It's Just Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Comments for a Cause
  • Tea and Teapots
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Writing
  • Recipes
  • Products
April 30, 2015

A Tail of a Rolltop Desk, A Candle and A Cat

43 Comments/ 6366/ 1

Yes, I realize I used the wrong kind of “tail” in the title of today’s post but read on and you will understand.

Monday was the day to finally attack the rolltop desk in  my office.  It had remained closed while we showed the house a couple times over the weekend for good reason.deskIt doesn’t look that bad when it is closed other than the stuff sticking out the drawer that I just noticed.

But when it is opened.  Oh boy.desk2Let’s just say my traveling lifestyle as of late has played havoc on my housekeeping.  I have been able to keep the house in “show-ready” state and thanks to my friend Jeni who makes sure the place is dusted and cats checked on if there is a showing when I am gone the rest of the house is pretty good.  But my desk had become a collection place for presents to be mailed, mail to be sorted and filed, card making supplies that needed to be put away, etc.

Monday was the day. Chris left on Sunday and I had one day set aside for house cleaning, 2 days for card making for Hospice and 1 day for hair appointment, packing and odds and ends before going to Ohio for the weekend.  So Monday I did it.Still not perfect by any means because the cubbies are filled but it is much better and is staying that way right now.desk3

I started the card making and was happily working on those early when I cut myself.

Or I thought I cut myself.  I actually did but then there was more red on my desk than could come from the tiny paper cut I had inflicted upon myself.

Buddy looked guilty.  Very guilty.  And then I saw it.  tailAt first I freaked out. I have been doing a lot of that lately for some reason.  I thought he had burned it.  But upon closer investigation I realized that he had just dipped his tail in  my candle that I had blown out. (See arrow in photo above)  He did not burn it –he just embellished his tail with red wax. Which he proceeded to fling all over my desk and pictures as he flipped his tail back and forth.

Sigh.

tail2

It was almost like a perfect pencil point tail.  I am not a bad cat mom.  I really am not.  But this had me baffled how to get hardened wax safely off the tip of a cat tail.

Apparently I am not alone in my dilemma because there were about a zillion Google references about how to remove wax from cat fur.  The suggestions ranged from using coconut oil, baby oil or even egads—using a hairdryer to soften the wax in order to take it off.  Now if you are a cat owner you might avoid that last one.  Cat + hairdryer = frantic clawing cat and 1 scratched owner.

So I have been working on it slowly, bit by bit and today it is almost back to normal.  The old warm wet washcloth has worked well and he has tolerated me brushing it out a bit so that I can get the icky stuff out.  He is such a mellow cat, thank goodness, that he has allowed me to pick at it bit by bit, separated the fur and hopefully by the time this post goes live the red tailed cat will be a thing of the past in my house.

Just when you think that life is a bit dull (which is never the case in my life these days) something happens to spice it up.

How about you?  What has spiced up your week this week? Remember to comment for Mercy Foundation Birth Center.

Share:
Tags:
candle wax and fur cats cleaning rolltop desk
← Previous Wordless Wednesday
Next → Comments for a Cause Brings Comfort

Related Articles

  • Hard Times

  • I Can’t Have Pretty Things – Edition 535

  • Forgotten Words

  • Rhubarb and Ducks

  • It’s Summer Time!

43 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Alicia Schmitt
    April 30, 2015 at 06:17 am

    Hilarious! I love your cats, I’m glad you have someone to keep you company and keep you entertained! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 06:27 am

      They are definitely entertaining. All is well with the tail today. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Carl D'Agostino
    April 30, 2015 at 06:19 am

    My favorite piece of furniture is a roll top desk I found in the trash. I spent two weeks to restore it.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 06:29 am

      They are wonderful pieces of furniture. I waited a log time to get mine and even though it is not the popular furniture choice today I won’t ever get rid of it. I bet yours is beautiful, Carl.

      Reply
  3. Amy
    April 30, 2015 at 07:40 am

    Oh Beth Ann…..I have gotten a kick out of this tail! I have one to share…New Year’s Eve 1999 going into Y2K…remember how most of the population was stocking up on supplies and going frantic about the possibility of the computers not working when we rolled over the new year? Well Dave and I didn’t get wrapped up in that nonsense and we were having our normal New Year’s Eve traditions of watching movies with the kids and I had lit my bayberry candle (my mom always believed and still believes that burning a bayberry candle on Christmas and New Year’s Eve brings prosperity for the new year). So, I was in the kitchen adjacent to the candle burning on the breakfast table and Dave was down in our living room right next to the breakfast nook….both he and I started smelling something dreadful burning. Pretty soon Dave sees a flash of our cat Garfield running towards the patio doors and his tail was on fire! Fortunatey, by the couple seconds it took Dave to run to Garfield’s rescue, the fire went out. But the stench of that burnt cat hair was so bad that we had to open doors and windows on a 20 degree night to let the smell dissipate! Garfield obviously had pranced around that candle on the table and swung his tail into the flame! Thankfully, the tip of his tail that just has hair was the only part that burnt…not his skin! That was our Y2K story!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:37 am

      Oh my goodness!!! That is quite a story and yes—the smell would be horrific! I am glad it is not just me that these things happen to!!! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  4. Katy Flint
    April 30, 2015 at 08:32 am

    Love this! You always seem to have quite the adventures!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:37 am

      Some are better than others. I have had a lot going on lately but I am not counting them up. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Mama's Empty Nest
    April 30, 2015 at 08:34 am

    Okay, I couldn’t resist….did kitty want a wax job to have a fur-free tip of his tail? Tell him one of those no-no hair remover thingies they advertise on TV is safer. 😉 Kitties do manage to get into things they shouldn’t. Did you see my post yesterday? .

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:35 am

      Chris said he wanted a Brazilian! 🙂 Checking out your post—I think I missed it.

      Reply
  6. Sincerely Jenni (@SincerelyJenni)
    April 30, 2015 at 08:40 am

    Your desk looks so pretty and organized now!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:35 am

      Well it is better. I would not say it is perfect but at least it is able to be used for what it is supposed to be used for!

      Reply
  7. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    April 30, 2015 at 08:51 am

    Oh, that Buddy.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:34 am

      I know.

      Reply
  8. jenieats
    April 30, 2015 at 09:18 am

    I was just waiting for this post? I love his pointy tail.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:34 am

      You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Oh Buddy. It is just a slight tinge of pink today and not bad at all.

      Reply
  9. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
    April 30, 2015 at 09:42 am

    Now I understand your cat wax tail comment from the other day… I love it that this has happened to many cat owners and not just you!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 09:48 am

      Apparently it is a “thing”.

      Reply
  10. Darlene
    April 30, 2015 at 11:50 am

    Never a dull moment in your life!! Poor buddy, I bet he wondered what happened. We have been moving into our place here in Spain. Am surrounded by boxes but slowly getting it together. It will take awhile. The place is much smaller than we are used to so finding places for everything is a challenge.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 02:10 pm

      I am so glad you have a home now! How exciting! I need to catch up with you! I have not been good at visiting blogs and staying in touch with people the past month and I intend to change that!

      Reply
  11. Gibber
    April 30, 2015 at 01:01 pm

    Oh man thankfully your cat didn’t burn itself! Today the water is once again shut of with no warning. It happens a lot in our town and it’s usually for hours. Very frustrating. We already have to pay for water we can’t drink, then buy water we can. We don’t get any compensation when the water is shut. It’s a good thing I didn’t have to be anywhere today.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 02:09 pm

      I know! I am usually very careful and very aware of where the cats are when I am burning candles but this time I did not think of the melted wax. Obviously. I am sorry about your water. Why do they keep shutting it off? Any clue?

      Reply
      1. Gibber
        April 30, 2015 at 02:16 pm

        Well you had a colourful cat! 😉 This time it’s a water main leak. I just wish they’d give us notice so we could be prepared.

        Reply
        1. Beth Ann Chiles
          April 30, 2015 at 02:21 pm

          Ugh. Hopefully it will be fixed soon!

          Reply
          1. Gibber
            April 30, 2015 at 02:28 pm

            Yes! Have a great day. I’ll bet you will be going on another adventure soon. 😉

          2. Beth Ann Chiles
            April 30, 2015 at 02:42 pm

            Yes!

          3. Gibber
            April 30, 2015 at 06:48 pm

            I knew it! 😀

  12. Virginia
    April 30, 2015 at 01:48 pm

    A great cat story!! Glad we share a love of cats! My only good cat story is that I tell Leslie that every day the cats ask if today is the day that Leslie comes home. They know (because they keep up with her) that she will not be home for another few weeks, but they ask anyway.
    Well, then they saw the photo of Leslie holding the goat? And they are beyond hurt that she would do that.
    So more of a crazy Virginia story than a crazy cat story!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 02:07 pm

      I bet the cats were way beyond hurt to see Leslie sharing her affections with a goat of all things. Goodness. Buddy’s tail is almost back to normal now. Whew.

      Reply
  13. Dianna
    April 30, 2015 at 02:29 pm

    You are a brave girl to post “before” photos of your desk! Glad that the wax is almost gone from your kitty’s tail!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 02:42 pm

      I know I am, aren’t I? It was a mess. It has stayed clean for 2 days…..

      Reply
  14. Lisa
    April 30, 2015 at 05:22 pm

    Cute story! I never thought about that happening to my cat, but now I will.

    Reply
  15. ltgebelein
    April 30, 2015 at 05:24 pm

    One day there was a terrible smell in the house which I couldn’t identify until I petted my cat from tip to tail and felt the singed fur. She’d jumped up on the stove, where she most definitely wasn’t allowed, and scorched her tail in the candle that was burning there. It gave me the shivers to think she could have set the whole house on fire.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      April 30, 2015 at 05:25 pm

      Oh goodness! Yes— that would have scared me as well! Yikes!

      Reply
  16. Kathy Weiland
    April 30, 2015 at 07:16 pm

    No your days are never dull! Hopefully some relaxing is on your schedule this weekend!

    Reply
  17. Helen Brown
    April 30, 2015 at 09:15 pm

    I am glad your cat did not get burned. It could have been worse.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      May 04, 2015 at 07:31 am

      It could have been really bad. I am very careful with candles and this one was blown out and cooling when he flipped his tail in it. I try to keep an eye on the cats but this time he was too fast.

      Reply
  18. poemsandponderings
    April 30, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    Hey, summer is coming and a waxing is a good idea for those who are fashion conscious. Holly is next I presume..lol

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      May 04, 2015 at 07:28 am

      Holly is staying far far away….

      Reply
      1. poemsandponderings
        May 04, 2015 at 08:51 am

        Smart lady there.. Though I wonder, if like Eve, she was the temptress to poor Buddy’s Adam..

        Reply
  19. benzeknees
    May 13, 2015 at 01:09 pm

    It’s always something with pets, isn’t it? You sometimes have to be a real detective to figure out what has happened.

    Reply
  20. josh
    October 26, 2016 at 02:10 pm

    What a beautiful desk! We’ve been looking for a roll top, but it’s amazing how much mail clutter we could keep in there. It would probably look better inside the roll top than it does cluttering up our bar… LOL

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      October 29, 2016 at 08:36 am

      The desk is not always as cluttered as this –I really do try to keep up with the papers and mail more these days but sometimes it does get out of hand. Ugh.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Subscribe To Rss Feed
  • 2,256 Followers
  • 2,272 Fans
  • Followers
  • Subscribers
  • Subscribers
  • Follow It's Just Life

Comments For A Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – More Literacy, Please!

  • Comments for a Cause – July 2022 Edition

  • Comments for a Cause- Giving to Uvalde

  • It’s May – Time for Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Reece’s Rainbow

  • Comments for a Cause – Help for Ukraine

  • Powering Up with Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Cats, Cats, and More Cats

  • Comments for a Cause – Alzheimer’s Association

  • Comments for a Cause – A Roof Over Their Heads

  • Comments for a Cause – A Celebrity Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Giving Help Where Needed

  • Comments for a Cause – College Loyalty

  • Comments for a Cause – Saving Sight Through Research and Education

  • A Reason for Jubilee – Comments for a Cause

Check Out My Past Posts

August 2022
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jul    

Text

Follow

Pinterest

Visit Beth Ann's profile on Pinterest.

Beth's bookshelf: read

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
5 of 5 stars
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
by Guy Kawasaki
As always Guy Kawasaki has a great book with great information about all things social media. I highlighted tons of places in this book and it is definitely one that I will come back to time and time again to help me in all of the socia...
Old Girls in Low Cotton
3 of 5 stars
Old Girls in Low Cotton
by Helen Childress
This short book was one that looked like it would be a fun read. I honestly did not enjoy it all that much---it was a lot of characters bickering and while some of the writing was witty and funny it was not that kind of book that made m...
The Good Girl
5 of 5 stars
The Good Girl
by Mary Kubica
I loved this book! It had my interest from the very first page and was my "airplane" book on a recent trip. Author Mary Kubica created believable and interesting characters that the reader learned to identify with and care about. Mi...
All the Light We Cannot See
4 of 5 stars
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
This is quite a book! I had it recommended to me by several people and while I thought it might be a little dark and depressing it made me have a better understanding of what life in this time period was like. The strength of the huma...
An Abundance of Katherines
5 of 5 stars
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
Another great book by John Green. I have become a huge fan of John Green since my reading of A Fault in our Stars and this book was another that did not disappoint me at all. It was a story of a child prodigy, a lot of anagrams, and a b...

goodreads.com

Professional Reader
Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2015 It's Just Life, All Rights Reserved.

  • Media Kit, Advertising and Disclosure
 

Loading Comments...