A Season In A Day

Remember back when this used to be a knitting/fiber blog?  Those were fun days, weren't they?  There was all sorts of yarny fun going on.  Projects flowed from the needles like water in a flooded creek bed and I do think that the blogging world spent more time marveling over my amazing feats of stitchery than was really healthy for them.

Good times...

Or maybe that's just how I remember it.  At any rate, times have changed.  I don't think it's permanent or anything like that.  It's just that I suddenly find myself in a bit of a time crunch here.  To say that I did not budget my time well this summer would be an understatement.  I now have, for all intents and purposes, one day to finish up any number of household tasks and ready myself for the return to the working world on Tuesday morning.  

It's not looking good...

Today I ventured north (sort of...and not all that far really) to participate in the final cook-out of the summer season with Mommy and Daddy Sheep.  I used some of those last few precious gasps of summer to bake up some challa for the feast, but it was worth it.  I found it to be the perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal and a good time was had by all.  Granted, time was lost in this endeavor, but it is tradition and time spent observing traditions is never wasted.  

Plus, I got leftovers...

Now I am back at home, stuffed to the gills with steak 'n cake.  And the list of stuff I still have left to do sits beside me.  It's mocking me.  

There's stuff on there like mopping the bathroom floor and that's not something that I can really put off for another minute.  I honestly think we've reached the point where I'm losing square footage to the dust bunnies in there.  And it's not a particularly large space to begin with.

I must put together something vaguely lunch-like and repeat this two times more if I am to have a midday meal while adjusting to the teaching life again.  I need to find enough "grown up" outfits to get me through an abbreviated work week.  

I also need to make sure that they fit what with all the steak 'n cake consumption going on around here...

I must organize the breakfast foods, double-check that the alarm clock is set for 5:00 (there's a mistake you don't make twice...) and clean the coffee maker.  The trash really should go out and if I don't vacuum the carpets before this long weekend is over then there is just no hope for it ever getting done.  

It also occurs to me that I need to put gas in the car.  I'm a commuter again.  Commuters require the fossil fuels in greater amounts than ladies of summery leisure.  That's just a fact.

On top of all this mayhem, I need to ensure that certain kitties are entertained enough to stay out from under foot.  I have also been feeling no small amount of guilt over the fact that it is time to leave the new baby at home alone with his big sister all day.  New toys are the best way to not only distract playful felines, but ease the guilt pangs that come with being a working Mom.

As a single mother, I must also watch that budget, though.  Which is why I do so love the Dollar Store!  They understand that I need to shower the kitties with gifts and endeavor to give me ample choices with which to do so.  Anyone who ever doubted that I rock the Dollar Store like no one else you know, please take note.  This is a good 'un!

I give you...The Collapsible Cat Cave!!!

The Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty investigated it thoroughly once it was taken out of its collapsible state.

He checked it out from all angles.

The final verdict?  He love, love loves it!!!!!

Hours of entertainment, all for a buck.  You can't beat it, friends!  It's not quite as good as being on vacation or having your Mommy at home all the time.  But it's pretty darned cool.

And the best part?  It keeps the AGK busy.  This is good for Mommies who need to believe that they will finish the list of stuff they need to get done in a day, but better for Big, Fluffy Kitties.  BFKs are not quite as enamoured with Collapsible Cat Caves as AGKs are.  

But they greatly appreciate the peace these things afford.  It's been a while since this level of Carpet Napping has been seen.

And now I must be off.  The oven timer is telling me that the boneless chicken breasts I'm cooking ahead for dinners and salads this week are done and the first round of cleansing vinegar and water has run through the coffee maker.  We are still fully under the impression that we will get all this stuff finished before Tuesday morning.

We are delusional.  We are OK with that...

SA