Out of the habit...

I note that I have not written for a while.  I can do internet now, fairly well!  I even had a video "exam" for a briused elbow. (Nothing serious, just have to have an Ace bandage, and baby the darn thing. Pbbbbt.)  But being that sitting and typing hasn't been regular, there has been no blogs.  I have been doing a bit more here, garden is in (more about that another blog), and knitting, and cleaning, well, some anyway.

So, a catch up on the animals.  Outdoor kitty Buzz had a nasty cat decide to rough her up continually, but it went away somewhere, and she has recovered from scratches and bites, and finally is looking fit, and not scared of her shadow. 

Much.

Indoor kitty Ding is enjoying her new "kitty channel", where we put up hummingbird and songbird feeders out front of our living room window.  We enjoy watching the birds, and figuring out what has flown in.  (We also get a kick out of the Hummers flying to the OTHER window where my lava lamp is. Bright colors, ooooooh, pretty...) Ding jumps on the sill and wants SO badly to play with the Hummers.  The other birds, too, but especially the wee birds.  I really suspect she thinks they are toys.

No chicks. Siiiiiiigh.  I let Edgar try twice, and Marshmallow even took over once.  Then I let Marshmallow try once. They would sit for about a week and a half, then wander off, leaving the eggs cold.  So No more chick attempts, they are shooed off the nests, and the eggs are brought in.  Poo.

So, I will get back hopefully to more regular blogs.  But for now, all seems to be safe and well.

Hope all my blog friends are, too.

The Midnight Express

We thought he was gone.  No such luck.  Pee-yew.

The black cat I had mentioned in previous blogs that I named Midnight was indeed adopted by the neighbors.  This means he's not around as much.  That is a good thing, as he was beating up on my kitty, Buzz.  I had hoped with said adoption, and food coming from someone else, he might be more oriented to stay OVER THERE...

Not so much.  He'd been gone from our place for about a week.  I told Husband, I don't want him dead, but am glad he's not around.  My hope was he'd decided that our non-friendly attitude was off-putting enough he'd chosen to stay at his new home.

I went out early, and fed Buzz.  I had noticed the unmistakable aroma of cat pee.  Great, another one?  Why, oh why, do we luck out, we have fixed our kitties, but we always get El Macho Dude Cat that wants to show how much liquid he can release... ICK! 

Didn't think anything more about it...

Opened the door to leave, and there he was, in all his black fuzzy glory, Midnight, eating Buzz's leftovers, and by the look of the feed can, (and smell), he was claiming territory for King and Country.  I know the folks around are going to think I am loonier than I already am, but I have found only one thing that scares him off. 

I opened the door with a bang, and started barking.  Like a wild dog. BARK, WOOOF, BARK, BARK, BARK, WOOOOOF!  That got him off the porch, and away from the cat food.  I don't like doing anything that will hurt him, but I do want him to leave.

So, the continuing battle of Stinky Porch continues.  Anyone know of a good cleaner for de-stinking cat pee?? 

Cats, young and... Older. And dogs.

Ding is an "only child" in the house.  She still isn't great buds with Buzz, but Buzz is very laid back, and so they do get along.  Still, I keep wondering, if we could get a friend for her. 

I had thought of a kitten.  She goes bananas when she hears a kitten, on TV or when we have the computer playing a video.  But a video is not a kitten, and I wonder if she would be upset to have a tiny furball, when she has been Princess 'o the House for all her time...

I had thought of a small to medium dog, too.  She grew up with dogs, A Dachshund, and a Retriever, as I remember, so she thinks she's a dog.  Loved Rudee, wanted to run and play with him all the time. 

So I suggested something small.  We eliminated Chihuahuas, neither of us are fond of them, Jack Russells are a maybe, if we got one as a puppy, as they can be a pain, and some don't like cats.  I suggested a Pomeranian, and Husband got a funny look on his face, and said something to the effect that we would need to buy a new house after the play sessions! 

I think "mutt" might be the way to go, as long as we get one that likes cats.  I don't think we will be getting any new pet any time soon, but it's fun to think about.  Actually, so are kittens...

Oh, and we eliminated Great Danes, Marmaduke is fun in the comics, but the first time I have a problem with an animal that's the size of a pony, in the house?  No.

Just...  No.

The junk drawer blog post.

Lots of little things, but didn't have enough to make a long post, so there might be a few little non sequiturs, but things that I can get onto the blog...

I guess the fiber we should be getting for the computer is SLOOOOOOOOWLY happening.  I had been under the impression it would be here by the time school started.   Um. No...

But...

It was about 90 or so, and humidity was hideous, when I went out.  There was a gent looking at the power poles, and he had a contract sign on the vehicle.  I asked what he was up to, and he told me he was finding out if the poles could handle another line, he thought it was BigGreenLogo company.  I said, well, we are supposed to get fiber from LittleLocalnet... He shrugged, well, uh, whoever it is, yes, that's what I am checking for.  I let him know about the two "oddball" lines near our property, he thanked me, and I went back in the house.  I pitied him needing to do that... But it does sound like they are working toward us having... Something! 

I had my Dad over the other day, and he was glancing over across the couch.  I asked what he was seeing, and he said it was my "eruption light" with a grin.  I think that's a cooler name than lava lamp, myself!  But I think the original probably has a better foothold...  :)

My cat Buzz did an odd thing.  This was intentional, as far as I can figure, but I've never seen a cat do it before.  I had been playing with her, and she must have wanted me to pet her belly. (That is the one cat that I have never seen object to a belly rub.  Most only tolerate, or in a few cases, try to tear off as many fingers as they can filet...)  Anyway, I was petting her neck, all the sudden, she dips her head, and does what I can only call a forward somersault, landing upside down on her back, where she then pulls my hand to her belly.  (Which is a hazard, for me, she has very, VERY sharp claws!) And after a VERY careful extraction of my hand, she did indeed want said rub...

It is the 10th, I believe, of September.  I have given up complaining about how early items for holidays show up in the stores.  But I came into the substation... And someone had decorated the front counter with Witches, candles, and all the nonce that would show Halloween.  Bleah.  I moved them to the side counter, I am sorry, October first, sure.  But geez, I find it just a bit early... Plus, I am not fond of spiders, which was also in the mix. Ick. Meh...

I have been working on changing my diet, no chocolate or Coke, as they trigger my Rosacea.  I am surprised.  The chocolate hasn't been much of a problem... But, boy, oh boy, it is really a nuisance, I have wanted a Coke, several times.  And having other sodas just doesn't quite cut it.  I must say, it's helped.  I think the "Flexitarian diet" that I have been on, has helped, too.  But sometimes, I just want a Coke and a bag of Cheetos.  But I don't.  Sigh.  

Ok, that's it for cleaning out the junk drawer...

Princess and the pauper pusses.

(I suspect it would be hazardous to say that title three times fast... At least for anyone close by!)

Ding and Buzz have worked out an agreement, I think.  She of the fine and fancy (Ding) who still, I suspect, thinks she is a dog, has decided that Buzz is not a threat, and will even peek through the door and touch noses with Buzz. 

She of the rough and ready (Buzz), seems to consider her a goofy aside.  She will mew at Ding, give her a quick sniff, then walk to the food bowl, and ignore her.  Ding, thankfully, has no interest in Buzz's food, so that hasn't been an issue. 

We haven't been taking Ding outside as much, she has been acting spooked, and has become an Ace at getting loose from her lead.  I really think she needs a chip, she bolts, and I might as well have her tied with one strand of spider silk.  She will just slip the lead, and run.  So... No outside at the moment.  We do put a place for her to sit by an open, screened window, so she gets to see out, and she gets to 'say hi' to Buzz, but that's it.  Ding is terrified of the chickens, Buzz, she is cautious around them, but not scared.  I think she is more making sure they don't mistake her tail for a snack...

I tried, when it was very cold here, to bring Buzz in.  BIG mistake.  She cried, and ran straight to the door, and then flew outside, then turned and glared at me for the horrid thing I'd done... eep.  So, they will probably never be roommates.

So, the two of them seem to enjoy the specific niche that each is in, and I guess, that's the way it will be.  I really never thought I would have an indoor cat, (Husband has allergies, but he takes meds, and it is fine, so far, knock wood), but moreover, having two cats that are as soooo different from each other.  One is a cat's kitty, the other is a queen fluff of all she surveys.

And,  I love 'em both.  Leave it to me to get the yin and yang of the cat world, though...

Shifting Bricks.

I guess they finally aged enough.  Or my motivation was motivated.  SOMETHING, at any rate.  I now have the start of a small "patio" for my garden.  

A friend gave us a bunch of bricks, I guess they have some problem so they leech salt, or some such.  (efflorescence, if you want the technical term.  Which is not to be confused with effervescence, which was what I heard the first time.  Bubbly bricks???)  Well, the leeching can be 'fixed' by pouring vinegar on it, or letting the rain, which I gather is slightly toward acid, wash out the salt.  I am not that worried about it.  

The last few days have been a process of getting up, feeding, then moving the bricks from the storage area, to the set up area.  Husband made sure that was only a few feet away, and wouldn't get in the way of moving things in and out of the barn.  I played with some ideas, Husband made some suggestions, and then I started.  

The only problem was when he'd make MORE suggestions, or I would have a problem.  I am working out what's wrong, he's figured it out- and giving me several different suggestions on what to do.  I told him, when I am on problem one, giving me three answers to problem seven isn't going to help, until I know what do do about problem ONE!  I love my Husband, but he has so much background, in so many things, and doesn't realize that some folks (read:ME), have a hard time keeping up.  But, eventually, it made sense, and I started getting the bricks laid out.  

They are now laid out, ready to be put into the area for them.  I told Husband that Noah's Ark method (carry two bricks at a time), was fine for the set up, but when I put them in, I am going to use a wheelbarrow or dolly, I would like to finish the thing before next season!  

I am now working on making the area level, so I cut the high spots down, check with a level, move the cat, scrape some more, check with level, take cat off leg, repeat.  I really don't mind the kitty, I just wish I wasn't... impaled... each time she wants my attention.  Or jumped on, though that didn't happen as much this time.  I think it was because I had a large item in my hand most of the time, either hoe tool or level.  

I am nearly finished with that.  Next, a barrier to keep weeds from growing up through, sand, to bed the bricks in, then sand on top to get into all the crevices.

And then collapse...

I is for

Imagination.

When I was a kid, Dad had a ramp he used to fix cars with.  This was built big.  I seem to remember it  being something that was for loading sheep into a semi, that he had modified.  Basically, two large flat slopes, with logs underneath.

I loved that thing.  When it was still a sheep loader, I would get a willow branch "whip", and the wooden sword that Dad helped me make, and I would be the Captain of a fine ship, shouting commands at my crew, and fighting off brigands and sea monsters that might try boarding.  (Usually ended up being the cat, but hey, you take your brigands where you can get them...) 

I then would "fish" with a stick and some string, to bring in one of the big salmon that Grandpa was always talking about.  (Again, with a string dangling, I quite often caught kitten fish...)

I had a fort, and I was usually on the lookout for invading hordes, with my faithful soldiers below, keeping the invaders at bay.  In reality, it was generally Mama Cat, finding a place to sleep that was quiet...  But the thought was there, anyway.

As I became older, the ramp went away, but I had "camp outs" with my stuffed toys, (my Smokey Bear was a favorite companion), and the occasional tea party.  Grandpa had brought home a racing carriage, and I sat in it, thinking of winning blue ribbons for racing, until he told me a little more about it.  Being rather afraid of horses, the idea of sitting within striking distance of back hooves, or... other parts at the back, made my vivid ideas of racing... A little less inviting.

Then there was the go cart Dad and I built. And rebuilt. And again.  I think we rebuilt it about 4 times before the poor thing just gave up in disgust.  Not from being rebuilt, I just wore the poor thing out!  I was a race car driver!  I was a cop, chasing down a criminal! I was a paramedic, racing to rescue someone! (I was a big fan of the show Emergency, and that was about the only way Mom could slow me down, because she would remind me that Johnny and Roy did NOT take corners on two wheels...) 

I have used my imagination to draw, to write stories (now I just need to get the stories DONE... ahem), to entertain myself, and the occasional person at faire, or child when I have babysit.

I am glad to have imagination.  It lets you go anywhere, anytime, to be anyone, and my limits are my own...

*****

I will try and get some of my "regular" bloggy stuff written in a bit, but for some reason, it's been a little busy here of late, and so I have been a bit deficient of tales of the animals.  Husband and I are helping Mom and Dad remodel Mom's kitchen.  Husband is doing the lion's share of the work, but I was helping the other day by pulling nails.  I found out that there are about 4 or 5 different tools for pulling nails, and I must say, when you have everything from this nice little nail with a large head, to a skinny long nasty brad that is half bent and rusted, you need more than a standard claw hammer.  

Or at least I do... But, the nails are gone on about 3/4 of the walls, we have to wait to remove the trash (they've not delivered the big dump box), and then I will finish that.  It was a building built in the late 40's, and we found a calendar from 1955.  Also, some drawings that I did on the floor when we put down the linoleum...

It has been interesting, to say the least...