No cats in hats here

[vilakins]

It's probably time for a few of these.

14. National Dress up your Pet Day - do you have any pets? If so, did or do you ever dress them up?
I think this is more a US thing, assuming you mean silly costumes. And no. It's mean, undignified, fraught with danger, and people who do so deserve any scratches, bites, or assorted deposits in their shoes that might result. :D

15. National Hat Day - do you like to wear hats? What does your favourite hat look like?
Do I like to wear hats? Oh, yes! I rarely leave the house without one, whether a flat cap, fedora, hand-knitted slouchy beanie, or a sunhat. I love hats! I can't pick a favourite as I have a lot, but I'm very fond of the two I knitted in different colours and textures, and I've had compliments on those from strangers.

17. We're halfway through January - what's the weather like where you live?
Very changeable, anywhere from 18 to 32C. It's not a very good summer, but when it's fine and hot, it's excellent, and to be enjoyed as the next day might be chilly and wet. Today was around 29C, humid and thundery.

20. What is your favourite cheese on Cheese Lovers Day?
Once again, I can't pick one as I'll go for anything with a good flavour (none of that awful mild soapy stuff) that isn't smoked. I do love parmesan and a good strong mature gouda, and Norwegian brown goat cheese, but that's just a random few.

22. Have you any snow where you live? When was the last time it snowed in your area?
It's summer. Last winter we had some snow that lasted a couple of hours. Canadian friends were highly amused at adult neighbours running outside, all excited like little kids.

Comments

[gwendraith]

I agree about #1.

The weather here has been stormy again!

I love cheese but how to choose just one from the 750+ cheeses produced here every year. I do like a good Artisan cheddar, Wensleydale or white Stilton with apricots, Double Gloucester with chives or a nice Red Leicester.

[vilakins]

It's not possible to pick a favourite because they all have their own distinct qualities; how can you pick between a blue, a brie, and a cheddar?

I've had most of those cheeses here, mostly imported, and yum! I haven't had white Stilton though, with or without apricots. Is it like that Danish White Castello cheese which tastes blue? That's delicious. The only Stilton I've had was blue, and one came in a nice stoneware jar which I still have.

I've often said that one food I could never give up is cheese. :)

[gwendraith]

I don't like blue so that's easy and there are great cheddars, especially the artisan ones, and really poor cheddars. I know which I like :) I like the Castello almond and pineapple cream cheese. The texture of White Stilton cheese is fairly soft but it's also crumbly with a delicate flavour. I could never give up cheese, either :)

[vilakins]

I'll have to keep a look out for it. I don't think I've seen any Stilton down here, but next time I'm in the city, maybe...

[zoefruitcake]

When I was in Japan I got a little cat hat from one of those vending machines but I haven't dared to try putting it on a cat. Human hats are the best though

[vilakins]

I am... stunned that they sell them in vending machines, which implies a large market for them. But then, humans there wear cat ears.

Do you have many hats?

[zoefruitcake]

True. After I posted this I remembered we had a little bow tie collar for Zeb when he was younger and he was quite proud of it.

Yes, I have quite a few hats.
I have even more photos of me in hats I don't own that I try on when I am out and about. I can't help myself, I need to put them on.

[vilakins]

I don't think collars count as dressing up. Zeb's dignity is intact! I've seen some very nice collars like your one, but our cats take them off - I used to find them around the garden - and I gave up. They don't leave our property these days anyway, so there's no need to use a collar to say they're not strays, and they're microchipped. In fact, though our neighbour Michael's cat spends most of his time here because he's friends with Sebastian (and us), Michael has never seen our cats.

Another hat lover! I'm always drawn to hat sellers at markets.

[watervole]

Ooh, I could see you as a flat cap person!

I bet there isn't a pet alive that enjoys wearing fancy dress....

[vilakins]

I really am! I originally had just two flat caps, a traditional tweed and a leather, when I lived in Auckland, but now have a variety including light summer ones. They're my favourite type of hat, though it's often so windy here on the coast (I've chased one down the street) I have to wear the knitted ones instead.

[watervole]

Photo? She says hopefully.

[vilakins]

OK, trying to add photos didn't work, so links are here and here.

I've also finally got round to taking photos of most of my Ravelry projects.

[watervole]

Sorry - 404 error on the photos.

[vilakins]

Putting the photos in the comment didn't work either. Oh well.

[jaxomsride2]

We have had only one cat that liked to wear clothes, but then he was convinced he was human. One Halloween we got him a little pet witches outfit. He headed straight to the door because he then wanted to go Trick or Treating like our daughter used to do.

We have yet another storm.

[vilakins]

Ah, but you have genius cats who aspire to humanness! I've heard about the talking one(s). :O

I hear there were tornado warnings, unusual for the UK. Were there any?

[jaxomsride2]

Not all have been geniuses, Nico was all fluff and no brain, typical for a ginger

No tornados locally and no report of them in the news, so if they did happen, they weren't seen.

[jhall1]

I saw Spanish Manchego cheese in my local supermarket today. I've never had it so thought I would give it a go. My initial impression is that it's OK but nothing special.

[vilakins]

Ha, I was exactly the same! I'll try many cheeses, but sometimes it's only once.