Breakfast puzzle

On By CarynIn dog

My sister recently visited and she had a great game for our anxious dog, Missy. She put treats in a hand towel, rolled it up, tied it in a knot and gave it to the dog. Missy loved it, figured out how to get the knot open and the towel unrolled to get to the food.

Photo description: treats, medicine, and kibble spread across a cotton towel
Photo description: small black dog eager for the knotted towel

I’ve started to use the towel trick for Missy’s breakfast. The snuffling helps calm her in the morning, and the puzzle keeps her occupied for about four minutes. The small amount of food stimulates her appetite for the rest of her breakfast.

Kits!

On By CarynIn Craft

I read that Sally Pointer, an expert in Heritage Education in the UK, had developed a new pamphlet on making cordage and although I know how to make cordage, I wanted to see how she recommends construction. Since the kit is coming from the UK, with air mail prices, I maximized my kit to mailing cost ratio and bought four kits for the same mailing cost as one kit. So excited.

Photo description: string bag kit, braided belt kit, flax cordage kit, and hemp cordage kit from Sally Pointer

I follow Sally on Facebook and YouTube and thoroughly enjoy seeing the historic recreations she makes and appreciate her dedication to education.

Throwback Thursday: combo craft

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

Back in December of 2014 I decided to combine crochet and jewelry making to create a light weight but bold necklace with pearlized cotton in shades of purple.

Photo description: crocheted circle necklace with hand made button clasp using four shades of purple pearlized cotton on a leather couch cushion

In 2014 I really had started to embrace taking pictures of my creations. I even took a picture of the CD case I repurposed into a guess-thwarting jewelry box.

Photo description: same purple crocheted necklace in a clear double CD case to keep it flat and give the recipient a moment of “hm?” before opening

I’m pretty sure since this is purple it went to my Mom. I’ve done more crocheted jewelry since. It is much lighter than traditional bold jewelry pieces, but does have to be laundered, starched, and laid flat to dry on occasion. I can personally tolerate a crocheted necklace for a little longer, if it isn’t too tight.

Cat shelf

On By CarynIn Cats, dog

We have had a small dog cot for a number of years. Our small dog does not care for the cot, and so it has been under the large dog cot. I thought maybe the cats would like it, but the catio does not have any room on the ground. So I made it into a hanging shelf.

Photo description: pet cot installed in a catio as a hanging cot using the side rails and a shelf bracket
Photo description: cable ties securing the cot to the shelf bracket

I should have thought of this years ago.

Thor the gray tabby still hasn’t figured out how to go back outside through the new cat door.

More worry worms

On By CarynIn Craft

I found a skein of acrylic yarn with a long color repeat in a recent stash clearing. I love making worry worms from these kinds of yarn because I get one or two or three color worms in all different combinations.

Photo description: crocheted worms of varied colors on the left and the label for the yarn on the right: Bernat Super Value Stripes

The color repeats were more exact than I expected, and I started getting the exact same colored worms, so I pulled out the other end of the skein and mixed and matched different colors together.

Photo description: red and blue crocheted worm in progress that used yarn from both ends of the skein, calico cat as backdrop

I like that these little bobbles bring people genuine amusement.