flower/vine hat. It’s done now but I need to take pics still.

Prana and Sieben do hang out but it’s hard to get them both to sit still for a picture. Here’s one of them hunting lizards together:

Prana and Sieben

New yarn!

Abbey gave me some new yarn. Yay!

handspun alpaca yarn

It’s so soft and pretty.

handspun alpaca yarn

I have 178 yards of handspun alpaca yarn.

handspun alpaca yarn

Abbey got the yarn from the Yarn Lounge while she was on vacation in Richmond.

Yarn Lounge

Here’s a cute bird hanging out on Thebes’ antennae.

bird on antennae

Prana brought in a half dead bird to play with the other day. We woke up at 4am to squeaking under the bed. Thebes’ used the bb gun to put it out of it’s misery and I threw it outside. Cats are such killers. Cute, adorable, fuzzy little killers.

Prana sleeping

New grocery bag

My friend Helen has a farm called Ladybug Farms. She sells her veggies at local farmer’s markets. I made her a cloth grocery bag for promotion.

cloth grocery bag

I think the buttons are a cute touch.

cloth grocery bag

All of the material except for the thread is recycled.

cloth grocery bag

She liked it and I’ve made her some more. It’s nice to be sewing again.

Flying ant season has started so we’re sleeping under our mosquito netting for the next few weeks. Prana sleeps under it too. Doesn’t he look spoiled?

Prana under mosquito netting

Portal progress

I’ve been working on The Portal. The waterfall background fleece is felted down and the cavern and rock yarn is finished.

The Portal

My furry art critic likes my new piece.

The Portal

A close up of the waterfall with Prana paws:

The Portal

I’m knitting I-cord and doing a simple crochet chain for the ice.

The Portal

I’m doing some embroidery details now.