Happy and sad...

Yesterday I came home to find my mail strewn across the front porch. Joy. The mailman, because I had a package arrive that was too big for our mailbox, left ALL our mail on the front porch, rather than the large box, with the rest of the mail in the ample-sized box. No rubber band, nothing to secure it. It was windy yesterday. I have no idea if everything was still there when I got home -- I had to carefully reach to rescue our utility bill from a small gap between steps and wall. I hope nothing else is down there...

Anyhow, the huge box contained eight ounces of a 70/30 Romney/Mohair blend, in this lovely colorway. (photo ganked shamelessly from the eBay auction I won)

It's actually a little darker than how it's displayed - but I am not complaining. This came from Fibers of Michigan, and it is soft, clean, and oh so pretty. I can't wait to try them out on Wheelamina, once I get some practice done (with some other fiber, so I won't guilt myself for "ruining" this stuff).

The other goody that arrived on the porch yesterday was my order from ArtemisArtemis - the shiny and pretty things I mentioned previously. The peacock mini-batt got serious squee time from me; the silk-mohair Selkie was a joyous surprise. I thought it was a different, more blue-green and lavender colorway; instead, it's a liquified Monet... all the pretty pastels. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it - it's only 25 yards - but I'll find something! (maybe trimming some fingerless gloves?)

Both sellers get an A+ from me for being timely and using sturdy packaging.

My excitement at getting packages (I love getting stuff in the mail; I also like getting lots of small presents instead of one huge one, typically) was quashed shortly after my husband arrived home. He came over, knelt down next to where I was sitting, and broke the news that my parents' cat (used to be my kitty before I moved out 10 years ago, though Daddy was his favorite person) didn't wake up that morning.

It wasn't wholly unexpected... he was sixteen this month, and had been feeling unwell off and on over the last year or so... but it really hurt, especially since I'd been thinking of him just that morning, and anticipating Labor Day, because we would be at my parents' house for a BBQ, and no matter what was going to be barbecued (tri-tip, hot dogs or filet mignon - depends on my mom's mood), I would be sharing a good portion of my food with the cat... shredded into mincemeat for him, since many of his teeth were gone, and he had a hard time chewing big things. I spoil my babies rotten, I do...

So we had to go to my parents' house last night (I sobbed and howled most of the way there) to say goodbye and bury him by the pool, near the four other kitties I've lost in the last ten years.