Starfire has shared our home for six years

Six years ago, our precious cat Starfire joined our household. Every day since then, she has been a perpetual delight.

Jonathan brought Starfire home on July 15, 2011. Here she is, peering out from beneath a dresser during her first night at home with us.

Starfire’s name evokes her color, which is nearly all black. She has white “stars” on her chest and belly. On her right hind foot, Starfire has a broken or deformed toe and she limps on hard ground or during cold weather. Her personality is full of zeal for exploration and play.

Starfire joined us shortly after the death of our 13-year-old cat Elizabeth. Starfire had been fending for herself after her former caregiver suffered a severe stroke.

Her arrival in our home was a case of us needing her as badly as she needed us. The place felt lonely without the presence of a cat and Starfire was in need of a caregiver.

Once over the stress of an unfamiliar environment, Starfire brought so much life and energy to our home; she continues to bless us daily.

Ravelry: Elizabeth models ‘Honeycomb Flower Patch’

Newly selected as a feature photo on Ravelry: Elizabeth, who died in July 2011, models “Honeycomb Flower Patch” by Judy Bolin.

This project is a great way to use up remnants of yarn. I made it using a multitude of colors as well as the more coordinated blend depicted in the feature photograph.

Ravelry: Elizabeth models ‘Warm Autumn Wrap’

My project is featured picture for a pattern for “Warm Autumn Wrap” by Anne Halliday on Ravelry.com. That’s Elizabeth modeling the afghan, which I made for my mother-in-law.

Originally posted to Facebook

Nothing like life with an adolescent cat

Starfire

Our home is blessed to be occupied by a new cat! Starfire, a young cat, needed a home and filled a void caused by the death of our cat Elizabeth.

Welcome home, Starfire

A lovely little cat needed a home who’d been staying on Harbin property, fending for herself after her owner suffered a severe stroke. Jonathan brought home the cat, whom we call Starfire, on Friday, July 15.

Goodbye to a beloved cat

Elizabeth

My husband and I said good-bye this week to our cat of many years, Miss Elizabeth. She died peacefully on Tuesday.

Distance learning is viable option

Elizabeth on her very own shelf at my schoolwork desk.

After an interval of 15 years, I have returned to school. I am enrolled in distance-learning courses through Cuesta College.

Animal predators prowl neighborhoods

Cover image: Dark’s Tale by Deborah Grabien

Few sounds are more chilling to me than the shrill yips and howls of coyotes. Whenever I hear these eerie sounds, my immediate concern is to bring my cat Elizabeth inside.

Support for animals means a lot

Sasha

Sasha looked so fragile in her cage at the Middletown Animal Hospital. Our tiny long-haired tortoiseshell cat was suffering from kidney failure and the veterinarians were working with us to give Sasha a fighting chance.

Animals enrich our lives

Left to right: Elizabeth and Sasha

The rain has been a welcome respite to everyone but Elizabeth, the ruling queen of our household. While Sasha remained content to warmly bask indoors, Elizabeth became restless and desperate to be let outside. She views the rain as a personal betrayal of infathomable magnitude.

Miss Elizabeth my sewing helper

Elizabeth likes to involve herself in her human's sewing projects. She would consider it "helping."

Originally posted to Facebook

Four cats and one radiator

Left to right: Elizabeth, Lily, Gizmo and Lucifer

Elizabeth shares the radiator with the kittens, Lily and Gizmo ... but Lucifer has arrived to mobilize the forces and lobby the humans for food.

Originally posted to Facebook

Vast numbers of cats and dogs are euthanized

I recently found a missing photo album that had a picture of my cat Elizabeth when she was just six weeks old. Each of Elizabeth’s ears was as big as her entire face. She was so comically adorable! She looked like a fluffy little bat.

Toastmasters member packet arrived

Toastmasters member packet: tested and approved by Miss Elizabeth

My new member's packet came in the mail from Toastmasters International! Wouldn't you know it, very first thing the cat jumped up and stretched out on the folder.

Anyway, now that I have the first two manuals, I can work through the lessons. The first lesson in the "Competent Communicator" series is "Icebreaker," which is a five- to seven-minute speech that introduces me.

The other workbook is "Competent Leader," which deals with filling certain roles in the group. Should be interesting to work from.

At tonight's meeting I was the "ah counter," keeping track of repeated words and filler sounds. Next week I'll be the "grammarian" and will come up with a word that my fellow Toastmasters will have to use in a sentence.

Originally posted to DailyStrength.org

Miss Elizabeth in ‘Mile-a-Minute’ afghan

Elizabeth sinks into the newest afghan, a “mile-a-minute” afghan crocheted on a gigantic hook out of brown and two-toned greenish-blue yarn.

Originally posted to Facebook

Miss Elizabeth models ripple afghan

This “Warm Autumn Wrap,” a pattern by Anne Halliday from the book Afghans for All Seasons, was crocheted from Red Heart Super Saver prints and solids in shades of sage green and light brown. Modeled here by Miss Elizabeth, it was a gift for my mother-in-law, Anita Donihue.

Originally posted to Facebook

Elizabeth the cat models crocheted socks

One of Elizabeth's favorite "jobs" is to be the official model for various crocheted creations. Here she "models" multi-colored socks.

Originally posted to Facebook

Wearable sculptures: Hand-made socks

A pair of hand-made socks with Miss Elizabeth,
the official model for all things crochet.

In my opinion, there are fewer mediums of art closer at hand in our daily lives than the objects we wear upon our bodies. An example is a pair of hand-crocheted socks, or “wearable sculptures,” as I think of them.