Our Christmas

[pegkerr]

It never would have occurred to me that one of the coolest gifts I would ever receive would be a mechanical cat, but it's true. Fiona and Delia, knowing that I pine to own a kitty but can't because of my allergies, bought me a kitty that I could keep:



It rests in a little pet bed, and batteries make it purr and breathe. Very soothing to stroke. I have dubbed my new kitty "Crookshanks."

Here's the website if you are interested.

The other terrific delight was that my husband and mother-in-law conspired to give me some beautiful gifts from Coldwater Creek. My mother-in-law gave me this jacket, and Rob the blouse and pants. Rob gave me this jacket, too, which is reversible--grey/white/black on one side and black on the other, along with two knitted sleeveless shells, ivory and white. (I have also ordered some other Coldwater Creek items for myself, this blouse, which I think will look lovely with those new black pants, this leather vest, and this swing jacket. I shall look extremely natty when I go back to work tomorrow.

The girls were delighted with their gifts, too. Delia emitted some shrieks which jeopardized the windows when she opened the package of beading tools, and Fiona was equally pleased with her portable CD player. Rob's mom sent Fiona a nightgown which matches the one worn by her Kirsten doll. I think it will be very difficult to get her to wear anything else in the next couple of weeks.

We had our Christmas breakfast (the eggnog french toast was a hit) and dropped in at minnehaha K. and B.'s open house and then went to Rob's brother's home for a casual Christmas night dinner of margaritas and tacos.

My brother and his family gets into town tomorrow and my sister will be flying back from Rhode Island where they have spent time with her husband's family, and so now we will be entering the season of visiting on my side of the family, which lasts about a week, until New Year's Day. Rob and I feel very lucky that we truly to enjoy both our own family and each others. So many people on my friends list have written about the stress that comes this time year when they feel obligated to spend time with parents, brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and receiving only grief. We enjoy this holiday time spent with family hugely.

Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas leftovers today.

Comments

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

What kind of beading is Delia doing? I ask this as a person who has literally pounds of beads in her house, and who would be glad to part with some to encourage a lifelong addiction fellow fan.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Oh, my. Well, she is just beginning. She has made necklaces, bracelets and earrings (earrings for other people, I mean; she doesn't have pierced ears). She is just so new at it that she hasn't specialized in any way. If you have some beads you could spare, we would happily take them off your hands.

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

Is she working with seed beads or larger beads or both?

I also think I have around here somewhere earring cuffs to make nice dangly things for those as don't have their ears pierced.

[lindelea1.livejournal.com]

What are earring cuffs, please?

Our 9yo would love to make/wear earrings, but won't be allowed pierced ears until she's 16 or so.

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

Ear cuffs are 3/4 circle or so of metal that rests around the outer edge of the ear. The cuff itself can be decorative, or you can get ones that are made to have dangles hung from them.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

She uses whatever beads she has on hand!

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

OK! I have a bag of miscellaneous beads that I packed up this afternoon to send to her. Some seed beads, some other beads, some findings. I hope she has fun.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I missed you folks at B&K's yesterday. (I arrived fairly late, so you were off to dinner.) Lovely giftings and such a pretty new kitty you have! (If only it helped with the mice, too.)

[airemay.livejournal.com]

My aunt surprised me with a leather jacket from Coldwater Creek. It's so beautiful!!! I love your clothes too, especially the stuff in the first link. :D

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Oh, that reminds me: I got the leather vest, too! Here it is:

It hasn't arrive yet, but I'm looking forward to wearing it.

[airemay.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, my jacket has the stiching kinda like that on both sides, and it has sleeves. It looks very southwest which rocks because the aunt who got it for me is from New Mexico. :D

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Oooh, eggnog french toast! What a great idea! I'll have to remember that for next year. :)

[lindelea1.livejournal.com]

Cute cat. Looks just like one I had once, quite a character, named "Rustifer" or "Rusty" for short.

Have since developed quite an allergy to cat hair. We haven't had a cat in nine years, now. I miss them sometimes.

If you still want a cat fix...

[anghara.livejournal.com]

have you seen this?

http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf

Move the cursor around - if you hit the right spot on the cat's chest it will purr, and if you cursor its head it'll meow at you...

Re: If you still want a cat fix...

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Delightful! Thanks for the link. I will show it to the girls and they will get a kick out of it.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Ooh those will look absolutely lovely on you. Yay for hypoallergenic cat-experiences!