Balloon Out Back

When I first moved to Albuquerque I was frequently found tracking and photographing the balloons during the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

That has tapered off in recent years.  I like sleeping in on the weekends and the balloons go up early.

This morning I heard a balloon around 7:30 AM.  I got up, looked around and didn't see anything.  About 15-20 minutes later, I heard the balloon again.  I walked outside and there, in the park behind the house, was a balloon setting up prior to flight.  My guess is, they decided to avoid the crowds and early hours of the ascension field.

Inflated and almost ready for takeoff.

And, up into the air.

They weren't the only ones looking for later hours and less of a crowd.

Early morning in the Albuquerque metro area during Balloon Fiesta.

Papillon

Getting my creativity groove back

For the longest time, I've done VERY LITTLE in the way of crafts.  I just had no creative energy at all.  I've been waiting for it to come back.  And waiting.

Finally I decided to take the advice of Jack London (American author), who said -- You can't wait for inspiration.  You have to go after it with a club.

I decided to start with a project from my quilt group.  We had a packet of batik fabric fat eighths.  We could use those fabrics plus a couple more non-packet fabrics.  We could make anything we wanted - in any size we want.  It also had to include a pieced star.

I have a book of paper-pieced blocks - 50 star blocks/1 for each of the US states.  I chose the block labeled Maine.  Here's my first one - done this afternoon while switching back and forth between football and NASCAR.

Since the packets and fat eighths aren't providing a TON of available fabrics.  If I can stretch things enough, I'm thinking I'll make 5 more blocks and put some sashing around each one and make myself either a small wallhanging or a runner for the dining room table.

Cesar 'helped' for a while.  Inspected my sewing machine.  Laid on fabric so it wouldn't float away.  That sort of thing.  After a while he decided he done more than enough and expended too much energy.

I'm off to see if I can see the lunar eclipse.  I looked earlier but I think my view was blocked by neighboring houses.

Papillon

"Up In The Clouds?"

For the longest time, I thought Cesar was a 'shrub' cat.  One who liked to be low down.  For example, he took a nap wedged under a chair on the floor.

So imagine my surprise to find his new favorite nap place is about 6.5 to 7 feet off the ground on top of a bookcase.

Of course, to get up and down, he has to use a shorter bookcase and knock a few books off onto the floor.

The things we do for our pets.  ;)

Papillon

Just Chillin'

OK, I'd say Cesar is settling in nicely.
Just getting his 'relax' on.

Papillon

Settling In

Cesar seems to be settling in quite well.  He can still be a tiny bit clingy, but not terribly so.

He really does love his catnip mice.  He especially likes stalking them underneath the dining table and in and out of the chair legs.  Here he is - taking a short break before 'killing' another (catnip) mouse.

He's not a good photo subject.  He'll strike a pose.  As I'm getting my camera set to take a picture, he'll move around.  Or, while I was taking a series of photos of him on the floor with the mouse, he got curious about the noise and got up on the arm of the chair.

So I decided to help him take some selfies.

Ever so slightly cross-eyed, but they do go nicely with his collar.

Looking a bit regal.

I'm so glad he's settling in.  He was so sad the first week and a half.

Papillon

Progress is being made

Cesar seems to be loosening up.  Example:  for the first week the only sounds I heard from him were a couple of sad-sounding meows on the way home.  After that, he was silent.  For a Siamese, this is not normal.

Almost exactly a week after I brought him home, he gave me two soft, small meows.  Since then, he's not a 'talker' but he does meow, especially in greeting me when I get home from work.

Also, for the past week and a half, he's showed NO interest in toys of any kind.  Catnip mice, whiffle balls, nothing seemed to interest him.  Imagine my surprise and pleasure tonight when I noticed he was actually playing with the scratching box.  I'd bought a flat cat-scratcher that has openings so cats can bat at the balls inside.  He used it as a scratching device until tonight, when he began poking his paws into the openings.

Then, he started batting around the catnip mice.  And having a great, good time doing so.  I was at the computer when he jumped up on my desk and dumped a mouse (catnip) in my lap.  I threw it.  He attacked it and then brought it to me.  I threw it.  He attacked it and brought it to me.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  Being a cat, this was only for a few reps, but my new cat fetches!

Quite a change from the traumatized, quiet cat I brought home a week and a half ago.

Progress!

Papillon

More Cesar

Cesar's eye is doing better.  He's NOT enthusiastic about the eye drops, but they definitely are doing what they're supposed to.  He's still sneezing.  In the paperwork I got when I adopted him, they mention the possibility of cats being adopted from the pound having Upper Respiratory Infection.  It can take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to clear up so I'm not worried about the continuing sneezing.

Some things I've noticed.  He's a flame point Siamese yet is almost entirely quiet.  Siamese aren't just talkers, they're TALKERS.  Shoot, I've had two orange tabbies who were chattier than Cesar.  He may start talking more as he gets more used to being here.  He may not.  We'll see.

He's also still a MESSY drinker.  He doesn't drink like a normal cat (perhaps due to his URI?).  Instead he rakes his paw through the bowl  & then licks the water off his paw.  In the process he gets water all over the floor.  I had a newspaper down to absorb the water.  It did OK, but wasn't quite right.  So, I ordered a Soggy Doggy Slopmat.  Really.  That's its name.  Oddly, I read about it in a newspaper insert about the time I adopted Cesar.  After all the water on the floor, I decided to give it a try.  Hopefully, it will absorb all of the mess.

So far, Cesar does not seem to be a cuddler.  My three previous cats were all big fans of sitting on my lap.  Not the best scenario in the middle of summer, but a plus in winter.  Not Cesar.  He likes being close to me, having me in his line of sight.  He does occasionally lounge on my lap when I'm in the recliner.  However, he seems to prefer the chaise to my lap.  As you can see here:

Propped up against the pillows.  If you're a cat, does it get any better than this?  Since you asked, yes, my cats do live a good life.

Papillo