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Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
1:13 am - Rabbit and Dragon's Dinner: A Picfic in Clouds and Water
All pics below are of Sunday's beautiful sunset over Greenbelt Lake. I saw some cloud shapes that made story shapes in me head. There were beautiful pics to capture everywhere I pointed my camera, so I took dozens. I wouldn't know how to begin to pick which of them I should show you all, so the story below helped me pick a manageable amount to upload. I usually sharpen my pics and adjust the light, but I decided to leave these pics as is.

Keep in mind that when I point out the figures and shapes I see in clouds, no one can ever see what the hell I'm looking at. Does this happen to you, too? Maybe it will go better with the photos I take of those shapes, along with some description. If, at the end of this story, you can't find the figure I'm referring to in a photo, please say so in comments and maybe I'll be able to describe it a little further, which will probably be an effort in futility for both of us, and immensely frustrating, and ruin our evenings, and result in multiple defriendings forever and ever, but what's a journal for if you can't use it to show uniquely awesome cloud shapes never before seen in the history of cloudiness ever to your friends, I ask you?


RABBIT AND DRAGON'S DINNER: A Picfic in Clouds and Water

Warnings: This story contains a mythical creature threatening violence to an animal and a general description of dental extraction. There are also descriptions of bleeding applied to cloud colors. In other words, it's a story for children because adults are jerks.




Rabbit hopped along with her head in the Clouds, dreaming her own dreams. Consequently, she did not see Dragon until she was nose to jaws with her. She looked up at Dragon's great red maw, her big red fangs pointing downward, her long steel body with red gleaming ridges wrapping before and above her, the end coiled elegantly behind her, her clear eye fixed on none other than herself, Rabbit, Dragon's next meal.

And Dragon looked at Rabbit's little gray head, and two little gray ears, fluffy gray body, pink paws before and pink legs behind, and bright pink bobbed tail, and Dragon said, "Well now. Dinner has found me."
And what will Rabbit do . . . )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/114180.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Sunday, April 22nd, 2012
2:34 am - Bright-eyed and Bushy-tailed Saki
Just to let you know Saki is back to her usual, here's some Saki pics from Wednesday, starting with a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Saki Took sitting in a rainy day window.


"You're right, Sam. I am ready to go home."

More Saki spam here . . . )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/113980.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
12:06 am - Saki is Home
Saki is home safe and we are so appreciative for all your well wishes!!! Thank you!!! I have the best flist eva!!! *hugs all round*

We came home around 6 pm to a power outage and it was only restored an hour ago, or I would have reported earlier. Saki came home slightly wobbly, unable to hold up her heavy eyelids, but strung out and unable to sleep, hungry, thirsty, purry, and loving everyone like a happy little drunk. I say the last, because, usually, the kitty home from the vet tries to avoid the hazing scrutiny of her furry room mates, but Saki was eager to greet and touch Moo and Tuxie and spread the punch-drunk love. I had to withhold food and keep her to a small portion until tomorrow. I'm not sure if it was the post-anesthesia or pain killer that left her restless. Here's her sweet little, closed-eyed, strung-out self:


More pics and report here . . . )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/113898.html with comment count unavailablecomments

current mood: relieved

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Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
12:24 pm - Discovery and Cyborg Saki
I took Saki to the vet for a dental cleaning this morning, and to get a microchip while anesthetized, talked a while with a sister feral carer in the waiting room, and then heard on the radio that the space shuttle Discovery was presently making its passes over DC. So I drove on to the highest hill I know of in Greenbelt that has a bit of a view of the city, as I had been thinking of doing yesterday, and met an elderly couple there who were watching for it. Just as I got out of the car, we saw the piggyback shuttle on the back of the plane passing over the city at 10:15 am and making its turn towards Dulles. Actually, what I saw was a big white thing in the sky in the distance, but yay I saw it! That was indeed a lucky catch. Here's a BBC article on it. I was able to hear the plane carrying it, too.

I need the good luck vibes. I'm a scared mess over Saki going under anesthesia today. I didn't used to be this fretful, but I woke up with frightful thoughts of Saki dying under anesthesia, and was terrified when the phone rang a few minutes ago, which was just a call from the mail carrier. So please wish her luck.

Saki is doing fine--she's her loveable, social 13 1/2 year old self, full of a thousand winsome sounds and gestures. She asked for a vigorous game of foot fight yesterday and jumped into the bathroom window this morning from the edge of the bathtub, which is a good leap I haven't seen her do in a while. It's just that she's balancing hyperthyroidism and kidney disease. Her creatinine was up at the upper edge of normal last month and I've been fretting over her health, giving her lots of multivitamin and omega fatty acid treats, and enticing her to drink more, in addition to the thyroid pill and kidney diet I've had her on for a while. I think the glucosamine treats I'm also giving her daily must be helping, since she did that good leap this morning. She's so easy to pill, thanks to duck flavored pill pockets that she adores--she gobbled her amoxicillin I've had to give her the last 2 days before the dental cleaning right down in pill pocket portions, and it's a nasty smelling pill, so those pill pockets and Saki's love for them is quite a blessing. And her weight is staying stable--yay for her not minding sitting on the scale a couple of times a week.

She's been trying to get out the door to explore the hallway lately, since last time I took her to the vets and let her run up the stairs, and though we're on a second floor with an inside hallway, I decided to go ahead and get her microchipped while under anesthesia today. So Saki is becoming a cyborg today. Let's hope Discovery is passing the technological torch to Saki for a safe go under anesthesia. I'd appreciate it so much if you held her in your thoughts this afternoon.


My friend Cathy knits alpaca catnip-filled mice and sent one to Saki in February. As you can see, my 13 1/2 year old kitten absolutely loves this mouse. She holds it sometimes when she sleeps in her bun bed next to me on the sofa. (-:

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/113565.html with comment count unavailablecomments

current mood: worried

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Monday, April 2nd, 2012
1:38 am - Birthdays!!!
A very happy birthday to dear [info]honeyandvinegar!!!

You share your birthday (or there abouts) with 2 furry members of my household:


Ms. Moo, who is 7, and her son


Mr. Tuxie, who is 6.

I hope you had as much fun today as they did at their birthday 'nip party chasing a laser light. <3

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/113228.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
11:20 pm - A Birthday . . .
I missed posting for so many birthdays this past year, but let me catch this one and wish dear [info]shirebound a very happy birthday!

Janet, for your birthday I have a basketful of Saki Took:

Last Wed we went to the vet and I wanted to give Saki a party afterward. I remembered how much she liked sitting in plastic baskets and being swung around in them and how we hadn't done that in years, so I went to the dollar store and got a mini laundry basket and as soon as I came in and set it down, she jumped in, as you see here. We hadn't even broken out the 'nip yet.

And here's a pony:

Same little fellow a few days later, taken on my birthday 10 days ago.


He's ready for his close-up, Mr. DeMille.

Hope you've had a merry one, hon! *squooshes*

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/112939.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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10:26 pm
Adrienne Rich died today. R.I.P.

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/112646.html with comment count unavailablecomments

current mood: sad

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Sunday, March 25th, 2012
11:59 pm - Happy Tolkien Reading Day and Gondorian New Year!
It's the end of Tolkien Reading Day and I haven't given links for my last 3 reading excerpts for the [info]read_lotr_aloud project in this journal, so I'm linking them here now. Bingo has added his appropriate face icons to the posts. The first two posts contain links to the whole chapter with everyone's readings. The last one I just recorded today, and not all readings are in yet, so there is no group link for the whole chapter. However, I will be adding that link after our wonderful organizer [info]lbilover puts the post together next week, so please check back then if you're giving them a listen.

Farewell to Lothlorien

The Great River

The Breaking of the Fellowship

One day soon I'm going to sit down and do a listen to the whole of FotR that our group has produced and I'll be sure to leave comments then.

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/112415.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Monday, March 19th, 2012
12:03 am - Your Mathom
I wanted to give ya'll a special mathom today for my half century mark . . .

So here--have a PONY! my dear flisties!!!



This little guy (colt, foal boy) was born on the 8th at B's stables, and I took these pics on Wednesday when he was a week old. It was getting dark in the stall and he kept moving about, so the pics are pretty fuzzy, but so are ponies, so what the hay.

Here's a couple more pics of Your Pony! . . . Enjoy! )

I went up there again today and took some more pics I'll post another day. I hope you like Your Pony! (-:

Thank you so much to [info]aliensouldream, [info]romeny, [info]claudia603, [info]addie71, [info]shirebound, [info]lbilover, [info]moit, [info]i_o_r_h_a_e_l, [info]mews1945, and [info]lovethosehobbit for the glorious birthday pic posts; [info]ladysnaps, [info]jan_u_wine, and [info]frodosweetstuff for the adorable vgifts; and [personal profile] supergee, [info]obeliamedusa, [info]febobe, [info]frolijah_fan_54, [info]honeyandvinegar, [info]anneheart, [personal profile] djkittycat, and [info]tacnukesoul for the lovely birthday greetings. (If I overlooked anyone's greeting, please tell me.) Ya'll know how to make a birthday special--I sure feel the love. <3

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/112217.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Thursday, March 15th, 2012
2:37 pm - Earthquake
Did anyone in the DC metro area feel a 3 second tremor at 2:06 pm? I was feeding Tuxie and he ran and then I felt a tremor and a cabinet door rattled.

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/111887.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Saturday, February 18th, 2012
2:04 am - Stray Kitties: Caretaker Found!
TRIUMPH!!!!! TRIUMPH!!!!! TRIUMPH!!!!! TRIUMPH!!!!! TRIUMPH!!!!!

My quest is nearly at an end. Today when I went up to Warwick, I drove up to a horse rehabilitation stable close to the area I found Ostra in 4 times in the last month. K, who runs the stable was exactly who I am looking for-- a lover of stray cats who would be happy to feed and look after Oestra and Brigit! I don't think I could have found them a more perfect mom--I adore her! With plenty of food and bedding, she closes her 4 loved barn cats in her office in the stable at night so they won't roam into the road. She immediately put out some wet food in hopes of attracting Oestra and Brigit. One of the women who works there saw Oestra in the field between the stable and the woody area about 2 weeks ago. It could have been the young kitty who was killed last week, but she was pretty sure it was grayer like Oestra, and the cat in the pic I showed her. K said she would call me if she sees them, and wants me to call her if I do.

So yay, no more dealing with B and his resistance to keep up with feeding them! It's still good that I got him some automatic feeders because his missing Mama Cat is now showing up regularly and is being a purry happy kitty with me now that she can count on food being there. And maybe we can encourage the strays now to stay on one side of the road instead of my encouraging them to go back to B's shed.

Just to top off a most fruitful trip, I will have to call K tomorrow. As, I came back to K's stable in the dark with my flashlight, after having looked unsuccessfully for Oestra by the woods and having met another nice neighbor who lives on the other side of the wood lot, who should I see sitting by the entrance gate but Brigit. Unlike her bolder sister, she ran away when I called and approached, but that's not surprising, since we haven't seen each other in about 2 months to the day. I put some salmon in a bowl on a fence post next to where we put K's food for them. I expect Brigit will find it, unless the rabbits I saw hopping about not far from where I saw Her Fluffiness distract her and prove to be just as easy a meal.

Here are some pics of the dynamic duo back in their garage days last summer:

SALMON: A PLAY IN ONE ACT


BRIGIT: *nibble nibble nibble . . .*

OESTRA: *gobblegoobleglurp* Why is all the salmon gone!?! *burp*



BRIGIT: *nibble nibble nibble . . .*

OESTRA: Hey HEY!!! Hey hey HEY!!! Brigit!!! Dear Brigit!!! You gonna eat all that?



BRIGIT: As a matter of fact, yes.

OESTRA: *frowny tail*



BRIGIT: YES, I AM.

OESTRA: OK. No problem.



BRIGIT: *nibble nibble nibble . . .*

OESTRA: Crap.


THE END.

Happy, Happy Caturday!!!!!

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/111697.html with comment count unavailablecomments

current mood: accomplished

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Sunday, February 12th, 2012
11:52 pm - Stray Kitties: The Rehoming
Starting the end of October, something that's been taking up quite a bit of my time and energy has been the rehoming to a rural area of Oestra and Brigit, the semi-feral bonded kitties I had been feeding and socializing at the New Carrollton Metro garage the past 3 years. Click on pics to embiggin these pretties.


OESTRA KNOWZ WHUT U DID THAIR!!!


BRIGIT: A STUDY IN FLUFF ON CONCRETE

You can find past posts on the girls here, here, here, and here.

The saga has been kind of a roller coaster, and I will catch you up on it bit by bit. trigger warning for unknown cat death )

I now have Saki and Tuxie cuddling on either side of me, and yay for the happy indoorness of my homecrew! And Moo and Tuxie most definitively chose this indoor lifestyle themselves without any coercion from me; i.e., they moved in with never a by-your-leave, bless them. (-: I never wanted to have to worry about outdoor cats ever, but Oestra and Brigit are not yet able to be otherwise, still being too feral, so life happens. In a better world, every cat would have a soft cushion to curl up on, in the sun by day and beside a fireplace by night. *hugs to you all*

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/111422.html with comment count unavailablecomments

current mood: sad

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Sunday, January 1st, 2012
1:06 am - Yay 2012!!!!
Happy New Year and thank goodness 2011 is gone!

I have so much I need to report here and hope to get to some of it soon. This is just the first week since things went topsy turvy in October that I feel Ai kan haz owt of hamzter bal nou!!!

I spent the morning of the last day of the year reading some of FotR, going to the doctor and getting a pretty clean bill of health, except for the achy finger, reading some of TH, running errands, then had a yummy ihop breakfast that Thomas BringsTheFire would wax poetical over. I had an afternoon coffee date with a lovely woman, then stopped by the thrift shop, did some chores, IMed with my bb's[personal profile] mererid and [personal profile] delux_vivens, and snuggled with my kitties to bring in the new year. So I saw this year out well and am hopeful for 2012.

Meanwhile, here are some Chanuka Chobbits from earlier this week, bringing in light for the new year . . .



I hope to be a better flistmate in 2012. I hope I get to post more dollustrations and picfics. I'm so glad you're all here, dear flisties. *HUGS*

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/110869.html with comment count unavailablecomments

current mood: hopeful

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Saturday, October 8th, 2011
1:41 am - A Birthday Saki
Saki Content, 10-5-11

Happy Birthday, [personal profile] delux_vivens!!! May your year to come be filled with purrs and contentment!!!! *hugs*

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/109752.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Thursday, September 29th, 2011
2:05 am - A Ranger, A Hobbit, and a Birthday
On dear[personal profile] claudia603's birthday . . .


May Stern Rangers always spring ill, Beautiful Hobbits from the Bree Town Jail . . .

And furthermore . . . )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/109325.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Sunday, September 25th, 2011
12:58 am - Pics From Greenbelt Lake for 2 Birthdays
Here are some pics I took around Greenbelt Lake over the last few weeks for two lovely birthday grrls, dear [info]romeny and [info]ladysnaps!!! I hope it's been a wonderful and relaxing day for you both. <3


A passion flower. They line the path along the formerly known as the sunny western side of the lake and first bloomed fully in June, got cut back at the beginning of July, and came back with another set of blooms in August. They're blooming still. Hardy little buggers. These flowers always look like elegant beauties from outer space to me, with their strange antennae-like stamens and bright fringe. (-:
Follow me here to see more early autumn flora and fauna . . .  )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/109208.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
4:41 pm - Happy Bagginses Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILBO, FRODO, AND (first drafted, never forgotten) BINGO!!!



I ran out of time last year to report on last September's moot before posting about this cake and the birthday party at Liberatore's restaurant. This is the cake I made last September for our Maryland Moot for these 3 hobbitses' birthday, as well as near enough birthday grrls [info]lbilover, [info]romeny, and [info]claudia603.

I want to add happy birthday wishes to other near enough birthdayed hobbit lovers [info]ladysnaps and [personal profile] sophinisba!!!

More Bag End cake pics beneath the slice . . . )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/108801.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
12:35 am - A Birthday
And now for the after-birthday birthday greeting!

The Hobbit Actors Keeping Busy Between BigBang Fic shoots 8-11


These hobbit actors keep busy between shoots for the BigBang fics, but if they came up for air, they would wish dear [info]lbilover a very happy birthday!!! Hope it was a lovely one!!

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/108682.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Monday, September 19th, 2011
11:54 pm - It's Meow Like a Pirate Day!!!
Or it was while I was still trying to get this post up.



"Arrrrrr!!!!" says Cap'n Saki. "Keep yer rum, knave. I'll be acquiring the tuna, the salmon, and the cupcakes fer me swag. Then I'll be on me way."

Get ye aft the cut smartly, me hearties! )

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/108473.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
2:11 am - A Birthday Nazgul
This ringwraith, sitting in his favorite rocking chair with his favorite kitty, would like to wish [personal profile] benedict a happy birthday!!!

Ringwraith and Kitty, 9-5-11

Happy Birthday, [personal profile] benedict!!!

This ringwraith also wishes the other ringwraiths would stop making fun of him for having cat fur covered robes. No, none of the Petsmarts in Mordor carry furminators--he's looked.

Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/108077.html with comment count unavailablecomments

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