A New Project

My newest project doesn't have anything to do with jewelry making or crochet.

Our neighborhood was starting to be overrun with feral cats. They were everywhere and multiplying rapidly. A neighbor volunteers for a local no-kill shelter so she and another neighbor started trapping them, having them neutered and then releasing them into the wooded area behind our neighborhood.

 

In the meantime, a litter of kittens had been born.After they were weaned, the mother was trapped, spayed and released, The kittens were then caught. There were 3 little cuties. Someone took one right away, but the other 2 need a place to stay until they are old enough to be neutered and put up for adoption. That is where I came in. 

                                

My animal shelter friend already had as many fosters as she could handle, plus her own dogs and cats, so she asked me if I wouldn't mind fostering them for a few weeks. How could I resist?

Of course, my 10 year old tabby, Emma, absolutely hates them. I guess she has forgotten that she was rescued as a feral kitten in the woods by the same shelter and now has a cozy, warm, loving home with us.

My youngest son has been helping me work to socialize them so that they have a better chance at being adopted quickly.  The little orange one should have no problem. He is friendly to a fault. All he wants is attention. The black one, on the other hand, has finally stopped hissing at me whenever I get too close. I think that it is all an act since when you pick him up he doesn't really fight to get away and will settle down after a bit.

So, that is what I have been working on lately. How about you?

I'm Jealous

Yes, I'm jealous of Emma, my cat. I have trouble sleeping and have for years and years. My son and I were in the family room on a freezing cold Saturday morning and Emma was sitting in the sun. My son started laughing and I looked over. Emma had fallen asleep sitting up and gradually went face down onto the beanbag chair - and kept sleeping. She woke when I turned on my camera and proceeded to go back to sleep sitting up. Damn right I'm jealous!! I have no idea what it must be like to be in such a deep sleep.

Stormy

July 1, 2003 – August 25, 2010

Nobody could have asked for a better cat. Thanks for all the snuggles, head butts, conversations and millions of laughs. We will miss your help with the printer, stealing our Doritos and Capn’ Crunch and getting closed in the dresser drawers. Rest in peace dear friend.

Taken after she stole my powdered donut.

Taken August 8, 2010

Competition For The Sunny Window

I like to photograph my jewelry in natural light. After a lot of hit and miss with the lighting and the time of day, I finally found what works the best for me. I use the window in our family room in the mid-morning for the best photographs with the least amount of photo editing needed. Well, as you can see from the photo to the right, that is also Emma's favorite morning sunny spot. It's not so bad sharing when I'm trying to get a good shot of a bracelet or a necklace, but it can be quite the pain when she joins me when I am shooting earrings. I use a picture frame without glass to dangle my earrings from. Some days it seems that they take forever to stop swaying. And most days it seems that the moment they are done swaying is the exact moment that Emma decides she needs to be in the window. I guess it could be worse - she could be in the box with the earrings.