With three dysfunctional cats, one of the first things we do every morning is check litter boxes. I need to know who did what where. For the last two mornings we haven't found any poop in Sassy's puppy pad boxes. We also didn't find any anywhere else. We wondered if perhaps she decided to use a regular litter box (and wouldn't that be nice?). Today Carl discovered she'd been using the cat house. So, he cleaned it up and we put on the odor remover we got from Stanley Steemer. We may close the door to the cat house when we go to bed, also. She only does stuff like this at night when we can't see her. When we're awake, she always uses her boxes.
We're finished with Twitch's ear medicine but now his head is all greasy. I tried to clean him up yesterday morning but I didn't have enough soap on the rag (I didn't want to get it in his eyes). I will try again this afternoon. Petting him is like running your hands through the hair of a 60s greased head.
Sadie pretty much stays in her room now, although she's venturing out more. I try to make it a habit to get in there several times a day to pet and play with her. I also give her treats and try to brush her. Twitch is still new so she may adjust. This will be our last cat so there are no more surprises for her.
Since we covered the pond with net we've had some glorious days in the 70s. Somehow the frogs find their way out from under the net but, of course, are too stupid to find their way back so they sit on top of the net. We scoop them up with the big net and put them under the pond net but the next day.... One of these days they'll be caught outside and it will get cold. So, we watch carefully. We wouldn't like to kill any wildlife just because we are too lazy to scoop leaves.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Life with Twitch...
We've had Twitch several weeks now and it seems like he's always been here. He's very sweet most of the time considering he's spent so much of his life at the no kill shelter and doesn't have a lot of one on one time with people so he's clumsy and sometimes annoyed with us. We're still learning his rhythms. He's so much more curious than our other two. Sassy and Sadie have NEVER been seen on the tables or counters. They like their window seats but they've never been where they're not supposed to be. Twitch, is on everything, in everything. Open a door, bam, he's there. He wants in the cabinets, the closets, the fridge. He loves to watch the water run in the sinks and is fascinated by a flushing toilet. He sleeps with us every night and even likes to get under the feather duvet. We've never had cats sleep with us before, so that's new for us. It's hard to turn over at night without rolling over him.
The dynamics in the house have changed. Sadie used to live in our bedroom, coming out to go into the cat house, eat and use the litter box. Now she lives in the spare bedroom and rarely ventures out. We've added a litter box and her dry food with a water bowl. Carl takes her wet food there in the morning because she's still taking her pill. He's cut that down to 1 every 3 days and this morning she actually purred for me. She really doesn't do that much. We'd much rather see her traveling the house and interacting more with the other two but whatever makes her comfortable is ok with us.
Sassy actually spends more time searching for, running away from and being close to Twitch. They play chase and I've even seen them bat at each other and not in a mean way. Twitch loves to play and so does Sassy so eventually they may even become friends. They do not sleep together. Sassy has been really good about using her litter box with the puppy pads as long as we are diligent about keeping it clean. In fact, after we clean it she can't wait to use it so usually we have to clean it twice in the morning. We've added a new litter box to the laundry room for Twitch so we're actually up to seven boxes although not all are used everyday. We've had the carpets cleaned and blocked off the living room so she can't get to her favorite spots to poop. As long as the gate is up, she's good with her litter box. Twitch can jump the gate but he's got a litter box in the living room which he uses on occasion. We're hoping sometime soon we can remove that box and the one in the dining room for good but we'll still leave the gate up until we feel Sassy has lost her fixation with the living room. Eventually we hope to be down to 2 in the laundry room, 1 in the basement and 1 in the spare bedroom (the rule is 1 more box than cats).
We took Twitch to the vet yesterday. He was due for shots in early November but he's got some hair loss around his nose and up by his eyes. He's so pretty, it's distracting and we didn't know if it would get worse. Twitch does not like shots. It took 3 of us to hold him. He's 9lbs, 8oz and long and lean. I called him 'sissy pants' all the way home. Sassy just lays there for shots, Twitch not so much. The vet examined his ears and face and prescribed an antibiotic for both. We need to squirt stuff in his ears twice a day and massage them to take care of the mites. He doesn't like it. The antibiotic is liquid and he needs it once a day. I'm doing ears (for seven days) and Carl is doing his antibiotic for twenty days. If there is no improvement in the hair loss the next step would be to anesthetize him and scrap the skin so they can tell just what's happening with him.
Last night we were having a family dinner so all of us were at the dining room table eating chili when Twitch nonchalantly jumps up on the table between my daughter and SIL - just like he belonged there. Luckily, when we put him down on the floor he doesn't try again. Maybe in time he will learn 'that's not his space'.
That's the update. I'll post again soon.
The dynamics in the house have changed. Sadie used to live in our bedroom, coming out to go into the cat house, eat and use the litter box. Now she lives in the spare bedroom and rarely ventures out. We've added a litter box and her dry food with a water bowl. Carl takes her wet food there in the morning because she's still taking her pill. He's cut that down to 1 every 3 days and this morning she actually purred for me. She really doesn't do that much. We'd much rather see her traveling the house and interacting more with the other two but whatever makes her comfortable is ok with us.
Sassy actually spends more time searching for, running away from and being close to Twitch. They play chase and I've even seen them bat at each other and not in a mean way. Twitch loves to play and so does Sassy so eventually they may even become friends. They do not sleep together. Sassy has been really good about using her litter box with the puppy pads as long as we are diligent about keeping it clean. In fact, after we clean it she can't wait to use it so usually we have to clean it twice in the morning. We've added a new litter box to the laundry room for Twitch so we're actually up to seven boxes although not all are used everyday. We've had the carpets cleaned and blocked off the living room so she can't get to her favorite spots to poop. As long as the gate is up, she's good with her litter box. Twitch can jump the gate but he's got a litter box in the living room which he uses on occasion. We're hoping sometime soon we can remove that box and the one in the dining room for good but we'll still leave the gate up until we feel Sassy has lost her fixation with the living room. Eventually we hope to be down to 2 in the laundry room, 1 in the basement and 1 in the spare bedroom (the rule is 1 more box than cats).
We took Twitch to the vet yesterday. He was due for shots in early November but he's got some hair loss around his nose and up by his eyes. He's so pretty, it's distracting and we didn't know if it would get worse. Twitch does not like shots. It took 3 of us to hold him. He's 9lbs, 8oz and long and lean. I called him 'sissy pants' all the way home. Sassy just lays there for shots, Twitch not so much. The vet examined his ears and face and prescribed an antibiotic for both. We need to squirt stuff in his ears twice a day and massage them to take care of the mites. He doesn't like it. The antibiotic is liquid and he needs it once a day. I'm doing ears (for seven days) and Carl is doing his antibiotic for twenty days. If there is no improvement in the hair loss the next step would be to anesthetize him and scrap the skin so they can tell just what's happening with him.
Last night we were having a family dinner so all of us were at the dining room table eating chili when Twitch nonchalantly jumps up on the table between my daughter and SIL - just like he belonged there. Luckily, when we put him down on the floor he doesn't try again. Maybe in time he will learn 'that's not his space'.
That's the update. I'll post again soon.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Treacherous Treats
#2927
Supplies:
Supplies:
Waltzing Mouse Midnight Feast
Papertrey Ink Center Style Masculine
Clear & Simple Stamps Apothecary: Holidays, Sweets
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Jingle all the way...
#2922
Supply List:
Supply List:
Taylored Expressions Holiday Grumplings
Penny Black Jingle
Distress Inks
Monday, October 5, 2015
Have a creepy crawly birthday...
#2921
Supplies:
Supplies:
Jaded Blossom Panel Dies, Spidey Senses, Halloween Panels
Wink of Stella Clear
Distress Inks
Sunday, October 4, 2015
dashing through the No!
#2917
Supplies:
Supplies:
Taylored Expressions Holiday Grumplings Stamps and Dies
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens
PTI In the Meadow Dies, Sweet Speech Dies
Fiskars Crimper
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Ghostly greetings....
#2916
Supplies:
Supplies:
PTI Happy Haunting
Tim Holtz Crazy Things
Beckett Card Stock
Beckett Card Stock
Recollections Purple Passion Card Stock
Fiskars Crimper
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
And Twitch makes three...
It seems like forever since I've posted here so let me bring you up to date:
A new family building in our subdivision has a 9 year old that apparently has decided on a life of crime. She's been stealing from the neighbors, from school and last week she brought a plastic bag and walked off with our best fish while trying to destroy our pond. Suffice it to say, I was bummed. One of the fish she took was a 6-7" fantail, the last of three we purchased. Police were called but I've heard nothing since the officer talked to the father. Apparently the fish were given to a construction worker and are long gone (why would you steal something and then gift it to someone?). Since then I can't walk by a window without glancing down to see if she's back, this incident put a dent in my tranquility.
My sister-in-law from California is visiting a friend in Quincy and has stopped by our house for several days. Reminds me of a George Carlin routine where supply lines are getting longer and harder to maintain. She has stuff in California, stuff in Quincy and now she has stuff here. She and her friend, Charla, are leaving here today for Quincy and taking my husband with them. He'll be gone several days and while he's away....
I plan to adopt another cat and will pick him up on Thursday. Three years ago we adopted Sassy, our Persian. As I was walking by Twitch's cage, he reached out both paws and grabbed my arm. I promised him I would be back for him and have thought of him often. He's five years old and I know he's been at the A.R.K. for at least three. I am fixing up our bedroom for him, litter box in the master bath, toys, cat tree and a screen door between him and what could be his harem, Sassy and Sadie. Fingers crossed that they not only get along, but that Sassy and Twitch become friends. Sadie doesn't seem to need them, but Sassy loves to play and I'm hoping he will too. And while we're on the subject of cats, we had all our carpets shampooed last week and removed all the litter boxes from the formal living room. Since we hang in the family room, the living room is filled with spare furniture, Carl's desk and cat stuff. We had six litter boxes, three lined with puppy pads since we discovered Sassy has a real problem with litter. Now, we have two boxes with puppy pads, one in the foyer and one in the laundry room. We have two litter boxes, one inside an end table and one in the basement. Sassy has been really good about her boxes, using them exclusively since last Thursday and we are sticklers for keeping her boxes clean. Sadie likes the one in the basement. Life with cats is good now but we're following the 'trust but verify' rule and leaving up the gate to the living room for a while. And all bets are off when we (I) bring Twitch home.
For those of you following the Wookiee, he's mostly finished. He's been trooping (he gathers crowds everywhere he goes) and my daughter is starting new projects, specifically a Cousin Itt using the same techniques she used on the Wookiee. People are actually asking her to make costumes for them and they have money in hand so I suspect she's going to be busy for a while. In addition to her incredible sewing talent, she's becoming a terrific photographer, often taking pictures of the 501st when they're out doing what they do. She embellishes the photos into works of art. She's my kid and I'm really proud of her.
There you have all the news that's fit to print. The nights are getting cooler here, the sun is rotating on its axis, the garden is slowly going to sleep and I'm gearing up cardmaking for an October craft sale in Chillicothe, IL. All is well in our world.
A new family building in our subdivision has a 9 year old that apparently has decided on a life of crime. She's been stealing from the neighbors, from school and last week she brought a plastic bag and walked off with our best fish while trying to destroy our pond. Suffice it to say, I was bummed. One of the fish she took was a 6-7" fantail, the last of three we purchased. Police were called but I've heard nothing since the officer talked to the father. Apparently the fish were given to a construction worker and are long gone (why would you steal something and then gift it to someone?). Since then I can't walk by a window without glancing down to see if she's back, this incident put a dent in my tranquility.
My sister-in-law from California is visiting a friend in Quincy and has stopped by our house for several days. Reminds me of a George Carlin routine where supply lines are getting longer and harder to maintain. She has stuff in California, stuff in Quincy and now she has stuff here. She and her friend, Charla, are leaving here today for Quincy and taking my husband with them. He'll be gone several days and while he's away....
I plan to adopt another cat and will pick him up on Thursday. Three years ago we adopted Sassy, our Persian. As I was walking by Twitch's cage, he reached out both paws and grabbed my arm. I promised him I would be back for him and have thought of him often. He's five years old and I know he's been at the A.R.K. for at least three. I am fixing up our bedroom for him, litter box in the master bath, toys, cat tree and a screen door between him and what could be his harem, Sassy and Sadie. Fingers crossed that they not only get along, but that Sassy and Twitch become friends. Sadie doesn't seem to need them, but Sassy loves to play and I'm hoping he will too. And while we're on the subject of cats, we had all our carpets shampooed last week and removed all the litter boxes from the formal living room. Since we hang in the family room, the living room is filled with spare furniture, Carl's desk and cat stuff. We had six litter boxes, three lined with puppy pads since we discovered Sassy has a real problem with litter. Now, we have two boxes with puppy pads, one in the foyer and one in the laundry room. We have two litter boxes, one inside an end table and one in the basement. Sassy has been really good about her boxes, using them exclusively since last Thursday and we are sticklers for keeping her boxes clean. Sadie likes the one in the basement. Life with cats is good now but we're following the 'trust but verify' rule and leaving up the gate to the living room for a while. And all bets are off when we (I) bring Twitch home.
For those of you following the Wookiee, he's mostly finished. He's been trooping (he gathers crowds everywhere he goes) and my daughter is starting new projects, specifically a Cousin Itt using the same techniques she used on the Wookiee. People are actually asking her to make costumes for them and they have money in hand so I suspect she's going to be busy for a while. In addition to her incredible sewing talent, she's becoming a terrific photographer, often taking pictures of the 501st when they're out doing what they do. She embellishes the photos into works of art. She's my kid and I'm really proud of her.
There you have all the news that's fit to print. The nights are getting cooler here, the sun is rotating on its axis, the garden is slowly going to sleep and I'm gearing up cardmaking for an October craft sale in Chillicothe, IL. All is well in our world.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Halloween Box Card
#2886
Supplies:
Supplies:
SVGCuts Plain Display Box from the Christmas Box Cards
Grim Reaper by Bird
Lettering Delights Spooky Tree
Halloween Witch by Bird
K&Company Double Sided Halloween Card Stock
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Over the Hill....
#2883
Supplies:
Supplies:
PTI Haunted Headstones Dies & Sentiments; Scene-It: Hallows Eve
Recollections Card Stock
Colorbox Silver Ink
Distress Ink: Black Soot
I {heart} you this much...
#2882
Supplies:
Supplies:
Sassy Cheryl "Come on Get Happy"
PTI Choose Joy
Winnie & Walter The Big, the Bold (&Happy), (&Seasons), (&You)
Recollections Kraft Card stock, glitter paper, Paddywack Paper Pad
Spellbinder Nested Hearts
Copics: R24, R27, R29, B91, B93, B95, N3, E000, E00, E11, R20
Tools: MISTI, Big Shot Pro, Cameo
Thursday, August 20, 2015
You are aMAZEing...
#2875
Supplies:
Supplies:
Doodle Pantry DPMiniMazes1
iCraft Deco Foil Silver
Computer generated sentiment
Pop-tone Blue Raspberry card stock
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Happy Birthday to you...
#2872
Supplies:
Supplies:
Hero Arts Butterflies #3
Stampendous Birthday Wish
My Favorite Things Blissful Blooms,
Inkadinkadoo Flower Flourish
Distress Ink: Hickory Smoke, Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters
Penny Black Letter Background
PTI Melon Berry Card Stock
Monday, August 10, 2015
Mojo Monday 410
This is my first entry into the Mojo Monday challenge, but probably not my last. I love the inspiration for creativity these sketches give me. There is one new technique included in this card. I recently purchased a Heidi Swapp Minc Machine which I adore. The paper on this card is from Papertrey's In Bloom paper pad. I scanned the black and white paper and printed it on my laser jet. It was then foiled with Opal iCraft deo foil. You can't tell in the photo but the shine is dazzling. I am a huge fan of PTI, I have the In Bloom stamps and dies also. I was trying to use them to make a card on the foiled background when the Mojo Monday e-mail landed in my in-basket... and, Bob's your uncle.
#2867
Supplies:
Supplies:
Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet Card Stock & Ink, In Bloom Paper Pad, Confetti Garland Die, Birthday Basics Stamp Set, Shaker Shapes: Balloon Die, Circle Die
Tim Holtz Crazy Thoughts
Heidi Swapp Vellum, Minc Machine
iCraft Opal Deco Foil
DCWV Glitzy Glitter
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Happy August Birthday...
#2862
Supplies:
Supplies:
Papertrey Ink: Hawaiian Shores Card Stock, Hawaiian Shores Ink, Beautiful Blooms Paper Pad, Pupre Poppy Ink, Beautiful Blooms Stamps & Dies, Birthday Classics: August Stamp Set, Simply Chartreuse Card Stock, Turning a New Leaf Die, Spellbinders Curved Borders Two
Thursday, August 6, 2015
the sky is the limit
#2859
Supply list:
Supply list:
PTI Watercolor Wonder; Up, Up & Away; Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Enchanted Evening, Melon Berry, Spring Moss Ink
Copics: R81, G00, YG63, YG61, R22
Wink of Stella Clear
Gelly Roll Clear Star
You are 'cherry' sweet...
#2823
Supply List
Supply List
Flourishes Peaches and Cherries
Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy Card Stock
Zig Clean Color Real Brushes
Martha Stewart Border Punch
Here kitty, kitty...
It's been a while since I've had an update on our garden. The pond that we installed last spring has come into its own. The pond plants are lush, and the fish are getting big.
This is the view from the steps to the gazebo looking west.
There is a raised bed at the back of the yard filled with butterfly and hummingbird flowers.
The fenced raised bed on the north side of the backyard contains all the plants the deer like to eat. Honeysuckle is working its way up the old gazebo frame.
The enclosure we had built for the cats is well used. Platforms up the sides provide plenty of room for them to sit and watch the back yard.
The enclosure is connected to the side of the house and can be entered through a pet door installed in an acrylic panel that replaced the screen in the window. Our Persian, Sassy, learned to use the pet door almost immediately. Our tuxedo cat, Sadie, still has not learned - the door must be pushed for her to access the enclosure. They both spend a lot of time out there, Sassy spends the most time because she can come and go as she pleases. We have to watch for Sadie to want to go out. Who knew that Sassy was the smart one?
While rain was a problem early in the summer, now it's a long stretch between the rains that seem to pummel the north and south of us. We spotted our first two monarch caterpillars on Tuesday. The bluebirds fledged five babies in the early summer but did not nest again in either of our two bird boxes. A small flock of turkeys have spent parts of every day in our yard for some time now. The feed that Carl throws out every day helps to capture their attention.
And...we've discussed a new kitten, hopefully a young male which will negate Sadie's territorial issues and give Sassy someone to play with. Looking after the last week of September.
While rain was a problem early in the summer, now it's a long stretch between the rains that seem to pummel the north and south of us. We spotted our first two monarch caterpillars on Tuesday. The bluebirds fledged five babies in the early summer but did not nest again in either of our two bird boxes. A small flock of turkeys have spent parts of every day in our yard for some time now. The feed that Carl throws out every day helps to capture their attention.
And...we've discussed a new kitten, hopefully a young male which will negate Sadie's territorial issues and give Sassy someone to play with. Looking after the last week of September.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
To the best kid ever....
#2858
Supply List:
Supply List:
Papertrey Ink Harvest Gold Cardstock
Distress Ink: Fossilized Amber, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed
Spellbinders Circle Die
Hero Arts Lil Hoot
Wink of Stella Clear
Friday, July 24, 2015
On buying art...
Some people don't think of paper artists as artists and I've had people tell me I charge too much for "home made" cards. Hallmark can charge $5.99 for a card they have mass produced. There could be thousands of those cards on the market. I charge between $2.00 and $3.00 a card depending on the amount of time I've spent on it. Some cards can take all day to color, especially water colors. And each card is unique. I never mass produce cards. I've been numbering my cards since I started making them twenty years ago and I've made more than 2844 individual cards. I started going to craft fairs and selling because my inventory just kept stacking up. I sell them in order to recoup some of the money I've spent on supplies: markers, watercolors, papers, digital images, rubber stamps, ribbon, embellishments, printers, cutting machines, dies, paints, glitter, embossing powder, scissors, pencils, classes, instruction books, and adhesives. My art is as important to me as any artist who creates with paints, metal, chalk, bricks and clay and I take great pride in it. Rant over.
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