Saturday, November 6, 2021

Caturday!


 

Friday, November 5, 2021

Quote Of The Day

 

Al Hirschfield cartoon from dorothyparker.com

Of course I talk to myself.  I like a good speaker, and I appreciate an intelligent audience. ~ Dorothy Parker

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Grrrsday

 


70 lbs vs 1 lb, 7 oz.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Maybe We Should Call Him Festus

 


He still doesn't have a name (seen here helping watch old B&W westerns on TV).

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Vintage Holiday Crafts - Christmas Figures from 1940

 


For the upcoming holiday season:  From Popular Science, December 1940, a set of Christmas figures to copy and create in wood or paper. Left-click to enlarge.

Monday, November 1, 2021

National Family Literacy Day

 


Some of my favorite online sources for free ebooks:

    Project Gutenberg

    The Faded Page

    Open Library

    The Internet Archive

Sunday, October 31, 2021

 


There's a reason I haven't updated my reading list in three days.

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Bang Goes Another Illusion

 

captured, in a rare moment of repose...

Kittens are supposed to sleep 16-20 hours per day.  Clearly, we were issued a defective model.

Caturday!

 


Friday, October 29, 2021

Open To Suggestions

 


 So a foster kitten has been added to our happy home. Names suggested so far: Bouncer, George (of course), Michael Finnegan, and Eddie. I have been trying to find the Latin for "Destroyer of Sock Knitting" but  Google Translate has been singularly unhelpful. "Bearer of Dog Spit" isn't showing up, either.

Quote Of The Day

 


An' little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin' bugs in dew is all squenched away, --
You better mind yer parents, an' yer teachers fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' help the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns'll git you
    Ef you
        Don't
            Watch
                Out! 

James Whitcomb Riley

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Grrrsday

 


Wednesday, October 27, 2021

A Modest Announcement


 Guess who has passed all his tests/prerequisites and is now a certified therapy dog?


EDITED TO ADD:  a real therapy dog (as opposed to one who has been kitted out with a $24.99 vest and certificate that the owner bought off the Internet) has to provide to one of the AKC-recognized national therapy dog associations, a signed veterinary health form, pass an obedience test that includes - in addition to heel, sit, stay etc -  someone zipping past him in a wheelchair and dropping a massive bunch of metal keys on the ground next to him to see if he will flinch, and undergo no fewer than 3 observed visits conducted by an evaluator who works for the national group.

The handler (moi) has to pass a background check and an oral exam.  The Little Man and I in addition took an 8-week course that is offered at the county kennel club by the local ATD-affiliated organization.  With this certification comes insurance as part of our annual membership fee.

There are currently in the United States no legal standards or qualifications that must be met by therapy dogs, so our clients prefer to deal with us because they know that we are the real deal.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Vintage Tatting - A Cigar Case from 1871

 

From the Ladies' Own Paper, June 24th, 1871.  And here are the instructions - evidently we are expected to figure out the tatting pattern by looking at the illustration.  Good luck!




Monday, October 25, 2021

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Caturday!

 


Friday, October 22, 2021

Quote Of The Day

 


Tonight the winds begin to rise
And roar from yonder dropping day
The last red leaf is whirl'd away
The rooks are blown about the skies. ~ Tennyson

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Grrrsday


 

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Vintage Knitting - Bedsocks from 1965

 


From Workbasket magazine, January, 1965, and just in time to combat cold clammy winter bedsheets.  Left-click to enlarge.

 It was still Workbasket and Home Arts at that time, and the entire issue is on the Internet Archive as a free download. For the crocheters, and just in time for Hallowe'en, there's a kitten potholder on page 11.

Monday, October 18, 2021

Holidays We Can Get Behind - National Chocolate Cupcake Day

 

image from thecupcakeproject.com

Today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day.  It is also - at least in Manitoba - National Health Care Aide Day.  Other states take note.

Buy your favorite health care aide a chocolate cupcake.  It's the least we can do.