Feel Like Complaining

I've been doing drop-ins for Julie again and she's got a new batch of fosters. A Tabby mama, 3 tabby and 1 Siamese kittens. Santa, a former foster that she took back in has been pretty shy and not willing to come downstairs when I'm there. I was very surprised to see him Friday morning but just went about my business to not scare him off.  My routine consists of feeding all first, inside then out. Then I clean the litter boxes. I have been leaving the slider glass door open and having the screen part shut so they can get some fresh air. Since Santa usually isn't downstairs, Julie didn't tell me that he can open the screen door to get out! As I'm tending to the kittens in another room, little did I know what the boys were up to. I came out all high on kitten love and I saw Leo outside. What the hay? The slider was open and I dropped plates and a bag of gross litter to run out. I was able to grab Leo because he was the closest and probably more confused as to why ...

Over the weekend I was back with Winnie, Comet, and Sprocket. The little black one is the boy that puked everywhere last time from something he got into. This time it was smooth sailing. It was supposed to be about a week long and it would have been a nice paycheck but after it was trimmed down, I was OK with it. I had forgotten how hard the bed is, ugh. Since the bedroom is upstairs, it's also very warm. Being an older home, the AC doesn't quite reach all areas. There was a fan which helped (a little). This is the place that also has the weird shower set up with only a handheld shower head and a very slanted wall. Oh, and they reseeded the back yard so I have to take them out front on a leash to go to the bathroom. Winnie is very reactive to other dogs so she can't be walked. I feel bad for her and she is on meds but still, walking is so important for a dog. I take the little ones out together and once a day they get a spin around the block. Other than that I've been d...

Last week I was doing drop-ins for Julie's cats. Before I started, she told me that Jack had been killed by a coyote. He was always hell-bent on getting outside, ever since I met him as a young boy. We had our rounds of fighting at the front door. The last time I saw him, he was particularly ornery; hissing at me and batting at my foot to block his exit. Then he wouldn't let me in from the patio when I was feeding other cats. They did occasionally let him out but I don't know if his exit was by accident or not, but it's heartbreaking and I miss him. He usually slept in but was always first to greet me when I came for dinner.  We have Chico at our house so other than walks, he's on my lap all the time! He's 14 now and other than a bad allergy season he's doing well. Faith went camping this weekend with her group; it was her longest solo drive, over 2 hours away. She's got a newer tent and cot and makes it quite cozy. A big storm rolled in her first night ...

Several months ago we were all talking about how later this summer will be Tony's and my 40th anniversary. Faith said we need to go somewhere just ourselves since we really haven't done so since she's been born. We went to a funeral out of town once and my mom watched her and I went to a class reunion and they joined me the next day.   Trying to find somewhere close wasn't very easy so we settled on the old stand-by, Leavenworth. I found a great motel just on the far edge of town. It was so nice and quiet and they had a pool and 2 hot tubs. Dogs are allowed and we didn't see one kid. Younger families probably stayed more in town where the action is. I used to be one of those, but no more. The courtyard was lovely and a great place to enjoy morning coffee and listen to birds. They also had breakfast so that was a great way to start us out the door. An adventure park opened on the day we arrived basically across the street, and their main attraction is an Alpine Coast...