Precious Samwise kitty, Lucky cats, and Lucky us!!

Our power has been restored and my darling little grand kitty Samwise (my Frodo's brother) sent a message saying "hello" to his grandmama'. Jason tells me that he loves being on high places and I think that must be true for most kitties.

The day before the hurricane was due, I was picking up some Chinese takeout and snapped this photo of a whole gang of "lucky cats." Usually you see just one! That was certainly a good omen for what was to come!!

Our certainly hundreds of years old tree beside our house let go of roughly half it's limbs in one of the hurricane gusts. It took of the roof gutter and facing from the side of our house ...... but could have so easily hit the roof. Travis figures the bit that fell weighs at least a thousand pounds. Aren't we the lucky ones!?!

Jason and his kitties - Sam and Max may get to come for a visit this next weekend. That should be good for picture taking opportunities.
I wish everyone on the east coast a speedy recovery from last weekend's adventure.

Hurricane aftermath

We're fine! And very lucky. We have no power but are well and so glad to have made
It through the hurricane with only a little damage to the house.
I'm so glad to be able to use my iPhone to communicate! I hope you all are well!

Hurricane so far!

Good Morning! I was up at 4:30 a.m. today. We are having lots of rain, here in southern Virginia, but not much wind yet! So far the power and cable are all working wonderfully! Thought I'd post a photo I did in my computer class earlier in the summer I expect you'll recognize Cleo, Rocky, and Frodo!! The kitties don't seem to mind the weather yet so all is good here!

Stay safe!

Here's Earthquake!

After a bumpy ride, little "Earthquake" has been born. He has a snazzy new hat I've crocheted for him as well.
Kim told me about a great web site to process photos online. The first picture shows Earthquake sitting on my work table, the second after doing some fun things on http://pixlr.com/o-matic/.

Isn't that fun?! You can even get the app for your iPhone or iPad! So after a rough beginning, Earthquake will stay on the shelf for awhile. I don't want to offer him or list him on Etsy as we expect to be without power for a time after Irene passes. Several years ago, after Isabel, we were "in the dark" for a week. I have lots to sew and some batteries and food for the cooler, so we'll be fine. I'll try to tweet our progress if I can't compute. 

I did want to show you some leaves I've made for little bears to sit upon. I've used dark clay, pressed leaves from my neighborhood into the clay and trimmed around the shape. I then dropped the leaf shaped clay into a bowl to let them dry. After bisque firing, I used a marvelous glaze called Pippin Green . I'm thinking I'll save them for the Hunt Valley show so that I won't have to worry with extra shipping precautions and breakage. Aren't they swell??

I'll keep in touch as I'm able! Hope to hear from you and wish all of you well! Love to all from the path of the storm here in southern Virginia!

Earthquake!!!! Hurricane!!!!!

I was sewing a nose on a little bear yesterday at 1 something in the afternoon. Surely he will be named "Earthquake!" Having lived in California when Jason and Kim were little, I knew exactly what was happening. My "staff" (the kitties) showed some concern - and then quickly returned to the business of the afternoon nap. Pictured in these three shots is Frodo just minutes after the big event.

So now we'll begin "battening down the hatches," taking in our tiki lights from the deck, and buying peanut butter in preparation for Irene's visit. What next????

Kim's "Beau"

Photographing with her Iphone, Kim captured sweet little Beau just after he performed one of his feats of agility when he jumped onto a shelf on her lamp. This is one of the most brilliant photos I've ever seen - even if I didn't know the subject and photographer personally! Kim mentioned that little Beau is growing so quickly, he won't fit on that shelf much longer. I am amazed that the lamp is still standing!