January 6, 2012

Heather came up the winner in the draw for Pennies From Heaven. Congratulations Heather! She says she is particularly attracted to the valance since she has been toying with the idea of making one. Enjoy the book!

Every year the DH Dana puts some fat quarters in my stocking. (Yes, he’s a very good quilt husband.) This year, as I mentioned, he was in Oslo on a business trip in mid-December, so what should I pull out of my stocking but these beautiful things!

apple-fabric

tilda

The apple fabric turned out to be an Alexander Henry, which he was bitterly disappointed to learn is a California fabric company LOL! I didn’t care, I love it!

He did better on the other two. I consulted Dr. Google and found that the Tilda fabric is designed by adorable Oslo native Tone Finnanger. Isn’t it gorgeous? Tone has a whole line of things that she has designed and it’s all to drool over.

Dana didn’t remember the name of the shop where he found the fabric, describing it as “sort of a craft store.” Luckily the label on the fabric enabled me to track it down to being Panduro Hobby in downtown Oslo.

And here’s what else I got for Christmas. You remember the Cavalcade of Kittens? And how I said there was a followup? You remember the very last batch, the ones with the sneezy noses?

smush-face-800

A few days before Christmas I started getting a queasy feeling… queasy because I was terrified by it but still it was there… of thinking that maybe Max would stay. (He’s the one in the middle with the smush-face.) I brought it up with Dana and he was delighted! He was all for it, but understood my fear of commitment. After losing Willie and before that, three aged cats one by one, I felt like a widow enjoying the dating scene but not ready for a long-term relationship.

But truly, Max had all the qualities we would want in a cat, so I kept thinking about it. On Christmas Eve we turned out the lights at about 11:30 p.m. and Max came and draped himself purring over my neck and laid his face on my cheek for a pillow, and suddenly my heart opened up and the fear washed away, and I knew that he was a keeper. It had to be about midnight on Christmas morning.

Dana named him for his favorite childhood TV character Maxwell Smart. Max is a velvety soft, squishy, floppy five-month-old who loves to be picked up, held, hugged, kissed, turned upside down, draped over the shoulder, etc., purring all the while. He’s ours now, all officially adopted through the shelter, and fits in here like peas and carrots.

This cat knows how to relax.

This cat knows how to relax.

Did I mention that he's floppy?

Did I mention that he's floppy?

Under my ironing board.

Under my ironing board.

Willie used to sleep at the base of my stash.

nest-nap

Max has chosen his spot, about four feet higher.

Face plant in the batiks.

Face plant in the batiks.

To quote Dr. Seuss (and Anne Sutton, who recently told us the heartwarming story of Bitsy Button Sutton), “It came without ribbons.” I didn’t want a kitty for Christmas, but it’s the very best present I got.

Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie

P.S. BTW the other two kitties recovered well from their colds and I took them back to the shelter. Within 10 minutes of getting them set up and settled in the adoptable area, one of them was already requested for a meet-and-greet. Out the door he went with his new family. About 45 minutes later, the other one went! That’s gotta be a new world’s record, even for the Kitten Flipper (as they call me at the shelter)!

Comments

13 Responses to “The book goes to… and, what I got for Christmas”

  1. Dawnmarie on January 6th, 2012 10:11 am

    Congrats on the new addition. Max looks truly at home. Love the face plant photo. He’s really cute.

  2. Robin on January 6th, 2012 1:19 pm

    Hi Kay, I’m so glad you were adopted by Max! The shelter and records may have it that you and Dana adopted Max, but obviously he adopted you. I was so sad to hear of Willie’s passing, but his memory will continue to live with you, and Max will bring you joy. Best wishes, Robin

  3. Debbie St.Germain on January 6th, 2012 7:41 pm

    Max is so cute, he looks like my Moki and Tuxedo’s are such sweet cats and so loving and full of personality. Mine adopted me. He came into my yard last year when it started getting cold and he was starving. I finally got him in and he has decided he isn’t leaving.

    Debbie

  4. Donna on January 7th, 2012 5:02 am

    Oh Kay! I have enjoyed your pics of Max. Yes, cats sleep IN our stash. LOL! I have 2 that do that. Plus, when Jake, my dd’s dog visits, he sleeps with his head on the sewing machine foot pedal. Can’t live without them!

  5. Teresa in Music City on January 7th, 2012 6:10 am

    He is beautiful! I know you are going to enjoy many happy years of kitty love – the best kind!!!

    We just lost one of our kitties a few months ago and have been really hesitant to take the plunge again. We still have the one, but she is elderly and we’re afraid it would upset her to add to the family. She’s never been overly friendly to other cats either – the one we lost was the friendly one. I think we’ll continue to wait a while, but I know there’s another furry friend in our future.

  6. barb jansz on January 7th, 2012 6:25 am

    Oh, I’m so happy for you, Kay! It was truly a blessed Christmas for you and Max! The photos are so cute.

  7. Tabitha O. on January 7th, 2012 6:58 am

    That is such a cute story, especially after the loss of your Willie. This Christmas we adopted our little baby kitten Fred. We had been looking for the perfect family member that would fit into our house for the past year because we have 2 very spoiled 5yr old ‘kittens’ and I knew I would know who was right when I saw and talked to him and on a whim we visited the shelter and Fred practically jumped into our lap and stole our hearts.

  8. Connie on January 8th, 2012 7:01 am

    Max is so cute, congrats on the new family memeber, you are so sweet! Love the fabric your husband got for you too!

  9. Suzanne on January 8th, 2012 10:05 am

    Dear Kay,

    Looks like Santa brought you the perfect gift. I have 5 adoptees and they warm my heart in different ways every day! Your DH sounds pretty sweet too.

    Suzanne

  10. TOBY on January 9th, 2012 4:38 am

    We are delighted that someone has moved into that big space left when your loved ones departed. Max just looks so happy!

    We really miss Willie’s dog blog.

    Any chance that Max might have one?

  11. dana blogs chess » New arrival in Mackenzie household on January 21st, 2012 11:18 am

    […] P.S. Kay has a longer account of how we decided to adopt Max on her quilting blog, which you can find by following this link. […]

  12. New arrival in Mackenzie household | Ellen Wolchek on February 6th, 2012 1:49 am

    […] P.S. Kay has a longer account of how we decided to adopt Max on her quilting blog, which you can find by following this link. […]

  13. Ineke on February 28th, 2012 10:49 am

    YES! My favorite fabrics. TILDA!