The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ~ Parsley's on Pawtrol, Smooch Needs Cuddles, and Melvyn's Checking the Mouse ~ **PLUS** Today's Really Random Photo

Epic Greetings Furbulous Furiends

Welcome to the BBHQ midweek news round-up!

Here's this week's weather report: cloudy, rainy, cloudy, with a bit of a breeze, cloudy, drizzle, cloudy. The temperatures are hovering around the mid-teens, but the bad news is that the evening temperatures are dropping below ten this week ... brrrrrr!

And the news wouldn't be the news without the obligatory flower photos.

This luscious lilac dahlia is in the courtyard gardens, and to be honest, we nearly missed it. All the dahlias this year were very late to bloom.

And here's the new rambling rose on the rose arch. It's called Super Fairy and has clusters of small pink flowers.

It'll take a year or two to cover the arch; we like rambling roses better than climbers as they're a lot more speedy in terms of growth.

Anyhoo, let's look at this week's top headlines.

First up in the news

 Parsley's on Pawtrol

Parsley Sauce was enjoying a quick pawtrol around the courtyard.

Next up in the news

Smooch Needs Cuddles

Smooch needed some cuddles with the P.A., he said his cuddle meter was on the floor and it needed topping up stat! MOL

Finally this week

Melvyn's Checking the Mouse

Melvyn was helping with today's blog post as he checked the mouse for about two seconds, and then proceeded to go back to bed! MOL

Today's Really Random Photo

Fudge's First Halloween at BBHQ

Here's Fudge from his first BBHQ Halloween Pawty, in 2017!

EXTRA, EXTRA!

Check out all the EPIC Halloween Crafting Posts:

Crafting with Cats ~ Halloween Special ~ Part 1

Crafting with Cats ~ Halloween Special ~ Part 2

Crafting with Cats ~ Halloween Special ~ Part 3

Crafting with Cats ~ Halloween Special ~ Part 4

Crafting with Cats ~ Halloween Special ~ Part 5

That's us done for today. Amber will be back on Friday with another fab book just for mew, and if mew missed any other posts, here are the links:

 The B Team's Selfie 

Amber's Latest Book Review

We do hope mew have an epic day, and remember to always...

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another post! 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ~ Fudge has Got His Pumpkin, Pandora's Not Loving The Weather, and Smooch on Pawtrol ~ **PLUS** Today's Really Random Photo

Epic Greetings Furbulous Furiends

Welcome to the BBHQ midweek news round-up!

Let's start with the weather report. Purrsday and Friday were overcast; nothing much to report at all. Caturday was nice and sunny, but it was a bit misty on Sunday, though the temperature was still nice. Monday was a drizzle-fest of disappointment. Tuesday, we haven't got there yet... MOL The Tuesday update, overcast, but ok temperature-wise, so there could be some bulb planting today.

As we're heading straight into Halloween territory, we're rerunning all the spooky Crafting with Cats projects, sadly, there's no new project for this year; in fact we've been severely failing on new stuff there, but there is a reason and that is there is no space to make anything as there's a bit reorganisation happening in the craft room, and it's taking it's time! MOL

Oh, and here's another moon picture from early on Sunday Morning, about 3:27 am.

And we have a 'lime' update...

It's still growing, very slowly, but it's definitely bigger than it was in our last update.

We're not sure how long they take to grow, but we'll keep it where it is for now. Also, the other little fruits are gaining size. Unfortunately, the P.A. accidentally knocked one off when she was cleaning up some of the fallen leaves. Yes, we did reprimand her for such a heinous assault against an innocent citrus tree! MOL

There will be a trial by citrus sometime soon to address this! 

Anyhoo, let's look at this week's top headlines.

First up in the news

Fudge has Got His Pumpkin

As we're rerunning all our epic Halloween Crafts, Fudge wanted to show mew what he was playing with yesterday! MOL

Yep, it's a furry, orange, feathery-topped pumpkin on a wand, and of course, we'll be sharing this fun project again in the next couple of weeks.

Next up in the news

Pandora's Not Loving The Weather

On Monday lunchtime, when the weather was being rather inconsiderate and unapologetically drizzly, Pandora staged a protest by snoozing under the dining table on her favourite blanket! MOL

Finally this week

Smooch on Pawtrol

A bit of a fuzzy photo of Smooch on Caturday as he was about to pawtrol the garden... the P.A. used a bit too much zoom, me thinks! MOL

Today's Really Random Photo

Oh, we did laugh when we saw this in the photo archive! 

Fudge's tail exploded at the camera in February 2020!

Just look at the floof! MOL MOL

That's us done for today. 

We'll be sharing another Crafting with Cats post tomorrow, and Amber will be back on Friday with another fab book just for mew.

 If mew missed any other posts, here are the links:

 Sunday Selfies & Caturday Art Hops starring The B Team

Amber's Latest Book Review

Pirate Adventure - Chapter One

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Two

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Three

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Four

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Five

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Six

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Seven

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Eight

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Nine

Pirate Adventure - Chapter Ten ~ The Grand Finale

Crafting with Cats ~ Halloween Special ~ Part 1

We do hope mew have an epic day, and remember to always...

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another post! 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

**NATIONAL CRAFTS FOR YOUR SHELTERS DAY** Crafting with Cats ~ How We Made A Mini Cardboard Scratcher **UPCYLE YOUR CARDBOARD BOXES**

Happy Friday Fluffies

NATIONAL CRAFTS FOR YOUR SHELTERS DAY PART II

It's Crafting for Your Shelters Day II, and here's a quick recap in case mew missed yesterday's pawesome post. 

As we love to upcycle, recycle and re-purpose items here at BBHQ, today's project which is #4 in the photo below can be made without having to buy anything in.

 Melvyn as mew can see is really enjoying all the things we made.

To see the rest of the projects in the picture, visit our Crafting with Cats page.

SO LET'S CRAFT ON

This is a completely NO SEW project.

Our Mini Cardboard Scratcher is purrfect for our kitty comrades in shelters, as it will fit easily inside small pens and give the kitties a much-needed scratching outlet. 

 

What We Used

A small cardboard box*

Scissors or craft knife** or cutting wheel**

Extra cardboard boxes***

Ruler

Pen or pencil

Glue non-toxic

Optional catnip

Optional ribbon

>^.^<

*we used a small amazon prime box  6.5" x 9"  approx size

**purrlease be super careful if you're using these cutting tools, take your time and always cut away from yourself and we also recommend that you wear some special cut resistant gloves like this: Cut Resistant Gloves for Safety. These are just an example we found on Amazon and this is not an affiliate link. 

***save all those home delivery boxes to recycle 

*    *    *

Let's Begin

1. Get a small box - this is ours.

2.  Measure approx 1.5" up from the bottom.

3.  Draw a line all the way around.

4.  Cut surplus off and mew should be left with something like this.

5.  Use part of the surplus cardboard to cut a test strip, it should be a fraction less than 1.5" high.

6.  Try the test strip to make sure it fits snuggly, and it's not too long or too high.

7.  Once mew've got the correct size cut lots of strips.

8.  Before mew begin glueing the strips, stick the flaps down in the bottom of the box.

9.  Begin glueing the strips in place.

10.  Smooch was on paw to offer more boxes when we needed to cut some extra strips.

11. & 12. A short while later, and it should now look something like this.

Here's our finished Mini Cardboard Scratcher

Mew can leave it as is, or if mew'd like to add a little more pizazz like us; we used a length of hessian ribbon and simply glued that around the outside. 

Also, mew can add a little sprinkle of catnip to add to the fun.

This is a really supurr project to recycle your old boxes and bring a bit of joy to a kitty or even kitties in shelters.

And ours has lasted four years at BBHQ, so way better than any shop ones we previously tried.

We do hope mew've enjoyed the last two crafting posts and feel inspired to make something for your local shelter. And if there's anything mew'd like us to make, leave a comment with your idea/s.  

We'll be back on the morrow with the final and a brand new project for this year's Shelter Craft-Fest, until then...

Keep calm and craft on

Epically crafty purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

If mew missed any of our previous crafting posts, visit our dedicated crafting page: 

Crafting with Cats

Disclaimer:

We at BionicBasil HQ are not responsible or liable fur any injuries to person/s and/or cat/s, crafting addictions, glue on cats, paper cuts, misplaced pins and needles, cats stealing your supplies, broken scissors, cat fur stuck on your projects, or your project not turning out as planned. Be super careful if you're using cutting tools, take your time and always cut away from yourself and we do recommend that you wear some special cut resistant gloves like this: Cut Resistant Gloves for Safety. these are just an example we found on Amazon and this is not an affiliate link. This project is not suitable for younger readers without parental/adult help. By using this information you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless BionicBasil and staff from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or damages of any kind arising from use of any Crafting With Cats posts we may share.  

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com and www.pizap.com

**RERUN**Easter Eggstravaganza** Crafting With Cats ~ Easy Catnip Easter Eggs ~ The Only Kind of Easter Eggs Mew'll Want

Welcome to

Supurr Greetings Pawesome Pals

Thanks for joining us for our first Easter Eggstravaganza Crafting with Cats rerun.

  Mew know we have so much fun making all this stuff, and we hope mew enjoy seeing it and/or making it too. 

If mew missed any of our previous CWC posts, here are the links:

Merlin's Wizard Hat

Smoochie's Supurr Hero's Cape

Magical Kitty Lantern

Supurr Luxe Pom Pom Hammock

Kitty Observatory ~ Cativity Centre

Halloween Catnip Toys

Valentines Heart Crinkle Mat

Puzzle Treat Box ~ Fish Fur Treats

Catnip Pumpkin Toys and The Spooky Haunted House Photo Set 

Valentine's Catnip Hearts & Kicker Toy

*    *    *

**Purrlease Note**

All Crafting with Cats ideas and creations are of our own design and we share them for purrsonal/home use only.

  So purrlease do not copy fur commercial/resale purrposes.

Copyright ©BionicBasil®

*     *     *

This time we're making some pawesome

The only kind of Easter Eggs mew'll want this Sunday! MOL 

What Mew Will Need:

Cotton Fabric, we used a selection of fat quarters in different prints

lining fabric [optional]

needle, thread ~ optional sewing machine

scissors

stuffing/wadding

a great big pile of catnip

Optional Bunny ~ Blossom was today's Craft Room Snoopervisor

Let's Get Started

1.  We're making six eggs, and here are our fabric choices fur 4 of our eggs.

2. And here's our fabric choice for the last two.

3. Cut out your egg shapes - ours are approx 7" tall by 5" at the widest part prior to sewing.

4.  Check with an optional bunny to make sure they meet FULL BUNNY approval.

5. Cut out the lining fabric and place either side of your patterned fabric.

6. Pin eggs together ready for sewing [right sides together].

7. Sew, either by hand or machine, leaving a gap for the stuffing at the bottom.

8. Your egg/s should now look something like this.

9. Turn the fabric right sides out and get FULL BUNNY approval before continuing.

10. This is one side of our eggs.

11. This is the other side.

12. Now stuff with primo catnip - we used our homegrown, organic primo nip in our eggs.  And used a ratio of 1/4 stuffing/wadding to 3/4 catnip to fill them - that way the eggs are springy but are really stuffed to the brim with the primo stuff making sure they're extra fragrant and delicious, as nopurrdy wants a BAD EGG! MOL

13. Once your eggs are fully stuffed, hand sew the fabric opening together.

14. Now mew should have something that looks like this, with FULL BUNNY approval.

Now we're at the critical stage of testing, so what did Smooch think?

As mew can see there was no stopping him, the eggs were amazing and Smooch said, "Dudes these Easter Eggs are eggstraspecially nip'a'licious!" MOL

In fact, the P.A. had to remove him from the room as he went a little wild and refused to share with anypawdy else, I think that's because the P.A. used a special combo of Catnip and Catmint that we affectionately refer to as Psychedelic Puma Blend - OOPS - so maybe not for newbies like young Melvyn! 

So there mew have it, straight from Smooch; catnip eggs are the best, make some, get some, try some this Easter and don't miss out on the fun! MOL 

*    *    *

And that pawesome furiends furry sadly brings us to the end of today's Crafting with Cats rerun, we do hope mew liked it, and we look forward to sharing more crafting exploits from BBHQ in the future!

We'll be back with more fun Easter crafts on Tuesday and do hope mew can join us then. In the meantime, we're back tomorrow with our usual Sunday Selfies post.

Epic crafty purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 

Basil & The B Team @BionicBasil® on Instacat, Twitter and Facebook

Disclaimer:

We at BionicBasil HQ are not responsible or liable fur any injuries to person/s and/or cat/s, crafting addictions, glue on cats, paper cuts, misplaced pins and needles, cats stealing your supplies, broken scissors, cat fur stuck on your projects, or your project not turning out as planned.  By using this information you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless BionicBasil and staff from and against any and all claims for personal injuries or damages of any kind arising from use of any Crafting With Cats posts we may share.

Graphics created and used under paid licence www.canva.com