Reader DebG has a double treat for us: “Here are Fred and George Weasleycat, cuddled together on a cold morning. Fred is in back and George–the one who caused all the trouble this year, going on walkabout–is in front. They are 3.5 years old, the children of a feral mom named Molly Weasleycat who presented me with two litters before I could get her fixed.”
Well of course you two are up to no good! We would expect nothing less! But remember…. Santa Paws is watching…….
George looks like he is planning his next escapade, better keep a close eye on him. Does anyone know a good tracking spell.
P.S. They are gorgeous, I’m jealous. For one reason or another I’ve never had an orange cat. I’ve had all the other colours but not orange
Gigi, you don’t have orange cats. Orange cats have you!
You will learn this if one ever decides to acquire you.
They are like having a good natured hippy room mate.
Oh my, what adorble partners in crime!
There is a snowstorm headed this way later today so I think I will head out shortly to get groceries, including ingredients for Christmas cookies to take to work on Monday. Speaking of work, we were all grumbling about the timing of the impending snow. It needs to hit late Sunday or early Monday so we get snow day, one of the perks of our job! Makes us feel like kids again!
Our snow hit Thursday night, but they didn’t give us Friday off. 🙁
Still it was a beautiful rarity around here and I’m enjoying the heck out of it!
Beautiful!
Mornin’!
It’s cold here. I think I’ll stay in. Going to my parents’ tomorrow to decorate their tree. Of course it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. The radio just said 90% chance of rain. But sunny now, 33 feels like 23. Maybe I’ll see if Hairspray Live is available on demand yet…
Fred & George are purrty kitties. 🙂
I’ve been having new siding put on my house for the last week and a half. Thankfully they’re almost done. A little touch-up painting and installing the new gutters and downspouts are all that’s left. Lily has been a little upset about all of the noise and banging and strange people in her yard as you might expect! One day she even got herself trapped behind the dryer and couldn’t get out. 🙁
This was her preferred napping position after a particularly loud day:
Aww! She’s so cute!
Awww! I envy your opportunity to provide such sweet comfort.
Oh sweet Lily, she is so cute. Its so stressful to a little kitty to not understand what all the noise is about. Does catnip help her de-stress?
Fred and George are beautiful, btw! Someday I must get an orange creamsicle kitty!
Oh wow what an awesome way to wake up to a miserably cold day…all wonderful sweet kitties orange and grey and lily colored!
Thank you sender inners!
I’m going to make sausage bread with a friend. Good for Christmas morning as you leave it out overnight to defrost and rise. Then it’s ready to throw in the oven in the AM. She can take some to TX when she goes at Christmas, I’ll take some to the office and some share with the neighbors. It’s good to get it done early.
Can we have the recipe? Sounds yummy.
Yes sausage bread sounds yummy!
Yes please! This sounds very interesting! 🙂
What the heck is sausage bread? Inquiring stomachs want to know!
Sausage Bread
2 lbs pork sausage (Jimmy Dean)
5 T Parmesan Cheese
3 cups Mozzarella Cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Accent
1 tsp Parsley
2 rolls Frozen bread. Makes two loaves.
Brown sausage, break or chop into pretty small chunks and cool. Mix with remaining ingredients.
Let thawed bread dough rise in oiled bowl until tripled in size. I do this overnight. Spray defrosting containers or tray with non-stick stuff. Place dough on floured board and roll out flat. Sprinkle the sautéed sausage/cheese mixture on top of the dough. Roll up lengthwise and seal the edges with your fingers and a little water. Wrap in aluminum foil that that been liberally sprayed with non-stick stuff. Freeze
To serve, take out of freezer the night before. Uncover the foil so dough doesn’t stick. Re-cover loaf loosely, and let bread defrost and rise again overnight. Next morning, bake at 400 for 20 to 30 mins. If you want go get real fancy, you can brush the top with egg/water wash so that there is a shiny crust. I never bother as it browns nicely.
Thanks. Easy and sounds like a guest pleaser!
Yes, that does sound yummy! Thanks!
Yes Thank you! This sounds amazing.
My mouth and stomach thank you.
My hips, maybe not.
Must try soon. A good cold
morning breakfast treat.
I shared the recipe with my hubs when he got home today, and he’s very intrigued. It reminds us both of the pretzel logs sold at the Amish market in Annapolis, which were a regular addiction when we lived nearby. And it freezes, what could be better? I have a feeling some sausage bread is going to live in our freezer very soon. 😀
My weekend is blessedly long (one of the perks of living in Europe) but my bf decided this would also be a good weekend to get the flu! So I am on call, while he and the cat synchronize nap in the bedroom. I am alternating between grading and making my own Christmas cards. We’ll see how long this lasts…
Greetings one and all. I’m having a slow start to the weekend. Last night was our office Christmas party and we made rather merry. There was a lot of dancing and my ol’ knees are feeling it this morning. A good time. I think I might sort through my holiday shopping (and the wrapping paper supplies) and make sure I have a present for everyone on my list. I might brave a few stores (no malls) to finish up, if there’s anything left to buy, and then plan to spend the evening watching movies and wrapping gifts (which will put me far ahead of my usual holiday last-minute schedule). Sad to say we’ve had a bunch of break-ins in my neighborhood recently which is making me nervous. Wish I had a big dog with a deep scary bark instead of a talkative little parrot who likes to greet people with a friendly “hello” and an inviting “come on in!!!!”
Can you teach the little guy to bark in a scary manner? 😀
I wonder if it would be more scary to a robber to have someone say “come on in” and then cackle?!
A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables, and when he picked up a CD player to place in his pack, a strange, disembodied voice echoed from the dark saying, “Jesus is watching you.”
He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight out, and froze. When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head, promised himself a vacation after the next big score, then clicked the light on and began searching for more valuables. Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard,
“Jesus is watching you.” Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot. “Did you say that?”, he hissed at the parrot.
“Yep,” the parrot confessed, then squawked, “I’m just trying to warn you.”
The burglar relaxed. “Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?”
“Moses,” replied the bird.
“Moses?” the burglar laughed. “What kind of people would name a birdMoses?”
“The kind of people that would name a Rottweiller Jesus.”
Fantabulous!
?????
😀
Excellent! Can’t wait to re-tell this one.
I just did to husband (shortened, I’m not a good spinner of yarns). Unlike some Cutropolitans.
That is a GREAT story! I’m totally using that at cocktail parties over the holidays!
home safe barking dog alarm (Amazon search phrase)
Amazon has motion sensors that bark like a dog. I never tried one, as I was always afraid the cats would eat it alive. However, it you decide to try it, you could order one for yourself for Christmas. Maybe your parrot would learn to bark like a dog (snerk).
After being robbed myself, I found great comfort in outdoor motion sensor lights. If you have a porch light that operates on a switch, you can easily substitute the motion sensor light which turns on when anyone approaches your place. I have one in both the front and back. While passing pooches or bunnies may set them off, I’d much rather look out and and find a bunny rather than a human.
I like that idea alot.
Millie is stuck in afterop cone mode for 7 days. She is so frustrated. I have to put her kibble on the bedspread and hold her tiny water bowl above the edge of the cone so she can drink. I also have to hold her little antler chew toys as she cannot reach her paws out beyond the cone to hold them herself for a good chew.
We are a good team though. I am learning her signals and needs. We are on an every 4 hour feeding schedule. She eats, drinks, chews, climbs around like a nut, conks out. She is peeing and pooping on the pad in her small crate on the bed. She toddles in there and forces the cone through the door. Totally comical.
I sent Mike cone pictures but I don’t know if he will see this to insert them here?
Besides being a slave for puppy (best job ever), I have been working on a massive reorganization. Forced to the forefront by the Unexpected Puppy!! Nobody Expects The Unexpected Puppy!!
Also getting ready to post Drawing 27 on my website. AND working on Drawing 28 which is set in a kelp field type place. Outline done. Working on colors and lighting in my head right now.
I am feeling a deep sense of satisfaction, in my mind and also as a physical/muscular experience, from drawing again. I’m amazed. My major PTSD symptoms are less on a sustained basis for the first time in my life. The damage is still there but the injury is healing.
Being here in Cutetropolis with Mike and ALL of you is also an element to my feeling happiness. Thanks guys and gals!
Hugs and kisses to unexpected puppy. Poor sweetie. Thank goodness she has you to read her signals.
I’m also so happy that you’re happy, Faye.
I am in complete agreement with Debg!
Moi, aussi. You are good for each other.
How wonderful you both have come together..
Wow, I am so happy that your drawing is bringing you relief. That is awesome!
I’ve just ordered most of my theatre tickets for Spring/Summer next year. Highlights include Birmingham Royal Ballet (‘Coppelia’ and a Triple Bill), the G&S operetta ‘Patience’, a new version of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’, ‘Twelfth Night’ and some early works by Matthew Bourne. Plus ‘Julius Ceasar’, ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and ‘Titus Andronicus’ at Stratford-upon-Avon…
Alice, tell us about the Messiah concert at York Minster.
Is it tomorrow? We want a full descriptive report so we
can get our “vicaries” . That’s vicarious enjoyment, y’all.
Yes, do tell! I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to hear that in person!. Full details, please!
It was last night. I misread the starting time on the ticket and in the frantic rush to get to the Minster in time I put on the wrong – ie “not warm enough” – coat, which I regretted later. However, the concert was excellent. The choristers, dressed in their long red tunics, were outstanding, and some of them were either very young or very small. My only complaint was that the most famous soloist is well past his best and let the side down somewhat, but the others more than made up for his shortcomings. There are a couple of photos here:
https://mobile.twitter.com/york_minster
Thanks so very much for the link to all the York Minster
events. Later today I will play all the videos so I get to
visit one of the great cathedrals again. Years ago MyMike and
I stayed in York, a short walk from the Minster. Very good
visit. I especially like All Saints on the way to the Minster.
We were the only (living) souls in it, there were no lights,
and the ancient floor was a wavy petrified sea. Very dim
and wonderful. Thanks again for the link.
That’s a shame about the one soloist. Just curious, was it the countertenor? I’d listened to him sing in a recent video, and wasn’t terribly impressed, although of course a good countertenor is hard to find — and I think they’re much more common on your side of the pond. Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed it, even if you weren’t quite warm enough!
I would love to see a Shakespeare play at Stratford-upon-Avon, I insisted we stoped there when we visited England but we were on a tight schedule and there were so many places we wanted to see.
We finally got a decent amount of snow here in Billings, MT! And the first sub-zero temperatures in two years. I love it – as long as I can stay inside all cozy with my books and my cat and don’t have to drive in it, lol.
I have a hair appointment in a couple hours and am looking forward to chopping off 6-10 inches and possibly dying my hair some shade of purple! After that, I plan to hunker down at home all weekend working on a painting as a birthday present for my dad’s 70th birthday. 🙂
Happy weekend everybody!
Puddleglum – How about trying the orange marmalade color?? Sure looks good on Fred and George!
LOVE F&G Weasleycats. They really do look like they’re up-to-no-good.
Vancouver rarely gets snow and we’ve had several bouts this week. Nothing more than a couple of inches at a time but, boy, does it throw us into a tizzy! Because we’re so ill-prepared, traffic goes haywire. Though we’re forecast for warmer temps this afternoon and some blessed rain (YES!! *fist pump*), I’m still going out in a few mins to shovel/scrape the front walk of our condo building and to put down salt. So many senior citizens in the ‘hood, I don’t want anyone having a slip and fall on our property. I aim to be the building that people pass and say, “Well at least THESE folks have shovelled!”.
Otherwise, more sewing this weekend for a craft and bake sale at work on Monday and possibly a visit to my ‘rents and siblings. That’s up for debate, though, due to snow reasons above.
Enjoy your weekend! Stay warm and safe. 😀
It’s not just that we are ill-prepared for snow, but that we have HILLS and slushy snow that makes streets slippery is worse when you are trying to go up or down steep hills without snow tires.
I live near the bus depot so when I tried to catch my bus Monday morning, I was treated to the sight of at least 10 trolley buses stuck in my neighborhood with nowhere to go. Fortunately, I was able to work from home that day, and I had already booked Friday off so I didn’t have to deal with snow yesterday either.
Good for you, Mich Patt, for shoveling the sidewalk for your neighbors. On Tuesday, I had to go to the postal outlet, and the sidewalk I needed to use was not completely shoveled, not even in front of the apartment complex. One would think that the property owners would have shoveled the whole sidewalk in front of their property! On the icy section, I walked on the snow-covered grass beside the sidewalk, because I certainly didn’t want to fall.
Now, I get to finish marking assignments and then figure out what to do for the rest of the weekend.
BELPHEBE, Are we neighbours?! I live right near the depot in Marpole and the #10 trolley bus is my way to work each day. I catch it at the Montcalm stop.
Folks, this may be the single proudest moment of my life! I never made it onto the old ranch with one of my cat pix–an unending sorrow. Mike has made it all better, though, by posting my boys!
My last issue of the year goes to press on Tuesday, so I’m buying lunch for the team (a tradition I started). They don’t know I’m also knitting a tiny item for them–something that expresses their essential function and how much I value them. So my managing editor, who’s a hell of a copy editor, gets a knitted apostrophe. My designer, who can work Photoshop magic like a Dr. FrankenSTEEN, gets a mad scientist. My boss gets a tiny violin to play when people complain. And so on. It should be a fun day.
Also on the docket: making one lone batch of chocolate-covered toffee, from scratch, and then a nut bark from whatever chocolate is left. This year, all my truffle-making came to a screeching halt because I didn’t have any money over the long T-day weekend, when I have time to make 8 different kinds of candy. Sad! At least my dad will get his toffee, which he loves.
Other than that, I’m ready for Christmas because, honestly, I just don’t give gifts. I make candy and I donate to charities all year long, and tell people that that’s their gift.
Good on you DebG…a woman after my own heart. Although while I can bake and make candy knitting up a violin would be pretty cool!
And they’re beautiful boys!
What a cute pair! They are clearly resting between shenanigans.
We got snow starting early Friday morning. Spent much of yesterday wrapped around a foot heater and a cup of tea that I hadn’t squeed in. Finished a baby quilt for an Angel Tree gift, to take to church tomorrow.
Now I’m making a SHORT list of things I want to finish up next week. Some cleaning, some making, some buying.
Picking up final grades on Thursday. Not quite sure what to expect. I submitted a poem to instructor on feeling depressed for a review before including it in my final portfolio, and he said that it was too short! I included it in my portfolio anyway, and tore a strip out of him in the accompanying essay, telling him that writing a poem about feeling depressed was hard enough without having someone tell you that you should make it longer!
Hubby took me to Fabricland yesterday, and I raided the remnants bins. Had a great time! Started a new stockpile of fabric, and am thrilling over plans on how to use it.
Ready for Christmas for the most part. Still worried about January, as hubby still doesn’t know if he will have a job then. But resolving to try and be optimistic. He loves and needs me and my support as much as I love and need him and his support. Together, we are invincible.
We just need to remember that.
You know we all wish the best for both of you! I know it sounds trite but things have a way of working out!
You can vent in our direction, if you feel the need, Duckie.
We’re here for each other in many ways. Your instructor
lacks soul, if I may opine. And a creative spirit.
A poem is done when the sentiment has been expressed to the poet’s satisfaction–it has nothing to do with length! (Unless you are writing a poem with rules, like a Cinquain or Haiku or such like.) Your instructor is a jerk, Duckie!
Yes, instructor sounds like a heathen – reminds me of the music patron in ‘Amadeus’ who complains that one of Mozart’s works has “too many notes”!
Your trip to Fabricland with DH sounds delightful. For me, it’s hardware stores – all those marvelous doodads I didn’t know I needed!
Both fabric stores AND hardware stores lure me like
brick and mortar Loreleis, not to mention book stores.
I got to work in hardware and book stores at various
times in my life. Actually beat corporate jobs by miles
for enjoyment, if not pay.
Happy Saturday All!
I woke up at the crack of dawn to continue furious Christmas knitting. My dad always gets a new pair of socks – but with size 13 feets – that’s a lot of knitting, even if they are plain and one color. Binge watched Medici and its fine for knitting. Tomorrow is Stitch&Bitch and if I finish Daddy’s socks, maybe I can start on his wife’s socks which will have color worked snowflakes. She has size 7 feet so I think I can still make it before Christmas. This afternoon fabulous friend and neighbor is coming over to help break into the Rumtopf (Rum infused compote with fruits of the seasons starting with Strawberries). Should be ready now. 🙂
Happy to meet Fred and George! Such handsome boys!
Oh, and Butch took to his new house like a fish to water. Thanks again for all of the good tips!
OK now I am totally distracted by Rumtopf…?
Glad to hear that Butch likes his house! He sounds like a sweetie.
Fred and George. Wow! They are so matched. You are lucky to have both boys back together. I would love to see kitten pictures of these two.
I have pix of the whole brood! And a super-sexy one of George as a kitten–will send on to Mike. Fred is the fraidiest cat who ever lived, so it is tough to get good pictures of him.
Today is Day of the Horse and Gingerbread Decorating Day, so…
Allein, it’s gorgeous!
I also found this when I was looking. No horses, but I like the surprised-looking piggies. 🙂
Love the black faced sheep in their Santa hats & holly.
Hi, all. George and Fred Weasleycat are gorgeous boys! I can only imagine what a good cat slave they insist you have to be! 🙂 And of course Lily is beautiful, even when she’s been upset by a lot of noise. Poor baby, noise is scary when you don’t know what it is!
I’ve had a busy week, what with my hubs being on the other coast visiting his mom. He comes home tonight, thank heaven; Melody is missing him just *terribly.* She is a total daddy’s girl, and he’s firmly wrapped around her paws, so they’re two of a kind. They were able to get his mom’s pain meds sorted out — the doctor was horrified at how much she needed; there was no question she was in real pain! — and then she started on hospice and came back home to his sister’s house. Hospice brought in a hospital bed and everything she might need, and sent over all her meds, and a nurse will visit regularly.
If/when it reaches a point she can’t be taken care of at home properly, she can move into a hospice facility. But now that her pain is under good control, she’s back to being herself, and she’s very content with whatever’s going to happen — her only concern is that her pain be kept under control; anything after that, what happens is what happens. They were debating doing some radiation for palliative purposes, but they’re starting to think that might interfere with her ability to eat, so they may not do it. She’s fine either way. Her attitude is so amazing — she says she’s had 90 years of great health, so for this to come along isn’t worth worrying about. And she’s got a very strong religious faith, which I know is a great comfort to her. We should all face the end so gracefully!
Anyway, so my husband is coming home today, and then he’ll probably go back for her funeral. He wanted to spend time with her while she was still in pretty good shape. I know he’s appreciated the visit.
I’ve appreciated our lovely teenage neighbor, who’s been walking the dogs twice a day for me all week! I just can’t walk that far any more, and definitely not while being pulled in two separate directions by two silly dogs. I’ve been enormously grateful for her help. I haven’t gotten quite as much work done as I’d hoped, but I also haven’t been scraping the bottom of the barrel energy-wise like I did last time my husband went out of town.
Everybody with snow and cold, stay safe. Here I’m complaining because I have to put on a sweater. It was only 54º when I got up this morning! Brrr! 😀
Hospice was a blessing for my Mom. She also had a hospital bed at home and that is where she passed away. I hope your mother-in-law passes as peacefully and comfortably as possible.
The snow has begun here but I’ve got everything I need to ride it out!
Laura, I’m so glad your MIL’s situation is more stable. It seems like she’s got a really good team and that people are on the same page about quality of life. She sounds like a wonderful person – if I ever get anywhere near her age, I hope to be like her.
Good neighbors are a godsend! Those acts of kindness and dependability can make such a difference – my neighbors add so much to my life that they don’t even know.
I love the Weasley themed names, perfect for orange cats!
Still crocheting, done 2 out of 4 ponchos for toddler car seats for my SIL’s daycare van. It’s cold outside, so I am trying to hurry with them, since bulky outerwear and 5 point harnesses do not mix safely.
Sophie (the chihuahua) has decided she likes to chew on wood, it started with a yard sale sweater with wooden toggle buttons. I felt her tug on my sweater, and thinking she wanted to crawl inside, I reached to lift it up so she could, only to see teeth marks in one of the buttons. Fortunately, I hated those buttons, and intended to replace them, so no big loss. But then she found a clothespin (I use them for chip clips) and was chewing on that. I tried to get her to chew on a milkbone, but she just hid it under the blanket on the couch. I’m wondering if she would chew on one of those rope toys, but have only found big ones, she is tiny and can’t get her mouth around them. I need to make a trip to the pet store and see if they have a smaller one than the department stores have.
Hm I thought yesterday that next time Debg mentions the awesome 7 cats, I would demand a picture of at least one of them.
The Weasleycats – I cannot find words – love at first sight! They look so soft 🙂
My kitty Buster passed last week. He would have been 21 years old next month. I made haiku for him and his litter-sister, who passed two years ago.
For so many years
We took care of each other
Thank you. I’ll miss you
I just wanted to share with folks who understand.
Sorry for your loss, and you are right, the people here understand what it is to lose a beloved furry friend and your haiku sums it up perfectly.
Thanks, Gigi. I hope I’m not bringing everybody down.
Antidote video on this page:
Aw! Little-kid giggles are the best. Love the mouse-ear pigtails, too.
I just saw that on Twitter a few minutes ago. So adorable. 😀
I am sorry Burvegas, that must be so very hard. That is a very cute video, I like the second one as she has to giggle first and then fall.
No, you are not bringing us down; we understand! It’s so hard to lose a beloved pet but would we give up the time we spent with them to avoid the sadness when they leave us? No!
My condolences on your loss. How lucky Buster and his sister were, to have someone so loving as you to care for them.
Thank you, Mike, and thanks also for making this nice space for us.
Sending you many hugs. There’s certainly a unique pain us animal lover’s must endure when our besties pass.
But what a wonderful long life for both kitties – you must have been an awesome caregiver.
Burvegas, so sorry about Buster.
Buster certainly had a long life for a kitty; I’m sure your taking wonderful care of him was a big part of the reason why. I’m so sorry for your loss. Having a pet for so many years just makes losing them that much harder, it seems. Your haiku is perfect, too.
Well said, Laura. The haiku is a wonderful tribute.
Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. I’m glad we have this place.
Ah Burvegas, so sorry to hear about your Buster. Lots of hugs and comforting thoughts to you.
I’m so sorry. I do understand. I euthanized my Minkette, at 22, last September. Her brother died four year before her. It’s hard when you’ve been together for so long. I think of them both every day.
I grew up with Princess — we named her than “temporarily,” but when my folks put her to sleep at 22 she still was “temporarily” named that — who we got when I was in first grade. She lived until my daughter was in first grade, a multi-generational kitty! My daughter was also the only child under age 10 she ever liked, which pleased me. She was a Siamese, and she ran the household brilliantly for all those years. We all still miss her and think of her constantly, too! Our furry family members never leave our hearts, do they?
Wow! A kitteh could not be more deeply embedded in a family’s life than your Princess! My first cat when I was in elementary school was a calico named Princess. She insisted on grooming my eyebrow and eyelid “fur.” It hurt! I always let her anyway. I still miss her! and that was 60 years ago!
Oh my. That kitty must have thought how pathetic you were having such little fur! But whatever you had she tried to groom out of love! Sweet things.
Of course you let her groom you! Our Princess didn’t groom up, but instead insisted that we had to groom her, especially brushing the sides of her face. She would let you brush the sides of her face for as long as you were willing to. And my sister and I fought constantly over who would have the privilege of having the cat sleep with us — which of course meant lying motionless all night so as to not disturb her! But it was a sacrifice well worth making. There’s nothing like a warm kitty snuggled up with you, is there?
Dear Burvegas: I have written haiku for all of my kitties at the rainbow bridge. Haiku just seems such an appropriate way to honor them. I have am 18 year old polydactyl, and have never had one live this long before.
The other rainbow bridge kitties were adopted as seniors, and one never knows what their early lives were like. It’s so surprising to me to have one reach this age. Congratulations for taking such good care of Buster that he lived this long. You gave him everything he needed during his life, and at the end you probably gave him the final gift of mercy. My heart is with you. MCO
I am so sorry for your loss, Burvegas 🙁
I am sorry you have lost Buster. It’s especially hard after so many years.
He is part of you, now and always.
Hello Cutetropolitans – just a quick post ‘n’ run – more tomorrow. Want to contribute this cool quote by the late John Glenn, from a tribute in today’s paper – I think it’s just as relevant today as when he said it (upon retiring from the Senate in 1997):
“Don’t tune out, cop out or drop out. Don’t give in to complacency and cynicism. Don’t ignore what is bad, but concentrate on building what is good. Don’t take America and the values reflected in our form of government for granted. And never forget that in our democracy, the government is not ‘them’ – it is ‘us.'”
Wonderful quote. We lost a good and admirable man.
Ever heard of Garbage Bread? Just saw this recipe on facebook…
In this cold weather,I am sure that there are a lot of hungry raccoons who would love to have that for dinner.
Hi all!
Well my good deed today was catching a runaway dog and being patient enough to eventually reconnect ‘Maggie’ with her owner.
I was out on my walk around 4pm when I notice this dog coming at me over the crest in the road like a bat out of hell. So, with no one in site, (this is all big fancy homes established suburban residential with big trees area where I go walking) I crouch down and doggie stops and eventually comes over to me. He or she is adorable, one of those ewok looking dogs, reddish brown and shivering with cold.
Here’s the funny thing, as I never get a good look at her after that as I pick her up with her facing away from me.
We walk and walk hoping to see someone frantically looking for her. A encounter a couple of helpful, friendly people, one who takes her photo and my number in case they encounter someone looking for her.
Well, after about 30 minutes of me trying to find who she belongs to and figuring I might have to bring her back to my place and call the humane society a small pick-up drives up and it is her relieved owner.
But here is where I get slightly annoyed as he exclaims, ‘This was the second time she has gotten out, the other day, I had to pick her up at the pound.’ Uggh, why don’t you put a tag with your address on her?!
So reunited, off they go.
ps: George and Fred are a delightful, gorgeous pair!
Grr…Hope the people learn their lesson this time and get her a tag.
Over the summer one day I was on my way to my parents’ house; I took the back roads, and as I was approaching the end of the street that took me back to the highway (which is also on the way from my aunt’s house), I see my mom getting into her car that’s pulled over in front of the house at the end. I stopped and asked what she was doing. Turned out she was coming back from bringing my aunt and uncle food and stopped to catch the little dog that had escaped from the house (he had a tag, at least). The people hadn’t even realized he had gotten out yet.
My dog has a tag. It’s on her collar, which I only put on her when I take her out, who wants to wear a collar 24/7. I guess it never occurred to me she may dash out the door some time. I doubt she will, because when she goes out, she just wants to potty and run back in, there are lots of scary things out there. I do intend to have her chipped, but my vet will do it when she is spayed. I will have to wait until after the holidays to have her spayed, because, money.
Were you able to get the car fixed okay, Patty?
I hope so.
I understand Patty with not keeping the collar on all the time but this dog had a lovely, expensive collar on– you could tell this dog was loved. Just no tag… *sigh* The one thing that kept me wandering about was I was sure her owners would be frantic looking for her as she was so clearly well taken care of. If it was my pet I would be! I was thinking maybe it was a relative visiting one of the homes and she took off. Anyway, I have grown tired of me being a ‘judgey pet owner’; I get it, stuff happens. Everyone was reunited and I got to snuggle a cutie for a good half hour, 45 minutes. So a happy ending for all. 🙂
When we lived in New Orleans, there were a *lot* of stray dogs of every variety. One day a really pretty collie wandered onto our block. We checked and he didn’t have tags or anything. We already had a lab and a golden who were both former New Orleans strays, and we didn’t really want a third dog, but after a couple of days of him approaching us *every* time we set foot outside, we gave up and brought him into our back yard, fed him, and called a local collie rescue. He wasn’t fixed and his fur was so thick I honestly don’t know if anyone but an expert could have brushed him out — we didn’t have the right tools, that’s for sure! — but he had no problem getting along with our dogs — although we kept him out of the house since we figured he had, at a minimum, heartworm and a load of intestinal worms. In that warm climate, with a nice big covered back porch, he could stay outside without any problems.
We agreed to keep Buddy till a guy the rescue had wanting a dog could come over and meet him. I called the dog “Buddy” just to call him something, and somehow that became his name, to my amusement! The rescue covered his vet exam and heartworm treatment, of course (it’s just endemic down there — 75% of stray dogs have heartworms), and then when this nice young man showed up, the lady from the rescue talked him into keeping the dog while he was recuperating from his heartworm treatment to see how they’d get along. We heard a few weeks later that he’d adopted the collie, and since he ran his own machine shop next door to his house, he took the dog to work with him every day. That’s what we consider our most successful rescue (that we didn’t keep). 😀 Buddy really was such a sweet dog, though, if we didn’t already have two, we probably would have kept him!
They’ve really improved heartworm treatment since then, fortunately. At that time, it was about a 2- to 3-month process and the dog had to be kept quiet the whole time, and the medication was so strong that, if the dog was in poor enough health, they didn’t always survive. 🙁 Now I believe it’s just a couple of shots a couple weeks apart, and it’s done — much easier on the dogs. In a place like New Orleans, that’s really critical. Amazingly, neither our lab or our golden had heartworms when they were picked up off the streets; they were really lucky.
On wombat poop: