They're so cute!

I know I should be posting pictures of Sardinia or knitting my wedding shawl, children's hat that I am working on, my dad's socks, or the baby blanket that I cast on yesterday, but instead I am going to post pictures of the kitties.

A couple people made comments at Christmas that they hadn't seen pictures of our little monsters in a while, and I have taken pictures of them being cute, so here are pictures of little monsters...

Small world again

Today I had to take Darshin to the vet. He was sick earlier in the week and I had to take him back to get checked out again. Anyway, as soon as Darshin got into the vet's office, he started growling. He did this last time, too. We waited for a while and the dogs all went into the vet and later a couple with two cats came in.

The woman was wearing a brightly colored jumper/sweater and I thought that I recognized the colors of it. I looked at her a bit more and looked at the sweater and decided that it definitely looked hand knit. She was very outgoing and chatted a bit about our cats. She let one of her cats out and look around the waiting room. When the cat got back into the cage, she commented that the carrier was broken and she was using a knitting needle to hold it shut! I then asked her if she made her sweater and what yarn it was. It turned out that she got her yarn from This is Knit down in Blackrock which is also my local yarn shop. We chatted a bit more and then it was my turn to go in to the vet with Darshin. On my way in, she asked to exchange numbers. When I was done with the vet, the receptionist got the knitter and she gave me her number. It turns out that she sometimes goes to one of the knitting groups that I go to as well!

happy adoption day

A year ago today, we picked up Tiffin from the vet's office. So, today is Tiffin's adoption day and she is officially one year old. She was so small and shy when we got her and now she is an average sized cat. When John's distant cousin came to visit, she even came out to sniff her within 15 minutes of her arrival. When we got her, she would barely let me go near her and now she comed out to greet people. She also seeks my attention when I wake up in the morning and when I get home at night. She does this thing where she jumps on near us and then stands on her back legs, reaches her head up, and stands higher as we reach to pet her. It is absolutely adorable.

In honor of adoption day, here are "then, later, now" pictures.

Projects

Since I finished the baby blanket, I have focussed on learning new stitches and combinations. So, I have made some simple, little projects such as hairbands and potholders/hotpads (for taking things out of the oven/moving hot things). Both Tiffin and Darshin sit on my lap while I knit. They also enjoy sitting on any knitting or yarn that I may have left out. And yes, that is a Darshin paw attacking the red hotpad!

Animal Adventures

On Friday, I had to take both cats to the vet. I (thought I) had arranged to leave them both for the day so I could pick them up after work. Darshin needed an exam and his yearly vaccines and Tiffin needed to be spade and have a microchip put in.

Friday morning, I get ready for work. I then put both cats into the two carriers and leave the house. I put Darshin in the bigger, hard sided carrier. Tiffin got the soft sided one that can be carried over my shoulder like a bag. OK, so I had both cats in their carriers. I went down the stairs. I started walking to the train station. I got to the train station, was lucky that nobody was really guarding the entrance and snuck both cats on. We rode to the stop. And then the 20 minute walk began. It was a windy day and the walk would normally take 10 minutes but Darshin is really heavy and it is awkward carrying a cat in a carrier. Especially when he keeps moving around the carrier and changing the weight balance. I had to stop a couple times because my hands were getting sore from the carrier.

At 9:45 AM I got to the vet. That was the time that I was supposed to be able to drop the kitties off. I waited outside in the cold until 10:00 when they let us in. I then waited to check the kitties in. They took Tiffin away quickly and told me to wait with Darshin. I waited. And waited. And then the vet called us in. He examined him and gave him his shots and sent me home. Now, that would normally be fine except that I then had to go back home to drop him off and then go into work instead of just going into work.

So, I leave and walk the 20 minutes back to the train station. Because Darshin is 13 pounds (6.3 kilos), he got really heavy. I kept switching which side I carried him on. I put the carrier on my shoulder. I stopped for a rest a bit. Finally, we got to the train station, waited for the train and got off. I then had the 10 minute walk back home. Again, I had to keep switching how I carried him because my hands were so sore. When I carried him on my shoulder (the carrier, that is), people looked at him and commented a lot. People were in awe that I was carrying a cat around in city centre. Did they move out of my way, no. They just marveled at my kitty in his carrier on my shoulder.

Finally we got home, and I let Darshin out of the carrier. He purred and purred. I grabbed the paperwork for the cats that I had forgotten to take earlier, and headed to the bank and post office to pay my phone bill.

I got to work at 12:45 PM. Just in time for lunch. I worked until about 5:30 when I had ordered a taxi to pick me up to take me to pick up Tiffin. I had to wait about 20 minutes for it to arrive. We got to the vet's office and they handed me a very groggy Tiffin. I gave them the forms to fill out and at one point they take Tiffin back. She growled when she saw the vet tech. (Darshin also growled most of the time he was at the vet's and yes cats can growl). They took her away from me and I got to wait. And wait.

Finally I got her back and we left the vet's. Again, I walked to the train station but it was much lighter and easier with Tiffin because she was slung over my shoulder. The wind batted her carrier around a bit, though. When we got home, I let her out of her carrier to find her dripping wet. She had urinated in the carrier! The fabric carrier. I transferred her into the hard sided carrier because I didn't want her sitting in her urine and I certainly wasn't going to let her run around the apartment that way.

So, I text John to see when he'll be home so he can help me clean up Tiffin. He's still at the pub. He gets home about 9:00 and we eat dinner. Then we clean up Tiffin. By this time, the anesthetic has worn off and she wants out of the carrier. We had to lock her in the bathroom and I held her while John used a rag to wipe her down. We couldn't give her a real bath since she had stitches. So, she got her sponge bath but wouldn't cooperate with being dried off. We had to let her go still quite wet but she just licked herself dry. I felt bad, though, because I was told not to let her get cold or run around too much.

So now Tiffin smells like Caineal used to after a bath (all I had was puppy/dog shampoo or human soap) and has a shaved side and a small scar. She'll look funny for a while.

Sometimes, I really miss having a car...

So adorable!

Since I have been crazy busy lately, I haven't been able to post pictures that I took about three weeks ago of the kitties. I need to focus on the Christmas show that I am organizing and the Christmas party...

Anyway, as I started saying, the cats get along really well. The pictures prove it. Aren't they so adorable?

Friends

John took the picture of Tiffin looking at Darshin on the cat tower. He likes it when I give him credit for pictures. I cropped the picture, though...

Tiffin

After much deliberation, we have named the new little girl. Her name is Tiffin. She is very cute and taking a nap on my lap/arms/keyboard right now. She likes to hop across the keyboard but we are trying to teach her not to do that. She also has learned that she can knock things off tables. She continues to play well with Darshin. He even grooms her already!

New Kitten

Darshin has been very lonely since Caineal died. Last Wednesday, I went to the vet to pick up her remains so we can scatter the ashes one day soon. The vet gave them to us in a very nice box that has a space for a picture and her name on it.

Anyway, while at the vet, I asked the receptionist where we could get a kitten or cat to keep ours company. She said that they had three and I could look at them. Of course I did. They were all very cute. I liked the long haired one better but she was very shy. There was one with more white but I was told he was the naughty one of the litter. I don't need another naughty kitten. So, I picked this one up and she just purred on my shoulder.

Today I brought her home! Darshin and little girl (not named yet) seem to be getting along pretty well and have been playing together all evening. Darshin keeps trying to get her to chase but she hasn't learned that game yet...

aren't they cute?

Christine had fun taking pictures of Darshin and Caineal when she was here, so here are more pictures of our furry companions.

pets

good pets

Caineal and Darshin are getting along much better. They like each other's food, though. I don't mind since Darshin could use to lose weight and Caineal is still underweight. She eats the cat food pretty quickly, though. Last night they slept pretty closely to each other and don't fight much. Caineal asserts her dominance every now and then but seems less anxious than she was. I think she has finally learned her new name, too. :) Oh, they even sniff each other's noses sometimes!

Happy cat, stressed dog

Darshin and Caineal are doing pretty well in day 2. They mostly follow each other around and try to smell each other. Darshin tries to smell Caineal's nose but she shows her teeth then. I think that when noone is home they get along because Caineal sleeps on the couch and Darshin greets us at the door. Caineal barks at Darshin when he is on the bed or trying to get my attention. Basically, I think that Darshin is happy to be back with me and not that bothered by Caineal. I actually think Darshin likes her. Whenever I go near Darshin, he purrs and rubs against me. He hisses or growls if I am petting him and Caineal comes close. He is a silly kitty. The two main problems with Caineal right now: she digs in the litter box to eat Darshin's poo and has peed on the floor yesterday but has done better today. She is also jealous of Darshin.

Today Susan, John and I went on the Wicklow/Powerscourt/Glendalough tour. It was nice but a little long. We hiked a little and got to see some pretty scenery and finally got out of the city. I took some pictures which I will post another day.

I am really tired since Darshin woke me up last night to be pet and sleep around my head. He also kept licking my face.

cat and dog

Today I got my lovely white Siamese kitty. He had to wait an extra day because the vet signed the flea and tick treatment wrong and it was done 22 instead of 24 hours before he got checked in at the airport. So, it cost me an extra 60 Euros to have the flea and tick treatment redone and stay a night at the vet/quarintine. But my friend M and her boyfriend J came to the place to get me and we took my kitty home. Darshin and Caineal met on the street and growled/barked at each other.

We separated them into different parts of the apartment so they could get used to being near each other and smell each other but Darshin pushed the door open and entered the dog territory after less than an hour. They growled, hissed/barked and then were OK. Now the dog follows the cat around all over the apartment. Caineal smells Darshin and growls and barks if Darshin is out of her reach. Darshin hisses and growls and swats occassionally but doesn't put his claws out. Darshin is quite good with Caineal and I think he doesn't see Caineal as a threat.

The dog and cat also like each other's food and water. So, Caineal eats Darshin's food and vice versa. Good thing that Darshin needs to loose weight and Caineal needs to gain weight. :)

Susan got here yesterday and travelled with Darshin. She is a very good friend. Today we went to Malahide castle and tomorrow we are going to Glendalough and Powerscourt gardens. It should be pretty and a nice day.

Argos

So John said that I had to write about Argos in my next post so I am going to do that. Argos is a catalog based company that sells a lot of different stuff. Their catalog is about 2 inches thick! They only have a catalog, not really a show room or store per say. So, you look through their catalog, write down the item numbers of the things you want, wait (que) in line to tell the cashier and either pay for it or order it. Some things they have they don't keep in stock at the warehouse, they have to order them from another warehouse. This is why I had to wait a few days to get my cat climber and litter box. The quality of their stuff isn't great but it is affordable. If I was planning on settling here for the rest of my life, I probably wouldn't buy that much from them but for two years, their stuff is fine. For those of you who know Ikea, it is kind of like Ikea without a showroom. Argos sells furniture, household stuff, tools, jewelry, and some toys/gifts. One of my friends here is boycotting them because they are not well organized and their database of whether things are in stock or not (you can check before you buy it/go to the cashier) isn't always accurate. You frequently have to wait up to 30 minutes after you pay for your stuff until you get it and she doesn't like that. I don't mind because I have lowered my expectations of customer service since I have been here. I don't expect service anymore and am happy when I get it. That cuts down on a lot of frustration.

So today was a pretty good day. It was warmer, probably in the mid to lower 60s and rained a bit. It is cold and windy now but it gets a fair bit colder at night. It is definately autumn here. On my way home, I was the only person on the bus the whole way! I have never been on a bus all by myself before. It was nice, especially since it was an extra long bus. The bus itself was newer and much nicer than most. I think people didn't get on it because it only went to city center and not further south. I don't care since I live in city centre. :)

Tonight John and I saw Cinderella Man. Yes, it finally came out here. It was a really good movie. I kind of knew the ending but it was still really good. A new Rocky.

Darshin arrives tomorrow. He has left for the airport and should be getting on a plane in a couple of hours! I can't wait to see him and "torment" him. :)