Cecilia’s Portrait

Cecilia’s Portrait

Two Saturdays ago, I finished this ridiculous portrait of my teddy bear Cecilia. I spent a pleasant three weeks working on it, sitting at the dining room table in the evenings and on weekend mornings, the cats gathered around me to nap or take very 

Late Summer Fun

Late Summer Fun

Here are some little fun things that have been happening around Spruce Pine Cottage recently. About a week before school started, Sophie (my niece) got her braces off. I couldn’t wait to see her new teeth, so I arranged a visit with her as soon 

Carl’s New Collar and Tie and More

Carl’s New Collar and Tie and More

About a week ago, I ordered Carl a cat-sized collar and tie from a lovely Etsy shop called ChariotsAFire. The combo arrived in the mail on Tuesday. The tie is olive green with tiny gold dots, and Carl looks great in it (it really complements 

June Time

June Time

Yesterday was a typical summer Saturday for Rob and me. We played with our cats, mowed and edged the yard, and cooked up some marinara sauce from our homegrown tomatoes. On Saturdays I like to do things slowly and daydream a lot instead of working 

Spring Weekend

Spring Weekend

On Friday night it rained over 4 inches. It was a spectacular storm that started in the late afternoon and continued until just before dawn. Rob and I popped popcorn and watched Justified as the lightning flashed and the thunder roared, and I was so 

September Stuff

September Stuff

I’ve been especially pressed for time this month because my cat Josie has started a special kidney care diet and she’s decided she won’t eat her special food unless she’s sitting on my lap. Josie eats so slowly. She takes a few licks, then stops 

Friends

Friends

I’d like to tell you about a heartwarming friendship between two cats. It began six years ago when we adopted Carl, our little brown tabby. Carl was a kitten, maybe three months old, at the end of 2008. He showed up one cold December day 

Josie at 14

Josie at 14

Lately our old cat Josie has taken to sitting on the arm of the couch in the Little House and squawking at me, demanding Party Mix cat treats. The noise she makes is very loud, and she puts her whole small body, all her effort, 

Carl

Carl

Every summer I like to pretend that I enroll my cat Carl in vacation Bible school. You see, in my games and dreams he’s my precious little son, forever four years old. Well, I mean, he’s a cat, but he wears clothes and talks and