Cats and Coffee (a few of my favorite things)

Sure, they can share the bed, with the fresh warm towels from the dryer between them!

The big guy didn't wake me up until almost 7 on Monday. That felt like a miracle. And yes, I totally feel like I have a newborn (human) again, with trying to make sure he eats enough, late enough at night, to not wake me too often in the night. 

This doesn't look comfortable, Eve.

This week, Cora had her tech week for her college musical. She also worked a bit at West Ranch for their upcoming musical. 

Another beautiful stained glass piece by Violet Mae. Violet had a funny later schedule at school this week because of state testing. She and I also made a couple of trips to Quigley Canyon.

San Fernando Coffee, at the old Honu location, had a special deal for a few afternoons this week, so I took advantage of it. I also met up with my college friend Melanie for lunch on Thursday.

Lastly, San Fernando Coffee is expanding a lot, and opened another location in Stevenson Ranch. I checked it out on their first day open, and they gave me 50% off my drink. Double yum!

More Art, More Cats

After seeing the poppies, I dropped Violet at home and went to her school's Open House. I went primarily to see the art room; the foreground piece is hers. 

I was impressed with the ceramics pieces. I hope Violet is able to work with ceramics while she's in school.

Here's one of Vi's latest prints - a California scorpion fish. This one amazed me to no end - the detail!
This week, Violet also designed and made the cuts for a stained glass piece of a horse. She's very interested in riding again.

I went through our closet and found I'd saved two boxes of baby/toddler clothes I had trouble parting with. Well, I condensed it to one box, and used the oxygen-based stain powder on the tiny baby clothes. They cleaned up beautifully! This might be the last time to for me to see sweet tiny dresses and onesies drying on the line...

My cousin is expecting and was happy to have these for her baby. And I'm thrilled they'll get more use, in the family.

Evie, being a classic cat. If there's a box...

Hmmm... WHO could have left these filthy muddy footprints in the shower???

Reaching out to touch the window...reaching for the birds?

Tidbits

On Sunday, we watched church online at home, and then went to Mel and Nick's new apartment to help them. Stace put up lots of curtain rods, while Violet put up a stick-on tile backsplash in the kitchen, and wallpaper in the bathroom. I did lots of moving of boxes. 

Monday was Cora's 19th birthday! We decorated the house, had gifts laid out, and sent her off to college for her first day of the spring semester. 

Then, I met my Dad at Costco and was very excited to find these Heinz "British Recipe" baked beans. I've never seen these here - usually we have to buy English style Heinz beans at import stores, at import prices. These cases were $8 for six cans, a steal!

Violet and I got Teacision, and the gal behind the counter wrote a special note to Cora. Ha!! 

We got Stone Fire for dinner and she opened her gifts, and then went to college theatre rehearsal.

The American College Theatre Festival began the next day, so Cora didn't feel great on Monday, with all the nerves. We'll celebrate later, when she can relax and enjoy it more.

In the photo, she opened Violet's gift - a stained glass piece representing her character in D&D. They hugged, but I wasn't ready with the camera, and they refused to recreate the moment. Cora isn't much for hugs, so it's a real treasure to get one.

Later Monday, Violet began working on an oil pastel portrait.

I was in awe Tuesday when I saw it. 

She also has been busy on her lino cuts. Here's a javelina, and below we have a prairie chicken. Also, a desert scene in glass.

We have been on an "All Creatures Great & Small" kick since Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty introduced it to us. And, our library has it!

This little guy planted itself by the nectarine tree, and I just have to let it stay! So bright and cheeful.

Trip to Redmond!

We had a wonderful trip to see Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty! Stace took a few days off, and Violet worked very hard on her online classes beforehand, so she could relax while we were away.

Winston and Evie wanted to come along! (He's inside the bag in the picture on the left.)

 This was a first - Cora took us to the airport! Because it was Burbank airport, it was a short and easy drive, and great freeway experience for her. (She's had lots of experience already, but the more the better.)

Cora has theatre class and work at the high school, so she couldn't come with us.

Violet took the lovely photo above as we were landing at Sea-Tac airport. 

And here's her finished stained glass piece - Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty loved it. It goes so well in their home, also. Violet is pretty amazing.

She got to spend some good times with the cousins - like little Sophia here, who's now 1 1/2.

We took lots of walks, and on one of them, saw these deer. There was one more on the other side of the foliage.

We ended up at the lovely park near their home, which features a barn and animals that Aunt Patty now volunteers at. 

These roosters were gorgeous!

Aunt Patty was telling us everyone's name.

These next horses are at a different place close to their home, at an equine rescue. Violet is really interested in horses at the moment, and loved walking down to say hello.

Another view of the rescue. We were spoiled with amazing weather! It's been raining there consistently, but when we arrived, the sun shone brightly.

Violet put this cactus puzzle together nearly on her own.

And after being out in the cold at night, not much better than homemade hot chocolate and popcorn! We enjoyed this treat while watching the new version of All Creatures Great and Small. Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty love it, and knew that we would, too. We ended up watching all of Season 1 while with them!

Tidbits

Violet has been busy on stained glass - she's making this larger piece for Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty from her own design.

She's also working on a squirrel.

It's been cool watching her work, from design, to cutting the glass pieces, to grinding it to shape, to foiling the pieces and then soldering them together.

 Here, she's soldering. 

And yes, it's all a bit dangerous. She has nicks from the glass and a slight burn from the soldering gun. Nothing too bad though, thankfully.

Violet returned to school this week, but it'll be a short week for her, as we're flying to Washington Thursday.

On Tuesday, Rigo and his guys came out to trim our liquidambar. It had gotten very tall, and though it seems really healthy, I've been nervous when we've had big wind storms.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, we had the windows all open, and could hear sirens outside. Then, we heard a howling and yipping that could only mean coyote. Normally though, coyotes are active at dusk and overnight. 

We went out to look for it, and there it was, on the hill. Another curious neighbor came out to see it, and said he's been seeing it around for a couple of weeks. 

Sure enough, a few days later, Stace and I went out for a later afternoon walk, and Stace found him on our lawn! Glad we no longer have free-roaming cats.

Creative Violet

Violet has taken up a new artistic endeavor - stained glass. Her school has the equipment and supplies, and Violet has made some outstanding pieces. These were her first two. 

She made the cat, below, as well.

She also cut the hem in these jeans and added the black ruffles, which she created on the sewing machine.

Such a cool style!

And, we got some new oil pastels, and she came up with this elk. It's amazing to watch her work.

Tidbits

 Violet completed this painting for her AP art class. I love it.

And she completed this lacy artwork on her hand.

The sunset the other night was gorgeous, and we were out and about, so we went to Iron Horse Bridge- one of the best spots for a pretty sunset in town.

Violet's newest artistic pursuit is embroidery. She purchased various colors and a hoop, and started with these gingko biloba leaves on a black shirt.

I met up with a few ladies for dinner Friday night, while Stace played soccer. 

After, I took Violet to a local home that sets up a Western-themed Halloween attraction. It was so well-done! Photos are from the Signal, the local newspaper.

Also this week, I got bit by something outside of Ralphs, after I'd done my grocery shopping. I'd bought bananas, so perhaps it was some weird spider?

Thankfully, besides continued stinging, swelling, warmth and hardening of the skin, I didn't have any WORSE symptoms. After a couple of days, it calmed down and healed. I sure wish I'd looked quickly enough to see what had bitten me!