Beautiful markings on kitty. But she also looks like shes saying, after stealing your heart I’m gonna eat it!
Another unexciting week here at chez AJ. I think we’re in the summer slump/dog days of summer. There’s not much really going on, and it’s too hot to walk around anywhere. Also, my motivation to do anything crafty or even bake/cook has gone out the window. Today is Lego club, and then tomorrow will be errands. And maybe some time in the pool. Have a good weekend all, and stay cool.
GeorgianaAugust 15, 2026 / 11:38 am
I love both his faces!
The heat has finally broken here for now at least. Last night it was actually cold enough for me to get out a wool blanket to sleep with 14C/57F, best sleep I had in a while.
Have a good weekend all.
Duckie š„August 15, 2026 / 11:43 am
Thereās no way this adorable kitty is guilty of anything, unless itās for being cute.
Aaaaaaaaaaand I missed the scroll down part.
I think I need a little Cutetropolis support. An eye problem that led to a biopsy that resulted in a Wegenerās GPA diagnosis years ago has reared its ugly head again. Iāve been moved to the front of the ophthalmologistās line, and will spend much of next week undergoing tests. Iām a little scared, as losing my sight, even in one eye, is like a mini death sentence for me.
Counting down the days until fall.
Have a good weekend, everyone, and take care.
DebgAugust 15, 2026 / 11:51 am
Sending lots of hugs and kitty purrs. Keep us posted, and try not to worry too much. As Newt Scamander says, “Why suffer twice?”
AJAugust 15, 2026 / 2:08 pm
Sending good thoughts Duckie. As someone whoās seen way too many specialists and my worry level goes from zero to Iām dying in 30 seconds, I have my try not list:
Try not to worry, take each step, each day as it comes.
Try not to use Dr Google before seeing the doctors. It can convince you that your symptoms are terminal but every personās body reacts differently.
Try not to be just your illness or let it define you. You are so much more than that.
Good luck with everything.
GeorgianaAugust 15, 2026 / 7:55 pm
Keep us posted on next week’s tests.
DebgAugust 15, 2026 / 11:57 am
Heart-stealing is a lot better than other kinds of stealing. Such a beautiful kitty, despite the danger.
George just weighed in at 7.3 pounds! Way better than 6 pounds in June! Those 6 cans per day are doing their work! Hopefully I haven’t jinxed things by paying for his county license–I kept putting it off and finally decided he was going to live.
The heat has broken here, at least for a bit. We got some rain yesterday and there’s more forecast today and tomorrow. There’s actually a flooding watch for today. I may be able to walk outside soon, and the reservoirs won’t look so desolate.
Errands were done yesterday, giving me time to focus on that handwoven blanket. It would be really nice to send it off this week, and maybe get something new on the loom. Wish me luck!
Hugs to you all.
allein š¾August 15, 2026 / 12:30 pm
Good morning…uh, afternoon… I have had a hard time getting out of bed the last couple days. Been wearing my new glasses since Monday and they seemed okay and my vision is clear, but the last couple days I’ve been feeling a lot of eye strain. I don’t know if it’s just an adjustment-period thing or if something is wrong. My sunglasses I think will be going back. I’ve worn them twice and they feel crooked; on the right I can feel the arm touching my head, on the left I can feel it on my ear, and the left side touches my cheek but the right doesn’t, even when I scrunch my cheeks up. Also just driving and barely moving my head, I could feel them slowly sliding down, like they’re too heavy. I don’t know why I have such trouble finding sunglasses that fit (this is not the first time) but it’s very frustrating. They seem fine in the store but once they put the real lenses in it’s like it changes the way they fit.
At least the dogs were good.
(“Tap water” heehee. š)
AJAugust 15, 2026 / 1:29 pm
For the glasses look into either Transitions or clip ons. If you donāt need very dark sunglasses, Transitions are great. I had them put on all my glasses for about 5 years now as my eyes were weird and didnāt like adjusting when I was switching between the two. Thereās also the advantage of not trying to keep track on two pairs and constantly switching.
Duckie š„August 15, 2026 / 1:43 pm
Therapy duck.
Duckie š„August 15, 2026 / 3:35 pm
Wonder if I would be permitted to have one in churchā¦
DebgAugust 15, 2026 / 2:07 pm
I met tap water pup last night and will never get tired of watching that sweet face.
Oh for a therapy duck and a loving family! Barley hit the jackpot.
DebgAugust 15, 2026 / 2:08 pm
Awkwardly fitting glasses are the worst. Sorry about your troubles.
Alice ShortcakeAugust 15, 2026 / 4:18 pm
Still no sign of rain here in England, although the stifling heat has subsided.
As part of my quest to get the maximum value from my free bus pass, last Sunday I spent the afternoon at Richmond’s imposing medieval castle and enjoyed a picnic by the river. The first castle on the site was built by William the Conqueror’s second cousin Alan Rufus, who became one of the richest men in English history thanks to William’s grants of huge tracts of land all over the country. Castles being what they are I was obliged to climb LOTS of stairs, but it was worth it for the view. At some point during the excursion I managed to lose an earring but didn’t notice until I got home. It may have been dislodged when the bus driver slammed on the brakes to avoid a tractor, one of several hazards in a region full of narrow roads and tight turns!
Quite a few towns and villages associated with my family are on bus routes, plus attractions like Fountains Abbey and Castle Howard. The latter is supposed to be particularly fabulous at Christmas, so I may save it for a special treat.
allein š¾August 15, 2026 / 4:37 pm
Huge…tracts of land?
Alice ShortcakeAugust 15, 2026 / 6:29 pm
I wondered if anyone would notice the Monty Python reference! š
DebgAugust 15, 2026 / 8:26 pm
That was a constant reference in my classes when I was teaching medieval history!
If you haven’t been to Rievaulx Abbey, add it to your list. It was the first medieval monastery I ever saw, the first time I went to England back in 1997. Even as a ruin, it was utterly magnificent.
Duckie š„August 15, 2026 / 6:27 pm
Alice, if ever life lets me, I would love to visit you.
Beautiful markings on kitty. But she also looks like shes saying, after stealing your heart I’m gonna eat it!
Another unexciting week here at chez AJ. I think we’re in the summer slump/dog days of summer. There’s not much really going on, and it’s too hot to walk around anywhere. Also, my motivation to do anything crafty or even bake/cook has gone out the window. Today is Lego club, and then tomorrow will be errands. And maybe some time in the pool. Have a good weekend all, and stay cool.
I love both his faces!
The heat has finally broken here for now at least. Last night it was actually cold enough for me to get out a wool blanket to sleep with 14C/57F, best sleep I had in a while.
Have a good weekend all.
Thereās no way this adorable kitty is guilty of anything, unless itās for being cute.
Aaaaaaaaaaand I missed the scroll down part.
I think I need a little Cutetropolis support. An eye problem that led to a biopsy that resulted in a Wegenerās GPA diagnosis years ago has reared its ugly head again. Iāve been moved to the front of the ophthalmologistās line, and will spend much of next week undergoing tests. Iām a little scared, as losing my sight, even in one eye, is like a mini death sentence for me.
Counting down the days until fall.
Have a good weekend, everyone, and take care.
Sending lots of hugs and kitty purrs. Keep us posted, and try not to worry too much. As Newt Scamander says, “Why suffer twice?”
Sending good thoughts Duckie. As someone whoās seen way too many specialists and my worry level goes from zero to Iām dying in 30 seconds, I have my try not list:
Try not to worry, take each step, each day as it comes.
Try not to use Dr Google before seeing the doctors. It can convince you that your symptoms are terminal but every personās body reacts differently.
Try not to be just your illness or let it define you. You are so much more than that.
Good luck with everything.
Keep us posted on next week’s tests.
Heart-stealing is a lot better than other kinds of stealing. Such a beautiful kitty, despite the danger.
George just weighed in at 7.3 pounds! Way better than 6 pounds in June! Those 6 cans per day are doing their work! Hopefully I haven’t jinxed things by paying for his county license–I kept putting it off and finally decided he was going to live.
The heat has broken here, at least for a bit. We got some rain yesterday and there’s more forecast today and tomorrow. There’s actually a flooding watch for today. I may be able to walk outside soon, and the reservoirs won’t look so desolate.
Errands were done yesterday, giving me time to focus on that handwoven blanket. It would be really nice to send it off this week, and maybe get something new on the loom. Wish me luck!
Hugs to you all.
Good
morning…uh, afternoon… I have had a hard time getting out of bed the last couple days. Been wearing my new glasses since Monday and they seemed okay and my vision is clear, but the last couple days I’ve been feeling a lot of eye strain. I don’t know if it’s just an adjustment-period thing or if something is wrong. My sunglasses I think will be going back. I’ve worn them twice and they feel crooked; on the right I can feel the arm touching my head, on the left I can feel it on my ear, and the left side touches my cheek but the right doesn’t, even when I scrunch my cheeks up. Also just driving and barely moving my head, I could feel them slowly sliding down, like they’re too heavy. I don’t know why I have such trouble finding sunglasses that fit (this is not the first time) but it’s very frustrating. They seem fine in the store but once they put the real lenses in it’s like it changes the way they fit.At least the dogs were good.
(“Tap water” heehee. š)
For the glasses look into either Transitions or clip ons. If you donāt need very dark sunglasses, Transitions are great. I had them put on all my glasses for about 5 years now as my eyes were weird and didnāt like adjusting when I was switching between the two. Thereās also the advantage of not trying to keep track on two pairs and constantly switching.
Therapy duck.
Wonder if I would be permitted to have one in churchā¦
I met tap water pup last night and will never get tired of watching that sweet face.
Oh for a therapy duck and a loving family! Barley hit the jackpot.
Awkwardly fitting glasses are the worst. Sorry about your troubles.
Still no sign of rain here in England, although the stifling heat has subsided.
As part of my quest to get the maximum value from my free bus pass, last Sunday I spent the afternoon at Richmond’s imposing medieval castle and enjoyed a picnic by the river. The first castle on the site was built by William the Conqueror’s second cousin Alan Rufus, who became one of the richest men in English history thanks to William’s grants of huge tracts of land all over the country. Castles being what they are I was obliged to climb LOTS of stairs, but it was worth it for the view. At some point during the excursion I managed to lose an earring but didn’t notice until I got home. It may have been dislodged when the bus driver slammed on the brakes to avoid a tractor, one of several hazards in a region full of narrow roads and tight turns!
Quite a few towns and villages associated with my family are on bus routes, plus attractions like Fountains Abbey and Castle Howard. The latter is supposed to be particularly fabulous at Christmas, so I may save it for a special treat.
Huge…tracts of land?
I wondered if anyone would notice the Monty Python reference! š
That was a constant reference in my classes when I was teaching medieval history!
If you haven’t been to Rievaulx Abbey, add it to your list. It was the first medieval monastery I ever saw, the first time I went to England back in 1997. Even as a ruin, it was utterly magnificent.
Alice, if ever life lets me, I would love to visit you.
You’d be most welcome!