Veteran's Day!

Two pages from my father's war journals (there are four volumes filled with some of the most amazing mementoes, drawings, photos and writing). Click on the photo to enlarge it so you can read what he has to say. All the printing, drawing, and watercoloring is done by hand. The only thing that's missing from these is the emotion. He must have been freaked out!! I wonder what ever happened to William Jewell of Boise, Idaho?

My father was proud of his service and his friends treated him as if he was a great hero and I think he probably was. But combat changes your life and I wonder why we still force people to participate in it. Sweet Praline has a video clip on her blog of WWII veterans being applauded at a DC airport -- it's really cool! I don't think there is enough applause or medals big enough to express my appreciation. xxoo Patty

Kids in the Whitehouse!

The last thing I heard Tuesday evening before I went to bed was some old-enough-to-know-better network news anchor saying "blah, blah, blah . . .there will be children in the White House for the first time since the Kennedy era." HUH??? So what was Amy Carter? Technically, Chelsea Clinton was only 12 when she moved into the Whitehouse! Plus, Bhu wants to know "Watz all dis 'bout a PUPPY!" True, Bhu; I guess they're just not very enlightened. Anyway, isn't this a kewt, kewt photo of little Miss Amy and what a bewtiful kitteh!! As I recall, Chelsea had a kitteh, too -- remember Socks? xxoo Patty

Day after election Blues

Well, unfortunately Goma's fantastic, almost perfect campaign promises of Cheezburgers for ALL did not glean the votes required to be elected Purresident. Bummer! Oh well, there's always 2012.

About the holly bushes: Yes, there are male and female bushes and you don't get berries unless you have both. The nursery people will tell you it takes one male for every three or four females (isn't that always the way?), and my male must have been particularly active this summer!!! Actually, I remember there were lots of bees this spring and I was very excited about that because they are, of course, the pollinators.

Holly and that's it

About ten years ago, I planted four holly bushes out front -- three females and one male. Since the second year, the females have been producing bright red/orange berries, but THIS year they have gone into a FRENZY of berry production and the male plant has grown taller than me! I mean, the thing is so puffed up . . . like the HULK or something.

Octopuss

So Bhu has had quite a month! First, we thought he was going to die and then he literally bounced back and had his 11th birthday and now he is running around the house, jumping on the bed to visit us, and climbing down into the basement to help me quilt. We still don't know what caused his pain, but we know we can't stand the thought of losing him! Love this boy!! Love him LOTS!
And then, just so you know I haven't slacked off that much, I did finish the second Amy Butler fabrics quilt. I think I might like this one better than the first. I have nine print football shapes left and I'm thinking I will create patchwork background strips for the next one. I can't decide, however, if I want to use strips from the Charm or Midwest Modern line. Also, I'm fascinated with and inspired by Sachi Tani's designs and would love to make a fiber version of at least one of them.

Homecoming today! Some silly TV star is in the Parade. The University is too lame to get Brad Pitt. I shouldn't be so critical. They do the best they can (NOT because they haven't got a clue what "best" is). Oooooo, I'm just MEAN today! Hasta la vista, babies! xxoo Patty

Happy Purrfday, Bhu!

Look at what Kelly at Floof and Fur made for Bhu's birthday! What a great group of furriends! Many big birthday smooches to you all!!

And thank you for the basket of treats! Bhu doesn't want me to tell his age, although I think he should be proud! He seems to be completely cured of whatever ailed him last week and I hope we are all able to celebrate many, many more purrfdays! Bhu sez: "Me want to share treatz wif Billie so maybe she getz better!" Okay, Bhu, we will do that. Keep purr-aying for Billie! xxoo Patty

Bhu Better!

This morning he was running around the house, jumping on the beds, purring like a wild mancat and looking perfectly fine. The Vet confirmed he has no broken bones, no visible joint deterioration, back problems, or organ problems. So what was wrong with him?????? He was unable to walk for over a week.

I think whatever happened was purged by all the wonderful purrayers and purrs and good wishes and blessings we received from all the gorgeous Floof and Fur felines and beans! WE LOVE YOU! xxooo Patty and Bhu

Scary Monday

A couple of days ago, Bhu decided to take up residence in this box of receipts from 2007, and Grey furry mouse was there to greet him. Poor Bhu! I called the Vet Med School clinic trying to get an appointment for tomorrow morning. I also called Bhu's regular vet to ask her if she checked him for Iliac Artery thrombosis and to find out if we can get more painkiller meds for him. The purr-ayers and good wishes are really comforting to me, so thank you to all who care about Bhu! xxoo Patty

Purr-ayers for Bhu

Goma and Sachie sent this wonderful get well message to Bhu and it touches my heart so much! Thank you, sweet ones!!

Friday morning Bhu could not walk at all; it was too painful for him. He would start and yowl and hunker down. He finally gave up and moved into his little box by the closet in the corner of the living room . . . his safety spot since he was a kitten. I called the vet and she gave me four hypos of pain killer and I gave him one and after about seven hours he was able to get up and walk to the food bar and take advantage of the litter box. I don't know what I will do when the final hypo is gone. Should I take him to another vet and get another opinion? We have a fine Vet Med School here with a small animal clinic. What if he has to be on pain killers the rest of his life? I'm just not sure what to do. He is our family . . . our little mancat. Thanks to all who have sent blessings and purr-ayers! xxoo Patty

Bhu in Distress!

He's tooo purrity to be in pain, but he is at the Vet right now getting x-rays. Seems to be having trouble with take-off and landing gears. Ann of Zoolatry created this portrait of Bhu and I'm just sorry I have to debut it with this bad news. Please ask Ceiling Cat to help my baby heal! xxoo P

Goma fur Purrrrresident!

Finally! A candidate I can believe in! He's got MY vote!

Sept. 27 -- A Sad Day

Last year, on this day, at 10:45 a.m., Pretty Sofie died. She was born in May 1989 in our bedroom closet and I chose her from the litter of four to say with us. Her siblings (Magellan, Everest, and Winston) were adopted by a pumpkin farmer. She was the best lap cat ever, but she had a nasty habit of thinking the world was her bathroom. I remember taking her to the vet early on and the woeful telephone call: "I have good news and bad news. She's a very healthy kitty, but she has behavioral problems." He might as well have been talking about ME! She hated Bhu and he hated her, but their evil games were fun to watch!
So, Bhu, do you miss Sofie? "No, me do notz! Okay, maybe a little. Me liked to jumpz on her back and chase her thru house. Me liked jumping on bed and scaring her so she HISSSS at me! She hiss and growl, very meanz to me. Where she goez?" We'll talk about that later Bhu. "See mah belleh? Happy Birthday, Sweet P!"

God rest the soul of Paul Newman. He was super hot in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Quilting this one right now. I get really hung up on trying to do continuous line quilting, but I can't seem to work that out on this one. Doesn't matter. If I was quilting it by hand, it wouldn't be continuous line either. I have about 50 more of these blocks, so I guess I will be making more of these little quilts!

Finally, a sobering note: half the people who are going to vote in the upcoming presidential election don't know that if something happens to the president, the vice president takes over. Think it can't happen? Remember Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford? Peace Out, Babies!

Fun in the 'Hood

Three beautiful ladies from the 'hood and the tree they planted in the park. Their beaming faces say it all: triumph!! Making the world a better place. Many neighbors got together today with Treekeepers and planted shrubs and trees, composted and mulched them, and resurfaced the nature trail. Glorious team work! Glorious project! Bhu slept the whole time.
I like doing things like this on the weekend cuz during the week at work nobody cooperates, it's all for none and none for all, and we only have successes in our own little cubicles. I talked to my boss about having a staff meeting to try to foster communication to get a little team work going, but it turns out that only certain staff can attend because some of the supervisors think their staff are more important and shouldn't have to gather with the rabble (the rest of us). So in my real life, I can do things to benefit the whole and there isn't even one person who tries to make me feel badly about it.

Bhu's Elegant Belleh

Here is the sequence of events. Mark and I are eating breakfast at table and Bhu must be part of every family gathering. "Me bringz orange crochet mouse and we play for a while." "Uh,oh! Belleh furz a little messy. Me fix, turn over on back.""There! Belleh fur fixed! Me Hansom again! Love U Mommy!" I love you too, Bhu!

Stuck in a moment

We were all standing in Dana Baker's office doorway . . . she had a TV she used to entertain her son Kal when she brought him to the office. I spent the morning calling family to make sure no one had gone there that morning. Meg said she knew someone who was trapped, so a rescue of some sort was important to me. Watching from the back of the assembled viewers, I saw the tower crumble and it was inconceivably all over. I did not cry then. I waited seven years and then I sobbed, loudly and dramatically, in the parking lot as I left my car and walked to my office. But it will never be over for me, no matter how much I cry and no matter how much anger and sadness I feel.