My Secret Santa

I know I’m a bit late, Christmas was almost 2 weeks ago, but I still wanted to talk about  my Secret Santa. This year I decided to participate in a Holiday Swap and I’m glad I did it. Not only did I get the highly recommended The Glass-Blowers by Daphne du Maurier and a beautiful notebook, but, most importantly, I meet someone who seems not only a generous person with a great sense of humor but she also has great taste in books. Boof, thank you so much for being my Santa!:)

While trying to take a photo of my gift, a naughty boy immediately came up to see what I was doing and, of course, he had to be in the picture…

Gift photo number 1

Gift photo number 2

Gift photo number 3

Gift photo number 4

Gift photo number 5

What’s going on right now

I know I’m late about this announcement but I’ve been terribly busy and I’m desperately trying to catch up with everything. A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to make part of the fabulous team of Historical Tapestry, a must-read blog for all those addicted to historical fiction like myself. I can’t wait to write my reviews, I’m so excited! I picked a book already; right now I’m reading Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. So far, so good!

pope joan cover

Also, since I change of job recently I don’t have any summer vacation… I have to admit I love to stay in Paris during August. Many Parisians run away from town and the streets are almost empty. Quite a change from the rest of the year! For the occasion, my dear half bought me a bunch of books about cooking and Paris (and a few more he knew I would enjoy). He knows how passionate I am about both. Now I know what to do during my next weekends.;-)

A month ago, I posted some images about Tim Burton new movie, Alice in Wonderland. They were simply gorgeous! By coincidence, I found in my neighbourhood a little store with lots of lovely objects (many bentos and Japanese products) called Bird on the Wire. I spotted an irresistible mug with a little dish designed by Shinzi Katoh about Alice in Wonderland. I love mugs so I bought it right away!

 

Finally a photo of my naughty Mr. Kiwi snooping on our neighbours. He has no shame! ;-)

Four years already !

(larger version here)

Exactly four years ago, Mr. Kiwi was born. In September 2005, Mr. P. and I were looking for a cat and after a while, we finally found out a good rescue association in the arrondissement just near ours. I called and the director put me in contact with a lady who lived not very far from me and who had several cats for adoption. Next day I went to her house and I met all her guests. Everyone who has pets knows how this happens, you don’t choose them, they chose you. I was first introduced to the lady of the house, Megara, a 9 years old lady cat who simply sat on my lap the all time and made me scratch her ears for 2 hours. Meanwhile, a 3 months old orange tabby cat was actually sleeping on my left foot and doing his nails in my new socks. I looked at him, he looked at me and we both knew. It was love! The lady told me then that he was found outside Paris in a garden with his mother and 4 siblings (2 girls and 2 boys) the day they were born, June 1st. Mother and kittens were all very friendly but that one making holes in my socks was the boss of the pack. I knew we were doomed.

Mr. Kiwi (named by my dear half after his favorite fruit) was at home since the first day. I think he immediately understood he was the lord and master of the house and we were the people who occasionally pet him and feed him when he wanted to. Like any intelligent cat, he also knows very well how to pose and look at us with huge cute eyes (Puss in Boots, anyone?;-)) bringing us to our knees in less than 5 seconds.
 
We had some scary moments during these 4 years. At 6 months, he was diagnosed with feline eosinophilic. At first he had only a couple of inflammatory plaques in the back of his legs but with time, he had them in his paws and also in his mouth. The vet was almost resigned, Mr. Kiwi wouldn’t last long if the plaques spread down his throat. Since he suspected a hypersensitivity to food, we had to change lots of things at home and he could only eat very special anti-allergenic and non-fat food. There’s also a cortisone treatment he has to follow when the plaques come back. It’s been now a year without any crisis and we truly hope it will continue like this.

Even if I sometimes get annoyed with him when I get up in the morning and I hurt my foot in one of his dozen of toys spread all over the flat during the night; or when I notice he made again another hole in the cardboard box filled with books I had to replace because the other was half eaten by him (but he never chewed a book, he knows what to respect no matter what!); or when he decides to steal every sock he can find in the laundry basket to make a “nest” in his bed… we simply couldn’t live without him and every time we leave on vacation and he stays at home (with proper care and surveillance, of course) we do miss him terribly. Happy birthday, Mr. Kiwi! :)

 

Santa is here again!

Today I received a box with gifts from A. I needed to post a foto here because I really loved what she sent me, it was made by her (and her mum) and it’s too cute.

cat1

Two of my biggest obsessions: notebooks and cats. I’m so happy with my gifts, A. Thank you so much! Also, while I was trying to get a photo of the cat plaid, guess who came to play?

cat2

It seems the master of the house immediately approved and is still there enjoying and taking a nap. No way I’m getting that plaid back…

No sunshine!

These past weeks the weather has been dreadful, only rain and no sunshine. I’m so tired of it… Don’t get me wrong, I love the Winter but no sun for more than 2 weeks it’s up to my limit. Mr. Kiwi seems to have the exact same problem and finally found a way to get every day some of that warm light he always craves for – my desk lamp.

Between his lamp sessions and controlling the neighborhood pigeons, Mr. Kiwi seems to have a very busy life.;-)

Sunbathing

It’s been 2 years!

Mr Kiwi (our dear orange tabby cat) was adopted 2 years ago. I’ts funny how time flies and we barely remember him when he was all tiny and a bit scared after being found in an abandoned field with his brothers and sisters.
He loves to chew cardboard, sponges (!!) and play in the bathtub; hates to go to the vet, to have unkown people at home and being disturbed when sunbathing; his favorite corners are our orange chair, under the bed and the ladder we keep at the window just for him (he loves to watch what’s going on in the street).

Kiwi 2 years

Kiwi Sleeping

Kiwi

Feline Eosinophilia


Kiwi
Originally uploaded by NiaD

After several months of experimental treatement, we had today the confirmation that our cat will have to follow a daily cortisone treatement for his feline eosinophilia. This is bad news, since cortisone side effects tend to provoke other health complications…

He was diagnosed when he was 8 months (he has 2 years now). This illness is rather unusual in such young cats but our little one started to have red plaques right in the back of his legs pretty soon. Since it itches, he tends to lick it and everything becomes even worst. At first, we thought it could be a simple skin allergy and but it start spreading all over the legs and his inferior lip.
Since then, he is on permanent diet (he can only eat hypoallergenic dehydrated food), his food bowls have to be ceramics, his bed has to be cotton and we have to do a daily check up to follow the evolution of the plaques.

We don’t have many options since there’s not much to do, only hope that those plaques will stay in the legs and do not reach the mouth or throat, otherwise Mr Kiwi will not be able to eat…

We are really worried and our heart just breaks when we see our little devil sleeping all day when normally he spends several hours running all over the appartement.

Photo: That’s Mr. Kiwi some months ago with his Elizabethan collar…