My birthday is tomorrow, and I’ve received a most unusual present. It was delivered by a handsome young man, wearing a tux. He walked into our courtyard, up to the front porch, and politely asked for a meal. His manners were impeccable, and he seemed like a really friendly fellow. Who could refuse such a request?
Two days later, he returned, once again hungry. DH greeted him this time, and reported really enjoying his company. DH raised the question of inviting our young man to stay with us. We have plenty of room in our home, but what would the Meezers think? The young fellow attired in a tux is feline, you see.
I would never have asked for him because I know DH has had allergies to domestic cat fur. This boy has a coat that is shorter than the Meezers, and even outdoors keeps it impeccably shiny. I guess neither of us could bear the thought of him being caught by the hawk that circles the lake, or hit by a car, or a dozen other fates that await an outdoor cat.
First, though, before he could be brought into our household, he had to be tested for feline leukemia and FIV. I popped him into our cat stroller and walked the two blocks to the vet. Now, our Meezers have been outside only for such trips, and the novelty of all those smells usually distracts them. Not this boy – he’d been there, done that. So what was it with the rolling cage? ! Once at the vet, his marvelous people skills resurfaced. The techs took him off to have blood drawn, and returned, raving over him. It seems he cooperated fully with them, purring loudly throughout the whole procedure. When he got back to the exam room he was draped across the vet tech’s arms, enjoying the praise.
The labs came back clear, and the next hurdle arrived: name, please. He had to have a chart and a rabies tag in his name. DH and I had discussed several names, and settled on one. I told the vet we would call him Archie, but I reserved the right to change it if Archie didn’t care for the name. Our vet chuckled, and said that would be just fine.
Archie is at home in our guest room, where he is to be isolated for at least a week. Like many kittens and young cats he has worms, and has received his first dose of worming medicine. Specimens must be pronounced clear by the vet before he can mingle with the Meezers. That’s fine by me. New cats in our home have always been introduced that way. Not only do we isolate for any surprise viruses, but also as a way of introducing the newcomer. Muttering is allowed under the door. One day the door will casually be left unlatched, and informal greetings can proceed. 
Archie says “Hey, I’m eating here! Do you mind?”
All in all, he is quite a birthday present. Oh, and DH spent a night sleeping in the guest room with Archie, with no ill effect. Keep your paws and fingers crossed that all will go well with our handsome youngest.
The Canadian geese were in procession down our lake. A tradesman that comes to our house told us he believes they live on a lake a few miles from ours. I counted, and again saw 13 geese, the same number I saw in the Spring, so I believe he is correct.
Evidently, it was just a “road trip” for the geese; I haven’t seen them since their Saturday visit.
Torrie was in the cat seat, just beyond the keeping room table.
I took the camera to DH’s office to show him our cuties, and when I returned to the keeping room, Torrie had piled in with Minky.
There was nothing to do but wash her – what Minky does best. (I just love how Minky always washes with her eyes closed.)
It has a more subtle beauty than the high contrast of the Meezer Ulmus. Different moods for different days, eh?
I bought 3-100 gram skeins of natural white worsted weight to knit my shawl. The third skein was bought as insurance; if I didn’t need it for the shawl, I most certainly would find some small project to love.
It is as yummy and warm as I imagined it would be. (Let me tell you about August photoshoots in Louisiana! Warm!) Oh, that third skein? I weighed it before and after knitting, finding that I used 20 grams , or 40 yards (total project required 240 yards). A small additional item can still happen, and I am most certainly glad I bought the third skein.
It just wasn’t very exciting to knit…been there, done that. The scarf languished in one of my favorite knitting bags until this weekend, when I determined that I would rather have the knitting bag and the options needle available – finish it! It took two 50-gram skeins for this length. I called it a halt there because I still have enough yarn for a pair of socks. After washing (the water had only a haze of blue, gone in one rinse) I hung this scarf over the drying rack, to encourage whatever stretching it wanted. 
I was surprised that it could play so well with my summer shirt, prolonging its wearing season well into fall. Happy, happy dance!
I treated it like a square pillowcase, with the extension twice the width of the buttons I had chosen. I was very pleased with the results.
I was thrilled to find the pumpkin fabric for the pillow. DH loves all things orange, even once buying an orange car. This pumpkin’s for you, babe!
