I’ve had some requests for more sock toads, and I’m working on some of those too. I got a lot done on these, while waiting at the dentist for my mom. I sat in the car stuffing them.

We have lots of cute kitten dolls up over on our Ruffing’s blog. They keep multiplying faster than I get them photographed and posted. I still have lots of photos to edit, and Max Bailey has five new kittens still to photograph.

Our duck friend was all alone for a few months, after a loose dog killed the rest of the flock. She was all by herself on the pond, quacking loudly. We bring her cracked corn and she appears to appreciate the company as well as the corn. A couple of weeks ago, we showed up with our duck snacks, and found two ducks waiting. This handsome mallard must have heard her call. He’s very loyal to her, and they come visit us together. We are so happy she isn’t alone anymore, and hope they’ll be safe.

Maxie, June 1995-April 12, 2012

We had to let Maxie go last Thursday. Maxie was able to eat a little, but quickly became bloated again. He was exhausted, but was still purring for us, although we could hear fluid in his lungs. We took him outside for a while. He walked around and lay in the sun, but he was so tired. We tried to keep him as comfortable as possible, for as long as possible, but it became clear it was his time.

On the way back from the vet, I wanted to stop for a forsythia bush to mark his resting spot. I had awakened that morning, thinking that was the right one. My mom waited in the car, while I stopped at the store. The very first plant I touched, after walking right to it without hesitation, was a forsythia bush. It wasn’t blooming, and so I had no idea until I saw the tag. I took it home. I am very tired, but will plant it as soon as I can. He’s at rest next to his best friend, Laurence.

We feel very sad, but relieved he is not suffering. He lived to be seventeen years old, and it is hard to adjust to his not being everywhere. He would always jump on the counter and walk around my breakfast in the morning, no matter how many times I picked him up and put him back on the kitchen floor, and I always passed him in his bed near the front door, when I went to open it. He liked to sing loudly in the middle of the night, all by himself. He always did that, his whole life. We thought he must like the sound of his own voice. We miss him.

I made some big Hug Me Bugs this time around, twelve inches tall, like the slugs and bunnies.

I made some twelve-inch Hug Me Slugs too.

I printed a couple sheets of hang tags for Max Bailey’s dolls. I cut them out, and threaded them with gold yarn

Three new Max Bailey dolls are over on our Ruffing’s blog. Please go check them out. Below is Pamela, a dollhouse-sized miniature kitten.

The Birman cat below is Deirdre. She is especially pretty.

Bertie recently swiped a dollhouse kitten of her own. She was singing to it in the hallway, when we discovered her. She thought she had a great treat and was very excited about it. She didn’t harm the doll at all, but she had to trade for some cat toys instead.

I picked these catnip mice up at PetSmart, because they were so cheerful, and they were on clearance. They’re some of the Martha Stewart pet toys. We have cat toys everywhere, but it’s fun to add new ones.

The cats and kittens enjoyed them, along with their assorted empty boxes. They never seem to tire of playing with empty boxes.

We had a birthday celebration since I last posted.

It was my mom’s birthday. That’s my mom, above, on the left, along with my aunt, uncle, and grandma. My mom never wants to me to take or post photos of her! So, a childhood photo will have to do.

My mom got snow for her birthday also. This has been the only snow we had all this season. It came at night. I was waiting up for it, so I could at least get a couple of photos of it.

The snow had disappeared by mid-morning, the next day.

Chilly damp weather makes me want to make cookies and take naps. I’ve discovered that a small nap, even an attempted nap, is pretty nice. I get so tired. I was surprised when my mom told me both my aunt and grandma have always taken naps. That made me feel better about my sleepiness.