Tuesday's Treasures

This week, Melody has suggested we post a photo of our pets. Unfortunately, I don't have any at the moment, so I will share some photos of my beautiful Minka, who passed away (cancer) on the 21st November, 2008(on the day of Dad's funeral) aged 15 and a half years.
These photos are real treasures - my link to the most wonderful cat that ever existed. She was/is more than a pet to me. She was my companion, friend and sister/daughter. We had a very special bond. Those of you with extra special relationships with animals will understand. I still miss her so very much. As much as any family member who has passed on.

Her first Christmas, helping me decorate the tree. She continued to help every year although as she got older, she was content to play with things on the floor.

Sunning herself on a hand-dyed velvet cushion which she claimed as her own. :)

Quilt inspector....

I think it passes....

Loving the sun

                                    

and life moves on...

How does one start blogging "normally" again? It seems trite to just jump in and post the usual, when i am still grieving. So, to smooth the path back to normality, here are some of my favourite photos of Dad, and of Minka.

The BEST Dad in the world:
Dad solved our problems, nursed us when we were sick - Mum heaved with us if we were over the sick bowl :-) - made kickapoo juice (his name for hot lemon drinks), boosted our confidence, and encouraged us to take an avid interest in the wonders of nature.

My beautiful and loving Minka. She was 15 1/2 years old, but still played like a kitten.

YYYYY

Thank yous and more sadness

Thank you everyone for your loving and supportive comments. They meant (and still mean) so much to me. While away, I was unable to access the internet fully, but i was able to read your comments on my mobile phone. They helped me get through the week more than you would imagine.

Dad's passing felt surreal. It still does. He was larger than life and very much our rock. Mum is taking it very hard. They have (had) been married for 54 years and 10 months and did nearly everything together. It has been hard for her these last 12 months, but she at least had him there to hold hands and hug. The hardest thing for her is that she will no longer see him in the flesh.

Tuesday and Wednesday were hard, organising the funeral etc, but at least we had people popping in and lots of hugs, happy memories and tears together. Thursday was perhaps the hardest. Everything was organised and we hardly saw anyone. On top of that, it was my birthday, and Mum wrote out her first card just from her. That led to more crying.

DH and DD were travelling up that day, too, but had to leave late as my gorgeous darling 15 and a half year old cat, Minka, was very sick and needed to go to the vet's first.
The vet decided he needed to put her on a drip and run blood tests and xrays.

Dad's cremation was Friday - a beautiful small family only service, though lots of tears.
After the service, we had a phone call from the vet, asking for permission to operate on Minka, but letting us know that she may not survive the surgery.

Dad's celebration service was held at his church that afternoon. The church was packed with people honouring my dad. It was a beautiful service and certainly gave us some peace.

Later that afternoon, we had word from the vet that my beautiful loving companion had passed away. That was so hard to hear. The worst of it was that i had not been there for her and had not seen her for over a week.
For 15 and a half years, she has been my constant companion around the house and in the office, choosing to sleep wherever i was working. Coming home last night and not being greeted by her was so hard, and today, i keep expecting her to walk in and meow at me that she wants her salmon.
This afternoon, i will go over and collect her body and bring her home to be buried.

YYYYY

Christmas with Minka

This is Minka, Christmas 1994, when she was only about 18months old. She often climbed up the centre of the tree and wriggled out to the end of the branches to play with the ornaments! We always knew, because we had little bells in the tree, and we could hear them as she climbed.

We didn't have as many ornaments back then, as we do now!

This is Minka helping me this Christmas. Her idea of helping is to pounce on the ornaments, sit on the plastic bags of ribbons and holly, and dive into the boxes before I finish unpacking them!

She no longer climbs up into the tree, fortunately, as she is quite a bit bigger now. However, she does like to sit under the tree, especially when the lights are on, so we have to leave a space for her amongst the presents, so she has room to curl up.

She has her own stocking and Santa usually leaves a tin of good quality Red Salmon for her, as well as a new collar.

Spoilt cat!

Animal Circus

I have decided to get some work done on some of my WIPs, before starting any new projects (yes I know, I've said it before, but...). With that in mind, I have finally sandwiched Animal Circus and quilted it! I am very pleased with myself, because I have done stipple quilting for the very first time on a quilt! I did some practice pieces first until I got the tension right and got in the flow, then grew brave and started on the quilt. I was only going to do a little bit, but it worked so well, I kept doing more and more. It might not be the most perfect stippling you ever saw, but it is good enough to leave there, (only a few sharp corners, and I only met, not crossed, the thread 3 times). But boy, is my back aching now! I think I'll have to book in for a massage (any excuse!)

I still have to bind it, but until it is finished, here are some pics of Minka giving it her seal of approval.

So, what have you been doing? Another quilt?

Is this one for me?

I think I'll claim it, anyway, and just settle myself here!

Another quilt?!!!

I can't believe I've started another quilt when I am in the middle of so many! (Yes, I can believe it, actually). And no Sis, it's not yours. This one is for Minka (Minka Shadow Dancer, to give her her full title). Minka is the gorgeous black cat you see on the right.
As the weather gets cooler, she is curling up wherever there is a quilt or blanket left lying, and I am getting tired of washing cat hairs out, so.......
What's to bet she won't even like it!
I'd love to keep working on it today, but bookwork and BAS are enticing me (NOT!)

Last night I joined a SCQuilters side group (fatquarters) where everyone encourages and supports each other in their goals of weight loss. I have chosen my fabrics to put aside (each piece represents a kilo of my target for the next 6 months), and now I have to earn them back! Any not earned get donated to a worthwhile cause. I deliberately chose absolute favourites for which I have plans. It will really hurt if I lose them! I'm putting them everywhere that food is stored!