There’s so much sadness, isn’t there? It’s overwhelming, and there’s nothing to be done about it. I’m sorry. And I don’t want it to be like, “Redshirt Knitting? Oh, that’s a great blog. Except for the way it makes me weep unconsolably.”
I started the Twine Cowl from Sweet Shawlettes which will be making its stop on the Blog Tour here on Sunday. (Reminder: Sims Sunday will be pushed back to Monday.) Had to do some calculations to account for a yarn substitution. Then I had to fiddle with the cable a bit, because I was using twice as many stitches.
This comes close to what I want. But as usual, I forgot that a “good” gauge in stockinette is a “too tight” gauge when you work cables. Let’s think of it as a really big swatch.
In kitty news, I’ve taken the first few steps to introducing a new cat. It’s sooner than I might have planned. But Kimble, who has always been clingy, is starting to develop separation anxiety. And although it runs counter to every instinct as an animal-lover, you’re not doing an animal any favors when you coddle a separation anxiety.
This ASPCA method seems sound to me. It’s your basic acclimation routine. But the logistics are tricky, because I have a small home, and I don’t have a separate room.
Luckily I have the luxury of New Cat living next door, at my landlord/neighbor’s house. There’s no ticking clock, so we can start small.
I decided to start by bringing her over and letting her spend half an hour in Kimble’s cat carrier. Just chilling, getting used to the place, letting them peer at and sniff each other.
Here’s Kimble, sniffing the box that she came in.
While she peers out at him from his crate.
And much petting and reassurance and treats, of course. It’s not going too badly so far. Fingers crossed!
Good luck!
Good luck!!
You may just turn me into a cat person. Best of luck!
New kitty is thinking “Wow, this new place is really small…”
Could we have a photograph of Backup Cat?
A very reasonable request, paduasoy! I’ll post more info about her tomorrow – it’s kind of a long story, I decided to split it up over a couple of days.
She has actually been on the blog twice before:
http://redshirtknitting.com/?p=198
http://archive.redshirtknitting.com/?p=672
TABBY! YAY! My own cat is also a mackerel-backer.
Welcome, new kitteh!
Still not totally clear on what a blog tour is. You replied last time that it’s like a book tour, but with blogs. So, a book tour is when you go to multiple venues (usually bookstores, but not always) to talk about your new book. In a blog tour, then, do you do guest posts on multiple blogs in which you talk about your blog?
Yep, that’s it! I will be posting a Q&A with the designer (Jean Moss) on Sunday. And then she’s on to the next blog!
It’s kind of a silly thing, the business of a “blog tour,” but I like it. And for authors like Moss who live abroad (England, in her case) it’s a great way to reach out to the American audience without all that expense and hassle of travel.
Hmm, so it is a book tour, just one in which you appear virtually on blogs instead of physically in bookstores. Perhaps calling it a virtual book tour would be more clear than calling it a blog tour, though I’m sure you didn’t make up the term. Regardless, it sounds like a good idea, and an honor to be selected as a venue.
It’s so true – I’m not sure who first coined the term, but everyone I’ve mentioned it to has been like, “Blog what???”
Yay! Room at the food bowl is no longer To Let!
Tiger Tom lived in the bathroom for a week during his introduction. Pity you can’t leave one up in the loft and separate them that way. But Tiger Tom gets on great with the brood now – and I hope your introduction is just as pain free. Pepe and TT are Best Buds.
Good luck with New Cat! It’s probably a good sign that Kimble isn’t peeing on that box she came in. Or ripping it to shreds.
Do not apologize for sadness, for me it’s a privilege that you share your life with us, the good and the bad. Nobody in life gets a free ride with no troubles. It’s possible to carry on under grief, change is a constant, and even happiness doesn’t last.
Hope Kimble gets along with the backup cat.
It’s only right to grieve the cat that has been lost, after many years of living with him. So I agree with Northmoon, no need to apologize. The grief comes up unexpectedly, as it will, and you have my permission (at least) to share it when you feel the need.
I’m glad you’ve found an Emergency Backup Cat right in your own backyard. I have four, myself. Blue is my Main Cat. The others are the backups, but they don’t know that.
They backup each other. It will be awhile before I run out of cats.
i like this quote: not my cat,but she thinks she would like to live in my house.
so there you go!
I don’t think of them as backups. More like your metaphor for grief, love is also a full bowl to share when you know how
Hahaha, so your neighbors are giving you their cat? That’s very nice of them. And might I just say that she’s gorgeous! Hopefully Kimble will love her.
And on the subject of blog/book tours… I wish so hard that you would do a not-virtual tour and like.. come to the Barnes’n'Noble near my house. And your fans could like.. print out their favorite entries and you could sign them, or you could sign our knit wares or something.. Idk, getting too weird? Yeah, probably. Anyhooo…
Erin, thanks, that made me LOL! It is a silly idea, but a fun one. Some day if I make big bank and retire early, I promise to travel around the country and visit everyone in person!
I sympathize re: separation anxiety! Our beagle has it. We’ve sunk two years and thousands of dollars in trying to help her out of it. Now we just end up using prozac, doggy daycare and a 100-lb titanium crate that she only gets left in for two hours at a time. She chewed through the regular metal crates, doors, floors, and a wall. She was abandoned inside a foreclosed home and had to chew her way out…I understand why she is the way she is. But it’s really hard. I applaud you for helping with this cat!
Wow, that poor doggie! I have heard so many horror stories about animals left inside foreclosed homes… I literally don’t understand how someone could do that. Major kudos for taking such good care of her in her new life!
A Writer’s gift is to be able to write emotions so that others feel them. It’s OK to write about the sad.