2013 decorations before and after

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I had to re-appropriate the tree decorations. First, are the before.

 The tree before the leaning...

 The mantle and stockings (Santa brought Bill a new personalized Star Trek stocking).

 The nutcracker suite.

 These are the after pictures. Starting with additional ornaments on the mantle (they're probably difficult to see, they're tucked in the garland).

 More ornaments hanging from the light fixture.

 Ornaments nestled in a decorative bowl (birthday cards and gifts are the extra stuff around it).

 The garland on the hutch was bare, now planes and crocheted ornaments adorn it.

 And ornaments are hung with care, wherever a hanger can be supported, including the drawer pulls.

 Look carefully, cars are hanging from the top shelf!

 Yes, Juliette is alive. She loves to sprawl across the vent. The Muppet ornaments were moved to the bookcase.

 This is the doorway into the dining room. The ribbon is hung when the decorations are put out, then the cards are added as they come in the mail. This is the first year both ribbons (see photo below) were filled to the max. This did not change with the tree situation, I just didn't add them before.

 This is the doorway into the side entry and kitchen. More cards stapled on ribbon!

 The stair case (and a better shot of a few of the cards).

Me, playing with my camera and a close-up of the bells on the garland on the stairs. The choice of ornaments varies from year to year. Some years I hang the Noah's ark collection (and other Biblical themed ornaments) on the stair garland. Sometimes with the bells, sometimes without. Some years I hang the Santa collection. This year I stuck with bells only.

Juliette and the Oscars

I watched the Oscars last night. For almost the entire show, Juliette slept on my lap. I am surprised by this because I thought for sure when Bill went to bed that she would follow. She did not. She didn't even move when I lifted her up in the blanket (green binkie) and moved her so I could use the bathroom. When I came back to the sofa and moved the blanket back onto my lap, she stirred, and settled back in for the rest of the show. At the end, I started petting her to wake her up. Usually this works and she'll hop down. She didn't mind and didn't budge. In order for me to actually go to bed, I ended up having to physically remove her from my lap. It was a nice way to watch the Oscars.

cards, cinnamon pumpkin rolls and snoring cats...

As I work on our Christmas cards, I'm not only listening to the radio, but also the dulcet tones of our snoring kitty.

Juliette is just so sweet. I love that she snores (even if it has woken us up in the middle of the night) and that she likes to be near me.

Last night was our Quota holiday party. We are asked to bring either an appetizer or dessert based on the first letter of our last name. Being a "U" that typically means dessert. I made these.

Cinnamon Pumpkin swirls. They were a big hit and they are delicious. It's the first time I'd ever made a rolled cake. Other than the filling being a little too runny, once it set in the fridge, it was perfect!

Cat's in the Closet...

Yeah, yeah. The song goes, "Cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon..." but for our purposes this title fits better. You can see that in the photo here.

Silly kitty. Bill opened the linen closet to take his meds and Atticus jumped right up. Then he promptly laid down on the towels. Bill did not shoo him out and he's still lying there. It must be nice and cool. Better than outside, that's for sure.

Felix

The morning of 9.9.09 I found Felix resting in eternal peace under a chair in the dining room. He looked as though he had been giving himself a bath with his back left leg up in the air when he had a heart attack. The way he was lying suggests that he fell on his leg. The way he was under the chair suggested that he did not fall off. He also did not cry out, which I believe he would have if he had been in any pain. Felix was only seven, we shared his life with him for six of those years. Here are a few of the memories...

The wool sweater from Mom and Dad U. that Felix liked too

Skylar loved Felix

Felix played hide-n-seek under Amy's wedding dress

Felix loved laying in the sun

This was sent to me and seemed very appropriate for the end of this post:

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Catnap

Am I the only one who thinks this is adorable? Come on, visitors, you can't tell me this isn't cute? She's sleeping on my lap. Bill took the photo. Her little paws are crossed, she was sound asleep, so I tucked her in. Snug as a bug in a rug.