There's A Land - Oh, It Beckons and Beckons

The Spell of the Yukon by Robert W. Service is one of my favourite poems.

I have always liked the easy rhythm of verse, especially because it makes his poems easy to remember!

 This is not Service's cabin in Dawson City, but one of a long-time Yukoner that lives here in Whitehorse and I love it.

What character in such a tiny little building...

Cabins like this used to be commonplace in Whitehorse and area but have fallen into decay over the years, crumbling and falling back into the earth. Not Cora's. She lovingly maintains and cares for it and it is a beautiful little gem, tucked up on the shores of Schwatka Lake, within earshot of Whitehorse.

And no cabin would be complete without the woodpile... there is a real art to stacking wood so it stays in place!

No! There's the land. (Have you seen it?)
    It's the cussedest land that I know,
From the big, dizzy mountains that screen it
    To the deep, deathlike valleys below.
Some say God was tired when He made it;
    Some say it's a fine land to shun;
Maybe; but there's some as would trade it
    For no land on earth -- and I'm one.

Tomorrow I leave and begin the journey home - should be arriving Thursday so will be able to get back to visiting all my favourite blogs - I have missed you all!

Josie's Turn

A few months back I did a post "Bozzy Gets A Brand New Bed", where I showed a photo of his new suitcase with a soft cushion just right for a kitty cat to sink into. (He had decreed his old suitcase too small so I had found a new one at the local antique shop.)

He took to it like a duck to water, but only when I was in my Sewing Room.

One day Josie found it (she's our cat with ears; Boz is without) and as she is the queen of sleeping cats, made herself right at home. She didn't even care if I was in the room - you would find her in the suitcase at all times of the day or night. And Boz didn't seem to mind - at first. 

But then he did.

So I got out the old little one...

And now Josie has her very own highly portable cat bed.

Trouble is, I don't have room on the floor of my sewing room for two!
I suspect location will be the next issue...

Bozzy Gets A Brand New Bed

Years ago I saw a magazine article on recovering old suitcases with tapestry fabric. Two days later I found just the right suitcase at an antique store. I brought it home and laid different fabrics in it to see what would coordinate with the interior and as soon as my back was turned, Bozzy the cat jumped in, curled up and pronounced it his. It has been his ever since!

I noticed lately he didn't sleep in it as much; it seems in his old age it isn't big enough to really stretch out in.

Last week I found a bigger suitcase at our local antique store - it has a grey exterior (which I quite like) and a claret interior (which beautifully sets off Boz's hair). I brought it home, put his favourite blanket in it, and in he went and promptly curled up.

Today I found some flannel fabric that would look alright (for those of you following my fabric reduction program this took up 1.5 metres) and made a pillow insert.

Bozzy isn't sure about it so he wouldn't stay in long enough to get a picture but I am hoping a little catnip will do the trick.

I also spent some time today reading up on photography tips and I practiced on my fabric tag - I think this is a better photo than the one in my previous post!

Now I'm off to wash the patio - the streets have finally been swept and I think there is a chance it may stay clean for a day or too!