Today is Alice Price-Healy Little Liddel Abernathy McGuire's second birthday. As of today, she can't be considered a kitten by even the most generous of standards, and must, at last, be afforded the sacred title of "cat." This does not prevent her sleeping on her back for hours with her soft white belly exposed. Nor does it cause her to develop an ounce of dignity. But it does make her wonderful.

I love all three of my cats, and I try not to play favorites. Right now, however, Alice is definitely my favorite, simply by virtue of not being dead. It's hard to express in words just how badly she frightened me when she got sick. Now, finally, she's shiny and grooming herself and talking to me in audible registers, rather than just making this heart-breaking rasping sound. She's better. I'm still going to keep a close eye on her throughout the winter, because this isn't sort of thing you forget quickly, but she's better. And right now, that makes her my favorite.

To celebrate Alice's birthday, she's getting a thorough grooming, possibly including claw-clipping if I can find where she's most recently hidden the clippers, and then I'm going to sit still for several hours while she gets love. There is no better gift one can give a cat.

Happy birthday, Alice. This is only the beginning.

I've sort of fallen down on the shopping list goodness this year, and for that, I apologize most profusely...although in my defense, I've sort of been busier than the Great Pumpkin in the second week of October, so I guess it was only natural that a few things would start slipping, here and there. Anyway, here are the links I received in answer to my general call for shiny things made by my readers which might appeal to people who don't know about them yet.

First up, naturally, is the scented goodness of Conjure Oils, the only place you can find the Toby Daye perfume line. That's not all they have, however, and if you're a fan of fine perfumes, you can probably find something here to delight you. Take a look at their selection (although I totally recommend the Toby stuff, because dude).

Next up, Unorthofox Trinketries is here to answer your jewelry needs. The current selection has a heavy focus on mermaids. I heartily approve. Meanwhile, Om Shanti Handicrafts is a great source for all-natural vegetarian bath and beauty supplies. Any company that offers an unscented body wash is a-okay by me.

Here's a handy roundup of different independent artists that might be of interest to you. I love it when other people do the bulk of the work for me, don't you?

THE FOKS OMG DEADLY CUTENESS. Seriously, if my cats wouldn't eat them, I'd fill my house with these things. Or, if you like your fabric animals to be more practical, Creature Comforts offers animal-shaped tea cozies. Oh, Etsy, is there anything you can't do?

Silver Owl Creations is just an amazing source of unique key-based jewelry; I own the key to Goldengreen, thanks to Vixy, and it came from this crafter. The non-key works are fabulous, too.

That's all for now. Happy shopping!