Oops.

So, we didn't post in January. Cat is all better, though she is still relearning to breathe through her nose. She seems happy about her classes. She comes home from the Family's house this sort of blue color. Cat says she's helping the Family's Mom paint. I think she wants to be a Smurf.

So Deirdre sent us some pictures. It seems she and Miss Adrien went to some other park-type places.


This is Deirdre on a morter at Yorktown Battlefield. There was a battle there. In the Civil War. That's all I got on that.


Here she's at Jamestown - It seems like she really likes cannons. At least now she is sitting ON them instead of INSIDE it.


This is also Jamestown. It looks like a really old house. I don't have more info than that. But it's all good to see Deirdre and know that she is okay.

So, in other news, Josie has been chosen to be in charge of a Plan. We roped Cat into the conspiracy; we needed some money and a car to make it work. Otherwise, we wouldn't bother because Cat's like no fun. How well the Plan succeeds depends on Cat's Favorite Junior. Hopefully, she will go along with The Plan. Here is Josey at the inception of our Plan.


Josey, we're rooting for you. Plus, we'll be pissed if you mess up our sweet Plan. Just keep that in mind. Favorite Junior as well, if you don't go along with the plan, we'll be sad.

Miss Dierdre's Visit and Christmas

Miss Dierdre came to visit us, arriving late in the evening of the 22nd, and leaving the morning of the 24th. Due to inclement weather, she estimated that she spent as much time in transportation as she actually did in visitation. While this was unfortunate, it was better than not being able to see my dear friend at all, as we have not been together since Miss Caitlin and Miss Adrien graduated from college. This was a sad situation without remedy except such as the two ladies devised. Since the weather was poorly, Miss Caitlin and Miss Adrien spent most of the time inside, playing games with Miss Caitlin's Bother and watching a particularly terrible Japanese drama.

After Miss Adrien and Miss Dierdre left, Mr. Caitlin's Father arrived. On Christmas morning, it was found that a most unwelcome guest had stowed away with him on the way down and hidden herself in Miss Caitlin's stocking - that devious Sheepy. A picture will not be provided as she is not worth it. She has, however, been behaving since arriving. She will depart when Miss Caitlin goes north to visit her grandparents next week and observe the work on the family house. She will not return.

Miss Caitlin has her splints removed tomorrow. She will be immensely relieved, as will everyone else. Their lingering presence has her predispositioned toward crabbiness. It does not help that she is rather stuffy but can do nothing about it. She feels that she will be much more cheerful after they are removed tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be the first day in the rest of her life of easy breathing.

Surgery

Cat is doing ok. The doctor and the nurses said that she did a good job and that everything went well. She came home and after napping she watched Cold Comfort Farm. It's a movie set in the 30's about a girl who moves in with some strange relatives and makes their lives better. She borrowed a lot of movies from her mom and dad. That was one of them. She'll probably watch more movies today.

Yesterday was not so much fun. The pain medicine made Cat throw up lots. She couldn't have any more. It's okay because she says it doesn't hurt so much that she needs the big pain medication. She has Tylenol instead.

She doesn't feel that bad and wants everyone to know that she's doing ok. Still, I'm not going to sunggle with her. Comfort does that, and she'll probably have to get a bath because Cat spills stuff on her. I don't want a bath. I'll watch her from over here.

Pictures and News

I have a plethora of pictures to share with you tonight. First, I would like to note that Miss Dierdre has voiced no displeasure toward me. Quite to the contrary, it is my understanding that she is coming to visit me. The agreeable Miss Adrien will accompany Miss Dierdre in visiting Miss Caitlin as she recovers from her surgery next week. I will first share, then, in honor of their upcoming visit, the remainder of the pictures Miss Dierdre has sent to me to display.

This delightful picture of Miss Adrien and Miss Dierdre was taken at a reenactment that they participated in a few weeks ago. One of Miss Adrien's acquaintances is a skilled seamstress who has a daughter who would often accompanies them to reenactments. It was found that a few of said daughter's dresses could be modified to fit Miss Adrien, so that she could participate until she learned to sew well enough to construct a dress herself. Miss Adrien also attended a ball for the occasion, for which outing she looked quite splendid.

Here Miss Dierdre relaxes at the reenactment while looking after miss Adrien's things.


This picture and the next are of Deirdre and the decorations at Miss Adrien's friends' house. Can you find her in the mantel picture? She's so clever. . .


Dierdre seems to find slightly dangerous places to sit . . . I do not encourage such behavior. I hope her good sense will return when she returns to the North . . .

And now to our own pictures. Miss Caitlin has completed her Christmas decorations as best she can. She will be hosting Christmas - or rather, Christmas will be at our house while she hopefully recovers well from her surgery.


This is Miss Caitlin's tree. Her grandparents kindly gave her the tree. She had to scrounge the sales to purchase ornaments. They are rather plain, but she will hopefully switch them out with more interesting ornaments in the years to come.


Here we are, under Miss Caitlin's tree. Sheela and Clem decided to join Tipsy, Josey, and I and we lounged on the few gifts that Miss Caitlin has in hand to wrap.

Here the blogging staff is under our tree. Miss Caitlin and Miss Caitlin's Bother kindly put it up for us. It was in the kitchen, but Miss Caitlin and her Bother agreed it was better in the family room by the mantel. The mantel is decorated as well, but the display will not be finished until Mrs. Caitlin's Mother brings the stockings down.


Here is Clem and the irrepressible Cabbage Patch Kids, all decked out for the holidays. Miss Caitlin finished their outfits over Thanksgiving. Personally, I find Master Shawn's shirt to be particularly grotesque, even as far as holiday wear goes, but he seem rather ecstatic about the seasonal addition to his wardrobe. Miss Comfort pulls of the look with a little more panache. Her blouse in particular is almost tasteful. Miss Caitlin is exceptionally proud of the stitching that makes up the blouse. Miss Comfort was less pleased with the bloomers that Miss Caitlin added to the outfit, but she has been mollified by repeated iterations of the opinion that the bloomers look much better than the leggings that the pattern calls for.

Now, for people still concerned about Miss Caitlin's surgery (and have bothered to read this far), Miss Caitlin located this article which better describes the procedures she is having done. Both aspects of the procedure are being done, in addition to any draining of the sinuses that might prove necessary. Miss Caitlin will be fitted with splints that will have to be rinsed often to ensure a speedy recovery. She will have the procedure done on the 17th and the splints will be removed on the 29th. That will hopefully mark the end of her recovery. Miss Caitlin looks forward to breathing much easier come January.

I hope to keep you updated on the recovery process, but holiday greetings to all in the mean time.

Apologies, yet again

We have been most remiss in our blogging duties. I can only beg forgiveness - Miss Caitlin often takes her computer with her to class these days, limiting time available on it. She was also recently ill, which threw another set of complications in the way.

She has recovered, more or less, now. While she was ill, she took to reading juvenile literature, to better familiarize herself with the literature of her chosen profession. Most of the books were enjoyable enough, but largely superficial. One series, however, impressed me greatly. Author Kate Dicamillo and illustrator Chris Van Dusen need to be congratulated on creating such a delightful series, one that, in fact, all children should read. The heroine of their series is a fine sow named Mercy Watson, who is treated properly by her humans and manages to save the day in every book. This series is important because it exposes children to the nobility of the porcine species - it also teaches children that very important word - porcine. Miss Caitlin and I recomend it to first and second graders, noting that it can make an excellent read aloud book for younger children.

I fear there is little to tell in other news. Miss Caitlin in entrenched in looking into the consruction of youth advisory boards in public libraries. She is also looking into how libraries can make e-books available to their patrons without bending copyright laws too far. In general, she expects November to be very busy with school work, and December to be very busy with preparation for, going through, and recovering from her up coming sinus surgery. Tipsy and myself will attempt to keep you updated.