After a brief appearance by the sun yesterday, we have returned o our regularly scheduled rain programming. Ugh.
I’m wondering how SN’s nephew is this morning, and hoping things are improving.
I’m enjoying a nice quiet cup of coffee with my laptop, though. Heading off to yoga later, and then doing some housework and stuff…followed by the World Series tonight.
Its clearing here after a day of wetness yesterday, so maybe you’ll get some relief after the next front goes by. Unfortunately, it’ll probably be after the weekend is over.
For me, its chores today, heavy on number crunching for Mrs. ID and perhaps a bit of leaf raking later, so the trick or treaters can make it to our front porch tonight.
I abandoned my ImageShack account last night after getting a couple of virus warnings there when uploading photos and went over to Photobucket instead. I think I’m going to like the format there better anyway.
I am unable to receive phone updates about my nephew’s condition, seeing as our family plan cell phone bill didn’t get paid and we no longer have a land line. And would it kill my sisters to check their email more than once a week? Grrr. SO 19th century.
Last I heard yesterday his chest x-rays were not improving, but he is no worse.
Yeah I’m ready. It’s like pulling teeth to get someone around here to carve a pumpkin to stick out on the porch these days. They used to fight over it. One of these years I’ll be the crabby old lady that turns out the lights. 🙂
We’re taking advantage of this year, knowing that we start the whole thing over again next year with the CabinBoo. Chinese food, baseball, and chauffeuring duties later.
We had so many kids that we ran out of candy. Probably well over 100. We’re having an uncharacteristically hot and muggy Halloween. Usually I’m huddled on the front porch with a blanket and slippers on, but I had to turn the AC on in the house. Doesn’t help that I’m of a certain age…
I’m of an uncertain age myself – which is when you’re mind starts slipping on small details – like how old you are.
We’ve got a bit of hot and muggy as well. Lily decided the best way to deal with the heat was a mud bath. Which is why she and I are going to the dog wash today.
We have an old galvanized tin water pipe that funnels used bath and washing machine water down the hill to the trees below. A short time ago it developed a break half way down – right in the middle of the dog yard – which has led to a puddle welling up. Puddle, meet Lily. Lily, meet Puddle.
Lilyette and her Puddle-o, a tragic and short lived love affair. They were indeed finally separated by fate, and a hose (and much brushing to get at the dirt way down at skin level that even the hose couldn’t remove).
Here’s a photo from when she was still in the application process – before her hair dried into muddy dread locks.
Maybe that’s why the car washes around here started installing dog washing facilities – they took pity on the poor dogs being washed in the car bays with the high pressure hoses. It’s fifteen dollars well spent (although Lily was a $25 wash this last time).
As I used to tell the five year old of a friend of mine who I tried very hard to corrupt because he was a bit of neat freak* — dirty feet are good feet.
* I ought to check to see if the lesson held — he’s in his 40s now.
I clicked on the link you posted above: that’s an amazing place.
It’s a bit heart-wrenching to read the biographies of some of their big cats. People shouldn’t be allowed to own exotics without having to pass the most stringent of requirements and regulations, and even then it’s probably better to ban such ownership outright.
In Tasmania I’m not even allowed to take a skink from my yard and keep it as a pet unless I get trained and certified by the Parks Department.
Those stories were all really sad (like the munchkins), but did you read the last one? Leopards roaming freely with children present and the wife chained to the staircase? bizarre.
Yeah, I even read that one aloud to Imogen. If ever you were rooting for the people to get eaten . . . , well, the father of that family was someone on whom I’d wish a toothy ending.
The people at the preserve seem very dedicated to their charges and we could see the cats are very well cared for. They all looked quite healthy and well fed. Any severely traumatized cats are kept out of the public area entirely, so as not to agitate them unnecessarily. Yes, I can see little, if any good coming from private ownership of exotics.
We learned quite a lot from our guide about each individual cat as we walked through the preserve. What amazed me is what lots of patience and kindness can do for these once sadly neglected and sometimes abused creatures. Many of the cats were quite familiar with him and reacted much like our kitties at home would to his voice and gestures. Still, the caretakers never enter an enclosure with the cat and do all the feeding and cleaning through a series of slide gates and separate areas.
The white tiger is totally blind, but still playful
Apparently, the greatest danger is being sprayed. I can’t imagine driving the 60 miles home covered in tiger spray!
Two lions began roaring back and forth at one another as we were ending our tour. The guide said that it was nothing compared to the after-dark noises. Apparently the cabin experience is quite something to remember. He said their guests usually don’t get a lot of sleep.
When I lived in NM, the Albuquerque zoo sold big cat scat to use in your garden as a pest deterrent. I never availed myself, as I figured it might be a people deterrent as well.
I wonder if it would be a good field trip for Jim’s class? One would need to have a lot of responsible adults along as well, due to the close proximity to the cats at most parts of the tour. It wouldn’t be at all difficult to lose a couple of digits to a moment of inattention. Apparently one of the volunteer caretakers lost a jacket that way recently. Thankfully it was only his jacket!
Off to St. Louis for the week. Boo on BCRoD and being gone from home but it’s totally made up for by the fact that I get to have dinner with MaryB tonight.
Yep, driving. There’s only one direct flight a day and they charge a fortune for it. Besides if I add up the time for the drive to the airport, the time in the terminal, and the time of the flight, I’m 2/3 of the way to St. Louis and there’s none of the hassle of flying.
Once upon a time, I had clients in West Conshohocken and Valley Forge. But that was long, long before I knew you. There’s still one in Blue Bell but they’re really stingy so not much opportunity there.
He’s out of the hospital ~ still maintaining the PICC line and stomach tube at home, but risk of picking up an opportunistic infection is reduced outside of the germy hospital.
She’s always done everything on her own. She’s about 5/5″…120 lbs, and she lifts that 100 lb kid about ten times a day…takes care of the feeding tube, does the ventilator, the meds. He’s got a sort of vest-thing that he wears for 20 mins 3 times a day that shakes him and shakes the phlegm loose from his lungs and throat. That’s for the past 5 years. She’s amazing and never lets a hint of irritation into her voice. I have no idea what she’ll do without him.
She has an older son who is very much into a “mom doesn’t matter” phase. She never sees him. I’m sure he has issues being the healthy son ~ guilt probably.
I’m pretty sure those are feathers from our ducks, and I can see some hair from our dogs as well. In fact most of the nests around here, no matter what the species, are lined with feathers and fur from our critters. Our critters are very generous that way.
All most critters see when they look at our dogs is how gigantic their muzzles/mouths are.
This same pair of Welcome swallows has been nesting in our shed for three years now. The first year they fledged two chicks, but both of them disappeared shortly after leaving the nest. Probably predated by our resident Kookaburras. Last year the nest collapsed and the chicks died on the ground from exposure.
They seem to be faring much better with this brood, both in terms of number and getting them well-advanced by this time of the year. Their parents swoop frantically about the yard – hunting for insects from before dawn until after dusk.
It was already pretty much a memory when I left on Monday — we were pretty close to bare and I expect when I get back from BCRoDing, I’ll find there’s nothing left but the leaves on the young beeches that always hang around all winter … which is about 2 weeks earlier than usual.
After a brief appearance by the sun yesterday, we have returned o our regularly scheduled rain programming. Ugh.
I’m wondering how SN’s nephew is this morning, and hoping things are improving.
I’m enjoying a nice quiet cup of coffee with my laptop, though. Heading off to yoga later, and then doing some housework and stuff…followed by the World Series tonight.
What are you all up to?
Its clearing here after a day of wetness yesterday, so maybe you’ll get some relief after the next front goes by. Unfortunately, it’ll probably be after the weekend is over.
For me, its chores today, heavy on number crunching for Mrs. ID and perhaps a bit of leaf raking later, so the trick or treaters can make it to our front porch tonight.
I abandoned my ImageShack account last night after getting a couple of virus warnings there when uploading photos and went over to Photobucket instead. I think I’m going to like the format there better anyway.
I am unable to receive phone updates about my nephew’s condition, seeing as our family plan cell phone bill didn’t get paid and we no longer have a land line. And would it kill my sisters to check their email more than once a week? Grrr. SO 19th century.
Last I heard yesterday his chest x-rays were not improving, but he is no worse.
Oh, that stinks, SN. I hope they think to use their email soon – you must be so worried.
Are you ready for trick or treaters tonight? I think we’re turning off the lights…
Yeah I’m ready. It’s like pulling teeth to get someone around here to carve a pumpkin to stick out on the porch these days. They used to fight over it. One of these years I’ll be the crabby old lady that turns out the lights. 🙂
We’re taking advantage of this year, knowing that we start the whole thing over again next year with the CabinBoo. Chinese food, baseball, and chauffeuring duties later.
We’ve had quite a few kids show up for trick or treat so far. I just had to run to the store for more p-butter and cheese crackers to give out.
Hopey watching Smoo and the boy
The finished product
Wow, that’s a cool scary pumpkin! Your family is so artistic!
Very cool pumpkin.
I miss Halloween (we don’t do it here).
We had so many kids that we ran out of candy. Probably well over 100. We’re having an uncharacteristically hot and muggy Halloween. Usually I’m huddled on the front porch with a blanket and slippers on, but I had to turn the AC on in the house. Doesn’t help that I’m of a certain age…
I’m of an uncertain age myself – which is when you’re mind starts slipping on small details – like how old you are.
We’ve got a bit of hot and muggy as well. Lily decided the best way to deal with the heat was a mud bath. Which is why she and I are going to the dog wash today.
We have an old galvanized tin water pipe that funnels used bath and washing machine water down the hill to the trees below. A short time ago it developed a break half way down – right in the middle of the dog yard – which has led to a puddle welling up. Puddle, meet Lily. Lily, meet Puddle.
Yeah, you just try to admit impediments to the marriage of those true minds.
Hose meet Lily; Lily meet hose, again.
Lilyette and her Puddle-o, a tragic and short lived love affair. They were indeed finally separated by fate, and a hose (and much brushing to get at the dirt way down at skin level that even the hose couldn’t remove).
Here’s a photo from when she was still in the application process – before her hair dried into muddy dread locks.
Witness (if you dare) the muddy tongue. Ugh.
Revised intro:
Lily meet carwash ….
Maybe that’s why the car washes around here started installing dog washing facilities – they took pity on the poor dogs being washed in the car bays with the high pressure hoses. It’s fifteen dollars well spent (although Lily was a $25 wash this last time).
Luna and Lily beating the heat in the shade of a eucalyptus tree.
You can practically use the dogs as a sundials because they move every hour or so to follow the shade of the tree.
As I used to tell the five year old of a friend of mine who I tried very hard to corrupt because he was a bit of neat freak* — dirty feet are good feet.
* I ought to check to see if the lesson held — he’s in his 40s now.
Great Pumpkin, a great pumpkin!
The top picture is put together perfectly — great framing, great use of light, great point of view.
Marathon Sunday in NYC. We’ll be out cheering a little later as the runners come down 5th Ave a couple of miles before the finish.
Have a good time cheering! Do you have any favorites?
We’re leaving on a short safari to visit the big cat rescue facility west of here.
We didn’t stay long – cold, moist wind and the temp never got to the promised low 60s.
Spending some time with asklet instead.
We’re finally having some sunshine here. It looks odd after a week of near total gloom.
We got about 10 minutes of sun today. And Halloween was a big washout.
Sorry your weather was chilly for the race,but it sounds as if you had a very good alternative.
It was a lovely day to visit the cats.
I clicked on the link you posted above: that’s an amazing place.
It’s a bit heart-wrenching to read the biographies of some of their big cats. People shouldn’t be allowed to own exotics without having to pass the most stringent of requirements and regulations, and even then it’s probably better to ban such ownership outright.
In Tasmania I’m not even allowed to take a skink from my yard and keep it as a pet unless I get trained and certified by the Parks Department.
Those stories were all really sad (like the munchkins), but did you read the last one? Leopards roaming freely with children present and the wife chained to the staircase? bizarre.
Yeah, I even read that one aloud to Imogen. If ever you were rooting for the people to get eaten . . . , well, the father of that family was someone on whom I’d wish a toothy ending.
A long, slow toothy ending…
The people at the preserve seem very dedicated to their charges and we could see the cats are very well cared for. They all looked quite healthy and well fed. Any severely traumatized cats are kept out of the public area entirely, so as not to agitate them unnecessarily. Yes, I can see little, if any good coming from private ownership of exotics.
That looks like a really cool place to visit. I had no idea that there were so many big cats in need of rescue.
We learned quite a lot from our guide about each individual cat as we walked through the preserve. What amazed me is what lots of patience and kindness can do for these once sadly neglected and sometimes abused creatures. Many of the cats were quite familiar with him and reacted much like our kitties at home would to his voice and gestures. Still, the caretakers never enter an enclosure with the cat and do all the feeding and cleaning through a series of slide gates and separate areas.
The white tiger is totally blind, but still playful
The white tiger is gorgeous. You got that close?
I think the overnight at the rescue (from their webpage) sounds pretty interesting.
Apparently, the greatest danger is being sprayed. I can’t imagine driving the 60 miles home covered in tiger spray!
Two lions began roaring back and forth at one another as we were ending our tour. The guide said that it was nothing compared to the after-dark noises. Apparently the cabin experience is quite something to remember. He said their guests usually don’t get a lot of sleep.
Ugh…I cannot imagine the hell that is tiger spray. Having two house cats is bad enough.
Yeah, el stinko mucho!
When I lived in NM, the Albuquerque zoo sold big cat scat to use in your garden as a pest deterrent. I never availed myself, as I figured it might be a people deterrent as well.
Maybe they give you a shower and a change of clothes if you get sprayed?
I was wondering what the night time noises would be like there…sounds like it might be even more than I imagined.
Dunno – but the bathroom facility is a single port-a-pot, so I’m thinking cold water hose, probably. Brrrrrrrr.
Thanks for posting the pics and the info on the large cat rescue. It’s good to know that there are people dedicated to animal welfare.
I wonder if it would be a good field trip for Jim’s class? One would need to have a lot of responsible adults along as well, due to the close proximity to the cats at most parts of the tour. It wouldn’t be at all difficult to lose a couple of digits to a moment of inattention. Apparently one of the volunteer caretakers lost a jacket that way recently. Thankfully it was only his jacket!
Off to St. Louis for the week. Boo on BCRoD and being gone from home but it’s totally made up for by the fact that I get to have dinner with MaryB tonight.
click for larger
HAve a safe trip. Are you driving?
And of course, I’m wishing I could join you and Mary for dinner. You really need to find a client near Philly, you know. 🙂
Yep, driving. There’s only one direct flight a day and they charge a fortune for it. Besides if I add up the time for the drive to the airport, the time in the terminal, and the time of the flight, I’m 2/3 of the way to St. Louis and there’s none of the hassle of flying.
Once upon a time, I had clients in West Conshohocken and Valley Forge. But that was long, long before I knew you. There’s still one in Blue Bell but they’re really stingy so not much opportunity there.
Well gotta get going.
See ya later.
Kucky you! Have a great time!
Should be LUCKY! Aargh!!!
It could have been a lot worse.
LOL.
Too bad the relevant letter is too far away from the ‘L’.
Ha! I need to type more carefully.
Heh. Happy Monday.
Hi to MaryB from the IDs! At least that part of your trip will be pleasant.
That pat of the trip was better than pleasant — great food and an even better dinner companion.
Happy Monday! Looks like I need to put up a new cafe.
He’s out of the hospital ~ still maintaining the PICC line and stomach tube at home, but risk of picking up an opportunistic infection is reduced outside of the germy hospital.
glad to hear it, SN. being home should allow him to get better rest, too.
Thanks Manee. I’m relieved, but it’s also more work for my sister, and she’s exhausted her sick days.
I’m glad he’s doing better and they sent him home where it’s safer. Can anyone give your sister a hand?
She’s always done everything on her own. She’s about 5/5″…120 lbs, and she lifts that 100 lb kid about ten times a day…takes care of the feeding tube, does the ventilator, the meds. He’s got a sort of vest-thing that he wears for 20 mins 3 times a day that shakes him and shakes the phlegm loose from his lungs and throat. That’s for the past 5 years. She’s amazing and never lets a hint of irritation into her voice. I have no idea what she’ll do without him.
Wow, she is amazing. Is he her only child?
She has an older son who is very much into a “mom doesn’t matter” phase. She never sees him. I’m sure he has issues being the healthy son ~ guilt probably.
Glad to hear the good news! Hugs and good wishes!
That’s such good news. Now we’ll work on good vibes for getting well enough to not need the PICC or the stomach tube.
Very good news!
The grass has riz’
And here is where the birdy is.
Four Welcome swallow chicks in a mud nest in our tin shed.
Aw, the parents line the nest with their own feathers?
I’m pretty sure those are feathers from our ducks, and I can see some hair from our dogs as well. In fact most of the nests around here, no matter what the species, are lined with feathers and fur from our critters. Our critters are very generous that way.
That’s cute. Do you think the birds will be bonded to Lily and Luna now?
Uh, no.
All most critters see when they look at our dogs is how gigantic their muzzles/mouths are.
This same pair of Welcome swallows has been nesting in our shed for three years now. The first year they fledged two chicks, but both of them disappeared shortly after leaving the nest. Probably predated by our resident Kookaburras. Last year the nest collapsed and the chicks died on the ground from exposure.
They seem to be faring much better with this brood, both in terms of number and getting them well-advanced by this time of the year. Their parents swoop frantically about the yard – hunting for insects from before dawn until after dusk.
I watch them from my computer chair.
Here’s a photo from last year of one of the (harried) parents.
Well that’s a pretty (very pretty) unharried harried parent. Perhaps it’s just contemplating the harriedness to be.
Good morning/afternoon/evening all.
Click for larger
A lovely autumn display, too soon only a memory as winter creeps up on us.
It was already pretty much a memory when I left on Monday — we were pretty close to bare and I expect when I get back from BCRoDing, I’ll find there’s nothing left but the leaves on the young beeches that always hang around all winter … which is about 2 weeks earlier than usual.