He's Coming Home

He's home!!

A quick update on the "million dollar kitten" Figgy.   We ended up taking him to the Vet Friday afternoon. He looked worse.  We transferred him to pet hospital  so they could keep him overnight on an IV, and providing a "smorgasboard" as the Vet said.  The Vet at this hospital is a Sage in our town.  He took his own films and said he saw nothing, all chemistry good.  This is the same hospital we took our Columbus to when he passed.  So I took a deep breath and whispered over and over in Figgy's Ear: "you're coming home, and getting well."

They called this AM and said he can be picked up later this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!! 
He's eating on his own.  Looking alert.  Woop!

Photos to come.
Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift. Open now!
xo,
Suz

Figgy Update

2 AM: on my lap

It's Friday morning.  I spent the night forcing fluids on the hour, so Figgy doesn't dehydrate.  Fluids include honey water or chicken broth.  Fausto now comes up to him and licks the top of his head.  Buddy is staying very close.  Today there should be an improvement, if there is going to be one.  It's been a long time since I have nursed this sick of an animal.  He just wants to be close, and so I am sitting with him on my lap most of the time.  I feel connecting through touch is imperative.  As cats tend to isolate themselves when sick, or dying.  I am constantly talking to him to keep him in the now.

I just tried some plain chicken baby food on my finger.  He actually licked his lips, so I put some in a teaspoon and he licked it all up!  This is the most encouraging  sign in 4 days.

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift, open now.
xo
Suz

Figaro Makes His Mark

Fausto and Figaro: morning 1

I am here to tell you that it doesn't take very long to become emotionally attached to a new pet.  Last December I blogged about getting 2 kittens for Bob.  If I count correctly, 79 days ago.  When we returned from our NY trip, I noticed our black and white kitten "Figaro" didn't sleep with us.  His brother and Buddy couldn't be close enough.  In the morning I saw he was not well.  I called the Vet who saw him immediately.

My lap barely held 2 kittens and the Mac.

105.5 temp, lethargic, and dehydrated he spent most of the day on a cold pack.  Blood work showed no Feline viruses, that was a relief.  The rest was sent out to the lab. Coming back with a high white count, and antibiotics were started.  The origin of this infection, has yet to be determined. Keeping Figgy stable and dehydrated is my mission at the moment.  Chicken broth warmed, and fresh water every hour kept me up for a good part of the night.  I went to bed early in hopes to recharge my batteries.  But "Figgy" needed closeness, and slept under my chin in between liquids.

Buddy licking the top of Figgy's head before napping together.

Sadly when Figgy arrived home from the vet, Fausto began to hiss and growl at him.  Smelling different was enough to erase the howling for his brother most of yesterday.  Amazing, eh?  Hard for me to believe that he didn't know him.  Figgy wanted to be close to Fausto, but got "the big growl" and slunk away.  Fausto has lost his playmate, and apparently I am the new one.  Figgy watches with his front paws tucked under him as Fausto makes flying leaps from furniture, attacks the dogs tail, and chases the white ball toy.  Then Fausto decides it's time to bite me: fingers, shoes, shoe laces, calves, elbows, pony tail, anything will do.  Finally last night I gave him a little neck nip like Figgy does.  :-)

Figgy and Fausto napping in the kitchen.

We don't know if Figgy will recover, as the source of this infection is still unknown.  So for now I will continue to make the chicken broth, rice mix for him.  Force fluids, and monitor his temp.  I will also continue to be Fausto's playmate...who is sleeping on my lap as I type.  These were supposed to be Bob's cats, remember?  Haha.  What was I thinking?

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

It's Been Awhile

Meteorite Heart Pendant featured on blogs.

February is a short month, and this year it flew by.  I was fortunate to be featured on several shopping blogs: "Apartment Therapy" and "Geek Sugar" that drove up the demand for meteorite pieces.  A humbling social network moment for me.  I am still filling the last of the orders. We met the man who I buy meteorite from in New York last weekend.  He brought me the last of his pieces.

I've been fortunate to meet some great local machinists.  Their jobs sway in the breeze as India, Mexico, and China continue to suck work from the USA.  These guys have treated me with respect, and helped to build my business.  My source for meteorite lost his local machinist who used to cut the meteorites from whole chunks into slices. He'd been to Tuscon for the Gem and Mineral Show, and was sitting with whole meteorites he couldn't cut.  So this "woman, girl, chick" called her local boys, and they were more than happy to help.  Amazing, eh? Lesson learned: next year go and get my own damn meteorite and get it cut myself.  :-)

CNC Machine

What these men and their CNC, 100 ton presses, EDM cutters, Lasers, Water Jets, and 3D printers can make would blow your mind.  They are our modern unsung heroes. They are in short supply here in the USA.  Recently CNN had a segment on the "Top 10 Jobs the USA Can't Fill."  #1 is Machinist.  Sadly the reporter could not pronounce the word "machinist." Not only do we not have enough of them, but we can't even pronounce the word correctly.  We have a glut of college graduates who can't make anything.  Whose bright idea was it to do away with Industrial Arts in the high schools?  As a maker of things, and married to a NYU graduate of Industrial Arts this subject is one of my sore spots. 

EDM Cutter

CNC 5 Axis Cutter

I did not start out to write a blog tonight about machinists. I will tell you that the kittens are sleeping on "my" chair with me, and it's getting a bit crowded.  They are young teenagers now.  Continuing to act like wild jungle cats at times.  Nightly they snuggle in bed with us.  All the seeds are here for the garden. Onion sets arrived while we were in NYC.  Artichokes should be here tomorrow, and asparagus following.  Irrigation, and permanent cover for the garden are this spring's tasks.  The edible landscape I designed will replace the grass and ornamental bushes in the guest house yard.  Did I mention 6 new chicks arrive the 19th?  I chose production reds from Murray McMurray.

Trying to type with Fausto and Figaro. :-)

I hope I can keep you posted about all that is happening.  I am a bit overwhelmed as I move into greater production of those outer space rocks, and other items for my Etsy shops.  I am dusting off my wood working tools, and New Mexico Spring Winds permitting, I'll be outside making garden items.

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz

Be My Art Valentine

Georgia O'keefe sculpture: Santa Fe NM

 

Happy Valentine's Day to all.  For some this is a fun, playful holiday. It brings us back to school days of covering shoe boxes with all sorts of construction paper, and opening silly valentines. For others it's a painful reminder of lost loves, and their loneliness. 

This year I made my own valentines, just like I did as a child. I found blank library cards that I attached to blank cards.  I stamped them  "Be Mine" at the top of the card.  Then I stamped Feb.14 where the date one checks out is supposed to go, and personalized them  with the person's name.  They were a hit, as I have heard from all over the globe from their recipients. :-) 

African Women's Art in Atlanta Airport

Lee Bontecou

For you I thought I would share some photos of art by WOMEN I have in my library. The last photo is a wall sculpture by Lee Bontecou.  When I was in high school I visited my brother in NYC and saw a show of hers. She was the original upcylcer. Dragging metal rods, and mailbag canvas out of dumpsters and turning them into sculpture.  The work stayed with me, and when her show came to Chicago I saw it half a dozen times.  The above piece is a very early one.  Her later work and mobiles invite the viewer to hours of delight in organic abstract shapes.

In March when we are in NYC, we will see Diego Rivera's murals at the MOMA.  I can't wait, as he is also one of my favorite painters.

As I am known to say: "Happy VD Day!!"  :-)
Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz

It Snowed At The Colosseum ??

The Boys hanging out. 

Valentines orders and inventory have been keeping me away from my blog.  I think that is almost over!

 I did hear the end of a news story about snow at the Colosseum.  Our recent time in Roma came back to me in a flash.  I pictured the Faux Roman Gladiators who are sandal clad, and mini skirted were a bit cold.  The image of them tromping through the snow in sandals tickled me.

Everyone has seen this outer photo, but rarely inside.

I thought I would share a few photos from the day we took the tour.  We have spent so much time in Roma and NEVER went to the Colosseum.  I'm so glad we did.  The photos say it all.

Not sure whose heads these are...

Now I am off to bed!
Thanks for stopping by!
xo
Suz

The Knives for the Invitational

Front and back bolsters are Moki-ti, bookending blue Mastodon.

Every year Bob goes to a show in Las Vegas called "The Tactical Invitational."  A select group of tactical knife makers are invited to a small room at the Palms.  There is a buffet with the guy slicing the roast beef (big hit with Bob!), a DJ, and buyers have 3 hours to fondle the knives.  Bob will have 7 knives this time.  Each knife on the table will have a little box behind it to put tickets in.  One ticket per box per person.  There are those who bring several "helpers" to the show.  Because one ticket is drawn for each knife, and that person gets the "opportunity" to buy that knife.   If you bring 7 friends, and they all put tickets in a box of a favorite knife, the odds increase of getting it. 

Single Checkering Ebony bookended by Damascus bolsters

A "Persian" blade, Moki-ti bolster, with a lightening strike handle.

So here are a few of the knives going to Vegas.  I will stay home and keep the home fires burning, so to speak.  Vegas is just not my scene.  But these are some high end space age materials that Bob used.  One is "Moki-ti" that is a layering like "mokume" with different kinds of titanium.  Frankly I don't even understand how they make it.  The other really cool material of the knife directly above this is "Lightening Strike" carbon fiber.  It was designed by Boeing to make planes out of.  The copper wire running through the carbon fiber is an all encompassing lightening rod.  Pretty cool.  Bob also made one knife with a ceramic blade.  The knife below is made of "Superconductor" and "Lightening Strike".  The superconductor is from the super collider in Texas that they scrapped.  Lucky me gets the scraps, and those turn into jewelry in my Etsy shop. 

Even the thumb disc is Superconductor

We've both been beavering away in the shop.  I have several superconductor hearts I sell as pendants.
I'm so grateful to be able to work with these cool materials...thanks Honey! And I know at the end of the night Saturday, the knives will all be going to new homes.  I better take one last look.

Superconductor sliced many ways gives it different patterns.

Thanks for reading.  Each day is a gift, open now.

xo,

Suz