Little G. is Fine!

*Evening Update* Well, Dr. Candy (Lewis) gave a glowing report. All went well. And here we have the shaved belly update. She also has this little white spot in the center of her belly, which appears to indicate a belly button, but it is button-less. There’s another white spot, too. James is holding her for the photo, and she really couldn’t care less: good kitty drugs!

She’s already taken a good pull on her metal stitches (only 3!) but that didn’t last long and she doesn’t seem very interested in them. Yay!

There you have it: spayed kitty belly, up close and personal. And thanks for the sweet comments about our fur child. Oh, the lives of us folks without actual kids. Ha!

Posted earlier, pre-pictures: Just a quick update to say that our little Gwynnie is fine. She's out of surgery and recovering all snugged under her blankie at the doctor's office. Pictures will be posted later of the tiny, shaved belly. So sad! When James dropped her off this morning, the staff ooh'd and ahh'd and how beautiful she was. Such a pretty girlie! Okay, lest I should cause hurling with my Momma Cat talk, I'll stop now.

A Big Day for Gwyneth

Our little darling, Gwyneth, is going to Dr. Candy’s tomorrow for her spaying appointment. I’m sure she will be a.o.k., but we will have our positivity hats on nonetheless. We refer to it as, “she’s having her pockets picked.” Poor little thing! I am so weird about any of these things – vaccines included – they seem unnatural to my hippie-at-heart self. You could say I’m anti-synthetic. Of course, we went through a “heat” cycle with Kate! OMG! We about had to bar the windows. She turned into a flying squirrel and climbed the curtains. She also developed a serious and slightly creepy love for James, my human husband. Huh? Finally, that was over and she became Kate Spade.   Wish us well, and I’ll have an update tomorrow.

An Evening with Andre Rieu

In early December, James’ Mom and Dad had tickets to see Andre Rieu that they couldn’t use. It was sort of last minute, but we rallied and went! It was a blast. Andre is quite the character, aside from being a wonderful violinist. His eyebrow is perpetually curved up in a semi-sarcastic arch. Actually, not really, but he is very funny on stage and cracks jokes that has everyone chuckling. The music takes you back to another era, if not directly to Austria. The only thing missing was the Von Trappe Family. Interestingly, they did a Michael Jackson retrospective, which I found slightly odd, but at that point we were not counting odd moments! It really is an experience, if you ever have the chance to go.

(There were many more pics, but they were removed for some reason, by Blogger? Or maybe one of Andre's people objected! There is one last one though at the bottom.)

I wasn’t able to catch it in a picture, but there were two violinists (both women) directly behind Andre and they were clearly cracking each other up – making funny faces with eyes wide. At one point the one gal’s shoulders were just shaking with laughter while she tried to contain herself. I can only imagine sitting there next to a good friend playing violins and trying not to laugh while this Dutch dude cracks funny (?) jokes.

Apparently, the ENTIRE group tours around together. There have actually been a couple marriages out of the group over the years.

At the end, everyone comes out for a champagne toast and they drop balloons on the audience. People then get up, go to the front and cheer for encores! This guy has a following! I actually recorded a video of the last piece, which I’ll try to post a link for once I get it uploaded to YouTube. Cheers, everyone…

Here Comes 2011

But, oh that 2010! What a full, rich year. So much happened. If only I could remember. Joking aside, there was lots of good stuff, plenty to be grateful for. My family is healthy and happy (far as I can tell!). And my husband currently sports a pencil thin moustache (which will be shaved tomorrow, thank the heavens). Just for the record, we are not Buffet fans, and I had no idea he actually wrote this song. I remember a vintage, radio-sounding voice singing it though I cannot find anything on that. Can you?

In 2010, of note, in no particular order:

- I got previously blogged about new job.

- We adopted a new kitten, Gwyneth, a.k.a. Gato Diablo, the Grey Devil, the Tail-ee-ban, Little Snig, Tail-boo, and a host of other nicknames.

- I was part of a cool vintage and craft show at my bud Sherri’s house! Woo hoo!

- James’ Mom, and my belle mere, Mary, came through some scary heart tests with flying colors! Can I get an Amen!?

- Aforementioned friend, Sherri, is now 5 years healthy after her breast cancer experience. Yay! Goodbye cancer, forever.

Just a few things I remember that made an impression. I am ever grateful for my own life and health and that of others. I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year full of love, comfort, and peace.

,

Robin

Bloggus Returnnus

Hey, everybody! First, let me say, I miss everyone! After posting this, I’m going to get over to your blogs and check in! I haven’t had much time lately to post and I miss it, and the sweet comments from you blog beauties. So, the announcement is this: I got a real job! But, before I got said job there was an interminable amount of back and forth via email and telephone until at last there were interviews,then more waiting, an offer letter, a slight differing of opinions over logistics, and finally, acceptance. During the whole process I was sort of frozen, waiting, wondering, thinking about what it all actually meant and how my life would change. And now I am working, and it’s great. I think this is the first company I’ve worked for that doesn’t seem dysfunctional. Of course, I’m very new, but fingers crossed, right?

So, this was the view from the 19th floor of the training room last week. That’s the Ferry Building in front of the ship. I walked over during one of the lunch hours and OMG the shops in that place! Cowgirl Creamery, Blue Bottle Coffee, Boulette’s Larder and an adorable place called The Gardener that sells Weck jars (which I love). I got some herbes de Provence from Boulette’s Larder for me and my belle mere. It’s sort of the perfect spice for everything from soups to eggs to salads to sandwiches even.

I’m going to get my work-life balance sorted out soon enough, so I’ll be back on the blog trail soon.

Yokoo Rocks

If you've never encountered this woman, please check her out. Yokoo! Even the name makes you smile. Yokoo exudes this almost other-worldly brand of confidence and gentleness that is simply captivating. Before I even really focused in on her beautiful needle wares, I couldn't help but marvel at the way she styles her photos: the clothes, the hair, the glasses, the shoes, the facial expressions and poses. Incredible. She strikes me as a modern day Coco Chanel. Yokoo's Etsy featured seller interview. Yokoo's Etsy shop. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Here's wishing all you blog beauties a wonderful Thanksgiving from me, James, Saylor, Kate, and Gwyneth - the whole darn family!

Rain Rain Rain

It rained buckets this weekend, but it brought many cozy hours of being snugged up inside. We San Diegans are not as used to rain as, say, Floridians (which is what I am at heart). We forget how to drive and we don't own rain gear for the most part. Agghh!

Well, I ask you: where would you want to sleep if you were a little kitty and there was a big warm robe to crawl into? This is a typical scene many mornings and nights here on the couch. Gwyneth is a Daddy's girl.

She often needs a little rest after getting her butt kicked by Kate. We cheer Kate on because Gwyneth is a bit of a dirty fighter. She dive-bombs Kate as Miss K. tries to ignore her - to no avail. But there’s no ignoring Little G.

This is the sign for a fabric store in La Jolla by this restaurant I love to go to for breakfast. I love the old graphics.

And who could pass up snapping a shot of this be-whiskered cat sticker. Nope, not me.

Happy week to everyone. Hope it’s a nice one for us all! I’m expecting some exciting news, so I’ll be sharing that this week I hope!

Miss B. (Katie Bee), Sun Lover

Katie Bee enjoying some rays, and a few moments peace before Ignat (a.k.a. Gwyneth) comes to “play” with nails drawn and fangs ready!

Wallpaper the Whole House I Would

Marriage is a wonderful thing AND it seriously cuts into my love of wallpaper! I'd have every wall covered with the stuff. And it's not like I've even proposed it, but I feel that men think of one thing when they think of wallpaper: removing it. As husby gets older, however, his defenses must only be weakening when it comes to who makes the decorating decisions. I gain ground every year!

Feast your eyes on these amazing wallpapers...

Here's Mr. Morris himself probably dreaming up some new pattern
to make us gasp with delight!

Small Bear School

There’s no one quite like my husband. And this is only trumped by the fact that there is no one quite like his Mother. Mary is one of the most creative people I know. She’s an amazing craftswoman and her house is chock full of fantastic vignettes that I am always photographing. Oh, and there’s the Ikebana! It boggles my mind to see some of the things she has made. Lest anyone should think, boy, this gal is butterin’ up her MIL, I’ll get to the point (I’m just one of those lucky gals who loves her mother in law…I have friends who are not as lucky!). So, James recently came home with a gift that his Mom gave him when he was little. She sent it home with him on my birthday.   
I present to you: Small Bear School!

The bears all come out of their chairs and have jointed legs. They also have little black slates for their desks. The teacher’s desk has a little wooden apple. And of course the black board for up front! So cute…

Halloween Nite Out

Since my b-day falls close to Halloween, our dinner out is often chaperoned by ghouls and goblins! Here are a few pictures from this weekend’s night out for din-din at Searsucker. The chef, Brian Malarkey, was a Top Chef finalist. He stopped by our table wearing, of course, searsucker! Very cute…
Here are some of the sights we encountered. Frankly, I think the dude in the Hooter’s outfit takes the cake. And that last mustachioed fellow is my neighbor, Jeff, wearing his boyfriend’s Cher wig and a pirate ‘stash! Oh my!

Birthday Cupcake

Hey peeps! I know I’ve been M.I.A. lately, but here I am: spotted having a cupcake for breakfast on my birthday last week. Bread & Cie is a bakery and restaurant in the ‘hood with some mean sweets and lunch time goodies. I had an awesome birthday, and it started out superbly with dessert for breakfast. Why not?