Hera Marker

I have actual quilting content in this post - about time you might say. That will be followed by a section on Pokey and the third act will be tv viewing, so you can skip around as you like.

First off, look at the wonderful blocks that Kimberly M sent me. They are all marvelous.

Next, I wanted to show you how I'm quilting the Margarita Quilt. I'm going in straight lines. Well, sorta straight - the lines go from one corner diagonally across the patch and then I skip to the next patch since a lot of them aren't lined up.

After hearing Bonnie rave about her Hera marker I decided to give it a try. I love it. You just press down and that makes the mark - there is no ink or chalk on the quilt. 

A close-up of an area that's been quilted. No, none of my lines are truly straight, not even in the patches, and that's okay with me. Actually, they don't look that bad in the photo - it's when I'm close up and working on them that I really notice it.

So on Monday and Tuesday I taught a class on Wonky Houses and free-pieced letters. My students were great and put up with me even though I was rather rough. I threw them into the deep end and they made some great blocks. I was so focused on "what have I forgotten to tell them" that I didn't take any photos. I'd think of it, but then say, I'll do that later. D'oh.

Okay, no pics of my student's houses, but here are a couple of really fun quilts that Sarah made, including houses.

I did make some friends though - that's the best part of all. Yesterday I actually had a quilting play date - woohoo.

A gratuitous picture of my baby Pokey (and Habibi in the cat tree).

The only way you'd know all the trauma she's been through is by her punk rock hairdo. I've had a mental checklist of her normal activities that I've checked off as she's done them: begging for treats, sitting in a box, chewing on a box, chewing on random paper, scaling the tall cat tree, hunting socks... The only thing I haven't seen her do is jump way high onto a countertop.

The best thing is that she and Lily are being sweet again. A week before Pokey got sick, they had just started sitting together and mutually grooming after the trauma of the move from Paris. 

So all is right with Pokey's world except for the enormous capsules I shove down her throat twice a day. She runs and hides now from me in the morning - heartbreaking. I tried the Pill Pockets, but they were so large that Pokey couldn't even eat a whole one without the pill in it.

On to tv viewing. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but my favorite show on tv right now is Hell's Kitchen. I've thought for a couple of weeks now that the winner is either going to be Danny or Paula - they are the most consistent chefs. No meltdowns, no time outs for Chef to yell at them... I'm rooting for Paula, but Danny deserves it to.

I finished the too short Lost season 4. Loving the flash forwards and looking forward to season 5 getting to DVD. I'm actually waiting for lots of shows to come out on DVD so that I can finally be caught up and watch them live next year. I'm just hoping that will include Chuck (please, NBC, please renew it) and Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles although I'm afraid that one is a goner.

Dollhouse has significantly improved. This last episode where the dead woman got to come back - that actually made real sense to me of why the Dollhouse would exist - rich people regaining youth and vigor. I don't love this show like I've loved Joss' other series. It's a B. I won't cry if it doesn't get renewed.

Man, Pokey just came over and nipped at me for attention - it's been ages since that happened. I am outta here - gotta go play with my baby.

Tentmaker Applique and the Baby

Just a quickie post to let ya'all now that Pokey is doing great and everything is good here. I'm still spending loads of time with her - as much as she'll let me. She has a check up on Friday so after we get the results of the blood test from that visit we should know even better how she's doing. But trust me, she's herself again.

We did find out yesterday that her pancreas is working well (that's a relief) and she doesn't have leukemia or any frightening disease like that.

Here are a couple of pics I haven't shown you before of Pokey lying on an Egyptian Tentmaker Applique quilt from Cairo. These photos are from a year and a half ago.

I was actually trying to take a pic of the wallhanging, not Pokey, but you know how that goes.

Pokey and a New Book

One of these days this blog will return to a quilting blog with the occasional kitty news. That will be a relief because it will mean that Pokey's health will have returned to normal. Still not there yet.

After rambling around for an hour after she got home yesterday, Pokey settled on my lap and spent a lot of time there. And she slept with me for the whole night - that's a first. I was so afraid she'd be mad at me, but that hasn't been the case.

She's still a bit shaky and can't jump up high. But she's drinking water (only freshly poured cold water in a human glass, but at least she's drinking) and I finally figured out a way to get her to eat. She was having none of the special canned food, so she's now got special kidney problem dry food. And my other three cats Habibi, Howler and Lily do too, because when I tried to separate Pokey out at meal times it just made them all nervous and jumpy - no one was eating. I checked with the vet and he says it's okay, so whew, it's good to have her eating again.

Look at what arrived in the mail - the new Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran collaborative book. Woohoo. It's been a welcome distraction from worrying about Pokey but I haven't looked at it thoroughly enough to do it justice.  But I have noticed this one is more Liberated than the last one, which is another huge Woohoo! I'll let you know more about it after I've read it.

Ya'all take care and no worries if you don't hear from me for a few days. I am my Pokey's plus I'm teaching a class on Monday and Tuesday. Later.

Guess Who's Home

It's hard for me to believe it's happening, but I brought Pokey home this afternoon. She's definitely not 100%, and is a bit shaky, but the vet said she'll do better at home, so woohoo! This is definitely an older picture, because now she's got shaved spots and is a bit rougher looking. Definitely a much happier kitty though. And I am a much happier mommy.

The ultrasound came back without any sign of problems, so right now the only thing up in the air is blood tests which will show if she has a genetic condition that caused the kidney problems. She has to go on a special diet, eat B-Complex goo and take a pill twice a day to help renal function. Fingers crossed she takes her meds like a good girl and continues to improve.

What a relief, though I'm nervous to have her home already. The vet said go ahead and let her roam the house - she doesn't have to be isolated. There's a been a bit of hissing and I suspect it will be awhile before Lily is nice to her again. 

Again, thank you for all the well wishes and words of encouragement. They are greatly appreciated. I need to go back in the other room and stare at my baby Pokey some more, while trying not to smother her with too much affection.

Bitty Bit of Hope

The vet just called. Pokey is doing a bit better. Her kidneys are functioning more than they were, whatever infection she had has now cleared up. More blood tests this afternoon and an ultrasound of her kidneys. She ate voluntarily last night and is keeping her head upright more (rather than hanging it straight down). She's even moving around the cage. This is all good news, but I'm afraid to hope too much. But I am all the same. She's my sunshine.

I visited Pokey yesterday. They brought her out to the examining room, with an IV tube still stuck in her leg. She looked better than she had the day before (but since that was absolutely terrible...). Unfortunately she was just scared the whole visit - all those noises and dogs at the vets - she just wanted to escape and curl up in a corner. So I decided not to visit again. Too hard on her. But I just wish I could hold her and see the improvement myself.

Thank you all for the kind messages and thoughts. We're all hanging in there, including my husband who is so far away right now. I think it's hardest on him. I'm at least here with the rest of the cats to give me love. They're not quite sure what is going on. Treat time is different now. Pokey is the ringleader and just begs for those treats. A couple of hours ahead of treat time she starts sitting and staring at me, alternating with jumping into my lap. My poor baby.