DONUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love to bake. Because I love to eat. So, it works out. 

 

I have a new page, just for Donuts. Of course!!

Sick sick Sick SICK sick.

Ugh. Is there anything worse than a hard-hitting Cold.

Wikipedia says:   "The common cold (also known as nasopharyngitis, rhinopharyngitis, acute coryza,^[1] head cold, or simply a cold) is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose. Symptoms include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and fever which usually resolve in seven to ten days, with some symptoms lasting up to three weeks. Well over 200 virus strains are implicated in the cause of the common cold; the rhinoviruses are the most common."

Lookit. These little buggers are responsible for the misery.

In layman's terms: You lay on the couch because everything is achy and it sucks and you can't breathe and So. Much. Snot. Gah. 

 

This is Day 3. 

I will say that I haven't just been wallowing on the couch in a sea of tissues (with aloe). I did manage to shower every day, and yesterday I vacuumed and even ventured out to Target. Where I realized I had no business being.

So, no. No sewing this week. Nothing. I did watch a lot of Netflix and discovered the BBC Channel for documentaries on Youtube. Yay.

This gratuitous shot of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is brought to you by Dayquil.

I also read and reread several of my favourite Bloggers for inspiration when I'm feeling better; which I shall now share with you. Enjoy.

  

I have been a long time fan of Rita at Red Pepper Quilts.

Her amazing attention to detail and precision floor me every time I look at her work. I aspire to be as good as she is, some day. :)

 

Another quilter I love is Crazy Mom Quilts; her tutorials are great and she's a fellow Canuck. :)

And it's really neat when you find another person that writes like you do; it's like reading your thoughts in someone else's life. Weird? Maybe. But this is a great healthy living foodie blog that I discovered this summer, and have had a great time catching up and trying several of her recipes.

 

Check out Meghan at Clean Eats, Fast Feets

That should keep you busy for awhile. Thanks for your patience whilst I wallow. Heh.
Oooh. There's a documentary on Wombats starting. Must go!!

How was your week??

Baked Kale Chips. New favourite Snack Food!

So for those of you that know me; you know about my GINORMOUS sweet tooth. And for some of you that *really* know me you know that my dinners used to include were basically Cadbury Creme Eggs, Oreos and Cherry Coke.

But alas; time marches on and one's metabolism slows down. Mine is slowed down to the point where I look at a Creme Egg in the lineup at Target and I gain 20 pounds. Le sigh.

Enter in : KALE

I had never even heard of kale until a few years ago. It's really good for you, looks like spinach, sautes nicely, but my favourite way is to bake it, and have Kale Chips. Like regular chips but healthy.

I've used this type before but the curly kale works best, in my opinion.

Another super awesome thing I have recently discovered: Smoked Sea Salt.

I have a wonderful Epicure rep who turned me onto their Alder Smoked Sea Salt. It's so good I use it now on EVERYTHING I cook - taters, veggies, etc etc.

Don't be intimidated. Here's how to make some crispy crunchy kale chips that will let you snack and satisfy your crunch/salt cravings instead of eating nasty ol' potato chips. AND....a bunch of kale costs around 1.99-2.49 whereas potato chips can be up to FIVE bucks!!!

Without further ado; here's the way to do really yummy baked kale chips.

BAKED KALE CHIPS:

1 Bunch Raw Kale

Olive Oil

Smoked Sea Salt

You will need: Cookie/baking sheet, colander, kitchen towel

Cut the stems at the bottom off of the bunch. 

I usually cut right above the elastic band that holds it together.

Fill your sink with cold water, and put a colander into the water. 

Submerge the kale leaves and using your fingers rub gently into all the edges & nooks and crannies to ensure all the dirt and yucky bits out. Swish around as you remove the leaves and shake water off.

Remove from water and let dry flat on a tea towel or paper towel or whatever kitchen towel you like to use. Pat dry.

**Note: I usually leave them out overnight to ensure the leaves are really, really dry. This is important because if they're not dry, then the water will steam the leaves and they will be chewy and gross.**

Preheat oven to 300F.

Remove leafy parts from center stem, and if there are strong smaller stems in the leaf make sure you pull them out. Youdon't want any stems; they are either chewy or rip the roof of your mouth.

 Tear kale into bite size pieces.

Using a large baking sheet/cookie sheet, spread your kale bits over it. 

Do not crowd the kale! It likes its personal space, thank you.

This is perfect.

Drizzle freely the olive oil over the kale bits. Using your hands, massage in the oil.

Sprinkle Smoked Sea Salt over the oiled up bits. (heh.)

Put into your preheated to 300F oven. Set a timer for 12 minutes. 

After 12 minutes take out tray and using a spatula flip your kale pieces.

Replace into oven and set for another 15 minutes, making sure to check around the 10 minute mark.

Your kale chips will be a very dark green when you're done. Keep an eye on the timer, make sure to check on the ten minute mark - not all ovens are created equal and these little babies will burn quicker than you can say No to a telemarketer.

Let cool, and enjoy! Keep them in a closed container for up to a week, if they last that long!


And I promise I will get back to blogging about quilting this week!!

Roasted Cauliflower - (Not a quilt pattern, a recipe)

Okay. If you'd told me last week I'd not only be roasting and eating an entire head of cauliflower for dinner I'd think you were having a wack attack.

Tonite I did just that - I used the most FABULOUS recipe from a even more FABULOUSER (it is so a word. I just made it up) lady who blogs out Cleveland way....."Clean Eats, Fast Feets" - I highly recommend checking it out.  I've used several of her recipes and never been disappointed. My all time fav recipe for how to do the perfect artichoke is also here.

...oh my gosh you will be blown away by how easy, fast & simple her recipes are to follow!

Here it is: Clean Eats, Fast Feets - Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

No photos; cuz we ate it all it was so yummy!!

Cozy Sunday, No Work Today

Well today is zooming by in a cozy comfy cocoon of coffee, cats, cuddling & sunshine...

 

She's got something behind her ear....I'll get it...

I couldn't make the bed....the cats were still sleeping!

 Here's some pics to keep the warm fuzzies goin'....

Vamp stealing my pillow...

Mikie in the sunny spot

Not much happening today...I have to go to a surprise baby shower later....enjoy your Sunday!

Update & Happy Mardi Gras!!!!

Lots going on here at The Quilt Cave. Christmas was lovely, gifts exchanged and everyone enjoyed the Big Turkey Dinner. (That I nearly dropped on the floor, but that's another story a la Mr. Bean).

I haven't had much time for sewing, we are in the process of selling the house and so, must keep everything contained and neat and orderly. *Snort*

I do have a few WIPS (of course) and plenty of UFOS....

A new favourite full sized WIP

! I did finish a whole bunch of Bloomers however for the shop, to go along with the Custom designs, and  I think I will be adding more colours this summer...keep your eyes peeled!

Well y'all, as they say down in N'awlins.... Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

Someone has claimed this Sprocket pillow as his own.

A few pics for you on this blustery cold Feb Mardi Gras....

The BEST spelling mistake ever....read carefully...a little sewing humour

MY favourite couch blanket made with Moda and Bernat yarns, it's twin sized, took me almost a year. Ha. Perfect to snuggle under...

It rains, and then pours

Well Hi!
**This was a draft I had saved and forgot to post from June 9th**

It's been a bit since I've last posted; let me tell ya; when it rains, it POURS. 

Life can get away from you sometimes, and even with the best of intentions all my fav and wonderful crafty things have to get put down and put away.

SO let's see: After the HBBA (Home Based Business Association - GREAT group) Home & Health show in May; I needed to step back for a bit from sewing. A little too much for too long. 

THEN... I got a NEW job! Yay! Full time, the only downer was it's a 40 min commute; but...recently I was transferred BACK to my area and now my commute is FIVE (count 'em) FIVE minutes. YAY! And I'm really enjoying it. Won't say the name, but it's a Canadian retailer and successful and so far, I'm having fun.

The big kicker is, our house is up for sale; and so sewing like I tend to do - looks rather like a tornado of thread and fabric and needles etc landed in the Quilt Cave - isn't really possible at this time.

But I did finish off a lil' giftie for one of my Best Pals Ever...A super cute Kitty Cat Quilt to thank her for being one of the Best Pals Ever.

Currently working on a King Size (UGH) Irish Chain for my Dad; they're getting married this weekend ...wait...scratch that...in 5 hours....June 9th and so um, they'll get their quilt later in the week. Heh. Or now, since it's July....mmmm soon. Ish.

So much like yours, I'm sure, life is Good...but busy. And that's okay. Keeps me outta trouble. 

But there's some WIPS down in the Cave...I can hear them once again startin' to call my name....mostly thought I have to go clean.....

So there's the update! 

 Here are some completely non-quilt related pics; our small town has a local fair that comes once a year and it is a much awaited for event for the under 12 set. Heck. Who am I kidding...who doesn't love a good fair?!

A Scary Halloween Tale of the Dentist. Not quilt related.

Hope you all had a great and safe Hallowe'en. Mine, unfortunately was more of the TRICK than treat kind....

Yeah. I bit into a delicious little purple skeleton candy...and OW OW OW!!

I cracked a tooth. Yep. Ow. I know. It hurt.

So I soldiered through the night and went to the dentist first thing today. Now, I just moved back to this area and hadn't  had opportunity to get around to seeing a local dentist.....funny how those things get pushed back.

I guess no one really likes to go to the dentist, really. I'd feel bad for dentists cuz while it is a high profile well paying job, nobody likes them. Or likes to go see them> so no matter how pleasant and nice....we don't really want to be sitting in that sterile smelling office.

It makes things worse if you had a bad experience as a child. I'm blessed with straight, white teeth and a nice smile. however, my teeth are weak, brittle and chock full o cavities. I always hated going to the dentist. I'd have to be dropped off there or take the bus and it was far, far away from where I lived. Or so it seemed. Sitting by yourself in the big, dark office (or so it seemed) waiting for the lady behind the wall who was just head and shoulders to call you in....scary. And then to go in and get in that big chair...have the paper napkin pinned to you.....scary.

The worst part for me was the cavities. And I always had them. I brushed. I flossed. I didn't eat to much candy or drink too much pop. But they were always there.

I remember laying on the chair. Looking up past the scary light (Don't those lights look JUST like the Aliens in the original War of the Worlds??) and trying to count the dots in the ceiling tiles. Trying to listen to the music on the radio over the scary high pitched whine in your ears that came from witihn.

I also remember...my dentist was well endowed. And as she'd lean over her boob would always be RIGHT THERE and she wore scratchy sweaters. And she wore glasses so sometimes I could look up and see the reflection of what was going on in my mouth in them. But I remember she'd always be gossiping about people with her assistant and I was thinking GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW.......imagining my Imaginary friend, Wonderwoman would be waiting to pick me up with the Jet when I was done. Anything to take my mind off where I was and the horror. The horror.

And then the worst part. The absolute worst part, was leaving. Leaving, taking that walk of shame, that running of the gauntlet of shame......past the wall of smiling children, happily showing all their Cavity Free teeth on the Look No Cavities! Wall....the wall I so desperately wanted to pin MY OWN polaroid of me on, and never ever got the chance to . Even picking out a toy from the treasure chest didn't make it better. I knew. I knew even then it was a consolation prize. Here kid. Take better care of your teeth, ya schmuck. Aw. Don't feel so bad. Have a plastic ring that says "I go-fer my dentist" that has a picture of a smiling gopher showing off HIS cavity free teeth. Sigh.

I. Never. Got. My. Picture. On. That. Wall.

Ever.

But um...I digress...

The young dentist I saw today was very nice. She was pleasant and efficient. She Xrayed and poked and drilled and got all sorts of tools ready. As she started to examine my broken tooth she pulled out the drill and then.....the words you never wanna hear....

Oops.

Suddenly she stopped drilling and the hygenist stopped suctioning. They both reached for gauze and pressure was applied (I took their words for it, I was and am, still frozen) to my LIP where she had accidentally sliced it open with the drill.

Three stiches and minus half a tooth later.....

I'm home. I'm frozen. And I'm Hungry! 

The worst part is I have to FILM a show tonite, and I'm all puffy and a bit bruised around the stitches.

She was very apologetic and gave me a darn good discount on the work today. I go back friday to have them removed.

Le sigh. I'm gonna go quilt.

Rainbow Around the World and Other Stuff

YAY!

I'm pretty excited and proud about my First Big Finished Quilt. It's double sized and it's for my baby brother (who is 30 ha ha ha) and it's his Christmas present.
Here's some pics of the my journey making my first real patterned quilt, "Around the World".

 I found some jellyrolls on sale and KNEW I had to make something with them. I worked and tried to concentrate hard on the pattern but if you look carefully you can see where I mixed up a row...strip pieced and machine sewed; and I stitched in the ditch the around the world pattern and then stippled the borders.

At the start....

I really like the hot pink thread on the red border. And the black fabric for the wide edge had a neat grey pattern that really looked neat with the black on black stippling.

I was so excited to finish it though I nearly gave it to him yesterday.

At the basting and backing stage

Done!

I feel I should explain......

Many of my friends were freaked out when they found out I've been quilting. They look at me askance and call me grandma....and I'm enduring teasing beyond belief via email. The young girls I work with can't even begin to comment or identify so they largely ignore my enthusiastic descriptions of my new found love of quilting.

I could care less! This quilting thing is GREAT!!!!!

I've always admired beautifully crafted quilts. In fact Mom made one when I was little for my middle brother and we loved that thing beyond anything, until it was tatters. I don't know where it went, and Mom can't remember, either. But when we go through the family albums, in several old photos, there it is. Wrapped around us, under us, over us, used as a tent, or blankie, or all sorts of things we played at.

And when we were kids, Mom made our clothes too, even up to a highschooler she would make me some thigns (although at that point she let me choose my own fabric!) and Mom is a fabulous knitter. Of course she's slowed down a lot, her arthritis makes it hard for her to do that these days.

But that woman can KNIT like you wouldn't beleive.

And me, I turned up my nose for years. Couldn't be bothered. Had other things to do...you know. Teenagers. Ha.

It wasn't until the last ten years or so that I started knitting; the lady we would stay with when in FL on tour was a HUGE handicrafter. She knew my mother knitted and sewed, and knew I sewed. I didn't sew well, it was mostly all self taught, and the library books were helpful. But I was a  complete beginner.( For the show I was in I made all the costumes; Renaissance ish style ones) and couldn't BELIEVE I didn't knit. SO....I learned. At first because she sat me down at the table and wouldn't let me get up until I could cast on and knit 10 rows...laugh. Terrifying.

Then because I really dug watching something take form outta nothing. It was a trip. Kinda like sewing, but so, I don't know...Old-timey and feel-goody. And I felt ACCOMPLISHED. My first scarf I completed was HORRIBLE...lol...so of course: I gave it to my Dad. HA HA HA. Here ya go Dad. Enjoy.

And of course it was bright turquoise and I had embroidered with knitting DAD in giant brown letters. ( The colours were an homage to my father and the days of him picking me up after high school dances wearing bright turquoise shirts with turquoise socks to match and brown sandals. And oh yes. The socks....the socks. Pulled up over his glaringly white chicken legs up to his knobby knees. The horror.)

ANYWAY. Betty also sewed; she was fantastic and was learning to quilt in her towns tiny quilt shop with a group of ladies. I went with her one day to the shop and nearly fell over at the bright store. It was beautiful. I salivated. I wanted to laugh and sing and cry with joy! The colours were bright! And juicy! And I wanted to grab them all and rub my face in them and roll around like a cat in a catnip patch. I felt them and pored over all these wonderful fabrics.....

Needless to say, I had never been in such a glorious store.

The fabric shops I had been in previously were more utilitarian,  smelly, kinda like garage bins of old cloth you go through at a yard sale. Dust bunnies on the floor, unhelpful staff in black pants, pince-nez glasses, measuring tapes around their necks and giant dress shears in their hands. All named Maria and very unhelpful> did I mention that?? They would watch you go through and select your fabrics and sniff when you brought them to be cut...tersely asking, "What you making?" and when I would describe the project, sniff again as if to say, You're making THAT? Good luck kid.

But this New Wonderful Place was NOTHING like the previous shops I had been in. That shall remain nameless  and since I still have to shop there occasionally shall remain so. :)

I had discovered my as yet unknown love of quilting, and all things fabric-y.

A day off!

Woot. What is nicer than waking up in the morning and remembering it's Your Day Off.

                             Yay!


Started off the day nice n easy, with coffee on the couch with the cat. :)
Did some gardening....did some cleaning....the Best Electrician in the world came by to fix the bathroom fan, and we chatted fer a bit....and I made my List of Things to Do Today...which got me all excited cuz I'm gonna make my Tomater Sauce tomoro!
I love to cook and to bake. I love to eat, so that seems to work out well.

I haven't been able to make anything other than short batches of sauce for a coupla years; so I'm looking forward to making this batch.

I had to do some recording this afternoon; a spot for a Scenic Train Ride ...www.Pstr.on.ca if you wanna check out the train..... and on the way home (amidst various other errands) I stopped at a fantastic local market that features locally grown /produced everything. I'm really a fan of supporting local based stuff, the Slow Food movement thing - it's important.

Whilst at Briwood; I ended up picking out more than a few things.....as inspiration struck. I love grocery shopping.

It makes me feel safe and okay, when I can go shopping and buy whatever I want without worrying about the cost....I know I'm doing okay. I loved shopping as a child, sittin' in the cart, in the clean aisles and watching Mom pick out the brightly coloured boxes and packages, and the whole process was magical to me. NO idea why, it was just perfect for me. So now I still love to shop for food. I can spend hours in a big ol' grocery store, just moseying around the aisles lookin' at stuff, thinking about what to cook. (And yes. I am made fun of to no end by my friends for this.)

 So...tonite was a kitchen fiesta. The cats hid and my Mom only ventured out a few times to make disapproving sniffs and noises about how many dishes I was using. (I keep my mess controlled; and I clean up my messes. But I guess to our parents we are perennially 13 years old when in the kitchen.) I also made her favourite, broccoli and cheddar quiche. Except I don't use a crust, so it's more like a frittata, but she calls it Egg Pie so I go with that. I also snuck in some sundried tomatoes that I soaked in some water & sherry and used the liquor from that too in the pie. Yum. Next!

So I have this awesome cookbook; called "White Trash Gatherings" and it's got down-home country-cookin' recipes that I absolutely adore. It's old timey cooking and don't you DARE use low fat anything or margarine when using these recipes!! It was a gift to me ages ago - found in a artist's enclave shop thing off the interstate in West Virginia.
Tonite I made the biscuits, the coleslaw and tomoro...the FRIED CHICKEN!!! The stories in this book are hysterical, too. We've all got relatives like that.....

And while out gatherin' all my stuffs today, when at the Bulk Barn gettin' extra spices ( I didn't have any dry mustard or celery seed, gasp) I was SHOCKED and APPALLED that they were SOLD OUT of caramel corn. WHAT?!?!? That's my go to of guilty snack food pleasures.....

So I decided to make my own! Here's the recipe I used:  Caramel Corn recipe and it is okay. Very few ingredients, easy, but I like a lighter tasting caramel so maybe next time I might use some white sugar....hmmm.... but still, very tasty. It's pretty yummy when still warm, in fact, I may or may not be stuffing my face as I type right now....

So let's see:

Chicken pieces for tomoro marinating in buttermilk - Check.
Coleslaw 'coming together' overnight in fridge - Check.
"Egg Pie" (what my mom calls quiche) made & ready to eat - Check
Corn muffins made - Check
Biscuits made - Check
Caramel Corn - Check
Peppers, Onions, Garlic, sliced and diced and ready for saucing tomoro - Check

I still have to bring in some more tomaters from the garden; and pull some of my onions and pick the basil.

I'll keep everyone posted and see how this turns out!

From The Past, Mon Dec 8, 2008

Santa Is A Scary Dude
Current mood:  warm

So yeah, as an actor I do all sorts of weird & wacky & wonderful gigs.

The last coupla Saturdays, I've been Elfina, one of Santa's little helpers.

And, as I've watched and witnessed many little wide eyed children meeting Santa for The First Time... I've realized, that Santa is Scary.

Seeing Santa is sort of an unspoken rite of passage for kids.
Goin' up there, letting go of mom or dad, and sitting on his knee is a Big Deal.
Showing the world that you're independent and okay with seeing the allmighty Santa, hanging out with the Dude himself, hey, that's a big step.

It always makes me laugh though> Me an' the other elf have started doin' a Countdown to Terror .... Watching the kids stand calmly in line with their parents, some of them fairly dancing with excitement to see Santa. Eyes bright and shining, they are SO EXCITED!!!!!

But then, something happens. The reality of what they are about to do, the enormity (I mean,this guys' huge. He knows if you've been bad or good, man. He knows when you threw your neighbours neatly stacked woodpile all over the yard!! HE knows!)

You can countdown the steps to Terror.....9,8,7 closer to Santa, starting to hide behind their parent's hand....6,5,4 getting an expression of worry....3,2, starting to cry and desperately yanking their parent back.... and ONE!!!!

Full blown crying and freaking out!! It's awesome. And terrifying. They flip and flop like a fish outta water and sometimes they almost get dropped. The parent laughs and scoops them up and Santa laughs in a Ho-Ho-Ho It's okay kinda way.

So yeah. Santa is a scary dude.

He is!!
A big, hairy, fat guy in a brilliant red suit that your Mom or Dad FORCES you to sit on! AND he's a STRANGER!!!

Think about it! What adult do you know that would do the same thing??

It's traumatic. Go ahead. Cast your mind back, if you haven't blocked it out of your memory already....
 All done up, hair brushed, good dress (or suit) on. It's after supper and you are sleepy and full. Standing in line with your parent, holding their hand, hot and itchy cuz the mall is too hot and your best outfit is made of 100%, pure grade spoky polyester.

('Spoky', for those of you that don't know, is the word for Scratchy and Poky and applies well to polyester jumpsuits from the 70's).

So there you are. Standing on Santa's doorstep. It's complete with a gingerbread roof and and red velvet stantions. And you're all excited..... you've written out your list, you've got it all planned in your head what you'll say....and then, the kid in front of you goes up...and you're.....next.


Oh god. It strikes fear in even the most jaded of 6 year olds. Suddenly, it's just you and the fat man. You can see where the beard doesn't quite reach under his nose. And suddenly, it strikes you. This isn't the real Santa. It can't be. How could somebody as colossally busy as Santa HAS to be this time of year be sitting in that chair at the mall ALL DAY?? Whoa. It dawns on you...this ... this isn't SANTA....it's a stranger.

Suddenly you're cold. Your palms sweat. Your knees won't unlock and butterflies are doing ballet in your tummy. You turn back, to hide behind your parent but they're over by the Elf checking out the picture packages available. You look desperately but they're not looking at you. You nervously look around for escape routes; but the only one is behind the Not-Santa and you gotta get by him first.

Oh no, oh no oh nonono. The kid is obviously winding up his list, Not-Santa's reaching down to hand the kid a candycane, the dismissal of choice for all Mall Santas...... Oh please you silently beg. Please let him be selfish and list more stuff he wants! Let him remember to ask for his brothers and sisters please please.....but no. The moment has come.

It's your turn.


One foot in front of the other. Half way up to the chair; you freeze. It's as if the world is silent except for the refrain 'he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake.....'  echoing through your head.
HE KNOWS. This GUY KNOWS WHERE I SLEEP???  Wait... wait... no. This guy isn't reallllly Santa. He can't possibly know.

So you keep walking. Up those three endless stairs. He leans down towards you, and two big white gloves reach down to pick you up.

After that it's a blur of mumbled half-replies and sliding in the limpy way off his knee and skedaddliing out the back way. Safe with your hand in Mom's....you head with her to the Sears to get your dad his annual Christmas slippers. You glance over your shoulder, back to Not-Santa's Castle.


Suddenly, you notice you are clenching a slightly-crushed candycane in your hand.

'Bastard.' You think.

From The Past, Tues, Apr. 22, 2008 WARNING SAD!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 

Oh my beautiful Fredfred Current mood:  listless  I remember the first time I ever saw you. I was 19 and home for Thanksgiving with two of my friends; we'd gone to the local mall to bum around and just kill time. The last stop we made was to the old Elgin Pet store; almost an afterthought of a store with a stack of cages at the back. You were so little and so ugly! I remember looking at the cages; all of them were empty, except for you. I looked up, and you mewed. A tiny, teeny mew. I reached up and you stuck out your teeny tiny pink paw. And I was in love! For twelve whole dollars, you were mine. Little pink nose and little pink paws. You came home with me; so tiny. So fragile. And with the biggest eyes and ears I've ever seen! Your head was small and your body fit into my hand. Those beautiful green-gold eyes looked trustingly up into mine, as you sunk those tiny teeth into my palm. I brought you back to my parent's house and we all sat down for dinner. You were placed in a cardboard box, given some water and some turkey, which you ate as fast as you could. Halfway thru dinner; a teeny tiny MEW started to get louder and louder; I checked on you and you were distraught! Pacing and looking for something... but what? You had water, and food.....as you squinched up your little face and lifted your tail...OH Right. A litter box. That's what you needed. Oops! I brought you back to my apartment; on the third floor of a walkup. My bedroom faced east; so in the mornings you'd be lying in a puddle of sunniness on the floor. Your other favourite game was to walk nimbly over the candles we had lined up on the bay window's sill. When we were so broke in college; my apartment was the hangout place; and we'd often play for hours with you and a flashlight....you'd chase the light on the floor. It made us laugh so hard when you'd chase it in a tight circle and get dizzy; your little head still going around and around.... When we moved into a house; you were so happy. It was big; and miles and miles of places for you to run and hide. You especially liked the shelves in the basement; I'd find you up there messin' around. You liked to be under the Christmas tree; as if to say; "Aren't I all the gift you need?" And then that year I found out WHY you can't put tinsel on a tree when you have a cat. Laugh. You got out there once, too... I was beside myself with worry. And of course; I found you; scared to death under the roses in the back yard. You weren't happy about being shut outside either. And let me know it by biting me. Hard. You would like to be petted on your head, your ears, under your chin...but NOT your tail. Oh no. And you'd let me know when enough was enough; by biting. You also liked to chew; especially on the webbing between my thumb & forefinger...still not sure why!!! When I went away for extended times; you'd go hang out at my Mom's. On the way; you'd cry so piteously from your carrier that I'd let you out; and you'd perch happily on my knee, paws up on the windowsill, trying to watch the truck tires go by. It made me laugh. Before I went; my Mom told me that she would in no way go out of her way for you. That you'd be there, and fed, but that was about it. I came back a few months later; and noticed that there was a chair at every window. And every window had a cushion on it. And that there was a really nice bed by the heat vent; with a buncha toys scattered around it. I went out to the kitchen and that's when I heard the teatimer ding. My mom rushed over to the back porch to let you in. She'd leave you out there to watch the birds; and let you come back in after 20 mins or so. Yeah. So not going out of her way for you. Laugh. You'd wait all day at the window for me; and when I'd pull in the driveway, your little head would disappear. I'd get in and you'd be there, waiting for some lovin'. I'd pet her and sing the rollin' song...snifferdo is rollin' on the floor... You especially liked mashed potatoes, bagels, olives (but just licking the salt off) and your very favourite....Chocolate donuts. One time we had a dozen donuts in the package on the table. In the morning; something had chewed thru the side, and dragged out the chocolate donut.....dragged it off the table (which you were NOT allowed on) and over to her dish....hmm.... So it was always your treat when I'd get a coffee I'd also get a chocolate Timbit for you. (That's a donut hole for you Tim Hortons' deprived folks south of the border.) As you got older; you liked sitting in the sun more, runnin' around less. You liked to play string; and you liked the little furry mice that always ended up under the oven. The last few years; you've liked to stay mostly in the bathroom. There's a nice heat vent there that I moved your bed in front of, with your food & water dishes close by. You didn't venture far, until this Sunday when I returned home. You came out and were sleeping on the couch, came up the stairs a few times, and were definately acting out of the ordinary. Then yesterday morning, you couldn't get out of your bed, but were okay enough to move around by the afternoon. I told you that if it was time, to let me know and I'd help. Today, your hind legs stopped working. Your eyes weren't focussing, and you... Ah my darling TennisBallHead....my Foofur....my darling beautiful girl. Snifferdo...Furball.... Little Pink Paws..... I always knew this day would come. We went outside and sat in the sun for a bit. I stroked you, and we sat quietly. I always told you I'd take care of you and be there. Today I had to make good on that promise. But it doesn't make it easier. The hurt and ache will go away I know.  But for now;  it just hurts. The vet asked if I had anymore questions after he'd quietly said, "she's gone." I just wanted to know if there really is a cat heaven.

From The Past, Tues, May 8, 2007

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.