December 5, 2009 at 11:13 AM (Cats and Dog)
Because Katie is known for her housekeeping skills, most notably keeping the kitchen floor clean, it is not uncommon for her to have residue on her snout.
This was two days in a row. She’s a sparkling beauty.
Center of a plastic bag handle. She is oblivious, and that is always hilarious.
Sugar beads from a white chocolate covered pretzel.
She takes her job seriously.
Please remember to vote for Suzanne here! Only two days left!
November 27, 2009 at 9:51 AM (Cats and Dog, Family Life)
We had a very nice Thanksgiving day out at my Folks. This was their swan song in the hosting department. I’m pretty sure they are glad to pass the torch. It’s a lot of work, and they are hard pressed to squeeze it in around their dr visits, hanging out at the senior center, and outings with church friends. They have served with distinction and are now honorably discharged.
Much good food, much yummy dessert, much fun with Family, and tournaments of games. All the things necessary for a well rounded day.
And guess what? I took no pictures. I am going to have to fire myself. I did take the camera out and give to Miss Muggins Q. Mouse to snap some, but she didn’t do it. Why she do me like that?
The usual crew was there, my Mom and Dad, Uncle Bob and Aunt Phyllis, their son Mike, and The Newlyweds, their daughter Lindsay and her new husband Rob B. Bernard, as my Mother calls him. Of course, we, The NutHatch contingent, were there as well. The canines present were our own Katie, and Lindsay and Rob B.’s poochie, Ava.
We generally feasted and had super duper long games of Apples to Apples and Scrabble. In the latter, my Dad asked if it was legal to use profanity. If you know my Dad, this is very odd, as he is a man of character and integrity in all areas. The Boy and I looked at each other, surprised. We said we guessed so, really just curious to find out which profanity it would be. The word was “TEAT”. Can I just say that we roared with laughter?
We will do the whole thing all over again at Christmas. With the same cast and crew. Except it will be at our house, and there will be several more added. I look forward to it immensely.
I have to tell you what JUST NOW, right this VERY MOMENT happened. Abby could not get Katie in from her morning tinkle. She said “Mom, she’s eating something”, always in my opinion, frightening words. She enjoys all things unwholesome and vile. I was prepared to drag her away from something heinous, like goose poop, but no, she had completely out done herself. It was a dead mouse.
Oh, she is a mighty hunter, she incites fear in the hearts of all dead animals. People, she has 4 teeth!!!
I put on quite a show for the neighbors. Abby said so.
Well, I need to go and dispose of the body, or else she will suddenly need to go potty every 3 and 1/2 minutes, so she can continue her revolting snack. Uck.
Please rememebr to vote here for Suzanne!
November 23, 2009 at 6:33 AM (Cats and Dog, Friends, Help Me Please)
Mrs. Schmenkman and Capri Deb have a friend who is trying to get enough votes to secure a blogging job. Go here and press vote. Easy peasy. Her name is Suzanne from Chickens in the Road. I know they love her blog, and who wouldn’t want to help someone get a job? You can vote once a day until Dec. 7th. If you could lend a hand, I know they all would appreciate it!
I have a post rolling around in my head about my fun weekend road trip, but I am a little short on time. I will tell you about it tomorrow. But I will leave you with this art that our cat Halle Berry created while I was gone.
She got a hold of my latest knitting and carried it to the kitchen. It was a maze. All wrapped around the table legs, up and over the chairs, over to the bakers rack. You can’t tell very well, but it’s around the arms of the chair.
When Honey picked it up to unwrap it, it was soaking wet. She had put it in the water bowl. Her signature move. How artistic of her.
October 15, 2009 at 6:23 AM (Cats and Dog)
That’s what Goomba calls The Pets. And he surely loves The Pets.
I was monkeying around with the camera this afternoon. I used the captives as my models.
This is Mama Mia. She needs to be photographed in natural light. For some reason, her blue eyes always glow she-devil-red in a flash. I have also learned that you can’t take her picture dead on. She has a little Barbra Streisand thing going on. Or Clarence The Cross-Eyed Lion thing. Which ever you prefer.
Mia is very fluffy. That is my nice way of saying she is fat. Mousey and I both agree that there is something so…so….so…sqwunchable about a fluffy cat. The Boy thinks she is the prettiest of our 3 girls. I love her pink nose.
This is Mousey’s girl, Lucy. She is very shy. Skittish could be a better word. She is the skinniest of our girls. You have to be quick to take her picture. Or she skitters on out of the room.
There’s our pretty LuLu! She spends all day sleeping at the foot of Mousey’s bed. She has the longest, best, tail of our girls. I like a long tail on a cat. She is a head butt-er, and a flopper when you pet her. She also has beautimous whiskers, and loverly golden eyes.
This is The Boy’s kitty, Halle Berry. We like to call this look her Angry Ears. But really, it’s her Uncomfortable Ears. Or kind of, Owl Ears. She is the most patient girl. And forgiving. She is the only one who will give Goomba the time of day. Although, she does give him her Angry Ear look quite frequently. She has many quirks. Some are drowning things in her water bowl, stealing shoelaces from The Boy’s room, and she is one of those rare spanking cats. Just pound away. She is intermediately fluffy. She is bucking her mother for the Matriarch title. I wish Mia would put her in her place. Then box her Angry Ears.
This is Relaxed Ears Halle. With her pretty green eyes and white smudge on her nose. She would not look at me when I had the flash on. Wonder why? She must be a natural type girl.
Don’t want to leave out the dog. Miss Katie Katherine. She has the patience of a saint. Only if food is involved.
She was waiting for Honey to give her a bite of his sandwich. She is intense. She has Jedi-like concentration skills. She is well versed in the power of persuasion.
I heard her. She said “you don’t want all of that sandwich”, then she waved her paw. Honey dropped her a schnibble.
The Force is with her.
October 8, 2009 at 6:06 AM (Around Our House, Cats and Dog)
Thank you all for your lovely, encouraging comments yesterday. I so appreciate you all.
It has been a little windy up here in The Mitten. When Honey came home yesterday morning, he said there was a pumpkin in our front yard. I have not bought any pumpkins yet this year.
When I left for BSF, I had to go look at the pumpkin.
Yep, it was a big old pumpkin. Lying next to our dug up sprinkler pipe . I thought maybe it was the next door neighbors, so I left it there. That must have been a ginormous gust of wind.
When I came home, it was still there. It must not be our neighbor’s. It would be very unlike our neighbor to not put something back in it’s place. It was still there when I took Mousey to swim practice at 5. I decided to investigate it further. I took the mighty watchdog with me.
It was a fake pumpkin!
I brought it up closer to the porch, so it wouldn’t blow away again, but tried to leave it out so it’s owner would see it and claim it.
This has happened to us before. Our house must be the final resting place for all things blown by the wind. Leaves, balls, trash cans and lids, papers, recyclables, BBQ covers. And now a pumpkin. We are the last thing to stop flying objects. Beyond us is a creek and a field.
I’m never sure what to do with the item. I usually leave it out on the lawn in hopes that someone will retrieve it. They rarely do.
Ironically, I have been to Michael’s, JoAnne’s, Homegoods and Hobby Lobby, this very week looking for a fake pumpkin, or fake mums, or something. I was hoping to find a way to beautify our front porch. I didn’t find anything that I liked and finally decided to scrap the whole idea. With the way our front yard looks at the moment, it was sort of like putting lipstick on a pig anyway.
If no one claims it, I’m going to plop it right on that chair and call it a day.
September 4, 2009 at 7:11 AM (Around Our House, Cats and Dog, Friends, Lists, Pretty Things)
I am resorting to the handy dandy list format, because I still feel as dry as a bugs hull. No identifiable juices flowing.
1. I am still loving my confetti lantana. I hope I can find another next year. That’s how much I heart it.
2. I love, love, love this color of impatiens. And I especially like it paired with this yellow.
3. Always love this kitty-witty. Halle Berry, peeking a boo.
4. Loving “Top Chef”, and ”Project Runway”. I was trying to get Mrs. Schmenkman to get on board and watch. So we could discuss it. She said no, all the drama reminded her of beauty school and the salon. I can see her point, but I’m still watching. Maybe she will join us soon for the biggest loser show. Maybe not.
5. And last, but NOT LEAST! I am loving having 2 new drivers in the house!!!! I love their new found independence, self confidence, AND, less schlepping for me!
Finally, something that I am NOT loving. Once, several years ago, on the first Capri Weekend Extravaganza that I was invited to attend, Capri Lis (aka, Mrs.Schmenkman) made a comment that I didn’t quite understand. She said she loved all God’s creatures, except the Japanese beetle. She thought that perhaps God had made a mistake. I had no comment about the subject, since I didn’t know anything about Japanese beetles. When I saw these scourges, I had the thought that they may just be a little beetle-ish. I asked Capri Patt, and she confirmed that yes, they were the dread breed. They done wrecked my sweet potato vine! Chewing and mating all over the place. Nasty bugs.
How about you all? Loving anything? Or NOT loving anything?
September 3, 2009 at 6:31 AM (Cats and Dog)
Bubbas is Katie’s nickname. I don’t remember where it came from, but it has been around since the beginning. And it has stuck .
Bubbas was in dire need of some beautification. She looked a little like Skank Doggy Dog.
Plus, she rolled in goose poop. That fur was coming off.
Why yes, those are crumbs on her nose. And no, she does not have fur oven mitts on her paws. She looks like she tied one on last night.
We also needed to blend in her belly fur. She was half shaved when she had her bladder stone/hysterectomy surgery a month or so ago. She had a lot of chest hair, and very little belly fur. As you can see, she was looking rather unkempt
So on Tuesday, while Goomba was napping, Bubbas got her hair-do. I snuck in a manicure while I had her all stressed out and exhausted. They supposedly did that when she had the aforementioned surgery, but they are way too conservative in their pooch pedi’s
That’s our sleek girl! Showing off her neck fat! At least her tongue is tucked in!
I realize some folks like her better with a more traditional Yorkie Do. But, to be perfectly honest, she stinks. It’s easier to bathe her frequently when she is shorn.
We left her some tail bling. It gives her some street cred. Don’t you think?
August 25, 2009 at 6:39 AM (Cats and Dog)
This is Halle Berry’s new favorite place to nap. She is a delicious bowl ‘o kitty!
August 22, 2009 at 9:59 AM (Bargains of the Month, Cats and Dog, Family Life, Honey, Muggins Q. Mouse, Our Boy, The Ab-Cat)
I can hardly believe that another month has flown by. Where is this summer going?
My very favorite bargain was found in Virginia. It will be my consolation prize for when summer is over, and I have to put the jeans back on. Always a sad day. It is actually a sadder day when I have to put on the socks.
These Lucky jeans were found on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx. For $20.00. They are oh, so comfortable too! I had a thought to show them actually ON my hindquarters. But, alas, no one is up at our house except me. And the cats. Who have just now discovered a plastic bag that has been sitting in the foyer since yesterday afternoon. And they are making a great deal of racket with that plastic bag. Think big time wrestling, in a plastic bag. And PLEASE, don’t get all worried that they could actually accidentally get themselves in the plastic bag and suffocate themselves. They have both auditioned for the feline version of “Biggest Loser”. They could no more get into the plastic bag than I could. They will just rustle it around annoyingly, then lay down and sleep on it.
The kids and I went to Value World ( where the plastic bag came from), once last month, and again yesterday, because we had a 30% off cou-pin. Mousey and The Boy love the Value World. I have to admit it is my favorite thrift shop as well. Mousey purchased many, many things to accentuate her new style. When I asked her where she spent the most time, she said in the old lady/ grandma sweater department. She has found some other really cute things as well.
The Boy insisted I help him look for shirts. I’m sure I don’t know why, he seemed to know instinctively if a flannel shirt was going to work or not, by just looking at it. If it was too big, he just said “No, it’s too George Costanza”. Which, I guess, meant it was too big in the belly. All I know is that George Costanza was the reason I never wanted to watch “Seinfeld”. He made me uncomfortable. He still makes me uncomfortable.
The Boy was also looking for a shirt to please LMNOP. That’s how much he is in like with her. He wants to dress to please her. Never mind that I have been trying to get him to stop looking like a dark HOBO for years now. She evidently likes a type of light blue and white striped shirt. He dutifully tried on every single one they had, and even though some genuinely looked nice on him, he couldn’t do it. They were too light. He said he felt like a cloud. What ever that means.
He did manage to add to his extensive collection of flannel. Four, all for $2. Cause we had the cou-pin.
Ab-Cats twinkie was a Red Wings hoodie, that I snatched up the second it left the stock girls hands. It was an authentic NHL brand, because that is uber-important. Not really. For under $3, with the cou-pin.
Honey received nothing, which is how he prefers it. He’s a saver.
The whole kit and caboodle.
Pile ‘O flannel on left (including, as he called it, the Ray Romano dad shirt), that aqua thing looks like something I wore in the seventies. Bat wing sleeves, unflattering stripe across the chest, color and all.
I thought this was particularly darling with all the moving bling. Mia was loving the moving bling as well. Who needs cat toys?
My purchases. The black is Icelandic, which I have never heard of, and the white is Talbots, which I have. All cotton.
These were my finds the last trip, on July 29th. So close to August, that I snuck it in. I LOVE that Columbia long sleeved shirt on the left for $1.90 !! I have great plans for it! The black top can be dressed up, or dressed down. Which suits me, as I am pretty casual. Also all cotton. I was complaing to Mrs. Schmenkman that I don’t like all of these material blends that the kids are wearing these days. Some I have never heard of. So, my motto is, if I don’t know it, I don’t wear it. Because chances are, those fabrics cause my deodorant to not work. Since I have the nose of a blood hound, I don’t ever want to go there. So I have become a fan of, the look, the feel, the fabric of our lives, cotton. The anti-stink material.
The green Old Navy hoodie was for Ab-Cat, who is the most casual person I know. Zebra, for Goomba to play with, was a quarter at a garage sale. It is SO cute! Our kids would have loved that little Serengeti surprise!
All for a little more than the price of a movie for our whole family. Except it lasts longer!
After we pick up some jeans for Mouse-stine and Mr. Jiggy-Fly, we will be finished with all of the shopping. The Ford Fiasco Family Budget and all.
It’s kind of fun to be creative though!
July 28, 2009 at 3:24 AM (Bargains of the Month, Cats and Dog, Friends)
Last week, after our walk, Keelyody and I toured the yearly garage sales in her neighborhood. We had a bit of luck!
I found this for a quarter. That’s 25 American cents! It matches our other front porch pots. As I looked at it, I realized that we spray painted the big ones a couple of years ago to try and extend their lives. Because, big pots? They are dang EXPENSIVE! Lucky for me, we still have some spray, so they will be like sisters soon.
I plan to situate it up by the porch chair. That is looking quite lush and glorious.
What is it about a cracked open door that brings out the felines? It can rouse them out of a dead sleep. Just to roll around on concrete and nibble blades of stuff.
Now, on to the back porch. Honey is always telling me we should get some of these. I don’t really know what they are called, but they look like fancy scooters. They come in handy to move the heavy pots when we are hosing off the back porch. When I look at the scooters in the store, I always feel they are too much money. So I don’t purchase the scooters. But these were $2.oo each. I felt the need to purchase those scooters!!!
Once again, cat rolling commenced.
Sunbathing.
So there you have my July bargains. Tell me about yours!
