Category Archive for "Kitty"

End of May

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 0 Etsy, Feral Cat Crafts, Kitty, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update, Zines No tags Permalink

Suddenly, it’s the end of May. The month went super fast, as happens this time of year. Why doesn’t February or March go so quickly? Anyhow, the Whisker Mixer is over. My Blind Date with a Book basket (above) was really successful and went well over value. I’ve kept quite busy, working on items for the Mutt Market booth. I had three different varieties of bookmarks created, including this one:

I’ve been making purse charms of all varieties:

Charm bracelets and necklaces:

And key chain wristlets of several varieties, including silicone beads and the sewn ones I made last year:

I know, I know. The sewn ones didn’t sell last year. Maybe they will this year? I will be making matching airpod case pouches to go along with them. I also have plans to make larger, quilted pouches. I have yet to start any of those sewing projects as I’ve been busy with beads and charms. My plan is to get these up on Etsy, and maybe sell some before the Mutt Market. I’m back to watching tons of market and studio vlog videos on YouTube which always makes me think I could be successful, except the only thing I’ve been successful at selling are zines.

Speaking of, I did teach a zine class to four middle school students at the Marshall District Library this month. Those kids were so energetic and cute, and you know how I feel about kids in general. I’ve never seen anyone so happy about using old magazines for collage.

Morris came back to us. He was adopted out nine years ago. It’s an unfortunate situation.

Overall, May was more cold that average, with three days well below average. Mom and I did the greenhouses on the 21st and planted the cemeteries on the 23rd as Memorial Day was early this year, on the 26th. I planted our gardens on Memorial Day, and I’m crossing my fingers that we don’t get another frost as this upcoming few days are cold and rainy again.

April Update

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 0 Animals, Battle Creek, Crochet/Knitting, Kitty, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update No tags Permalink

The most important April update? Spring is here! It actually looks and feels like spring now, and I feel like myself again. It surprises me how much of the year I don’t feel like myself at all because of the weather. I was meant to live in a world of 72 degrees and sunshine.

Bob and I were actually sick in April, for the first time in a long time. I was off sick from work two days. I also started the Aimovig self-shot for headaches and migraines. And guess what? It is working! It’s reduced my number of days with headaches by 2/3 and most of the days when I have a headache, it’s not a day-long thing. I’ve had two migraines in April, compared to 7 or 8 in March.

We snagged Tuxie #2, got him fixed and got him a home. Since then, we’ve seen two black cats and a tortie, but as of yet they are not coming around for treats.

With the reduction in headaches, I’ve had a weird mental clarity. This is how normal people live! I made this bracelet for a coworker, and will maybe make similar for the Mutt Market craft fair along with purse charms and lip gloss key chains.

I crocheted 11 cup cozies for the coffee pull for the upcoming Whisker Mixer. Then I worked on a shell-stitch sleeveless top which, when completed, will probably be too ugly to wear. Now I’m working on some crochet head kerchiefs for the Mutt Market craft fair.

I put together a basket called Blind Date with a Book for the Whisker Mixer. It has a bottle of wine, wine mug, two pairs of cozy socks, two packages of cookies, coffee, one of those thumb holder book openers, and a cute cat bookmark. The centerpiece of the basket is the blind book, pictured above. I had so much fun putting it together, I’m going to look at my book shelves at home and make six or so blind date books, and may put a few up on my Etsy. The bits and pieces to decorate it are inexpensive and I already have the books and would normally just donate them to Goodwill. This way, maybe I can make a few dollars and enjoy my creativity. I also have a pattern to make some box-shaped pouches for the Mutt Market, so I may give those a try.

Prep for the Whisker Mixer has been a nightmare with the venue. We actually had to change the date right before we sent out the invites. Ticket sales are slow, so I’m not really sure how everything will turn out. Fingers crossed.

It is nearly May. Cass’s 10th birthday is coming up May 6. I miss him so much. Looking forward to greenhouse day and cemetery day with Mom. I’m so glad spring is here!

September Recap

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 0 Animals, Crochet/Knitting, Garden, Kitty, Living in Michigan, Misc. Blatherings No tags Permalink

It’s October, yo. And so fast! Time for a quick September Recap before we start on spooky season.

Cats

In September, we managed to snatch the cat we had been seeing since early spring, aka Tuxie Gilbert. He turned out to be really sweet. We had him neutered and I was fortunately able to find placement for him in Ann Arbor. Unfortunately, this guy wound up kicking me into a compassion fatigue meltdown literally 16 years in the making. Spoiler: I’m doing better now.

This guy is Jett. He is having an eye issue of unknown origin, so he went with me to see Dr. Ben. He’s on new medication, but the prognosis is still unknown. I’ve been spending extra time cuddling him.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens

I made a quick trip to Matthaei Botanical Gardens. It is glorious.

Crafts

Mom and I stopped by the Craft Queen craft fair. It was a nice day and I supported some local arts and crafts businesses, which is always a win. I took a break from sewing to work on a couple of scarves for a local Facebook group that makes scarves and hats for Battle Creek children who don’t have appropriate winter wear. I’ve also been working on a super fuzzy lap blanket for a friend who needs a hug. I didn’t intend the colors to look like candy corn, but there you have it.

Misc. September Recap Stuff

We went to see cousin Evan in Urinetown at the Great Escape Stage Company in Marshall. It was really good. Charles Burr and Kelly VanRyswyk were also in it. It’s a lovely little theater and they really did a good job.

The mushrooms are now making an appearance on the Bark Park trails. We worked on the roof and indeed, finished the lower back half. Hopefully the upper portion will be done quickly, before the weather really turns. On a rainy day, I cleaned up my craft space some so I can paint my new zine (Clean Slate) when I get the opportunity. I’m ready to be done with the crochet projects so I can also get back to sewing some. I did get my Covid and flu vaccine, so hopefully I will avoid any sickness this autumn. The gardens need cleanup, at least to some point. I like to remove the leftover mess from the vegetables while leaving the perennials for the critters to use for overwintering. It’s been so dry I’ve had to work on keeping the birdbaths full.

Coming in October

Spooky season is upon us, and has me reminiscing of my glory days of Halloweens past. October 31 is on a Thursday this year, and the lobby is open to the public, so I could dress up. I’m not sure I have it in me though. I will do a post in October about past costumes I think. Before the pandemic, I had collected some parts of a Mrs. Peacock costume. For work, we will have our State inspection and Soup Day! I’ll send out some Halloween cards and small gifts to pen pals. I need to prep for the first class I am teaching at the senior center, “Slow Stitch Meditation Rolls” taking place the beginning of November. No Etsy sales in September, and my social media stats were down, too. Hope your autumn is off to a great start!

My Cassius

Monday, March 4, 2024 0 Kitty No tags Permalink

My Cassius. Cass has been living in my office for a couple of years now. Of course, he had my heart when he was a return adoption in 2015. He was adopted out as a tiny kitten and returned likely because he had IBD. He has been on steriods for years to manage his condition.

In January, he went through a spell where something wasn’t quite right. He spent 48 hours at the vet on emergency, with IV antibiotics and fluids. He improved after that, but wasn’t quite the same. The past week or so has had another downturn.

Today is a beautiful day, sunny and warm. It feels like May, like spring. And so Cass goes off to explore the rainbow bridge.

I hope there is a heaven for cats. I hope Cass is restored to health. And I hope every now and then, he looks down on me.

Mid-October Ills

Thursday, October 13, 2022 0 Art Projects, Crochet/Knitting, Kitty, Misc. Blatherings, Weather Update No tags Permalink

When I tried to think of how to express my current state of being, mid-October ills seems to be the closest fit. Is it allergies, or is it illness? Is it the state of the world in general, or just a series of things I don’t want to do? I didn’t realize so much of adult life would be a mental bargaining in the form of “if I just get through this event, that event, and the next thing, then I can relax and enjoy life.” But there’s a never ending number of new events or things that get in the way between now and the time when I can relax and enjoy life. I need to get my flu vaccine and COVID booster, but I know you can’t get them if you think you might be ill. And right now, the mid-October ills are dominating my life.

I have put together a few more moss terrariums, mostly as holding jars for moss I’m propagating. It’s just a matter of keeping it all healthy and alive now. I do wonder what will happen when it gets quite cold in my art space. I know the moss survives outside in the winter.

Shelter Feline Update

At work, Cass has moved into my office. In fact, everything at work is a bit of a topsy-turvy mess now. We had the lower drive paved. All of the cats have gone on a urinary rampage, causing us to move some of them to other locations (including my office). Kittens are moving onto the floor, and new kittens are coming up. Pi is still here and doing fine enough.

He’s cute, but he’s a mess. He sheds more than any other cat I’ve known. He insists on sharing my lunch. He’s so desperate for attention after a night alone, he’s frantic for the first half hour I’m at work. But he hasn’t destroyed anything yet. And sometimes, when he’s curled up napping in the bed next to my keyboard, I can’t help but reach out and pet him. I had to do a BIG cleaning on my office, and it is now more cleared out than just about since I took the job 14 years ago. It’s my office, but it’s Cass’ new home.

Art Projects

I started a little Etsy thing, as I spend a good deal of time crocheting in the evenings. Might be nice to have the cost of the yarn returned to me. We’ve done no cat adoptions, so I don’t need to make cat blankets, and right now I’m caught up on lap blanket projects. So I’m currently making dish cloths and decorative pumpkins. I still have the embroidery hoop art, birdhouses, reusable paper towels, painted quilt squares and book nooks on my list of things to do. We’ve been cleaning up stuff around the house and moving things to proper locations, and unfortunately quite a bit of it has temporarily ended up in my art space. Hopefully sometime soon I’ll have time to work on straightening it out.

Weather

It’s more than time to put the gardens to bed, and then there’s that rock garden that I didn’t get to this summer. It has turned cold and we might even have some snow next week. I will try to bring in the hose this weekend, and I did pull the bubbler for the tiny water feature. As always, I wish I was doing something fun to celebrate Halloween but I don’t have the time or ambition. And I’m even, dare I say it, starting to get more in the mood for the winter holidays. I know they will be here before we know it.

Special Guest

Friday, July 8, 2022 0 Animals, Kitty No tags Permalink

We had a special guest over the Fourth of July weekend. Kitten Pi, who has an injured hind leg, stayed with us and brought us all kinds of joy. When he’s not playing, he’s sleeping, and he prefers to cuddle up close when he sleeps.

He’s gone on to another foster home until he’s ready for surgery. In the few days he was with us, he let me know that perhaps I can love another cat again. Pi is a special little soul, and we were lucky to have him as our special guest.

The summer is half over now, which seems incredible. I’m having a weird situation, where I have so many thoughts of so many things I’d like to do, I feel it is all overwhelming to the point where I should just go to bed. I’ve always had a list of the projects, ideas, things I want to learn about and do, but I’ve never before felt like it was all too much.

We are getting ready for our first of two in-person events at work since the pandemic. I haven’t been in a crowd in two years, so I expect this will feel a little uncomfortable.

The garden is looking pretty good. While June was exceptionally dry, we’ve had a bit of rain in July. We now have tiny tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants. The flowers look good, too.

Misc. Blatherings

Wednesday, August 25, 2021 0 Animals, Kitty, Misc. Blatherings, Painting, Soft Pastels, watercolor No tags Permalink

Time for some misc. blatherings. Can you believe we’re nearing the end of August? I did finish a sewing project, an altar cloth, for Mom. It has some decorative stitching on it. Work is a bit stressful now. I’m trying to chill out, but you know how that goes. Most of the time, I wish I was home painting.

I have been doing a little bit of painting. I’m not counting these, above, in my official paintings, so they don’t have numbers. They are small, postcard sized, trying out some new paper and new techniques. Again, I figure it is fair to show the things that aren’t working out so well and not just the good ones. Cousin Marlene sent me a pack of vintage postcards, including this one of cacti. The piece one on the left is in watercolor on watercolor postcard stock. The one on the right was my first attempt with soft pastels on sanded paper. It’s obviously not good. But, I think maybe I like pastels? Last night I started a bigger one, of the boat on the water images I did with watercolor and ink in the previous post. I don’t quite have all of the right colors but I think it’s coming together anyway. I’ll post it when it is done. It seems you need a bigger size piece for pastels, especially the Terry Ludwig variety as they are chunky.

I belong to a large number of facebook art groups. So many in fact, they are taking up all of my feed and with a lot of crap. So I have taken to hiding a lot of the artists from the groups as if it isn’t inspiring or I just don’t like that kind of art, why look at it? And horse paintings? Automatic hide. I would guess horse paintings are the number one subject for people just starting out in art. Why? I don’t care how good it is, when you’re done with it, it’s still a freaking horse.

Such sweetness of a sleeping beast. I had last Thursday and Friday off work to join an online MSU gardening conference and Maxy sure enjoyed having company on the couch. He really misses Bob during the day.

We’re going through another round of 90 degree days, so summer hasn’t quite given up yet. It’s been humid, too. I’ve had two migraines in the past week, and headaches every other day. At least we did get rain last night so the garden was saved from certain death by dehydration.

Cato’s Sunrise

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 0 Kitty No tags Permalink

Dumplin’ the Kitten

Thursday, July 25, 2013 0 Animals, Garden, Kitty, Project 365 No tags Permalink

Little Miss Dumplin’ was rough-housing with the kittens in the kitten room today, and fell. She landed funny, and I had to take her to the emergency vet.

She has a fractured rear right leg, right where the growth plate is. She got a shot of morphine which should provide pain relief for three days. We’re supposed to keep her on the down-low for a month and see what happens. It’s possible the other growth plate could compensate. Maybe she’ll have one really short leg. We won’t know until she grows up.

She’s such a brave, happy little kitten. Just look at that spotted belly!

Here’s a bonus shot from my garden this morning:

Maxy Cat

Wednesday, June 19, 2013 0 Animals, Kitty, Misc. Blatherings, Project 365 No tags Permalink

I’m tired and ready for a break. It’s been a long few weeks, it seems. I can’t quite believe the solstice is Friday.

Been getting up early and using the time to play guitar. Getting in half an hour or more of practice each morning, and still arriving at work an hour early. Here’s my playlist:

Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
Feelin’ Alright – Traffic
Walk of Life – Dire Straits
How Bizarre – OMC

and I’m working on Edwyn Collins’ A Girl Like You, which is challenging for me (possibly because it’s in a minor key?). I also have two James songs down and a few other assorted pieces. Maxy spends time with me as I practice. He’s either rubbing against my legs and sitting on my feet, or he’s in the guitar case:

Yesterday evening I had some extra time on my hands, so we went for a little walk before Bob got home. Maxy has a walking jacket (I got it here) and we’ve been going on walks since he was a young kitten. Cato also has a walking jacket, but she does not enjoy the walking experience. We’ve been rocking it ghetto-style with a rope tied to the jacket, but I do have a leash as well (it’s just not as long). The walking jackets we use are excellent. They’ve held up ten years now and are still in perfect shape. They are secure, easy to get on and off, and I guess fairly comfortable for the cat to wear. We tried a regular cat harness before we got the jackets, but both cats were able to break out of it within minutes of them being on. Maxy’s never managed to escape from this jacket. I highly recommend the HDW brand.

Our garden has four clumps of Walker’s Low nepeta (catmint). It grows like crazy in the sun and is lovely. Maxy got right in the middle of it and chowed down.

That’s about it for today.

Category Kitty