TrueOyster of Shadow
Nov. 19th, 2017 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ismoFile under "hashtag OH SRSLY WUT NOW": We had to take Shadow the cat to the emergency vet. She has cholangiohepatitis and requires treatment that will cost a couple of THOUSAND dollars. Oy veh. We had noticed that she was off her feed and had been barfing more than usual, and we had made an appointment for her with her regular vet for Monday, which was the soonest they could see her. But over the weekend, she stopped eating entirely, even when the Sparrowhawk tempted her with a variety of tasty foods. That is most unlike her! She was spending all her time lurking in dark remote places, and did not seem at all happy. We were worried about her, so the Sparrohawk spent the morning taking her to the kitty ER. I couldn't go because I was playing music at church this morning. The vet visit took a long time because there were some sad dog emergencies that took precedence. She's at the vet being rehydrated and diagnosed. If the disease isn't too far advanced, she can probably get all better with treatment. If that doesn't work, there are surgical treatments, but that's where we're drawing the line. No kitty liver surgery for Shadow. I'm sorry for her, because she's hating this as it is. Also sorry for us.
The other day at the bookstore, I got a copy of Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist for half off the remainder price, meaning about three bucks. Niequist is some kind of Christian-y person who worked for a church in western Michigan for awhile, and wrote essays about her life experiences, some of which are collected in this book. Then she moved back to Chicago which she likes better, so hmph! I say. I have issues with a lot of what happens in this book, but I was interested in her experience of churchianity here in western MI. Also, part of her thing is entertaining, making dinners, and hospitality, and the book has lots of recipes in it. So for three bucks it seemed like a deal.
Last night, we had a bunch of people from our own church--Unitarian Universalist, no salvation required--over for dinner. I made Niequist's pork loin with maple vinaigrette glaze. It was delicious! Oh, man, that maple vinaigrette glaze is so good once it has boiled down to a rich thickness. It would be good on chicken too, and it was also good on the vegan casserole of root vegetables and apples that I made with it so that the non-meat-eaters could taste the flavors too. The Sparrowhawk made one of his delicious bean melanges. They're different every time, but always SO GOOD. Friends brought fruit and cheese, kale salad, corn muffins, and an Indian-style rice dish. I also made apple crisp with the Northern Spy apples we got at the orchard on Friday. I have to say, it came out even better than usual. People were swooning. Then we talked about The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. Everyone in the group picked up a copy, after the Sparrowhawk started talking about the version for retired people, and we're all using the techniques, to varying degrees. It was really sweet to hear about the Artist Dates that people had been on, especially the one taken by the water quality control technician who thinks he isn't creative: he visited a coffee roastery and picked out some great beans, enjoying the scents and textures and the leisure to look around.
The other day at the bookstore, I got a copy of Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist for half off the remainder price, meaning about three bucks. Niequist is some kind of Christian-y person who worked for a church in western Michigan for awhile, and wrote essays about her life experiences, some of which are collected in this book. Then she moved back to Chicago which she likes better, so hmph! I say. I have issues with a lot of what happens in this book, but I was interested in her experience of churchianity here in western MI. Also, part of her thing is entertaining, making dinners, and hospitality, and the book has lots of recipes in it. So for three bucks it seemed like a deal.
Last night, we had a bunch of people from our own church--Unitarian Universalist, no salvation required--over for dinner. I made Niequist's pork loin with maple vinaigrette glaze. It was delicious! Oh, man, that maple vinaigrette glaze is so good once it has boiled down to a rich thickness. It would be good on chicken too, and it was also good on the vegan casserole of root vegetables and apples that I made with it so that the non-meat-eaters could taste the flavors too. The Sparrowhawk made one of his delicious bean melanges. They're different every time, but always SO GOOD. Friends brought fruit and cheese, kale salad, corn muffins, and an Indian-style rice dish. I also made apple crisp with the Northern Spy apples we got at the orchard on Friday. I have to say, it came out even better than usual. People were swooning. Then we talked about The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. Everyone in the group picked up a copy, after the Sparrowhawk started talking about the version for retired people, and we're all using the techniques, to varying degrees. It was really sweet to hear about the Artist Dates that people had been on, especially the one taken by the water quality control technician who thinks he isn't creative: he visited a coffee roastery and picked out some great beans, enjoying the scents and textures and the leisure to look around.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-20 01:37 pm (UTC)That maple vinaigrette sounds delicious, though. There's a newish place in Reading Terminal that sells only olive oil and balsamic...and you can taste samples.
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Date: 2017-11-21 07:09 am (UTC)I was in Half Price Books in downtown Berkeley this evening, wandering about, and wandered into the science fiction section. I glanced at the titles, thinking back to my wish list, and then my brain went, "Huh." I found the Z section — et voila! One copy each of Deathgift and Sky Road, in much better shape than the copies I've had for a few years. Yay!
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Date: 2017-11-21 07:10 am (UTC)