Busy, busy, busy.

Today I was once again woken by one of Kate's delightful cats, Simon, mewing gently at my door. Once let in he made himself comfy and we checked emails together. Before I knew it Miss Fish (the other Tucson cat) had also appeared and joined us on the bed. This was monumental for me as although Simon relented to let me into his World half-way through my first visit last May (he announced this by leaping on me in the middle of the night, which made me leap, which in turn made him leap) this is the first time in memory that Miss Fish has come close.

It's big news in both of our Worlds.

She wasn't able to sit near me or look at me but I'm thinking baby steps and appreciate that slowly I am gaining her acceptance. Maybe. She may turn on me at any point but we'll see what happens.

I had forgotten just how lovely it is to have animals around. Well, some animals that is. My cat, Magic (named partly for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' song 'Magic Johnson' and partly for Madge in neightbours) retired to France a couple of years ago (not a euphemism) before retiring to the great cat basket in the sky (sadly a euphemism) and to be honest he was rarely a joy to be around. He was miserable, grumpy, fighty, feisty and determined to be a general pain to all who crossed his path. But I admired how he stuck to those characteristics no matter what. Of course I hated the fact that even after 20 years of me loving and caring for him he could still fool me into stroking his belly before he went in for a 4-paw attack.

I also especially loved that if he tried hard enough, and wanted your attention enough, he could say 'Hello'. Very disturbing coming from a cat.

Progress on acceptance into the cat World made, it was time to get up and bead.

This morning AJ Reardon came over and between the 3 of us we oohed over beadwork, bead colours, beading techniques and general beadiness.

It was exhausting, and Kate and I thoroughly earned our trip to Target where we stocked up on all the essentials such as a new purse, green nail varnish and owl motif plastic plates and sippy cups.

Then it was home to once again bead like we had never beaded before and I even managed to finish my latest beaded bead project. Progress is being made in all directions.