{"id":12901,"date":"2014-07-19T04:40:44","date_gmt":"2014-07-19T08:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/?p=12901"},"modified":"2016-01-22T14:42:57","modified_gmt":"2016-01-22T19:42:57","slug":"cats-crocheting-and-reading-a-forever-calming-influence-in-my-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/cats-crocheting-and-reading-a-forever-calming-influence-in-my-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Cats, Crocheting, and Reading… A Forever Calming Influence in My Life…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"yarn-2\"<\/a>I shared with you on Wednesday some of the ways I like to disconnect from the world to give my mind a mental recharge \u2013 stepping away from technology, reading a book, and listening to soothing music were some of the things I mentioned. Another activity that I did not mention is one that has been a cherished favorite of mine that stems back to when I was a little girl \u2013 crocheting warm and cozy afghans.<\/p>\n

Actually, all of it stems back to when I was a little girl because as long as I can remember, reading and crocheting have always been an integral part of my life. I think in many ways it is because while they are two distinctly different entities, they have a similar effect on my mind with one thing in common – my cats have always been an integral part of these activities and I think that is what makes them all the more special, enjoyable, and therapeutic to me.<\/p>\n

\"JazmineDewey\"<\/a>

Some of us relax while reading a book and some of us prefer to relax while sleeping on a book… Doesn’t our Jazmine look just like Dewey the Library Cat?<\/p><\/div>\n

When I grab a book to read I do it with the full intention of enjoying the experience – I tuck myself on the couch and surround myself with comfortable pillows, one of my homemade afghans to keep me warm and a mug of freshly brewed coffee next to me. A cat or two is usually napping on my lap while I read and I tune the whole world out as I gently pet them and let whatever author I am reading treat me to a vivid journey of carefully crafted words.<\/p>\n

\"DebCats2\"<\/a>

I think I have all the bases covered… a good book, a comfy couch, lots of pillows, a cozy afghan, a couple of cats and a hot cup of coffee… Let the relaxing begin!<\/p><\/div>\n

It is utterly fascinating to me that something that begins as nothing more than idea in someone\u2019s head can transform to life as single words connect into strings of sentences, that turn into paragraphs, that turn into chapters, that turn into a book. A good book pulls you right into the story, making you one of the characters and I always completely immerse myself in the experience. I think the cats sense that my body transforms into a much more calm and contemplative place and that is why they enjoy my company so much. Purrfect zen\u2026<\/p>\n

I find the same to be true with crocheting \u2013 the only difference is that rather than creating a rich tapestry via words that turn into a book, I am able to create an idea that starts in my head into something that turns into a magnificent kaleidoscope of colors, patterns, and textures with yarn. I have created dozens of afghans in my life \u2013 each one of them with their own special meaning and significance and my cats have always helped me along the way. If they were a kitten at the time, the help would be a bit more complicated as much of the yarn ended up as a play toy, but as they grew older, they found when I would crochet that it would be a peaceful opportunity to snuggle next to me amidst the yarn to settle in for a lovely nap. Purrfect zen\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Deb-&-kittens-crocheting\"<\/a>

This afghan was something I worked on in 2009 when my helpers, Rolz, Peanut, and Mia were only about 5 months old. I was watching the Ellen DeGeneres Show with them while I was crocheting and it was at this time that I decided to write my first book about my family of cats!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Thanks-for-making-blanket\"<\/a>

This is the finished product and this afghan graces our guest bedroom that has a cozy, English cottage type of feel. This afghan represents so much of how my life has changed and there is even an entire chapter in The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey devoted to it! Seen here is Peanut, Rolz, \u00a0Zee, and Mia.<\/p><\/div>\n

I am especially drawn to crocheting when I am worn out mentally \u2013 even too worn out to read and I just want an opportunity to do nothing but feel a ball of yarn under my fingers as I create something from nothing. I think in some ways that maybe I have a love for yarn because it reminds me of the limitless uniqueness of a cat. For example, just as a cat can come in every color combination and texture imaginable, so can yarn.<\/p>\n

And some yarns tangle up like the fur of a cat and some yarns are very easy to care for. Some yarn can be short piled and sleek like a gorgeous short-haired black cat or it can be extremely long-textured and soft like a beautiful Angora. Some yarns come in skeins of a solid color and some yarns are a wonderful combination of all sorts of color patterns, perhaps like a sweet calico or a captivating tortoiseshell.<\/p>\n

Some yarns are expensive and hard to find like some purebred cats and some yarn is quite easy to find and inexpensive. Some yarn can even be handed down from family or friends and very creative people \u00a0can even make their own yarn. The one thing they all have in common, is that once it becomes a part of your home and something is made from it, regardless of the lineage, it brings comfort, happiness, pride, and joy, just like the companionship of a cat.<\/p>\n

\"KizmetNap\"<\/a>

This is Kizmet when he was just a tiny kitten. This afghan is one I made well over 20 years ago, back when I lived in Upstate New York and the color mauve was so popular for decorating with!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"_DSC2619\"<\/a>

After I finished my “Ellen Afghan,” I moved on to the one that graces our couch now. This is Peanut and Mia who were about 10 months old here. There is not a day that goes by without at least one or two cats napping on this afghan.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"KittiesChecks06\"<\/a>

One of my favorite pictures ever – Zoey, angel Harley, and Mia sharing some couch and afghan time together.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"DSC_0004\"<\/a>

And here is Peanut enjoying a moment on the afghan…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"jazz\"<\/a>

This was Mr. Jazz back in 2013 – this picture is especially touching because he looks so happy and healthy here… it was a few months after this that his health took a turn for the worse. His favorite time of the day was when I would sit on the couch at night and wrap myself in this afghan – he would then snuggle on my chest for the rest of the night….<\/p><\/div>\n

\"DSC_5084-Edit-Edit\"<\/a>

And here is Rolz enjoying the afghan… He is politely asking that we don’t disturb him…<\/p><\/div>\n

\"DSC_3482\"<\/a>

This was the next afghan I tackled and it sits on the couch in my office. It was made with vivid blues and yellows to represent the sunflower which is one of my favorite flowers. I always felt Harley was a sunflower and so of course that makes this afghan all the more special to me now. Seen here is Kizmet when we first got him – the office was his home for a week until we introduced him to the rest of the family.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Kizmetab\"<\/a>

And here is Kizmet all grown up… this is my most recent afghan and I finished it about a month ago. This also has fond memories for me because Jazz used to love and cuddle with me while I was crocheting it. I am currently without any afghan projects and will have to think about starting a new one…<\/p><\/div>\n

To me, all yarn is beautiful, just like all cats are beautiful. What about you all? What special hobbies or activities do you do to find your inner peace? Have you been doing them your whole life or are they new ways for you to relax? Do they involve your cats or do you prefer your solitude to be a bit more private? I\u2019d love to hear your stories in the comments!<\/p>\n

And hmmm… all this talk about yarn has got me to thinking… perhaps I need to figure out a way to spin my own cats hair into yarn… that sure would be interesting and we have mountains of it all over the house! My own leopard patterned yarn!<\/p>\n

\"Thumbnail\"<\/a>Editors Note :\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>For those of you that might be new to the blog who are interested in learning more about the Zee\/Zoey kitties and the history of the “Ellen Afghan” chapter and so much more, please be sure to visit www.zeezoey.com<\/span><\/a> for details on how you can purchase a copy of The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey – A Journey of the\u00a0Extraordinarily\u00a0Ordinary for yourself\u00a0or for a gift for that special cat lover in your life!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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I shared with you on Wednesday some of the ways I like to disconnect from the world to give my mind a mental recharge \u2013 stepping away from technology, reading a book, and listening to soothing music were some of the things I mentioned. Another activity that I did not mention is one that has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,3],"tags":[430,858,1265,756,311,852,202],"class_list":["post-12901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-blogging-writing","category-inspiration-healing","tag-cat-naps","tag-cat-zen","tag-cats","tag-cats-relaxing","tag-crocheting","tag-petties-2014","tag-reading"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/DebCats2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12901"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16283,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12901\/revisions\/16283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}