Moving Forward... Sometimes at a Snails Pace

I think this is the longest I  have been away from the blog since my mother died two years ago. No one died this time, but it's been a rough few weeks. Our Sophie cat has been sick again, Jeff cracked a tooth and is in the process of getting a crown ($$$$$!), and my Dad was hospitalized for a couple of days because he has been having mini-strokes. 

And did I mention there was an election squeezed in between all this? But I don't even want to get into that debacle.

The cat seems to be recovering, she ate a piece of a dieffenbachia plant which is poisonous and now out of the house (more vet bills $$$), Jeff's tooth is feeling better, and as for Dad... we are starting to look at assisted living options. 

On a brighter note, it's Celebration of Seagrove Potters weekend! We have a nice big directional sign in our yard and we managed to make new pots for the show. There is a kiln cooling that will be unloaded on Friday afternoon, just in time for the gala reception in the evening. The show runs from November 18-20, 2016. I will be at the show, Jeff will keep our gallery open on the home front. 

I have my "positive attitude" hat on and it's looking to be a great weekend.

Sophie

My little Sophie cat had a rough weekend. Lets just say we all had a rough weekend! Shortly after Jeff snapped this photo of her in her basket, she stopped eating. She wouldn't sit with us, or play. Her weekend was spent under a bed or laying down in a corner. There was other grossness but I won't share here! By Sunday morning I was worried she would get dehydrated. Jeff and I fed her a little chicken baby food with a syringe. She wasn't happy about it, but did seem to perk up a little afterwards. Monday morning, she ate a little baby food on her own. 

We had been using the old timer vet here in town. He was close, inexpensive, Sophie was healthy and only needed vaccines. After her routine visit in February, I told Jeff I didn't want to take her there if she was ever sick. The old doc seemed confused and his lab coat was disgustingly stained with blood. The visit was a complete turn off. So now, here I was with a sick kitty and no vet. I messaged a friend in town who I knew could give me a good recommendation. Sure enough she did. I called and they were able to see her in the afternoon.

The hospital staff was wonderful! The facility was super clean. Sophie had a thorough exam and blood work. Her kidney and liver function are good... which was great news because she is 15 years old. What they did discover is that she has hyperthyroid. It didn't solve the problem we went in for but it answered other questions Jeff and I had had over the last two years. Sophie was alway hungry and often drove us crazy up until meal time. Last winter I thought she lost weight. The old timer vet, at her annual visit, said she was fine. I started adding some canned food to her diet, but she still was crying for food an hour before meals. 

We came home not sure what caused her illness, perhaps it's a virus. She had an injection to help with nausea and some pills to take at home... along with the new thyroid med. If we see no improvement, back for more (expensive) tests. Lo and behold when she climbed out of her crate at home, she went straight for her bowl and cried for food... and she ate canned cat food! This morning she even ate some dry food along with the canned. 

Jeff and I are so relieved that she is feeling better, and that we have found a vet we are happy with. Maybe today I can actually be productive. 

I hope your Halloween was a good one. I had a jack o' lantern, I had candy... I had no trick or treaters.

Jeff and I ate the candy.

A New Friend

Life at the pottery has been rather quiet lately. Jeff is making vessel sinks and I have been replenishing our stock of sponge holders, as well as assembling some personalized piggy banks. This is a slow time for gallery sales. Parents are busy getting kids back to school, vacationers are winding down the season. Pottery shopping isn't at the top of their list. It's times like these that I appreciate Etsy sales. Hearing the cha-ching on my phone means a little money in the bank account.

The most exciting thing that happened this week is that Jeff and I have a new little friend.

Introducing Sen no Rikyu! But you can call him Rikyu or Raku for short.

We named him after the Japanese Tea Master.

Yes, he is really in there. It's hard to photograph a fish in a bowl! I have been wanting to get a betta for a long time. My sister had a new one when we visited and it stirred my desire once more. The local pet superstore didn't have a small tank that I found appealing so I began the online search. Amazon came through with a good price and free shipping. I like that this is a fish bowl but with a filter and light. It 1.8 gallons and should be a good size for Rikyu to enjoy. My next project is to make him a little hide-away. I couldn't bring myself to spend $15-$20 on a tacky ceramic fish ornament when I can make my own. He has a fake plant for now because I was on a budget and real plants cost more than little Rikyu! 

So far Sophie has been unimpressed. I am actually not sure she knows Rikyu is here. It's probably best it stays that way.

Crazy Cat Lady?

I love cats. Jeff and I moved to North Carolina with his three elderly cats and my middle aged Sophie. The elder kitties have all passed on and we are now a one cat home, with no plans to add more at this stage in our lives.

This week I discovered a new way to satisfy the kitty urge.

Neko Atsume... Kitty Collector!

I can now collect cats inexpensively, on my smart phone, with an app. Yes, there really is an app for that! Cats are attracted to your "yard" by placing food, toys, and boxes. They arrive at different times to play and eat. 

You can take their picture and save them to an album. The more attractive you make your yard, the more cats you will attract. So far, I have only had three at one time. Usually there is only one. Sometimes when I check in, the food is gone and so are the cats. 

My real-life cat doesn't like to have her picture taken. Occasionally I am able to sneak up on her. Jeff and I love our Sophie. She gives us hours of pleasure and entertainment. I adopted her from the NH Animal Rescue League when she was just a kitten... she will be 15 years old next fall! She LOVES being an only cat... I won't tell her about the new virtual pets.

Bizzy

my "grand-dog" Bizzy...what a handsome guy...his proud parents are danielle and jay.

sophie the princess kitty

the beautiful sophie spends her mornings overseeing her kingdom from the living room window. she is (or thinks she is) the princess of northwood. cats are amazing creatures...i couldn't imagine not having one (or two) in my life!