Happy Cats

I can hardly believe that it is Wednesday already! Where does the time go? Last Sunday I went to A and T's in Wilkes county for a cookout. A must have some kind of internal radar because each time she plans a cookout it rains!! And yes this time it stared raining as I was heading down the mountain. Now we don't let that stop us from having fun we just give the weather the required 10-15 minuets for it to change and we carry on.

This may look like just a bunch of weeds to the human eye, but to a cat it is heaven! We planted cat mint in the yard a couple of years ago and now find it popping up everywhere. I like to pull the whole plant up, dry it, and store it for over the winter. Then in January or so when the cats are getting a little house crazy I just rub some onto there cat scratch and watch them go nuts.

Michael Vick takes plea

I don't know whether to do a happy dance or scream with pain...Michael Vick is taking a plea.
That man- no strike that- that morally debased ass should be tied to a tree and beaten around the head, shoulders and groin with a baseball bat, then staked to the ground, his mouth stuffed with salt and covered in honey and stinging ants... All of this is still way to good for that SOB.

Summer shots

On my way to work this morning it was only 71! Whahoo! We did have a bit of a storm come through yesterday and what a difference it has made. The lower humidity is a welcome relief to all of us including my four legged friends - All three of the dogs at work are going nuts! Chasing each other round and round the house.

I have been a bit of a shutterbug this week and have gotten a couple of great summer shots. The one above was taken on the ridge above the holler on my way home last night.

I found this little gold finch at the edge of Moms garden having a blast with the thistle. I tried to get a little closer and of course that last step was one two many and he flew away.

OK, So I just can't help but add this photo of Fiona sleeping..I guess the light was just too bright!


There is a "chance" of scattered thunderstorms this weekend but you know how it is..it may rain in Boone but not on my side of the mountain. I do have a new way of getting it to rain at my house that is even better then washing the car...I hang out laundry.

I did not get all of my planting done last weekend so I will finish that on saturday, after I go to the farmers market..and my maters have fallen down..that is my fault, I did not put cages around all of them. When I finish all of that I am going to sit in my big orange chair with a mint spritzer and watch for my resident bat to make his/her nightly apparence.

All the chicks in a row

Ah... Monday, Monday...Another week begins and all I am thinking about are the projects left unfinished at home. I have to remind myself that they will all get done in time.

I took this photo a couple of days ago out in Bethel. That rooster looked so sure of himself as he herded all his "ladies" out of the barn. I know several folks (including myself) who would be happy if the people in their lives would/could be maneuvered, coerced, or gently dircted so easily into going in the direction that we deem correct..at least some of the time. Perhaps we are using the wrong reward...bugs and grubs seemed to work for this rooster.

Trumpet Tree

It's Friday and once again I am looking forward to the weekend. As it is supposed to "cool down" (only in the low 80s) on Saturday it will be a good day to work in the yard. The soil in my yard seems to need a humongous amount of help so I will be adding mushroom compost - great stuff with out the manure smell. I added some to the pot of this beautiful trumpet tree a friend gave me and look at the number of blooms I got. Watching the humming birds fly into the flowers is a trip, they hover under the flower, scoot up and disappear into the flower then back out. All without actually making the flower move.

Yard work is one of the joys of home ownership..and a good work out. I figure spending 30 min weed eating is at least the equivalent of 200 push ups! I really don't mind weed eating- once I get the darn thing going. It usually takes me 10 pulls and 2 really good curse words.

Dog days of Summer

This has been a crazy week! It must be true that the dog days of summer really do make people crazy. Or maybe it is just me. Here in the High Country we have either tied or broken several heat records this week. Our local forecaster has said for each day "Rather hot & hazy". That is an understatement, I would call it sweltering and sweaty.

On a cooler note, I went to the Spruce Pine Gem and Mineral show last weekend with a couple of the girls. It was hot and humid but we had a blast. As everyone knows I turn red after 10 minuets in any kind of heat so you can imagine what I looked like after several hours...Several vendors offered me a seat by their fan and asked if I was drinking enough water. Anywho, we all left laden down with treasures and smiles on our faces.

Saints, sinners or animal instinct

As long as I can remember four legged fur babies have figured into my life so I am well acquainted with the habits of hunting cats. I have been left many "presents" and have tried to show my..ah...gratatued....for each one. Well, the 2 cute little Manx girls, Moragan and Fiona, I adopted last November from WHS have really outdone any I have ever known. This spring Indy took them out and showed them the basics that was the end of my peaceful life. I am no longer sure if I should call my girls Princesses or Assasins. As the photo shows they have become quite proficent hunters...Of all the critters they have brought me the most unsual were the frogs (or maybe the same frog caught twice).

Last Saturday my worst fear was realized - as I sat down on the sofa and turned on the tv I saw a little 6" snake scooting across the floor - without the providing kitten in attendance. I managed to keep my wits and grabbed my trusty flower pot and extra long paint brush. This method has worked well on the myriad of other critters I have attempted to remove but this time the snake was having none of it and I was forced to actually touch it.