Home Improvement Feline Edition

The cat ripped off the plastic barrier on the cat door. I looked into ordering a new casing, but once I stopped laughing at the price, I decided it would be just as easy to make a curtain. I knew I needed something that was a 9x13 finished size and I didn't want to bust into my good, whole fabric. I found three strips of 18x5 inch fabric and serged the seams together to make an 18" by roughly 15" squarish block.

I cut down the fabric to 9.5x13.5 to allow for the seam (or any creative changes) and then used that block to measure out the twill lining that would go on the back. I serged the tops of the curtain and liner together. Then I pinned and hemmed the bottoms separately to the right length (13 inches) and sewed them separately. Finally I serged the sides together.


And no itty-bitty curtain is complete without a ruffle at the top. I used my new ruffler and set it to 12 (pleat every 12 stitches). It wasn't "ruffly" enough for me so I ran it again at 6. Still not what I wanted, but it was okay and the dark fabric hid a multitude of sins.

I attached it all with velcro to the curtain and then to the door over the metal casing. Now that the cat door is slammin', the paint on the door really looks like it could use some help. It's always something, no?

Anyway, go dress up your furry friend's digs. He'll love you for it.

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Home Improvement Feline Edition

Mmmm....Peanut Butter and Banana Bread

Okay, maybe not so much. The Mister liked it well enough, but I thought it was a little sticky. The recipe actually called for muffins, but I was a rebel and made a loaf. I think it would have been better as muffins.


The recipe that I used is at the bottom of this post. I don't recall where I swiped it from, sorry. I used 2 cups of all-purpose flour, used regular 1% milk and added 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract because everything tastes better with vanilla. I also omitted the chocolate chips, but next time I would add nuts.

Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins

1 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 T. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

1 large egg
2 small mashed overripe bananas (3/4 cup)
2/3 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup milk (vanilla soy is yummy)
2 T. oil
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips


Measure and mix the first 5 ingredients together; make a well in center.
Beat next 5 ingredients with a whisk in another bowl; add to well.
Stir in chocolate chips; mix just until moistened.
Fill 12 greased muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake at 375ºF for 18-20 minutes or until the centers test done.
Let stand 5 minutes in pan before removing to wire rack to cool.

Mmmm....Peanut Butter and Banana Bread