I first saw Loki housed like a king. A tiny kitten with a mask, goatee, and tan-colored heart on his chest, he was in a cage filled with toys and food at a Pet Food Express.
The staff told me that he walked into their store, hungry and in search of food. Clever kitten!
'Adopt Me' the sign said. And so I did.
Since that time over 13 years ago, Loki has been my constant and dear companion. In a little creature ... such a wonderful gift.
(A few pictures of him from today)
...the remarkable amount of fun that can be had with simple toys and just a little imagination. Christmas, 2007
From near to far
from here to there,
funny things are everywhere.
What a delicate thing our own existence can be. Apparently mine (and that of my extended family) depended on the reliability of a tin pail, bike pump, the vigor the guy at the pump, and a pencil sketch.
Shown below: my grandfather at age 17. He and his friends did lake dives using an oxygen pump he engineered and equipment made out of common household items. We're all so glad it worked.
Also shown: one of my grandfather's early 'invention sketches'.
It's 6:30am
There's beyond-just-a-chill in the air.
Snow is piled against our windows. I can see my breath in the air and regretfully crawl out of bed, feet hitting an icy cold floor... instant numbness. I throw snow boots, mittens and a jacket on over PJs and open the outside door to a cold that takes the breath away. Time to get wood.
I tilt the wheelbarrow down and start up a narrow, shoveled path to the barn... snow brushing up against the sides of the barrow, then falling in the top of my boots ... icy wetness. Crunch, crunch, crunching of snow beneath my boots in otherwise-total-silence.
A load of wood, then the return. Icy cold hands carry wood inside.
Open the woodstove door to an exhale of ashy cold air. Numb fingers coax a little flame out of papers and kindling, then add logs. Then comes the slow-growing heat that immediately precedes the getting-ready-for-school, and blueberry pancakes.
Hard earned warmth creates a special appreciation...
- Winter Morning
Mittens crunchy with snow, scarves dripping dry in front of the fire
The smell of woodsmoke and scraping sound of an approaching snow plow
Cold nose, numb fingertips, sluggish toes
The howling wind of a blizzard in contrast to clear, still, starry nights
Snow men, snow angels
The shoveling of snow and daily carting of wood
The complete and soft silence of a deep woods, snowy landscape
-- childhood memories of winter in upstate New York --
'King' before ... and 'Poodle' after ....
Because he pulls out his Ginsu-knife-like-claws whenever she tries to brush his stomach, my Mom's cat, Latte, must suffer the occasional indignity of a near-full body clip to remove fur-knots. How embarrassing, poor creature. But that's payback for wielding those claws at brushing time.
(Before and After Pictures)
My brother, Randy, first met his son Kai this past Tuesday. when Miho and Kai flew in from Japan. When we see a baby, it brings so much perspective. There's little that is more profound and amazing than bringing a little one into the world. Welcome to our family, Kai, and we can't wait to help you through the world!
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