New Friends

        We keep finding these little guys all around our apartment.  This one just wants to hang out on our screen door and taunt the cat.  Linus however, can't be bothered from his seat up on the top of the couch in the sun.  Just like a cat!

The Newbie

 This is Linus, formally known as Nadine, enjoying some quiet time with Edolie.  Linus came to stay with us last week and we are all in love.

 He met Abner yesterday and they hung out together in a sunny spot on the carpet while I was working on my leather projects.  Luckily, both were cordial and just pretty much ignored each other.  Although, Abner just ignores everyone, it's just his way.

 I came out of my shower the other day to find Linus wrapped up like a baby in Edolie's cupcake blankie.  Apparently, he was tired and cold. ( This is what our dear Linus gets to look forward to in his life with us)

AND of course, the small stack of wallets that I hope to list this week.  I'm getting stuff done and it feels good!( didn't realize I loaded this but I'm supposed to be writing about my work, not kittens right?)

With Yui gone we really didn't know if we would be bringing another cat into the picture, but who could resist a face like Linus'.  He's got us all wrapped around his teeny little paw and that's O.K.  It's nice to have a feline presence in the house again.  Welcome Linus!

One of Those Kind of Days

Today has been one of those grumpy, can't get comfortable, can't get anything done kind of days, so I am looking at fuzzy and scaly faces to help me make it through.  Yui, our old guy is our sweetheart, he hides all day long and comes out to curl up with me on the couch in the evenings after the kiddos go to bed.  He keeps me happy and sane.  I'm so glad he's still here to curl up with at night.  The scaly wonder below is baby Tigiba the leachie.  I am so fascinated by him/her that I spend a fair amount of time just staring at her pink spots and beautiful eyes.  It feels good to have a house full of kids and critters.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.  Now I'm off to track down an envelope full of wallets that I thought were ready to sew.  I can't stand it when I know I cut out a bunch of somethings and have no idea where I put them!  So frustrating! 

Ah Bummer!

I am feeling particularly restless on this fine evening. I had my tacos, my beer, my evening walk, and I still can't calm down. I want to work, but I don't want to clean my table off. I want to sleep too, but I just can't get comfortable. Therefore, I just don't know what to do with myself. Ciaran is asleep, Mark went out to run errands, and our 3 minus 1 cats are snoozing on the couch with no intention of getting up and keeping me company. The tortoises could care less about my dilemma, they both have full tummys and a nice rock to bask on. So I guess I will just keep watching useless t.v. and staring at my work table hoping it will clean itself.

Tabby Wars

I was just finishing up my listing for this little pouch when the big whirlwind of excitement occurred. I was peacefully pressing buttons and typing away when BLAM! THERE HE WAS! Smacking the window with all of his might! The big grey tabby with white socks that lives under our deck. He usually comes up to taunt our cat Mac, who growls and hisses and sputters while he rolls back and forth on the deck with his fuzzy belly in the air. He seems to enjoy mocking her, and I get a pretty good kick out of it too. Today, he happened across our huge Tabby boy Yui. Yui usually minds his own business and seems to be scared of his own shadow. Today, he must have had it with the other cat's antics though because he stalked the other tabby through the window and ended up standing upright on his back two legs, frantically scratching and clawing the window to get at Big Tabby. It was a battle in silence, neither party said a word, they just smacked at each other through the window, over and over again. Then they both stopped, and sat and stared at one another for about five minutes. Big Tabby was distracted by a bird flying overhead, and Yui was distracted by the sound of a can of cat food being kicked across the floor. The battle was over. No one was harmed. Life is peaceful again.

My Newest Custom Order

The end of the week has brought a successful finish to my latest custom order. It was really fun to put together. I love a challenge and it was quite a challenge sewing a teeny ohm sign onto this little wallet. It turned out beautifully though and I am glad. I hope it's new owner will be happy with it:)

It has been a long and crazy week full of terminally ill kitties, tantruming toddlers, and other shenanigans. Now that it is winding down, I am looking forward to a weekend of pumpkin patch exploring, and festival going. I need to get out of the house, get my mind on other things, and wrap my head around what is really going on here. I need to sort out a new schedule for Ciaran and I, and get cracking on more stuff! I just want to be as efficient as possible, especially with Humbug needing a lot of extra care for the rest of her time here. I am sure it will all work out but I at least want to have a plan, a plan will just make me feel better. It's that safety thing, just having some grasp on what is happening next...........even though what I plan and what actually happens could be two totally different things. Ah the unexpected! Surprises me every time:)

Sleepy Sleepy Day

So here I am waiting patiently for my bright orange leather pants in the mail so I can make some more lovely things from them. I didn't get much sleep last night, Ciaran was once again with us and spent the night tossing and turning, talking, and climbing on top of my head to get comfortable. This morning he has a ton of energy and is also a little on the cranky side which doesn't match up well with my tiredness. Luckily, the neighbors' tabby cat has come to visit and Ciaran is getting a kick out of watching the kitty frolic about on the deck. If I was more awake I would be enjoying the antics more. It is good for a little giggle though for sure. Our cats hate it when the tabby comes to visit and I think the tabby knows that by the way he does his theatrical rolling and pouncing while looking in our window the whole time.

After kitty antics are done, we head downtown to mail off some more goods and search for zippers and ingredients for our big pot of chili. I may also sneak in a trip to the thrift store and the art store for a few little special treats for myself. More wool sweaters, cotton shirts, leather, who knows! The last visit to the thrift store ended up in the purchase of a new toy boat for Ciaran for twenty cents. It was the little boat or a huge rubber lobster. Ciaran picked the boat and I thank him for that. It was way easier to carry home.

I Think I am Growing a New Nostril

My right nostril is really sore. It has been for a while now. I thought it might be from all the sneezing and snuffling from my one continuous allergy attack. My nose is constantly runny and my head is constantly stuffed up. Today I blew my nose and OUCH! that side was sore, I noticed a big red bump on the side of it. It's HUGE! I am hoping it's a third nostril and not the huge zit it seems to be turning in to. At least it would be worth some odd stares and discussion.

So Yui made it through his trip to the vet yesterday. His exam went great and his blood work to check his liver and kidney functions came back, and all is o.k. Today he is back to chasing birds through the kitchen window and running away from Ciaran. Looks like the washer may be fixed too! Ah clean clothes once again.

Ciaran and I are heading out to visit Mark at work and to look for belts at our local thrift store. I have an idea for a small leather bag and I want to get started. Hopefully they have something that will go with this lovely lavender suede I am using. I must remember to take swatches. So I can at least find something that coordinates. If all else fails, I will go with brown.

Coffee, Cats, and Painting

I am getting a rare moment to myself with my steaming hot cup of coffee and a warm purring cat snuggled next to me. I am painting some plum and lime green leather for some "splat" appliques for my next wallet. I love it! I can get a little bit done, enjoy my coffee, and reconnect with one of our fuzzy roommates. This particular fuzzy one has a date with the veterinarian on Tuesday. He must be so excited. It will be nice to have all of his medical needs out of the way for the rest of the year.

Yui suffers from seizures, so he has to have medication on a daily basis. So once a year, poor Yui goes to visit his friends at the animal clinic, where he is poked with needles, and checked out head to toe. Looking at him you would never guess that he has a medical condition at all. He is HUGE! He weighs a bit over seventeen pounds and is taller and longer than any other cat in our neighborhood. He is also the sweetest and most timid cat in the neighborhood. I don't think I have ever heard him growl or hiss at any other cat. The only time he has hissed at me was when I was stepping on his tail and didn't realize it. Sorry Yui.

It's done! My first travel wallet, complete with zipper compartment on the interior. I really like how it turned out. The design of the wallet needs a few minor adjustments but I think it will work. I am having so much fun making snaps I can't believe I didn't try sooner. I hope to make a lot more in the next few weeks. As soon as I finish up a few other things then I will be concentrating on perfecting my snap an zipper techniques. I think I have it down pretty much, but I just want to see what possibilities my abilities have.

Other than that, Ciaran and I will probably take a little break this afternoon to go and check on my parents' elderly kitty Oliver, who is very old and completely deaf. My parents are in Seattle this week picking up their new puppy Duffy. My dad is so excited about his new little friend. He lost Zeke (his other dog) in November and has been so upset about it. I hope Oliver deals well with the new friend. He is pretty tolerant of everyone around him including dogs but he is so old and frail now, I hope his health holds out. So Ciaran and I will go and hang out with Oliver and keep him company for a while. He always seems to appreciate a visit. Ciaran always appreciates having a new furry friend to hang out with.

An Orange Day

That is the color of the sky today. Orange, hazy, foggy, smokey, it is such a weird color. I wish I didn't have to go out in it but I need to make my way downtown for errands. I don't have a lot to do but enough to make me get off my butt and make the trip. I just hate walking in this stuff it makes me super wheezy/sneezy. I was hoping the fires would die down soon but it seems like the ones east of us are growing. Apparently around Burnt Ranch. That makes it extra smokey and weird down here at the coast. So I will be taking it easy today as much as possible. Working all my little things, watching Ciaran race around the house, watching the cats watch Ciaran run around the house, and then running off to hide in various places. They are fearless of everything else, except a happy screaming toddler, the most terrifying of all creatures. Ciaran is so sweet to them too. He rarely tries to touch them, he just looks at them and speaks baby to them. Occasionally he tries to kiss their ears but ends up drooling in their eyes. Or he pats them gently. They are all terrified of him though, no matter what. Maybe he is offering threats of death in their language or something. Drowning them in his drool, or trying to feed them cheerios and peanut butter until they explode. It is a mystery to me, I don't think I will ever uncover this mystery. It is not my destiny to uncover it. I just get to sit back and giggle about it. It is a sight to behold. An amusing mystery on this weird, orange day.