estate of confusion

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day!  Mine was lovely.  The turkey was cooked to a golden brown, juicy and tender.  Absolutely purrfect!  And oh yeah, the company was nice to me too, so it was a good day!

However, had it not been for the turkey, I might not have known it was November.  Heck, I'm not even sure it's December right now.  The calendar says it is but..... well, it reached 72 degrees here today.  The fifth of December?!?  mEoW!!!!

Not that we haven't had 20 degree weather last month.  But even that was sandwiched in between days of 60's.  It's really enough to confuse and befuddle this handsome and furry man.  I mean seriously, one day I'm working on growing out my winter coat to it's fullest and the next day I'm outside rolling in the dirt to help shed it.

And I can't even begin to tell you how it's confused her.  Oh yes, very seriously confused.  No, no, not rolling in the dirt or anything.  Although I did see her shave her furry legs last week.  Does that count as an equivalent to the dirt rolling?

Anyway, for Thanksgiving, the pumpkins got a dash of winter greenery.  And then because the Halloween decor was gone in the kitchen, she thought that maybe a bit of a winter display would be appropriate.  It was cool after all and all the leaves had already fallen.  So bare trees equals winter right?

Well no, not exactly because the thermometer was all over the place.  The mercury would drop and then the next day it would go right back up by forty degrees. Something like you would see for Easter.

So due to the confusion (hers not mine) there were mixed decorations for Thanksgiving.  The images above are from inside the dining room.  This one below is just outside the dining room, inside the kitchen.  I suppose she wanted to share her state of confusion with our guests.  If they don't come back next year, there will be no question why.  Assuming that is, that her seasonal confusion didn't seriously damage their brain cells.  These kind of things can be contagious you know!

So then a few days ago, this display (above) changed to this one below.  She had planned on leaving this winter one (above) up through Christmas. (Confused yourself? Thought so.)

 Nothing wrong with the evergreens I know.  But they didn't match with this....

Her beloved not-so-white-anymore vintage tree.

I know you are thinking, so put the white tree in another room.  Well, this year, Dad, in an effort to prolong his life, agreed that there only need be one tree.  In years past, there is nothing short of a forest in this estate small house around Christmas. Green trees, skinny trees, big trees and small.  But only one white vintage one.

So when it came time to choose which tree to use, there was no confusion at all.  Well at least until she pulled it out of the Christmas storage facility and realized that it wasn't going to look quite right since they would be in the same room as the green stuff.  You know what a dilemma that causes.  All that coordination stuff that you humans are taught at an early age when trying to dress yourselves.  Glad I didn't get ruined that way. So anyway, the kitchen greenery had to go.

And she used the red and brown combination last year in the dining room and really loved it.  Although it was on a green tree in there.  Could have done the same thing here, this year and would not have had to take down the "winter greenery".  And she could have used a green tree. But well, remember I told you she was sure she wanted to use the vintage white tree.  And well all this coordinating and matchy stuff was causing serious mental confusion.  Especially when the vintage white doesn't match the new white greenery. (How about now, are you confused yet?)

So with a bit of help and a couple totes full of ornaments and fluff.....

Today the tree looks like this....

(sorry for the poor lighting on this one - hard to find a good photographer now days)

And so, even in this estate of confusion, the kitchen area is looking like Christmas.  Albeit, in her strange kind of decorating way.  And now at 9 p.m. the temperature here on the computer still says 68 degrees.

There is still the dining room to decorate and the living room.  I wonder what I'll find in those rooms when I get up in the morning. The Easter bunny maybe?

Further still, I wonder if today's color scheme will change and I will wake up and find myself in a tropical looking locale complete with pink and bright green lighted palm trees.  As if I'm not confused enough!

Hoping you're having a nice pleasant week filled with purrfect clarity.  If however, you're feeling low on confusion, just come on over and she will fix that!  Over here, at the estate of confusion.  A state of confusion.  Oh heck, just plain "confusion".

Purrs to all of you!

Life is good!

Today we had LOTS of sun beams – purrfect for quality catnaps and adventures! Yes, there is still a LOT of pollen and yes, I have allergies. I sneeze and sneeze, just can’t help myself with all that pollen flying up my little bitty cat nose. Compare it to a knat flying up your nose and you’ll understand the issue quite clearly.

Allergies, that’s what the scary white coat says. That’s okay, I tell “her”, it’s a small price to pay for a little fresh air. I would be content today to lay in the rocking chair on the screened in porch, but it is currently off limits. Why?

Yep, p-o-l-l-e-n.  That stuff that makes the plants delicious to munch...

“She” would prefer I stayed confined and my adventures controlled. But I really want to go outside.

So out “she” went to clean up the screened in porch.

So I waited inside patiently. (Well sort of.)

And I waited…..it was all I could do to keep from dozing off. It wasn’t too much of a problem though. You see, there was a trip back inside to get the sucky machine. Door opens. Door shuts. Nod off….

“She” was going to try vacuuming up the yellow stuff. But the electrical outlet was not responding to some ground falling button thingy. I haven’t a clue, I’m a natural kind of guy, don’t even need an electrical can opener, “she” works just fine.

ZzzzZZZZzzzzzZZZzzzz…..*#*$%....Door opens.

And then a trip bringing sucky machine back in.  Door shuts. Nod off….

Some moving of furniture. ZZzzzzzzZZZZZzzzz….Door opens. %*&$@ Door shuts.

Broom and dustpan leaving for the porch. Door opens. Door shuts. Nod off….zzzzzz…..

Dreaming of little goldfish, listening to the water trickling in the fountain….napping on the rug in front of door…..opens and closes….“she” announces that “she” is losing the battle with the yellow stuff – lots of pollen in the dust pan and the wind kept blowing it around where she’d just swept. According to my Tigger watch, this lasted about 30 minutes – 30 minutes!?!

That's 30 minutes of sunbeams and dreams that I can't get back!! Awk - the horror! 

Open the door and let me out now
or the fluffy one gets it.

Sometimes “she’s” about as quick as fat goldfish. But I wasn’t asked for my humble opinion and besides, “she” is always good for some entertainment. Well except when I’m dreaming of fat hunking goldfish for my mid-day snack. And after some thought on the matter, I’ve decided that purrhaps, the front porch or even under the car will do just fine.

....it’s close to the pond….

…..where the goldfish live…..

Hope you are having a good day too.

A Great Giveaway and News from Zoe

So how many of mew get lost out there blogging?!?  Yikes! Good thing the crowd is a friendly bunch because I certainly spend a lot of time out there after dark and into the wee hours.  As a cat, you probably expect this from me - you know prowling >^.,^<

I was supposed to post first and then prowl....key word: supposed to.  Don't ask me what happened because I'm not even sure.  One minute I had the "new post" page open and whoooooof next thing you know I was here and there and found a blog called YaYa Chique.  And they are having a giveaway of some wonderful vintage treasures!!  It ends soon, so you'd best light a fire under your tail and get a move on over there, if you want to enter!  And try not to get sidetracked into some alley promising a good mouse snack....

Okay, next thing....does anyone remember Zoe's adventure out into the studio???  Well while she was napping today, I snuck into her baskie and snatched up the pictures of what she found out there.  Not sure what all the fuss was about.  Purrsonally, I think she was just enjoying tormenting me. Here's the mess and the works in progress:

And here is the one that is finished.  This is a marriage of a hardback book cover, a vintage personnel file tab that accepts chalk, trims, a copy of a vintage picture, chalks and some scrapbooking paper and verses.  The theory as I understand it, is to organize and mark the different types of books on a bookshelf.  This one would probably by used to mark sissy girl's books.

"She" is also working one that could be used for travel and another for something masculine or antique.  Hopefully those will get done this weekend.  All depends on how much attention I require and I haven't decided.

And just for the record, yes, that is an old bear and no, I am not responsible for his condition, especially the foot.  He came to us just like you see him now.  He is a big "paws off" specimen.  Which is fine with me, he's so fragile there wouldn't be much satisfaction in tearing him to pieces.  I could finish him off in 45 seconds or less.  No challenge for a ferocious one like myself ;)

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  I'm off to prowl more blog alleys.....

Quality control pillow inspector banned from testing!

For those following the "studio saga" - the journey is not over.  Zoe has returned after a  long perioulous journey into the studio.  Remember, I encountered paper quicksand and so made a decision to send her in.  Those in charge should not be subjected to such dangers.  You wouldn't want me to leave the blog to the "others" would you?!

I didn't think so.

Zoe returned this afternoon.  But she is not speaking to me and refuses to even acknowledge pictures or give me a hint what she found out there.  So fine! I have taken her basinette into my own possession - I will have those forbidden zone pictures yet ;)  I want to make sure there is nothing like the mother lode of cat snacks out there....

Anyway, while Zoe was missing in action, I took it upon myself to take pictures of what was happening in another creative location.  (I wasn't really sure I could count on her.)  And look what I found....

"She" finished these yesterday evening...late, very late.  The top one is upholstery quality linen with vintage laces and trim.  The roses themselves are "her" creation, also out of linen.  The other two pillows are made of burlap, vintage trims, laces, buttons and some fabric that "she" liked the color of.  Here are some close-ups of the details....

Yes, those are mother of pearl buttons, whoever she is.  Not sure, maybe a relative or something.  Anyway, she said it was important to point this out - so I did.  Hopefully, mother pearl or whatever her name is, holds meaning for you.

And the last detail picture is of the linen roses and lace.  I tried several times to sample these - they looked like the perfect size for batting around and chewing on later, but I was chased off.  These pillows are going to the shop, Antiques in Old Town.  Rowann, please note: I DID TRY and run these through quality control, but was denied my rights as the official inspector, so "she's" on her own - if they fail QA inspection, blame "her".  Sometimes I have a hard time getting "her" to mind. 

I want to mention something because it's very important to me....Do you see the sunbeam on the picture above?!?!?!  Wowser! I couldn't help myself and stayed outside most of the day playing in those sunbeams.  And my whiskers tell me that it's going to be VERY nice this weekend...well nice for this time of year.  I'll take it!  I'm hoping that all of you have some nice weather, the fresh warmer air will do us all some good. 

Oh yeah, one last thing before I head off to sleep away the hours in Zoe's baskie - I also found this by the sewing machine:

The picture is almost too bright to see the details, but perhaps you can tell that it is flat.  Yep, flatter than a cat snack run over by the Hoover wheel.  So I ask "her" what is this thing?  I'm trying to figure out how to remind "her" that she forgot to put the catnip inside before sewing it up.  You know I don't want to hurt "her"  feelings, that usually affects the quantity of treats I get during the day.  So I just patiently wait for a reply. 

And wait. 

"She's" just staring at me. 

So I continue to wait and "she" continues to stare at me like I'm supposed to know or something.  Oh well there is no way I'm going to tell "her" what "she" obviously missed.  If I had a big sign that was printed with "CATNIP" that might be subtle enough.  Wouldn't it?

Finally, "she" sighs and answers (thank you, there is a cat angel watching over me), "Romeo, it's the beginning of a necklace.  That's the base, sort of like a pendant that I'll add chain and other things to. "

Oh dear.  What could I say?  Something like, 'you missed the boat on that one sister, let me rip it open, stuff some quality catnip in it and then maybe you'd have something worthwhile.'  Naw, nevermind.  Bad idea.  Let "her" live in lala land - they say ignorance is bliss.

There are actually four more of those things "she's" working on.  I bet "she's" real happy about now ;) 

Stay away from lala land - they make weird things there - scary things without catnip.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!