Andy Aitken
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andykaitken.bsky.social
Andy Aitken
@andykaitken.bsky.social
810 followers 180 following 3.1K posts
Interested in everything from archaeology to zoology.
I love spending time with family, nature, reading, and watching documentaries and other TV.
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andykaitken.bsky.social
I've had to have severe words with my Xmas Cactus. It's still November but it's jumping on the bandwagon since hearing all those adverts.
November 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Sometimes, all they want is human contact.
Tea-towel is a long story concerning a different cat.

@cats.bsky.social @gingercats.bsky.social #gingerandwhitecats
#cats
Ginger and white car asleep with one front paw and head resting on humans arm. The photo only shows the head and shoulders of the cat.
September 20, 2025 at 10:22 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Spring Beauty Princess.
September 8, 2025 at 7:55 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Some cross-stitch framed.
@drrjwarren.bsky.social
@saocousins.bsky.social
@stevecobbin.bsky.social
@indikon.bsky.social
@holnicotenh.bsky.social
@johnpleeds.bsky.social
@jayjewels70.bsky.social
Et al.
#cross-stitch #cross-stitchbirds #cross-stitchcats
3 black framed cross-stitch pictures stacked in front of each other with a ginger cat on a black background to the fore. A black framed cross-stitch picture of a ginger cat lying down looking out of the frame. The cat is on a black background. Black framed cross-stitch picture of a pair of Greater Bird of Paradise. The birds are perched on a flowering branch with the smaller female to the rear. She is a uniform brown. The male to the fore has a brown body with an emerald green throat and forehead, a yellow head, and yellow flank plumes darkening to maroo. Two maroon tail wires finish the ensemble. Black framed picture of a pair of Grey Chested (Goldies) Birds of Paradise perched on branches. The female has a brown body.
September 1, 2025 at 11:28 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
What a great painting! Love the w222222etw clouds and rain
(Logan wanted to add a comment).
A close up of a ginger and white cat who is sat on my chest.
August 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
This is what the RT says.
July 30, 2025 at 9:58 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
As promised.
A white framed cross-stitch of a young lady in a winter/Xmas dress and full-length jacket. The short sleeve jacket is a deep red with a white lace collar and cuffs with a floor-length white outer-skirt with gold embroidery. She wears full-length white gloves. The skirt of the dress is very full, white with silver embroidery. In her right hand is a bouquet of roses, and in her left, a wand on turned wood highlighted in white with a star on top.
July 6, 2025 at 9:49 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
I have started a new project. It may take some time.
A cross-stitch design showing a young woman in medieval style dress entitled Spring Beauty Princess.
July 5, 2025 at 5:21 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
I have finished stitching, washing, and ironing my new cross-stitch. Along with one I made years ago, I will be looking for frames next.
A cross-stitch showing a pair of Goldie's (or Grey chested) Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea Decora). In the foreground, sits the male. Yellow head and nape and green back. The neck is dark green, feeding into the lavender grey brest. with his large red flank plumes and grey chest and long tail wires In the background sits the female, slightly smaller than the male and not so decorative, missing the grey chest and the red flank plumes and tail wires. Her chest is cinnamon-brown. Cross-stitch showing a pair of Greater Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea Apoda) The male sits in the foreground, a large mainly brown bird with a yellow head and nape and green throat extending in front of the eyes and over the bill. Large yellow flank plumes give the birds its distinctive look, with two long tail wires. The female sits below and behind the male. She is smaller than the male and is brown all over without the flank plumes or tail wires.
June 27, 2025 at 4:59 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
@helenintgarden.bsky.social
I've got another one too. Again, it needs ironing, but I will hang the pair together.
June 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
I know I have been quiet on here for a little while, and I would like to show you why.
I had hoped to finish, wash, and iron it. But it seems the gods of the Post Office have it in for me. I am waiting for a thread.
@drrjwarren.bsky.social @saocousins.bsky.social
@stevecobbin.bsky.social et al.
A cross-stitch showing a pair of Grey Chested Birds of Paradise perched on branches. The male is in the foreground showing off his grey chest. The female is a less showy bird (as is often the way), she lacks the Grey chest. At the top of the picture is my Kindle to give it scale.
June 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
The blousy peonies in the sunshine.
A peony in full bloom. It's large, deep red flowers are fully open. A peonies in full bloom. The large deep red flowers are fully open. A different angle than the other photo.
May 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
My peony is in flower! The buds have been threatening for days and days. The three open buds have opened at different times during the day, so we can see them in different stages of opening.
@drrjwarren.bsky.social
@saocousins.bsky.social
@stevecobbin.bsky.social
@indikon.bsky.social
A deep red peony with yellow stamen. The flower is not fully open. Deep red peony with yellow stamen. Deep red peony with yellow stamen fully open. Close up of deep red peony with yellow stamen not fully open.
May 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
@tottie.bsky.social

This is Rosie. When she died, my son was inconsolable. He had had her for nearly 12 years. And this is Torvi who is 3.
A black & white Heinz 57 dog looking directly at the camera.
May 11, 2025 at 6:54 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
As it's Caturday, my 3 enjoying their favourite pastime.
Summer and Poppy on an ottoman, and Poppy and Logan on the bed.
Two sleeping cats on a sheepskin rug draped over an ottoman. One cat is black and white, and the other is a black, tan, and cream tortie. A black, tan, and cream tortilla asleep on the bed with her brother a ginger and white. The bed is covered with a pale green throw.
May 10, 2025 at 3:05 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
The stone wall that wraps around the local church has a good collection of these daisies dotted around it.
Daisy along a wall top. Daisies growing out of a wall and along the top.
May 9, 2025 at 2:43 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
When this Cotoneaster flowers in the next couple of days, it will swarm with bees.
A Cotoneaster covered in tiny red flower buds and a solitary bee.
May 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
@saocousins.bsky.social
THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU.
April 27, 2025 at 6:44 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Sorry didn't load them all.
April 27, 2025 at 6:43 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Some flowers from the garden this morning complete with fauna. And a little some for @saocousins.bsky.social

@drrjwarren.bsky.social
@stevecobbin.bsky.social
@holnicotenh.bsky.social
@jayjewels70.bsky.social
@indikon.bsky.social
And the others whose handles I cannot hold in my head.
April 27, 2025 at 6:41 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Camelia cross-stitch.

This cross-stitch is 13 years old. It was framed at one stage but was swapped out for something else.
Cross-stitch picture of at least 2 dark pink Camelia flowers on a twig with leaves.
April 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
It's a good job I take size 12 or else Summer wouldn't fit in the box!
#blueskycats #cats #blackandwhitecats
#bskycats
A (mainly) black and white cat curled up asleep in a shoe box. Luckily, the box contained size 12 shoes or else the cat wouldn't have fitted.
March 31, 2025 at 9:47 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Found this in the garden and first thought it was man made, on second look was undecided. Help, please.
@stevecobbin.bsky.social
March 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
I didn't post last weekend, and I'm not sure about the weekend before. So here is a cat cross-stitch.
A ginger cat lying down almost facing the veiwer. Eyes are wide open, a deep amber colour with thin pupils. The cat is against a black background
March 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Youngest son Paul holding Ezio, son of Milly and brother of Summer.
Man sat on a bar stool holding a black and white cat. Black and white cat rolling around on an oak floor, showing off her chest and tummy. A black and white cat asleep on the back of a sofa, head hanging over the edge.
March 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM