152 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread

  1. Ricky's Mom October 15, 2016 / 9:28 am

    Very, very close, but actually the most beautiful cat in the world is my nephew, Ginger Baker (the cat), as seen in this book by his mom (my sister-in-law): http://www.blurb.com/books/1009222-the-story-of-gin.

    My day will be a fairly normal Saturday for me: laundry, water plants, vacuum any area that doesn’t require me to move furniture, order groceries, empty all the trash baskets and dispose of contents responsibly, walk, feed, play with Ricky, and then …

    Attend first preview performance of current show to take detailed notes on idiolect features.

    • AJ October 15, 2016 / 10:55 am

      It’s a toss up on which cat is more beautiful. This lovely lady/gent or Gin-Gin. That floof! Those eyes!!

      • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:45 pm

        Ah, now I get why this sweetie is called “Smoothie” – her pal is “Milkshake”!

  2. allein ? October 15, 2016 / 9:43 am

    Are those eyes or sea glass?

    Getting my oil changed this afternoon. Oil changes don’t cost me anything but I’m sure they’ll come up with something else that needs doing that will. Gonna stop at Starbucks on my way cuz I have a freebie on my card. Thinking black tea latte with vanilla..

    Hope everyone is having a good morning!

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:47 pm

      Allein, that little flufflepooch certainly added to the pleasure of my day.?

      • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 1:59 pm

        Sitting here at the Hyundai dealer giggling at “flufflepooch.”

        So I have five bucks from Famous Footwear and 15% off at Kohls. There used to be a FF in the same shopping center as Kohls but they closed. Debating how much driving I want to do and the best order/route if I decide to do both. Or I could wait for the next Kohls coupon and see if I get more.

  3. Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 9:44 am

    What a coy piece of work THAT little darlin’ is! I am bedazzled by her green eyes and fluffy chest.

    I’m meeting with a friend to go over our booth design for our craft guild’s upcoming show. I’ve been able to draw a bit which is helpful, and I now have some hopes of being able to add some smaller pieces to my lineup.

    I keep doing small things to my shoulder however!! The other day I tripped and torqued my upper body and wrenched it – that’s starting to feel better but today I was getting out of the tub and accidentally put some weight on the arm and now it hurts again! Egad! I guess this comes with getting a bit cocky about what you feel like you can do and what you should do. They aren’t specific about any of that except to tell me “no external rotation”

    I need to get my plants indoors – will have to direct the hubby to do the lifting. They all go down the basement under a fluorescent light until springtime – our house doesn’t have good enough natural light to support many plants. I do like to overwinter plants like hibiscus and some grasses that wouldn’t survive the winter here in the Delaware Valley – funnily enough they bloom like mad when nobody’s watching.

    • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 10:22 am

      Much the same here, Murray, bring in plants soon for over-wintering. My white
      geraniums (several years running, now) go into the garage, go dormant and perk
      up again next Spring. Getting things lined up for consignment is a wrench; now
      that we no longer photograph events, I don’t need many “nice” things, but I like
      my stuff, and it’s hard to decide what goes. So sorry your shoulder is getting
      a bit beat up. My dad used to say accidents happen when you begin to feel sure
      of yourself. He was so right. Going to a Pork and Oyster supper later at a local
      church. Sounds weird, I know, but these are a tradition in this neck of the woods.
      All very down-home cooking and communal. Fun. And treif. Go Dodgers!

      • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:22 pm

        I’ve never had the nerve to just let the geraniums go dormant – I assume you don’t water them or anything? I have some that are several years old – also, you can take a cutting, root them in water under a fluorescent light and they will bloom happily all winter – very forgiving plants.

        I take it you’re going through the downsizing exercise? I almost don’t know where to begin. I’m thinking Craigslist, but first we have to empty out the garage. That way we don’t have to let people in the house itself, we can just display things in there. But so much has to be put on hold until I’m back to full operative mode. Frustration!!!

        • Duckie ? October 15, 2016 / 4:26 pm

          Don’t forget, Murray, I’ll rescue you from any extra fabric, and if you have small dollhouse items, I’d love to look at them.

          • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 6:17 pm

            Ditto on the dollhouse items here, Murray.
            Remember our possible lunch date?
            As for the geraniums, I just cut them back to
            about 4 inches or so, put them in the cool
            garage, and dribble them with a little water
            whenever I think of it, not often, leave them
            pretty dry. Come St Patrick’s Day or so, start
            giving them drinks again and gradually bring
            them into warmth, out or in. I can’t always
            find white geraniums, so I like to try saving them.

            • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 9:44 pm

              I haven’t forgotten our lunch date, P’sMom, nor have I forgotten you, Duckie!

              As far as the geraniums, try taking some of the cuttings and just leaving them in water in a fairly bright place and they’ll root and you’ll have lots more white geraniums! I have a favorite pink geranium (and we ARE talking about what are really pelargoniums, I do believe) that I always save some stalks from so that I can plant more in the spring. You can even put them in the ground.

              Do you realize that we now have a Duckie and a Dulcie????? How cool is that – I thought Duckie had somehow misspelled her name!

              • Duckie ? October 15, 2016 / 10:12 pm

                Never!
                ☺️

              • Phred's Mom October 16, 2016 / 9:31 am

                I will try rooting the cut bits as you suggest. Just might
                work. I like to stick with white flowers with some
                accents of primary colors, mainly blue. My house is
                a muted goldish color, so this, with all the green, works
                for me.

  4. Amyliz October 15, 2016 / 9:46 am

    Well, I think you not just beatific but downright glamorous!

    Today is my turn to go shoe shopping. (Gigi, I believe you were dreading that last weekend!) I have finally learned not to buy cheap shoes and am resigned to shelling out some bucks for good quality ones. I don’t drive so I do LOTS of walking; therefore comfort is highly important but of course I still want them to be cute!

    Happy weekend to you all!

    • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 9:52 am

      Ooh, that reminds me, I have a $5 coupon for famous footwear. Maybe I’ll take a ride and see if I can use it.

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:03 pm

      Amyliz, do you know about Drew shoes? I have a pair and have friends who have many pairs – great walking shoe, high toe box, so comfy. They can be in certain stores (also through podiatrists because they can have prescription orthotics put in them) but look online for all the different styles, even sneakers (I’m coveting the red ones).

      • Gigi the cat lady October 15, 2016 / 2:59 pm

        Murray C. I didn’t know about Drew shoes, I looked at their website and they do seem to have a good selection but ordering shoes without trying them seems risky in my case. But I’ll keep the link and maybe I’ll try if I can’t find anything.

        • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 3:31 pm

          You might contact them and find out where their distributors are – that way you could at least try them on and find out what your size range for them is.

      • Amyliz October 15, 2016 / 7:17 pm

        Thanks for the tip, Murray! I will keep that in mind!

    • Gigi the cat lady October 15, 2016 / 2:54 pm

      Amyliz, I hope you has more luck shoe shopping than I did.

      • Amyliz October 15, 2016 / 7:21 pm

        I did. Got a pair of Life Stride loafers and a pair of Naturalizer ankle boots, both on sale so I was happy! Both pair are black so next would like something in brown but that’s not in the budget right now!

  5. DC Cindy October 15, 2016 / 9:49 am

    Not much, hanging out with friends at the local renaissance fair. Trying to decide how much to dress up. Go full corset or just a leather vest.

    • debg October 15, 2016 / 10:34 am

      I haven’t been to a Ren Faire in years, and they’re both fun and aggravating. As a medieval historian, I feel honor bound to nitpick, so I can only handle them about once every 2 to 3 years. But they’re also a blast once I start shopping! Plus the ones back in upstate New York would put on Shakespeare plays, which were always a treat.

      • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 10:41 am

        My Medieval Lit and History of the English Language classes (which was mostly the same people, because let’s be honest, not too many non-English majors want to take Medieval Lit, and HEL was a majors-only class) went to the PA Ren Faire when I was a junior or senior in college. Our professor dressed as a monk…wearing Tevas sport sandals. And there was a little one-lane bridge that was being replaced, so we had to make a detour, and we ended up stopping for directions. I really wish I had gotten a picture of our slightly-anachronistic monk talking to some guy in a cowboy hat with a horse in his front yard.

        I have a little wooden rune that claims to mean”good luck” and somewhere there is a picture of my friend and me dressed as ladies (in part because neither one of us could fill out the wench costumes 😛 ).

      • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:34 pm

        I’ve never been to a Renaissance Faire but I did get to perform in San Francisco’s “Dickens Faire and Pickwick Comic Annual” many, many years ago. (The Victorian era is more my cup of tea) I had to sing about 4x’s a day, one or two songs each time, then spend the rest of the day walking around in character providing local color, drinking pints of Guinness (??) which I consider d my meals. Ah, youth, it was so much fun.

        • Phred's Mom October 16, 2016 / 9:35 am

          Our Unitarian fellowship had a Renaissance Faire in which I danced
          a pavane and a galliard in my Tudor costume. We had mead, ale, the
          works. Ah, yes, youth! Great fun.

  6. debg October 15, 2016 / 10:39 am

    My weekend will be taken up with cats and crafty things. New arrival Scorpius needs a place to chill while he gets to know his siblings and hopefully becomes less fearful of me. That means attaching a baby gate to the doorway of my office so he’s got a private spot, then moving all the other cats’ food dishes somewhere else, then cleaning cleaning cleaning. A shawl and a hat to finish knitting for work, then sleeves for my latest cardigan. Maybe I’ll do some spinning and sewing this weekend too, as I listen to Amy Poehler’s Yes Please and watch Poldark.

    I’m pleased to report that George Weasleybrat acts like he’s never been away. Scorpius, the young black cat I caught in the livetrap, is in great health–no FIV/FLV, has his adult teeth so he’s somewhere between 7 and 9 months old. We’ll see how S adapts to living indoors with other cats. He’s spent his week here frozen behind the toilet whenever I come in, but he seems interested in the other felines. Cats.

    • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 10:44 am

      Aw, poor baby. Hope he settles in soon.

      We went out for dinner last night for my and my mom’s birthdays. When I got to their house I left my phone in the car, and when I came back in from getting it, Stripes was by the door waiting to attempt an escape. He got his nose in the doorway before being forced back as I shut it. Then locked it for good measure. Brat, indeed.

      • AJ October 15, 2016 / 10:51 am

        Was Stripes yelling at the door again???? I loved that phrase when you used it last week? the week before?? when you were cat sitting. I agree, what a little brat.

        • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 10:56 am

          Nah, he just went sprawled on the floor like he does, waiting for someone to step into the trap of his exposed belly.

          • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:36 pm

            We have inexpensive jingle bells on doorknobs and our cat rings when she wants out.

            • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 1:46 pm

              Yeah, he’s not actually allowed out.

        • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:39 pm

          We have inexpensive jingle bells on doorknobs and our cat rings when she wants out.

          • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:50 pm

            Sorry, don’t know how this comment got here twice!

            • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 6:19 pm

              Great idea about the bells, worth repeating!

    • AB October 15, 2016 / 5:07 pm

      So glad Weasley is safe! Intellectually, I know the world is full of missing kitties, but when I know a specific kitty is missing, I just hate it! It’s like the High Park hamster dogs. I hope he stays safe for the rest of his years!

  7. Jan October 15, 2016 / 10:51 am

    What do I think kitty? I think you’re lovely! Almost as beautiful as Coby!

    https://www.instagram.com/cobythecat/

    Lily (seen here posing with her trophy mouse) begs to differ on both points however… 🙂

    • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 10:57 am

      She looks so long!

      • Jan October 15, 2016 / 12:06 pm

        She is! She’s actually almost as big as my last cat was as an adult, and she’s only 5 months old… she’s going to be a big girl!

    • debg October 15, 2016 / 11:57 am

      Long cat is long! What a cutie-patootie!

    • debg October 15, 2016 / 12:00 pm

      Do you praise Lily when she catches mouse toys? My big girl, Josephine, mews like she’s just taken down a ROUS when she catches one. I praise her a lot, just in case she ever has to face a real rodent.

      • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 12:34 pm

        The one time I caught the cats with a real rodent there was no praising…and I ended up answering the door for the pizza guy with a half-dead mouse on a paper plate! At least he had a story to tell when he got back to the store…

        • Jan October 15, 2016 / 4:52 pm

          My last cat didn’t bring rodents in (if she caught them, she ate them outside), but she did bring in birds. All dead, but then she’d lived feral for a long time and didn’t take chances with a potential meal escaping!

          The way Lily tortures her mousie before bringing it to me makes me pity any rodent she does happen across. She still gets praise though!

          • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 6:00 pm

            She caught this one in the living room (or at least that’s where she had it when I caught her..). He was a little bitty thing, too. I put him under a plant in front of the house. Checked a little later an he had expired. By morning he was gone. A neighborhood cat got him, I assume.

            Our first cat was a stray who adopted us, so he was an indoor-outdoor kitty. One morning there was a baby bird flitting around on the porch; he came from the nest in the tree in the front yard. Later my mom stepped out onto the porch and stepped on the bird lying dead on the doormat, presumably courtesy of George. Luckily he was not in the habit of bringing us such gifts.

    • Faye October 15, 2016 / 4:12 pm

      Lovely Lily the Long.

  8. AJ October 15, 2016 / 11:03 am

    Got a busy weekend and week coming up. Hockey season has started back up and my team won their opener last night – so happy!!! More hockey tonight. And since hubby had to work today, I’m hope doing laundry and cleaning. Then tomorrow is grocery shopping and getting organized to go see my mom for a few days. She’s doing better but now me and my brother need to move her to assisted living. Oh man, what a tough decision process that’s been. Stay near him or move her out here with me? What places have availability? And when they do have availability, is it the right place for her? Saw a really nice place by me yesterday but what was available might be taken by someone on the community’s waiting list. AARRRGGGGGHHH!! I just want to get her settled before I go on my cruise in 3 weeks. And then there’s the matter of cleaning out her regular apartment and deciding what to do with all her stuff that there wasn’t room for in her new place. It’s going to be a long couple of months.

    • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 11:54 am

      You’ve got a hard job ahead, AJ. How is Mom at helping with the decision-making
      re her stuff? This is specially difficult for Moms. Be sure Brother helps as much as
      possible. But you knew this already. Good luck.

      • AJ October 15, 2016 / 12:16 pm

        We’ve involved mom as much as possibly but she’s pulling the “Whatever you think is best” routine. I already have an idea of what her favorite things are to bring over for her new place and thankfully, me and her went through her stuff a few years ago so I know who should get what, and what can be sold. Unfortunately, no one in the family really wants any of the antiques and I don’t think there’s much of a market for them anyway. I am definitely gonna need that vacation to recharge before clearing out her apartment.

        • Birdcage October 15, 2016 / 12:31 pm

          I feel for you, AJ, that’s all hard work. About 18 months ago, I had to help an elderly aunt (one without children of her own to help her) move into long term care. She had a little house that was jammed with her hoarded belongings and it was a chore going through everything and getting her house ready for sale. You’re right – there’s not much market for the resale of older furniture and smaller personal items, which is a shame. It was a difficult time. I imagine having to do it for my parents before too much longer. Take care of yourself.

          • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 6:26 pm

            I did it for my mom after she passed away.
            She did a lot of needlework, of all sorts, and
            hoarded boxes and boxes of yarns and fabrics.
            I gave away several huge boxes of quilting material
            to a quilting guild, and a couple of years later, they
            gifted me with a finished quilt that my mother had
            begun. Lovely and sweet of them. The cleanout was
            hard and in many ways heart-breaking as well as
            a wake-up call to weed out STUFF. I’m still at it.

            • Squiddy October 15, 2016 / 7:06 pm

              My mom was an inverate crocheter. When she passed away, she left behind boxes and boxes and boxes of yarn, And, sadly, many unfinished projects, most separated from their patterns. As a memorial to her, I finished the ones that I could, but had to throw away many of them, simply because I had no idea what they were intended to be.

              It was heartbreaking.

              Now I make sure not to start any project until the previous one is completed, so no one ever has to deal with that level of loss on my account.

              • Phred's Mom October 16, 2016 / 9:45 am

                I have started a little notebook for my daughter, my
                executrix, with names, phone, email, whatever, of
                all important entities along with account numbers,
                including utilities, charge accounts, everything.
                Also tagging, labelling unobtrusively, anything of
                real or sentimental value with provenance, maker,
                latest value, etc., even though nothing I have is a
                big deal. I have a lot of “small”antiques and some
                ancestors’ jewelry she may want to keep/sell. The
                local thrift shops are getting anything I don’t “love”
                so she doesn’t have to go through the hassle of clearing.
                It’s truly an emotional roller coaster I want to minimize
                for her.

                • Phred's Mom October 16, 2016 / 9:53 am

                  . . . also cuts down my housework, if truth be told.
                  ?

  9. Birdcage October 15, 2016 / 11:15 am

    His Royal Green Highness, Prince Merlin of Oakville, and I, his lowly human vassal, just returned from the gross indignity of his annual wellness check-up at the avian vet. He’s currently back in his cage giving me the silent treatment. I expect this will be the state of affairs for the rest of the day. But his talons-of-human-control are finally trimmed so he’ll be easier to handle for the next few months until they grow back. I’m going outside to mow my lawn – perhaps for the last time this season before it starts to go dormant. By next week I’ll be raking leaves. My sister has promised to come over with my poodle nephew and poodle niece, Sir Rio and Lady Roxanne, for an autumn walk down to the shores of Lake Ontario to view the fall colours. Looking forward to that. Also looking forward to a hair appointment with my “therapist” – always walk away from the salon looking and feeling better about myself. Gonna be a good day.

  10. Patty October 15, 2016 / 11:26 am

    I don’t have plans for the weekend, will take it as it comes. I have been busy this week, between grandkids, and pets. I have acquired a chihuahua this week. Her owner (my husband’s daughter) got her from a friend who was deployed, but they also have preschoolers, and a great dane puppy. Too many big clumsy creatures meant she was stepped on a few times, and she was scared, and not happy. Sophie is from a small town, is not used to a leash, and used to just go outside at will. Here, she has to let me know if she needs to go out, and we use a leash. I live on a busy street, she is afraid of cars, so we haven’t made it far with the walks yet, just around the back yard a little. She barks some, but not as bad as the first day, and she listens when I tell her to be quiet. She is maybe 4 or 5 yrs old, needs her nails trimmed, not spayed, allegedly is UTD on her shots, but no proof of it, so she will be at least getting a rabies vaccination so we can register with the city. Gracie loves her, they play together (I was worried how that would work out) and sleep together.

    • Mich Patt October 15, 2016 / 1:03 pm

      Oh, she’s so sweet! Look at that scared little face. THANK YOU for taking her in!

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:10 pm

      Aw, Sophie is so cute – it sounds like she’ll adapt. Poor little thing being shuffled around so much, it must be so confusing. Good for you, Patty, for taking her.

    • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 1:25 pm

      D’aww…I am jealous. Give her a cuddle from me.

    • Gigi the cat lady October 15, 2016 / 3:13 pm

      Good on you for taking her in, she must have felt so lost and scared being moved around like that.

    • Faye October 15, 2016 / 6:05 pm

      Hi Patty! Welcome to the Chihuahua Club. Good for you. One tip: most Chihuahuas enjoy burrowing under a small blanket, towel or throw. Your girl may feel more safe that way.

      God bless you.

      • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 6:10 pm

        Oh, yeah. We always had to be careful getting in bed with Pablo; could never tell which lump was a fold in the comforter and which was him. Even in the middle of summer he was deep under there half the time.

      • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 6:29 pm

        Patty, you already have so much on your plate!
        You are an exceptional human being, and I wish
        you all kinds of good stuff to come your way.

      • Patty October 15, 2016 / 6:53 pm

        I discovered that fact when she got tired of playing with the cat, and jumped in my lap, crawled under my robe into the chair behind me. She also crawled under the covers in the bed. I didn’t know it was a chihuahua thing. I’m inexperienced with chihuahuas, and dogs in general. I have had mostly cats.

        • Amyliz October 15, 2016 / 7:25 pm

          Aw, she is so cute! You are so kind to take her in, Patty, and I bet she will feel safe and secure with you eventually, it’ll just take time and patience!

  11. SoccerSue October 15, 2016 / 11:37 am

    I would tell you how beautiful you are, but I think my little princess would be jealous.

    We’re flying home from Las Vegas to the Pacific Northwest this afternoon, right at the height of the big storm. Positive thoughts for a safe flight would be greatly appreciated. I hate flying anyway and I don’t anticipate the last part of this one (or the drive home from the airport) being a lot of fun.

    • debg October 15, 2016 / 11:59 am

      Patty, you are the most generous person in the world. Sophie is lucky to have you.

      Soccersue, best wishes for an uneventful and (dare I say it?) pleasant trip home.

      • Patty October 15, 2016 / 12:19 pm

        Thanks, DEBG, I have always taken in strays. Weird that a few weeks ago I was pet free after all of mine passed away (cockatiel was 25, dog was 15, cat was 14) within a few months. Now, suddenly 2 pets have been thrown my way in just a couple of weeks. That’s how I get most of my pets, someone has one they can’t take care of, call Patty. The husband didn’t want to take Sophie (her name goes so well with Gracie’s) because she barked at him every time he went to his daughter’s house, but still he called me and asked if I wanted to take her. She doesn’t bark at him anymore so he feels okay with having her now. I think she wanted some attention other than being stepped on. Soon I’ll get a picture of Gracie and Sophie together, Gracie is bigger than Sophie.

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 1:12 pm

      Yes, SoccerSue, I hope you weather the trip as well as the storm. I read that it did some major damage – are they really going to fly right into it????? Or is this yet another storm?

    • Squiddy October 15, 2016 / 7:09 pm

      I’m in Portland, and the storm seems relatively mild so far. Here’s hoping it stays that way and your flight is completely uneventful.

    • Phred's Mom October 16, 2016 / 9:47 am

      Hope all is well, Sue.
      Let us know

      • SoccerSue October 16, 2016 / 2:07 pm

        The storm ended up not being as bad as predicted, at least in the Seattle area. It was the most turbulent flight I’ve ever been on, though- thank heavens for Dramamine. First flight I’ve been on where everyone applauded when we landed. Lots of standing water on the roads, but we made it home OK and the power was still on. So now I can do laundry today. Yay. 😛

        • Faye October 16, 2016 / 2:12 pm

          Yikes!

        • Murray C. October 16, 2016 / 3:41 pm

          Oh, Sue, I feel your pain – and your nausea – yes, thank heaven for dramamine. I would’ve been in the same boat (?) Glad you’re home safe and sound.

    • Patty October 15, 2016 / 12:22 pm

      Is that normal for this time of year in Edmonton? I love fall, the smells, the leaves, but I can live without snow. We likely won’t have snow in Kansas for another month, although it has been cool for October.

      • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 12:32 pm

        Happy for fall weather…so not ready for snow!

        I was looking at mid-weight jackets because I don’t really have anything between light sweater and wool coat (at least not one that fits 🙁 )…but the mornings have been wool-coat-worthy here in Jersey the past week (and then I wind up carrying it to my car after work).

      • Andrew October 15, 2016 / 1:54 pm

        Usually get snow around Halloween / early November.
        Definitely arrived earlier this year >__<

    • Gigi the cat lady October 15, 2016 / 3:20 pm

      I don’t want to be a brat but I’m happy the snow is in your part of the country, so not ready for it yet! In the east we have nice fall weather, 8c at night and around 15c during the day.

  12. N. Fritz October 15, 2016 / 12:52 pm

    Totally rocked the last warm fall days: last night a concert that mixed Austrian folk and classical music (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwqV3rNsz94N_BqsBV1h5A). Today, coffee and strudel at an outdoor cafe, then a 5 mile walk around a lake with two friends and their dogs (a wire-haired dachshund and a chow-German shepherd mix). But all good things must come to an end, and I drove home through the driving rain… taking the rest of the day off. Grading tomorrow.

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 3:44 pm

      Lovely music – and you got to be with a wire haired doxie????? Officially jealous.

      • N. Fritz October 16, 2016 / 1:33 am

        I had a whd when I was growing up… Tinkerbell, the 40 lb dachshund (she wasn’t really 40 lbs but she was no Tinkerbell either!) Lucky for me, that’s the standard dog here so I see one almost every day! (P.S. My friend composed the music… he’s the one playing hammered dulcimer in the videos!)

  13. Mich Patt October 15, 2016 / 1:17 pm

    This gorgeous creature is Smoothie the Cat. https://www.instagram.com/smoothiethecat/?hl=en
    She’s got a beautiful brother named Milkshake.

    First week back to work (well, four days because Monday was Thanksgiving) after two weeks of vacation. I’ve opted to temporarily change positions at work to cover someone’s maternity leave (12 mos). So I’ve moved from being the Administrative Assistant of the Environmental Programs department at Canada’s largest port so being a Data Entry Clerk in the Decision Support Team. (it means I enter the data on the cargo manifests) After 5 years of Admin work, I needed a break. I’ve done four days now of data entry and it is very zen indeed. Boring, perhaps, but that was the whole idea. I need to give my little grey cells a rest. I’ve got big plans for my photography work that I’d like to implement over the coming winter but I’ll need some extra energy. I’m hoping this job change will do the trick.

    Like Soccersue, we’re in the PNW so we’ve had some storms blow through. Yesterday was especially bad with winds so I’m fully expecting this weekend to be taken by cleaning up leaves and checking the roof to ensure all the drains are clear of debris (we live in a condo building that is self-maintained and managed where possible).

    Happy weekend, y’all!

  14. Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 1:25 pm

    Truly beautiful feline. I too am amazed by the sea green eyes. I imagine staring into them for real and getting totally lost! The thing I like the best is that she’s posing as if she knows she’s beautiful but totally doesn’t! Hmm…or does she?
    GO JAYS.

  15. Gigi the cat lady October 15, 2016 / 3:25 pm

    No big plans for this weekend. Yesterday the roofers came to replace the roof of the house and the big shed in the back yard, I really wanted to have that done before I stop working,
    next week will be my last before I retire.
    It’s a nice sunny day, so we went out to breakfast before doing some grocery shopping.

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 5:48 pm

      Yay for retirement. I didn’t work in house for most of my “career” and I wish I did have the occasional free lance gig – tho’ come to think of it, maybe not – but retirement is the BEST! One does need a community and hobbies or some sort of outlet for your energies and skills. Congratulations, GiGi.

  16. Laura October 15, 2016 / 3:26 pm

    Sounds like everyone’s having a better weekend than some recently. Do be careful, Murray; those accidents when you think you’re on the mend can be extra-painful. I’ll never forget falling right on my knee far too soon after replacement. Amazingly, I did no damage, but the pain was indescribable. So take care of that shoulder and don’t try to do too much too soon!

    Likewise with everyone in the PNW dealing with the storm — do be careful.

    We’re having a quiet weekend. I had a bit of a bug earlier this week for a couple of days, and I seem to have given it to my poor husband, so he’s taking it easy and just enjoying the dogs’ silliness. They’re learning to tag-team us now, which is hilarious — we were hoping they’d become friends, and they definitely are. They also get excited and go thundering up and down the hall taking turns chasing each other, sounding like a herd of elephants. Melody very sweetly slows herself to Sebastian’s speed so they can actually play together — if she just ran off, she’d leave him behind in about 1.5 strides. I’d never realized just how fast greyhounds can be when they want to — she may not have wanted to race, which is why she’s a pet, but she’s got the speed when she wants it!

    Last Sunday there was a greyhound picnic featuring dogs from the kennel where Melody comes from; the trainer loves to see how “her” dogs are doing as pets. That’s one kennel that treats their animals beautifully well and loves them to death, which is a lovely antidote to all the horror stories one hears. I was busy but my husband took her to it, and it was lovely to hear everyone comment on just how beautiful her coat is. And her former trainer said that if she didn’t know Melody is fixed, she’d think she was ready to step into the show ring, she looks so pretty. 😀 We were very pleased at the compliments, even though I have zero interest in showing dogs and it matters not a whit to me whether Melody is a purebred or a total mutt.

    She and my husband have also become the official contacts for therapy dogs for the VA hospital — it’s enough of a bureaucracy that people who aren’t used to the mysterious ways of the government can find it more than a little bewildering. So he’s going to help get them through the process so they can get some more therapy dogs for the hospital. They’ve only got 6 right now, and want at least a dozen, but he’s already had 3 or 4 requests to go through the process, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get plenty of folks lined up.

    I hope everybody enjoys their weekend! And GO CUBS!!

    • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 6:37 pm

      Because the Dodgers have two former Phillies, RUiz and Utley, I favor them.
      The Cubs deserve a Series, they’ve been without too long”

      • Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 7:27 pm

        I cheer for the Jays as they are the only ball team in the country!

  17. Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 3:50 pm

    Lots of folks with favorite ball teams! Gigi – are you looking forward to retiring? Mine is not too far in the distant future but I am somewhat apprehensive about it! One bonus might be adding a Wawa to the household? Anyone have any experience with chihuahuas and cats?

    • allein ? October 15, 2016 / 6:07 pm

      My Pablo got along with the cats well enough. He wasn’t particularly friendly toward other animals but he mostly ignored them as long as they weren’t harassing him. Sometimes they even peacefully shared the same chair (or lap). The cats were twice his size but the girl was afraid of him (but she’s afraid of everything so that doesn’t mean much). He also liked to eat their food since the tiny pieces were easy for him to handle, so we had to keep their bowl up in the bay window so he couldn’t eat too much of it.

      • Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 6:18 pm

        I guess one should definitely consider wee toys and wee food for a wee dog! I think that it might be hit and miss with compatibility. Just like not all cats get along.

        • Faye October 16, 2016 / 2:21 pm

          Hi Dulcie, I had two wawas and two cats at the same time. It was a stand off. Neither two liked the other two. But no fighting. I also had to keep the cat food elevated.

          I loved having wawas. I would have another one in a heartbeat if I could.

          And don’t be afraid of Retierment. I’ve never been so rested, relaxed and renewed in my life.

          • Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 3:00 pm

            Oh boy it sounds like heaven – two wawas and 2 cats (even if they just tolerated each other!). Its funny how I have been gravitating to the wawas recently in a big way. I am just so enthralled with their little faces!!
            Yeah that retirement thing is a big hump. We all have to adjust to new realities and “reinvent” ourselves through life but retirement seems so final!! Okay okay not THAT kind of final!! Looking at it as a new beginning instead might be the way to go. AND not place my self worth on what I do so much.

            • allein ? October 16, 2016 / 3:02 pm

              I always thought wawas were cute but I never wanted one until I had Pablo (who was actually my ex’s dog). Now I want another but I can’t really get one right now.

    • Patty October 15, 2016 / 7:01 pm

      Sophie gets along good with the cat, but she was around cats at my stepdaughter’s house. My pomeranian loved cats too, and would happily bound up to one on the street to say hello, but he may have been raised with cats too, he was a stray and was at least 4 when I got him. The cat was likely only 6 or 8 wks old when I found her, and Sophie is her first experience with a dog, I think. She didn’t know she was supposed to not like dogs.

      • Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 7:31 pm

        I have known many large dogs who loved their kitty roommates and we’re even very protective of them. Just wasn’t certain about the Wawas.

  18. Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 3:54 pm

    Oh yes! Patti might? I am new to the site and don’t know if Gracie is a cat or a dog!

    • Patty October 15, 2016 / 5:03 pm

      Gracie is a kitten I rescued from my sister’s yard. She weighed 1.8 lbs, was full of worms, had fleas, and a bot fly larva in her neck. She went to the vet last on Sept 16th and weighed 5 lbs.

      • Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 5:12 pm

        Oh my goodness – she was sooo lucky to be rescued and cared for! And she’s bigger than the chihuahua – but that’s not hard! What’s nice is the size compatibility for the fearful puppy.

  19. Recherche October 15, 2016 / 4:38 pm

    Not so good a weekend for me and my household. Our (mostly) corgi seems to be sick and not eating or moving any more than absolutely necessary. We’re in a tiny town though and the vet isn’t open on the weekends so we have to wait it out till Mon. If things start getting really bad we could probably call them out for an emergency, but it’s kinda nerve wracking all the same.

    • Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 5:30 pm

      I can imagine how you are feeling. It is very hard on the nerves when the little souls are not well. And how to know when to call the emergency vet?! So hard. So hoping it’s just a temporary thing. Thoughts are with you.

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 5:41 pm

      Oh, that’s SO difficult! I wish you the best outcome for your fur baby. Please keep us updated.

      • Recherche October 15, 2016 / 10:41 pm

        So far Roane’s been a little more active than he was Friday night and I’ve managed to tempt him into eating a few treats and a couple mouthfuls of water. I’m still worried but I’m not keeping the emergency number 1 on speedial

        • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 11:16 pm

          Oh, man, that’s good – maybe he has doggie flu or a cold. I remember once my cat got sick and she would stare up at me with big, glassy, feverish eyes and she would sneeze and cough – I was so scared -it’s the worst feeling. Good that you got some water into him. I keep fluids around for my rabbits in case of dehydration – lactated ringers they’re called – they require a prescription and a little instruction to use – to give subcutaneous fluids. Probably less of an issue with dogs, I would think, but good to know about. Continued good luck.

        • AJ October 16, 2016 / 1:37 am

          Something else to try is plain first stage baby food, either the beef or chicken, but watch sodium levels. One vet told that was something good to get into them because it had a high water content plus some protein. I usually gave it to my cat when he wasn’t eating because of some bug, just mixed it with plain yogurt (for the probiotics) and spoon fed him. Ahh the things we do for our furbabies.

          • allein ? October 16, 2016 / 1:45 am

            That’s what we gave Pablo when he was sick. Easy to eat when you don’t wanna chew.

        • Murray C. October 16, 2016 / 3:42 pm

          Any more news on your dear pooch?

          • Recherche October 16, 2016 / 7:02 pm

            The baby food worked nicely for getting another few bites down and he’s kept up with being less lethargic though still not normal. Enough energy that he tried to sneak out and run away with my mother when she visited.

            Edit: To explain a little further, my parents live on a large sheep and go at ranch and have 7 Guard dogs and sheepdog all together. It’s canine paradise and Roane knows it so whenever they’re over he tries to sneak back with them to play at the farm with all the other farm dogs.

            • Murray C. October 16, 2016 / 9:43 pm

              Sounds like a hopeful sign at least. Here’s hoping he feels better – I assume you’ll still take him to the vet tomorrow. Gosh, on a ranch he could get all sorts of things. Do you have Lyme and West Nile?

              • Recherche October 16, 2016 / 10:12 pm

                Lyme is rare but possible around here. West Nile I’ve never heard up this far north.

  20. Alice Shortcake October 15, 2016 / 4:40 pm

    I had a pleasant surprise yesterday – a phone call from the solicitors who handled the purchase of my new house in August to inform me that they’d accidentally overcharged me by £1150. So I was able to buy a new cooker, computer and electric fire with money I thought I’d already spent!

    • Patty October 15, 2016 / 5:40 pm

      Found money is always nice!

    • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 6:40 pm

      Yay! How fortunate, and how unusual!

    • Squiddy October 15, 2016 / 7:00 pm

      “Electric fire” sounds both amazing and contradictory. Regardless, I want one. Nothing says “autumn” more than a cozy fire.

  21. Squiddy October 15, 2016 / 5:45 pm

    Convinced my boss’ boss to let us here in Portland take a work from home day on Friday because of the massive storm headed our way…and all we’ve seen so far is a short downpour and a little wind. Bought candles in case the power goes out and everything…so far they are not needed. I want drama! Is it wrong to pray for a little thunder and lightning and maybe a romantic candlelit evening with no electricity?

    Caught my little flutternutter playing with her catnip carrot. Her brother is safely sleeping on my bed, making sure the cathair to blanket ratio never gets too off-kilter.

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 5:51 pm

      Ah, yes, the all- important pet hair to bed clothing, black pants, – whatever – ratio. Balance in all things. I wonder if one half of the yin/yang symbol is fuzzy.

      • Squiddy October 15, 2016 / 6:59 pm

        I have an all-white cat and a dark cat. No matter what attire I choose, total strangers know immediately that I have pets.

        • Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 7:04 pm

          I find that seeing animal hair on someone’s clothes immediately endears them to me! Sometimes I am interacting with a person that appears to be totally stuffy then I spy an animal hair and my opinion is totally reversed!

  22. Dulcie October 15, 2016 / 9:54 pm

    Oh oh…my Jays are goin’ down…

  23. Jan October 15, 2016 / 10:22 pm

    PNW alert: Batten down the hatches! The really heavy part of the storm just hit my house… woohoo!

    • Murray C. October 15, 2016 / 11:17 pm

      Keep safe all our PNW friends!

    • Jan October 15, 2016 / 11:25 pm

      So far there’s just been that initial band of heavy stuff that lasted about 20 minutes and that’s it. I think it’s mostly staying south of me.

      • Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 11:54 pm

        From your lips . . .etc.

        • Jan October 16, 2016 / 10:07 am

          Another band went over me in the night and dropped more rain, and according to the radar another one is headed for me to hit at any time now (it’s 7am here). No significant wind though. My parents on the Olympic side are getting it worse than I am. Luckily neither of us are in flood-prone areas.

  24. Phred's Mom October 15, 2016 / 11:57 pm

    Cubs have game 1 in style!
    Nothing like a grand slam!

    • Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 9:51 am

      Yay Cubbies! Cleveland has downed the Jays in the first 2 games. Deadly deadly pitching.

  25. murkle46 October 16, 2016 / 2:41 am

    hurricane evacuation food monitor

    For those of you that are evacuating from the coast, I just heard a great tip. It’s called the one cup tip. You put a cup of water in your freezer. Freeze it solid and then put a quarter on top of it and leave it in your freezer. That way when you come back after you’ve been evacuated you can tell if your food went completely bad and just refroze or if it stayed Frozen while you were gone. If the quarter has fallen to the bottom of the cup that means all the food defrosted and you should throw it out. But if the quarter is either on the top or in the middle of the cup then your food may still be ok. It would also be a great idea to leave this in your freezer all the time and if you lose power for any reason you will have this tip to fall back on. If you don’t feel good about your food, just throw it out. The main thing is for all to be safe. Please SHARE this on your page. ?

    • Allu October 16, 2016 / 10:04 am

      Being raised by a father who, when growing up, sometimes had nothing to eat at home, I have high respect for food. This is what we do: save all sizes and shapes of plastic bottles. When there is storm approaching, I start filling them with water. Few at a time they go to freezer or refrigerator. By the time there is possible power outage, refrigerator is full of 4 C water and freezer filled with big chunks of ice. If you are lucky enough to have space for chest freezer, that can also be covered with newspapers and blankets. If you have little space, every cold/frozen bottle helps. After the storm, I water my plants with the water.
      This has worked well in north central Florida, where we have sat through two hurricanes this year.

      • murkle46 October 16, 2016 / 10:56 am

        That is a very wise idea.It must be very satisfying to come home and find your food is still good!

    • Smartypants October 16, 2016 / 8:16 pm

      Food monitor = so clever! I have a freezer thermometer, but obvy it only tells what temperature it is right now, not 24-48 hours ago – the coin idea is ingenious.

  26. allein ? October 16, 2016 / 11:36 am

    Trying to understand the mindset of someone who goes back to a five month old blog post to make jerky (I was going to use a stronger word but I won’t here) comments to people as if the argument hasn’t been dead for months. Do people really have nothing better to do?

    (And this is apparently a different guy from the one who did the same thing on the same post a month after the rest of us had moved on.)

  27. allein ? October 16, 2016 / 11:38 am

    And I was so focused on kitty’s sea glass eyes that I’ve only just now noticed the dainty little feets peeking out under all that floof!

    • Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 12:23 pm

      Do those folks make remarks on the Cutetropolis threads? I have been reading the comments for awhile and found everyone and their comments to be either funny, uplifting, angst free and just sometimes a shoulder to lean on. It is so very pleasant and just a complete departure from what our respective lives and worlds can be sometimes. I truly hope that the people who want to bring this down will find other venues as there are so many out there that would be better suited to the argumentative nature. SIGH.

      • allein ? October 16, 2016 / 12:32 pm

        Oh, no, nobody here. On another blog I read. I only saw the comments on the old thread because I get an email when someone responds to me. Some guy came back a month later telling me to “just stop” …when I hadn’t commented on that post in a month. Then this morning I got three responses on that months-old thread from a different guy, who then also replied to a clearly sarcastic comment I made yesterday on another thread as if he thought I was serious. Which has me wondering if he’s looking for my name just to harass me.

        • Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 12:46 pm

          Okay PHEW! But still…obviously not good for you with the blog. Amazing what people think they can say because they can “hide” in cyberspace. Hope it resolves itself as it sure sounds like a total irritant.

          • allein ? October 16, 2016 / 12:51 pm

            I’m not responding. If I get any more I can just block him. I blocked the other guy because he made it clear he was just doing it to piss me off. I reported him through the comment system for harassment (don’t know if they do anything about it but still) and blocked him (which is a nice feature that Disqus added recently) so if he does comment again I won’t see it.

      • Faye October 16, 2016 / 2:03 pm

        Hi Dulcie! Cutetropolis seems to be inhabited by a cadres of particularly nice commentators as is our Leader Mr. Mike.

        • Smartypants October 16, 2016 / 8:19 pm

          (chiming in late)…Welcome, Dulcie!

          • Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 8:30 pm

            Thanks!

  28. Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 4:12 pm

    Recherche…any news on Roane? All better we’re hoping? ?

    • Recherche October 16, 2016 / 7:11 pm

      I’ve got him eating human baby food and playing a little. He’s still going in for a vet visit as soon as I can despite Roane’s reassurances that he doesn’t need one. (He is really not a fan of the vet.)

      • Dulcie October 16, 2016 / 8:26 pm

        okay so far so good – but yes wise to get a checkup – fingers crossed!

      • Murray C. October 16, 2016 / 9:45 pm

        I just posted something up above that you can ignore – I was asking about a vet visit.

  29. JenDeyan October 16, 2016 / 5:34 pm

    I got my Cutetropolis calendar! Happy day!

  30. Jan October 16, 2016 / 6:28 pm

    Why is today Lily’s favorite day of the week? Because it’s laundry day!




    • allein ? October 16, 2016 / 6:54 pm

      Purple’s a good color for her!

    • dubravkamcvmd October 16, 2016 / 7:32 pm

      Oh Lily is just killer cute! That laundry is warm and soft and perfect for a nest to nap in. So sweet when she settled down and immediately got sleeepy!

      • Jan October 16, 2016 / 7:49 pm

        The way she’s been tearing around playing all day, it isn’t a wonder that she was sleepy! It gave me a chance to finish up the pumpkin puree that I’ve been making and get it all into the freezer. 20lb pumpkin = 20 cups puree = 10 pumpkin pies = YUM!

    • Smartypants October 16, 2016 / 8:13 pm

      What a cozy, happy girl! I love her markings.

    • Faye October 16, 2016 / 9:21 pm

      Lily Flower!

    • Murray C. October 16, 2016 / 9:48 pm

      Ah, me, making biscuits can be so tiring. I do love that little droplet of brown between her shoulder blades.

Comments are closed.