Coffee, Cats n' Yarn

Don't Fret BlogPaws

2013-05-23T15:18:00.000-04:00

Sorry, have been busy at work; lots to do when I came back from my mini respit at BlogPaws. I will post about it soon along with showing some pictures.

we is here

2013-05-16T15:41:00.001-04:00

I put the title in small caps on purpose, I'm already tired. It has been a bit of a trek to get down here. I first spent a pleasant morning at my office scaring the crap out of my co-workers with these strange creatures (not all, some actually said they were "nice cats"). They think me a bit weird with all of this cat stuff, but that's okay, it's part of my charm. Then, with cats and heavily loaded luggage cart in tow I caught a cab by the Starbucks on C Street. I waved down an SUV-station wagon type vehicle and loaded up to be off to Tyson's Corner. The next lovely 20 minute ride was my cabbie "Jean" from Cameroon after my telling him I was off to a writer's convention felt compelled to telling me about the book he wants to write about power and corruption and how Jews don't like black people. I skipped pointing out my religious and ethnic heritage and mercifully arrived at my hotel without problem. I was able to check in early and breathe.

With the naked kidz fed they explored the room with joy and conversation, making me feel guilty about not having carpet at home, and then settled down for a nap. Luck for me, I got a double room so they get their own bed. It's nice; back in the boonies, but it is close to the elevator and I did get my requested fridge.

I think I will take a nap myself before the show begins...will blog the opening and show them in their costumes later. If you follow me on FaceBook, you can catch the pictures early.

25 or 6 to 4 b4 BlogPaws

2013-05-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

Waiting for the break of day

Searching for something to say

Flashing lights against the sky

Giving up I close my eyes

Sitting cross-legged on the floor

25 or 6 to 4

Staring blindly into space

Getting up to splash my face

Wanting just to stay awake

Wondering how much I can take

Should I try to do some more

25 or 6 to 4

Feeling like I ought to sleep

Spinning room is sinking deep

Searching for something to say

Waiting for the break of day

25 or 6 to 4

I am exhausted. I finished packing (I think) and my bags for the most part are ready to go. The naked kidz get a big meal and baths this evening and tomorrow we are off to BlogPaws.

It's been a rough couple of days. Nothing to do with the kidz, but rather just running around trying to get things done. I've had to endure parades, protests, presidential and congressional motorcades, subway breakdowns, subway train fires, discontinues product lines, screwy roommates and limited transportation options. I ordered a new tablet and phone and it probably won't get here in time for the convention. I have to catch a cab to the hotel with all my luggage and the kidz. I have to go into work before I go to BlogPaws...and the hits just keep rolllin' along.

In my daze, Chicago popped into my head and all I can think about is this song as I try to get the last detail finished and TRY to rest before convention.

See you to tomorrow.

In 3 Days for 3 Days

2013-05-13T10:06:00.000-04:00

We are almost there. BlogPaws starts on Thursday. I spent the better part of this weekend going through lists. It's amazing how much stuff I have to take with me just to go 25 miles away from my home. The picture that I use to illustrate my point is not far off from the truth. I have ONE bag, the cats have two bags, plus a tent, plus carriers, stroller, litter boxes...see what I mean!

Still, we are happy to be going. This convention is shaping up to be so much more than the previous meetings. I still haven't quite decided what sessions I'm going to attend. And the people! It will be great to have a full complement of people and vendors here this time.

The naked kidz know it's soon too. I had to pull out the stroller for maintenance and they thought we were going for a ride. It still has been too cold to take them out for any significant stroller time this year which has me a bit worried. They like their stroller and are not bothered by people too much, but usually before an event I ride them around and have them meet people leading up to an event such as this so by the time we get there they will be underwhelmed by the experience. I thought we were going to be good this week, but we had freezing temps this morning and it won't be warm until this Wednesday. I'm sure we will do okay, if I could just relax...☺

Sphinx Sphynx Schmuck - Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-08T09:38:00.000-04:00

Comments Welcomed

2013-05-07T17:09:00.005-04:00

I'm trying to see why a setting in my profile does not seem to show in my settings. Please send me a comment about....anything. The Kidz, yarn, better coffee than Starbucks, anything and let's see what I get.

Revenge of the 6th

2013-05-06T13:54:00.000-04:00

The day of regret after Cinco De Mayo...

May the Fourth be with You

2013-05-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Not SO Mad Hatter

2013-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Along with the outfits the naked kidz will be sportin' some cool hats to enhance their ensembles. They do look great in their chapeau and most people react to it positively. I know whenever they wears hat or even clothing I will always get the comment "I could never get my cat to wear anything." I suspect that sometimes this is true, but really most of it is your fault.

People often ask me how I get the naked kidz to wear hats much less clothing without protest or struggle. Patience is the key. Not all cats or pets for that matter enjoy this type of activity with their people and too often we humans try to push this on our pets with not much success. I have to admit I am fortunate to have the three darlings of a cat that I do because getting them to do this was not hard at all.

If you think you still want to try to get your pet to wear clothing or even a leash or harness, consider my advice:

Zen-Like Patience – Probably the biggest mistake you can make is to expect this to happen quickly. Many a person has recounted how they tried for a long time (a few days, a week, a month, occasionally) to get their beloved pet to wear the sweater and the beret. It is not “natural” for lack of a better term for your pet to wear clothing so the sensation of having something under the chin or atop the head or around the neck and torso can be a bit unnerving to your pet. You have to give your pet the opportunity to trust that this restraint is not a threat. You do that by associating the activity with something they enjoy like playing or food. You have to do this in short spurts of time (hat on for one minute, piece of chicken, hat off for one minute). You have to build up the time slowly and eventually they will relax enough to allow it. If you want success with this endever, embrace the fact that this will happen on your pet’s time and understanding. If you are unable or unwilling to do that, stop now and just enjoy coming back to this blog and looking at my cat pics.

Slow, Light and Airy – I got my cats to wear harnesses and walk on leashes by first letting them get use to the weight. No leashes that attach at the collar. I put the harness on first and not attach the leash and just let them walk around my apartment and fed them their favorite treat. After five minutes I took it off until the same time next day. I repeated this for about two weeks and only then did I attach the leash. I then let them drag the leash round without me holding on to it (another week), then held the leash for a week, and then took them out the door, and so on. Moshe Moshi took to it instantly; I can walk him like a dog. Maus and Jake took almost the entire summer. Even now after a couple of years, Maus will only walk in quiet sidewalks. Jake will only walk at my heel indoors. Because they were familiar with wearing harnesses, the move to clothing was smooth and quick.

Pet Clothes for Pets – When I first got Jake and Maus they never seemed to want to come out of warm spots. They hung out in the bedroom (south facing) all the time. I had a tendency to keep the apartment cool so I understood the draw of the bedroom. In order to get them to use the entire apartment I knew I had to either turn up the heat or put something on them to keep them warm. I started out with doll clothing. Dolls are shaped differently; their arms don’t set on the body like a cat or dog. No Doll is meant to stand with arms extended straight out and your pet doesn’t have shoulders like you do so I learned the hard way that doll or people clothing doesn’t work well. Just like you, your pet needs clothing that is designed for their body type. Remember the idea is to have them not feel restrictive. I have a lot of the kidz clothing done custom, but the majority of what they wear to keep warm is off the rack or hand fashioned by me. I had found this company that made little fleece covering for dogs and I bought them for the kidz. They love it. No sleeves, very light an open. I later use the shirts as a template to make clothing for the cats. I used old shirts I didn’t want anymore, lot of thrift store stuff, knit and crochet stuff of course. Once I upgraded to fashion clothing they were familiar with the sensation and I no longer have to treat them to get them to wear it. Hats too should be something made for a pet’s head. None of the hats restrict my cats hearing or put any weight on their ears. I will occasionally do a top hat that tips and covers one ear, but only for photo-shoots. Most of their hats have ear holes or is so small as to fit on just the head. None weigh more than an ounce or two. In contrast to the Pet clothing for Pets stance I have with minimal adjustments been able to have them ear doll hats. However, most were for Maus since she has a head not much bigger than a large chicken egg and none were proportion for Moshe or Jake.

Overall and collectively it took me a year to get all three to feel comfortable. Just like anybody, sometimes they just don’t want to wear anything and that’s fine. Don’t force this. You may have a pet that just will not wear the sweater, but they are very few. Most of you just don’t have the patience for it and that’s okay. Just enjoy your baby as they are and leave the fashion to me (and Michael Kors, another Cornish Rex Fan).

Famous Artist Photographed with Their Cats

2013-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Being crazy, driven, self-destructive, creative, artistic, eccentric and highly intelligent is not a requirement for owning a cat...but I'm sure it helps and none of these are uncommon characteristics among cat people.

From the Flavorwire Website: Famous Artist Photographed with Their Cats. I've seen these types of lists before, you always find those people who are famously known for loving cats like Hemingway, Dali or Picasso, but I was more struck by the obscurity of some of these people. Working at the Smithsonian and having a pretty broad knowledge about artists I know a good portion of these people, but I suspect most that see the list and photograph may not, at least not in name but I better you have either seen or read some of their works and just not know who wrote or made it. I have to look some of them up myself. Check it out.

Mo' Fashion Passion 4 BlogPaws

2013-04-29T11:09:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend here in DC. We were able to take a little bit of a stroller ride (only the second one this Spring since it has been so cool). There were tons of events happening on and around the Mall; Conventioneers, 15K and 5k for AIDS and for a Police Officer injured in the line of Duty. Along with Tourists coming to see the Museums and Monuments, charity events and Conventions are big draws for people coming to the area in the Spring, not unlike BlogPaws being here in 17 days.

To keep with the theme of Spring and Charities, we thought it a good time to show the kidz outfits for Day Two of BlogPaws. Day One the theme will focus on promoting us; Coffee, Cats n’ Yarn (Post; The Countdown Continues). Day Three is our salute to the women and men of our Armed Forces (Post: BlogPaws Countdown). Day Two will be an extra-special feature for us; Women’s Health, especially Breast Cancer Awareness.

I have had three very dear friends face Breast Cancer, one just finishing her Chemo and Radiation treatment a couple of weeks ago. I found out one of our BlogPaws friends just recently received a diagnosis and won’t be coming this year which made us very sad that we would miss seeing her. With that in mind we wanted to do something that not only would lead people (especially women) to think more about their health, but also let our friends facing this disease know that we are thinking about them and support them so the kidz will be wearing outfits promoting Breast Cancer Awareness.

These are Moshe Moshi and Jake's outfits, crafted by Tammy Peace…

…and Maus’s lovely pink dress masterpiece is another Bella’s Prissy Puppie Boutique (remember she also did our Patriot’s Dress).

When you see us at the Convention, we will have the names of our friends facing Breast Cancer written in Gold on Maus Dress. If you see us on that day, I’ll have my gold pen with me and you too can write the name of your friend/loved on Maus’s dress. She will be wearing the dress at Brest Cancer Fund-raising events throughout the rest of the year helping to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. We want our friends to know you are precious to us and we stand with you in this challenge.

See you @ BlogPaws!

Hairball Awareness Day 2013

2013-04-26T10:36:00.000-04:00

Okay, so may we don't have an issue with hairball in this home unless on of the boyz is stepping out or they start coughing up my hair. Still, this can develop into health crisis if left attended in our furrier cousins.

From WebMD:

Hairballs may be disgusting, but they develop as a result of your cat’s healthy and fastidious grooming routine.

When your cat grooms himself, tiny hook-like structures on his tongue catch loose and dead hair, which is then swallowed. The majority of this hair passes all the way through the digestive tract with no problems. But if some hair stays in the stomach, it can form a hairball. Ultimately, your cat will vomit the hairball to get rid of it. Because hairballs pass through the narrow esophagus on the way out, they often appear thin and tubelike, rather than round.

Hairballs in cats are more likely to appear in long-haired breeds, such as Persians and Maine Coons. Cats that shed a lot or who groom themselves compulsively are also more likely to have hairballs, because they tend to swallow a lot of fur. You may have noticed that your cat didn’t have hairballs as a kitten, but developed them as she grew. This is quite normal -- as cats get older they become more adept groomers and therefore more proficient at removing fur from their coats with their tongues, which means more hairballs for you to clean up.

Symptoms of Hairballs in Cats

It can be disturbing to watch (and hear) your cat eliminating a hairball. Some common hairball symptoms include hacking, gagging, and retching. Usually, your cat will then vomit the hairball in relatively short order.

If you notice the following hairball symptoms, be sure to contact your veterinarian, as they could indicate that a hairball has caused a potentially life-threatening blockage:

Ongoing vomiting, gagging, retching, or hacking without producing a hairball
Lack of appetite Lethargy Constipation Diarrhea

Hairball Remedies

Nothing can be done to totally prevent hairballs in cats, but there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood your cat will have hairballs or reduce their frequency.

Groom your cat regularly. The more fur you remove from your cat, the less fur that will end up as fodder for hairballs in her stomach. Combing or brushing your cat on a daily basis can be an effective way to minimize hairballs, and it can also provide a fun way for you to bond with your cat. If you can’t get your cat accustomed to grooming or brushing, think about taking her to a professional groomer for a grooming and hair cut (especially for long-haired cats) every six months or so.

Give your cat a specialized “hairball formula” cat food . Many pet food manufacturers now make hairball-reduction cat foods. These high-fiber formulas are designed to improve the health of your cat’s coat, minimize the amount of shedding, and encourage hairballs in cats to pass through the digestive system.

Use a hairball product or laxative. There are a number of different hairball products on the market today, most of which are mild laxatives that help hairballs pass through the digestive tract. Discourage excessive grooming.

If you suspect that your cat’s hairballs are a result of compulsive grooming, try to train your cat to do another enjoyable activity instead of licking his coat. This might include teaching him to play with a new toy on his own or finding a fun toy you can play with together.

We Give Good Face - Wordless Wednesday

2013-04-24T09:06:00.001-04:00

The Countdown Continues

2013-04-23T15:40:00.000-04:00

We are less than 30 days from BlogPaws (22 days) and we are still on track to slowly pack what we need. You saw what the naked kidz will wear for Armed Forces Day (Day Three), now let’s show you Day One’s ensemble.

Since we are Coffee, Cats n’ Yarn, I thought it would be a good idea to promote the blog in ways it hadn’t done before. When I went to my last BlogPaws event, I made knitted/crochet cat toys and put packets of Starbucks Italian Roast into gift bags. I also used the imagery from the blog banner on my business card. All were a big hit and I received the largest traffic ever on this blog (10,000 hits in three days). Remember from our post “Standing Out” couple of weeks ago? I changed my business cards this year, playing off the “coffee” part of the blog? Well, I thought it would be a great idea to get the kidz in on the act. Coffee-Themed clothing seemed to be the fun way to do it. These wonderful outfits were designed by Pame Derr of Lacey's Elite Boutique. The kidz are going to look so great on their first day at convention…I’m so excited!

I’m even getting in on the act with my own homage to CCn’Y with my yarn apron. You’ll get to see us in all our glory when we post from BlogPaws this year (we are trying to do this as it happens). We will have Day Two theme and outfits as soon as they come in, stay tuned!

Earth; 5 Billion Years and Counting

2013-04-22T09:57:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day!

Yes, this is the day we take pause and consider the health of the planet and cooperatively work out ways to better maintain that which we have dominion. It annoys me how that word “Dominion” is so misunderstood in our life. Stewardship is a great gift as well as a huge responsibility and the little effort to show you care about this earth makes a great impact, though it may not seem as if you alone can impact the earth.

We disagree.

In the Meir Cat House, we reuse just about everything and when we can reuse we recycle. We buy second hand when available and appropriate, buy local when we can. Even some of the naked kidz cat litter gets put into a community compost bin. Though some of what we do is more about affordability, we like knowing it helps the planet too. We produce a minimal amount of garbage in our little piece of the rock, but our impact grows as we do. Everyone must do their part and it is so little effort to do so. Small adjustment in your routine and recycling and reusing will become second nature.

You can do it!

Earth Day 2013 infographic

BlogPaws or Bust

2013-04-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

Why Attend BlogPaws?!

BlogPaws Countdown

2013-04-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

BlogPaws is now a month away. We are almost ready. I pretty much have my packing list complete, need to purchase some small items but we have most everything we need, just need to start packing it up.

I’ve always been an early packer. My Army days often had me deploying somewhere quickly so having things pre-packed always worked for me. It gives me time to add the little extras or even change my mind if I think I’ve packed too much. There were some things we did last minute this year because I was not sure if Maus would be well enough to go. It’s still tentative at this point, but we are going forward as if she is attending. We need to recheck her values at the end of the week to see if IV therapy is need to better stabilize her, but we are still hopeful. She is still struggling a bit but she is in good spirits and is not in pain. Since the BlogPaws event is not far from where I live (though we are still staying at the hotel for the entire event) I feel secure in taking her. If she has any difficulty we can always call her Vet and take her to her clinic so they can care for her there. Either way I want her close to me. She’ll be with me at events as long as I think she feels up to it. Even then most of you going to the conference this year will probably only see her during the morning sessions and she will rest in the hotel room in the afternoon. I’ll probably give her my tablet and let her post for me (smile).

The naked kidz clothing is in the mail and should show soon. As you know we are doing themed days at BlogPaws. The dressed for the first and the third BlogPaws convention so seeing them all dolled up is not new. In a previous post we showed the outfits Jake and Moshe Moshi will wear on May 18th for Armed Forces Day. There Cammo harnesses are made by PamperedPupNStuff on Etsy.

I just received a pic of what Maus will wear, very patriotic indeed. This outfit was created by Bella's Prissy Puppie Boutique on FaceBook.

I’ll show the pics of the other outfits throughout the week, but needless to say we are going to be FABULOUS!

Standing Out

2013-04-16T08:45:00.000-04:00

Sorry, it has been awhile since posting, I've been a bit preoccupied with so many things both big and small but not all unpleasant. I'm getting ready for BlogPaws and thinking up some unique way to marker us naked people. Marketing is tough. You have to think of something to promote yourself that gets you noticed. In this day and age, stupid, shallow and salacious seems to do the trick, but I’m thinking that is not the direction I want to go. Eccentric might work for me, but I’ve always thought that was a nice way of saying someone you like is crazy…okay so that doesn’t work for me either. Cat Lady would fit, but I’ve always said to people when they tell me, “you must really like cats” and my reply is “no, no, I really like my cats” which is very different.

I am still trying to get Naked and Hungry up and going. Maus’s illness and some roommate drama and the government crap has been consuming my time for the past year and a half, so I haven’t been able to get it going like I planned, but we are still working on the format so it is not a wash. Still have to replace my computer equipment to better keep up and grow.

And then there is this blog.

My plan is to go back to this being primarily about fiber and occasionally about the cats; this being the jump off point to get to my other blogs. In order to do that I have to work not only keep you, my wonderful readers coming back for more, but also get my future readers to stick with this blog until I get the cats stuff up. So I found my marketing idea.

I changed my cards a bit this year for BlogPaws. I loved my 2011 cards with slices of the banner on the cards. Everyone liked them too and it was easy to remember me from everyone else. That’s what I was trying to do this year with the cards. I’m hoping that vendors will, as they go through all the cards they will get this year, stop at mine just to say “why the hell is there a coffee pot on this card”, turn it around and say, “oh, I remember her.

It'sHere

2013-04-06T12:41:00.001-04:00

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. Hello Spring.

Cat Teeth Are Magical

2013-04-03T11:20:00.001-04:00

I hope they are, I certainly have enough of them in a jar.

Today the MoshI Monster (Moshe Moshi) is at the VET having a dental procedure. I say procedure rather than cleaning because given my tract record lately with cats and teeth, you never know until they get in there. He’s only every had them cleaned once before, in 2011. Normally I would have it done every six months, but if you’ve been reading the blog for a while you know that Jake and Maus have consumed most of my doctor time in the past couple of years. Well, Jake is toothless, Maus so far hasn’t had the need to have any more teeth removed and she is stable with her CKD, so given that I didn’t want to put off Moshe Moshi anymore. While the Doc is cleaning his teeth, they will take another look at his eye and let me know if we can wait until September for surgery. All good vibes are welcomed.

I was on Animal Planet and came across this article about 5 tip for better Dental Health in Cats. I though it appropriate considering where we are now.

5 Tips for Cleaning Cat Teeth

Cats are meticulous self-groomers, cleaning every patch from whisker to tail, but their dental health requires a human hand. Yet cats don't appreciate curious fingers exploring their canines and gums. Getting them to open wide and say "Ahhh" takes not only practice and planning, but knowledge of what's happening in feline mouths. Like their human companions, cats can suffer from bad breath, gum disease, tartar and plaque buildup, and discolored or abscessed teeth. Cats can also benefit greatly from preventive oral hygiene to keep gums pink and teeth pearly. Regular oral care is essential to maintaining good overall health.

5: Learn About Feline Dent

Dental conditions are among the most prevalent issues veterinarians find when treating cats. Gingivitis (gum inflammation) is the mildest form of periodontal (or gum) disease, and it's also the most common oral problem. Gingivitis begins when plaque, a sticky, bacterial film, mingles with saliva and food particles and stays on teeth. It can harden into tartar, a yellowish-brownish crust. If severe, tartar has to be removed by your vet through a scraping process called descaling.

The buildup of tartar collects along and under the gum line. If the tartar is left untreated, toxins released by bacteria irritate the gums and can cause the teeth to separate from the gums. Inflammation and infection can spread throughout the gums, ligaments and bones supporting the cat's teeth, resulting in tooth loss.
Tartar build-up can lead to serious infections.

4: Check Your Cat's Mouth

Just as you brush and floss between trips to the dentist, your cat can avoid painful diseases with regular oral care. A daily -- or at least twice weekly -- cleaning at home will keep his teeth and gums sound. It will also make you familiar with any changes in your cat's mouth. Foul feline breath can be an early sign of dental distress. Excessive licking, drooling or difficulty chewing are other indicators of a cat's oral discomfort. If you see red or bleeding gums, lesions, or discolored teeth, make an immediate appointment for your vet to examine the cat's mouth.

3: Rinse and Spit?

Cats may not enjoy it, but most will tolerate teeth-cleaning once they get used to the habit. Collect the right supplies in advance to make the experience go more smoothly. You'll need either sterile gauze strips or a soft rubber toothbrush, designed specially for cats. These are sold by vets or pet supply stores, which also offer cat formula toothpaste, available in favorite feline flavors. Cats should never, under any circumstances, be given human toothpastes. These contain ingredients that can sicken cats, including a foaming agent, sodium laurel sulfate, which cats can't spit out.

2. Open Wide!

Ready to brush? Using the toothbrush, or wrapping a strip of gauze around your index finger, dip it into the solution or feline toothpaste. With the cat on your lap, open its mouth and rub your finger or toothbrush in a circular motion on a tooth, concentrating on the area adjacent to the gums. The first time you brush your cat's teeth, do only one or two teeth, and then stop and praise your cat for its cooperation, offering a treat or favorite toy to reinforce a positive feeling.

As your cat grows more accustomed to the routine, you can gradually brush all teeth, massaging the gums at the same time. The back teeth present the greatest challenge, but with gentle persistence, your cat will adjust to the mouth invasion. If possible, begin examining your cat's mouth when it's a kitten. He might be a little fussy in the beginning, but he'll get used to the teeth cleaning routine before long.

1: Step Away From the Toothbrush

If your cat refuses to allow you to brush its teeth, becoming agitated, aggressive or fearful when you try, there are alternatives for oral care. Specially formulated treats with a slightly abrasive texture can help remove plaque, control tartar buildup and freshen the cat's breath. Some include cat-friendly ingredients such as Vitamin E, selenium, taurine and antiseptics that fight mouth bacteria. Dental sprays to spritz in the cat's mouth daily can control plaque and tartar.

Your vet may also recommend a dental formula food. These have larger-than-average "nuggets" designed to reduce plaque and tartar through chewing. A dental-care additive for your cat's drinking water, available from your vet, can also help dissolve plaque and discourage bacteria. Be sure the cat doesn't ignore his water bowl because it tastes something strange.

Always schedule an annual cleaning at the vet for your brush-resistant feline. Older cats may need more frequent cleanings. Ask your vet to recommend alternatives. From Animal Planet Cat Guide.

JUMP

2013-03-29T21:37:00.001-04:00

To all my Christian and Pagan Friends; Happy Easter.

Pesach

2013-03-24T16:27:00.003-04:00

We are out until Thursday, Happy Passover!

Say Aaaaah - Worldless Wednesday

2013-03-20T09:07:00.001-04:00

Where We Stand

2013-03-19T17:34:00.000-04:00

Okay, life is slowly coming back into some level of manageability. I can see just the slightest sliver of daylight over my dark horizon and am seeing it grow a little more each day (how’s that for a metaphor).

Maus during BlogPaws 2011

Maus is doing well. We still have weight issues, but everything else is very good; labs, hair, disposition. Moshe Moshi will be back on Med for his allergy/IBS. I had taken him off his meds and then off the raw to see what would happen and with just the can food, all his symptoms came back (all with knowledge of his Vet). Now we put him back on the raw first to see if this is enough to alleviate his symptoms and if not, back on his meds. He is due to have his teeth cleaned so with hopes for no problems with that procedure we will be working on his eyes later in the year, finally. Jake too still needs to gain some weight, but he has picked up half a pound and looks great and talks even more (hard to imagine).

I’ve started ordering their outfits for BlogPaws in May. I normally would not have cut it this close, but I wasn’t altogether sure what I would do this year to make their presence interesting and have the kidz stand out for the vendors. I wanted to do more to promote Naked & Hungry, but since we are in a bit of a delay until my computer situation is resolved I wanted to keep you coming back here. I see it is working ~;o) We are trying out a couple of new designers who have envisioned some pretty cool stuff for the kidz. I hope they like it.

I wanted to do themes this year. Last time we went to BlogPaws (2011) The only intentional outfit I did was with Moshe Moshi and his biker outfit (because of the rescue group that was there that year). Everything else was unconnected to anything specific, although they did look cute. This time around I wanted to have a purpose in how they were dressed. This year we will focus on the blog (CCn’Y), Breast Cancer Awareness and Armed Forces Appreciation. I will NOT post the pics of the outfits before BlogPaws, but I will tease you a little as they come in.

I am working on baby stuff for the next couple of weeks while trying to finish my stuff for BlogPaws. I am still trying to decide if I will go to Sheep & Wool this year, but I don’t think I will feel bad if I don’t go. MS&W has become one of those events that I either want to stay all day or just an hour or two. Since someone always has to drive me, I think I will plan on staying the weekend in a hotel next year so I can take my time and linger; something I haven’t done at MS&W in a long time.

Happy St. Patty's Day

2013-03-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!