The Elusive Mr. Cranky Pants

I followed Sam around all day and this is the best, most in focus picture I got of him.

It's like trying to capture Bigfoot.

Sunshine and Sweat

It's Day 5 of my vacation and I'm beat. And bruised. With a little bit of a sunburn and raging allergies.

But my sense of accomplishment keeps growing.

So far during this break I've gotten the most rotten part of my fence fixed (I bought the panels a year ago. Repeat that--one year ago and just now got them up.) I even ponied up for new gate hardware since the vacuum cleaner belt that was holding the old gate shut broke last week when the wind kicked up.

I also got my dad to install the new light fixture in the kitchen. It looks fantastic, but something I didn't take into account is the fact that halogen lights put off a LOT more heat than flourescent lights could ever think of doing. Oh well, I don't spend that much time in the kitchen anyway!

I've planted a rose bush, planted the lemon tree that I've been dragging in and out of the house since last fall, and transplanted a few bulbs. This morning I sprayed the insidious weeds that have taken over the back yard. Take a look. They look pretty with their little blue flowers:

And, they make a great spot for a cute little kitty to pose for pictures...

But, they grow in mounds, and sneak up under the siding on the house, and clog my mower until it dies:

So I hit them with some weed killer this morning. The instructions sounded pretty dire, no pets or people in the yard until it had dried. So we were inside until that stuff evaporated. But wouldn't you know it, for the first hour, the boys acted as if they were being wrongly incarcerated and raced around the house, begged at the doors, and generally made nuisances of themselves. Aren't these brats supposed to be sleeping 23 hours of the day?

It's safe to go outside now and not one of them have made a move for the door. The most they've done is change nap spots.

The rest of my week is scheduled with more projects: two more rose bushes to plant, some more flowers to put out, clean up of the flower beds, and cleaning and moving things about in the house. Not to mention all the shows filling up my DVR and the second season of "Alias" that has to be watched before it's due back at the library.

Before I go, here's a couple of shots of the boys enjoying springtime:

Izzy in a tree, possibly stalking birds. He was a little upset with me that I was hanging around taking pictures of him.

And Jake, making his own entertainment in the backyard. I'm really not sure what he was doing, but it was cute.

Sorry there're no shots of Sam, but he's mister cranky pants and won't let me get a good shot. The most I get are blurry pics of his rear end as he's leaving.

Vacation Time

I'm on vacation this week. Not because I have some fantabulous trip planned, but because I have time off that needs to be used and I just need a break from work.

Not going anywhere, just staying home and working on the house. I have a list of things to do as long as my arm and I'm already behind on it. Oh well, I'll just be happy if the items involving the yard actually get completed (instead of just started--like the half-mown backyard.)

So far I've stayed up until 2:30 in the morning watching the first season of "Alias." And rewatched "The Hangover" for the 15th time. If I can get off the couch and stay awake long enough during the daytime, a few things might get crossed off the list.

Midnight Madness

**I was going in to edit a different post and found this one that's been saved as a draft since December. Thankfully, the weather has decided to finally turn warmer, and the buns did get their very own heat lamp to see them through the winter. I decided to go ahead and post it because someone might get a little laugh out of it.**

It's cold here in Texas. I don't like it. I dislike it almost as much as I dislike any temperatures over 90 degrees. Knock things down under 40 and I'm looking for a warm place to hibernate until Spring, or at least for a few days (it's predicted to be almost 60 this weekend.)

I've spent most of the last week huddled under a blanket on the couch, trying to stay warm and not give in to the temptation of turning up the thermostat. Have to consider the electric bill, after all!

I worry about the boys being outside in the cold. I worry about the bunnies being out there in their pen, huddled together to stay warm.

Which is why, at midnight last night, in the face of an approaching cold front, I went out and kidnapped them.

I bundled up in my coat, grabbed my flashlight and a box, and went out to gather them up and drag them inside where it's warm. They weren't too into it. Had to grab every one of them and stuff them in the box. Then I had to carry a big box full of squirming bunnies back to the house. (Remember the scene from Christmas Vacation with the cat wrapped up in the box? It was a lot like that, but without the hissing.)

Anyway, I'm trying to keep hold of this box and walk across the yard. In the dark. While dodging a certain little black kitty who must follow me everywhere.

Suddenly, my foot catches on something (it was solid, so no, it wasn't Izzy trying to kill me. Again.) Before I could even form a thought, I faceplanted on the ground. Did I mention it was wet? I had dirt all over my face, had bitten my lip, and wrenched my back. But as usual, I started laughing at the inanity of it all. I mean, really, who does this stuff other than me??

I finished the body check--no other injuries than the ones already listed. Then I remembered the bunnies. Thankfully when I fell I managed to turn just enough so I didn't crush them beneath me. I turned my face to find the box lying on its side next to me and Robbie already trying to make a break for it. Ever tried to nab a rabbit while lying on the ground? It ain't easy.

I managed to grab him and stuff him back in the box before any of the others got out. Then I dragged myself up off the ground, picked up the box, and began my journey again. My back was screaming by the time I got to the back door, and the buns still weren't making it easy with all their squirming.

Got them inside and into the guest bathroom that was already lined with flattened boxes and newspaper. Then I got a good look at myself in the mirror. Dirt on my face and a fat lip. Great! My coat was covered in grass and mud, as were my jeans. Oh joy! So glad I didn't manage to knock myself unconcious during all of that.

Next time the temps drop below freezing, the buns might get to stay in their pen. They are wearing fur coats, after all! I just need to find a way to keep them warmer out there, and I think a heat lamp just might do the trick.

Oh, Springtime!

It's Spring once again. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, temperatures are warming, and the bird population is dropping.

Izzy's at it again. He's suffering his own bout of spring fever, and his way of dealing with it is to snatch poor little birdies and bring them into the house. In the past two weeks, he's captured a gorgeous cardinal, presented me with a sparrow, and today I came home to find the scene of a crime playing out in my bedroom.

There were feathers on the bed, one perched on the toilet seat, and a floor full of them in the closet. But no little birdy carcass.

I checked around the house, didn't find anything. Finally, I found Izzy with his head under the bed and his stumpy tail twitching. I raised up the bedskirt thinking I'd find something worthy of CSI and came eye to beady eye with a dove staring back at me.

I never expected to find the poor thing alive!

Reached in, grabbed it up before the hunter pounced again, and took it outside. It looked at me, I looked at it, and saw that most of the feathers on its back were missing, as well as a chunk of flesh. I was searching for a place to stash it out of reach when it suddenly took off flying across into the neighbor's tree. Here's hoping it actually recovers from its run-in with a certain little black cat.


(The picture is from Christmas when he was staked out under the tree, possibly waiting to bag Santa. I like the fang effect.)