And So It Begins

The bird couldn't care less.

As it goes with any navy family, we're prepping for our move.  This is how navy life is.  You move frequently.  In our twenty-three years of marriage we've moved about ten times and we're coming up on move number eleven.

We've been here for about eight years, so it's like it's new again for me.  Been a while since I've planned a pack out or move.  And this time my sweet husband will not be around to help.  Believe me I'm a list maker at heart.  But I still stress out.

Kyla is NOT amused.

This can lead to so many questions from friends and family.  So let me answer the questions I get for you!  Because I just *know* you're dying to know these answers.

Christmas Wishes

Even my animals understand that on Christmas everyone should get along.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Darby, Pumpkin & Kyla

Trick Or Treat!

Pirate Ship Jack-O-Lantern

Posh Kitty Jack-O-Lantern

Most people know that Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday!

If you didn't know before, you know now.

Every year, when home, the hubby and I carve pumpkins while watching 'It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown'.  Normally we would eat cheap pizza as well, but we're on a diet so that was kept out of this year's festivities.

As he does every year, the hubby carved a pirate ship.  He got a number of compliments this year from adults as well as children.  I did the cute little kitty this year.

Fear the Darbysarus!

I don't want to look at the camera!

Now I normally make fun of people who dress their dogs, but now that I have a small dog myself I just couldn't help myself.

I really got a chuckle out of this costume.  Darby is in NO way mean or aggressive, so turning her into this fearsome creature was quite funny.  She doesn't sit well for taking photos, but this time I think she was mortified.  I will have to do a photo shoot with her again soon.

When my friends came over to trick or treat their son thought she was so cute and wanted a photo op.  Who was I to deny?

All smiles!

Don't they look a bit evil?

And as with every year since my buddy and her little one started trick or treating, they came to me for the photo op.  He's a ninja and the closest I can think to describe her costume is a modern geisha.

She's the cool kinda mommy who will put on a costume to go along with her kid's costume.  Cool mommy points there!

We gave out full size candy bars this year.  We had on hand a little over 90 pieces of candy.  At the end of the night we had about 20.  Close to 65 trick or treaters this year.  Lighter than last year, but still pretty good!

It's A Girl!

So the FUBAR incident from yesterday we now have our puppy! As of 12:30 pm EST we are again the proud parents of a 15 lbs. 2 oz. dog.

And she shall be called... Darby!

She's a one year old chihuahua short hair mix. At least that's what the SPCA claims. I don't really see it, but what do I know?

This is the first small dog I've ever owned, so there are a lot of things that will be new to me.

Like the fact I can pick her up. With ease I might add. I'm so not used to that.

Also she has no problems with any of our flooring, which means I have to do something to keep her away from the litter boxes. Which, by the way, she's found interesting.

Also she seems to feel the cold very easily, so it looks like I'm going to need to get her a doggy sweater.

The cats are peeved that we've brought home another animal, but other than that are unfazed. She's sniffed them but other than that could care less.

She enjoys sitting on the couch, under a blanket and watch TV with us. Cuddling is a really GOOD thing. And she's extremely fond of my hubby. What is it with animals of the female persuasion and my hubby? They can't seem to get enough of him. She likes to give kisses and hugs, because I honestly believe that she understands what we took her away from and the wondrous possibilities that lay ahead for her now.

Welcome to the family Darby! Prepare to be spoiled for the rest of your life!

Farewell Friend

It has taken me a few days to be able to actually blog about this.

On June 1st, my husband and I had to put down our 14 year old dog. Kaiser had been diagnosed with cancer and there was nothing that could be done. It had progressed too far.

Kaiser was a smiler, as you can see from this photo. We 'rescued' him, but in reality I think he rescued us. He was so loving and protective of his pack. How can you look at that beautiful face and not smile yourself? I dare you to try. You couldn't do it could you? I know I can't.

Kaiser has been with us since just slightly before the hubby was commissioned in the Navy. So yeah, he was a Navy brat. He'd moved 7 different times. Weathered one hurricane and two tropical storms. Gone through two deployments. And even visited two battlefields with us. But most importantly was protector and friend for fourteen years.

And he was such a ladies man. I don't think he ever met a female he didn't like. Men? Well that's a different story. But he'd perk up as soon as a lady walked in the door.

Time takes it's toll on everyone. It slows us all down. I'd like to think that Kaiser had a great life. I'm not trying to look at this through rose colored glasses, I know we weren't perfect.

Farewell my wonderful friend.

You will be missed!

Decisions

Being an adult sucks! I wish I could go back to the days when the hardest decisions I made were what flavor Kool aid I wanted, which toy to play with and what cartoon to watch. Back when all boo boos were fixed with a kiss from Mommy. And our parents were super heroes. I was just waiting to see their super hero costumes.

Today I had to take my 14 year old dog to the vet. He'd been having some issues and I was hoping against hope that there would be an 'easy' fix to this. Sadly, this is not the case. The word cancer was mentioned and a biopsy was taken.

Now I wait to see what the results will say. However, we aren't very hopeful.

I know there are a lot of people out there who would shrug their shoulders and say so what, it's just a dog. Kaiser is not just a dog to me though. He's so much more. But I'm not going to go into that.

So this weekend is all about him. Naps with him when ever and where ever. Outside time even if I think it's too hot. And car rides!

What's that buddy? You want a cheeseburger? Okay lets go get one.

Yeah, he's spoiled but he's mine. And I'll do whatever I have to to make things better for him. That's part of being an adult who cares for their pet and realizes how precious time is.

Soon I'll have to make decisions. And it sucks! But I'll do what's best for him.

Why My Animals Hate Me

Over the weekend I rocked my pets world. Well actually only the cats, the dog is kind of used to it. I decided that our animals needed baths. It was the first time we'd ever given the cats a bath. I thought Kyla, our stripey/spotty cat, would give me the most trouble so I bathed her first. Boy was I wrong. I did get a few scratches, but she was the best behaved and quietest of the two cats. No the award for most vocal and squirmy goes to Pumpkin.
I think this was their first baths EVER. And they treated me like I had just tried to kill them. And I most definitely need the hubby's help to get the job finished.

They looked like drowned rats and I just couldn't pass up the photo opportunity.

And yes I have since been forgiven. But only after they dried and got their new collars.

Kaiser's used to it and is a long suffering, good puppy dog. No whines or scratches. Although he does splay his legs when you pick him up to take him in the bathroom. He's just trying to dodge the inevitable.

Any Port In A Storm

So here at our house we're weathering a Nor'easter. If you don't know what it is, then let me educate you. The best way for me to describe it is a wanna be hurricane. Only the rain stays for more than 8 hours as does the wind. My cats have decided to hunker down together to weather this one out.

On the bright side, my sweet baboo is home. So it's junk food, movies and sweats day! Luckily we had some branches trimmed off one of our trees a week or two ago. So we don't have to worry about branches. We're just listening to the wind and watching the rain come down in sheets. Flooding is predicted.

A Farewell To King

As many people know I'm big into family pets. So I was saddened to hear that my mom's dog, King, was no longer with them.

King was a misunderstood dog. And extremely lucky to have ended up at my mom's farm. He was a bit cranky and not everyone liked him, but he loved my mom.

You can't really tell from the picture, but he was a black chow. And every year before summer kicked in he would get shaved so he wouldn't be too hot. I'll miss my yearly photos of King's new haircuts. He always looked so embarrassed, but I know it helped during the hot months ahead.

So farewell King. You will be missed.

This morning my little cockatiel, Princess, passed away. I couldn't let it just go without saying something. She was a quiet and unassuming thing and always greeted me in the mornings with, of all things, a hiss and nibble on my finger nail. This is a routine that I will greatly miss.

My few lines just didn't seem enough for the joy I think she honestly gave me. She was nine years old, which is a good long life, but it seemed too short to me. I already miss you Princess.

So here's Emily Dickinson's 'In The Garden - A Bird Came Down The Walk'.

A bird came down the walk:
He did not know I saw;
He bit an angle-worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.

And then he drank a dew
From a convenient grass,
And then hopped sideways to the wall
To let a beetle pass.

He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad, --
They looked like frightened beads, I thought;
He stirred his velvet head

Like one in danger; cautious,
I offered him a crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home

Than oars divide the ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or butterflies, off banks of noon,
Leap, splashless, as they swim.

Farmer Pumpkin!

Kitty Pumpkin had a farm.

E-I-E-I-O

And on this farm he grew some grass. (Not that kind you sickos! The kind for your yard.)

E-I-E-I-O

With a chomp, chomp here. And a chomp, chomp. Here a chomp. There a chomp. Every where a chomp, chomp.

Pumpkin Kitty has a farm.

E-I-E-I-O
So yes, I did plant a little pot of grass for Pumpkin.

And he LOVES it.

He'll rub his face in the grass and then chew on it. As long as I keep it watered, he's happy with the healthy grass. I just have to pick up all the little blades of grass that he plucks from the pot.

He truly enjoys it and that is all that matters to me!

Cabin Fever

Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Getting up to somewhere in the 70's. So my sweet baboo and I opened the windows and went outside to work on our yard.

It was so nice I actually put on shorts. Thankfully I was in the back yard so I didn't blind anyone with my shiny white legs. Argh! I'm blind!

That is until the cold front came through and the temperature dropped 10 degrees or so. That's when we beat a hasty retreat into the house. Of course we also figured out that we needed to go out and get a few things. Upon leaving we both noticed Pumpkin sticking his head out the window to see where we were.

Can you hear him asking to go with?

I R Kenny

Mighty hunter!

No more pictures!

Stupid paparazzi!

I hunt you!

If I no find you. My minion will hunt you down. She no cat, but she'll do.

Grrr!

Fracking Cat

So I know Pumpkin is too smart for his own good. And I think he knows it.

It started with him taking his collar off about a month ago. And I don't mean he pushed it over his head to get it off. I found the collar unbuckled and laying in the game room floor. He looked so innocent when I told him that he was naughty. But I wonder how he did it. Still have no idea.

The second time, a week or so ago, I came across his tags in the dining room. He had managed to unclasp the ring that the tags were on. I'm even more confused. I put them back on him and I swear it looked like his eyes were laughing. Maybe I'm getting paranoid.

Today I found his tags in the game room, but the clasp was nowhere to be found. I'm sure I'll find it within the week. Tricky little devil. I'm hoping the way I've got his tags on now he won't be able to undo them.

Now I wonder what else he can do. Unlock doors? Open doors? Make long distance phone calls? Or am I maybe getting a bit paranoid?

Curiosity + Cat = ?

Pumpkin has a certain fascination with the bathroom. No matter what we are doing, if we are in the bathroom, he'll come running. I don't know what his first house was like, but we let him explore. If you keep it from them then they want it even more. The bathtub in particular fascinates him. I'm sure he's trying to figure out why we would submerge ourselves in water when a tongue bath is just so much more efficient.

Of course the moment I bring out the camera that little smarty stops doing all the things that I think are adorable. I swear they have a spidey sense about me and the camera. As you can see he has that very put upon look on his face. Almost like he's a little annoyed with me for trying to steal his soul. The first photo looks like he's searching for the water that's normally in there.

Hey! Where's the water? He looks so very confused. But if I put the water in the tub he'd be off like a shot. There's no way he'd want to take a human bath. He's already shown me he doesn't care for the shower. But it is fun to peek in and bat at the water when his crazy humans are taking a bath.

My Bed!

So while out with my buddy, Greta, a week or so before Christmas we spotted this cute kitty bed at Walgreen's. Colten chose which one I bought. I thought it would be a good idea for Kyla. I mean Pumpkin sleeps on the bed or on the hope chest. So maybe this would make her feel like she's well loved. And that we really want her with us. She seemed to like it. Snuggling down quite quickly after doing a thorough examination of it. Including chomping on the whiskers of the stuffed cat head.

Only Pumpkin decided he really liked it too. Especially those tasty whiskers. Pretty soon we started having a kitty smack down over who got to sleep in the kitty bed. And races to the bed itself. It was kind of funny. So I went back to Walgreen's and as luck would have I was able to get another bed. Whew! Color me relieved. This one is grey. So I have one that vaguely looks like Pumpkin and one that vaguely looks like Kyla.

Now if only I could convince Kyla to sleep in her bed at the foot of our bed. It's taking time, but I'm sure she'll eventually warm up to the idea.

A Farewell To Strudel

I'm sure that there are many people out there upon viewing the title would think that I'm starting a diet. And am therefor saying goodbye to a yummy baked good. Sadly I'm not. On Monday, December 22nd my best friend, Greta, had to say goodbye to a good friend of 15 years. It took me a bit to actually write this. And for that I apologize. And you may want a hankie for this, but only if you're the sentimental type. I know I am.

That's right. Strudel was a red daschund. She was better known as Stru. Occasionally I called her competition since she loved my sweet baboo. And he adored her. And there were times I had to fight her for his attention. How could you not love her though? Just look at these pictures of her.

As I said she was 15, which is longer than most daschunds live. The breed tends to have back problems. And what a life that little darling had. She loved just about everyone that she met. The first time she met my hubby she lost control of her bladder she was so excited. From then on we had to call before coming over so that she could be put outside to greet us.

We sometimes joked that she was a life support system for a nose, because she liked to sniff so much. And as most mature women do as they age she put on a bit of weight. We jokingly referred to her as a yard cow. Not only because of her size, but because she liked to eat grass. A lot.

She had eyes that melted you. But she was smart too. She could say 'Rugrat'. And she'd dance too. And if ever she saw someone unhappy, especially Greta, she would hurry to comfort them. She didn't like to see people cry. And as you can see from the middle picture she was a bit of a ham.

When Greta and Steve brought Colten home there were concerns that she might not like having to share the attention. Instead she started mothering Colten and always wanted his toes clean.

Farewell sweet girl. You will be missed.

My Blankie!

Although the past few days have been quiet lovely, the weather is getting colder. I mean it is December. We should expect it to get colder. No snow yet though.

And apparently the most prime spot to be is under the bird cage.

Who knew?

I guess I can't complain too much. At least Pumpkin is under the cage and not on top like I've caught him a time or two.

He's not trying to get the birds. When he's on top of the cage it's normally when the birds are covered. Although he does get in quite a bit of trouble for it.

Apparently this blanket that I'm using this winter is the best kitty bed ever when it's folded up.

And of course monkey see, monkey do. Kyla soon took up to sleeping under the bird cage once she saw Pumpkin do it.

It's not like they are cold. They just seem to like the cushioning of the blanket.

I guess they're just telling me that they do not have enough soft places to nap upon. The beds, couches and my lap just aren't enough.

The poor babies.

Now to see them race for the bird cage once I uncover the birds every morning.

I'm so evil!

Let The Fur Fly!

So yesterday my brother sent me this photo.

That's right I'm an auntie again!

Ginger's going to need to learn how to share her people now. Or else the fur will fly.

She's adorable. No name as of yet.

Welcome to the family darling!

I R Cute! I Know It. Now U Do 2

I'm an auntie! Again!

My brother got a new puppy. Isn't she just precious? She's a teacup Yorkie. No news on a name yet.

Welcome to the family sweetie!

Prepare to be spoiled.