Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Emergency Boid Feeder

Lots and lots of snow -- heavy wet stuff that made all the tree limbs sag dangerously.  Not good for them and not good for the power lines.  I went out and tapped on the trees and the wet snow fell but I wasn't able to budge the larger trees.  


Every time I recycle one of these kitteh litter containers I think it would make a wonderful bird feeder.  So, today I tested my skill and came up with this.  I am hoping the birds will find it and use it.  It's kinda scary looking, but if you were a starving bird you might be desperate enough to stop at the Tidy Cat Buffet, eh? 

Stay warm, dry and safe!  xxoo Patty

Thursday, February 21, 2013

ThunderSnow!

Patty:  First there was sleet and now ThunderSnow!  These are golf-ball sized, snow-covered rain balloons!  As I looked out the window I discovered, to my horror, that all the bird feeders are empty and the suet is gone!  The birds are hovering under the eaves, so when I went out to take this photo there was a flurry of feathering everywhere.  After just a few seconds out there, my hair was completely drenched.  I'm staying put!  I think I'll make chicken soup.

Bhu:  I'm staying put, too.  zzzzzzzzzzzzsnerkszzzzzz
Be safe effuryone!  xxoo

Sunday, February 17, 2013

New Morning!

Patty:  Good morning effurryone!  As you can see, Bhu is quite contented in his sunpuddle this morning.   Sabryin wants to say "thanks so much to . . . all those who made such wonderful and heartwarming comments on . . ." the previous post about his mom.  It's been difficult this week and your words have been very comforting to us both.  Many, many thanks!
I made this  carrying case for Sabryin's African chess set.  I used a vintage, authentic batik for the case and a modern  batik for the lining.  I didn't want to detract from the beauty of the batik design, so the quilting is very simple, mirror image wavy lines using variegated threads.
Bhu:   This looks like something I could use to exercise my claws!  I will try that later.  Right now I want to say thanks to all my furrends for being so nice to mai mom and pop!  You're the greatest!  xxoo

Patty:  You got that right, Bhu!  And for those of you who worried about Ava, she is being well cared for by Sabryin's dad.  xxoo

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Summerland

Sabryin's mom passed away last night after a long, fulfilling life.  This is a photo of her in 1966, in the Yucatan, doing laundry by hand.  She grew up on a farm in the midwest with four sisters and three brothers and she couldn't wait to get outta there!  She wanted adventure, and she got it.  She married a wildman author, had a baby in the late '50s and immediately headed out in every direction of the globe not as a tourist but as an observer.  She lived in those places; she was her own Peace Corps, raising a little boy and traveling and making do and creating a home wherever they went.  They lived in Mexico, West Indies, Ireland, Spain, Morocco, Hawaii, Arizona, Missouri, and finally in Texas.  She was Sabryin's best friend.  Sometime in the mid-70s she decided to go back to school and get a nursing degree.  She chose psychiatric nursing and worked in VA hospitals until she retired.  She was a lifelong smoker; she didn't quit until they put her in the hospital four weeks ago.  She just wanted to sleep; she wanted to go home and sleep.  She leaves behind her husband of over 50 years, two sons, a grandson and Ava, the kitteh.  Adieu, loved one!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

New Banner!

Bhu:  Hey mom, how you like the new banner?
Patty:  Well, it's fantastic, of course!  You are so handsome!  Many thanks to Ann of Zoolatry!  xxoo