My Life In Kentucky

Five Years

2012-01-27T10:18:00.004-05:00

We saw this in Las Vegas last year and it made me think of my parents. They were founders of the Red Bench Gang. Two red benches sat in their side yard, and in the summer every evening after dinner, the neighbors would gather at the red benches and solve the problems of the world.

Five years ago I said goodbye to my Dad. I remember that moment as if it had happened yesterday, and yet it also seems like a lifetime ago. I recently came across a blog entry that was written by the son of some very good friends and neighbors of my parents. I'm sure I read this five years ago but with everything that was going on, I had forgotten about it.

It's nice to see your parents through the eyes of others - especially someone younger than myself. Thank you, Pat, for remembering my Dad in such a nice way.

Here is that blog entry if you have time to read it!

Speechless Sunday

2012-01-22T11:32:00.003-05:00

Speechless Sunday

2012-01-15T00:01:00.003-05:00

Speechless Sunday

2012-01-08T01:13:00.003-05:00

Support Handmade!

2012-01-06T12:10:00.004-05:00

Are you familiar with Etsy? If not, then you need to check there first this year for any gifts you will be purchasing!

Supporting a community of handmade artists will guarantee that you give unique, one-of-a-kind items. There are over 30 categories to choose from, and I wanted to share with you my latest purchase.

This goodie is from scrappeeCreations. The gal behind this adorable needle holder is a Mom whose blog I read. She has her hands full with four adorable children (twin sons and two older daughters), but in her spare time she creates items for her Etsy shop.

I just love this needle holder - it folds up into a cute package when not in use, and I can now find my needles quickly.

Be sure to stop by her shop and buy one for yourself or a friend!

File This Under Strange!

2012-01-04T20:18:00.005-05:00

The cats did better in the Christmas card count than we did this year. A few cards always arrive late, and this one is a real doozy!

It is from a law firm in Pennsylvania. I have no idea who they are or how we got on their Christmas card mailing list.

Isn't this the weirdest holiday card from a business that you've ever seen? I find it very creepy!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T12:24:00.004-05:00

Ted and I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas weekend! This picture is from the Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. It was spectacular with over 8,000 luminarias and musical groups along the trail.

We're happy to be spending our second Christmas in Scottsdale - the first Christmas as official residents!

Enjoy your holiday!

Speechless Sunday

2011-12-18T11:37:00.002-05:00

Speechless Sunday

2011-12-11T10:39:00.002-05:00

Deck My Halls!

2011-12-09T11:49:00.011-05:00

Enjoy this little tour of my Christmas decorations. We don't dare tempt fate by having a large tree due to curious paws! The fancy Santas are from my Mom's collection, and the beautiful large wooden sleigh was made by my Dad.

We also strung lights on a few cactus outside which was a first! Are you all decorated and ready for Santa?

Speechless Sunday

2011-11-27T14:24:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T09:37:00.004-05:00

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! This picture is circa 1963 and features my Dad and my Aunt Laura. I think we are waiting for the bird to get up and walk out of the room!

My Dad loved Thanksgiving! My Mom always stuffed the bird, and Dad like to pretend he was a surgeon. After I moved away from home, I would get a phone call every Thanksgiving morning telling me not to call the house because he was getting ready to go into surgery!

We had many memorable Thanksgivings - from custard pies that Aunt Verna brought every year that we all hated, but ate anyway . . . . . . the sink disposal backing up at clean up time . . . . . . the year everything had raisins in it . . . . . . the year the turkey took forever to get done . . . . and of course, my family, who I dearly miss.

I'm thinking of them today and thankful to have had them in my life - Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Phyllis, Laura, Johnny, Verna, Ed, and Ted Sr.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Speechless Sunday

2011-11-20T11:13:00.002-05:00

Home Sweet Home!

2011-11-08T18:42:00.008-05:00

On a cool, rainy day, Ted arrived in Arizona to stay for good! We moved here the end of July, but he only stayed a week, and then had to get back to Kentucky to finish up some work projects and hang around until our house sold!

The timing was perfect - we have a buyer for our Kentucky house and will close in a couple of weeks. And he is here in time to watch the cats while I work on one of the crews for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Phoenix which starts on Thursday.

He was glad to get here after three long days of driving and going through sleet and snow in northern Arizona!

Violet and Gleek were so happy to see their Daddy. Newman hid for about 15 minutes, but then realized who Ted was, and things were back to normal in no time!

We have all missed him so much, and now our family feels complete! Welcome home, Ted!

Happy Howloween!

2011-10-31T12:03:00.008-04:00

It's Howloween . . . . . . time to show your vampire fangs!

And if you're a cat, you're hoping for more toys instead of candy!

Get your howl on and shout out Trick or Treat!

Don't forget to carry a cute cat basket to collect all your goodies!

Newman is dressed up as Little Joe from Bonanza! Here he is singing Home on the Range just for you!

Have a not-so-spooky Happy Halloween!

Speechless Sunday

2011-10-30T12:03:00.002-04:00

Jewelry Cabinet Makeover!

2011-10-26T14:52:00.009-04:00

When my Mom passed away, I decided to keep this jewelry cabinet that she had. I really didn't like it, but it holds a lot of jewelry.

The top opens and there is a mirror and more storage. It has a cherry finish that is disgusting. For some reason, it won't clean up, and as you can see in the second photo, there were white smudges all over it.

I also don't care for the gold drawer pulls, and don't even get me started on that gross pink felt that lines all the drawers and side cabinets!

There are about a thousand tiny screws that hold all this together. After two weeks of removing all the pink felt, sanding, painting, and getting it all back together, here is what it looks like now!

I used the leftover paint from the end table painting project. It is a soft metallic copper color. I spray painted the gold a gun metal gray.

Because I could not completely remove the paper that the felt was attached to, I decided to cover it in scrapbook paper. Then I bought drawer liner that you use in your kitchen - the rubbery type stuff - and put it in the bottom of each drawer. The jewelry stays in place!

I used fabric as a backing on the two side cabinets.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

Speechless Sunday

2011-10-23T10:55:00.001-04:00

Shutterfly Free Holiday Cards

2011-10-17T15:54:00.013-04:00

I'm a fly girl - Shutterfly, that is! I've been using Shutterfly for years as my go-to place for creating cards, calendars, and photo books. The quality is awesome, and their site is very user friendly - even for those who are technically challenged!

Now is the perfect time to get your holiday cards created. There are so many new designs this year, and you'll love looking through them to find your favorite! Upload your family pictures to an album in your Shutterfly account, and let the fun begin. There are pretty styles to choose from, and your card can be either flat or folded and can contain numerous photos.

As you can see below, I like to create a card for my Etsy customers, and I include my cats' photos on it. This was last year's card.

Christmas photo cards are so easy to create! Pick a favorite photo from a vacation, choose a design, and you can have your cards done in no time!
Here is another card from my collection of Shutterfly creations! The most difficult decision you will have is selecting the design you want to use - there are so many fun ones!
To make your experience even better, you can pre-select the format, size, number of photos, and color that you'd like to use. Then you'll only be looking at the card choices based on your needs.
Of course, you don't have to use Shutterfly only during the holidays. They have greeting cards for all occasions, or you can create a photo card like I did showing Newman and his ferocious tiger bite!

I'm a huge fan of Shutterfly's calendars. I like giving these as gifts because they are unique, fun to create, and beautifully done. I've already done my family calendar for 2012 - yeah, I'm that much on the ball!

If you take a few minutes each month to upload some of your favorite photos to your Shutterfly account, then creating a calendar can be done in an evening. I especially like the calendar feature of being able to list birthdays and other special occasions. The next year, all those events are still in your account, so your creation time is even shorter! You can even put a picture on a particular day. For example, on our anniversary, I have a photo from our wedding day.

There are numerous photo gifts you can make, but my favorite is the photo book! I have created nine Shutterfly photo books. I've made photo books of our vacations, cats, dogs, Susan G. Komen 3-Day event, and even created a photo book as a graduation gift.
Another reason I'm a Shutterfly fan is their specials and freebies! Because I'm on their email list, I get a heads up on special promotions like free shipping, 20% off offers, buy one/get one free offers, and free print offers. I have taken advantage of them all over the years, and as a result I've gotten free calendars, prints, and cards.

Are you a blogger? If you'd like a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season, you can register here!

I also have a promotion code for you for 25 free cards! Enter one of these codes in your Shutterfly account, and you'll receive 25 free cards - what could be better than that as motivation to get your holiday cards done early!

4M53-EDU3-7PPC-WF3A8R
4M53-BDXP-GV42-V4EKNH
4M53-4XAA-SVZF-7SUZ9R

Have fun!

Can't Be Speechless Today!

2011-10-16T11:57:00.004-04:00

Today is a special day for two reasons! The most important one is that my handsome hubby is celebrating his birthday. Unfortunately, we aren't celebrating together because he is still back in Kentucky. He went to Ohio for a few days because his Mom got out of rehab after breaking a few ribs in a fall.

When he gets out to Arizona in a couple of weeks, we'll be celebrating not only his birthday, but also the sale of our house! We got an offer yesterday, and the timing couldn't have been better!

I hope the couple and their kids enjoy this house as much as we have. The fifteen years we lived there flew by - I remember seeing that empty lot and trying to envision the house that we were going to build. We have some wonderful memories of holidays shared with family and friends. I'll miss my old Kentucky home . . . . . . .

Being a Cat

2011-10-13T12:00:00.001-04:00

When you're a cat at my house, you have a rough life . . . . . . . . .

There are days I wish I could sleep all day!

The Visitor

2011-10-10T11:34:00.005-04:00

One of the most difficult things about leaving Kentucky was not being there for the stray kitties I would feed on the front porch. However, since Ted is still in Kentucky finishing up some work projects and taking care of the yard until the house sells, he is able to feed this visitor that has been around for months.

Several of the cats I took care of, kept, or found homes for belonged to a bad pet owner who lives in the next court over from us. She gets kittens for her kids, and then when they are grown, they are put outside to take care of themselves. I think she has since moved, but her poor decisions have left cats to find food and shelter. It makes me sick!

These two pictures are actually two different cats. Inky, shown below, was one of her cats. I know this because Inky is microchipped, and while she didn't bother to register the cat in her name, I was able to track the chip to the shelter that put it in Inky. They looked through their records and told me who adopted the cat, and yes, it was my lousy neighbor.

Inky is a super friendly cat, and I was able to bring him into our family with no problems. However, the Inky lookalike - whom I'm sure was Inky's sibling - has become feral and won't let us touch him.

Isn't it amazing how much they look alike - down to the black spot on the face! I feel so sorry for our visitor, but I'm glad Ted is able to continue feeding him. I hope when he moves here, one of our neighbors will continue that task. We still have our cat shelter on the woodpile, so when winter arrives, there is a place for the visitor to go.

This is also a good opportunity to remind people to spay and neuter their pets. There are too many stray dogs and cats in this world. Try wrapping your brain around the fact that FOUR MILLION cats and dogs are put down in U.S. shelters each year. FOUR MILLION - one every eight seconds! Such a tragedy, and we can do something about it. Bob Barker told you, and in addition to his message, if you are thinking of getting a pet, adopt one from a local shelter. Let's put the puppy and kitty mills out of business.

MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking Software Winner!

2011-10-05T10:58:00.005-04:00

Gleek was nearby to supervise the drawing for the MyMemories Digital Software giveaway.

Newman said he wanted to pick the winner. He looked over the pile of entries, and decided on this on!

Congratulations, Eva! You are the winner! I will get in touch with you to give you the code to use at checkout!

Not to worry if you didn't win - I still have a deal for you. Using the promo code below, you will receive a $20 value - $10 toward the purchase of the MyMemories Suite v2.0 digital scrapbooking software, and $10 toward the purchase of any item in their shop - scrapbooking kit, etc.

So, jot down this code, and enter it at checkout to receive your $20 deal!

Promo Code: STMMMS97203

Thanks for entering the contest, and thanks to MyMemories for allowing me to test out this digital scrapbooking software!

Speechless Sunday

2011-09-25T12:22:00.002-04:00

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Giveaway!

2011-09-19T21:43:00.012-04:00

I was given the opportunity to try out the MyMemories Suite digital scrapbooking software! It is a fun and easy tool that allows you to create scrapbook pages that can be saved as jpegs, printed on your own printer, turned into a DVD/CD, or viewed on an iPod.

Scrapbook pages can be turned into calendar pages, posters, or printed and turned into bound books. The possibilities are endless! Do you have a senior graduating from high school? If the school does senior ads, this is a great way to put together a professional looking ad in very little time.

One of my favorite features is the ability to bring in digital scrapbook pages and embellishments you already have on your computer. There are lots of digital scrapbookers that have freebies, and these can be brought into the MyMemories software to use. They also have scrapbooking kits for sale on their site.

MyMemories also has video tutorials, techincal support, a newsletter, and a blog/forum, so you will have help if you need it. It is very user friendly!

The pages below of Samoa were created using a kit - all I had to do was drop in the pictures!

Newman's layout was from a quick page - again, all I did was drop in the photo. In a quick page, you don't have the luxury of rearranging any of the elements. However, in the pages above of Samoa, I could move the individual items around if I wanted.

And if you want to be really creative, you can start with a blank page, bring in a background, embellishments, text, and photos. This is an example.

Now for the fun - I have a FREE MyMemories Suite v2.0 Digital Scrapbooking Software to give away! It is a $39.97 value, and you will have four chances to enter.

1. Go to the MyMemories website and look through their scrapbooking kits. Leave a comment on this blog entry telling me which kit is one of your favorites.

2. For a second entry, like MyMemories on Facebook. Then leave a comment on this blog entry telling me that you did!

3. For a third entry, follow MyMemories on Twitter. Then leave a comment on this blog entry telling me that you did!

4. For a fourth entry, blog about this post. Then leave a comment on this blog, and also a link to the blog entry where you mentioned it.

You must leave an email contact. If you are the winner, and no contact information is left, I will pick another winner.

If you are not the lucky winner, I still have a deal for you. Using the promo code below, you will receive a $20 value - $10 toward the purchase of the MyMemories Suite v2.0 digital scrapbooking software, and $10 toward the purchase of any item in their shop - scrapbooking kit, etc.

So, jot down this code, and enter it at checkout to receive your $20 deal!

Promo Code: STMMMS97203

The drawing for the free software will take place in two weeks - Tuesday, October 4th. Good luck!

Time To Go Dancing!

2011-09-19T13:14:00.004-04:00

Dancing With The Stars starts tonight! My Red Hot group does a pool each season, and this time I drew these two people that you probably don't know!

The professional is Val Chmerkovskiy - Max's brother. I'm anxious to see if he is as good as Max on the dance floor!

The star is Elisabetta Canalis. She is a model/Italian movie and TV star. Big bucks are on the line, so I'll be cheering on these two unknowns and hoping they can win the mirrored trophy ball!

Do you watch DWTS?

Speechless Sunday

2011-09-18T12:49:00.002-04:00

Golfer of the Month!

2011-09-14T11:49:00.007-04:00

This is Sarah . . . . . fresh off the golf course . . . . . . the varsity team had just won a match.

This is Sarah with her golf coach . . . . . . being named the August Athlete of the Month for golf!

This is Sarah getting a certificate and $25 gift card from the Booster Club president!

What a great honor for a sophomore! Congratulations, Sarah!

We celebrated with pizza, cake, and watching the Miss Universe pageant (while Sarah did homework)!

Speechless Sunday

2011-09-11T18:03:00.002-04:00

Going to the Chapel

2011-09-07T12:16:00.007-04:00

I'm flying back to Kentucky tomorrow to attend a special wedding. One of my best friends who I've known since our college days at Georgetown College has her first son getting married!

I'm not sure where all those years went, but here I am with two of their three boys - Andrew is the oldest.

Somehow by the grace of God they go from this . . . . . . .

. . . . . . to this! Bethany is a lucky girl, and Andrew found an animal lover - how pawsome!

The proposal was right out of a movie with younger brother hiding in the bushes to capture it on camera!

They've already picked out a pooch - this is cute little Mitzi!

I'm so happy for them, and wish them wonderful years of fun, laughter, and success!

Speechless Sunday

2011-09-04T11:15:00.000-04:00

Bird Brained!

2011-08-31T12:37:00.004-04:00

I discovered birds are not smart when it took a few weeks for them to realize the white net hanging from the dead cactus is full of birdseed!

This little redfinch finally made the discovery! Now, if he can keep that secret all to himself, he will be feasting like a king!

More Creatures!

2011-08-29T20:10:00.005-04:00

I never know what creature is going to be found on or near the house. Last night as I drove in the driveway around 10:00 p.m., I thought I saw something on top of the roof. It was a huge owl! I was hoping he wouldn't fly in the garage, so when I got out of the car, I stepped out in the driveway to make sure it really was an owl. Yep! I'm almost hoping he comes back tonight so that I can try to get his picture.

This morning as I went out the side garage door, I found these two praying mantises. Doesn't it look like they are mountain climbing?

It especially looks that way when you check out the close up. What funny looking insects!

He was praying that I wouldn't do anything to him . . . . . . and I didn't! Do you ever see these around your home?

Speechless Sunday

2011-08-28T10:42:00.000-04:00

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

2011-08-27T10:52:00.015-04:00

Howdy pardner! We had a rip roarin', hootin' tootin' fun time last night at the surprise birthday party for Caroline (my friend's daughter).

There is nothin' I like more than planning a good 'ole fun party with teenagers, and these kids really got into the spirit of the western theme. Here they are waiting for the guest of honor to arrive so we can all yell, YEE HAW!

And here is Caroline arriving on the party bus! See that big smile? She is so happy to be doing something other than going to a boring dinner with her parents!

My, they shine up nice, don't they?

And here is proof that teenagers will do what they are told. I said, look up to the sky, and they did it! I'll never believe another parent when they tell me that their kids don't listen to them!

There was plenty of goofin' around!

The #1 requirement for a good party is lots of activity - we had it all goin' on - ginormous checkers . . . . .

Horseshoe pitchin' . . . . . . .

A cornhole tournament . . . . . . .

Lasso twirlin' . . . . .

Sign these kids up for the rodeo . . . . . .

And lots of good cowboy grub . . . . . .

It was an awesome night, and I really enjoyed spending the evening with a great group of young adults! Happy Birthday, Caroline!

The Eagle on the Beagle!

2011-08-24T10:52:00.004-04:00

According to a few of my Facebook friends, the hawk on the rock turns out to possibly be the eagle on the beagle!

They think my hawk might be a golden eagle. Here is a picture courtesy of Terry Sohl of a golden eagle.

Here is my out-of-focus-taken-too-far-away half picture of my bird! The beak is not nearly as pointed, but maybe my eagle is still young.

I'll keep on the lookout to see if he returns, and perhaps I can get a better photo the next time!

Eyes Like a Hawk!

2011-08-22T10:52:00.006-04:00

I'm constantly looking up at Beagle Dog Rock because you never know who is going to show up! Last night I noticed this larger-than-usual bird. I quickly put the zoom lens on the camera and snapped away!

I believe it is Mr. Hawk looking for his dinner.

As you can tell from this photo, Mr. Bunny found his dinner - tasty new leaves from my bush!

Mr. Bunny better watch out or he will end up as Mr. Hawk's main course!

Speechless Sunday

2011-08-21T09:53:00.002-04:00

Brotherly Love!

2011-08-20T13:10:00.001-04:00

Wascally Wabbit!

2011-08-18T11:03:00.005-04:00

Hi - I'm Gleek! Quick, come to the window . . . . . .

Be vewy, vewy quiet . . . . . . and don't move a muscle!

Do you see the bunny wabbit? He was right outside my window! I only ate half my breakfast this morning because I had to get back to bunny wabbit watching . . . . . . .

It's a vewy important job!

They Come in Pairs!

2011-08-17T11:50:00.004-04:00

Look who has a friend - the giant lizard has been showing up every morning. I think he makes his home in these bushes. Today, his pal was with him!

The did their morning exercises together - bobbing up and down like they are doing push ups. It is so funny to watch.

The cats are enjoying watching them from the windows - especially Inky who talks to the birdies and lizards with a cute chirping chatter noise.

Sticky Situation!

2011-08-15T12:51:00.020-04:00

Not all cacti are created equal! I thought I'd give you a tour of the varieties we have in our yard. The first two pictures are Saguaros. These are the cactus most people associate with the west. It takes 75 years before they grow a side arm, so the ones I have are just youngsters!

The next two photos are what Saguaros look like when they die! I am so excited to have these in our yard because they add such character. The inside is comprised of ribs. Birds and animals make holes in the cacti and create nests.

This is a type of Cholla - called Walking Stick! You might have heard of the Teddy Bear Cholla which has fuzzy top sections. We don't have any teddy bears, but I might have to get one!

We have several Barrel Cactus. This one is a Tall Barrel. They bloom at the top of the cactus - it appears this one has yellow flowers!

This is called a Totem Pole cactus - very unusual! It is called this because of the various sections that resemble faces on a totem pole.

There are different types of Prickly Pear cacti - as you can see in the next three photos.

The fruit on the top of the prickly pear is edible - sometimes called cactus fruit or cactus fig. It has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outside.

This variety is called Violet Prickly Pear and is so pretty with it's purple hue!

Here are two Hedgehog Cactus - named this because they grow in clumps or mounds.

This is a Columnar Cactus. Right now, what appeared to have been flowers has turned into these hairy white knobs at the top. I'm looking forward to seeing what all these cacti do throughout the year.

This is a Golden Barrel Cactus. The spines on this sucker are lethal!

The next two pictures are not cacti - but are called Agave plants. They are really beautiful, but also have very sharp tips!

I hope you've enjoyed the tour! I have some pretty blooming bushes throughout the front and back yards, so I'll be sharing those with you later!

Speechless Sunday

2011-08-14T10:47:00.002-04:00

Woof Woof!

2011-08-13T11:33:00.005-04:00

Ted and I decided that after our dog Rocky passed away, we wouldn't get any more dogs. Besides, we have enough cats to provide entertainment!

However, we have a dog living very close - the rock sculpture outside our back fence looks like a dog! I've named it Beagle Dog Rock. If you click on the pictures to see them full sized, you'll be able to find the beagle!

And if you've never been good at that, I'm helping you by marking the various parts of the dog!

Are you one of those people who find shapes in the clouds . . . . . and/or in rocks?

Empty Nest!

2011-08-12T10:48:00.005-04:00

Well, as I predicted, the babies left the nest early last evening. Since they are just getting used to their wings, they flew in little spurts to different parts of the backyard. Momma is realizing they are more work out of the nest because she has to protect them until they are strong enough to fly away from danger.

And here is the danger - right outside our back fence are some rock clusters, and look what I saw wandering around the rocks! I was so worried that they might smell baby dove and find a way to get in the yard for a midnight snack!

Luckily, both baby doves are okay this morning. Momma keeps flying to the nest to convince them to come back, but they aren't cooperating. They are huddled together - still in the backyard - where I hope they stay until they get bigger and stronger!

Bye Bye Birdies!

2011-08-11T12:00:00.003-04:00

The baby doves are growing up so fast! Last night and this morning they have been cleaning their feathers and testing out their wings.

It won't be long before they leave with Momma for the great outdoors . . . . . and I can't wait to get that tablecloth off the ceiling fan!

Small Dinosaur!

2011-08-10T12:19:00.003-04:00

Everything may be bigger in Texas . . . . . . .

but I hope I don't see a lizard any bigger than this guy who showed up yesterday in my backyard!

Speechless Sunday

2011-08-07T12:17:00.001-04:00

Three Long Days!

2011-08-05T11:26:00.017-04:00

Two weeks ago yesterday we left Kentucky (after living there for 22 years), and headed for our new home in Arizona!

It was a sweltering day when the movers packed up our belongings. The day after they left, we got new carpet installed in our Kentucky house, and the next day loaded up the cats and headed out!

We originally were going to take four days to get there because we had no idea how the cats would travel. Cats are not known for being good car riders, but after some initial talking, everyone settled down.

There were tolls to pay (what a pain!) . . . . . .

And lots of trucks and big stuff on the road . . . . . .

The scenery often looked like this . . . . .

The scenery in the backseat often looked like this . . . . . . poor Newman was scared and cuddled up to Gleek almost the entire way!

Samoa had her own crate, and the boys were allowed to roam in the little space that was left, but they chose to stay inside the other carriers I had in the car.

Inky was the calmest of the five. Whenever Violet started whining, he would give him a little love bite on the back to keep him quiet!

We arrived in Scottsdale on Saturday late afternoon, and our belongings came on Monday!

Ted deserved a break after three days of driving, so he checked off the items as they came off the truck, and I supervised where all the boxes were placed.

There were almost 300 items - boxes, furniture, etc. It was enough to make your head spin!

The cats have adjusted very quickly, and are enjoying the windows for backyard critter viewing!

Inky has found a favorite place to chillax!

And I've found my favorite place to chillax too!

Speechless Sunday!

2011-07-31T14:11:00.003-04:00

Speechless Sunday

2011-06-26T10:00:00.004-04:00

The Big Move!

2011-06-21T21:15:00.014-04:00

One month from today, I'll be in a car with five cats moving across the country to Arizona! While I am excited about this next chapter in our lives, I am sad to be leaving my Red Hot friends who have been such an important part of my life for the fifteen years we've been in Kentucky.

Last night, they surprised me by throwing a farewell party! I told them there is a one-surprise-party-per-Red-Hot (they also gave me a surprise party for my 50th birthday), but they don't listen to me!

Ted was in on it. The original plan was to have a party in August, but when I surprised them at the moving sale by saying I was leaving in July, they flew into action and moved up the party! Here I am with our Lead Duck, who hosted the party at her house.

After chowing down on some yummy food, they decided to get me back for all the games and foolishness I've made them do over the years. They each prepared a game, and I was the only one who played!

There was a trivia game about Arizona, a word search for all the Red Hots, a Mad Lib game, two Don't Forget the Lyrics games involving Donny Osmond songs, and a dice game from Minute to Win It!

And we can't forget B-I-N-G-O. Mylinda only has 45,000 bingo cards to get rid of - we'll be 90 and still playing B-I-N-G-O!

Those Donny song lyrics were not easy to remember!

We went outside to enjoy some of the Kentucky humidity, and they presented me with a fabulous scrapbook. Of course, that is when the floodgates of my eyes opened!

These special ladies are like sisters to me. We have shared many laughs, tears, and lots of craziness through the years!

Thank you Doreen, Mylinda, Peggy, Barb, Phyllis, Pam, Karen, and Sharon for adding more wonderful memories to my life! It was a night I won't forget!

Once a Red Hot, always a Red Hot . . . . .

The Reason . . . .

2011-06-10T21:15:00.004-04:00

. . . . we can't have rain tomorrow!

Our big moving sale is in the morning! I have been working on this for over a month - cleaning out closets, drawers, etc. It is all priced and ready to move out to the driveway. It is priced super low, so that it will all GO!

Wish me luck!

Oh Deary Deer!

2011-06-07T19:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday our sweet baby deer spent the entire day in our side yard which was shady (you can see the gate in the upper right corner).

Ted and I were doing mulch right around the corner from this, and we heard a big deer snort noise. Little did we know until we saw the baby's location that Mama deer was trying to distract us and keep us away from him.

I was concerned because he stayed there all day - without eating! I checked last night before going to bed, and he was gone. I guess Mama came and got him for his nightly nursing. This morning he was in the side yard between our house and the neighbor's house. Once the sun hit that area, he moved, and I didn't see him the rest of the day. I'm hoping he beds down in the wooded area where it is a little cooler.

Isn't he sweet?

Oh, Deer!

2011-06-06T08:37:00.005-04:00

Yesterday morning when my neighbor went out to get his newspaper, look what he found in the front yard! I'm not sure if the baby was born there, or just told to stay there while his mama went out for breakfast.

Of course, all the neighbor kids were checking him out. I was preaching to stay away from him or the mama won't come get him. I'm sure my neighbors don't appreciate me telling their screaming kids to back away, but too bad!

Isn't he precious? Luckily, within a few hours he was gone. Mama must have signaled him to come to the woods behind our homes. It made me feel much better that he was getting some shade, and away from the kids.

Mother Nature doesn't need to send any strays around here - I've got all I can handle with the cats that show up!

Speechless Sunday

2011-06-05T09:09:00.002-04:00

Vacation Rocked!

2011-06-01T22:54:00.014-04:00

On our first wedding anniversary, we went to Kauai, Hawaii, and stayed at the Coco Palms where Elvis filmed Blue Hawaii. While there, we saw a beautiful resort and said on our 25th wedding anniversary we would go back and stay there.

Well, last week was our 25th wedding anniversary. And since we are in the process of moving to Arizona, we decided to postpone that Hawaii trip for a couple of years. So, the next best thing was when Ted said he would take me to Vegas to see the Donny & Marie show. Now, that is true love! Of course, there was a catch - if I got to see Donny Osmond, Ted wanted to take a day trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon! He had a deal!

Here are a few pictures from our trip. We have been to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon several times, but never to the North Rim. It is equally beautiful!

After leaving the Grand Canyon, we spent the night in one of the cabins at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends has been my charity of choice for many years, and this is our second time to visit. It is truly a special place for all the rescued animals they care for - their Angel's Rest cemetery is the most peaceful place on earth!

Here is the man that makes me a better woman!

Nothing like a sunny day with a beautiful view!

Can you see Angel's Window?

If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, it needs to be on your bucket list!

Wolfgang Puck's restaurant surprised us with this yummy dessert. We had dinner there before seeing the Cirque du Soleil show called KA! If you've never seen a Cirque show, it needs to be on your bucket list!

Everything in Vegas is over the top! Such a fun people-watching city!

The Bellagio has a beautiful conservatory. This reminded us of my parents - they owned a red bench and their neighbors were called The Red Bench Gang!

The Donny & Marie show at the Flamingo was super! They are both such good singers. Their show included lots of clips from their younger days, and they did quite a bit of dancing too. I had to pinch myself! If Donny was a fan of yours, you need to put his show on your bucket list!

And I was so excited when we went to Fremont Street and saw their lite show. The show we saw was set to Beatles music, and there were lots of cats in it!

We also went to the Titanic Exhibit, spent a day at the pool, and played the penny slots. We didn't come back any richer than when we left, but we had a great time!

A Quarter Century!

2011-05-17T11:11:00.005-04:00

One week from today I will celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary with the best man in the world! Here we are 25 years ago. If Ted was writing this blog entry, he would tell you that the stupid guy in the tuxedo shop thought men wore their pants higher than they actually do, and that is why his pants are too long!

Isn't it amazing that my hair hasn't gone gray in 25 years? LOL!

The reason I'm doing this post today and not next week is because we'll be on vacation! And we'll be sitting in really good seats at the Flamingo watching these two sing. I can't wait!

We've had 25 years of laughter, tears, dogs, and cats, and I can't wait to start the next 25 in our new Arizona home! Happy Anniversary, Ted. I love you!

Red Hot Florida Trip!

2011-05-16T10:43:00.011-04:00

Here is where I've been the past six days. I know, I've got a rough life! The Red Hots travelled to Destin (cheaply, I might mention, on Vision Airlines) and stayed with Red Hot Mama in her beautiful home on the water!

We enjoyed a day long boat trip, and we were giddy when we finally found dolphins!

Of course, you can't forget that good food is always included in the deal!

We enjoyed dinner and a concert in the park one night - food provided by Carrabba's!

Doreen and Sharon ventured out on the jet skis!

There were cute creatures like this lizard, and annoying creatures like yellow flies!

There was lots of pool time, and exercise-in-the-pool time, but I'm not allowed to show pool pictures! And don't forget shopping . . . . . . we know how to find deals!

Doreen was the hostess with the mostest, and we had a fabulous time! Thanks also to her hubby, Jeff, for being our boat captain, and grill expert!

Speechless Sunday

2011-05-08T10:09:00.003-04:00

Speechless Sunday

2011-05-01T10:49:00.002-04:00

A Royal Wedding!

2011-04-30T12:20:00.003-04:00

Just as I did 30 years ago, I got up early yesterday to watch a royal wedding. It was spectacular! I'm a sucker for weddings, and this one gave me goosebumps and, of course, a few happy tears were shed!

Now, let's look at one of the official photos that was released. Does anyone else see what is wrong with this picture?

Why couldn't someone have straightened out the front of her dress so there wasn't a big indent in it?

Did you get up early to watch the festivities?

Chair Progress!

2011-04-27T16:25:00.006-04:00

Here is the chair and what I've done to it so far! Ted needs to cut a piece of wood for the chair back that will be covered with padding and then fabric. I still have to make the cushion - the fabric has been cut out, but I'm dreading covering it because it isn't a typical square cushion - it juts out to go in front of the arms.

There was about 30 miles of piping around this chair - held on for dear life with 10,000 staples (at least)! The thought of making that piping was more than I could stand, so I decided to go with black piping.

The search was on. I knew it would be expensive in a fabric store, so the first place to stop is Ebay! You won't believe the AWESOME deal I got on this beautiful piping. Ten yards - with shipping - for $7.36! Yeee Haw!

And forget stapling this piping - I got out the handy glue gun and went to work on it!

The piping is complete (except for what goes around the chair's back piece)!

I'm feeling pretty good about how it looks so far!

Speechless Sunday

2011-04-24T09:23:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter!

Springtime Ritual!

2011-04-18T17:41:00.003-04:00

The dogwoods are in bloom, the birds are chirping, the weather is getting warmer. It can only mean one thing . . . . . . . . .

The toes are seeing the light of day again after being locked into shoes for months! And when they come out to play, it is pedicure time!

Pedicures rock!

Speechless Sunday

2011-04-17T13:21:00.002-04:00

White Elephant!

2011-04-14T10:39:00.004-04:00

You certainly can't tell what kind of weather we're having around here based on the Red Hot footwear choices last night! Although, I think you can tell that one of us has been to Florida already!

When it's Mylinda's turn we all know that bingo will be involved - she has 56,320 bingo cards to use up! We played White Elephant Bingo last night, and I was a big winner!

Each of us brought something from around our house that we didn't want anymore. The item(s) were sealed in bags, and if you won a round of bingo, you selected a bag for your prize - along with $$$!

I won three rounds and came away with $9 profit - woo hoo! It pays for my Bunco night tonight! I'm such a party girl!

We can't wait to hear how Phyllis's husband liked the white elephant prize that she won from the baby-of-all-Red-Hots. Let's just say we wonder why Lorie had this item laying around her house in the first place!

Somehow . . . .

2011-04-13T12:18:00.007-04:00

. . . . I'm going to transform this chair! It will take magic, prayer, bad words, and ruined fingers . . . . but I will do it!

Step 1 - Remove the 43,000 staples that hold the fabric to the chair - Check!

Step 2 - Find nice upholstery fabric on sale ~~just in case~~ when things don't go right- Check!

Step 3: Paint wood black while husband cringes because you are painting wood - Check!

Step 4: Make sure assistant is ready to help just as he was when you started the project - Check!

Step 5: Refer to the chair that Just a Girl transformed, and realize it can be done - Check!

Speechless Sunday

2011-04-10T11:03:00.005-04:00

It's A Hit!

2011-04-08T11:10:00.003-04:00

Inky had first dibs on trying out the new cat dining table! Newman is asking him how the chow tastes on the new table.

Inky gives it four paws up!

I Heart Goodwill!

2011-04-07T19:03:00.010-04:00

Do you give stuff to Goodwill? I take lots of items to Goodwill - clothes, home decor, kitchen items, etc., etc., etc.! Well, I'm not too proud to say that shopping at Goodwill can be an adventure.

There is a Goodwill store nearby, and occasionally I'll stop in to check out their goodies. Today I hit the jackpot!

I've been looking for a small table that the cats can eat their dry food on. I can't put their bowls on the floor because Gleek isn't allowed to eat dry food. He gets urinary crystals when he eats dry food which causes him to be unable to pee (a very dangerous situation in boy cats). Anyway, he isn't a jumper, so I don't have to worry about him getting on the table.

I found this gem today! Perfect size . . . . . perfect height . . . . . . AND PERFECT PRICE! Yeah, baby, rub your eyes and read that again - sixteen buckaroos!

It is definitely an antique table which you can tell from the underneath side (sorry, but I didn't take a picture of that). Look at the cute detail on each corner!

And the precious painting on the top!

My first thought was to redo the entire thing, but now after cleaning it up, I'm thinking a little more distressing on the edges and legs, and it's ready to go!

Now, if you think $16 was the deal of the day, think again! Look at this adorable black and white purse - doesn't even look like it has been used!

Ann Taylor Loft . . . . . $3.00! How cute for summer . . . . . . if it would only get here!

What bargains have you found lately?

Eagle Cam!

2011-04-04T18:25:00.002-04:00

Last year I watched an eagle cam, and it is so fascinating. A friend was telling me about a new eagle cam set up which watches a nest where two eggs have already hatched and the third one is almost ready to hatch. You can't help but watch this and be amazed at nature! There are several dead food items in the nest - a fish, a muskrat, and a crow!

Live video by Ustream

Enjoy! And if this video doesn't work, here is the website where you can view it!

(S)He's Baaaack!

2011-03-31T12:02:00.008-04:00

Ted was getting ready to leave for work this morning when he came back in and told me to hurry and get the camera and zoom lens.

Woody was still in the tree when he went outside. These pileated woodpeckers are so beautiful - click on each picture to see it full sized and check out his awesome red topknot!

Ted also said he was making a lot of noise too, and it was loud - not the pecking, but the singing!

Here is someone's You Tube video where you can hear the call!

Red Hots Shutterfly Book!

2011-03-28T16:21:00.001-04:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Speechless Sunday

2011-03-27T08:50:00.002-04:00

Do You See What I See?

2011-03-22T20:41:00.007-04:00

It is always a thrill to look out one of the windows and get a glance of something huge flying to a tree or dead stump.

Then the race is on to grab the camera, and come back to the window hoping he hasn't flown away!

Mr. Pileated Woodpecker shows up every spring. These woodpeckers are so beautiful, and this photo isn't too bad considering I was hanging out the bathroom window!

Do you ever see any in your yard?

Treasure Hunting!

2011-03-22T09:18:00.008-04:00

There are quite a few flea market/bargain barn/peddler mall's in the area, and last week I went to one on the other side of town that I've never been to before. There were hundreds of booths, and I found one of those mirrored dresser trays.

My Mom used to have one on her dresser, and I don't know why I didn't keep it, but when I saw this one for $2.99, I grabbed it up. The mirror was in good shape, but I knew that gold tray had to go!

Some white spray paint did a great job of covering the ugly gold.

The backing was all nasty, so that got replaced with a piece of heavy cardboard.

I hot glued four marble like thingies that are flat on one side to each corner.

Add accessories, and this baby is ready for a dresser! What a nice, easy transformation!

Do you like going treasure hunting? One gal's trash is definitely another gal's treasure!

Spring!

2011-03-21T11:20:00.006-04:00

Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. Deer, for not eating these pretty daffodils before they had a chance to bloom!

The weathermen completely blew it yesterday. It was supposed to rain. It didn't! The sun was glorious and the weather perfect for cleaning up flower beds, trimming back ornamental grasses, and spray painting a goodie I found at a flea market. I'll be sharing it with you tomorrow.

Bring on spring . . . . . . I'm ready!

Speechless Sunday

2011-03-13T00:27:00.002-05:00

Red Hot Candy Fun!

2011-03-10T15:40:00.011-05:00

What a great time we had at Pam's house last night! First up, Peggy had Show and Tell on this beautiful owl quilt she made. We've all put in an order for one!

Pam had a wonderful dinner - here is the most important part of it - dessert!

Then it was time for Candy Making 101 - the expert shows us how to do it!

There was pretzel dipping . . . . . . .

and suckers made in molds . . . . . . we all have a new appreciation for the real candy makers. It is a lot harder than it looks!

Candy discs melted in the microwave . . . . .

All tied up and cute in a bucket!

These creations won't last until Easter!

Hey, the Easter Bunny showed up for our foot picture! Don't you love that rug?

Up to My Eyeballs in Fleece!

2011-03-01T15:39:00.004-05:00

My dining room has turned into Sewing Central during the winter months. Since there isn't much to be done outside, I like to catch up on items for my Etsy shop.

Of course, I always have one or two helpers who like to get in on the action!

In addition to sewing, I just bought a $5 Ooops gallon of paint at Home Depot - don't you love it when they Ooops the paint? The half bath needs painting, so I loved finding just the right color and only having to spend $5 for the paint!

What projects are you working on this winter?

Where Am I?

2011-02-26T23:01:00.004-05:00

Well, it has been 12 days since Valentine's Day, so I think it's time for a blog entry! I've been so busy sewing items for my Etsy shop, and cleaning out closets, and painting the living room, and all the other good stuff that fills up a day!

Today I signed up for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, but this year I'm going to work on the crew rather than walk the 60 miles! I'm going back to Arizona in November for the walk. I'll find out in a few months where I'll be working. I had to list my first four choices for crew positions. I'm hoping to be working at one of the pit stops along with route.

Hope you're all staying warm in this nasty winter weather. I'm definitely ready for spring!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T00:19:00.004-05:00

Inky says, I love my new family!

I hope your day is surrounded by those you love!

Big Surprise!

2011-02-09T11:26:00.006-05:00

A huge boxed arrived on Monday. You can imagine my surprise when I opened it and found this lovely portrait of Newman painted by Jill Hainer-Jones.

Over 80 Catster/Facebook friends (only three I've met in person) got together and commissioned this painting! Of course, I cried as I read the beautiful note that came with the painting:

You are always there for everyone. Always kind and supportive and fun and upbeat. We've watched you keep your chin up through such sad losses these last few years - Autumn, Spunky, Rocky, the incomparable Calvin, and most recently sweet Sugar. You've had such sadness and worry with the illnesses of Gleek and Violet. We all wanted to get together to do something special for you to try to show you how much we all love you and how much you mean to us. You are one in a million dear lady!

Newman likes it too!

I'm going out today to look for a frame. It is stunning, and Jill captured Newman perfectly. Words can describe how touched and thankful I am to all these wonderful ladies from Catster who have been like family to me!

Some people are skeptical that you can become friends with strangers via the internet, but I know for a fact that the wonderful ladies(and men)-behind-the-cats that I've met and known for several years over on Catster are great people who love their fur families. I'm honored to know them and the pets they love!

Thank you for the very special and gorgeous gift! I treasure it, and your friendships!

Speechless Sunday

2011-02-06T08:25:00.003-05:00

Four Years

2011-01-27T20:54:00.004-05:00

My Dad died four years ago tonight. Mom, Ted, and I were with him. He was the first person I had seen die. It was peaceful and strange at the same time. He was 85 years old, and he acted about 20 years younger.

I think he was in his 20's in this photo.

He adored the women in his life . . . . . especially my Mom. Every woman should be treated as good as he treated my Mom!

I miss them both terribly, and I know I always will . . . . .

Speechless Sunday

2011-01-23T09:05:00.002-05:00

Snow!

2011-01-12T12:58:00.003-05:00

Yep, we got it!

Luckily, the roads are okay. Kids got a break from school yesterday, but went back today. I had to laugh at all the kids playing outside in the snow yesterday afternoon. Two kids were carrying around a rack from the bottom of a dishwasher. I have no idea what that was about!

Speechless Sunday

2011-01-09T09:31:00.004-05:00

Arizona Hiking!

2011-01-05T14:44:00.012-05:00

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a beautiful area in Scottsdale (14,000 acres) with lots of hiking trails.

Ted spent the morning after Christmas hiking about 9 miles through the McDowell mountains while I went shopping for after-Christmas sales!

Then a couple of days later, we both returned for a four mile hike. It is a popular place with lots of people walking their dogs, and even those brave enough to ride on the trail with bikes.

This is what happens when cactus die!

Here we are moving out of the way for a couple of guys on bikes.

There are so many different types of cactus, but the hills were full of these teddy bear chollas.

That tiny little peak above Ted's thumb is called Tom's Thumb, and he hiked all the way up there when he did his 9 mile hike. My Eagle scout hubby loves a good adventure!

It was so great to see him in his element, and really be able to relax and enjoy without worrying about work!

A Brand New Year!

2011-01-02T18:59:00.008-05:00

We had a wonderful Christmas in Arizona. There is nothing nicer than seeing the sun shining and not having to pile on twenty layers of clothing to go outside.

I also loved seeing all the blooming bushes in December!

We spent our time visiting friends . . . . . .

Eating delicious food . . . . . .

Enjoying the beautiful sunsets . . . . . . .

And knowing we made the right decision on where we will eventually semi-retire! There are some great hiking trails not far from our new home. Ted ventured out on a 9 mile hike one day, and we both went for a 4 mile hike - I'll share those pictures later in the week.

Wishing my blogger friends a happy, healthy, fun-filled 2011!!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-21T21:38:00.004-05:00

I'm heading out tomorrow to the Grand Canyon State . . . . the Copper State . . . . . the state that has more sunshine than Hawaii or the Sunshine State!

I'm hoping to see lots of that sunshine! Have a Merry Christmas!

Speechless Sunday

2010-12-19T12:57:00.002-05:00

They Care!

2010-12-15T10:42:00.003-05:00

Here is the number one reason you shouldn't send anything too valuable through the mail. This is all that remains of a Christmas card that someone sent me.

I'm glad the postal service cares . . . . . . . it really makes me feel so much better!

Merry Christmas to Me!

2010-12-10T23:33:00.002-05:00

My friend, Sharon, who blogs over at A New England Life, takes the most beautiful photographs. I fell in love with this stunning photo of hers, and she graciously sent me the file.

I had it printed at Shutterfly, and got it framed as my Christmas present from Ted. We picked it up last night, and I was so happy with the way it turned out! Thank you, Sharon, for capturing this beauty!

Be sure to stop by her blog and discover the gorgeous part of the country where she lives. I hope someday to visit and see some of what she captures in person.

Red Hot Holiday!

2010-12-09T11:29:00.008-05:00

We had our Red Hot holiday party last night at Doreen's house. Isn't this the cutest snowman? He had tealights in his bottom!

Of course, there is always good food whenever Doreen is cooking!

We had lots of fun and laughs exchanging gifts. Karen had my name, and gave me goodies for a night of relaxation - flannel pants, two pair of soft footies to match, hot chocolate with a red hot mug, candy, and good 'ole trash magazines!

I couldn't believe there wasn't one person with eyes closed - a new record! What a great group of friends!

And, of course, our usual foot picture. We had a little bit of everything going on - from a fresh pedicure, to a Christmas sock, new footies, slippers, and a foot still in recovery!

Happy holidays from the Red Hots!

2 Bizzee 2 Blog!

2010-12-02T08:58:00.009-05:00

Anybody out there? Have you wondered where I've been? Well, I spent a week in Arizona - 3 days of it walking 60 miles in the Komen 3-Day for the Cure! The weather was spectacular. Here I am crossing the finish line - proud to have walked the entire 60 miles!

My Trekkin' for Ta-Tas teammates were as great as I expected - we had such a fun time, and I'm glad to have finally met these friends who I've known on-line for several years.

We slept (or didn't sleep much) in pink tents . . . . everyone slept in pink tents, so they recommended decorating your tents so you could find them. Of course, since we are all cat ladies, I blinged out our tents as cats!

The Crew on the walk were so funny - most of the crossing guards were men, and they all dressed up in big bras and pink outfits!

Here we our in our victory shirts and getting ready for the closing ceremony.

Both the opening and closing ceremonies were very emotional - especially when the survivors who had walked paraded out.

This was an experience I'll never forget. All the training and preparation were worth it, and I encourage everyone to add this event to your list of things you need to do at least once in your lifetime!

After being home a few days, I got a terrible sinus and ear infection and spent most of the week sleeping while my hubby continued to take care of the cats! I'm still talking a little like Barry White, but I'm feeling better and trying to get caught up on all my Etsy shop orders and Christmas stuff.

If you want to see all the pictures from my Komen walk, please check out my Trekkin' Blog!

Taking Flight!

2010-11-08T10:46:00.004-05:00

You might have to click on the picture to see it full sized, but this morning I looked out in the backyard and saw hundreds of black birds! And there were more than this in the front yard! They are on their way to warmer weather . . . . . . and so am I!

I leave tomorrow for a week in Arizona. I've been training for months for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk, and it is this week! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I'll be trekkin' 60 miles with my Trekkin' for Ta-Tas teammates in Phoenix. The weather forecast looks fabulous, and I can't wait to join the thousands of other walkers for this awesome event.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey with your donations toward my goal (which I have met and exceeded), Etsy shop purchases, and for cheering me on. A special thanks to my loving coach, Ted, for walking with me and for taking care of the cats while I'm gone.

I look forward to sharing lots of pictures with you when I return! Keep me in your thoughts this weekend!

Cat Soaps!

2010-11-01T13:17:00.006-04:00

Several Catster friends had an auction to help out a family in need. One of the auction items donated by a couple of talented ladies were cat soaps. Several winning bidders received these soaps made in the likeness of their cats.

One lady who won two soaps decided to donate them to me for organizing the auction. And then the ladies who make the soaps decided to create my entire cat family as a thank you for holding the auction!

They arrived this weekend, and I was amazed at the wonderful portrayal of my sweet kitties. This first picture includes (from front, clockwise): Vivien, Violet, Newman, Gleek, and Samoa!

This basket includes my kitties who have journeyed to the bridge: Sugar, Spunky, and Calvin.

It was a very special gift that I will always treasure! Thank you Amy, Danielle, and Laura for the wonderful soaps. I've been encouraging Amy to start an Etsy shop selling these soaps, and if she does, I'll be sure to let you know!

Almost Speechless Sunday

2010-10-31T10:46:00.005-04:00

The Rainbow Bridge has another angel - our sweet Sugar made her journey yesterday. Last night the sky was in beautiful shades of blue and pinkish orange. Rest in peace, Shuggy - we love you and will miss you!