B is for Black (and white)

A is for Anticipation

For those of you that are new here, I recently adopted a kitten from the shelter.

While at the shelter, the majority of her fur was shaved. Well, except for her tummy, legs, head and tail. It's probably the reason why she wasn't adopted as quickly as one would have expected.

Whoever shaved her, did a terrible job. It's so bad that she was the talk of the Vet's office when she went in for her first check-up. Poor kitty will forever be known as the kitty with the freaky haircut.

It is slowly growing back.

Too slowly.

The anticipation is killing me!

I can't wait until her fur grows back. It's just like Christmas. I don't know what I am going to get.

Blogging A to Z 2016: A Theme of Sorts

Another year, another A to Z Challenge. This year will be my 5th time taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

This year, my theme is ....

Photographyish.

It's totally a word.

Really.

All I can tell you is that there will be photos. Honestly, there will probably just be a lot of cat photos.

But I'm in and ready to go. Let the randomness begin!

Currently March

Looking... for a friend for Olive. I really don't like for her to be alone all day while we are at work. Before I got her, I knew that if I was going to get a kitten that I wanted to get two. But at the back of my mind I wonder, TWO kittens?!? Can I do this? Am I too old for this? I know that the plan is to get one a bit older than a baby kitten, but not a cat over a year old.

Playing... Neko Atsume. Can you really call it playing though? Basically, I feed the cats and buy them things. They may or may not come to visit. You know, just like the real thing. Just without the litter box.

Wondering... why when I share video on Instagram it looks so terrible? I have all this video that I am taking and some I really want to share. But, I don't. Because Instagram makes it look crappy.

Watching... LOST, again. I used to be such a huge fan. I only ever saw the final episode once, back when it first aired. So, I don't really recall all that happened. Just that it was a big disappointment. I kind of expect I'll feel the same way once I have completed binge watching the entire series on Netflix.

Needing... to make room on the computer so that I can do my taxes. I have no room to install anything and I don't think that I can put that To Do item off for very much longer.

Updating... the Blog template. It's about time. It's been years. Goodbye 2011! Hello 2016! It's still a work in progress though. I need to change some things (like a new header) and add back some things that I accidentally deleted. I REALLY should not update things at 1 AM!


How's your March going?

The A to Z blogging debate going on inside my head

It's that time again.

The Blogging from A to Z challenge is right around the corner. I have taken part in the challenge for 4 years now, with my first year being way back in 2011.

After last year's challenge, I told myself that I wasn't going to participate this year. There were a few things that happened that helped me come to that decision. I won't go into them here, but the end result was that I needed a break.

I was really good and didn't sign up for the challenge when the sign up list opened up back in January. I have made a point to not think about the challenge. I have tried really hard to forget the challenge is even out there.

But then it happened. I thought about the challenge. I got a 2016 participant email sent to me (even though I never signed up). Then the A to Z chatter started popping up on Twitter. Naturally, I started making a list of A to Z.

I am still telling myself that I am not going to be a part of this. I don't know how long I can hold out though.

Hi, my name is Olive

My niece, Jordan

Currently February

Walking... a lot! I bought a FitBit and have been trying to get more steps in my day. I still have not reached 10,000 daily steps yet. It is a bit hard for me to do when I have to sit at a desk all day. But some days I get close and one day I will reach it. I just hope that when I do, it doesn't kill me. Because walking around Costco for 4 straight hours did not even get me close to 10,000 steps and it wiped me out for the rest of the day.

Wondering... if the bathroom remodel will ever be finished. We are currently going on 19 months.

Dreading... the heat that is still to come. 90 degrees is just way too hot to be happening in February.

Trying... to come up with a name for this new little fuzz ball. Yep. I did it. I got myself a new little one. I just brought her home last night, so it is all still so very new. This is her shelter photo. Her current condition is a lot less fuzzy, as she was given a bad lion-cut shave at the shelter. Which I think is probably why it took so long for her to get adopted. 

Filling... up my iPhone with video. I am working on a 1 Second Everyday video project for the year. I have to say, I love it! But, just like a regular daily photo project, it is sometimes difficult to come up with stuff to shoot. But, in a way it is easier because the video doesn't have to be perfect. It's a moment in my life to help me remember what that particular day was about. Here's my January, if you would like to take a look.



Edit: Apparently, the above video may not be viewable to everyone. If you can't see the video above, please click the link below to go directly to the Flickr page.  

Link to video: 1 Second Everyday | January 2016

Keanu needs you!

At first, I thought there was no way that this was a real movie. I thought it was one of those spoof previews for a fake movie. But, surprise! It's real.

The movie looks kind of silly, but I still found the preview to be really funny. Yep. I totally see myself watching this once it's on DVD. It's a movie about a kitten! Who wouldn't want to see a movie about a kitten?

2015: A year in yarn

There wasn't too much happening in the crochet/knitting department last year.

I only completed one yarn project in 2015 and it was from the very start of the year. Lately, I have had limited thumb movement and it hurts when I move or even touch them. So using my hooks and needles has kind of been put on hold.

I did manage to crochet a couple of squares for my Tiny Squares blanket but the only completed project was my Anna ripple. I finished it in January and then took a year to weave in the ends. Out of all my ripples, this one is my favorite. All the different colors are so very pretty. My Mom has deemed it the most beautiful of blankets.

: :  Anna {ripple}  : :

Pattern:  Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic24

Yarn:  Knit Picks Brava Worsted

Hook:  5.5 mm (I) 

Finished Size:  51 x 51 inches

Ravelry Page

2015: A year in photos

Nothing says procrastination like posting an End of Year post for 2015 at the end of January.

I haven't turned on the computer since my last blog post. That's 42 days ago! Needless to say, blogging has not been the only thing that I have been putting off around here.

2015 was a bit of a blur. But here is what I remember...


January started with snow.

On New Year's Eve 2014 we said goodbye to my Cairo kitty. At midnight, on New Year's day, it snowed. It was a nice little happy moment on an otherwise sad day.

In January, I saw quite a few sunrises. I am not a person that is usually up before the sun. So to catch a sunrise is always a treat. For some reason it makes me feel like a grown up. And there you go, I am a grown woman who doesn't feel like a grown up. Sigh... maybe some day.



In February, my brother invited us to go Quading. It was fun watching the kids and I fell in love with all that wide open space.



In March, I went to one of the prettiest weddings that I have ever seen.




I also cut my hair. It was a pretty big deal really. The last time I had cut my hair was back in 2008.



In April, the husband and I went to the County Fair and we worked on our Selfie game. We still have to work on it but we'll get there someday.



In May, I caught the sunset any way that I could and I managed to keep a succulent alive for over a month! And so begins my addiction to succulents.



In June, I got my first iPhone. Of course, the first shot I took just had to be a sunset.


We also had two of our nieces come to visit. Lots of going out to dinner and out to the movies.

 

In July, I found my new favorite movie theater. Dinner and a movie all in reclined comfort.


Our new dining room table also arrived. It's the first table we have ever bought.




In August, we went shopping for a new front door.




And in September, it was installed.



September had some beautiful sunsets.




October was spent taking care of Cleo. She had been sick since January and just wasn't getting better.



Sadly, in November, I said good-bye to my sweet Cleo kitty.



And because I fell in love with succulents, in December everyone got one for Christmas.



One of the highlights of the year was during the Christmas/New Year's holiday. My sister came home for a visit and I finally got to meet her boyfriend. The four of us (and my brother) all went bowling. I had the best time!

Other years in review: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

 

December Reflections :: Fave Photo of 2015

Something that I love to do, whenever there's a lightning storm, is play around with long exposure on my DSLR camera. Which usually entails me keeping my fingers crossed the entire time that I actually catch something good.

One August evening, I was driving across town in the middle of the most amazing lightning storm. While waiting at a train crossing, I pointed my camera through the windshield, crossed my fingers and waited. This is the photo that I got. It's totally my favorite photo for the year.

Here is the original uncropped version of the above photo. Click on the photo if you would like to view a larger version.

December Reflections :: Branches

I have never met a tree branch that I didn't like. Well, except for maybe that one that hit me in the face when I was two years old.

I took this photo during this year's August Break. It is my favorite photo of branches that I have taken so far this year.

December Reflections :: Red

Today my Reflection is about the color Red. 

Being that I still have not put out any Christmas decorations, this is pretty much the only Red thing that I currently have in my house. Well, except for my laptop and a super old flip phone. But those don't really count. 

I think this star was meant to be used as a Christmas decoration. I bought it one year around Christmas time and it has stayed out ever since.

December Reflections :: Best Day of 2015

Back in February, my brother invited us to go quading. It was the perfect day for it too.

The air was crisp and the sky was full of clouds. It was cool enough for long sleeves but yet not cold enough for a jacket.

The place we went to was a bit of a drive outside of town. I drove my car, but once we got off the freeway I ended up having to park and leave it there in the middle of nowhere since it doesn't have 4-wheel drive. We then all squeezed into my brother's truck to drive off-road to where we needed to be. But the time spent driving was worth it. The area was so pretty. So wide and so open. I loved just looking around and what made it even better was that we were the only people out there.

We were there for hours. The husband took his turn riding, but I mainly tagged along just to watch. I enjoyed my time sitting with the kids while they waited to ride and then watching them once they got their turn.

I would love to go back. I hope I get the chance to some day.

December Reflections :: Hot Drink

When it comes to Hot Drinks, I am more of a make it at home kind of person than a buy it at the store kind of person. Because of this the Hot Drinks that I do love are quite simple. Plain hot tea, Vanilla Rooibos is a favorite, simple hot cocoa with whipped cream is another. I don't have a coffee maker at home so any Hot Drink that I do make is usually of the tea or cocoa persuasion.

I will buy plain coffee from the hospital cafe when I am at work and I have recently started to try some of the fancy Hot Drinks that are available out there in the real world. Now, it's not like I haven't had fancy coffee drinks before. I just don't like having to pay for them, so I have never really bought them. At least not regularly.

Living in the desert it is not always favorable when it comes to having a Hot Drink, but that doesn't stop me from keeping my fingers crossed that Santa will bring me a coffee maker for Christmas. 

December Reflections :: Sparkle

Here it is December, the last month of the year. The month where we think of what is to come in the New Year and also where we remember and reflect back over all that has happened during the past year.

It is also the month of Sparkle.

But since it is only the 1st day of December, my home has no Sparkle. The Christmas decorations usually don't go up until after the 1st weekend of the month. That is if they go up at all. Last year, I was dealing with a sick cat and also a bathroom remodel where a lot of the items were taking up space in the living room, so I didn't put up a tree. This year, I am wondering if I should do the same.

But I have a feeling that if I don't decorate this year, that I will really miss the Sparkle.

And besides, I really don't want the only Sparkle to happen in my life during this past year, to be the silver tinsel that is quickly spreading throughout my hair.

goodbye

Goodbye sweet Cleo kitty.

Those eyes, like little galaxies.
May she find her place amongst the stars again.

To cat or not to cat, that is the question

OH my God!

You would think that we had a newborn in the house.

This fluffy ball of terror has been yowling non-stop since around 2 am. With only a couple of hours of sleep, I am barely functioning today.

She's been to the Vet and is currently on medication for other issues. As far as we know she isn't in any pain. The yowling started when our other kitty was ill and then continued (and got worse) after she passed away.

The husband doesn't want another cat and even the Vet has said that a new cat or kitten would probably not be a good idea.

But when she cries all night like she did last night (and this morning). I can't help but think that she is lonely and that a new cat would help. I remember back when she was a kitten, she was super annoying even back then (16-years ago) and that was the reason why we got our other cat Cairo in the first place.

The Vet feels that since the she may be feeling better, she is being more vocal. She also likes to mention that cats ARE nocturnal and then again the topic is brought up that she may even have senior cat dementia.

I have no idea what to do. Do we get another cat? What if that doesn't work out? If we get a new cat it would be for life, so what happens if they end up hating each other?