Happy weekend, Cutetropolitans! Our conversation cat today is just a pair of eyes in a field of black. Sender-inner N. Fritz explains: “My neighbor’s cat, Chiara, joined me on the yoga mat today. I call her Vanta Kitty because she is so oppressively black.
Chiara looks so plush!
The perfect name for her!
She’s definitely built for comfort, not for speed!
Beautiful ?
What lovely eyes!
I’m headed to the dentist this morning. I was supposed to go a couple weeks ago but they called a couple days before to cancel; just said the office would be closed for a few days. They called the following week to reschedule. When they called Wednesday morning to remind me, they told me Dr. Chris, who is the one I usually see, passed away. My original appointment was cancelled because his funeral was that day (I looked up the obituary after they called).
I have literally been going to this practice since I had teeth (and I’m 43); first their father and then the two sons took over when he retired. Several of my family members went there over the years as well. He was a great guy, only 56, and I am very sad.
On a lighter note, the Painted dog pups had a snow day!
I worry about my dentist of 30 years. He’s 70. Not looking to retire. But…
One of the other dentists in my dentist’s practice retired b/c it had taken such a toll on his back – not something I had thought of.
There is nothing more elegant than a black cat.
Ooh, so pretty and such an intense stare. Not much going on here today. Probably do some cleaning and run some errands. Almost forgot, have to finish figuring out the taxes. Blech, not my favorite thing to do but has to be done. Wish me luck! Also, It’s supposed to rain later this morning so that puts a crimp in any plans ‘cause who wants to run around in the rain? Stay warm and dry people and have a great weekend.
Great week for me: started out with snow days on Monday and Tuesday, and ended with early release on Friday because of more snow! The only problem has been the pool opening late.
But Lily doesn’t care, she double boxed herself! That’s an advanced skill level, you know… Don’t try this without a spotter, kids!
LOL I can see from Lily’s furrowed brow that the intellectual effort took a toll.
Adorable.
Lily isn’t much of an intellectual, but she does have an instinct for boxes! (And is totes dorbs, natch!)
Hopefully after all that hard work she got a double treat to energize her enough to unbox herself. Wonder if Maru has ever been able to accomplish this? Ooh, a competition, kind of like the Olympics of cat box sitting.
“Here Lily has tried the rare quadruple half lutz with a back twist but I hear Maru has something special up his sleeve by attempting a backwards triple axle jump followed by a full sachow AND a flip. Let’s see if he makes it, might be enough to give him solid 10s across the board.”
Lily isn’t quite 3 years old, so it’ll take her quite a while yet to be able to challenge box-fu master Maru!
Now that’s an “unboxing” video I’d watch…
It’s a new hobby – origami for cats.
Chiara is just stunning! And Lily obviously challenged herself with the double box trick! Love the painted pups too.
Last Sunday, it got up to 60 degrees. Yesterday, it was -16 (Fahrenheit because Americans never embraced metric systems). We got a lot of snow on Wednesday. Crazy Colorado weather.
People, I think I’ve cracked macarons! Last night’s batch, using the Italian meringue method, turned out really well: mint shells with chocolate and cacao filling. Today I’ll try cardamom shells with lemon curd filling (but I’m buying a jar because lemons are expensive here). I’m working on making the cookies look pretty as well as tasting good. Fortunately, thanks to the super-dry climate, I can make macarons all year long without humidity ruining them.
Off to sand the bathroom walls. I’m almost done with this part, then I can start making the shower look pretty.
Sending everybody healing hugs, happy hugs, and hang-in-there hugs.
Those sound like macaroons I would like – I hate almond flavoring which seems to be in most others.
Getting ready for a little group tomorrow to have a song swap. I love singing but most of the musical sessions around here are pretty much geared towards instruments – Irish tunes, old time tunes. So a friend and I decided to start a song swap or singers’ circle where each person takes a turn. I’m hoping to get to the point of having a theme each month. Another fun thing to do is sing something that the previous person’s song reminds you of.
You have a lovely singing voice, Murray, as I ‘ve told
you, your singing reminds me of Vera Lynn. Too bad we don’t
have sound here, so we can enjoy it. ?
Awwwwwww, thanks.
Vera Lynn was cool. Anytime the audience sings along, I still get goosebumps.
Me too, Smartypants. She was the all-time great
singer for WWII. I was just old enough (I’m 79)
to have heard her on the radio then and she made a
strong impression on me. For those of us who aren’t
familiar with her, listen to “The White Cliffs of Dover”
for starters to get a feel for the inspiration and hope
she could spark in folks then especially in Britain.
Did you see the tribute paid to her on her 100th birthday? They projected her name in lights onto the White Cliffs of Dover as well as giving her a high honor the name of which I can never remember. Something of the Realm, along those lines – Alice Shortcake would know, I’ll bet.
Macarons are always made with almond flour—that might be what you’re tasting. Though the mint oil kind of overpowers the almondy taste! And the chocolate is divine.
I recently made some crackers from almond flour and they had none of what I think of as a marzipan taste, just nutty and dee-lish. I love almonds – but once I accidentally ate an almond that had gone bad and it tasted of almond paste. There are perhaps different types of almond flour is all I can think. But you are a culinary whiz as well as being a builder and knitter – amazing, you are! And you seem to have boundless energy, moving from one thing to another so seamlessly!
(blushes) Thanks, Murray C.
There’s almond meal and almond flour, which are really the same thing with the flour being ground finer.
In Sicily a couple of years ago, at a wee family-run business
we had the most divine bread that had just a whisper of an
almond flavor to it. The owner told us they baked their own
loaves over almond wood fires which gave the wonderful
suggestion of almonds. A great memory.
That sounds heavenly!
Phred’s Mom and Duckie, sending extra love your way this weekend. This too shall pass.
DebG, you sound like a real Renaissance woman… is there anything you *can’t* do?!
Sports and math.
My kind of gal. Me neither.
Gorgeous kitty. Very Vanta.
Cold and windy here. Snuggled up with Millie right on my tummy.
One round of dishes done. Already had breakfast, have lunch ready, and dinner cooked. So art art art. Working on large collage and contemplating a new 3d method coating drawn paper elements with art resin.
Very relaxed.
Doesn’t Chiara look like Marc Anthony’s kitten hiding in the shadows?
Freaking cold and windy here today.
Babysitting three birds this weekend, two budgies and a lovebird.
Not particularly impressed with life today. Breathing is bad, and congested. Hurts. I sometimes feel like giving up, but the people on this site, and their own personal courages, help to keep me going.
Duckie, are you referring to the Loony Tunes cartoon? I hadn’t thought of that in YEARS. Thanks for the happy memory!
Don’t ever give up, Duckie, ever, ever. I know the feeling. Have it today,
feeling nauseated and depressed. Curled up in bed. Hizzoner is cooking
broccoli, or maybe cauliflower for his lunch, which aroma ain’t helpin’
none. Blech. This feeling will pass. It had better. Duckie, have a big hug
and know we are here with you.
Phred’s Mom and Duckie! PLEASE don’t give up! I know, it’s so easy for me to say – I feel ok so it’s hard to imagine what your enduring. But I ache for you just the same. And, oh, yeah, Brassica cooking is not what you want in your nostrils when you’re feeling punk. ANYthing affecting the olfactories is not what you want when you’re nauseous! I don’t know if it would help but when I’m feeling that way I take 1/4 pill every hour of Dramamine (original) but that’s mostly settling to the inner ear, not the stomach itself. The small dose keeps me from getting sleepy.
Bonine was my go-to to prevent nausea when travelling.
Can ‘t just take stuff now,it could interact with my meds..
That’s so hard – my poor hubster can’t take any pain meds because he’s on coumadin and he’s having a terrible time with sciatica pain.
Duckie and Phred’s Mom, I’m so sorry you’re feeling so bad. One thing is for sure though – nothing stays the same – what you’re feeling will change.
So happy to see Chiara today! She stops by every so often, and chills in my apartment for a couple of hours (it helps that I have cat treats on hand).
Grades have been submitted and our grading conference lasted five hours… I got home last night at 8:30 pm. Today my bf arrived from Vienna and we are just getting ready for my school’s senior ball (like prom).
In other news, I have til tomorrow night at 11 pm to submit a short 1000 word story for a 48-hour writing contest sponsored by my alma mater. I am hoping I can pull the threads together tomorrow. Have a great weekend, y’all!!
Late to the conversation today because I was outside taking pictures of all the snow we got last night (Seattle’s “snowmageddon,”, although I’m an hour south of Seattle. The stories you’re hearing about long grocery store lines and empty shelves are true btw. Through a combination of advanced planning and a bit of luck, I didn’t have to deal with much of it). Between what was left over from last Sunday and the new stuff from last night, we now have just over 12 inches. So glad I don’t have anywhere to be today or tomorrow! My only plans are to Crock Pot some chicken for dinner, and edit the photos I just took.
I moved my mom back to her own apartment last weekend, and she has an appt with her local oncologist on Wednesday to figure out where to go from here with her treatment.
Hope everyone has a good weekend! Duckie and Phred’s Mom, sending happy and healing thoughts your way. I’ve had my own dealings with nausea/pain/depression, and when you’re in the middle of it it doesn’t feel like it’s every going to get better, but it does. Hang in there.
Thanks, SoccerSue. Your words are much appreciated.
Like I said, you people keep me going.
I finally caught the cold my husband as had on and off for the last month and of course it as settled, as is always the case, in my lungs. So it’s going to be a weekend of tea and honey and bed rest for me.
Chiara is beautiful, I miss having a black cat in the house since Boo crossed the rainbow bridge a month ago.
Ok have a good weekend all, courage to those who need it (Duckie especially).
Duckie and Phred’s Mom it sounds trite but one day, one hour at a time. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Thanks so much.
Whats new Mr, Snake?
A snake-dad joke!
Just awful,isn’t it?!
So awful it’s wonderful!
I had a black smoke named Chiaro, short for chiaroscuro, because her fur rippled like a film noir movie when she moved.
Fendi would’ve killed for a coat like hers.
I am blazing mad. After buying a ticket for the opera “Akhnaten” on the day booking opened and looking forward to it for months, I tried to buy a rail ticket today…and discovered that the last train from King’s Cross to York on Saturdays leaves at 22.00, half an hour after the show finishes! It MIGHT be possible to get from the West End to King’s Cross in that time but I just can’t take the risk of missing the last train and leaving my father alone overnight. On the bright side, I only spent £20 on the ticket…
Wait… when is the performance, Alice S? Can’t you get a nice accommodation for Saturday night? It would be a shame to cancel something you’ve looked forward to for so long.
It’s on March 2nd. Unfortunately I’ve also had to cancel a couple of two-night stays in Stratford-upon-Avon because my father told me he doesn’t feel safe alone in the house overnight, so even if I could find somewhere affordable for one night in London it wouldn’t be possible. Back in the 80s I lived much closer to London and regularly sprinted down Charing Cross Road from the theatre to the tube station, catching the last train with only a few minutes to spare, but I’m 30 years older and not as nimble as I used to be! For some reason I was under the impression that the trains ran later on Saturday nights, but it’s the other way round. I even considered trying to get another ticket for a different day, but that won’t work either because the performance starts later…Also, the 11.30 train takes over SIX HOURS to travel the 210 miles from London to York! Ah, well. The production is highly successful so it will probably remain in the repertory for years, so I may yet have an opportunity to see it.