Magic Carpet Ride...

While my time in New York is still fresh in my mind (gee, it WAS only last weekend) a whole lot has been accomplished back here at the Furry Dance Cat House. New York was great, good food with good friends.

I would highly recommend

The Elephant & Castle www.elephantandcastle.com
and
Arno Ristorante www.arnoristorante.com

I did a little sightseeing, a little shopping and somehow resisted the urge to wander into the store that had these shoes in the window...



The cat show was huge, crowds non-stop and one leaves at the end of the day feeling a bit shell-shocked from all the frenzied activity and "networking". There was a lot of CRex competition and Pixie had 3 nice cats to compete against. While she didn't win, I would have ranked the cats as the judges did, with a handsome black and white boy coming in first in the breed, and Pixie coming in 2nd most of the time. I handed out lots of Cornish Rex information and chatted with many people who have or had a CRex at home and that is always easy and fun, to talk about something you love already! Here's a photo of Pixie at the show, and living it up in the hotel room, and sipping her Tuscan Milk!



I came home with a new Daddy-Cat, Angelwaves Sirius Black. He is going through the isolation and testing protocol I do when I bring a new cat into the house, but 99.9% of his tests have been clear and that's a relief. He is very handsome, all black (hence the name) and is very svelte and racy, only weighing in at 5# 7oz. He is 18 months old, and the next step is to have his heart ultrasounded and if he is clear, then in a few months, he can sire his first litter! Here's his first photo in his new home here!


The (magic) carpet went in on Friday and I love it! It has brownish-greenish tones (khaki to be precise) and so in the light rooms it looks more cafe aulait and in the darker room it looks more sage green. It's a shag (baby) but nowadays they call it Frisee, and it is sort of frizzy. The drywall repairs are complete and the painting almost done. I am now in the process of cleaning the walls and putting everything back in place. It's like I just moved in, with stuff in crates and boxes, but it's giving me a reason to do spring cleaning, get rid of some stuff I'll never wear again and to rearrange some furniture. One good thing about moving furniture around, I found some lighting in the bookshelves was overheating and looked a bit scary, so I didn't hook them back up again! Flood I can handle, fire I don't think so...

Momcats and babies are all doing great. My petsitter has been nurturing them over at her house since I went to New York and so I know they will be SUPER KITTEHS because of all their TLC. They are fat and sassy and in and out of their kitten tent, except at night or when they can't be watched and by the time they come back here tomorrow, they will be ready to move in to the kitten nursery...my newly redone master bathroom. They are not all spoken for yet, one is still up for grabs, but I am certain that he will find just the right home, too.

I'm off to dinner tonight with friends to Nando's Peri Peri Chicken! Mike and I found a Nando's in London when we were there and truly, it is amazing and very close to the Portuguese Piri Piri Chicken my mom has made since their stint in Portugal in the '70's. Here's a link to Nando's, so you can see what you are missing! http://www.nandosperiperi.com/index.cfm

Tomorrow, it's more "moving in" work, but if I put off working on it...I'll be in disarray forever and that's not good mentally or physically. I was behind on stuff before this all happened, but the filing and photo albums and yard work will just have to wait!

Well, just mostly wanted to post so I could show you the new pix, so that's it for today, anyway.

So New York!

Here we are in the Big Apple. Well, no, this cat isn't in NYC, but I thought it was a Hip, kind of CityKitty photo, so I thought I'd use it as an intro. It is a FurryDance cat though!

I had a friend coming with me, to share the fun (and the EXPENSES) but she had to have an unanticipated medical procedure and had to stay close to home. But, as they say "When life hands you lemons, you make Lemonade". I had a cheap vacation in Oregon in August, so I guess if I average these two get-aways together, it's not so bad...

Had an uneventful drive up, no traffic snarls and thanks to the nav system, got right to the hotel, no problems. It's always nice to have a co-pilot in NYC, but I managed it alone, and didn't hit any bike messengers as I worried I might.

The Affinia Manhattan, where I have stayed for the last 3 Madison Square Garden Cat Show, is very nice, right across the street from MSG and while 3 x the price of most hotels I frequent, it's part of being in NYC and the big plus is I can park the car and not have to deal with driving all weekend (though that privilege runs me $44 a day, MOL).

Pixie and I have down comforters, a full kitchen and for me, my beverages of choice (this weekend it's Pina Coladas, Long Island Iced Teas, and White Russians...remember, I had an Aussie coming with me initially!) and for Pixie, why, some Tuscan Milk, of course. 

ODE TO TUSCAN MILK

I couldn't hunt down any friends last night (had their phones turned off, duh) so went around the corner to an Italian place for a Campari and Veal Piccata. It wasn't up to my favorite as Carrabas Grill (I know that they are a chain but their Veal Piccata is excellent, as well as their white Sangria). I stopped at a market on the way back to the hotel and got some Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey, which went well with the White Russian for dessert.

Today, I slept in til 9, a real treat lately since with the home repairs, I have had to be up early for the work to begin. Then came bathing and grooming Pixie, then me, haha. Had my favorite yogurt (Fagi Greek yogurt with Honey) and Trader Joe's Ultimate Vanilla Wafers and some Starbucks and I was a happy camper.

Got out of the hotel about 1-ish and and actually made it to a museum on the way to Macy's, The Museum at FIT, and enjoyed their current exhibit, Arbiters of Style, Women at the Forefront of Fashion. I know my niece, Erin, would have enjoyed it! Then it was on to Macy's (and as usual, I couldn't find my way out and felt a little like a kid in a scary Fun House, laughing til it was "Get me out of here"!) I didn't buy anything there this year, but on the way back to the hotel, found a Whole Foods store (with it's own stand alone Whole Body shop) and bought some stuff for me--lip gloss, foot massager and a camera case. And for Pixie, two new collars for costumes (AKA hair scrunchies). She and I will be stylin'.

Tonight, I am meeting my friend, Tracy, who lives in the Village and visiting with her kitties, going out to eat (someplace fantastic she always picks out) and then sitting down with her and going over the new website she is designing for me, which might get up and running this weekend!

So, that's what me and Pixie have been up to the past couple of days. When I get back home, I'll have a few pix of this trip and Pixie living it up in the hotel room and at the show, so that'll be something for my next post...

Cutest Cat & Kids Winner!

Furry Dance Piskie and her proud owner, Ben Poulakos, entered The Cat Fanciers Associations “Cutest Cat and Kids Contest. They just got the news that they won third prize! I don't know how many photos were submitted, but it's a big "bird feather in their cap" to win. Pixie will be there, at the Cat Show and maybe we will even get on TV!

Ben and his family can't attend, but I will be there, with Pixie, the cute cat in the photo. I will proudly bring home the prizes and photos and fun stories to tell for Ben and his wonderful family (who are also my treasured pet sitters when I am away). They are also my dear friends and were the "first response team" when my house flooded! My cats sure give me some quality friends, don't they!

Here’s the photo they entered:

 

Kitten Movie

Thought you all might enjoy this relaxing Sunday morning video. I slept in til 10 am, awoke to this comforting scene, ran and got my camera and since I don't know how to add music, had to bring up the old boom box and look for a lullaby. If Coco looks a bit nervous, it's due to all my fumbling around. That and any noise momcats hear on the other side of the door or outside bring them to full alert.

I am off today to give Spooky (Nacho's previous housemate) a Spa Day and then over to Macchu & Picchu's to cat sit them (and they don't know it yet, but they have a day at the Spa planned, too). I have a feeling my house won't get reorganized this week, but I keep looking at the bare walls thinking I at least need to clean them up before I put the furniture & art back on the walls. Would love to paint, but that'll have to wait for some downtime and help from friends...

Enjoy your Sunday in some wonderful Fall way, it's my favorite season here...

Busy Saturday!

Well, I was relegated to the upstairs at home today, since there was sanding and painting going on in the basement AND new Congoleum DuraPlank going in on the main floor...


So I was forced, forced I say, to climb the ladder up in to the attic and work on it most of the day! Came across some stuff I'd been looking for, some stuff I didn't know was there, and have a big pile of stuff for the dumpster and recycle and The Vietnam Vets to pick up on Thursday. Reminds me, got to schedule a pickup!

I found some old photos of Mike and his family (will have to mail them off to his brother) and some moldering old files of his that were from when he worked at a hotel before college! Boy, they really needed to come 3000 miles to mold some more!! I hope with all the new space up there in the attic, that I can move most of the tools (hate to get rid of them, but anyone I hire will have their own)...so I'll store 'em away for now and make space in the basement for cat show stuff.

The floors look fantastic, as does the tile in the bathrooms. The basement ceiling repairs and painting are all done and in a couple of weeks, the main floor ceiling will get finished, and I'll have all new carpet upstairs. Then comes the chore of putting all the furniture and paintings and bric-a-brac back in place, but I am hoping all the new stuff will encourage me to get it done. Seems like during the week, not much gets accomplished visually, but after this next weekend in NYC, I will be home for 3 weekends in a row, and hope to get a lot done!

I haven't taken any pix of the work in progress here, but did have time to take new kitten pix, so here they are...

HaRd LaBor...

Well, Johnny's in the basement, mixin up the medicine... (what Dylan song is that line from?).

Well, I'm in the basement catching up on the computer while the hammering/ripping/tearing go on upstairs...the plank floors are going in today (and tomorrow) and I am trying to stay out of the way while still being here. So doing that, and periodically making forays in to the attic to try and make some sense out of the mess up there so I can have more storage and have Viet Nam Vets pick up a load of junque, is not too bad a way to spend a day.

I'm petsitting Nacho & Peachie this week while their owners are in Italy on vacation. They are doing so well there, seem very happy and no "out-of-litterbox experiences" since they have been keeping the boxes cleaner. I often watch kitties for their owners when they are away, but thought that for N & P that staying in their new home would be a whole lot less stressful than readjusting to here besides all the construction going on!

A week from now, I wil be in NYC at the big Madison Square Garden Cat show, and bringing a friend along who I haven't gotten to visit with much since she moved away. We are staying in a really nice hotel (no bedbugs I would hope, unlike the Hotel Pennsylvania and other places in the news up there) with a kitchenette (yea, cold beverages!) and down comforters. Both Dayle and I are tight on funds at the moment, so nothing lavish other than the fully stocked bar I will be bringing along. That and being with friends will make the weekend!

Momma's and babies are all doing great, and have decided they want to share the mothering duties, so I have rearranged the 2 tents to make a "suite" with one tent for the "bedroom" and one tent for the "powder room" and I am sure by the end of the weekend that the older kittens will be clambering out of their kitten box/bed and bobbling around and learning how to play.

Little Joy, Coco's kitten from May, was spoken for but because of her heart murmur, they have decided not to take her. I am disappointed, but she is such a sweetie that I am sure one of the other families I have on my waiting list will take one look at her and want to adopt her. I have 2 people who would love a show cat, and I think she could be a winner...so I will keep everyone updated on who will get some "Joy" in their life. Here's a photo of her, being contemplative...

Fall is Here...

A little bittersweet and melancholy, but still with joy at being able to enjoy the weather and colors. Just brings back lots of memories.

I moved to Virginia October 5th, 2001 and arrived to find this lovely weather and colorful leaves,
and joined Mike in our new home and new life together.

Traveling from Oregon to Virginia, with 8 cats, Mike driving the U-Haul towing the Jag and 2 cats in the cab with him, and my mom and I in the van, keeping in touch by walky talkies lent to us by one of my brothers; having a cat escape at a gas station but able to catch him quickly; getting stuck in DC traffic due to a missle or something being transported on the freeway; and then having fun getting to know the area and spending time with my mom.

All those are memories that come to mind, mostly when I am driving a familiar route and seeing Fall all around me, sad but happy too, that I was able to enjoy it with Mike. I don't know how other people deal with their griefs; when it hits them the hardest, but for me, while it might seem odd...I miss Mike the most when I am driving. While we didn't chatter non-stop when in the car (or any other time), we had our rituals which I miss.

Tuesday nite Wings, picked up at Buffalo Wing University, across the street from where I work (and half eaten by the time we got home 45 minutes later); giving Mike manicures while we were on the road to a cat show or a trip (one hand on the wheel, one in my lap); me napping while Mike drove (I miss that lots!)

So, since Fall is here, I will have to have a Pumpkin Beer in his memory.

More kittens...and shopping for lighting

Kiki's new babies arrived on Octobert 2nd! I had been taking her into work with me all week, as I do with expectant momcats during their last week of gestation, and all the staff kept close eye on every move, meow and sigh she made. But she made us all wait until Thursday, and just before lunchtime, she went into labor and had her two babies within 5 minutes of each other! They are purrfect, a little red classic tabby boy and a blue or blue-cream girl. Kiki is a bit of a nervous mom at first, so I am glad I have the next 3 days off, so I can keep a close eye on them. But at least they arrived safe and sound, and I didn't have a middle-of-the-night delivery, as often happens.

 
Sanding starts on the drywall repairs tomorrow, and I asked Clay if he could install some new lights (since the old ones had to be taken down to do the repairs) and he said yes...so today I went to Lowe's and Home Depot (luckily right across the street from each other) and picked out new ceiling lights and yes, a new faucet for the master bathroom, too! Hope the rest of the house doesn't look too shabby with the new stuff in place! The flooring guy, Wade, took me by a house today that just had the same flooring put in that I am getting, Congoleum DuraStone and Duraplank, and wowza, I loved it. It was so nice to see it in a house rather than in samples.

I stopped in at Hard Times Cafe tonight, had some wings (shoulda stuck with my usual chili dog) and a pint of Abita Turbo Dog (a favorite). It's not the same without Mike, but I had a club soda with lime in his honor. I'm off to a friends for dinner and a movie tomorrow (they have a kitty from me too, so of course they are friends!). Lisa has helped me a lot with her friendship and "attention-to-detail" cleaning when she comes over to help me catch up!

Well, that's all the mewsings for today!

Tee