Cute Kitty Thursday!

This week's cute kitty is the gorgeous Daphne!

Daphne loves people— her momma lets visitors believe that really, they’re the only ones she’s ever been so friendly with from the first moment, but that’s a total lie, she likes everyone.

Her name suits her so far, she's Daphne the lady who will nap quietly while her momma reads; but she can quickly morph to crazy Daffy mode, skittering up and down the hallway and leaping over everything in her path (even if that means she needs to jump on you for leverage in the process). Hmmm, that sounds a lot like my two.

Uh oh, sleeping on her momma's knitting
even though she's not supposed to.

Daphne's hobbies are chasing the cat dancer, serving as a personal alarm clock (set about half an hour earlier than her momma would like, though), and making in-app purchases on her ipad by walking over the screen. I hope the purchases are good ones.

Daphne was adopted in May from K9Kastle, a New York-based rescue group that runs a Sunday adoption event at a local Unleashed pet store in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  Alana had been about thinking about a cat, but was planning to wait until the end of the summer. She wandered in on a whim in May and will forever be grateful. Awwww.

Thanks to Daphne's momma, Alana for submitting! If you want your cute kitty on "Cute Kitty Thursday!", email me pictures at twocatsandacradle@gmail.com.

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Cute Kitty Thursday!

We have been going through our photos for the adoption book and I came across this picture of Edie when she was a kitten.  She still loves to sit in the window, though our new apartment's windows are much cleaner.

If you want your cute kitty on "Cute Kitty Thursday!", email me pictures at twocatsandacradle@gmail.com.


♥ Our puzzle piece fundraiser is still going! Click on the fundraiser tab to get your puzzle piece! Or if you simply want to make a donation, click on the Donate button to the left. Thank you!

Scottish Highland Games

For years and years, we've been wanting to go to the Scottish Highland Games in Westbury, Long Island.  Every year something comes up.  Guess what, we got to go this year!  I really was so excited.  I love all things Scot - the plaid, the bagpipes, the accent, the red hair, the kilts, the frugality.  My family is Scottish-English descent.

So we got up early and took the LIRR out to Long Island.  The event was held  at the beautiful Old Westbury Gardens.  We hopped off the train and following the kilted men to the shuttle bus.  So exciting!  When we arrived, I heard a few people in front of me asking for the LIRR discount for admission.  So, of course, I asked about that. Five bucks off and we got a free program, awesome! Those who know me, know there is nothing I love more than getting a deal.

We entered the grounds and were greeted by Scottish dancers.  Many families brought blankets, chairs, tents and food. I guess they were making a day of it.  We'll bring our blanket to sit on next time.  We decided to walk around to see where everything was and then decide what to do first. There were the games, food stands, vendors, live bands, dance demonstrations, a shortbread contest, a dog show, owls and other birds with handlers, an antique car show and Highland reenactors.  I didn't expect it to be such a production; there was so much to do.

We decided to eat first. The lines were long, so we decided to divide and conquer. I waited in the fish and chips line and Marlon waited in the meat pie line.  We passed on the haggis.  We did try IRN-BRU drink that everyone seemed to be going crazy over. They were selling it to people by the case.  It has an interesting flavor. I can't say if I liked it or not, but it an energy drink effect and I felt a little weird after drinking it.  They also had this lemonade deal. If you bought a large lemonade for $5, you could get refills all day for $3. We thought that was fair.  The guy in front of us didn't and was haggling over the price of lemonade. He wanted to know why he couldn't get refills on the small lemonade, which was $3 or if he bought a corn and a lemonade could he get a discount. The vendor looked exasperated and told him no. This is why Scots get the cheap stereotype.  There is a difference between being frugal and being cheap. It was pretty funny.

We checked out all the vendors. It was hard not to buy everything.  I saw a wool tartan blanket that I loved.  I also really wanted a t-shirt.  We decided to look at everything first and then figure out what we were going to buy.  I got the blanket and t-shirt. Thank you, baby.

We watched the caber toss and tossing the sheaf. The caber toss is basically flipping a telephone pole and tossing the sheaf is throwing a burlap sack over a horizontal bar with a pitch fork. I wonder where these guys practice?

We got a bird's eye view of some owls and hawks.  Ok, not really but I couldn't resist the pun.

The bands were pretty good.  One performer was Arvil Bird who was rocking some Scottish/Native American fusion flute.  I think he is pretty much a one-of-a-kind.

There were some great classic cars on display. The best was at the end of the day the cars were all drove down the driveway away from the Westbury mansion. It looked like a scene from Downton Abbey.

That's a Bentley!

It really was a lot of fun; I can't wait until next year!  Up next is the Renaissance Faire.

♥ Our puzzle piece fundraiser is still going! Click on the fundraiser tab to get your puzzle piece! Or if you simply want to make a donation, click on the Donate button to the left. Thank you!

It Starts With a Good Story

We've been busy re-doing our adoption look book for the past 6 weeks.  It has been a full time job.  There have been some creative differences, a couple of meltdowns and some aha moments, but it's coming together.  Try writing a book about yourself.

Our first book is fine, but very generic. We took a second look at it this summer and thought we wouldn't pick us.  The book doesn't tell anything specific about us and our personality doesn't come through.  We decided an update was necessary.

Our concept for the new book is to write stories about a specific event rather than say we like camping or we have godkids.  We have the advantage of having 21 years of stories to tell.  We each wrote stories for the book so it represents both our voices.  I am hoping my year of blogging has improved my writing skills. I work in publishing and two amazing editors offered to take a look at our writing and polish it.  A HUGE THANK YOU!  The book is being edited as we speak.

We are making our final selection of photos from every life event this week.  Boy, I look young in some of those pictures.  My awesome friend, Stephanie has been following us around the like the paparazzi getting casual current pictures of us.  She's done an outstanding job.  She even had to improvise when I showed up with my camera and a dead battery. I swear I charged it. Thank goodness for the iPhone. THANK YOU, THANK YOU  THANK YOU!

Here are a couple outtakes from a very hot day in Central Park.

Once the book is finished, we'll send it to our agency for comments and approval.  All that will be left are any final edits and then the book is off to Mixbook to be printed.  I'll be sure to share the final version with you.

After the book is done, we'll take the components and start to put together our personal adoption website.  I hope this won't take nearly as long as the book has.  I may need a little break from myself.

♥ Our puzzle piece fundraiser is still going! Click on the fundraiser tab to get your puzzle piece! Or if you simply want to make a donation, click on the Donate button to the left. Thank you!

Easy Peasy

We had an home study update visit with our social worker last Tuesday. I am patting myself on the back for not completely freaking out this time. 

We did our "we're having a guest" cleaning on Sunday as opposed to "our weekly, we just live here" cleaning.  So that took most of the day on Sunday.  My southern hospitality kicked in and I needed to make something to offer when she visited, so I also tested a recipe for a coffee cake.  I am so glad I did because the first one tasted good, but looked like crap.  And we got to eat cake on Sunday!  Then I decided bruschetta might be better.  I did a Facebook poll and coffee cake won in the beginning, but then people started telling me bruschetta.  What to do??

On Monday evening, Marlon had a meeting so I was home alone and fidgeting. I mopped all the floors.  Straighten up a little more.

The big day, Tuesday!  I worked most of the day, but I headed home early to make whatever I was going to serve. I still hadn't decided.  Last time, I took the whole day off and found myself on my hands and knees waxing the kitchen floor. So this was an improvement.  Marlon took a half a day because I told him not to come home without a haircut.  I got home and made both coffee cake and bruschetta. I was going to feel the moment when she arrived and decide which to bring out.  Yes, I am a little nuts.  Marlon came home looking great. Everything was ready!

Our social worker got stuck in traffic, so she was a little late.  Good, because I actually got to sit down for a few minutes.  She arrived  and I offered her a drink and snack.  She only wanted a glass of water. She was meeting her husband for dinner.  Figures.

The meeting was casual. She basically wanted to know what was new since last year. I got to gush about my little nephew and talk about my favorite new sister-in-law.  We told her about the hubby's new job and our cash budget.  It was really good to have some one-on-one time with her.  She's not our original social worker, so our meetings with her have been pleasantries at our agency's adoption classes.  The visit was over 45 minutes.

We had bruschetta and coffee cake for dinner.  Whew, we're good for another year.

♥ Our puzzle piece fundraiser is still going! Click on the fundraiser tab to get your puzzle piece! Or if you simply want to make a donation, click on the Donate button to the left. Thank you!