Merry Christmas, a Bit of Knitting and Cameo

I've missed being here, on my blog and reading yours. I've picked up a little bit more volunteering, working on a Facebook page for an animal rescue group, and have found myself on the computer for longer periods of time than I anticipated. All self-induced hours, by the way, as I sort out what I want my contribution to be in the interest of getting some cats and dogs adopted.

It's all a matter of knitting together the different parts of life and attempting to turn the fragments into something useful and lovely. Or fun, so here I am again and thank you for stopping by today!

Speaking of knitting, these teeny tiny mittens were a gift for a friend's tree, although I think her plans were to hang them on her mantle with some tiny stockings I made last year.

The mitts are only  a couple of inches long. Should you be interested in making some, I found the pattern here: http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting-for-Christmas/Knit-Mitten-Ornaments-from-Red-Heart-Yarn

I used bits of baby sport yarn that I had on hand.

I think I'll make some more next year. They're quick, easy and fun.

Also fun was adding a hat to this girl. It's just a photo-editing trick. I can't imagine this beauty would be agreeable to mussing her fur with a real one! Her name is Cameo and she is my new foster cat, having moved in earlier this month. For those who followed the story of black and white Hope, I get updates and she is doing beautifully in her new home. Here's hoping Cameo finds an equally wonderful person to adopt her.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, well wishes to all!

For those interested, we'll give Sunlit Sunday a go come January.

-Karen

A Little Foster Cat Miracle

A little miracle happened a few days ago when my foster cat, Hope, had her adoption finalized. She is with an incredibly kind woman, one who was not deterred by Hope's age (11 or 12) or health issues. 

Rather, she was determined to adopt a cat who was older, one that she felt would be more likely to be passed over by others. She has cared for other animals with health concerns, both cats and dogs, and wants to do the same for Hope.

I've been amazed at all the plans she had to ensure a successful integration of Hope into her household, which included two dogs. Even before this puss crossed her threshold for an extended visit (which always happens prior to an adoption), she declared that the only reason she wouldn't keep Hope would be if she felt the cat wouldn't be safe with her dogs. Fortunately, all is well.

I'll miss my Hope-in-a-Box but am thrilled that she found such a wonderful home, after only about 7 weeks as a foster.

If you have ever considered fostering a cat or dog, I encourage you to look into it in your area. I've fostered cats just twice, so far, and each experience has been a gratifying one.

I'm pleased to linking with Judith for "Mosaic Monday" and sending her dog, Topaz, a scratch behind the ears.

Thank you for visiting. Have a lovely week.
-Karen

One Changes Leads to Another

Given my little house is a bit torn apart right now, let's start with something pretty!

One change leads to another. 

A recently delivered mattress and box spring has led to other changes. Out goes the old, hard double from the guest room. Stuffed into a doorway and leaning against a wall go the pieces of my bed, ready to be wedged into the yellow guest room. For my room, the new bed, now dressed with fresh linens; it would seem one no longer needs to wait until January to find excellent sales.

Of course, moving out the double meant noticing the poor state of the baseboards and marks on the walls. On with some patching of nail holes and painting. The colour is more subdued in real life. Given the collage, are you getting a sense of why part of the blog title is "My Little Home"?

Normally, I wouldn't be painting a room in November, when floral colour comes from plants indoors and a little snow is decorating the neighbourhood. Painting strikes me as a more "fling the windows open" type of job.

However, one change leads to another and all of this messing about is easier to do when a certain sweetheart of a senior foster puss isn't looking for snuggle. How could that be, given how Hope adores attention?

She's been off on a home visit; more news should be coming soon. 

To be (happily) continued . . .

Enjoy your day.

Hope, the Foster Cat

It has been a couple of months since Hope came to me as a foster cat, my second one. She showed up at a couple's house and, seeing how she was thin, they fed her and sought out an animal rescue group that could help. They're very kind people to have taken the trouble to ensure this lovely cat's safety and well-being.

I don't know how Hope came to be living on the streets. No former home was found. She's a sweet, friendly girl, about 11 or 12 years old, according the vet. She has a heart murmur, only 4 teeth, came with an infection (now gone), and one or two other health issues. If Hope could talk, I bet she'd have quite a story to tell!

For all of that, Hope has settled in beautifully, loves attention, enjoys playing, and is a serious lap cat. She's also helpful and encouraging when it comes to me finally writing a blog post!

There will be more news later on any move towards someone adopting Hope.

I'm pleased to be linking with Judith's "Mosaic Monday" this week.

Outdoors, Indoors and (Whiskered) Hope

I'm not quite sure why, but I'd lost the blogging bug of late. Strange, really, because "chatting" with people from other countries, as well as those scattered from coast to coast of my own, is a source of pleasure. Perhaps it was just a phase as a few changes were made around me. My brother and sister-in-law have recently moved away. This is not the home town for any of us and I'll miss having some family just a short drive from here. Mind you, it's only about an hour to where they will be living.

Life flows along, and I toy with the idea of settling elsewhere. Then again, I have some friends here and a history of about two and a half decades.

For someone who made daily decisions in my career, I seem to stall on what to do at this stage of my life. How silly is that!

Enough; time to refocus on some joys, like autumn walks that show colours creeping into view

and tomatoes that need picking (perhaps they will ripen on a windowsill), now that the nights get steadily cooler.



Let's not neglect the sense of satisfaction that came from my first ever installation of taps and a drain mechanism! You would have chuckled at me poking, prodding and prying to get the old fixtures removed. (Liquid Wrench Penetrating Oil loosened the one nut that refused to budge, in case you ever find yourself in need of said item!)

I had read that the most difficult part of installing new bathroom taps and such was removing the old set. True. Sheesh! I was very close to calling someone to come and finish the job. For many, this is a small task; we won't discuss how long it took me, but if I were to be paid by the hour, a small sports car might be sitting in my driveway right now!

In other happy news, some of you will remember that I had a foster cat, Claire, who was adopted into a wonderful home in July. After thinking that I wouldn't foster for awhile, that I wanted to make some travel plans, that it had been almost 5 months before lovely 4 1/2 year old Claire was adopted and that I didn't know if it was a good time to make such a commitment again, I offered to foster another puss. She moved in just a few weeks ago.

Here she is, Hope. She's going to need hope and a wee bit of luck to find an adoptive home. You should hear her purr! More on Hope's history later.

Time to get on with this new day, full of hope for all it holds!

I'm linking with "Mosaic Monday" at Lavender Cottage. 

Thank you for visiting,

Karen