Loot from the Puyallup Sewing Expo

I bought a couple of patterns, but mostly I bought stuff for designing on fabric.  I need to replace my very old Blue Fish t shirts, but I certainly can't afford to buy them anymore, so I'm going to make some of my own.

I did buy an anorak pattern and hardware to make it up.  I've been looking for one for a long time, and think this one will be perfect.

The highlight of the show, for me, was Louise Cutting's style show (and my apologies to her partner whose name I do not know).  Beautiful styles, clever use of fabrics, and lots of Louise green, which I love.

And one last treat -- a pretty necklace of paper beads.

A neighborhood scandal and a trip to the ocean

I have finally spotted the putative father of Vaermina's ill-begotten kittens, François LeFlaneur!  The shameless seducer!

And last week we went to Ocean Shores with Pam and Hal.  Perfect weather, perfect friends, perfect food!

Visitors!

Vaermina brought her kittens to visit us today!  Pip and Pocket came up on the porch, but Namira was too shy.

Here's Vaermina in the flower pot, Pip on the deck, and Pocket under the grill.

Pip

Vaermina and Pocket

Pip and Pocket  Sis says these two are a gang, and look like troublemakers.  I agree!

Merry Christmas!

The Australopithecenes' family is growing, and with the arrival of Düssel the Neanderthal, they now have fire!

Presents!

Today Sis and I had lunch at Goldberg's and exchanged handmade, non-Christmas presents.  Sis made me this lovely scarf!

And I made her this cross stitch for next Halloween.  (Design by Laura Rimolo (Little Stitcher.))

The start of Christmas

Losing the cats is sad, but it means I can get out all the things we haven't used in years because the cats would spoil them.  Or dress up in their clothes.  So Muffy and Hoppy have finally emerged from the closet.

What we saw at the zoo yesterday

The fox and my friend Pam

A pool full of feathers from molting penguins.  The penguins looked really ratty.

A dead bear.  Actually, this is Denali, the more laid back of the 23 year old grizzly twins, enjoying a nap and a soak in the pool.

A dead goat.  Or Albert enjoying a snooze. 

Shadows in the forest -- beware of the tiger!