Cat Nip, Cat Nap, Catatonic...

Little Miss Kitty is 7 months old now.  This means that she fully rules the roost around here.  I still absolutely adore her...so much so that I even love her when she hooks my nostril with her teeth at 3 a.m....I told you...love.  For the most part though she sleeps outside.  She loves hunting the cute little field mice.  Originally we got cats because we thought they would help to keep the snakes, scorpions, and other creepies that bite, sting, or have poisonous venom, at bay.  Turns out our cats prefer to stalk the beautiful, harmless swallows and the cute and furry eensie weensie field mice.  But, nevertheless, at the end of a hard day of protecting the family, Kitty has discovered, like so many of us, being within close proximity to a bottle or two or four of merlot can be quite rewarding. 

A Shoe In

Isn't she beautiful?  This is the newest member of the family.  She came home with us on Thanksgiving day.  We thought of calling her "Macy" (like the parade) but so far we only call her "Kitty," "Pretty Kitty"...and, on occassion, "Brat Cat" (this would be when she does things like climb up our Christmas tree and shake it until everything falls down and breaks...or when she climbs up into a potted plant and kicks all of the dirt out of it).   But, who could get mad at her?  Not me!  I just love her!!!  It all started when we got Snickers (my first cat) and I fell in love.  Now I have an extra soft spot for this little one.  I snapped the above picture of Kitty as she was circling around and around desperately trying to snuggle into my shoe. 

Snug as a Roo in a Robe

That’s my little Roo…content as can be… nestled in my clean, white, plush, robe…on my bed…even thought she isn’t allowed there anymore since I bought a new bedspread.  Oh the pleasures of the forbidden!  She makes me think about all of the times I wasn’t allowed to do certain things…but did them anyway…only to feel remorse and ultimately only wanted to wrap myself in the loving arms of my mother…the bestest most safest place in the world.

Giving Voice to Change

This here pic is of one of our young roosters.  He is just now starting to crow...er...attempt to crow.  This means that inside and outside of my house voices are changing.  While my son's voice seems to have deepened effortlessly without any embarrassing croaks, the same cannot be said about this here rooster.  His daily crows remind me of those old-timey barnyard sound machine/toys I used to shake and tip over repeatedly to hear those muffled moos and baaahs from....remember those?  They were nothing more than a small, enclosed tube with something mysterious inside that, when shaken or tipped over, emitted a sound.  Anywho...the sounds coming from this teenrooster are down right hilarious.  Everytime I hear his crow (which sounds more like he's being strangled to death rather than trying to rise and shine) I can't help but to think about how we all have our awkward stages.  Sometimes those stages last longer than we care to acknowledge but, in the end, we grow out of them...if not through them onto the next awkward stage.  He makes me want to do what I choose to do and do so boldly--without fear of anyone else's reaction or comment.  So what if I am "a little off" in my attempts...who cares if I don't look or sound or act like I am "suppose to"...I am at a point in my life where I have a few things to say and don't want to keep my words stuck in a muffled tube.  It's time to shake things up and crow!

Are You Happy Now?!

Two entries ago I described my cat as one who prefers lounging to ...well...just about anything. In an effort to prove me wrong Snickers comes prancing back toward the house this afternoon with a little extra something dangling from her jaws. This is the first time in almost a YEAR that I have ever witnessed such a sight as this. I won't pretend that I didn't consider photographing this milestone for posterity...but there was the dying lizard to consider. While tiny lizards are not necessarily the types of critters that need to be erradicated I was, nevertheless, proud/happy??? for Snickers.

This got me thinking about myself...just because I prefer lounging to...well...just about anything...doesn't mean that I can't exert myself when the need arises....it just hasn't arisen yet.

Ehhh...I Don't Think So

While my little dog, Roo, fearlessly and energetically chases after the chickens, barks at the passing deer, and pretends to always be on guard when someone is looking, my cat, Snickers, is way too layed back to even consider exerting herself unneccessarily. There have been times when I have witnessed her experiencing bouts of sheer adrenaline and joy and it proved quite entertaining...but most of the time she is asleep. Perhaps that is why I feel such a connection with her.

In the first picture Snickers is so pooped out from sleeping all day that she can barely sit up (I was so tempted to place a bottle of liquor wrapped in a brown bag near her left paw!)

In the second picture Snickers can hardly be bothered with something so trivial as a tarantula. Pah-leeeze!

Did I mention that we originally got Snickers so that we would have an outdoor cat who would protect us from all kinds of furry, slithery, and/or multi-legged creatures? ...Ehhhh...I don't think so!

Wild Abandon

Roo loves chasing the chickens...but only when one of us is watching. This picture was taken right after I told Roo to "Get 'Em!" Just before that they were all one big happy family. While I don't want Roo constantly chasing and ultimately attacking (eating) our free range chickens I do want her to patrol the porches. Our chickens have the annoying habit of leaving evidence of their visits to our porches most of which eventually ends up in our home if you catch my drift. With the nickname, Rooster, our tiny dog bursts full throttle towards our flock scattering them in all directions upon command. Once she went so far as to return with two tail feathers in her mouth! She proudly bounces back to the door ready to gloat no doubt deserving of a treat. It's fun to watch her looking back over her left shoulder just after reaching where the chickens once were--just to make sure there was a witness. Even though her face cannot be seen you can just feel her delight and know she is smiling.

Not Tonight

Not wanting to leave Roo out of the "cute sleeping pet" category I decided to let you get a glimpse of Her Royal Highness. Pay close attention to the expression on her face: it is basically saying, "Don't even THINK about touching me, moving me, sliding in next to me, or even looking at me." You see, Roo, the itty bitty 4 pounder rules the roost when it comes to bedtime. I can hardly step into my son's room, let alone stand next to his bed if she is already settled for the evening; I have the puncture wounds to prove it. At least I know that should anyone, God forbid, sneak into our house we would all be alerted immediately and the burglar would be mangled before we could dial 911. While I could probably drag Snickers down the stairs by one of her outstretched paws-her limp and sleeping body slinking over each step as if were a silken cloth (during which time she would not so much as even open one eye) I can not even tell my son goodnight without a low, gutteral, vibrating growl emminated from somewhere beneath the covers. If I so much as dared to chance a kiss on the forehead I would risk the loss of any appendage touching the bed. But, by day she is cute and well-behaved so we keep her around.

Cuppy Love

If you ever need a lesson in how to completely succumb to sleep---please---stop by my house one day and observe my cat. Snickers has brought more joy into my life than I ever thought a cat could. She simply cracks me up. I can't seem to stop snapping pictures of her sleeping. Just the other day I found her snoozing on top of my daughter's bed hugging Cuppy, a beloved stuffed animal. If this picture does not scream "CONTENTMENT!" I don't know what does.

Hot Dog

The days have been a little sultry this week. I turned on the air conditioner for the first time since last year...I had to or else I was going to collapse into a puddle of melted skin...and it is only May! We had been enjoying leaving our windows open night and day but once the house heated up there was no turning back. I believe in conserving energy and saving money...I really do...but I am no longer in the mood to sweat if I don't have to.

On the flip side my little dog, Roo, is lovin' the heat. Since she is all of four pounds she tends to follow the sunny spot in the house all day long. I snapped this picture of her taking in the rays of the sun. Normally she likes to nap on the porch on the welcome mat. Not on this sunny weekend though...she actually ran out into the yard, plopped down, rolled over, and sighed. It was as if she was simply going to sniff around when all of a sudden she realized there was true warmth surrounding her and she couldn't resist it's pull...kind of like the poppy field in The Wizard of Oz. Some of us can sleep anywhere-anytime...I'm all for it!

Inside Out

When we first brought home an abandoned kitty it was with the sole purpose of owning an “outdoor cat.” Since we live in the country we thought it would be most beneficial to have a feline roaming the perimeter of our homestead keeping creatures of the slimy,poisonous, and stinging nature from entering our abode. However, there were a few circumstances that kept said kitty indoors for quite some time. There was the obvious fact that she was just so darn precious. There was also the fact that she was just a helpless, defenseless, baby. I’d also like to point out that I was instructed to keep her in the bathroom for several weeks to help her establish a sense of security, a sense of home, and a sense of bonding. And let us not forget the fact that the chilly fall weather was upon us; thus I thought it best to keep her indoors until spring. Did I mention she was precious?
Well, this here dog lover became a cat lover and could not bear the thought of knowing my little Snickers was shivering up in a tree petrified that the beasts of the night were hunting her down. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until after Spring Break and after most of the late frosts were behind us I let Snickers sleep outside overnight.
She is still alive and thriving, however, she does an excellent job of looking through our glass doors and windows mewing pathetically. Every time one of us opens a door she bolts indoors and disappears. Several hours later she will be found sacked out in the loft where she will sleep for many more hours if allowed. I think it is because she has pulled an all-nighter fearing for her very life and only rests when she is “home.”
Just this morning, while trying to rush out of the house already late to school/work, Snickers squeezed herself between me and the slamming door, thus securing herself inside. Fortunately, we were exiting via the washroom so the inside door to the kitchen was already closed and I was able to thwart her plans (although I must say I felt her pain…believe me…if I could lock myself in the house and never leave I most certainly would). I tossed her outside convincing myself that the day would be lovely and filled with plenty of bugs and butterflies to pounce upon. No sooner had she disappeared into the brush, than two stray dogs showed themselves near our barn. My son had just turned his chickens loose and if you know a thing or two about chickens you know there ain’t no getting’ ‘em locked back up. If you know a thing or two about dogs then you know some of ‘em like to chase and murder chickens. Our chickens peel out around the corners of the house to greet us every time we come home.
I spent the next ten minutes trying to convince Snickers that I wanted to catch her, hold her, and put her inside the house. Eventually my daughter and I closed in on her and were able to grab her and throw her in the briar patch…poor poor cat.
All of this before 7:15 in the morning! Of course, it wasn’t until we got home that I realized I had refilled Snickers’ food bowl outside which meant she didn’t have anything to eat inside. See…the brooding never ends!

Jingle Jangle

I love my pets. I miss my pets when I am at work. A couple of times I have snuck my dog to work--but it turned out to be more work fretting over her and trying to be covert than simply longing to be home with her. I have one dog, a miniature Chaweenie (Dachshund/Chihuahua)named Roo and one tabby cat named Snickers (she's really my daughter's cat but you know how that goes...The Mama is The Mama is The Mama). Snickers and Roo each wear a collar and either tags or bells so that I know where they are at all times. Each tag/bell has a certain timbre to it so that I can differenciate between the two. Just the other day my daughter was playing with an extra collar and as soon as I heard the jangle I thought immediately of Roo. Today, I kept hearing what I thought was Snickers' bell all througout the day only that was impossible because I wasn't even home. It turns out the zipper on the lightweight sweater I was wearing sounding almost exactly like Snicker's bell. In some ways it brought me comfort but in other ways it freaked me out. I decided that when my pets have gone on to greener pastures I would get rid of any and all collars with jingles and jangles on them. I would rather keep pictures of them as cherished memories than to hear a jingle-jangle and involuntarily think they were still running around.

Wet Whiskers

Pets are such neat creatures...the way they elevate our self esteem without

even knowing they are doing so. They crave our attention and when we give it they lick us to pieces. We smile and try to wriggle free from their wet tongues but we still enjoy the fact that we are loved by our furry friends; and then we catch them drinking from our toilet.

Taking Stock

There is still so much to do
Yet nothing more can be done
The chickens have been fed
I'm so proud of my son
The chickens were crated
In the back of our truck
I hugged him goodbye and
Wished him good luck
The weigh in is early
The show is at one
No matter the place
My boy has won
He always worked hard
In the heat and the cold
He raised them from chicks
Only to be sold
I can write all about it
I can snap pictures with glee
But my husband is the one
Who taught responsibility
Together they labored
To prepare for this show
A boy and his dad
A memory did grow

Always Leave a Q-Tip

This morning started off okay if you count a thirty minute duel with the snooze button. I knew I would have to get up early but I stayed up late again...because I could. I took my time getting ready--barely shuffling my feet...because I could. I didn't have to report to work until 8:00 this morning so there you have it...of course as the morning wore on I ended up actually leaving my house at 8:00 (but let's not go there...just in case my boss reads this---!)

As I enjoyed my quiet moment "alone" this morning--the kids were still asleep--I poured some coffee, talked to our cat, and turned on the Today Show. It was cold and wet with a high of 43 so I put on an extra layer of clothing. Snickers decided that I needed a little company so she stayed with me in my bathroom while I put on my makeup. She thoroughly enjoys playing with Q-Tips so I threw one down to her. She batted it around and around until it ended up on the bath mat in front of my tub. She had the mat curled up and flipped over in no time. Then it was on to bigger and better (and shinier) things.

I left my chair for a second to get something and up she hopped. She stretched over the counter as if she were ready for her close up. My eyes grew wide when I realized what could potentially happen. Sure enough Snickes reached for a cotton ball and in the process knocked an earring to the ground (don't worry Mother...I have a plastic cover over my drain to catch all of my stray hairs that somehow or another find their way to every drain in the house!).

When I finally made it to work I enjoyed seeing people who make me laugh and feel good. I used up my lunch break returning that dad-gum bed in a bag that has been haunting me for weeks now!!! I wash my hands of it!!! I snuck in a power shopping spree and grabbed some Chinese food to go. After work I spent an hour at Wal-Mart...I mean...I might as well get into the real routine again!!!

Needless to say I am pooped out! My right trapezoid muscle is burning and my eyes are heavy. As soon as this gets posted I'm off to bed and hopefully to sleep. One must get her beauty sleep before dealing with the equivalent of trying to herd 600+cats...otherwise known as elementary students in a very large library. Maybe I'll cover the library floor with Q-Tips!!!

Getting to the ROOt of the Issue

Yes, that's my darling dog, Roo, sitting in the potted plant...looking up at me...pleading for me to take her with me. Everytime I am getting ready to leave the house she will jump into any item that either looks like it may be going with me or is closest to the door. Dogs just know when their master is getting ready to leave. Roo starts frantically following me from room to room once she sees me putting on my shoes. Her tiny toenails clacking on the floor; her doe eyes looking upward...sometimes even watering (break my heart). Thank God for our loving pets. They are the only ones we can always count on to make us feel good...no matter what. Right now, as I type this after an hour long solitaire session (can't sleep) Snickers is sleeping at my feet and I can hear Roo's bell/tags jingling every so often as she shifts her position in my son's bed down below. These are the things that make me smile.

My Space

We all need our space...a place that is our very own. For me it is my writing loft...for Roo it is where I lay my head each night. I love that she loves to be there nestled in my scent...her mama. Before, when I had my age old bedding I didn't give it a second thought, but now that I have recently purchased a new comforter set I am a little apprehensive. Mostly because Roo tends to "dig" her way into a nest of bedding (and I won't even begin to describe the sharp claws and frisky demeanor of Snickers). This new comforter has more of a satin sheen to it than any of my previous covers. I knew this when I bought it...but did it anyway. I am tired of looking so far into the future and trying to be sensible...I am ready to just be happy for the moment--shredded sheets and all.

After making my bed I decided that I would set one of Roo's many beds on top of my bed in an effort to prevent her from digging and scratching. As you can see from the photos above she didn't dig that idea at all! I don't blame her--I, too, love to snuggle in and burrow down in a spot that makes me feel loved, warm, and relaxed. Old, new, borrowed, or blue, we all need to carve out a space that is just ours.

Something's a Little Fishy

Don't you just hate it when you know what you want...when what you want is right there in front of your eyes...but you just can't quite reach it/have it/get it? Isn't it frustrating when the only thing separating you from reaching your goal is...you? So often what we seek is not only right in front of our eyes but within reach--if only we adjust our approach; our point of view.

There have been several times when the answer was a rather simple one but I had gone about finding it the hard way; kind of like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Although I am not fortunate enough to own a pair of ruby slippers, I do have access to something even more powerful-prayer. As my thoughts turn toward the new year ahead of me I can't help but to think of things such as my 20th high school reunion, my family, my parents, my dilapidated life. Will I be able to remain positive and focused? Will I be able to muster enough patience to make it through a single day? Will I find myself at the end of '09 thinking and doing the exact same things I've been thinking and doing my whole life? Will I be a good parent? Will my kids make smart decisions and wise choices? Obviously I can't spend the next 364 days worrying about all of these things...this is where prayer comes in to play. I don't want to come across as being flippant, but I have found a way to let go of all of that which makes me feel queasy...all that hinders me and weighs me down...I pray. God is so amazing that He would do this for me...he takes it all so I don't have to succumb to fear or worry. The hard part is for me to remember to talk to Him about what's on my mind on a daily basis. But, whenever I do, He lifts the burdens away and I am able to sleep at night.

Like my cat, Snickers, I am growing tired of chasing after the things that I want in life only to find out I had seen them in a refracted light...everything was not quite as it seemed. Perhaps the things that I have been longing for most have been right in front of me the whole time...maybe it is time to adjust my approach; my point of view...and pray.

Not All It's Cracked Up to Be

In less than 24 hours I have had my fill of chickens and

everything that comes out of them. With my son away hunting, the task of taking care of his stockshow chickens along with his "regular" chickens fell to moi. I don't know how I always get so lucky but I do. My son loves these chickens and works so dang hard each and every day making sure that they are provided for. He cleans their coop, their feed trays, and their water stations. He makes certain that the heat lamps are on in the event of a freeze and the fans are blowing when it gets too hot. Before he left he made sure that I knew what to do and what not to do...and when to do it.

Last night, after my daughter and I got home from a full day of shopping, the sky was starting to darken and the temperatures were dropping. I had a friend due to arrive in less than three minutes and my sister-in-law was just taking a pizza out of the oven. But, before I could dole out hugs and start to dine, I had to do the chicken dance. I went over to the "regular" coop, collected some "clean" eggs, (which means they do not have as much chicken poop on them as the ones due to hatch), scooped and poured some fresh feed, and refilled the water jug. Next it was off to the 'show' coop. This one was a little trickier. First I had to feed and water the culled chickens. Then I had to do the same with the show chickens. There is a lot of poop, water, mud, and climbing involved. Once that chore was completed I went into the kitchen and started putting some groceries away. I had bought a still-warm rotisserie chicken and quickly discovered that its juices were leaking all over my counter...greasy juices...the kind that don't really wipe up the first four times you try. These slimy liquids made their way to the kitchen floor as well...gave it a nice shine though so I went ahead and smeared it as far as it would go with the dish towel. When I tried to squeeze the chicken into the fridge I heard a sound I immediately recognized as a cracked egg. There, in the back, was the cracked remnants of a raw egg...bright yellow yolk slipping its way down the backside of the fridge, pooling on top of the glass shelves, and collecting in between the glass along the edges. After a few quiet moments to myself it was determined that since the egg was not rotten and since the temp in the fridge would remain cold the clean up could wait until my son got home.You see, he had picked up the habit of setting the eggs in the refridgerator instead of in an actual egg carton.

We went ahead with our girls' night plans and after an evening of homemade pizza, a movie that brought us to tears and wrapped us in laughter, and bowls of Blue Bell Coffee Ice Cream, caramel syrup, brownies, and whipped cream, we called it a night...a good night.

The next morning, when I went outside to repeat all of the above mentioned chicken checkin' duties, I was met with the drone of either flies or bees. The hum met me way before I was anywhere near the coop. I had visions of a massacre that had occurred while I slept the night away...Please God...NO...not on MY watch!!! Fortunately it was not flies hovering over chicken carcasses but, unfortunately, it was well over a hundred bees swarming inside the coop. There were bees in every feed tray, inside the water buckets, and completely covering the floor. All of the chickens were huddled in every corner foregoing food for safety. I was amazed that I did not get stung as I did my chores. That evening, my daughter and I were suppose to go into San Antonio to have dinner with my best friend and while were there I was going to return the infamous "polka dot" comforter. But I did not want to leave the chickens to get stung to death a mere week before the stockshow. I knew that I probably needed to build a fire and smoke out the bees but I wasn't exactly sure of the best way to do this. I could not get a hold of my husband or my son as their cell phones were not getting any kind of reception whatsoever down where they were hunting. Just before we left I was able to get a hold of my brother-in-law who immediately handed the phone to my son. He calmly reassured me that everything would be okay and that he would take care of it all in the morning when he returned. Phew!

Off we went to S.A., but not before stopping first at the gas station as my dash read "Empty!!"--go figure. Once we got to the store, my daughter and I lugged in both bed-in-a bags (I had bought one for her too--but it wasn't going to work either). While we were waiting in line I started digging in my little purse for the receipt that I had diligently saved. Prior to our trip into town I had decided to change purses (Big No-No). Even though I love little purses I am by nature a big bag lady (pun intended). I remember staring at, transferring, folding, and storing the receipt before leaving the house. Now that we are in line the damn paper is nowhere in sight. I leave my daughter in line and run out into the parking lot and begin to rummage through my trunk-hoping it may be in the larger bag I had brought along to keep all of the stuff that wouldn't fit into my smaller bag (I have issues). No receipt. As I jog back up to the store my mind starts reeling with images of us trying desperately to prove to the police that the two huge bed-in-a-bags are really ours-paid for and all. I grab my daughter and tell her to quickly follow me---do not ask questions just walk fast. We briskly passed between the two metal detector panels at the storefront without so much as looking up and into the eye of the security camera. With no electronic alarms sounding and no strong security guard's hand upon our shoulders we ran straight to our car, tossed the bags into the trunk and drove off to Salsalito's.

We sat through a quiet meal as everyone was exhausted but glad to see each other and, quite honestly, relieved to be able to accomplish the goal of getting together at least once over the holidays!

Late that night, once back at home, I was relieved that the bees had retired for the night and all of the chickens were still alive---and still eating! And although I still can't find that freaking reciept, this tired Mama is glad to be home...still alive...and still eating!

How Lovely Are Your Branches!

Look closely and you'll see Snickers, our cat, nestled inside our Christmas tree! This reminds me of the scene in E.T. when E.T. is hiding amongst all of the other stuffed animals in Gertie's closet!