At St. Catherine

At least I was fed before she left at 4.

She had an event at a nearby church.  She was the big important speaker at an event after Mass and dinner. Rah. But she came home happy because she ran into people from two former parishes, and her checker from Central Market who has gotten married, had a baby, and become a lawyer! I guess her rah rah moment was okay too.

Fragrant Midwinter Joy

Some parts of the country are very cold and icy. However, midwinter here is warm.

Today we brought the first harbinger of spring into the house. Sweet daphne makes a fitting end to January.

An Evening at Pomodoro

I thought she would never come home.  She headed to Pomodoro for dinner with her friend and didn't get home til very late.  I had a beyond fashionably late dinner of salmon and chicken pate after I howled at her for a few minutes.  I think she apologized. When I asked her why she stayed so late, she said she was having such a good time she had no idea what time it was. I felt a wee bit forgotten and neglected.  While I am happy for her, I am trying to figure out how to make sure she doesn't neglect her responsibilities.

Friday Morning Visit to Capitol Hill

Friday was an intense day in many ways for us.  But the keeper left me early to take the RAV in for its oil change at the best service station ever. She has been a customer since 1985. This also meant she got to set up shop at yet another favorite place, Victrola.  She got lots of people watching and work done between bites of her almond croissant and breakfast sandwich and sips of her Americanos,

Why Late Afternoon is LovelyThis winter

3,772!

Pass the word.  

We not only can, but MUST do better!
Where is the 12th Man/Woman Spirit when it comes to those without shelter?

Pets are often better treated!

And I am a pet saying this!

Luna con Halo

Tonight I went out with the keeper to put out the recycling bins.

It was still warm. The stars were out and sparkling.

And so was the moon with her silver halo.

Fleurish

The Christmas cactus has bloomed.  It was a little off schedule. But the keeper just finished giving her last Christmas gift to a friend this past week, so perhaps it's right on time.  After the magical season ends, the "real work of Christmas begins," says Howard Thurman. So bloom on, old cactus!                                  Bloom on, old keeper.

The daphne odora is also gearing up.  This made the keeper and me very happy this morning.  Not only is it getting lighter but the sweet daphne fragrance is returning.

Our pansies and primroses waiting for planting. 

Sunday on the Deck!

The sun felt warm through the french door windows this morning.  I thought I had a fever.

But, when the keeper returned from the cathedral, she announced we were going outside to do gardening. I looked at her doubting her sense of time, but it was at least 60 degrees, and the winter pansies and primroses were on sale at the store.  So plant we did.  Well, to be honest, she did. 

I supervised.

Surprise Trip to the Sorrento

I had to wait for my dinner tonight. 

She told me she was coming home before 7 so she could go to the gym. 

I knew she had decided to turn her Tosca tickets back to the opera since her opera partner couldn't go. She usually chooses to go alone when he can't. But not tonight.

She told me she wanted a quiet night at home. Right!

So, where did she end up? The recently redone Sorrento for conversation, red wine, and cheese. Almost like being in Paris.

Hope on Rev. Dr. MLK Day

Hellebore at Kittyrood in mid January! Oh my!

Today was a day for the marchers, speakers, banner makers.  

But the keeper did not join them this year. Today was a much quieter day at the cottage.

We took Dr. King's words to heart, "True compassion is more than flinging coins at a beggar.   It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring."

 I went outside. She did not. She wanted to think about restructuring the edifice.

 So, the keeper devoted herself to some serious study of a new book, Racism without Racists: Color Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America.

I understand it does a masterful bit of analysis.  She recommends it.

You Won't Believe Me!

You won't believe me, but she actually asked SIRI several times about the game this afternoon. Then she took all the Christmas lights down, and a few other chores. But after checking with SIRI one more time she turned on the tv. It was the fourth quarter. And with only a few minutes left. And things took a rather amazing turn. It went into overtime, and instead of turning the tv off, she kept watching until Seattle won! She even shed a tear over  Russell Wilson. What is wrong with her? 

REI's Neighbors

This morning the heavens opened up and dumped the most soaking rain imaginable. By the time that the keeper walked from her car to the church, everything was soaked.  But this post is not about that.

It is about what she observed on her way home.  She sometimes heads down Howell to Eastlake, which she did today. As she was nearing the REI block, she noticed the tents.  Not REI tents, but blue tarps housing a small community of people experiencing homelessness. She wondered if REI had ever thought about helping these folks endure the rigors of the great outdoors. 

Chicken Mole, Laughter, and Reminiscence!

The keeper and L and C decided to hang out together and celebrate despite the two others who chose not to join them for various reasons.

They had a wonderful evening under the shadow of Popo, feasted on poblano food--chicken mole from Puebla, and solved most problems of ageing, Enneagram, and gender! 

And they shared great photos of their summer journey. 

Mass for Christian Unity

This morning the keeper left me to head down to a Mass in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.  She saw lots of old friends, and realized how old they have all become.  The young man leading the choir was in Primary Grades when she arrived at Sr. T. 25 years ago.

Moon Setting

We are grateful that we were able to behold La Luna Bella this morning as she was setting.

We sure wouldn't have seen her through the heavy curtains of rain tonight!

Gifts for Us!

The other day the keeper got a new toy or two in the mail. She said it was a Christmas gift for both of us. I am not fond of that brown liquid that comes out of the new noisy red gift.   But I am very very content with two boxes to rip and shred.  They have so many more uses than the toys she likes---I have a new home, with a spare bedroom, a spot to hide, a place to sharpen my claws, hide my toys, work out my frustration at her constant absences. Much better than a pet psychologist!

These Gorgeous Eves!

Each night as the keeper heads to the parking lot or as she faces west, she stops and sighs.

These rainless January days set our hearts beating with hopes for spring and gratitude for the solstice.

Pretty Amazing!

Before heading to the gym this morning before taking down the Christmas decorations, she went to fill up the car. She said this was am amazing price. I guess I believe her. But my question is does this mean that she will be gone even more now?

Still Looking for Jingle Cats!

Here you can see how the keeper tricked me with that CD.

Thanks, Chris and Rebecca! 

I want you to know I went out and waited for them all on the porch.

I am a little disillusioned and my pride is wrinkled.

Looking for Jingle Cats

At the party for valiant women and men at the end of December, T and C brought the best Christmas CD ever, Jingle Cats.  Christmas carols sung by real cats! 

So, the keeper played it for me.  I didn't realize she was tricking me.  I thought all my friends had shown up to party with me for a change. I waited for them at the door.

A Bloom in Christmastime

Our Paper White bulbs from the Advent wreath have been repotted in the mud room, and behold, they are finally blooming before Christmas Season ends this weekend! And so is the shamrock, by the way.

Creeping out of the Darkness

It was 5:15 p.m. or so, no rain, and it was still light! Oh, how we love this month of days following the Winter Solstice! Three more minutes of light creeping back into our dark afternoons.

Hope crawling back!

It's Migration Week!

The keeper had a faculty meeting at SU and stopped by the chapel on her way back to the car. She was pleased to see that they were observing migration week, and she was awestruck at the great Peruvian take on the Flight into Egypt. 

Old Friends

The party guests were a wonderful collection which included none other than Brian and Martha who had celebrated their wedding at a Sunday Mass on the 4th of July 21 years ago at St. Therese. The keeper got to hear about their children, the oldest of whom is heading off to college next year! Time flies! They still look pretty much the same!

Another group of old friends looked almost the same as well.  But they were delighted not to be at a St. T's funeral reception.  These days this is when they usually run into each other.

60 Years!

It was a rainy blowy day at the Yacht Club. But they were all there to celebrate Barb and Doug on their 60th Anniversary, and they were inside, anyway.

Happy 60th Anniversary to an incredible couple!

Four Friend Surprise

 Rob, Martha, Shelly,and Paulina

This morning the keeper was not planning on going to the cathedral.  She was planning on going to an anniversary Mass at
St. Therese.  But sometimes she has feline intuition and something told her to go to the cathedral instead. So she got there a little late, but it wasn't until Communion when she saw her friend Martha from Puebla with her daughter Paulina, that she saw the reason for the switch. And then as Mass was getting out, she saw Rob and Shelly who had come on her recommendation from yesterday. It was a lovely reunion. Martha is going back to Puebla tomorrow!

Shy Moon

Suzy is right.  We are lunatics here!

Back Home to Celebrate Lillian

Yesterday the keeper went back to preach at a place I never knew.   She was assigned there 25 years ago this year.  It's hard to believe she says because although lots of things have changed there, it always feels like yesterday. Other cats who preceded me knew it well  and were well known there. They lived in the rectory. A wonderful matriarch name Lillian died and the church was full, and the testimonies and the lives and accomplishments of all of her kids and grand, great grand kids were pretty impressive. A great great grandchild was in attendance as well. She lay in state wrapped in beautiful Pendleton blankets, with Husky team mementos. 

The keeper said she saw lots of people I do not know but she does,  and she talked a few into visiting the cathedral. I hear two showed up today.

The New Gizmo

She bought herself a Christmas present.  Not as massive as in past years, but it is a fitness tracker that she wears on her wrist 24/7.  It measures steps, hydration, sleep activity, caloric intake, weight, and tells her to get moving every ten minutes during the day.  It's a bit like a nanny, I think, or a very naggy keeper. We will see how long until the thrill wears off for this new toy. According to the numbers, she is already behind!

Home again

Finally, she came home to me, put the cat bed in her lap with me in it. She sipped her tea and reflected on 2014 and her hopes for 2015, and then read about social sin and migration. I had no lofty ambition and snored away while she pondered.

New Year Surprises

On the long walk she spied balloons out for a stroll, the creek turned gold in the cold sun, and some bright yellow witch hazel which was blooming early.