A pre-Halloween Saturday

Charles spent time this afternoon at community events with a Halloween-theme. Checking in at the Hy-Vee trick-or-treating event, he enjoyed watching the kids roaming around the store to find the stations with the treat. He then went to the fairgrounds for the Okotberween event that is sponsored by the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Saturday paintings

Sammuva sainio maan 
(The Fading Thoughts of the Earth)

Vänskapens blomma (The Flower of Friendship)

 Charles got in some quality painting time in this morning as it looked to be the last warm/dry morning we'll see for a week or so.

The black/white painting will be part of the exhibit Charles will be having January - March here in Albert Lea. The second painting will be given to one of the administrators at Thorne Crest.

Autumn on Garfield Avenue

Autumn on Garfield Ave.

Wesley takes an afternoon break

It takes a lot of work being a kitten

Gracie & two makes for a pleasant afternoon nap

Fridays are our errand day and today was much the same. We enjoyed being out and about, Charles had time in the studio, and we had quality time with the cats. And of course, there were naps all around the house!

This week in cats

 

With five cats in the house, life seems to revolve around their needs and wants. Gracie and the three kittens have adapted to life in the Cat Room, and we spend a couple of hours each day with them. Food, water, two litter boxes, and "pudding" is part of the routine in their life.

Wesley seems to be handling the change in the household routine including not being allowed in the three-season room. He is still the senior cat and as such, is very much the symbol of all things feline!

Candidate Forum

The Chamber of Commerce's Candidates Forum at the City Hall in Albert Lea last night was a unique experience for us. Here is the link to the segment of the recording of Charles' exchange with Joey Neely, who is running for the same position, City Council - Ward 4.

It's a blessing!

Today was a big day at the Alkula house: Gracie and her three kittens are safely confined in the three-season room, otherwise known as "the cat room."

We've spent much of the past few weeks, after mistakenly thinking Gracie was on her own, trying to gain the trust of the kittens. Getting them used to a consistent, safe place to eat and rest was a big part of the effort.

Today, Connie, one of our neighbors, noticed all four cats going onto our deck and into the cat room. Connie was able to quietly, and quickly, close the sliding glass door, thus securing the cat family in the house.

The process now will focus on getting the kittens acclimated to human contact (Gracie already is content to be petted though not held). 

It's Clergy Appreciation Day

B&B Cafe 'offered a treat for area clergy this morning, a free breakfast! Charles took advantage of the opportunity and enjoyed a nice meal before going to work.

Three more for the portfolio

Näcken (The Watersprite)
20x20, marble acrylic on canvas

Saarella palaa (Fire on the Island)
30x40, marble acrylic on canvas

Tuuli tuudittele (The Wind Rocks)
30x40, Marble acrylic on canvas

Charles completed three paintings this weekend, two of them for an exhibit in January, and the other for a staff member at Thorne Crest.
 

The Cat Room takes shape

New look in the 3-season room

Gracie stops by to say, "Hi!"

An infrequent visitor ventures into the room

We set up some patio furniture in the 3-season room this week so that we'd have a place to sit or the cats would have a place to rest in between outside exploring.

Autumn in Albert Lea

 It was an unusually warm day in southern Minnesota as autumn continues to offer scenery which is a real treat every day.

The kittens arrive

With the discovery that Gracie had already given birth to a litter, we were hoping to locate them and get them inside. With the work that had been put into gaining Gracie's trust, we are thrilled to see that THREE kittens have joined her for regular rest and food in the 3-season room. The eventual goal is to rehome all four with a humane society before the end of this month.

Gracie settles in

B.K. settles in at New Chances

Gracie finds a toy in the camper

A nap in the kitty stroller

After we sent B.K. (Black Kitty) off to a new life with the friendly folk at New Chances Humane Society in Blue Earth on Wednesday, we lured the other cat that had been coming by (that we're calling Gracie) into the three-season room. It's been three days and she is adapting to a more restrictive indoor environment which we hope will lead to a new life with New Chances along with B.K.

UPDATE: We learned on October 4th that B.K. had been adopted and will be going to his new home on the 10th.

A nice autumnal day

 

After a busy week, we enjoyed a nice day with a drive to Clarks Grove to visit Vintage Grove, a neat store with antiques and some great soup mixes! Belinda's birthday month got underway with a selection of Longaberger Baskets!

After that, we went to visit White Spruce Homestead Farm Stand, purveyor of excellent baked goods and other treats. We met Allison at another venue and were taken with her enthusiasm and talents.