Knitting and a New Kitty

My birthday was already a month ago. I wanted to write about our long weekend in Cape Cod, the cozy bed and breakfast where we stayed, and the fun gifts I received, but with so many different things happening at once, I don't know where the time went.

One of the gifts Chris gave me is this book:

 

If you want to knit a gift for yourself or someone else, or memorialize a beloved pet, or just love cats, this is a must-have. There is a companion book with knitted dogs too.

I also treated myself to The Principles of Knitting, second edition, by June Hemmons Hiatt. If you've got a copy, I'd love to know what you think of it. I've only flipped through it here and there so far, but it looks like it has a lot of information on techniques I've not tried before. The cast-on and bind-off techniques alone are going to be a great help, as I always seem to pick projects that require something unusual.

The funny thing is, I don't need to knit my own cat...we have two real ones that we love very much, Rosie and Tim, and we (well, mostly Chris) wanted to stick to just two. But sometimes love walks into your life when and where you least expect it.

Two weeks ago, Chris dropped me off at the front door of our large legislative office building (if you open the link to see the photo, the front door is on the opposite side of this view) in downtown Hartford, when out of the little row of bushes pops this tiny tortoiseshell cat. She's on her back legs, pawing at the coat of the woman just in front of me, asking for affection and food, and I am dying. It's rush hour in the middle of a city, and the closest residential area is across five lanes of traffic.

I get down on my knees to see this girl, and the security guard comes outside to check it out, tells me "she's been here for a while." Meanwhile, Chris puts the car in park and comes over to see what's going on. I'm trying to think fast; where could we put this kitty to keep her safe until we finish work? No way am I leaving her outdoors one more minute. Can we get her some food and a litter box nearby? Should I call a local rescue? How fast could they get here? And then my amazing husband just scoops her up and says "I'll take her home" and off he goes with her to drive the hour back to our town, to set her up in the basement until we finish work...I love this man. I truly do.

Two days later, after a vet visit to confirm she isn't contagious with anything that would harm Rosie and Tim, we finally take a deep breath of relief and know that we can keep her nine-month-old self. Meet Alexandra, nicknamed Lexy:

 

She has already taken over our hearts, though her takeover of our home is still in progress, due to her spay surgery recovery and some intestinal problems we are still working on. For long-time readers of this blog, yes, we may have cat #3 with IBD. We seem to have a calling here. I like to think that Charlie and Rainy, up in cat heaven, knew that this little girl needed a sympathetic home, and sent her our way. Knitted cats may be a lot easier to medicate(!), but there is nothing better than the contented purr of a happy kitty who knows she's found a safe and warm forever home at last.

 

Comments

[Kristen]

Welcome, Lexy! What a sweet face. It is funny how these needy cats drop into your life. And Chris- what a great guy! May Lexy have a long and healthy life with you, and get along happily with her new siblings.
I love the clever Knit Your Own cat and dog books. Someday I want to make the pug for my niece, who owns one.

[sara]

Lexy, You have found the most wonderful forever family! They are great...

So happy for all of you!!!

[Erika]

Aw, she's adorable!

[MrsSDC]

We cannot wait to meet her. Perhaps on the 22nd...? Still working out the details of that visit, but we'll let you know.

[Martha H]

Adorable!!

[Jodi]

What a beautiful kitty, and how lucky she was to find you!

The book on knitting cats is just charming, and a copy of The Principles of Knitting arrived on my doorstep for my birthday just the other day. What a weighty tome! It's a little formidable, isn't it?

[sprite]

Awww! I love her big eyes! Congratulations to you all!

[Karen]

Hello Lexy!!!! I hope you know you have found the most perfect home - although I'm sure you know just how lucky you are!!! :)

And I had no idea about that Knit Your Own Cat book - I think I'm going to need to add that to my library asap!!

[2paw]

Oh welcome lovely Lexie!! It was definitely Fate, how wonderful and she is so lucky to have found you.
I have the cat book and the dog books and I have three half knitted cats that I am trying to make look like my friend's cats!!