Ordering In

The keeper had to pass on the big Fulcrum dinner tonight because her brother in law was getting work done on a hip. This is important because D and M are marathon runners--ultra runners. Orthopedic surgery is so high tech now, that getting a hip fixed is almost like a trip to the dentist. In this case they flew in from Spokane and fly back tomorrow.  Amazing. The keeper abandoned us and  stayed with them at the hospital  and ordered in and chatted up a storm. A nice switch. But she came home much earlier than had she gone to the fancy dinner.

O, the Moon!

We are telling the keeper to buy a better camera so we can share better pictures of things, especially of the moon.  The other night it was lit from the bottom, first with a buttery warmth and then a lovely orange glow.It takes even our feline breath away. And that is quite a compliment!

Our New Ceiling

While the keeper was away at her office today, the crew came back to visit us, bearing paint and brushes and drop cloths. They painted the dining room and living room ceiling, and then put everything back where it was originally. It looks really great. Who are these guys anyway? We couldn't wait for her to get home and see it.  Also our house is several degrees warmer so we don't need to use so much fuel.

Air Sealing and New Ceiling

Back to Sustainable Works.  In December they came and did an energy audit with this computerized blower door covering over the front door to see how much heat the building was losing.  ( A lot!) Today, after calking all kinds of corners and holes and gaps and weatherstripping doors, and electrical plates, after sealing ducts and vents and even resetting a window on its slider correctly, they retested and stated that we were highly energy efficient now.  If we were too much more so, we would die of stale air. If that wasn't enough, they put up new sheet rock and plaster on the ceiling that had collapsed, and put on a primer.  Then they are coming back later to paint the living room and dining room ceilings. They even vacuum! They were on a mission and that mission was to find every source of air sneaking out and they left no spot untested.  They even crawled under the deck to find the trap door to the other crawl space.  Now that is dedication.  We don't even go down there. These guys rock.  We will miss them.

Sustainable Works

Sustainable Works--that's the name of the wonderful company that is making our house energy efficient. They worked all day again today.  We did not have to go to Kitty Day Care.  But we want you to meet our two new friends K and M who with Z did the majority of the work.  Not only did they redo our bad framing in the attic, they sprayed almost 2 feet of environmentally friendly insulation up there, then they sealed all the vents and weatherstripped the hatch into the attic. They played tasteful music and even had interesting conversations about movies. They didn't let us outside though. They are pretty smart.

Kitty Day Care

So the workers came back today.  They actually are pretty nice and they like cats.  We talked one of them into getting window seats for his cats.  But, they suggested that we go to day care while they blew in all the insulation. So at about noon, the carriers came out of the garage, she sweet-talked us and we tucked in our tails and let ourselves be locked in. Although we didn't bite or scratch, we did howl all the way to the vets.

Alice was sure that we were going to get poked and prodded and drugged. I thought that she might have grown tired of us. They put us in a big cage and fussed over us, and we curled up and slept.  They gave us treats and the toys which the keeper sent.  We had venison cat food from home too. It was pretty fun.

And she did come back, and all we had to show for our afternoon was another refrigerator magnet.

At Last

Okay, this is a bit of  tribute to Etta James.  At last, the worker are gone, even though our ceiling is split. At last the snow is leaving and the temperature is rising. At last  the keeper will go back to her regular routine tomorrow. We are exhausted after all the excitement of this week.

OOPS

No, we did not go  to the Frye today.  This is a shot of the ceiling in our living room.  No, it wasn't the snow, or the rain or the wind.  The workers who had started the project on Tuesday who had to leave early because of the snow came today and sealed and prepped the attic for new insulation.  They were all ready to leave when the keeper was taking a phone call in the living room and just happened to look at the ceiling, and then the floor, littered with sheet rock, plaster, and paint chips.  Cecil had been trying to tell her about this all afternoon and she thought he wanted to go out. Maybe she'll listen next time.

Come to find out---the framing on this extension of the house was done improperly over 20 years ago before the keeper ever moved here. And it wasn't noticed until two big guys stood on planks over the ceiling, that's when  the whole ceiling cracked.  I guess we are lucky no one fell through.  Yup, this will be a little larger project that we had imagined. Go figure. We might have to go spend a day at a kitty day care after all.

Winter Brake

St. Francis either has a miter or a socking cap. Possibly a pallium as well.

Summer Lilac in the Bleak Midwinter

The summer lilac became birdseed this week.

One More Snow Day

With all the high flying radar systems in place, we had begun to trust the ever present weather news. ( Fools! and to think we were sick of all the coverage of the Republican primaries!) Today was supposed to be our hinge day. Instead we had ten hours of snow and sleet.  But we got to keep the keeper for another day.  she was a bit taken with making sure that hummingbird had enough to eat, and she spent a lot of time at this computer and n the phone, but we had treats and played with the catnip mice.  We went out, but only for awhile.  She shoveled snow while we supervised.  She did fabulous work.

Supervising

The keeper worked at home today. She did take a walk in the woods through the neighborhood and found everyone so friendly.  But mostly we guarded her work schedule at the computer and in the chair doing research. We were rewarded with salmon tonight.

Snow Cat

I had a great time eating the snow, almost as good as the coconut ice cream, and way better for me.  It is so refreshing. And then the frozen grass--what a treat! But my paws can't take the cold for too long. And she didn't offer me any little boots like some dogs have.

Birdwatching

We did watch the birds going crazy at the feeder, though.  Then the keeper saw the hummingbird and realized the sugar water was frozen, so she fixed all the feeders for those thirsty little flitterers.

Snowbound

The keeper threatened to read us Snowbound  by John Greenleaf Whittier today.  We were meowing and restless.  She told us about the English teacher who on one unusually blizzardy day made the girls hot chocolate and dramatized the poem for them. Chocolate is not good for cats, and so we politely declined the offer.

Lost and Found

The keeper had planned on cleaning things while the workers wreaked havoc.  When they didn't show up she didn't nap or watch birds. Oh no, she had too much energy for that.  She decided to clean under the stove.  On one cleaning spree she found 7 catnip mice under there.  That's where we were hiding them those days.  Today, no mice. But, she found what she thought had been lost forever--a treasured earring from a lovely trip. She thought she lost it on First Hill, but it must have dropped off when she was unloading the groceries she had purchased on First Hill.

Birdwatching

Cecil and I spent the day 

indoors, napping

and watching the birds at the

feeders which the keeper kindly 

hung in front of our windows. 

We were supposed to have 

workers showing up at 8 AM 

to begin adding more insulation to our 

attic and crawl space.  We figure 

they got lost in the snow.

We were supposed to have workers here at 8 this morning to begin putting in more insulation of our attic and crawl space. So, we were up and waiting for them.  They never arrived.  We 
assume they were hung up in the snow. 

We Still Have a Dream

Psalm 15

 

Lord, who can be trusted with power,
and who may act in your place?
Those with a passion for justice,
who speak the truth from their hearts;
who have let go of selfish interests
and grown beyond their own lives;
who see the wretched as their family
and the poor as their flesh and blood.
They alone are impartial
and worthy of the people's trust.
Their compassion lights up the whole earth,
and their kindness endures forever.

 

 

(A Book of Psalms, translations by Stephen Mitchell)

 

Thanks to www.panhala.net

Hummingbirds

The keeper was ready to go out walking when she was buzzed by a hummingbird.  She noticed that the feeders were almost empty.  So she refilled them.  This is not the first time those little birds have alerted her to their need for an ongoing supply of sugar water.  They are almost as smart as cats.

Hamlin Woods

The keeper always needs to visit Hamlin Woods after the snow.  She says it has a particularly sharp fragrance, snow on ferns and needles and berries.  We know what she is talking about and we are impressed that she caught what we have known forever. Perhaps we do have some influence over her after all.

Snow Patrol

Cecil could not refrain from performing his patrol of the yard.  It went a little faster than other days though.  He wouldn't put on boots like the keeper did.

Snow Day

We tucked ourselves into bed last night wondering if we might see snow in the morning, but not expecting much. But when we finally harassed the keeper into waking up, she saw what we had already discovered a bit earlier--our yard blanketed in two inches of snow. So, once she decided that a trip down tot he cathedral probably was not a wise decision, nor were meetings in Bothell and Bellevue, we had her all to ourselves.  Of course she had to make phone calls and talk to many people, but we had a lovely day, chilly on the paw, but lovely on the eyes.

Attila

Tonight was opening night for Attila.  Yes, despite all the snow warnings she flew out again, dressed up for dinner and all.  She told us she was not that excited about this particular opera because it was about war and barbarians.  Well, she got home ( with no snow) and had been blown away by the opera.  We asked what she liked.  Do you want the list?  Here it is: the way they staged it using  a contemporary guerrilla warfare angle which is more accessible for the contemporary world; the incredible artistry of the singers, especially Ana Lucrecia Garcia as Odabella, Antonello Palombi as Foresto, and Marco Vatogna as Ezio; the superb conductor; the choruses; the set and lighting. The two of us were more interested in the dinner.  She was pretty enthused about that as well.

Snow Showers

Not a lot of snow, but we watched it cover the yard and found it pretty inviting.  However, she was not home to let us out.  The keeper had left earlier for Bothell and Bellevue and it was dry.  On her way from Bellevue to Bothell, she hit the slush storm that was attacking 405 North. She finally made it home all tensed up and finished working at her desk here. We know we provide extra inspiration and some distraction.

A Most Amazing Connection

After the funeral the keeper went to a meeting at Panera Bread in Northgate.  While she was picking up the order, she was stopped by a man ( who was not part of her meeting group) who asked her name because she looked so familiar.  When he introduced himself, he told her that he had written a letter (supportive) to the PI about her in 1990. She never met the writer, but always wondered why someone who didn't know her would take the time to write. They agreed to get together soon. Will the mystery  be revealed after 21+ years?

Through the Windshield

Well, we received reports that the sky was so incredible tonight the keeper kept chasing after another view instead of getting right home to us after the big funeral this morning and a meeting in the afternoon. The pictures do seem to tell the story.  Although the funeral was a sad occasion, she was all excited because she saw hundreds of people who had been in ministry as long as she had been today, and they spoke about an era different from this one when young lay ministers felt encouraged to dream a new church. She passed out a lot of cards to old friends.

A Warmer House

We had visitors today who woke us up earlier than usual.

We are getting more insulation and heat efficiency for our house. Today they wrapped all of our pipes, sealed all of our ducts, and drilled through a concrete wall to lay more another heating duct with a new vent. Cecil tried to convince them that he was let out the door every time he meowed, but Matt was on to him. After they left it smelled like mastic.  It still does.  But it's nice to have a warmer living room and a new vent to sleep on.

Survival Behavior

OK, the secret is out.  We cover up our food in between meals. We do this on our own.  The keeper does not lift , a finger to help us with this. We are perfecting our technique.We each fold our own two corners surrounding our own bowls, and the folds are pretty tight. By the time we are done, it's wrapped like a package and we dare anyone to touch our  work.  The keeper thinks we are geniuses.  She has never seen anything like this.  Have you? 

Epiphany Manifestation

 

As usual it was more church for the keeper who left us alone and came home in the evening.  She had been to three churches and ended the day at the cathedral with a great liturgy and music and a homily which was a great and healing corrective to the new use of "many" in the Eucharistic Prayer.  But on the way over I-90 she traveled over Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington, and almost came to a dead stop  when she saw the fuchsia lakes with the violet cloud canopy hovering over both.  Instead she drove up the hill to take a photo for us, but she didn't have time to get to the lake view.  We believe her.

Los Tres Magos con Las Tres Reinas

Happy Epiphany! Today is the traditional day for the celebration of Epiphany even though the Church now celebrates it on Sunday. But the keeper left us to celebrate with a group of friends and companions from her office for a special lunch and the traditional rosca--the crown shaped bread  in which three little Nino Jesus dolls are buried.  The person whose slice has a Nino buried in it is in charge of the party on February 2nd--Candlemas Day.  The keeper cut her slice and thought she was clear. But when she started eating it, she found the Nino!  She is in charge of the party.  But instead of tacos and arroz, they will probably eat grilled salmon and asparagus since that is what she can cook.

Godspeed, Dear Cinder

On this Twelfth day of Christmas we learned that we lost one of our cousins. We never met her since she lived in San Diego all of her 20 feline years with the keeper's brother and sister in law.  We understand she was a little slip of a thing who was light as a feather and tough, unafraid of skunks, raccoons, and parrots. We know that her keepers will miss her greatly since she has been part of their family for most of their married life.  But now she lives to romp with all of her friends whom she outlived, and perhaps to gently haunt her keepers. We send our condolences.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

On the 11th Day of Christmas our keeper gave us another day to ourselves.  She had meetings scattered through town and came home in time to work before heading off to another.  But when she was done for the evening,  we all went outside and admired the moon and thought of all those we love, near and far, sharing the light of the moon. Alice wondered how many more moons would pass before it would be spring.

The Tenth Day of Christmas

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, our keeper left to us, a house all to ourselves.  Yes, she returned to her office again after the little vacation.  We think it was harder for her than for us.  We simply returned to our perches at the window watching the birds at the new feeders. We played a little tag before naps. She returned home to report that most of the neighborhood Christmas lights are down now, but we will keep the Christmas season lit until its conclusion.

California New Years Day

The keeper used to spend her Christmas breaks in San Diego with her mom.  She loved taking walks on New Years in shorts with sun warming her face as she looked in to the canyons.  Today was not that warm, but it hit 55 in our neighborhood and the mountains were glistening with their new snow. A good beginning. But the flower bulbs are a little too anxious to start blooming, we think.