Pauline

Pauline - January 2011

Pauline - January 2011

I had a very sad start to my week; on Monday morning I took Pauline to the vet after she was sick all weekend with a stomach bug. It left her in such bad shape that between myself and the vet, we knew that putting her to sleep was the most humane thing to do at this stage of her life.





She was my brother Mark's cat, and I adopted her soon after he passed away, right before Christmas of 2010. I was grateful to have two years with her, and she learned to settle in with my existing feline family, with a few kinks in the road here and there.

In the last few years I have really come to understand the joy I get from my feline family. It really does make me feel good, to make them feel good. I can't tell you how many nights I was lulled to sleep with Pauline purring away on the pillow next to me. I've told my friend Geri many times that I would probably be crazy if I didn't have my cats to keep me company. I have lived alone for so long, that I would be way nuttier than I am if I didn't have them to love.

She led a pretty good life for most of her time, but old age was taking it's toll the last year. She still had the will to live, but her body was not able to sustain that.

Here she is from better days.

My desk is finally done!

Woody & The Late, Great Miss Kitty

I finally finished my desk (see pictures below)! It was my goal to put this desk back together on my Christmas break this year. It took two days, and I was actually a little worried when I got started because I did not document anything as I took it apart, and that was 3 summers ago.....

The picture at the top is reference for how it was before I started. The finish was not a consistent color and the wood pulls were different sizes too. I think it's an old army desk from one of the bases here in Washington, I bought it from my friend Steve Stimson from his former antique shop.

The wood is maple, and it is a nice sturdy piece of furniture. The chair I also got from Steve, but at a different time, and it is also maple with some beautiful grain patterns here and there. I refinished the chair in 2006. 

Woody & Pauline

 

It looks like I will have to compete with Woody and Pauline for this spot when I need to set up my sewing machine...

A Sunny Saturday

Pauline - Saturday, May 19th

Tom Cat - Saturday, May 19th

It was such a nice week weather-wise, and I'm glad I spent most of the day working in the yard and enjoying the sunshine with the cats before the weather turned.
After mowing, I had to trim a few sections of the apple trees that were covered in tent worms; those things are so disgusting. The trees used to get them really bad a long time ago, so I'm glad it was just a few spots, and within arms length for me to take care of it.



I worked a little on sanding one of the sections of the desk that I've been working on for 3 years now.
I hope I can get it finished this summer, at least the sanding and oiling of the wood. I can always assemble it inside once the weather turns cold in the fall if it comes down to it. Then it will create the dilemma of what to do with the table that is in it's place.    

I am getting ready to watch the last episode of Series 2 of Sherlock in a few minutes; I think it's going to be a nail biter. I was really bummed this past week when I saw that NBC is not renewing 'Awake'. Just like when Detroit 1-8-7 was cancelled by ABC, it's really frustrating to see something so well done getting tossed out in favor of the crap that will be on in it's place.          

Bits & Pieces

The Flying McCoys

Spring has sprung, and I'm enjoying it. I like this time when the trees are sprouting and flowers blooming. I saw that the Magnolia trees are just starting to bloom around town.
I had to get a new lawn mower this weekend, and I bought one I had to assemble, my arms are still tired! I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but I'm not a complete dummy either - but that owners manual with assembly instructions was easily the most confusing I have ever read. I had to look at the old mower for reference, and thank GOODNESS it worked!
Pauline is doing better and getting over her cold with the antibiotics; it looks like just a few more days worth of doses in the bottle. Saturday was such a pretty day and everyone enjoyed getting out in the sunshine.
I should have gotten outside during the day more than I did; I did get all caught up on two weeks worth of The Daily Show and Awake, so I felt good about that. Awake has been a really good show, not a bad episode yet.

I hope we have some good weather this coming weekend, so I can get out and start working on sanding the desk 'parts' and hopefully finish that project this year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed......

Bits & Pieces

Another nice weekend, it was a pleasant surprise. My Sweet Peas, continue to grow, except for one seed pot that didn't sprout at all.
Pauline and I went to the vet due to her sneezing for about two weeks, and wheezing since mid-week. We get the fun of me giving her a once daily dose of antibiotics via syringe for the next 10 days or so. Not a fun experience for her, but she is sounding better already.
After coming home with her and mowing the lawn, they all got to go out to enjoy the mild weather. There were two squirrels out playing - that kept Munchkin occupied. And it was really funny, at one point this one squirrel that was evading the other, ran right up on to the back stoop and across the deck, right past Woody. I couldn't believe it! The back door was open, so it was a good thing it didn't run in to the house or that would have been pandemonium...

Both of my Christmas Cactus' are blooming for Easter; I love flowers inside. The intense colors help brighten it up. The geranium that I have kept inside since I first brought it in to 'winter' indoors two years ago is blooming right now too. It is that really deep Fushia color that I love; it gets enough light in the south facing window in the living room to bloom on a regular basis.


I spent so much of this weekend catching up on sleep, that I didn't watch any Daily Show online, or catch up on this week's episode of 'Awake'.
But I did see the season finale of 'Republic of Doyle' and 'The Mercer Report' on CBC. Republic of Doyle ended with a cliff hanger that I hope doesn't turn out bad for the next season. (I can't give any details until Jo & Glen get a chance to watch it).

And finally after a 2 year wait - Doc Martin!! Oh my gosh how I love this show... And they haven't lost their touch, it was worth the wait, but sad to see some characters are gone (no detail here either until Steve & Naomi get to see it).
So I once again get to look forward to 8 o'clock on Thursday nights for Doc and the gang; life is good...

Bits & Pieces

Thursday night after I finished watching Doc Martin, I went in to the bedroom and laughed at what I saw - poor Pauline had her donut bed taken over by Munchkin.
I didn't hear any hissing or fuss, she just decided to make the best of it. But it really surprised me when she curled up even closer to him.
I think she puts up with him because he is so young. They all went out today, I think it got to around 50 degrees again. Munchkin had a good time sniffing around and investigating everywhere that I prefer he not be, but I can't blame him, it had been weeks since they all went out like that.

I was in a spring cleaning mode today, catching up on a lot that I didn't get done in the last week and a half. And getting caught up on the internet. The sunshine can be so energizing. I've got a lot to do tomorrow too! I can't believe it's February already.....

Random Stuff

     I took this video of Munchkin the day I adopted him in August 2010. 

Woody  always reminds me of a shark moving through. 

When Munchkin was a kitten I thought he was long haired, but that didn't turn out to be the case as he grew. He had the most perfect little face when he was a kitten, I was so in love! The 'honeymoon' phase ended when he got big enough to get in to things!  Now that he is older, he gets in to stuff mostly because he gets bored. I'll get up in the morning and find little things on the floor that he has knocked off my desk, he's such a pill but I love him to pieces. I know he doesn't like it, but I am still very protective of him outside. He is very independent and likes to wander, but there is too much trouble that he could get in to around here.

Thursday afternoon at work, completely out of the blue, I was offered the admin position for my region, and am going to be training this coming week and transitioning in to that as Julie leaves. I am still wrapping my head around it. But the sad thing is I'm going to miss Julie who I am replacing, she is such a sweetheart. I've got a lot to learn, I imagine this year is going to wiz by like last year did.

Pauline had her annual vet visit this morning, and she is gaining some weight back, I was relieved. She got her rabies shot and seems to be doing very well for her age. She sure was happy to walk out of the carrier when we got home. That's all for now......

Pauline

Pauline was my brother Mark's cat, he adopted her from the Whatcom Humane Society when she was 6 months old. I remember the day he brought her home, and she curled up on the chair next to his friend Dave White. The funny thing was, Dave was not really a cat person.

She lived with Mark's dog Edna until Edna passed away right after Christmas 1997. Then she moved with Mark down to Lynwood in 1998 and then south Seattle several years later. I brought her back to Bellingham after Mark passed away right before Christmas 2010; she has come full circle.

I have no idea whether she recognized her old home, but she had to get used to living with my four cats, and that was the biggest adjustment. She enjoyed getting to go out again when spring came, and is doing fairly well for being 17 years old. She has a beautiful purr and lulled me to sleep many nights when she slept on the pillow next to me. I love her to pieces and hope that she lives well for as long as possible.