Last Call for Kittys!
This week, I was a 'nip-picker.
Catnip, that is.
I know I've already mentioned the weed-whacking I get to do every so often. What I didn't mention is that in addition to the lemon balm, pokeweeds, lemon verbena, and Queen-Anne's Lace that's taller than me, there is also some seriously strong catnip that I get to mow down.
Except that I don't mow it all down: I gather it and dry it for later use.
I don't brew it as tea, however. I've tried it, but I don't care for catnip tea. (I'm a coffee drinker)
It is some seriously good stuff... at least from the kitty perspective. Even cats that are usually blasé about store-bought 'nip go completely bugnuts over this stuff.
I don't have any cats myself, since they'd try to eat my gecko. However, beeing of a geeky persuasion, I know more than a few people who do live with cats. I'd say they own the cats, except that I'm not sure who owns who in a couple of the cases...
Anyhow, I also knit, as you may remember from the blanket picture. Unlike the blanket, most of my projects are tiny so I actually mange finish the darned things in a timely manner. Even if I'm insane enough to use the uber-skinny size 0 needles that I do for these. (They're about as thick as a round toothpick)
I figured out a simple pattern, and started making mousies (or mice, for those of you who are persnickety about that sort of thing) in order to hold this catnip.
According to the people I've sent them to, every cat who's gotten one has been unable (or at least unwilling) to put it down.
I'm more proud of this than I should be. After all, it's not like I grew the 'nip, I just put it in a form that delivers it to the cats, while looking vaguely mouse-like. And because of the fine weave, it largely prevents direct ingestion: The leaves can't get out, and it's not fragile enough to chew through or unravel easily.
I'm happy about it. It feeds my "mad scientist" urges in a way that doesn't seem to do much harm. (Though I suppose that depends on how you feel about getting cats addicted to 'nip... which is why I give it the mad science angle.)
I have enough of the "active" ingredient to last me until next summer, as long as the demand for the mousies doesn't have a steep and sudden increase... though I honestly wouldn't mind if that happened. (I think there's a chance of one more gathering before it's done for the year anyway.)
We're in the middle of a severe heat-wave right now, so I'm glad I am doing something that's largely possible to do indoors this week. And I seem to be on a bit of a kick for it right now, since that's all I've felt like doing this week: Knit mice and stuff 'em with catnip.
I was sort of hoping to have gone to the zoo, but that didn't happen. I probably will in the future, though.
tl;dr: I bet you all thought I'd talk about joining G+ like everyone else in creation this week... nope! I went outside and picked flowers for cats.
This entry was originally posted at http://something-for-thursday.dreamwidth.org/5966.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Catnip, that is.
I know I've already mentioned the weed-whacking I get to do every so often. What I didn't mention is that in addition to the lemon balm, pokeweeds, lemon verbena, and Queen-Anne's Lace that's taller than me, there is also some seriously strong catnip that I get to mow down.
Except that I don't mow it all down: I gather it and dry it for later use.
I don't brew it as tea, however. I've tried it, but I don't care for catnip tea. (I'm a coffee drinker)
It is some seriously good stuff... at least from the kitty perspective. Even cats that are usually blasé about store-bought 'nip go completely bugnuts over this stuff.
I don't have any cats myself, since they'd try to eat my gecko. However, beeing of a geeky persuasion, I know more than a few people who do live with cats. I'd say they own the cats, except that I'm not sure who owns who in a couple of the cases...
Anyhow, I also knit, as you may remember from the blanket picture. Unlike the blanket, most of my projects are tiny so I actually mange finish the darned things in a timely manner. Even if I'm insane enough to use the uber-skinny size 0 needles that I do for these. (They're about as thick as a round toothpick)
I figured out a simple pattern, and started making mousies (or mice, for those of you who are persnickety about that sort of thing) in order to hold this catnip.
According to the people I've sent them to, every cat who's gotten one has been unable (or at least unwilling) to put it down.
I'm more proud of this than I should be. After all, it's not like I grew the 'nip, I just put it in a form that delivers it to the cats, while looking vaguely mouse-like. And because of the fine weave, it largely prevents direct ingestion: The leaves can't get out, and it's not fragile enough to chew through or unravel easily.
I'm happy about it. It feeds my "mad scientist" urges in a way that doesn't seem to do much harm. (Though I suppose that depends on how you feel about getting cats addicted to 'nip... which is why I give it the mad science angle.)
I have enough of the "active" ingredient to last me until next summer, as long as the demand for the mousies doesn't have a steep and sudden increase... though I honestly wouldn't mind if that happened. (I think there's a chance of one more gathering before it's done for the year anyway.)
We're in the middle of a severe heat-wave right now, so I'm glad I am doing something that's largely possible to do indoors this week. And I seem to be on a bit of a kick for it right now, since that's all I've felt like doing this week: Knit mice and stuff 'em with catnip.
I was sort of hoping to have gone to the zoo, but that didn't happen. I probably will in the future, though.
tl;dr: I bet you all thought I'd talk about joining G+ like everyone else in creation this week... nope! I went outside and picked flowers for cats.
This entry was originally posted at http://something-for-thursday.dreamwidth.org/5966.html. Please comment there using OpenID.