Ugly - and compassion. . .

I came across a link to this Blog today and, having read this entry, sat there crying like a baby for a while. 

I'm not ashamed of my tears, as I know that it never hurts to be able to feel compassion for any of God's creatures. 

Unfortunately, the kind of treatment this poor cat had suffered from the people around it, both of injury, neglect, and disinterest is, sadly, more the norm than an exception in the world we live in today, so it was nice to read that somebody had given this poor creature a few minutes of compassion before he died.

http://jotter-journal.tumblr.com/post/19738385573/ugly-everyone-in-the-apartment-complex-i-lived

Ugly.

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat.

Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.

To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs.

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. “That’s one UGLY cat!!”

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.

Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly’s sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting him terribly I thought.

Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear – Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.

And the crocheting goes on . . .

I don't know why, but I've become almost addicted to crocheting. 

It's got to the point where I don't even read for pleasure any more, as I'm just itching to get back to whatever project I'm doing :)

I have to admit, I've been a real little busy-bee since I last posted - mainly with crocheting stuff for my daughter, so she's got plenty of warm woollen stuff to wear, as Bristol, where she lives, is getting very much colder as the winter deepens:)

So far, apart from the ear-warmer/headbands I'd already done, I've crocheted her a Slouchy Mesh Tam O'Shanter (the instructions posted by simplycrochet2021, at the following: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiZ2PPZ25eQ).

I've also done an extra slouchy Beanie, also posted by simplycrochet2021, and I needed the extra room, so that my daughter can fit all her dreads in it, while staying snug and warm.

I've also made a chain scarf, and I got the pattern from YouTube, from my absolute favourite crochet instructor, Claire, who goes under the name of BobWilson123 - to be found at:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APDUf2bpQQQ

I've also crocheted a Scoodie for her - a mix between a scarf and hood - and I've also completed one pair of leg warmers for her, with another half finished, and a third pair planned for after that :)

Then I'm going to be making a pair of fingerless mittens to go with each of the leg-warmers, so she's colour coordinated {grin}

I've just this minute finished making two 3-strand headbands (the pattern for these is at BobWilson123 once more) - one of these for my daughter, and the other for her good friend Shosh, known as the Flower Fairy. 

I'm particularly happy with these, as it allowed me to let my creative streak run wild {grin}

I'm still really busy with all the different things I need to complete - and I've also got to finish off the blanket I've been crocheting for myself, in a gorgeous Wavy Shell pattern, which I'm hoping to finish fairly soon - well, at least before the cold weather really strikes, anyway :)

I do tend to have 2 or 3 projects on the go at once, as I've found it stops me getting bored, especially when I'm having to do a repetitious pattern :)

I've got so very many projects I want to do, which means I'll probably be busy with things for the next 5 years!

A very nice way to pass the time, though, don't you think? :)

It came at last! :)

I got my certificate through at last and, although I was excited that it had come, I was also a little disappointed at how flimsy the paper was that it was printed on :(

But, at least it's here at last, and Hubby immediately went out to get a suitable frame for it, and it's now hanging up on the living room wall :)

As I told you before, I've taken up crocheting to while away the time, and I have to say that I'm really delighted with how well I've taken to it. I know my work is still a bit rough around the edges, so-to-speak, but I'm really enjoying creating stuff that's going to be useful to loved ones.

The first things I made were a series of headband/ear-warmers for my daughter, in a variety of colours, so she can keep her head and ears warm this winter. As she's got a head full of dreads, she's finding it difficult to find anything suitable to wear around them, and my stuff has really fit the bill, I'm glad to say :)
Here's a picture of one of them:

This is made with a Dusky Lilac DK Acrylic Wool, and a 5.00mm hook.
The Yellow rose was made with the same gauge of wool and hook.
I got the patterns free from:
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=HJLIsyyn_CM&feature=player_detailpage 
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gqvaSFEYOg

The Rose pattern can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94vYpcZ3W64&feature=relmfu

I also made her my first crocheted pair of fingerless loves, which she was really happy to get, as she had just given away her only pair to a Jamaican friend she'd met up with at her latest mini festival, and who was freezing cold in our so-delightful weather. Lol

They're not perfect, but I didn't think they were too bad for my first attempt, and Brex loves them, so that's all that counts really :)

Here they are:

These were made with an Emerald Green DK Acrylic Wool and 4.00mm + 4.5 mm hooks.

I got the pattern from:

http://www.woolcrafting.com/crochet-gloves-pattern.html

On the subject of crocheting, I've been searching the internet for projects to make, and have come up with enough stuff to keep me busy for the next 5 years! :)


I've also come across Plarn - yarn made out of all those useless carrier bags that take centuries to break down!

I actually made a big ball of it, just out of the bags we've got stored at the moment, and I plan to make a pair of long-sleeved fingerless gloves for my daughter, which she plans to use with a costume she's making for her stilt-walking/fire dancing work. We're both looking forward to see how they turn out, and I'll put a photo of them on here - that's if they turn out okay, of course! :)

It was our 29th wedding anniversary yesterday (8th) and, as most of our friends have to work, we decided to invite them over for a meal this Saturday just gone. A good family friend makes an awesome Rogan Josh curry, so we based our meal around that. The food turned out well, and we all had a great time. 

One of our friends, Hannelore - a fantastic craftswoman, had made me the most gorgeous jewellery set I've ever seen - a torc necklace that fits me perfectly, and a pair of lovely dangley earrings to match. 

My daughter took a picture of me wearing them, so I'm posting them for everyone to see (although the picture doesn't do them the justice they deserve) - and also a link to Hannelore's shop, where she's got some awesome stuff up for sale, in a variety of mediums, and prices - you really should have a look, as I think her stuff is amazing!:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AstridsJewelGarden?page=1

Here's her Blog, where she shows how she makes some of her stuff, and also shows some of her artwork, which is also fantastic to see:

http://paperbeadsinspiration.blogspot.co.uk/

You can also 'meet' her at the following places:

https://www.facebook.com/AstridsGarden


http://twitter.com/AstridsGarden


I'm just going to finish off with a couple of pictures of my girl, waiting to do what she does best - dancing with her fire wings at the Burning Man Festival, which has just taken place in the USA :)

Brex getting ready to perform her fire dance.

Brex performing in front of the Burning Man

I'm so very proud of my girl! :)

And I'm still waiting . . .

It feels like an age since I found out I'd got a 2:1 degree, and I have spent the time since then waiting, fairly patiently, to receive my degree certificate. Unfortunately, it still hasn't arrived through the post, and I'm beginning to wonder just when it will :/

I know that, in the great order of things, a piece of stiff paper with a bit of writing, and a pretty picture of the University's motif on it, isn't that great a thing to be worried about but, if I'm honest with myself - and I do always try to be honest with myself - I guess I need that paper proof, just so that I can look at it, and think back over the 6 years of tough striving it took me, to get it in the first place.

My hubby was very proud of my determination to continue with, and then complete, my degree as he, more than anyone else on this earth, knows how hard it was for me to do, and I guess that's why I love him so much, as he was, and still is, my full-time carer, as well as my husband, and it fell to him to look after me when the studying caused my health to deteriorate. I guess, if anyone deserves this degree, it would have to be equally my hubby, as well as I - it's a pity that can't be written on the certificate, isn't it? :)

On the writing front, I've barely done anything since my final course finished, as my health was so bad by then, that it has taken all this time just to get to a place where I can even think of doing anything.

I had planned to start the research needed for a story idea I've had in my head for a couple of years now, and I had also planned for my children's book to be at least completed enough to start sending it on the rounds of editor's slush piles but, unfortunately, my daughter has been so busy with her work, doing stilt-walking, and fire wing exhibitions, that she hasn't had the time to finish the illustrations I need. I'm hoping she'll have a bit of time this winter to do them, before all the various festivals start once again in the spring - I can hope, anyway :)

I had also planned on using some of my spare time in finishing off a cross-stitch pattern I've been working - on and off - for my daughter but, unfortunately once again, my hands have been so bad, I've been unable to wield the sewing needle to do so. 

Because my creative side has been so very frustrated, I've decided to take up crochet work - something I haven't done since I was a child, when my great-grandmother taught us all how to do it. I can't manage knitting needles, but I figure a crotchet hook won't be so bad, and I'm hoping it'll keep my hands a bit more mobile than they've become recently.

I'm going to start off by crocheting a throw-over for my bed - something to put a bit more colour into the room I spend so much of my time in. I'm going to use shades of medium and light terracotta, some yellow, and some white, to make granny squares - an easy pattern for me to re-learn all I've forgotten :)

Once I've completed this - or maybe in between - I'm going to attempt a little wrap-around bolero top for my daughter - I know! I'm probably getting wildly ahead of myself {grin}

I'm just hoping that this will keep me active - in the times when I am actually awake - over the winter months and then, if we actually have a decent spring and summer next year, where we're not water-logged all the time, I may even be able to get back to my much-loved cross-stitching again!