It may be a bit nippy for us humans, but for our furry friends, the weather’s just right. If you’re chilling indoors today, why not curl up with cool conversation?
Via Reddit.
Weekend Open Thread
63 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”
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A beautiful picture of a beautiful cat!
I couldn’t agree more!
Me too. Gorgeous all the way around.
I don’t have much news to tell because I’ve mostly been staying indoors all week because of the bitter cold we’ve had here, it was down to – 26C (-14F) during the day and to -31C (-23F) and that’s not counting the wind chill factor. But today I have to go out shopping for gifts to my grand-niece and nephew that I’ll be seeing on January 6th.
I really really miss having a dog but it’s just not a good idea with my old cats, it would be fair to them. But at least I got to have my puppy fix at the Christmas Eve party. Take a look at the cutie pie that welcomed me at my sister-in-law.
Awwwwww.
Cutie indeed!
Peeenk tongue and boopable nosage. 🙂
Oooh, such a sweetie. Lucky you! And I love this kitty cat, looks a little like my friend’s cat and I think him and this one are Main Coon cats.
I wish I could send some of the warm weather we’ve been having here in SoCal to thaw everyone out. It hit 82(!) yesterday and looks to be in the upper 70s/low 80s for the rest of the weekend. And so far no sign of rain in the forecast so it looks like we’ll be back in a drought situation unless we get rain in Jan.
I’ll get my doggy fix later today when we visit a friend of ours, he has 2 blonde cocker spaniels. Such sweet babies. We’re headed north today and we’ll be going to see the Rose Bowl Parade on Monday. Sorta, we’re actually going to the Post-Parade Showcase of Floats instead of trying to deal with the crowds at the parade itself. This way we get up close and personal with the floats instead of just getting a few minute glimpse as they roll by.
Hope everyone has a safe New Year’s Eve and all the best for the New Year.
It snowed for about six hours in York yesterday morning, which looked rather picturesque although I was glad to get back home after a shopping trip into the city centre. My New Year’s Resolution will be to learn Old Norse and runes, and perhaps when I’m in a position to take holidays abroad again I’ll be able to visit Iceland in winter and find out what REAL snow is like!
Pic: Fur coat-wearing cat is smug.
Alice, I just found something that you may already know about but in case you don’t I’m sending it along. It’s about a magician who saved all sorts of theatre ephemera – the link is:
https://hyperallergic.com/333819/there-will-be-fun-a-conjurors-glorious-victorian-entertainment-archive/
Murray C, that’s fabulous “there will be fun” indeed!
Saw this book at B&N yesterday. It has buttons you can press to hear different purrs!
Purr: A Cat Therapy Guide to Happiness
Stopped at my parents’ yesterday to pick up my Christmas presents that I left there on Monday. They are dog-sitting for my cousin’s dogs, Teddy the Wheaten Terrier mix and Gracie the Yorkie. Gracie has a little chocolate-kiss nose and very expressive ears. The cats were hiding in the bedroom.
Going to the dentist this afternoon and then to see if I can use my Kohls Cash that expires on Monday, and a coupon that came with my new replacement credit card that expires on Sunday. If it doesn’t snow too much I’ll make an appearance at game night at my friend’s house, then on Sunday I’m going to my other friend’s for New Year’s Eve and do our Christmas presents. Then off Monday and I plan to sleep and maybe do some laundry.
It’s snowing. Not too heavy but I guess it’s been going on a while. Would kitty mind clearing off my car?
My white noise box has waves, rainstorm, crickets, birds, but no purring. That should definitely be one of the options! Maybe more than one, according to this book–
I have the White Noise app on my tablet. It has a purring kitty (I tend to gravitate toward the waves and rain…my favorite is rain on a wooden deck).
I read that as “rain on a wooden duck ” and was utterly baffled for a few seconds.
That’s at Duckie’s house.
????
?
Hehe, and I was trying to figure out how she’d use her Kohl’s card at the dentist! Need more coffee.
I only use the wave setting on my white noise machine, I get the purring live from my cat Mia. But they really should put purring on the machine for people who don’t have cats, it’s very soothing.
Hi, all. We’re having a couple of cool days for here in central Florida (61 yesterday, 46 last night) but it’s only sweater weather. I wish you could have some of our warmth, too — we’ve had too much until very recently. I am cheap enough I don’t like needing AC at Christmas!
I’ve had a very quiet week, just working on a big job. My computer is in the shop — my computer geek husband doesn’t have the right software to fix it even though he knows how to, and it costs less to take it to the shop. Where they were horrified by a 10-year-old computer — but most of it has been upgraded a piece at a time, so it’s mostly newer than it looks from the outside. I hope I get it back by Wednesday, when I need it for work again! At least I can keep up with the cute on my phone and tablet! How times have changed!
Everyone have a great week, and if you go anywhere on New Year’s Eve, please be careful out there!
Hi All. My dog fix is sound asleep under my bedspread while I draw.
I plan to spend New Years Eve with Millie. She gave me the first perfect year of my life.
Wishing everyone a safe holiday. See you next year!
Hello, everyone, and an early Happy New Year. Don’t forget: party at Mike’s tomorrow. The wombat drops at midnight.
I have been deliberately not commenting for the last few days, as I did not want to drag anyone else’s life down.
Christmas Day was less than happy. We all missed Grampa more than we would admit. It was also the first time in several months that I’d seen some of my nieces and nephews, and I was shocked beyond comprehension to realize that a couple of them had fallen far behind in mental development. I’d known that there were issues, but I didn’t think they were that serious.
I HATE hubby’s new job. It’s completely ruined any kind of schedule we had. The ONLY good thing I can say about it is that he is not bringing home nearly as much of the outdoors as he did with his old job. Cleaning is easier.
Thursday and Friday were spent (by me) wrapped in blankets in front of a heater, with candles and matches on hand, and spent by hubby shovelling ice. And it looks like today will be the same. A sleet storm knocked out our power a couple of times, and many young trees and older tree branches were lost. I am feeling so guilty about not being able to help him that it is flattening me.
Terrible cold and sore throat. Pleasant ringing in my ears, though.
Grampa’s brother passed away this week.
I’m going back to bed. Be well, all.
PS pretty kitty
Duckie, I understand about not wanting to bring anyone else down, but please know that we are here and that we are rooting for you. 🙂 I hope that your throat is better soon, and I am glad that you are taking care of yourself. Best wishes.
Duckie, what Maia said–we’re here for you. And we’re all hoping that your next year is just, well, ducky.
I can’t say it better than that. Be well, Duckie.
Big hugs, Duckie.
Hugs, Duckie. My grandpa passed last year, and that first Christmas was so hard. This year was a bit better, with more fond memory sharing and fewer tears.
Hang in there Duckie, remember you always have a safe warm place here ((big hug))
Agreed. Curl up mentally and physically Duckie. Be kind to yourself too!
Duckie: I’m so sorry this Christmas has been so hard. I’m wishing for better times ahead for you very soon.
Hugs and purrs to you, Duckie!
Ixm sorry things aren’t going well for you, Duckie, and that you’re sick on top of it. I totally understand, too — last year, even though both were expected, we lost my mom just before Christmas and my MIL two weeks later. It’s never easy, especially around the holidays. Get well soon; I hope your outlook brightens a bit when you feel better physically. If there’s anything that makes you feel lousier than a cold, I don’t know what it is!
Oh, Duckie, I’m sorry things have been so crummy. Thank you for being willing to tell us. I hope things start getting better really soon!
Love that gorgeous kitty in the snow.
After a few especially cold weeks, now the highs are above freezing in northern Colorado. Snow flurries today look pretty without the hassle of shoveling!
I’m going to FINALLY warp my rigid heddle loom today–have owned it since 2015 and haven’t used it. This project may encourage me to eventually cut the warp off my bigger loom and get back to some weaving. Will need to brush up on my technique (and loom parts) for my new job.
It still feels like a dream, to have secured employment so quickly. For a while, I was afraid to mention it to anybody for fear of jinxing it–like starting a new relationship and everything goes great until you tell others that you’re dating someone. (Or was that just me?)
Looking forward to my New Year’s Day ritual of doing all the things I want to do every day in 2018. That will include some yoga, making great food, and of course yarn and kitties. It’s way more fun than drinking myself into a stupor on New Year’s Eve. Wishing you all happiness and safety as we ring in the new year.
Debg! Not to jinx anything congrats on job. Please let us know more when the jinx interval closes.
Congrats on the new job, DebG! I know you will love it, and if you love it, I hope that it extends past the one-year project!
Hi, all – Duckie, I hope things even out for you soon – it takes time to acclimate to the new.
I made some cookies for my hubby’s rowing party tomorrow – tho no rowing will happen since the river is frozen – he helped! (make the cookies, that is, not to freeze the river) And I have to go make a list – next week is a Twelfth Night Party to organize – hopefully a smaller crowd than usual, I just haven’t had the oomph to be assiduous about my invitations. Last time, 2 years ago, we had 135. It’s fun – we have people from all the corners of our lives – athletes, artists, musicians – lots of music gets played in several different rooms. I decorate for Christmas like a mad woman, so it’s fun that people come and enjoy it. And a Holiday Last Gasp seems to be welcomed by everyone.
We go to a lovely New Year’s Party in a wonderful house – once again, lots of musicians – looking forward to that. Stay safe while traveling, everyone – we need you back here fresh as a daisy to contribute to the lively banter on Cutetropolis!
You must live in a mansion Murray ! I couldn’t fit 135 people in my house unless I stuffed some under the beds, and in the closets ??
Well, it’s a good-sized house but hardly a mansion – I mean, it’s not a sit-down dinner or anything like that! And people do occupy every nook and cranny – I went in my bedroom once and there were a couple of musicians holding forth, and the space around the dining room table and into the kitchen is shoulder to shoulder. It’s an interesting house because the living room is upstairs, so that’s the major music room with people draped everywhere singing and playing – that’s where the main Christmas tree is – the real one. I have a small fakey-do one in my studio on a window seat. We have two mantles one up, one down, and those are laden; several built in floor-to-ceiling bookcases that sport decorations of various sorts. The house was built by a woman pediatrician so the area on the first floor the tis now my “girl cave” as hubby call is was her reception area, office, examining room, etc. It was turned into an in-law suite by the previous owners which is why we bought the house, so we could accommodate my mother, which we did for 11-12 years. Then it was re-done by us for me! But it’s become too much, especially the garden areas – we’re on a double lot – on a corner! So imagine the shoveling. Today isn’t much, can be swept away for the most part. But we’re not young anymore and the old bods are telling us to slow down.
Murray, I have read somewhere that Niagara Falls is also frozen. Are you totally sure he just helped with the cookies? 🙂
? He’s not moonlighting as Jack Frost I feel fairly safe in saying. Maybe it’s just a case of “it’ll be a cold day” or “such and such will happen when hell freezes over”?
Good news – no cavities! And the snow is light and easily swept off the car, no ice to scrape, and the roads are mostly not bad (oddly, the main roads were worse in some spots than the less trafficked road that takes me to the dentist, which was totally clear). Seems to be letting up, so maybe I can make it to game night after all.
I drive past the cemetery where my family members are on my way to the dentist. Last time I was there was the funeral 3 weeks(! already?) ago. It was snowing that day, too.
I had planned to go to my brother’s NYE party, as I do every year. I don’t drink, but it’s fun to go eat, and hang out with him and his wife. His wife’s family have been a part of my life forever, her mom and mine worked in the same restaurant when I was a teenager, and my SIL and I both worked there. But, she caught the bug that’s going around and the party is cancelled.
My furnace broke in the middle of the day last Friday, and it got really cold. My husband is friends with a plumbing company, so he called him and he put us at the top of the list, and they were here to fix it by 8:30 am. Yesterday, we realized the water pipe to the downstairs bathroom was broken, and water was running all over the basement crawl space (it’s actually under the back porch, with a dirt floor) . Husband can’t crawl with his prosthetic leg, so he called his daughter’s SO to come help. Thank goodness for Jesse (who, when asked if he has a problem with cobwebs, said “I eat them for breakfast”). Pipe was fixed by 10 am.
Oh, Patty – so sorry about all those troubles! Thank goodness the plumbing issue got take n care of post haste! Bless your little pea-pickin’ heart! (as Tennessee Ernie Ford used to say)
Patty I was thinking of you all day yesterday! I was a bit worried as I had not read any Patty posts.
Good to see you! Happy New Year.
Nice to see you again, Patty!
Dear heavens. you’re having horrible weekend but thankfully you’ve got people to help you.
Here in central Ohio we got quite a bit of snow last night, so I decided to cancel my travel plans for the NYE weekend. A bit disappointed to have to cancel a fun NYE, but now I get to cuddle up in blankets and pajamas with hot chocolate and my cat all weekend. There’s an evening hike scheduled at one of the parks nearby that I might bundle up for, but I might wimp out and just stay in my jammies for the next 3 days!
I vote for jammies plus cat!
Iam going to have a similar NYE. Here the weather is good, but – just like last year -I was not invited to my friends’ party. Oh well, I will survive it I guess.
WHAT! Your friend! Her Party! What’s THAT about? Well, stick around here, I imagine there’ll be some partying, especially with everyone snugging in at home for various reasons.
Greetings from cold and snowy Iowa! I am currently working on New Year’s cards (lino cut) which is turning into a major project. Enjoying being at home with my parents during the holidays. Take care everyone!!
How great, N. Fritz! I hope you’ll post the card when it’s done. Also, I hope your travel to Iowa wasn’t too bad – that’s quite a hike!
Lino cut! Yay!
I’ve enjoyed hearing all about your New Year’s Eve plans. I’m going to see a fireworks show at a local park, and after that I will either go see some local bands until midnight or come home and sleep — it’ll depend on my energy level at the time.
Ani is doing well and enjoying her morning runs outdoors. My Christmas present this year was a pet carrier, mainly because I need to be ready for a surprise trip to the vet, but I also want to try taking her to a nearby park and see what her reaction is. The carrier has a door on the top that I can open to let her peek out (without jumping out, I hope).
A very happy New Year to you and Ani with minimal surprise trips to the vet but plenty to the park.
Have you thought about trying to acclimate her to a leash? A lot of people have great success with that and you could have so much fun with her at the park! good luck with all that, Mike! Keep us apprised.
Hey Mike. Happy New Years and thank you!
Happy New Year to you and Ani!
Happiest of New Years, Mike, with ever-renewed thanks for this wonderful site and the calendar!
Is there a way to leash Ani into her carrier? Some pet carriers have a little leash-like hook arrangement that can fasten onto a pet’s harness. I have a dog sling bag with one of those; I call it Ricky’s seatbelt. Sadly his Sherpa bag does not have one; it’s a great bag for airplanes, but I feel like Sherpa missed a chance not including a hook-in arrangement of some kind.
As with several others here, my NYE plans have been cancelled; one of my two very best friends is a member of the quartet (two great couples) who throw a lovely bash every NYE, and she has come down with some stinking virus that’s apparently been making the rounds in NYC. I had thought about going out early in the evening to do something else nice instead, but then realized that: (a) I have no sitter for Ricky (who is always invited to the party with me); (b) it’s going down to below 10º F that night. So, I’ll be home with Ricky, both of us in our jammies (well, he’ll be in his sweateuw, which he wears indoors too in this weather), in couch potato mode. I’m sure I can find something to watch.
Happy New Year to all! I expect to say that a few more times around here, but for anyone who won’t be checking the site till after the holiday, it’s none too soon. 🙂
Find New Year’s overrated in general but like it as a general time of reflection.
Used to spend New Year’s banging pots and pans at midnight outside but too many idiots with guns.