Questioning Sanity

It was a jumble of the last two things I do each night before I go to bed—feed the cat, and run the dishwasher. The thoughts in my head must have crossed, because I poured cat food in the dishwasher detergent holder.

Oh, we laughed, shook our heads, and took pictures, but deep down I was a little concerned, and seriously questioning my sanity. That night I posted this as my Facebook status: "Just poured cat food into the dishwasher detergent holder. Aaaaand with that, my multitasking days are over."

Well guess what? You wouldn't believe how many people responded with tales of the funny things they have done. Cereal in the fridge, remote control in the freezer, a soup pot returned to the cabinet with soup still in it, liquid dish soap in the dishwasher (resulting in suds all over the kitchen), and a telephone in the refrigerator—each response made me laugh harder. And feel better about my own senior moment. 

Now I know I'm not alone in my brainless endeavors (whew). Would you join the fun, and tell us some of the silly things you have done? I think a good chuckle is a fine way to start off the week, before our thoughts get all jumbled up again.  

A Family of Four...

Once, we were a family of four, plus a cat.
Then, a family of four plus a cat and 4 hens.
Now...

A family of four plus a cat, 4 hens, and General Hop (photo courtesy of my talented photographer sister)

...and Woolly Bear, our very own Isabella Tiger Moth in the making

... and three new chicks, named Han (as in Solo), Ambroult Ambroult, and Poofey.

That makes 30 legs, as the girls like to say. (Oh wait, I guess it's 44 legs. Or 32, depending on how far along in metamorphosis the caterpillar is.)

What, or who, is next? I could not predict. But I really hope it doesn't have too many legs.

Corner View and More of the Outdoors

After a bit of a departure from the Corner Views, I am happy to be back with this week's prompt: "animals."

This is our "yoga kitty," who sleeps on his back, with his head and shoulders twisted, arms hovering in the air. It's bizarre. A certain six year old couldn't resist putting her head between his paws and pretending she is being snuggled with, but he is sound asleep.

I also flaked out on the Great Outdoor Challenge last week. Oh, we got outdoors, and I got pictures, but I just forgot to include them in my posts. So here's a few to finish up the month-long celebration.

Who doesn't love a chariot ride?

I got all paparazzi the other day and tried to sneak a few shots of the kids in their secret hideout.

But alas, the camera shutter gave me away and security swiftly moved into action. I was told "no pictures allowed, Mama," followed by pleas of "Don't put that picture on your blog, nobody can know where our hideout is!"

Don't tell, OK?

Happy Weekending!

Corner Views: Front Door

Welcome! Come on in through my front door. This door opens to a 3-season porch that makes our home oh so much bigger in mild weather. I love all those little windows but we're missing the lower left one. It one got smashed last year when a couch was moved in. We never did fix it because, as you can see, that hole has taken on a new function—kitty door. Our little cat, Pepper, stands at the window on tippy toes and surveys the situation. Once he is assured all is well, he leaps out and carries on with his quest to dominate the neighborhood.

Consider yourself warned: if you do come to visit, you'll have to get past the guard at the door. (Our only problem is, the ferocious guard kitty is napping more than half the time.)

Visit Spain Daily for links to all the other 'corner views'. There are some great ones this week!

A Special Request

My sister-in-law recently asked me to make a custom necklace for her (and a few for her sisters as well). She had seen these necklaces on moms here and there—tiny discs bearing the initials of their children, hanging from a simple chain.

I was glad to recreate what she described. I made them unique by giving the charms a rustic feel. They were blackened just a tad and I (happily!) skipped the polishing. She was thrilled with the finished product, and I just might make a few more as gifts.

...and, has anyone ever attempted a photo shoot with a playful kitten in the house? The shiny dangling chains proved to be too tempting for Pepper. He's lucky he's so adorable.

Introducing...

Introducing the newest member of our family...Pepper! This sweet little kitty came home with us a week ago and filled our house with doting oohhs and aahhs. He divides his time evenly between sleeping, snuggling, and completely spazing out. Yes, it has been quite entertaining, watching him attack anything that catches his eye—especially his tail. It was clear: kitty needed some of his very own toys.

I knit this little fishie for him and it quickly became his favorite. The simple pattern, from Teach Me To Knit, came together in no time at all.

Instructions called for tying the fish to a thread and dangling it from a stick but, as you can see, Pepper prefers it no strings attached. More fish are in the works, as this one is already thoroughly abused.

He's so fun, but no matter how wild he gets (clawing up the back of the chair, stalking unsuspecting toes), it's never long before he's fast asleep again.


Welcome home, Pepper!

The Wet Ocean Air

Enjoy these snapshots from our past few days. It was such a good getaway—and a nice distraction for the girls, as we all get used to the idea of life without our beloved family pet.

Taking in the wet ocean air...
Sandkindgoms, not sandcastles...

historic landmarks...

...and this view—a bluff overlooking the Atlantic.

I only wish you could all take a deep breath and be in this moment. The sea, the brush, the breeze, the sound. Life's chatter dissolves into the thick, damp air, leaving behind only what matters.