Knitting

I've been knitting a lot lately. Sock after sock after sock. I finally had some motivation to take a break and knit a baby sweater for a new friend's baby. This was the second attempt. It's hard to find suitable boy sweaters. I really wanted to make a newborn sweater; my first attempt was. It was ugly, though. Here it is, a cute striped sweater for a 3 month old boy who isn't even a day, yet.

I cannot, for the life of me get this dang picture to rotate. I've rotated the picture and saved it three times, and every time blogger posts it like this.

sore muscles

I made my sister's corn cake the other day and found myself with a lot of left over heavy whipping cream. What's a girl to do? Make butter, of course!

It's pretty good. I think next time I'll add some garlic and/or salt. Mmmm fancy!

heartache

In eighth grade, I was sitting at the lunch table with my three friends. I couldn't quite hear what they were talking about.

"Wait, who are you talking about?" I asked.
"We can't tell you!!!" C said, snottily.
"Well, then don't talk about it in front of me."

For the rest of the year, C convinced J and C2 not to talk to me. I finished out eighth grade without any close friends.

When you're 14, life sucks. I was already a nerd so those three friends were pretty important to me socially. Down the street, I had three friends who I grew up with, but they found their route to popularity and we never hung out at school. These friends had a pregnant cat.

Depressed and alone I knew I needed a companion. At first, my parents said no. I remember sobbing and choking out the words, "but I need...." and never finished my sentence. I'm still not sure if they understood what I meant or if they just gave in. They weren't ever very supportive of my social growth.

So, August 8, 1993, I spent the night at my friends' house as their cat gave birth to adorable orange kittens. I had claimed I wanted the kitten with the most white on it who was named Sugar Legs. Mom and Dad told me I could not have her because she was the runt and they wouldn't have a runt again. (My previous runt cat was awesome and I still don't know what their problem was.)

I settled on the fluffiest, then named Sunshine.

I was there when they learned to crawl, open their eyes, and to love pets from humans. I brought her home and changed her name to Soleil. She wore a periwinkle blue collar.

My bed was about four feet high and she could leap from the ground up there. It was a waterbed and would pop often from this trick.

In the summers, she'd "play jungle" by lounging in the long leaves of the day lilies. Sometimes she'd jump out and grab your leg as you walked by and then run away, hoping you would chase her.

Through teen angst, break ups, and unemployment she was there with cuddles and purrs.

Today, at age 16.5, she was put to sleep. I am broken hearted but very grateful that she was there with me through the tough times. I don't know that I could have done any better than Soleil.