The Saga of the Snuffle Mat

On September 8, 2020September 4, 2020 By CarynIn Craft, dog

Since little miss snuffle-for-snacks likes to, well, snuffle, I decided to make her a snuffle mat. I looked at some online tutorials, consulted my sister who has made one, and purchased two yards of fleece fabric and an anti-fatigue mat.

One of the things I didn’t see in the tutorials I read was that the direction the fleece strips are cut matters. If you cut strips in the direction of the greatest stretch, the strip will curl up when you pull on it. If you cut it perpendicular to the direction of the greatest stretch, the strips will not curl. I chose the no curl method.

Two pieces of fleece, demonstrating what happens if you pull in the direction of the greatest stretch

I used unconventional measurements for the fleece strips; the length of my thumb to the first joint (about 1.25”) for the width, and the width of my outstretched hand (about 7.75”) for the length, mainly because I couldn’t find a ruler (I know I have at least 15 in the house, where do they all go?). I read articles recommending double knotting the strips in the mat, and some saying a single knot is enough. I tend toward the double knotted club, but Missy “helped” me test the single knot on the first strip, and it held just fine.

Missy helping test the strength of a single knot

I had to take a break from knotting because the rubber mat was too stimulating

I was able to start knotting the strips while Missy slept, but each time she woke, I had to take a break because she was obsessed with the mat! Since I couldn’t knot, I took the four selvedges I cut off and made a four strand round braid with knotted ends: she likes it.

My cat Izzy also delayed knotting by deciding it was time for a nap on my lap. On the mat.

Because I wasn’t sure how much fabric I would need, I cut the long strips, but didn’t cut short strips until I was ready to tie. I figured that if I had left over fabric, I could make more pull toys. Missy thought the fabric strip pile by my chair was exciting too.

After a couple of days tying in fits and starts, I hear my eldest yell “She just peed on the rug!” Yup. On the unfinished hand-tied snuffle mat. I had left it beside my chair, and while potty training is progressing, she is obviously not at 100%. It was time to wash the rug!

This actually worked out OK. I realized that if I made it much bigger it wouldn’t fit in the washer. I cut off the rubber mat so that finished (and unfinished) mat would fit in the washer. I washed it in deep water with a vinegar presoak (I put the vinegar in the bleach dispenser) and an extra rinse. I dried it on low, which worked well.

After the mat dried, I tied on the remaining strips. I started with four per large hole, but felt it was thin, so added a couple to each small hole. Because my mat has small holes and large holes, I could have done more, but I didn’t have enough fleece! As it was, I used up all two yards on a 16 inch by 16 inch mat. Missy likes it! But it only goes on the floor strictly supervised.

Yup. I couldn’t get pictures without the puppy. She makes the pictures cuter anyway.

Texas Ironclad Beetle

On September 7, 2020September 6, 2020 By CarynIn Wildlife

A bit after we first moved here nearly three years ago, I saw a cool insect and looked up “black and white beetle” to find reference to the ironclad beetle. (I’m not sure why I didn’t get a picture at the time.) It is fascinating how much we don’t know about it! Here is a good blog post. I didn’t see another one until a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was dead in the catio. Bummer. I saw it in there again later and pulled it out to get a picture, because they are really cool, even deceased. I left it on the deck box intending to come back and see how hard the exoskeleton really is and investigate if I could make something from it. I was quite surprised when I came back later in the day and it was moving!! Rather than dismantle it, I transferred it to the wood pile in case it really does eat lichen and prefer dead wood. I also read another blog that mentions that they play dead. That is some serious method acting to play dead for over a week, but I checked on it again a few hours later, it was moving again! I put a lichen covered stick near it and when I checked the next day, it was gone. I hope it is out making more iron clad beetles!

Guess who is bigger

On September 6, 2020September 2, 2020 By CarynIn dog

Little miss is now big enough to jump up one stair. Luckily I had purchased a gate earlier that day, so installed it three steps up. We did this with our kids too; let them learn to climb up and down a few steps, then open the staircase when they’ve gained some skills. If the gate is at the bottom of the stairs, they don’t get any practice.

Armadillo

On September 5, 2020 By CarynIn Wildlife

Just because I haven’t shared a trail cam photo of an armadillo in awhile, I offer you one today. Happy Saturday!

Puppy gardening

On September 4, 2020 By CarynIn dog, Garden

Our puppy has discovered my herb pots. After checking the list of toxic plants (none of the herbs are on there), and noticing she only nibbles a leaf or two, I’m just letting it be. I do have a wire enclosure that I could put around the pots to keep the puppy out, but I decided it was better served around the AC units, at least for the next couple of years, to keep her from gnawing the pipes.

Wire enclosure used to exclude puppy rather than contain

Did you know that puppies have two rounds of intensive chewing? The first is regular teething when their adult teeth come in, around 5 months depending on breed, and the second starts up shortly after, around 7 months, and can last up to two years. This second phase is what usually take people by surprise. My plan for dealing with these phases is lots of access to acceptable chew toys, and to remember that tired puppies are good puppies!