Welcome to another weekend, Cutetropolitans! Some of this site’s readers enjoy knitting, often to the delight of their cats, such as reader Muppet2171 and her cat Teller:
He loves to get onto my knitting projects. Not into…he doesn’t try to unravel them or anything (lucky for him). He just finds them terribly comfortable. Wonder what he’d do if I made him a sweater?
Well he obviously knows what colors are right for him! Such a handsome boy!
Presented for your entertainment, yesterday’s enactment of “To Bee or not to Bee” in my garden!
(Sorry about the vertical format…)
Also, forgot to mention that this week was Lily’s 4th birthday! We had tuna to celebrate 🎉 🎊 🎂!
😻😻😻😻
Happy Birthday Lily and it’s great to see a bee hard at work among flowers!
Happy Birthday to Lily and thanks for the bee video cause I can always use more bumbly happiness in my life. ^_^
Bee butt!
Happy birthday to Miss Lily!
oh, Jan B., thank you for the sounds of spring, American style!
Thanks for mentioning that! I didn’t have my volume up very high and didn’t realize there any sound on the video. Just went and rewatched. 🐝🌺
Ditto. Didn’t realize my headset came unplugged.
I am not sure I heard anything that identifies as “American style”? The adorable bass bee buzz and water trickling is so nice…that plant is a definite favorite of bees.
But no I didn’t hear the Star Spangled Banner or the cry of an eagle in the canyon! 😁 Perhaps it was more subtle like burgers sizzling on a grill? 😁
Hi Dulcie! It’s the black-capped chickadee singing in the background. We don’t have them here in Austria. But I have heard cuckoos this week… I’ll see if I can get a recording!
Whoa! You know your birdsong. And do get that recording if you can. I’d love to hear it!
I didn’t realize that NFritz! I would miss the chickadee song if I was abroad. They are here in Canada as well – all year long the troopers!
Chickadees aren’t the only birds I have, tho they are amongst the loudest! So far this year I’ve seen varied thrush, red-breasted thrush, bushtits, white crowned and gold crowned sparrows, Eurasian collared doves, juncos, spotted towhee, western tanager, yellow-rumpled warbler, another warbler that’s either a common yellow or female wilson’s, Steller’s jay, and ruby-throated hummer. I had red-breasted nuthatches show up last fall but I haven’t seen them yet this year. There’s also red-tailed hawks around, tho I usually only see the results of their presence. Not bad for a suburban backyard!
Completely awesome! 🐦🐦 🎶🎵
You are so lucky! I love birds!
That knitting does look comfy…
Happy Birthday to Lily! 🎈🎈🎈 Can’t believe she’s four already!
It’s warm here. I don’t like it.
My uncle fell the other day and fractured his C2 vertebra and is in the hospital. Haven’t heard anything more so far. He had been doing better (he’s in an assisted living facility where they basically can’t leave their rooms, and they thought he might have covid a few weeks ago, but maybe not? Of course they couldn’t test him). 🙁
My cousin’s son graduates college (U of Delaware) next week! I babysat that kid when he was an infant! How is he done with college already?! No idea if they’re actually having a ceremony of some kind. I hope they can do something. He has a job lined up in NJ; I hope all this mess doesn’t affect that.
This weekend’s Andrew Lloyd Webber offering is Cats! (A filming of the stage show in London, not the recent movie, thank goodness.) He had apparently said it was the last one, but then the first comment on it is from the channel and says ‘see you next week’ so I dunno. I had never seen it. It’s…kinda weird. But the makeup is amazing. Can’t imagine how long it took to get everyone ready.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag/videos
Sorry to hear about your uncle. Very worrying, and more worry is just what any of us need right now!
Yeah, he’s not been doing so well for a long time (he has rheumatoid arthritis to begin with). I hate that no one has been able to visit him for the past few months and if the worst happens soon, how do we have a funeral? The last time I saw him was for his birthday in February (he was 88); at least that was a good memory. I’ll have to see if my mom’s heard anything more from my cousin.
My mom just sent me the latest from my cousin: “Good morning everyone, I was able to speak with my dad this morning. He sounded OK but weak and a little disoriented but surprisingly not that bad. I haven’t gotten any further updates from the doctors but when I do I will keep you posted.” He said he can’t have visitors but he can get phone calls (though he may or may not pick up).
This must be awful for him and worrying for the rest of you. Keeping my paws crossed for a rapid and full recovery.
Yeah. 🙁
Fingers crossed, Allein! I’m sorry you and your family are going through this.
Sorry to hear about your Uncle, Allein. My 95-year-old Dad fell on Thursday night, fortunately didn’t break any bones. He lives an an independent living apartment in a retirement community, which has been on lockdown since early March. Kitchen staff were bringing him his evening meal since the dining room is closed and when he didn’t answer the door, they checked on him. He had been putting on his jammies while waiting for his dinner and became light-headed. He hadn’t been on the floor very long but was somewhat disoriented so he was transported to the hospital. The doctor chalked it up to dehydration and he didn’t even have to spend the night. My brother and SIL live nearby him and they took him to their home for the night, gave him a PB&J sandwich and some OJ and put him to bed. We have ordered a Life Alert for him, which will arrive on Monday. I called him this morning and he said he is back to his 95-year-old self, with reminders to drink water. I called him his morning and he actually sounded good and said he is back to his 95-year-old self. Sorry for the long story…it was an upsetting incident in already upsetting time! But it’s a beautiful day here so I am going for long walk (while social distancing, of course!)
That sounds scary. Glad he is doing okay.
My uncle’s place is similar. He has his own little suite – bedroom, bathroom, sitting room, and kitchenette (sink, small fridge, microwave, a few cabinets). He was allowed to walk in the hallway with his walker, but that’s about it, and their meals were delivered to them instead of going down to the dining room. He was in the bathroom when he fell (face first into the floor) but my cousin didn’t say what caused him to fall. Don’t know how long he was there. Hopefully not long.
Hugs to you Amyliz! My 91 yo dad is following the rules in IC, but at that age, the coronavirus is just one of many dangers. Glad your pop is feeling back his old self!
Yes hugs to you Amyliz. Seniors are often affected like this by dehydration. A more acute reaction than younger folks experience. Unfortunately a bad fall can result.
Yes, I’ve had older family affected this way by dehydration, too! I hope your dad will wear his Life Alert and that he will stay well and safe. I have family members who refuse even to consider Life Alert.
Yes, I told him on the phone and in an email to drink water! I wish the best for your parents!
Update: “tested negative for the coronavirus and secondly they hope to release him within a day or two. They are not concerned with the fracture in his neck and I don’t believe he has a brace on any longer.”
🎉🎊 hooray!
Great!
For Lily
Great find Allein!
I love David Zinn so much. Some day I want to go to Michigan and just wander around Ann Arbor and see what (or who) I find.
Aww, that’s so sweet! Lily thanks you! 😻🙏
Happy Caturday!
I’m waiting for the Internet repair guy today, so while I’m stuck at home (ha!), I’ll start on some long-deferred tasks. Closet shelves, here I come! Washing winter sweaters so I can store them–I think it’s time. Going through linen closet shelves to toss what I don’t use; definitely time. Putting up new blinds: means covering up the beautiful windows, but also means privacy.
It’s gorgeous today in Colorado, so I can open the windows and let some fresh air in.
As an alternative to blinds, you may want to consider window films, which cover up the window pane without blocking the window or the light. Here is an example of one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HUWRVTE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And they’re cheap!
Thanks, Squiddy. I just got rid of the icky old windows with film that needed replacing. Love the new blinds—they’re the top down and bottom up kind.
Come here, Teller. I need some serious comforting.
Found out some depressing things this morning. A handicapped woman I befriended died early this week from surgery complications for a broken leg. And our mall Santa came in and announced that he would not be doing Santa this year because of COVID.
Happy birthday, Lily.
Duckie so sorry about your friend. It is unnerving when you hear that it was due to complications. Of course there’s always a risk with any surgery but when it is unforseen it feels like bad luck. An acquaintance of mine lost her youngish hubby during a simple routine surgery. So when they came to her in the waiting room with the bad news she couldn’t process it. And then later it struck her that she didn’t say goodbye properly.
And yes, so many changes! Is nothing going to be the same? I don’t think so. Might as well just accept it now. ☹️ I don’t do things like that so easily!
Allein, hoping for the best for your uncle. Such difficulties poor fellow.
Your card to Lily was so sweet. Anyone would love it!
I’m sitting out on the porch in shade with Millie. Perfect sunny day with a breeze. Birds singing. Flowers blooming. Not a sign anything out of the ordinary going on. But my town is the epicenter of NY State. I remember a lesson from high school when we read The Red Badge Of Color by Conrad about the indifference of nature. It’s true, the natural world goes on without any regard for human life even when we destroy ourselves and nature too. We humans have no excuses for our actions or inactions.
Mundane matters: vacuuming, dusting, and getting my bedroom ac filter clean. It was over 70F yesterday. Also shredding documents and trying to figure out how to arrange my second bedroom into the studio/exercise room now that I have bins of covid supplies and extra tp in there and less money!
Edit: Red Badge Of Courage.
Teller is a beautiful kitty! Give him a scritch and a hug for me!
Happy birthday to Lily! Happy knitting produce to Teller!
My sympathy to all who are undergoing stress or worse.
I just learned today (via LinkedIn, of all places) that a friend of mine died last week of complications related to COVID-19. He survived his AIDS diagnosis, of many years past, only to succumb to the novel coronavirus.
Cherish your loved ones, folks. And please take care of yourselves. You are loved here by people you’ve never met in real life, but the love is real.
P.S. I don’t need special sympathy. We’re all in this together. Just needed to acknowledge the passing of my friend.
Well said R and B’s Mom. But a little special sympathy is ok too! Helps the giver as well. So take care and and treasurer the memories of your friend.
💕
Thank you, Dulcie. He was a lovely guy—a talented actor and a wonderful human being.
I got a haircut!
👏🥂🍾🎉🎊
Hello, all!
Duckie, congrats on the haircut! A major life achievement in these times!
Allein, wishing your uncle the best on his recovery.
Love the bee, Jan B.!
I need a quick favor: A designer friend of mine needs votes for her racing helmet design! Please click the link below and vote for “Helmet 5.”
(You don’t need a Twitter account to vote.)Thank you!Thanks, Mike! And R&B’s Mom, and Dulcie, and anyone else I might have missed.
I would vote but I’m not on twitter…
No Twitter account needed to vote, vote, vote, like a baby stoat! 😀When I clicked on it it asked me to log in..
Oops, you’re right, I’m wrong! Twitter users only, it seems.
Well, I voted in spirit, anyway.
Allein, thanks for your thoughts. Much appreciated!
If you do have Twitter, please vote! it’s really close right now 50.3 to 49.7 with helmet 5 in the lead
Sorry. No Twitter account. But I do have envelopes and stamps!
I have an account though I rarely use it so this is a good excuse to access it. Done and Done. Helmet 5 is winning at 50.8 with 2 hours left to go.
Voted for #5!
GUYS!!!! HELMET 5 WON!!!😀
YAY!