More Feral Kittens

The bird

Back in October, I posted about my feral family of kittens. I’m pleased to let you know that they’re still around, happy and quite healthy. This winter in Dublin has been quite mild, and on the colder days (when the frost is on the ground) I’ve found that the kittens have made it through the night snuggled up inside their box, quite warm, dry and happy.
This last week, I was amazed to come home from work and open the bedroom curtains to see this:
Miss Piggy is after the bird

Yep, that’s Miss Piggy up in the tree and after the bird pictured at the top. At the same time she was in one tree, Two socks was sitting on the ground under the other – prepared to go up as well – should a bird come near enough. It made me giggle at how confident and determined they are in their adolescence, and at how fast they were in going from branch to branch in order to even think about getting a bird.

They quickly realized that I was about, and Two Socks slunk back to the bushes – and then observed me observing him.

Two Socks

When his brother, Runt kitty came out from under the bushes, they looked a bit like bookends as they both watched me.

Runt Kitty

Finally, I decided to pop out and feed them, and Miss Piggy came down from the tree – (u fed me lady,I come down now) to eat. And surprise surprise – guess who appeared but a pudgy Bibs kitty – who I’d not seen since October – well fed, well groomed and wearing a collar. I guess someone decided he deserved to be adopted into a forever home.

Miss Piggy

Share

Ribbed Crochet Baby Hat Pattern

Ribbed crochet newborn baby hat

Disclaimer: This pattern was written, created, and tested and copyrighted by me. Please do not copy it to another source, whether on paper or on the web or any other media. Anyone is more than welcome to link to this page or any pattern on it. You may also print out a copy of my pattern for your own personal use but please do not distribute to others. If you do decide to make the pattern, please also consider making a second for charity.

This pattern is written in “American crochet” abbreviations. It is worked in the round and should gradually curve into a bowl shape.


Crochet hook size:
EU 5.00 mm US 8 / H UK 6

Yarn Weight: EU: Sock yarn / Baby weight yarn in UK / Sock or Sport weight in the US

Terms (for instructions, please see Crochet Pattern Central):

  • ch – chain
  • dc – double crochet
  • fpc – front post double crochet
  • tc – treble crochet
  • fptc – front post treble crochet
  • Pattern:

    Row 1: ch 4 and join with sl stitch.

    Row 2: ch 3 (counts as 1st stitch). 14 DC into loop. (15 sts)

    Row 3: ch 3. *2dc in next st, 2 FPDC in next st. repeat from * around. In final stitch, 1 DC, Join. (30 Sts)

    Row 4: ch 3, FPDC in same st. DC next st. *2 FPDC in next FPDC; 1 FPDC in next FPDC. 2 DC in next St, 1 Dc in next st around. (this will alternate FPDC and DC around hat.) join.

    Row 5: ch 3, 3 FPDC in next st. 2 dc in next st; * FPDC in each FPDC, DC in each DC around to last. Skip last stitch & join. (48 sts)

    Row 6: ch 3, FPDC in next 3 FPDC, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc. *FPDC in each FPDC; dc in each dc around Makes alternating 3 FPDC, 3 DC around. (49 STS)

    Row 7 – 12 (or more if you want to turn it up): ch3 FPDC in each FPDC, DC in each DC around. join.

    Row 13 – FPTC in each FPDC, DC in each DC around. join. (this evens out any waves that may occur)

    Row 14 – single crochet in each stitch around. Finish off and weave in ends.

    Ribbed crochet newborn baby hat

    Share

    Salthill near Galway

    Galway Bay Hotel

    Back in July 2011, I had a few days off and decided to go to the West coast of Ireland and stay near Galway. After some perusing about the hotels, I found a beautiful looking hotel called the Galway Bay Hotel, on the North Side of Galway in a suburb called Salthill. The hotel faces the sea front promenade around Galway Bay and has interesting warm yellow architecture. The inside is very elegant with marble floored oval foyer with custom dark wood seating. The Foyer opens onto an all glass conservatory from which you can reach a lovely summer terrace with chairs and tables so one can take in the brisk sea air and a bit of sun on warm days. I got a prime room – on the top floor, and facing the beach – with a huge king size bed – for a good deal of less than 100 euro a night. Despite the drizzle for most of the day, the view (below) was magnificent.

    view from my room at Galway Bay Hotel

    I had a massage, and a chance to soak in the tub and relax. By the time that I was ready for diner, the weather was clearer and cooler – but twilight had set in. I walked over to the village…

    Salthill village

    and opted for a Slavic restaurant that promised authentic perogies. Now I’m no expert, but I did have lots of Perogies when I lived in Russia. I was a bit skeptical at first, but when I asked the waitress what type of perogies they had – and she told me the names I was familiar with, I got my hopes up and was not disappointed (seriously the best perogies I had since I lived in Russia!). Add in a bit of tasty pear vodka and also a bit of yummy dessert and I was one happy girl. (Who would have thought that such a tiny town would have such an awesome restaurant?)

    Perogies for dinner!

    On the way back to the hotel, walking along the promenade, I did try to take a picture of Galway’s lovely Bay with an tanker sitting out on the water. It’s blue because of the twilight – and I wanted to try again later (no chance – it started raining again and did most of the morning – thus why I headed to Connemara/Kylemore Abbey) but I think it came out ok.

    Salthill Promenade view

    Share