By Camilla Grebe. I read the English translation.
Clearly this was translated by an English English person, because an American English translator wouldn’t use ‘knickers’ for underwear. If you don’t mind that little bit of jarring language difference (I sure don’t), it’s a good book. Psychologically, very interesting. Recommended!
With Lumi at the vet from 9-4 today, it was prime time to assemble the tree without having to explain every step to him.
Yes, I do that. He wants to know, and listens intently.
I also wouldn’t have to fight him for the box, or fish screws out from under the fridge.
I dug all the parts out of the box, looking for the instructions. Oh dear, only one sheet.
Oh dear…
That’s the instructions? This might take a while.
Hubby went out with the dog for a walk, and I set to work. It took about an hour, and I only had to re-do one part that I’d assembled backwards.
Ta-da! The old and the new. This is where it will live, right in the kitchen! It is taller than I am (I’d guess 5ft 10in or about 178cm) and very sturdy. I’ve disassembled the old one, and will see if our local SPCA wants it.
I did make one change. There are supposed to be two ‘ladders’ but I only put on one.
With – it blocks most of the largest platform. I figure the boys will use that as a step to get higher and not run up it.
So I left it off. Better, I think.
Lokii likes it!
Lumi loves it! He is only just back from his surgery so is a bit doped up still, and rather sleepy and clumsy. But he went right to the highest level and looked so proud of himself.
I’d recommend this tree, at least for now. Will see how it holds up to how Lumi launches himself onto and off of it.
I do work with mostly men. And of the ones I talk to all the time? To a man they cringed when I told them my wee man is having his nuts removed tomorrow.
Say goodbye! Bye to attempted rapes of his brother, and bye (hopefully) for deciding the litter boxes are too nasty and peeing on my pillow!
After ten days off work for the holidays, I wondered if my Work Cat would have forgotten me, or given up on me.
Worries unfounded! Tuesday at lunch, she was right there.
We had an amazing time! I got her on my lap, and the purring was deafening. I put my knit hat on my knees as her claws are super sharp, and she started kneading it. And drooling all over it! Ewww. Cute, but ewww. I have to wear that, Piggie!
She is well fed, despite being a piggie. So we have moved to a new level. Now it isn’t the food she wants, it is the cuddles.
When she was on my lap, the best thing happened.
At one point, she gave a big sigh.
If you know cats like I do, you know that meant she finally felt comfortable and could relax for a bit. Shortly before that, we did a nose-bump. She had been fearful to look me in the face for so long! Nose-bump and a happy sigh of relief? What a good kitty.
This is also good – see that curled paw? Another sign of a happy cat. I’m grateful to her for making my lunch break so much more pleasurable – and clearly she is grateful to me for the company, too.
We finally have our new cat tree. It’s in a box, in bits, and it will be my job to assemble it. Don’t feel bad for me – I truly enjoy assembling flat pack furniture. If I could get a job assembling IKEA stuff, I’d jump on it! First found out I like doing this sort of thing when mom bought dad a new gas grill, and I assembled it in my bedroom. Barely a teen, I think? I love learning how things fit together and seeing where the points of strength and balance are. I’m looking forward to it!
This is what it looks like in the box. Old cheapo cat tree in the background! Poor thing was always too wobbly and prone to falling over. I reinforced it, but Lumi-Zoomie has just about killed it. And I do so hate to see him belly-flop on the 1ft square top and scramble to get his back feet up, too.
I did screw up. I didn’t get the right colour! I meant to get the grey/black one. Dammit. I never buy anything online and effed it up. Oh well – the ‘barney beige’ will set Lumi off nicely, I hope!
Hope this monster fits in our kitchen. We don’t have a corner left to put it in, so this beast will be centre of the room – which isn’t that big to begin with.
I’ll miss the old one – the bottom bit is a cat cave and we called it ‘the moon.’ iDJ would ask me, “Guess where Spotty is?”
“In the moon!” Always. Sigh. Miss him.
Lumi prefers to be up high and has eschewed The Moon, so he will like this one a lot better.
We will be saying good bye to those bad boys on Saturday. I can’t wait. Lokii can’t wait either – it was bad enough when Spot tried to hump him! Lumi is too aggressive and bites. Poor Lokii.
Of course they are still best buddies.
Told you there would be more Ketchum. Joyride went quickly, too – even faster was the wee short story at the end, Weed Species. Cover calls it a novella, but it’s a short story.
I don’t actually keep track of how much I read! So from today on, every time I finish a book, I’ll post it here.
Today I read Jack Ketchum’s The Passenger. I just discovered Ketchum so there will be more of his to come. Ketchum was recommended highly by many members of a Stephen King FB group I’m a member of. So far, I agree (Girl Next Door is gut wrenching).
It was very short, hence being done in a few hours. Should I do a rating scale? I read too fast to do a review, really. So out of 10 – a 7. Would have gotten more if it wasn’t so short.
Cheated, hoodwinked, swindled, bilked, scammed, duped, schnockered, suckered.
I knew it was too good to be true. I knew deep in the part of my brain that wasn’t grinning with joy like the Cheshire Cat that had just tripped the Queen.
But it was so pretty! Hubby said when he saw the smile on my face as I gently hugged it close, he knew we would be buying it. At full price. Well, almost full price – he gets 10% off at this particular shop.
What got me, you ask?
A blue orchid.
Sigh.
Blue orchids don’t exist. Don’t get me wrong, this is a real, living orchid, and it is blue.
Nonetheless, it is a fake. The poor thing has cleverly been dyed blue. When it is done blooming, and blooms again, it will be a plain old white phalaenopsis or moth orchid.
Dammit.
The woman running the till also was in love with it, and hoped there was still one left the next day so she could get one, too. I definitely said, “I know, it’s so amazing, isn’t it? Almost looks like it was dyed!”
Yeah. Because it is dyed! Oh well.
Let my error be a warning to you. At least it is healthy and will be loved.
Happy Christmas from Lumi, in Irish.
Bit blurry but hey, he isn’t yet seven months old and is like a little furry rocket. Lumi-zoomie!
And he looks more like a clown than a Christmas kitten, anyway.
Happy holidays to all of you, whatever form they take for you. Love from Spiders, iDJ, Lumi, Lokii and Neko.
I have a good few amazing new blogger friends this year who have never heard about Deth Nog! Time to set that right.
My dad always made (and hopefully still does make) some seriously potent home made egg nog for Christmas. Of course as kids, we were only allowed a sip or three, as it was heavily boozed up.
We always bought milk in the typical big American gallon jug. Milk that was used for drinking, of course, and for everyone’s morning coffee (we kids had “coffee-milk” which was mostly milk with coffee splashed in – no concerns about caffeine being bad back then. And I’m glad. That drink was awesome, and it made us feel included in family rituals, and very grown-up).
So. One year, mom blearily added the eggnog (made in an empty gallon milk jug) to her morning coffee. I’m sure she had a great day at work! We had a great new tradition- labelling the jug to prevent accidental morning tipples.
Me being me, I’ve run with the idea over the years. Here are my efforts over the years I’ve been blogging.
2010, I think.
2011
2013? Lokii and Spot.
Definitely 2013. Maybe I made two batches.
2014.
2015. I think. Ah, who cares.
Freshly made tonight and finally labelled with the year so I don’t get mixed up again: crappy skulls on top of trees! Oh well, I tried. At least the trees look okay. It’s Sharpie marker – only one chance to draw.
And now to the important part: how to pleasantly poison yourself and your family. US and EU measures both provided.
US version:
(need an empty 1 gallon milk jug)
1 cup (1/2 pint) each of:
Brandy
Blended whiskey
Rum (not light or dark – do not use spiced rum, yuck!)
4-6 whole eggs – depends on how big they are, of course
2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream
1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (I think I hit about the middle between the two)
1/4 teaspoon each cinnamon and nutmeg (may need a bit more, I didn’t have the measure written down! Dad said start with 1/4 and add more if you think it needs it. I’ve used as much as whole teaspoon of each and it was fine.)
Beat eggs until smooth.
Add cream and a bit of the milk, doesn’t matter how much but not TOO much just yet!
Add all the alcohol. Add the sugar.
Stir until the sugar melts.
Add nutmeg and cinnamon.
Pour into empty 1 gallon jug, top up with milk until jug is full.
Shake well!
Not-US Version: Okay, same thing but converted into metric! Doesn’t matter if it isn’t perfect, it’ll be tasty.
(need two empty 2-litre milk jugs)
237ml each of:
Brandy
Blended whiskey
Rum (not light or dark – do not use spiced, yuck!)
4-6 whole eggs – depends on how big they are, of course
473ml heavy cream
4 to 8 tablespoons sugar (I think I hit about the middle between the two)
1/4 teaspoon each cinnamon and nutmeg (may need a bit more, I didn’t have the measure written down! Dad said start with 1/4 and add more if you think it needs it. I’ve used as much as whole teaspoon of each and it was fine.)
Beat eggs until smooth.
Add cream and a bit of the milk, doesn’t matter how much but not TOO much just yet!
Add all the alcohol. Add the sugar.
Stir until the sugar melts.
Add nutmeg and cinnamon.
Pour into empty jugs, try to put the same amount in each, oh how fun, and top up with milk until jugs are full.
Shake well!
Note: I can’t find ‘not light and not dark’ rum here; I just use the white or clear rum.
Please do let me know if you try it!
heretherebespiders 