MOTHS!!!

A knitter's swear word! The hole in 4's hat just didn't sit well with me.

And then tonight, I found 2 similar holes in a sock.

Both of those items were in a basket of knit things in my room that was on the floor. I'm PRAYING that my stash has not been affected. I did email back to comments on my last post and got some quick answers. Thanks Amanda and Jessi! Chan said freezer too...and I'm hoping she's not right about the 10 to 14 days, but I might just see how much wool I can fit into the freezer and leave it until after Christmas. Well, at least the good stuff. I'm going to separate the cottons and silks and synthetics. Then I'll bag the wool and prioritize the freezer treatments. I'll start with the yarn in my room, as I haven't found evidence in any other place yet. I did find 2 good articles on infestation.

A Colorado article here.

About Knitting article here.

I typed the above, then I went put all my wool in the freezer. All the good stuff fit. The rest is in ziplock bags waiting its turn. I didn't see any evidence of intruders in my stash. But, the freezer is good insurance anyways.

And since I put the fear of Moths in you all, here's a fun photo of Rex so you don't just stop breathing. It's been a bit chilly here. He's a spoiled kitty. He's been sleeping curled up in our down comforter. I didn't want kitty fur everywhere, and I didn't want to shoe him away, so I gave him my robe to lay on...and left the comforter cave to keep him cozy.

We've named him Charlie...

Rex is really upset that someone is spending time in the tree in HIS backyard. Charlie clearly doesn't care. He's pretty bold. I was standing about 3' from him to take these photos. He didn't want to interrupt his lunch, so he let me snap away with the camera. This is our "squirrel proof" bird feeder. Charlie's weight would close off the feeder, so he hangs out upside down.

See...I really was close. You can click on this one to see it bigger.

I think he was posing for the photo op.

Pray for my mom...

Today, my kitty, the one that came to live with us when I was a Freshman in High School will be put to sleep. On Saturday he stopped eating and drinking. We knew that at 20 he didn't have long, but still, he went down hill so quickly. My mom talked to the vet on Saturday and decided to take the weekend to say good-bye. My brother volunteered to take him. That's a huge praise, I'm not sure my mom could handle much more. (In the last 3 years, we've lost my Gram, our other kitty, my mom's poodle, my dad, and my mom's best friend. Just recently, another of my mom's friends said good bye to her young daughter (late 20's). Breast Cancer took her away. The memorial was on the anniversary of my Gram's death.) Anyways. It's hard to say good bye to a pet that's been a part of the family for so long. If I can find a photo of him...I'll add it. Tigger was a good kitty.

Kitty Kitty

The kids think Rex needs a friend, so there's usually a stuffed kitty that join Rex where ever he is. Wonder what they're looking at?

Can you see the birds now?

Kitters arrived on Friday. My children are over the moon. Unlike a typical rescue cat, this one laid down on the living room floor when they let him out of the cage. The SCAR (Southern CA Aby Rescue) workers commented how unusual this is. It is normal for a rescue cat to hide under a bed for a week. Now, Kitters did hide under the bed for a bit yesterday afternoon, but I think that is just because 3 shadows had become too much. He re-appeared when the little ones were asleep. Now...we need a new name. We've tried a lot...but usually one of us doesn't like the name. We'll take any suggestions now.

And today, I start my new job. I applied at Michael's (yes, the craft store) and they hired me quickly. I'll be working in the framing department. I'm excited to use color theory and layout experience from college and my working days. I'm not thrilled to be away from my family. I'm also a little sad that they pay less than I gave my babysitters. When M does return to work, I'll have to have my mom or someone else cover the gap between when I leave and M returns. I couldn't pay a sitter! I'm hopeful that soon this money will be the additional income that we add to our savings account to replenish it. In the mean time, every little bit will help.

I'm learning a whole new way of life. My laundry comes out just as clean if I fill the little cap less full for each load. Half my normal amount (which was still less than called for) of fabric softner will still soften each load. I'm hanging clothes to dry while it's hot (well, I used to hang my clothes, but now I'm hanging most loads). I did want to live a little greener, so this is helping. Just in case we need to relocate, we're finishing up the projects that we have all around the house. Last weekend I finished stripping most of the grout in the kitchen and resealing/polishing the floors. Last night, M worked on the cupboards. Last summer, we had started using Briwax on the cupboards and then changing out the knobs. For a year now...we've had 2 kinds of knobs in the kitchen. I'm glad to be finishing these projects...and hopefully we won't be moving before we enjoy them.

Off to church...then off to work.