What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

gennepher said:

Fbg 6.5

Yesterday, Midnight kept proffering me his belly to tickle. And I was wary after the other day. But he seemed to insist it was okay. His paws were relaxed, not curled up ready to grab. So I gently tickled his whole belly. His eyes smiled in satisfaction. Blimey.

I had just suncreamed his cut off ear. That was bliss to him again. Then I thought, while he is in such a good mood, maybe I could brush him with a soft brush. So I got the brush, and he instantly panicked looking at it, (thinking maybe I was going to hit him?), so I spoke softly, and he said okay then. I brushed his head, then back, and he offered up his belly again. That is pushing it for any cat, to be able to brush their belly. Even Popeye gave me the vice like attack on my arm when I touched his belly. So I brushed very gently. And he was very happy. I push my luck, as always, so got the wire brush (it was behind my back as I approached him), just let him see the soft brush, then swapped while his eyes were closed in bliss.

Then his eyes opened, 'what is this? his eyes said. So I showed it for him to sniff, and did the side of his face with it. And he said okay.

He has some matted dead fur on the rear end of his back, and I tried to work into the edges of that very gently. When he said no, he didn't vocalise but he got off the swing and went under the table. I was pleased because he didn't go for me, but laid his own boundaries out in his way. There was no animosity from him when he got back on the swing, so, I just did hand strokes, and brushes are put away until another day.

This is amazing progress with him. He wandered into this garden about a month ago, a bullish, resentful (possibly scared as well) scruffy tomcat on the top of my garage roof. Now he looks pretty good, fur is silky, and is eating far far less now he knows all he has to do is ask for food and I give him a small sachet of wet food. If I am locking up at night and I haven't given him his supper yet, he thinks I have forgotten and he rushes into the study doorway and won't let me get inside the bungalow until I get a fresh sachet of cat food for him...he is very vocal if I forget his supper...I don't forget his supper, but I am just clearing up prior to locking up, and he wants to make sure I have remembered.

I reckon he has not left this garden at all for about a week now.

He has had belly tickles already this morning and absolutely loves them. Unusual cat. He does disconcert me a bit because he lashes his tail when he is happy. Confusing to me trying to gauge what is acceptable to him.

No art today, just a collage of Midnight showing his pearly whites. This is the first time I have seen him open his mouth that wide. And each time I put my phone camera in front of me to take a photo of his lovely eyes, he did the slow blink thing. So, no photos of his eyes. Nothing wrong with them, he just trusts my phone camera...

I could see his back paw pads look as though they have walked very long distances. But it could be because of his football shape, he cannot reach them to clean them. So, that is on the list for today, a foot massage and pedicure...wish me luck...

I think he is a much older cat. Popeye looked much younger than Midnight does and Popeye was nearly 30 years old. How old is Midnight? Ten, Eleven, Twelve, older?

Jade is the second customer for the cat diner this morning. Midnight is totally accepting of her. He is just watching her eat now. Jade is not bolting her food now. She is eating slowly.

The ravens are incredibly noisy this morning. The Bluetits and GreatTits have arrived together. Mr Blackbird is around less now.

Everyone else, all bird and cat regular customers were present and correct yesterday.

And I am ready for my first nap of the day!
But a hot cuppa first.

No creative today, just a collage of Midnight.


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ianpspurs said:

Goderstone but why on earth would you not instantly know Mr K knew best

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gennepher said:

Wow Wow Wow @dunelm
I absolutely adore this painting.
One amazing line of trees!

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gennepher said:

Fbg 6.5

Yesterday, Midnight kept proffering me his belly to tickle. And I was wary after the other day. But he seemed to insist it was okay. His paws were relaxed, not curled up ready to grab. So I gently tickled his whole belly. His eyes smiled in satisfaction. Blimey.

I had just suncreamed his cut off ear. That was bliss to him again. Then I thought, while he is in such a good mood, maybe I could brush him with a soft brush. So I got the brush, and he instantly panicked looking at it, (thinking maybe I was going to hit him?), so I spoke softly, and he said okay then. I brushed his head, then back, and he offered up his belly again. That is pushing it for any cat, to be able to brush their belly. Even Popeye gave me the vice like attack on my arm when I touched his belly. So I brushed very gently. And he was very happy. I push my luck, as always, so got the wire brush (it was behind my back as I approached him), just let him see the soft brush, then swapped while his eyes were closed in bliss.

Then his eyes opened, 'what is this? his eyes said. So I showed it for him to sniff, and did the side of his face with it. And he said okay.

He has some matted dead fur on the rear end of his back, and I tried to work into the edges of that very gently. When he said no, he didn't vocalise but he got off the swing and went under the table. I was pleased because he didn't go for me, but laid his own boundaries out in his way. There was no animosity from him when he got back on the swing, so, I just did hand strokes, and brushes are put away until another day.

This is amazing progress with him. He wandered into this garden about a month ago, a bullish, resentful (possibly scared as well) scruffy tomcat on the top of my garage roof. Now he looks pretty good, fur is silky, and is eating far far less now he knows all he has to do is ask for food and I give him a small sachet of wet food. If I am locking up at night and I haven't given him his supper yet, he thinks I have forgotten and he rushes into the study doorway and won't let me get inside the bungalow until I get a fresh sachet of cat food for him...he is very vocal if I forget his supper...I don't forget his supper, but I am just clearing up prior to locking up, and he wants to make sure I have remembered.

I reckon he has not left this garden at all for about a week now.

He has had belly tickles already this morning and absolutely loves them. Unusual cat. He does disconcert me a bit because he lashes his tail when he is happy. Confusing to me trying to gauge what is acceptable to him.

No art today, just a collage of Midnight showing his pearly whites. This is the first time I have seen him open his mouth that wide. And each time I put my phone camera in front of me to take a photo of his lovely eyes, he did the slow blink thing. So, no photos of his eyes. Nothing wrong with them, he just trusts my phone camera...

I could see his back paw pads look as though they have walked very long distances. But it could be because of his football shape, he cannot reach them to clean them. So, that is on the list for today, a foot massage and pedicure...wish me luck...

I think he is a much older cat. Popeye looked much younger than Midnight does and Popeye was nearly 30 years old. How old is Midnight? Ten, Eleven, Twelve, older?

Jade is the second customer for the cat diner this morning. Midnight is totally accepting of her. He is just watching her eat now. Jade is not bolting her food now. She is eating slowly.

The ravens are incredibly noisy this morning. The Bluetits and GreatTits have arrived together. Mr Blackbird is around less now.

Everyone else, all bird and cat regular customers were present and correct yesterday.

And I am ready for my first nap of the day!
But a hot cuppa first.

No creative today, just a collage of Midnight.


View attachment 54982

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ianpspurs said:

Hello everyone from what is a bright Summer's day here on either Trinity Sunday or just a sunny summer Sunday. Sunny intervals, moderate breeze and 21c is forecast here. Our back garden is something of a suntrap so we, JKP, myself and 92.5 MIL may well sit under the shade of a parasol after lunch. No 3 son is helping me to dispose of some items at the recycling centre before lunch - hectic schedule but all prep is done. Amazing progress with Midnight @gennepher - shows what love can achieve. @dunelm enjoy the BBQ and thanks for the art. @Krystyna23040 hug for the ankle, enjoy Goderstone but why on earth would you not instantly know Mr K knew best? I hope everyone can enjoy and find fulfilment today in your various ways, ever mindful that others are equally entitled to enjoy their day. Let’s hope the others are as thoughtful towards you.

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ianpspurs said:

Hello everyone from what is a bright Summer's day here on either Trinity Sunday or just a sunny summer Sunday. Sunny intervals, moderate breeze and 21c is forecast here. Our back garden is something of a suntrap so we, JKP, myself and 92.5 MIL may well sit under the shade of a parasol after lunch. No 3 son is helping me to dispose of some items at the recycling centre before lunch - hectic schedule but all prep is done. Amazing progress with Midnight @gennepher - shows what love can achieve. @dunelm enjoy the BBQ and thanks for the art. @Krystyna23040 hug for the ankle, enjoy Goderstone but why on earth would you not instantly know Mr K knew best? I hope everyone can enjoy and find fulfilment today in your various ways, ever mindful that others are equally entitled to enjoy their day. Let’s hope the others are as thoughtful towards you.

Click to expand...

Krystyna23040 said:

@gennepher I agree - absolutely amazing progress with Midnight.
Lovely photos of him.

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jjraak said:

Love the pics of midnight XXX

(Though still wouldn't mind a quiet word with those responsible for his ear )

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gennepher said:

Fbg 6.6

All the usual with the birds and cats in my garden yesterday.
Both families, the BlueTits and GreatTits were flying together, their babies doing that delightful swirling flying game in the air.
Mr Magpie flew down to land by the wet catfood bowls, but he hadn't seen Midnight lying besides them. For such a large cat, Midnight often looks hidden when he is in plain sight. Shock and horror on Mr Magpie's face as he desperately tries to do a turnaround in a space almost too small for his wingspan. He almost succeeds, when down from some high vantage point, in sweeps Mr Blackbird aiming for Mr Magpie. Presumably to get his own back for something similar the other week but in reverse, and he knocks into Mr Magpie,who comes crashing to the ground.

Midnight just sits there, stoically watching.

As Mr Blackbird flies away, Mr Magpie, by now a screaming banshee, takes off after Mr Blackbird.

All the usual cat customers.

The pedicure on Midnight's paws did not do well. Midnight said no touching his paws and let me know about it. So, plan B which also failed. Plan C for today's paw pedicure.

We are on Plan F (I think), to get those knots and dead fur off his back. This involves constantly walking around with a wire brush in one hand and doing one sweep down his entire back and up his tail with it, each time he passes me, or I him. He seems to actually like that. It is just a dedicated brushing session he doesn't like when my sole intention is getting those knots and dead fur out. He likes it when that wire brush goes all the way up his tail as well.

The Bluetit family have just come in to play and eat. The two baby bluetits, their colouring changing already to like mum's, are doing that dance in the air, like two butterflies do, swirling and dancing. When right on cue comes that demon Mr Blackbird flying through them like a knife. The two babies scatter for safety, then regroup seconds later to do their aerial display again.

No creative today, but another photo of Midnight, showing his more true size, who has fallen in love with my coir mats to lie on.

Time for coffee and the first nap of the day.

View attachment 54990

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dunelm said:

Great work with Midnight. Will he eventually take you on as a full member of his staff?

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dunelm said:

Good morning everyone on a splendid start here in the dark and dangerous north
BBQ yesterday at brother in law’s was splendid - does a BBQ over several hours count as OMAD? I think it does. Today is Back Pain Clinic - an actual face to face appointment with a real person who can prove that they are not a robot by clicking all boxes containing traffic lights, boats or even cars. Apart from that it’s a bit of mundane stuff - shopping, walking about, tutting at the state of the garden.
Art bit - working on two projects at present. Don’t get excited, it’s not in the least multi tasking. Here is the start of a row of trees. Let’s see how it goes. Have a great day today if you can. I am off in search of the cafetière.


View attachment 54991

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gennepher said:

I am loving this new style of drawing the trees @dunelm

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gennepher said:

Fbg 6.6

All the usual with the birds and cats in my garden yesterday.
Both families, the BlueTits and GreatTits were flying together, their babies doing that delightful swirling flying game in the air.
Mr Magpie flew down to land by the wet catfood bowls, but he hadn't seen Midnight lying besides them. For such a large cat, Midnight often looks hidden when he is in plain sight. Shock and horror on Mr Magpie's face as he desperately tries to do a turnaround in a space almost too small for his wingspan. He almost succeeds, when down from some high vantage point, in sweeps Mr Blackbird aiming for Mr Magpie. Presumably to get his own back for something similar the other week but in reverse, and he knocks into Mr Magpie,who comes crashing to the ground.

Midnight just sits there, stoically watching.

As Mr Blackbird flies away, Mr Magpie, by now a screaming banshee, takes off after Mr Blackbird.

All the usual cat customers.

The pedicure on Midnight's paws did not go well. Midnight said no touching his paws and let me know about it. So, plan B which also failed. Plan C for today's paw pedicure.

We are on Plan F (I think), to get those knots and dead fur off his back. This involves constantly walking around with a wire brush in one hand and doing one sweep down his entire back and up his tail with it, each time he passes me, or I him. He seems to actually like that. It is just a dedicated brushing session he doesn't like when my sole intention is getting those knots and dead fur out. He likes it when that wire brush goes all the way up his tail as well.

The Bluetit family have just come in to play and eat. The two baby bluetits, their colouring changing already to like mum's, are doing that dance in the air, like two butterflies do, swirling and dancing. When right on cue comes that demon Mr Blackbird flying through them like a knife. The two babies scatter for safety, then regroup seconds later to do their aerial display again.

No creative today, but another photo of Midnight, showing his more true size, who has fallen in love with my coir mats to lie on.

Time for coffee and the first nap of the day.

View attachment 54990

Click to expand...

dunelm said:

Good morning everyone on a splendid start here in the dark and dangerous north
BBQ yesterday at brother in law’s was splendid - does a BBQ over several hours count as OMAD? I think it does. Today is Back Pain Clinic - an actual face to face appointment with a real person who can prove that they are not a robot by clicking all boxes containing traffic lights, boats or even cars. Apart from that it’s a bit of mundane stuff - shopping, walking about, tutting at the state of the garden.
Art bit - working on two projects at present. Don’t get excited, it’s not in the least multi tasking. Here is the start of a row of trees. Let’s see how it goes. Have a great day today if you can. I am off in search of the cafetière.


View attachment 54991

Click to expand...