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[Oct. 27th, 2009|10:38 pm] |
There are so many stray cats in this neighborhood, or maybe they are cats that people let roam because they all seem to be fairly well cared for. But several times a year there is usually a new litter of kittens roaming around. There was one back in the spring, some kids down the street were sort of looking after the kittens--mostly tormenting them by carrying them around and playing with them as though they were big furry dolls. But then a few weeks ago a stray cat started coming around our yard, looking a lot like one of the kittens and he seemed about the right age, that lanky teenager look that cats seem to get around 9 months or so. And so friendly, he'd sit outside our door waiting for us, and roll on his back to have his tummy scratched. After I saw him rummaging in the neighbors garbage I started putting out food for him--even though I knew that was just inviting him to hang around more and I was probably going to regret it. But he was just so sweet I didn't want him to go hungry. And then of course the girls started talking about adopting him and couldn't we please just take him in the house--they named him Louie. But with three cats I don't want to take in any more, I want to be realistic about my limits and three cats is enough. So I assured them he'd be fine outside, look at all the other stray cats that did fine, we'd put out food and even make him a little bed out of a box with a towel in it. I figured we could at least take him to the local Animal Protective League for their capture, neuter and release program, for 25.00 they'd neuter him and then at least he wouldn't be contributing to the kitten population.
Then last Thursday I came out on the porch to see if he was around--I liked to put out his food when he was right there so other cats wouldn't eat it. And he was curled up in his box bed, his poor little face all battered and bloody. It looked like he had a broken jaw. We got him in a cat carrier and Brian took him to the APL--they will accept sick or injured stray animals at no cost. Unfortunately though, euthanasia is the only option as they don't have the facilities for an animal in recovery. But I figured at least he wouldn't be suffering, I just felt so awful that he'd been hurt. I have no idea how it happened.
Miranda and I have been working as volunteer dog walkers at the APL, so I emailed one of the staff to see if she knew anything about Louie. She said they really went back and forth on what to do with him, but he was just so sweet they decided to use the Second Chance fund to fix him up. He's had surgery and hopefully it won't be long before he's able to be adopted. We still aren't going to be able to take him, but the APL doesn't euthanize for space reasons so he will find a home eventually. |
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[Dec. 23rd, 2008|12:47 pm] |
I keep meaning to post about how busy I am with work, but I'm just so busy. Santaland Diaries opened the weekend after Thanksgiving, and has been running Wednesday through Sunday, with an extra different show afterwards on Friday and Saturday. But tonight it closes, hurrah. It's such a fun job, I really love it but it will be good to be at home. Tomorrow I'm going to cook a leisurely dinner instead of having to rush--roast chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli.
You can see our Christmas decorations on the outside of the house here:
http://purplekappa.typepad.com/purple_kappa/2008/12/christmas-countdown.html
(this is just a link to my blog, I figured it served the same purpose as an LJ cut)
I really thought I had more to say. I've been composing all sorts of mental posts over the past few weeks. I've been doing pretty good with the holiday stuff--we made gingerbread houses, and went to the Giant Candyland at a local park, and Brian took them to the Holiday Festival at the museums (I had to work). I tried not to stress myself by making everything for the girls, but I still ended up trying to make too much (the felted boots are what totally threw me, and I need to go check on them in the washing machine to see if they felted properly, but I'm scared). Brian is taking them to see Peter Pan this afternoon and I'm hoping to finish up the details on a few other gifts.
Oh look, saved draft from Saturday!
Things are still moving along in an okay manner. I've finished with the Christmas gifts, there were some other things I wanted to make but I can just do them in January, they were going to be clothing items anyway. I almost ruined the felted boots, Miranda's were HUGE, so I cut them down about 2 inches, reseamed them then threw them in the washing machine to felt the seams a little more and they felted a lot. They were almost too small but I was able to block them and stretch them somewhat. They would have probably been perfect if I had left them alone.
Tonight we are going out to look at Christmas lights, which I love doing and the rest of the family is a little bored by it, I think. |
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| If I Had a Murloc |
[Oct. 11th, 2008|06:23 pm] |
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Mrgll Mrgll Mrgll
Ivy has been going back and forth between being a dragon or a Murloc for Halloween. I was pushing for dragon, since she already has a hooded sweatshirt that could work as a dragon costume, and I had some leftover green fleece to make pants. But the Murloc costume won, or more specifically, Murky the Baby Murloc.
And here he is, rendered in polar fleece
The body is a simple one piece bodysuit that fastens in the back, the headpiece is a separate hood. It's made of polar fleece, with a felt eyes and tooth. I'm pretty dang proud of it, although it's going to be yet another Halloween where we specialize in costumes no one else can recognize.
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 24th, 2008|03:01 pm] |
I took a package to the post office today and on the way back stopped at Discount Drug Mart for milk. While walking to the coolers in the back of the store, I saw La Choy Chow Mein on the shelf. I didn't think it even existed anymore, but apparently it does. This was the only "Chinese" food I ever had as a kid, I didn't taste the real kind until I was in high school and spent the night at a friend's house when they got takeout Chinese. I don't know if I'd exactly call it "comfort food", but I do have nostalgic memories of it--the slippery, soggy vegetables, the three chunks of meat swimming in sauce in the separate can, the crunchy fried noodles. I really want some right now. I doubt the girls will eat it--too many things mixed together--but they might surprise me. I think I'll ride it out and if in a few days I'm still thinking about it I'm going back to buy some.
Last night I had a bad headache and menstrual cramps so I laid down with Ivy around 9PM and fell asleep which is ridiculous early for me. I woke up this morning at 6AM, also ridiculous early for me. Now I have a pork roast in the crock pot, sticky rice soaking, laundry is done, package delivered--and there's still a ton of crap that could be done.
I think we'll head over to the library to check out the after school activities. |
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[Sep. 15th, 2008|01:23 pm] |
The trip to the waterpark last Friday went so well, with the girls so well behaved that I am now inspired to do all sorts of crazy things on my own with them. Brian's work retreat might be the week of the homeschooler's gathering at the waterpark in February? No problem! I can take them on my own! (which if it did happen, would actually probably be easier than taking them on my own last Friday as they'd have friends to run around with).
What really stresses me about places like this--waterparks, carnivals, amusement parks--is just the sheer amount of want. And while certainly my kids are old enough to understand they can't have everything, I also remember as a kid never getting any of that stuff--if we even went to a carnival or amusement park which we almost never did. But before we went to the park this time, I sat down with them and went over what we had money for--dinner and a treat such as ice cream cones--and what we didn't--game room and souvenir shop. And they were fantastic, stuck to it and didn't ask for anything extra.
Last night I had trouble sleeping and woke up while it was still dark but probably early morning--thought I saw Miranda standing in the hallway, glowering in a sort of Bad Seed sort of way. I jumped out of bed yelling "Miranda!" (well, it sounded like a yell, but probably wasn't really that loud) scaring the hell out of Brian. I need a night light or something for that hallway. |
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| Third Day of Zoo Camp |
[Jul. 30th, 2008|11:09 am] |
So, this is what it's like for those of you whose kids go to school all day? Because I have to say, this is kind of--fantastic. Although I suppose the only ones who can really relate to this are those of you without a job outside the house, or little kids/babies at home which I think is--absolutely no one on this list.
Monday I dropped the girls off, came back home and read blogs while I drank my coffee. Watched Japanese television and did some handsewing. Made myself a chicken salad sandwich for lunch and read for a bit. Watched more television and put a hem in a dress. Rode my bike up to Joann's for thread and hem tape. Yesterday I did laundry, went to the library by myself and leisurely chose some books, rather than quickly grabbing whatever looks good since I'm not supposed to leave Ivy alone in the children's area, did the grocery shopping, ate lunch while reading one of my new library books and watched more television while sewing. Today I stopped at the thrift shop on the way home and found a neat old suitcase--I think it would probably be a cosmetic case? I probably should fold some laundry and then more sewing this afternoon. This is practically a vacation for me, it's going to be difficult to return to normal--although I will be able to start staying up late again once this is all over. Bed by 11PM every night is a bit odd. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 26th, 2008|10:08 am] |
Hey, Leakyandsnort, see any ninjas running around?
http://www.nbc10.com/news/16709661/detail.html
I realize this could be miles from where you live since I have no knowledge of Philadelphia suburbs. It's still really make me laugh.
I need to vacuum again. I wonder how many of my posts contain that phrase?
The weather here has been perfect. Mid seventies to low eighties. I wish it were like this all summer, but it's not even July yet. It rained last night and now everything feels dampish and sticky.
I guess all I really had to post was the ninja story. |
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[Jun. 17th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
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This little guy is Pip
And this sweet little lady is Yoko
The little orange kitten who'd been hanging around the porch belonged to a family the next street over but now the whole family was of the mindset that a new kitten wouldn't be a bad idea--and since Bella is really Miranda's cat, Ivy could have a pet of her own.
Last Saturday was Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo, with over 20 area humane societies trying to find homes for dogs and cats. It started at 10AM, but we didn't make it there until nearly 2--mostly due to my inability to get moving this morning. Knowing that kittens generally got adopted pretty quickly, we didn't have high hopes of actually finding anything that late in the day--it ended at 4PM. But not only did the Geauga Humane Society still have a number of kittens, they were offering a two for one adoption fee--probably because the event was drawing to a close. Both cats have been neutered already, started their vaccinations and were tested for feline leukemia. They are really adorable--Yoko has the sweetest little squeaky mew. I'm glad we did decide to get two because they've been playing together instead of tormenting Bella--who is rather pissed off but after a day of hissing at them she just walks away when she sees them now.
I think a litter box needs cleaning.
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[Jun. 10th, 2008|10:04 pm] |
It rained last night and the temperature cooled down in a most blessed manner. I could have cried with relief, truly. Today was nice as well, in the mid 70's with rain in the early afternoon. I'd be happy if it were like this all summer.
I think we might have a new kitten. I came out on the porch this afternoon to find a sweet little orange tabby guy curled up on the rocking chair. Gave him some food and water, he was ravenous. Discussed keeping him with Brian--we have a cat already, so we'd have to quarantine him until we take him to the vet. But now that we've decided to take him in, he's off roaming. I've got more food and water on the porch, hoping he'll return. The girls have already named him Louie. We have so very many stray cats in this neighborhood. I think someone feeds them, because they all look pretty content, but it's the same ones all the time, with a new one every so often.
The honeysuckle along the side fence is in bloom and it smells heavenly. You can smell it all the way into the front yard. I transplanted some, but it's probably going to be a few years before it's high enough to twine around the porch pillar. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 12th, 2008|09:06 am] |
Some food and a good night's sleep helped remarkably. If Brian is able to get more time off, I think we'll alternate nights rather than me pushing myself to do two in a row, that's what did me in. And not eating very well--I was trying to eat as little as possible, because buying all our meals is getting expensive. I'm going to make up some stuff to take in--there is a refrigerator and a microwave on the ward.
Thank you again, all of you, those who commented and even those who didn't because I know sometimes it's hard to find the right thing to say, or you feel others have already said it, or it's a difficult subject for you.
There is an activity room for the kids, and among other things there was a shelf of books. I was trying to find something to read and picked up a copy of Pollyanna Grows Up--figured at least I could find out what happened to her. So, here's my list of Glad things:
- we live very close to the hospital, about a 15-20 minute drive depending on traffic, so we can visit easily.
- Brian has a very flexible job where taking time off is fairly easy
- None of this is life-threatening, and Ivy's condition isn't potentially fatal. I can't imagine doing this sort of thing knowing that eventually my child is probably going to die anyway and I'm just making her life comfortable for now.
Miranda is staying with her grandpa for the day, and I have things to get ready before I'm off to the hospital.
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[May. 9th, 2008|07:01 am] |
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We're off to the hospital. We're supposed to be there at 8:30, I hope Ivy's surgery isn't too long after that. I'll have limited, if any, computer access at the hospital but promise I will post an update as soon as I can. Thank you for all your kind words and well wishes! |
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[May. 6th, 2008|04:36 pm] |
You know, one of the big considerations we had when picking a name while pregnant with Miranda was "can a mean kid easily twist this name into something teasable?" Miranda seemed pretty safe. So how did Ivy manage to come up with "Miran-DUH!" when she's angry? And I don't think she even understands the concept of duh, she's just saying her name in an angry way. When she's mad at me she says Ma-uh-MMM! But it still annoys the hell out of Miranda and no wonder.
We lost our internet connection earlier and AT&T thought it would be about two hours before we regained it, so Brian went to find a coffeehouse or something with free WiFi. I think he just wanted to get out of the house and I don't blame him. We're going out to dinner tonight to celebrate Miranda finally getting her braces off. We all gave up gum to help her avoid it while she had them on, so I let them each pick out a pack when she was done and the whole ride home the car was filled with the sound of chomping.
I'm trying to relieve my anxiety over Ivy going into the hospital on Friday by sewing things for her and Miranda and now I'm anxious things won't be done in time. I made her a new nightgown, little stuffed cats for her and Miranda and now I'm working on sleeping bags for the cats because I really need to be driving myself crazy doing this right now. Actually, I do.
I had a good sale on Etsy so used the money to buy far more fabric than I need. I don't really need any more fabric and now I have three different packages arriving over the next few weeks. I went way over on my fabric budget at Joann's last month because linen was half-price. 7 yards of it are destined for clothes for me, so I need to get started on them because then I can count the spending as clothes budget and I do need new clothes. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 26th, 2008|04:21 pm] |
I just had the most low-key gynecologist exam ever. Nothing at all about my weight, no BMI bullshit, she didn't even comment on my averaging 2 glasses of wine a night. And she didn't tell me she could feel a huge tumor in my uterus, which I realize is silly and irrational and laughable to even think of it--but I had added that to my slight worries. That I'd go in and she'd examine me and say how have you even been functioning! This thing is huge! So, I still need to get the results of the pap smear but everything so far is fine. And I have a nice, not-weight-conscious doctor to continue seeing. I do have my first mammogram on Tuesday. Yippee. But I scheduled it and it's being taken care of and I can stop stressing about non-existent health concerns. Of course, I could still have an undetected brain tumor or something, but I can cross out gynecology problems.
All of Ivy's tests look good so far. They went better than I expected--I was really worried about her getting hungry, but she did fine (she had to fast because of the upper GI). They added chocolate syrup to the barium and she drank half the bottle before getting bogged down by the taste, but it was okay because her stomach was full by that point.
We're going to the movies tonight, Brian won 2 tickets in some online thing. He's taking Ivy to see Horton Hears a Who and Miranda and I are seeing The Spiderwick Chronicles.
I post so many photos on my blog I forget I hardly ever put any hear. This is the girls in their Easter dresses:
http://purplekappa.typepad.com/purple_kappa/2008/03/happy-easter.html |
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[Mar. 20th, 2008|02:32 pm] |
I've been trying hard not to be my usual scatterbrained screw-things-up self. Ivy's had a lot of doctor appointments the past few weeks and we've been on time, with a bag of snacks and toys. Today she had another one and I got up with plenty of time to get ready, had some coffee, got the bag of snacks and toys together, got the girls dressed, teeth brushed and out to the car--and it wouldn't start. I'd left the lights on last night.
Every time the batteries gone dead because of the lights being left on, it's been my fault. The chiming signal doesn't work any more (precious little does on this car), but still, back in the old days we didn't have to rely on chiming signals. I'm so paranoid about leaving the lights in parking lots on that I drive the girls crazy "wait, let me walk back and make sure I turned the lights off!" and they sigh and I check and everything is fine. But I turned them on yesterday because it was snowing hard and when I got home it wasn't dark yet, so nothing clicked "turn off the lights!" in my brain.
We were able to reschedule easily, and Brian took the battery up the street to the car place (we tried a jump from the neighbor, but it didn't take). And with a now free day, I was able to get the vacuuming done, and a few spring crafts with the girls. So not a total loss, but still, I feel stupid. |
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[Jan. 3rd, 2008|03:05 pm] |
I am sitting here surrounded by cut-out pattern pieces for various garments, a pile of ironing, and the vacuum cleaner which is sitting in the hallway to remind me to actually use it. While I was at Brian's mom I felt as though I was wasting time and wished I'd brought some knitting or sewing, now that I am back home I can't seem to get moving. Wasting time is what I've accomplished most.
Since the artificial Christmas tree doesn't post any real hazard the way the real ones did, I have a feeling it's going to be up for a while. Maybe we'll get to it this weekend. Un-decorating the house is just so boring. As is this post. Didn't I have something more interesting to write?
My 41st birthday approaches. Not nearly as exciting as my 40th. My 40th year turned out pretty well--we hosted a Japanese student, took our first vacation in years to Niagara Falls, I got a job. Not bad at all. So far my big goal for this year is to do something, anything with the back yard. I think we've gotten rather complacent settling into the new house and all the plans we had for improvements have been sadly neglected.
All right. I need to get something done. |
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[Dec. 25th, 2007|07:18 pm] |
A Good Christmas, although exhausting. The girls didn't fall asleep until 1:30 AM last night, by the time we got everything done it was 3AM and at 6:30 Miranda woke up and whispered Mom! I'm going to wait until 7AM, it will be light then! (I had said they couldn't get up until it was light outside). So, two kids who normally sleep 10-12 hours had about 5 hours of sleep. Ivy's napping right now, but Miranda's still going strong and holding up pretty well. I'm going to need to get to bed soon, or I going to hit that crest and be up late.
I made this for Brian for Christmas:
It's heavily influenced by Potter Puppet Pals (this website opens with sound)
http://www.potterpuppetpals.com/
Visited with Brian's family and now we are back home. This day has been incredibly long. Hope it was a good day for all the rest of you as well. |
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| Gingerbread House |
[Dec. 10th, 2007|10:36 pm] |
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Our first attempt at a gingerbread house:
A house inspector would find numerous design flaws, but overall I think it looks pretty good. I had seen pictures of some wonderful ones online, even simple ones that were decorated with candy's in clever ways--my favorite used necco wafers as colored tiles for the roof. But I wanted this to be a collaboration with my daughters and so I just gave them each a side of the roof and let them stick the candies in however they wanted.
I used Martha Stewart's gingerbread cookie recipe and these directions and template (opens as a pdf. ). Fortunately I had checked the website a few days before starting the house because it included the useful advice that you should assemble the walls and wait 4-12 hours before adding the roof, to be sure the icing had set and the house was stable. As you can see, it snowed a lot in the gingerbread land...I wanted to be certain nothing was going to collapse! The gingerbread smells really good, I think we are going to have a hard time waiting until Christmas to eat it. I've already realized the folly in setting an entire house made of sugar on the dining room table and expecting Ivy isn't going to eat it. A few years ago I had some sugar skulls for The Day of the Dead and I would find her hiding in the living room, sneakily sucking on them. I have enough dough left over from the house to make several dozen cookies, we should probably get started on them sometime soon...
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[Dec. 8th, 2007|12:26 pm] |
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I was checking out the IMDB entry for Sesame Street, hoping to gain some insight on the convoluted relationships that have evolved on the show. Why did the characters of Luis and Maria marry? And when did they have Gabrielle? I don't think any of them are related in real life and I always thought in the early episodes that Maria was going to hook up with David (who left the show in 1989) Bob and Linda Bove always seemed like a couple to me as well. I'm pretty sure that Miles, Gordon's son, is the actor's real life son and was introduced to the show as a child Susan and Gordon adopted. Anyway, the trivia section turns up this interesting tidbit "Roosevelt Franklin, arguably one of the first breakthrough Sesame Street Muppets, had to go as he was considered to be a negative cultural stereotype (he was the only African American Muppet at the time and was seen mostly in detention after school)." He was seen mostly in detention? They couldn't just write some new skits for him? "Well, Roosevelt, we'd like to keep you on but you just can't seem to stay out of detention"
Eartha Kitt looks awesome, she's 80 in this video clip. Laura Bush appears to be enjoying it, but you can tell George turned to her and muttered "who is she again?
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dragonfly1867's journal
