One Year Later. . .

It's hard to believe, but St. John has been with us a full year!

My  parents' neighbor saw someone dumping out St. John and his sister and brought them home.  They kept Emma and we took St. John.

He was maybe three weeks old,  full of parasites (inside and out!) and still needed milk.  He was so hyperactive that we had to convert our spare room into a kitty nursery and put him in with the door closed so he would go to sleep.

I was seriously battling my personal demons when we first got him, and his activity and the level of care he required nearly drove me over the edge.  I had never had a kitten, and just didn't think I could handle keeping him, didn't think he'd ever grow out of his wildness.

As he matured, and I healed, he has become the most loving--though still active--mama's boy I've ever seen.

I never thought I'd love a cat more than I love our Lizzie, but. .. I'll admit it.  St. John has totally stolen my heart.  There will be no other cats after him!

Looking Back

I was simply too discouraged last week to have any desire to write about accomplishments, or lack thereof. 

The well situation is still unresolved (in other words, I'm still showering in E.coli water. . . ) but we found out this week that we can hook up to the city's water.  It's going to take much longer than it would to have the UV filter placed on our well, but will hopefully be about the same cost.  I think it will be worth it in the long run.

St. John, enjoying his prized snake skin.

• St. John brought me special gift. . . a snake skin over three feet long, which I assume he found in the basement. He thought it was the Best Toy Ever, and was so cute showing it to my husband that evening. Notice in the photo it was broken into two pieces. I fleetingly wondered where the third tail-end piece could be, assumed he'd lost it playing with it in a favorite place, and promptly forgot about it. Imagine my emotions when I turned back the quilt and found it in my bed two days later!
• completed the Halloween Sampler
• baked delicious banana bread from this recipe (though I used sugar instead of honey and agave)
• made my husband his favorite dessert for his birthday: homemade chocolate pudding pie
• created my own recipe of a chili Bisquick pie/casserole for his lunches
• made a huge pot of homemade cheesy potato soup for my meals (noticing all the cooking/baking I have been doing since the new toaster oven, it's no wonder my jeans didn't fit!)

I feel like I'm at a standstill in most of my organizing and rearranging projects.  Nearly everything needs a help from my husband (heavy work) so I can proceed.  He'll be taking some time off soon, and I'll have to put him to work!

Meanwhile, plans for next week include:

• clean out the tiny closet in the "closet room" and see if I can make it usable.
• measure and plan out what will be needed for the rest of my craft supply shelves
• reorganize the two kitchen cabinets that are left
• finish rereading Breakfast at Tiffany's for the Classics Club
• I also want to get outside more this coming week, since it has cooled down some.  
• maybe make this marshmallow pumpkin pie!
• working on the Autumn Sampler

I am thankful for:

• cooler, Autumnal weather!
• time to read and to cross stitch
• an understanding family
• a new interest in cooking/baking
• cats that play together

Now, for more kitty photos. . . .

St. John is maturing somewhat, but even at 12 months, he still looks like a baby!.  Here is this month's  photo mosaic.  I included a goofball photo this time.

My Friday Fives (a day late)

Good grief what a week!  The fact that this is a day late. . . well, let's just say that the fact it's posted at all is pretty amazing!

My husband had the week off and we did quite a bit around the house; we are exhausted!  I've been an extra trial to him, on top of the work, by being cranky most of the week.  I should add "be less cranky" to my goals for next week!

St. John is now 11 months old!  He is finally slowing down and beginning to show some lazy cat-like behavior!  He was napping right before I took these, but he tends to show that pretty white tum to lure me in, so he can eat my hands when I try to pet it!

Doncha wanna pet my belly?!?!

1. Moved the couch out of the living room and into the "sun room/Florida room".
2. Moved the office out of the dining room and into the former living room.
3. Moved the dining room table out of the Florida room and into the the dining room.
4. Made a chocolate pie for my husband for our anniversary.
5. Still miraculously managed two doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, a vet visit and one load of laundry!

1. Mom's homemade copycat Frosty--yummy!
2. A trip to the hobby store.
3. A free birthday iced, half-caf, soy vanilla latte from Starbucks!
4. A free birthday (turkey) burger with freckled fruit from Red Robin!
5. Five rolls of Washi tape picked out by my husband for me!

1. Move office to living room area.
2. Move couch to "Florida room".
3. Move dining table to former office.

We completed the only three goals I set for this week, and I am quite proud of our efforts!

1. The kitchen needs to be mopped even more, now!
2. Move the pantry to it's new home in the dining room, which requires a first step of. . .
3. . . . taking down the utility shelves used in the former office so that the pantry shelves can be put up, which requires a first step of. . . 
4. Finding a new home, even if just temporary, for the things on the utility shelves in the former office.
5. The bathroom needs an extra good cleaning, since this week was otherwise occupied.
6. (bonus goal: be less cranky!)

big yawn from Jack

1. Family that loves me, even when I struggle.
2. sweet kitties
3. tomatoes
4. books to read and. . . 
5. . . . time to read them

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

My Friday Fives (on Sunday)

Running a little bit behind this week, and I blame the heat!

We had to say goodbye to our hamster, Vinnie, this week.  He had developed some tumors, so we had him put to sleep Thursday morning.

Good night, sweet Vinnie.

1. Sorted out a box of things that had been needing sorting.
2. Sorted and donated winter coats.
3. Read and reviewed two books for the Amazon vine program. (The Book of Secrets and Becoming Myself.)
4. Freshened up the hermit crab tank with new sand and stabilized their climbing wall.
5. Completed week two of The Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler.

My husband thinks the little lantern looks like Tom Servo. :)

The strawberry jam was my favorite from this week.

1. Ordered and received a complete set of Trixie Belden mysteries!  It's a pleasure to revisit childhood favorites.
2. Jack Jack did a wonderful job of taking care of Lizzie when I accidentally hurt her.  We have the sweetest cats!
3. I spent a lot of time reading--always a pleasure!
4. Was given a book as a reward for one of my reading challenges!
5. St. John loves his toilet paper!

St. John is ten months now!

1. Find a home for the things that got stacked up on the chest freezer when the electricity went funky and the freezer was out of service. 
   Mostly accomplished.  It's not perfect, yet, but it will do for now.
2. Read at least half of one of the ARCs I need to review.
   Accomplished!  Completed and reviewed one both of the books. (second review)  Great accomplishment!
3. Return to taking my photos every day.  Trying this one again.  Photo-taking brings me joy; I want to reignite that spark.
   I accomplished three days this week, which is much better than last week!
4. Sort through the box of things that I found in the cupboard above the refrigerator (that belong to my mother-in-law from when she lived in this house a loooong time ago).
   Woot!  Done!
5. Sort through the coats for keepers and donations.
   Not only done, but took the donations on Thursday.  Still need to make a home for the winter coats, though. . . 

1. Make a home for the winter coats.
2. Wash and store the hamster house.
3. Move the tools to the basement, from the spare room.
4. Do better taking photos than I did last week.
5. Tidy up the breakfast room.

1. a quiet mind
2. air conditioning
3. iced tea
4. good childhood memories
5. fun toys to photograph 

In an effort to reflect more positively on what I accomplish and to plan goals more reasonably, I'm going to start writing out My Friday Fives.

Thrift Store Coup and More

Our county has it's own Rescue Mission (in addition to the local chapter of the Salvation Army), and to support itself, the Rescue Mission has a thrift store.  I say "A" thrift store, but the community support is such that it has grown into eight locations, plus one in the neighboring county!  I can't imagine how many people they employee in the stores, the warehouses and as drivers (yes, they will come and PICK UP your donations for the thrift store), but they are certainly a blessing to this county.

As I have been in the (painfully slow) process of decluttering our home over the past two years, we have donated untold amounts of clothing, toys, housewares and the like.  It makes me feel good to know that my extra stuff might be of benefit to someone in someway.

I also like to browse there.  It's dangerous, and I've never let it become a habit, but Tuesday morning I needed a pick me up after going out for lab work (never a pleasant duty) in the pouring rain.

Boy am I glad I did!

Ta da!

I found four pieces of Corningware!  We have other pieces of Corningware like the wildflower dishes in the blue flower and "spice of life" patterns and they are the most used dishes in our home.  I've never owned any of the Vision cookware, and nearly squeed when I saw it on the shelf.  I remember seeing the ads as a kid and thinking how cool it was. . .and now I own two pieces!

 The larger one is the bottom part of a double boiler and the smaller one fits nicely enough in the big one that the two could be used as a double boiler, should I ever need one.

I used the large one as a mixing bowl last night and it was fantastic!

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St. John enjoyed the last paper lantern so much we bought him some more to play with.  Tuesday night's play session was inside the laundry basket, which made it twice as much fun!

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Spent literally all night cross-stitching.  Am just heading to bed now, but my frames are done just in time!  The first set of patterns for the Summer Sampler will be released tomorrow and now I am ready!

It's not the best lighting, so it's hard to appreciate the colors.  I chose a beige Aida, and the frames resemble lemon and orange sherbet.  The beige really brings out the frame colors.  I can't wait to see what the first set of patterns will be!

Frogs and Dinos

Whew. . . after last night's fantastic thunderstorm, today was a scorcher.

I did the grocery shopping and went to Sam's.  I don't think I"ll renew our membership at the end of this month.  I'm going to compare the things I buy there regularly with the grocery store prices, and see if I'm really saving enough to make it worth $45 a year.  I just don't enjoy shopping there anymore.  I dread going and put it off as long as I can.

Didn't do much else than buy and put up groceries today.  I've washed about half the dishes, made spicy cornbread for my husband, washed a load of kitchen towels/cloth napkins and fed the cats.  Otherwise, I've moped around the house feeling hot, tired and unwell.

It may be a very early night for me.  Possibly even before midnight! (Though that is looking less and less likely)

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My frames for the Frosted Pumpkin's Summer Sampler are coming along nicely.  The first week's patterns will come out on the 21st.  I expect I will have all the frames ready by then.  The frame colors look like sherbet, especially on the beige Aida I chose.   

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Last night's rain washed a tree frog into our basement.  I know, because St. John herded it up the basement stairs, through the cat door and into the office.  He wanted so badly to get it into his mouth, but frogs seem to have a natural repellent, so he couldn't.  He would try, it would taste bad, he would back away, and it would make one great hop.  He would follow and the cycle would begin again.  It was hilarious!  Was a lovely frog, too.  I took him out in the rain, to St. John's sorrow.

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My new favorite treat is eating frozen Yoplait Whips.  So tasty!  Since it's yogurt, it's good for me; since it's frozen, it tastes like ice cream.  Win-win!

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When we went to the hobby store last week, I bought two mini dinos, about an inch each.  They have become my new favorite photo props.

MishMash

My husband has been off for a few days, which has been nice.  We've been out to eat, spent some evenings outside (when the whether permitted), took a trip to the hobby store, and have nearly completed the bookshelves in our bedroom.  They'll be like the ones in the hall, only shorter, and on each side of the bed.  I"m so pleased with them!  Once his shelves are up, I plan to decorate them Washi like I did the ones in the hall.  It adds such a great finishing touch.

My side is up and about half way filled.  I have to wait to see what will need to be added to my side once we fill up his.  I don't think his side will hold much more than his Civil War and WWII  nonfiction.  I thought I had a lot more history/nonfiction that I do in my topics of interests (but I have been doing a lot more purging, due to space issues).  If this works out well, I'll be able to fill up some of the gaps in my information gathering!

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More lovely uses for Washi...  After I did the spring cleaning in the bedroom (cleaning the ceiling fan just fascinated the cats) I decorated the fan with these:

 I like how it looks spinning and still.  I feel so ridiculously happy when I see it; can't explain it.  Washi just fills me with a giddy since of delight.  I'll probably have to do the rest of the ceiling fans, too.

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St. John is nine months now.  Time has gone by so quickly!  He didn't seem to grow much this month, and now I'm worried that he might stay a runtling, despite my attempts at good nutrition.  He is extremely long, has big feet, and his tail is huge, but he's not bulking out any.

(Excuse my messy self, but we were having a stay-at-home day.)

As you can tell, he has no trouble wearing his harness/leash.  He even climbs up and down trees wearing it (he is the only cat I have encountered that knows how to come down a tree) and jumps from one tree to the next like a squirrel.  He also jumps and runs after bugs, bees and leaves.  I have to stay on my toes and anticipate his next move when we're out for a "walk".  I think I'm the one that gets the most exercise from our daily adventures!

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Last week, I Finished the June firefly from the Frosted Pumpkin's Woodland Sampler.  It's super cute.  I used Krenik gold floss for the sparklies.

I forgot to post a photo when I finished the May gnome, so here he is.  I also used the Krenik gold for his belt buckle.

In Which St. John Has a Big Week.....

and I have a low one

St. John
This week was a big week for the kitten!  He caught a lizard, a mouse, a roll of toilet paper and a snake.  Sadly, I was only able to save one of them, and it wasn't the roll of toilet paper!  I found the mouse the morning after it's demise (so that's what that noise was in the night!) and the lizard quite some time after his fatal ending.  I felt especially sorry for him--he had lots of tooth-marks in his soft self.  I think his passing might have been painful.  

We call them "lizards" (pronounced "lisssurd"), but I think they are actually Plestiodon skinks (the ones with the blue tails, but not "blue-tailed skinks" because I just now discovered that those only reside on Christmas Island; we are not residents of Christmas Island; so, if A = B, then C means that those skinks aren't "blue-tailed".  Or that we're due for another flood.  I'm not good at math.). (I am also, apparently not good at grammar, despite my claims to the contrary as I just ended that sentence with two, count 'em: two, periods.)

Sadly, we never see one with its tail to know for certain. However, we do sometimes see tails on their own, so perhaps we have skinks with blue tails and lizards without blue tails; we may even have originally tailless reptiles and reptiles that look like tails!  Who knows!

This currently tailless skink/lizard, however, was definitely dead.  And I was sorry!  (Nothing dies in my house, and definitely not by my hand, if I can prevent it in any way, unless it is a mosquito or ant; in that case, I am Death personified.)

The toilet paper was literally snatched out of my hand as I was trying to utilize said paper.  I had to ask for it back, because, well, I needed it, but lost it again while getting a few squares torn off.  By that time, it wasn't usable anymore.  After that incident, I started hiding the toilet paper.  It's no longer on the spindle-holder-thingee, but hidden in a hanging bag.  He watches me, greedily, as I take out and put up the paper, but so far he hasn't actually gotten into the bag.  Once he realizes how easy it is to do that, all bets are off.  I'll have to start using sandpaper, or air drying or something!

As for the snake. ..

What you can almost see through the frosted bowl is a snake, about two feet long.   

St. John brought it up from the basement for me to see.  I heard a wet "plop" sound, and thought "oh, another lizard/skink", and peered around the corner to see him playing with a piece of black tubing.  I thought, "where in the world did he get th-- holy cow, that's a snake!"  

I had just gotten up from a nap; how glad I am I was not still in bed, for I have no doubt he would have brought it on the bed for me to see.  

That kitten loved his snake!  I wish I could have gotten some video of him playing with it, but I was too busy having a "holy cow, there is a snake in the house" moment and saying "St. John, don't pull it!  St. John, don't bite it!  St. John, don't hurt it!" to think of videoing.  He pulled that pitiful snake and dragged it around and I was just hoping he didn't pull it too hard, because the only thing I hate worse than cleaning up cat puke is cleaning up more cat puke blood.  Happily, I was able to put the bowl over the poor thing, and save it from too much St. John lovin'.

St. John was extremely upset that I put a barrier between him and his toy, and in the photo he is trying to get it out. At the same time, the poor snake is very upset that it's trapped between a glass bowl and a crazy kitten, and it's trying to get out to somewhere without either.   

At one point, all three cats were positioned around the bowl, watching it, but I never could get a good photo of them all.

St. John's big week also included helping with laundry:

Apparently, it's important to get the cat hair on the clothing as soon as possible.

He also found a paper lantern I left on my desk and "helped" with it too:

He had so much fun with it, that we've ordered four more for him to have as toys.  I just hope he has as much fun with them as he did with this one!

Me
My week was not quite as big and exciting as his.
I got mosquito bit more times than I could count and far more than can remember happening before while were enjoying the night, Tuesday, and had an allergic reaction (something to do with producing too much histamine) and that made an already low week even lower.  These days/weeks happen, and this was one of them.

I did receive 25 rolls of Washi tape from DownTown Tape, though.  I was SO excited!  I won it in a contest earlier in the month.  DownTown Tape has the nicest I have used, and lots of varieties   Here are my gorgeous new rolls:

I am especially in love with the music notes, and all the polka dots, but there isn't one I said "ick" over.  Isn't Washi a dream?!

I started two Frosted Pumpkin projects this week, but don't have photos yet: the frames for the Summer Sampler and the June firefly for the Woodland Sampler.

I struggled to think of the one good thing that happened at the end of each day, and I'm struggling right now to remember any of those good things.  Like I said, it was one of those weeks.  

Thinking. .. 

I remember: I made some excellent mac and cheese, with swiss and cheddar; we had a lovely visit with my parents last night; we have been working on building new bookshelves and they look great; I had ice cream; I read good books; there was sun and wind and rain; I saw a turtle; I took some nice photos; there were times when my husband or my cats made me smile; I spring-cleaned the bathroom; we got rid of the ants.  Good things happened, even though they seem overshadowed.  Now that I've written them down, I'll remember them. Of course, when I read about St. John's great week, I can't imagine how I found a moment to myself so as to have a low week!

Here's my photo from yesterday; I'm particularly proud of  it. Believe it or not, that key is one of our front door keys!  There are some benefits to living in an old house!

A Bit about Disappointments and Way More about Kitties

Disappointments are hard to take, and can be harder for some of us to handle.  I'm one of those, for various reasons.  So this afternoon's large disappointment (the answer of "no" to some potential income) has laid me out like a left hook from Sugar Ray.  The possible courses of action are racing around in my head like a whirlpool, the flotsam and jetsam of thoughts surfacing for a second or too before they rush around some more.  I'm trying to practice all I've learned in these past two years, and let it go, let it not overwhelm me, let myself relax.  Trust.  Breathe.  Just live.  I'm trying.  It's all part of life, I can learn to cope, and this blossoming ability to talk or write about it will bring on healing.  At least, that's what I keep trying to tell myself.

On a less personal, gloomy note: Jack Dempsey is starting to walk on a leash outside!  This is fantastic news indeed, you see, as he was terrified of even a collar.

He is a rescue--literally.  I saw him on the side of the road, a short way from our house.  He had an ear flipped back, which looked wounded, and he looked so sad and tired as he started to dive into the tangled undergrowth at the side of the road.  I stopped the car and spoke to him, then got out and walked to him.  I knew, in that moment, that he was mine, though I pushed that thought back and put him in the car and drove around to the few houses nearby to see if he belonged to anyone.  I put up notices, but happily, no one responded and he became ours.  I thought he had just come home to die; it was hard for him to go up and down stairs and he just slept--so deep, that most times I would assume he was dead when I would go downstairs to check on him.

Fancy my shock when, at the first vet visit, Dr. Penny told me he was over one year but less than two.  Imagine the lifetimes he must have lived during that one year, to look as he did.  He even has a palpable pellet embedded deep inside, under his left front leg, the souvenir of someone's air gun or pellet gun.

(Happily, the folded back ear which caught my attention at first, and had me so concerned, wasn't serious.  It's the permanent result of an untreated ear infection--you don't want the details--and will always be folded back.  After a few months of comfortable indoor life, it lost the painful, sun-burnt and leathery look and he'll even let my husband pet it.)

Given that history, it's no wonder Jack Jack was afraid of a collar, and terrified of a cat harness.  He would watch out the window with such longing, though, when we would take St. John outside.  His frustration with St. John became much greater, I think as a direct result of the jealousy, and I really was worried.

Then St. John started accidentally slipping out of his harness when he would jump to catch bugs (this baby has never known anything but walking on a harness, and runs, jumps, chases bugs and climbs trees with me hanging on for dear life) and I found the Kitty Holster online.  It works even better than a harness, and is much more secure.  They state in their advertisement "cats who hate to wear harnesses LOVE the Kitty Holster!"

I didn't believe that for a minute, but my husband decided to give it a try with Jackeroo.  We squeezed him into St. John's harness (I was reminded of the Prince Regent in his stays) and took him outside.  He did fine. He did more than fine, in fact, especially considering he was entirely too big for the holster.  After another successful try, I ordered him one in his size (figuring that even if he didn't use, St. John will grow into it).

I can't say that Jack "loves" it, by any means.  He is still a bit grumpy putting it on, and sometimes slips his leg through the neckhole (I can NOT figure out how he does that), but on the whole, he enjoys his walk and is visibly more relaxed than he was just last week.  I plan to write raving reviews for  Kitty Holster everywhere I can.

Here they are yesterday, having a lovely sniff.  Notice St. John's happy "up" tail!  He just loves going out. Jack is enjoying the feel of the air and all the smells, while St. John has a roll in (what's left of) our gravel drive.

Amazing how much better I feel now, half an hour or so after I began this post, just from all my happy chatter about two of my kitties. :)

Oh, and I got more Washi tape today!  I had forgotten all about it; ordered it from the Plaid Barn, or maybe from Pick Your Plum.  (I threw the packaging away without looking.)  How can one feel melancholy with new Washi patterns in the house!?

I'm especially excited by the one with keys!

Spring Sampler: Completed!

Finished the final week of the Spring Sampler last night.  I was sorry to finish it.  Such a cute project!  Hopefully they will do summer and autumn ones too!

Completed project; I really like it on the pale blue.

The puff balls were my favorite of the entire sampler!

Allergies have beaten me down all week, so I've done very little.  The dishes are backed up, and I just finished the laundry in time to start it again.  I finished listening to a disappointing audio book (A is for Alibi); I had hoped it would be a series I would enjoy, as there are quite a few, but alas.  It has certainly been a better week than last week though. :)

I did make mints, though, from this recipe.  They were quite good, though they didn't turn out exactly like the recipe/pictures made them look.  Gave me an idea to create another recipe from them, though, which is exciting as I never experiment with recipes.

  St. John is eight months now!  Time certainly does fly by!

Tolstoy and Toilet Paper

Wonderful weekend!  We made those really easy oatmeal/chocolate/peanut butter cookies, and then stood there and ate them with a spoon as they hardened.  It's good to be an adult!

I worked on my Sugar Skull; it's coming along quite nicely.

 

Had to put it back on hold, though, because Week Four of the Spring Sampler arrived early this morning.  I did the raindrops after dinner tonight. (The cloth is actually pale blue, but always gets washed out in photos.)

We also enjoyed sitting outside in our secret spot on these cool evenings.  Such a pleasure!  Every cool day in April is a hot day stolen from summer!

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St. John had a fantastic weekend.  He discovered toilet paper.

Yesterday, my husband left a roll in the bathroom floor right before we took a nap.  When I got up, the bathroom and hall were filled with shreds and he was lying on the rug in the living room, eating what was left of the roll.  Sadly, cat's just can't be shamed:

Also sadly, it appears that a taste for toilet paper, once developed, is insatiable. This is what happened while I was in the shower and unable to stop him.  (I know what you are thinking: "Why didn't you throw water on him?"  Because, unlike a typical cat, my kitten loves water!)

 Then, believe it or not, as I was taking the above photo to post, this happened:

I guess it's time to start hiding the toilet paper in a bag or something!

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I listen to audio books voraciously: in the store, in the car, in the shower, while crafting and cleaning. . . I average 7 a month.  This month, though, has been dedicated solely to Anna Karenina--all 35 and 1/2 hours of it.  

A dozen or so years ago, I read War and Peace; I loved it.  Tolstoy is amazing.  He is so in depth about what is going on in the lives of his characters.  Simply fantastic novel.  

I had never read Anna Karenina, though, as I honestly don't care for romance in general and adulterous romances are certainly not my bag. This book opens with a husband caught in adultery who is not sorry, and if you go by the blurbs, centers on Anna leaving her husband for a young officer.  

I decided I'd give it a third try, though, since I really did enjoy War and Peace, and I checked out the audio book from the library.  It is excellent, and is does not fully center on adultery and I am very interested in most of the characters.

However, at about 28 hours in, I am nearly ready to throw in the towel.  There was an hour long segment on hunting, and I just can't see how it added to the story.  I pushed on through and now am in a lengthy scene about a political election.  I don't want to quit--not this far in!!--but am frankly, bored.  I want to know how it's all going to wrap up, but I want to "skim" this political talk.  That is the one bad thing about audio books: I can't skim the parts that I find dull.  

I can't decide whether to take a break and listen to something else in between or just press on.