An ailing cat, a collection of pen nibs, and a giveaway

Oh, it has been quite the couple of days. I don’t know where to begin. Well, let’s begin with tense shoulders and a hollowness in the pit of my stomach — just get that over with, shall we? Our kitty Tisha, who has been ailing on and off* since January, is starting to show signs of discomfort for the first time in this whole stressful business, and is now scheduled for an appointment with a veterinary specialist on Tuesday. Specifically, a pet oncologist. I’m well aware that there are all kinds of tumors and this may not be the bad kind. Intellectually, I am staunchly refusing to panic until I’m given ample cause. (“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” Ben Franklin.) Non-intellectually, of course, there are the tense shoulders and that hollowness in my stomach, and a marked inability to focus — indeed, a lack of interest in things I attempt to focus on. I’ve never been good at shutting out extraordinary happenings before they happen, be they unpleasant (this) or celebratory (parties and dances). But I am trying very hard to quell my worries until Tuesday.

At any rate, I did manage to sit down this afternoon to make a little project I thought up earlier this week: a pouch for my pen nibs.

I find it very amusing that I even need such a thing, but after working so much with my dip pens in recent weeks (I did all the “Underneath” figures with one), I realized my nibs deserve better than being tossed about together in an old plastic box. And I really wanted to be able to see them all at a glance, because I never remember just how many fine-point calligraphy nibs I have at any given moment.

As it turns out, a little pouch with twenty-seven 0.5″ x 0.75″ pockets is just the thing for taking one’s mind off, well, anything else. It wasn’t hard to sew, but oh, my eyes are tired. But I’m extremely happy with my little nib pouch! And it’s making me want to do more calligraphy. Always a positive outcome!

Let’s see, what else? I’ve written a couple of food-related entries on my personal blog this week, I listed several new items in my shop, and I sent out my monthly newsletter. I suspect I may be getting a little obsessed about Amelia Peabody mysteries. And yesterday the simple-living blog Making This Home did a post about me, with an interview and a giveaway. So that’s been rather fun.

I’m very gratified to see that some of Katie’s readers found my interview thought-provoking and inspiring; what more could I ask? I hope the giveaway will get some more entries before the Monday-midnight cutoff. I can’t wait to find out who I’ll be sending these dividers to. 🙂

I said at the beginning of this entry that it’s been quite the couple of days, but no, really it’s been quite the week, and I’m glad the weekend is upon us! Not that it makes much difference, but the psychological relief is great!

*In this case, “on” meaning “surgery” and “off” meaning “with a leaking hole in his neck, but otherwise apparently happy”… which is, as you can imagine, extremely anxiety-producing.