March 30, 2008
Meet the new kid
Yesterday we went to the SPCA Animal Shelter and came home with this boy.
(Yes, those are cherry blossoms in the background, at last!)
They named him Cooper, and we're not going to change that since he comes when he is called. He's a young adult, a Siamese / domestic long hair cross, about two years old. He's not the least bit shy, loves people and is the most curious cat I have ever met. He has sniffed every corner, tried to get into every cupboard, and has shed just about everywhere. We're going to fix that with our fancy new brush. His back has been shaved because he was badly matted. Imagine what the shedding will be like when that grows back in. (I wonder if it can be spun). Judging by the way he climbed into bed with us last night, you'd think he had never slept anywhere else.
Since we're back into daylight savings, I have been spinning a more than knitting. I got some merino-tencel fibre from my friend Fran for Christmas. I'm going to ply it with some silk I purchased from the Silkworker in the Music Box colourway. The singles have been spun, but the plying isn't done yet. Cooper seems happy to let me spin, but plying with him around might be an adventure.
Merino-tencel:
Msic Box Silk:
About a year ago I acquired some merino-silk top from Vicki when she was destashing. It's all spun up into a fingering weight, 15 w.p.i. 2 ply yarn. There are 1,397 yards which may become a nice big shawl some day.
My current spinning is Crown Mountain Sock Hop, superwash merino in the Under the Boardwalk colourway. I've really been enjoying this. The top is dyed with half the length in lighter colours and half in darker. I have separated the two halves and torn off arm lengths of each bump to mix up the colours within the light and dark bumps. I'm spinning one armlength of light followed by one armlength of dark. Who knows how the yarn will turn out. The not knowing is half the fun.
I really like how the colours are coming out in the singles.
What a gorgeous boy! And your current spinning is gorgeous as well. Love those colors.
Posted by: Lo on March 30, 2008 11:25 PMAw, he's beautiful! Even more beautiful than all that gorgeous spinning. I think those two purples will look great plyed together.
Posted by: CarolineF on March 31, 2008 07:44 AMYou already know how excited I am for you about Cooper!
Your spinning is gorgeous - I think we're all using that word. I can't wait to see everything once it's all plyed. I'm very glad I bought some of the UTB, too!
Handsome boy!!! Congrats to you and to Cooper!
Posted by: Zeila on March 31, 2008 10:48 AMBeautiful! The cat AND the spinning!
Posted by: elizabeth on March 31, 2008 11:08 AMBeautiful boy you have there! Your spinning is so pretty, some of my favorite colours.
Posted by: Vee on March 31, 2008 12:18 PMWow, what a great new friend! I'm so glad he came home to your house. :) I'm sure he can be spun, too, if you're so inclined. In the meanwhlie, I love the colors coming out of your wheel these days!
Posted by: Joanne on March 31, 2008 03:31 PMThe new addition to your family is beautiful, and yes you can spin their hair. At least that is what I have heard. I don't spin so I really wouldn't know, but each year in the spring we have our cat shaved like a lion and he loves not having all that extra hair in the summer time. The first time we had it done he was a little upset about it, but after that he almosted pranced around showing how cute he was. Then as the summer goes on the hair grows back and you can't even tell he was shaved.
Posted by: Tina on March 31, 2008 04:28 PMWhat a handsome fella! And how nice to have him make himself at home so quickly.
Gorgie spinning - just lovely!
Posted by: Melissa on March 31, 2008 06:08 PMLucky kitty! And even more lucky parents of kitty, he's gorgeous! Let me add to the choir about all your spinning. Can't wait to see how the purples look when plied. And, what a good idea to mix up the two pieces of roving while spinning. Your posts are always so inspiring!
Posted by: Vicki on March 31, 2008 07:22 PMOooh, Cooper is a gorgeous kitty...give Lucy a run for her money! lol I hope you will post lots more pix of him on your blog!
Posted by: Kate/Massachusetts on March 31, 2008 08:01 PMHey, yer holding out on me! Gorgeous new boy, and loads of gorgeous spinning. I absolutely can't wait to see those purples together, and the Sock Hop is coming up amazingly - great job, and welcome, Cooper!
Posted by: Sam on March 31, 2008 10:05 PMwhat a gorgeous kitty!
your spinning, as always, amazes me :-)
Beautiful spinning! You keep the luster, and it's so even. It will be a dream to knit. Your photography is as good as your spinning, too: What a luscious color treat! You and Cooper make the perfect match. :-)
Posted by: Jan on April 1, 2008 01:08 PMI always enjoy reading your blog. The first cat I ever had I named Cooper. She was black and just about the nicest cat I ever met.
Posted by: Rita on April 1, 2008 07:18 PMGorgeous kitty; gorgeous yarn. Yummmmm! :)
Posted by: Romi on April 2, 2008 03:34 AMCooper is lovely. the fur can be spun, Wenky of Wendyknits has some Lucy yarn....
Posted by: Carol on April 4, 2008 12:06 PMwhat an incredible handsome fella!
Posted by: marti on April 4, 2008 03:05 PMCooper looks like he will fit in fine, our cat spent the first 3 days behind the washing machine poor thang! Your spinning is lovely, one day I aim to be as good as that. I have just bought an very old Louet and I love it. I tend to be spinning with too much twist and unevenly ... one day after lots of practice I am sure it will get better!
Posted by: Lin on April 4, 2008 04:26 PMOh Mel! How exciting to get a new kitty! I love the felines, and I can't wait to see how he will "grow out" - I want to see that magic brush too! Oh, and btw - all the spinning is simply to die for, I love how you spin!
Posted by: June on April 4, 2008 08:32 PMWhat a gorgeous cat! And spinning, too. And yes, I've spun longhaired cat before; very soft stuff.
Posted by: AlisonH on April 5, 2008 11:35 PMWhat a beautiful cat! I've been saving & spinning my little kittygirl's shed furs & it's like cashmere . . . catmere? lol!
Gorgeous colors & perfect spinning! You've got that bobbin wound so perfectly, I was looking hard to find the Wooly Winder, but I don't see it. What a treat, though!