From Snake Killer to Embroiderer ~ All in the Same Day!

Today was a pretty relaxing day. After I killed the snake, that is. That was a bad choice, but the best one I could make at the time. Our neighbor's cat, Manchitas, (who has become partly my cat) caught a little foot-long snake in the back yard. Upon investigating, I was sure it was a pygmy rattlersnake. It was still slightly alive, but not too active. I didn't want to throw in the brush in our back yard because Manchitas might have gone right back after it. So, I got a garden tool and did it in. I felt really bad doing that because I am a big nature lover, and I really don't mind snakes if they don't pose a threat. Manchitas seems fine, so I'm thinking it was not a pygmy rattler. Surely it would have bit him. Looking back, the snake's eyes were round and his head did not have the triangular shape of most venemous snakes, so the more I think of it, the more sure I am that it was not a pygmy rattlesnake. The remains are in a bottle awaiting hubby's identification of the body. I hope this is not TMI for any of you. I would hate to lose my new followers right at the get go. But I'm hoping you are all nature-loving girls. . . Welll, just in case, I won't post any snake pictures and I'll change the subject.

After the morning excitement, I went into to town, got my hair cut, and ran errands. When I got home I worked on my teacup challenge for the HGTV crazy quilt group I'm in.

Here's two questions:
1.) Are all of you ladies that are following me on the HGTV boards?
2.) Are any of you taking part in the teacup challenge?

This challenge was to use a pretty printed teacup fabric that Miss Nickilee, our fearless challenge hostess, sent us. In the kit there was also a beautiful piece of lace, two other pieces of fabric, and two charms. All of these have to be incorporated in our CQ block. Usually, we post pictures as we go, but this challenge is also a contest, so picture posting is out until after the contest is over. I am soooo excited to be taking part. This is my first challenge and first CQ block that I'll be completing. (I have two more started, but they went on hold.) I'll post pictures here after the contest.

Little baby Canyon

My goals is to always post a picture with my blog posts, but it may not always be on topic. I did find a picture of Canyon dear as a teeny-tiny baby. It's one of those pictures that you get on a disk from a disposable camera, so not sure how the quality will be, but I'll give it a shot. Please excuse the messy old 70s bathroom where I used to live. I made a power point of Canyon for the kids in my class as a project for one of my college classses. If I can find it, I'll put it up another time.

Bye for now,

Karen

Canyon ~ the resident Kitty

Okay, trying to make this a little interesting before I hit the bunk. (I'm up too late again playing with this blog.) It doesn't look anything like the vision I have in my mind, but we'll get there. . . slowly.

Bath time ~ I see that little pink tongue

Here's a picture of Canyon to spice things up. She's about 5 years old now. Her mother delivered her in a pile of salvaged misc that was piled up in our yard (the remains of our Health Food Store stacked on wooden palettes) after Hurricane Charley. Mommy cat was a feral stray and didn't have enough milk for Canyon. She had 2 other kittens in the nest. One died, and we think we interrupted her moving Canyon and a bobbed-tail grey sibling. She never came back for Canyon. She was about 4 days old when I brought her in on a cold, November day. (and yes, it can get cold here in Florida).

She never has fully lost her "wild genes." She's a little skit-zo. She'll go from snuggling in my lap to biting me in a heartbeat. I think her nervous system is underdeveloped; after all, she didn't get mama's milk at the beginning. Just powdered "kitten formula" from WalMart until I read the label that said "for temporary use." Then I went to the vet and got something better.

Anyway ~ where was I . . her nerves . . . her back twitches at times like she has a nervous tic and she can't endure too much touching on her back. I forget that at times when she is snuggled on my lap . . . and have the scars to prove it!

It's weird how she will have her bonding times and places with me. . .like when I'm in the bathroom (inconvenient to say the least; I think it goes back to when I fed her as a baby. She had to live in the bathroom because we had another cat at the time.) Of course, when I return home, we have to bond for a minute. She also likes to sit on my lap when I am on the computer or watching TV, but it is only on her terms. . . .when she wants to! If I try to pet her any other time, I will be sure to be bitten, and not playfully or affectionately. Weird, but I love her. I'm the only person that can hold her at all. I was the first "being" she saw when her eyes opened. Yep! She's pretty special.

Sometime maybe I'll come back and post pictures of her when she was teeny-tiney. Would you like that?

Can you help me with this?

Okay, I am jumping in! My first post. I'm not exactly happy with the way the blog looks, but maybe someone out there can help me. I want to add picture elements from ShabbyBlogs to the About, Archive, Followers areas. I'll try to add one here to show you what they look like:

Ha ha! Looks like I can add one here, but not where I want it! Can you help me move it over there?            <-------

Anyway, I am creating this blog as a place to share my thoughts, reflections, and some of my creative efforts.

Please check back often and watch me evolve. . . .  This should be fun and interesting . . .

Karen