November Wall Calendar

I love mums!  And so does my Mother.  Over the years she has collected quite a few in every color imaginable.  This deep rose color is one of my favorites.

To see more mums and other botanicals, please visit my online store here
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Day Lily in Brown

Day Lily in Brown

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These came from my yard.  Day Lilies are one of my favorite flowers.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

What a beautiful weekend!!! 

Fall is in the air and the trees are just starting to get some color!

Anne has started decorating for fall.

But someone forgot to tell the impatiens - it's fall. 

When You're Hot, You're Hot!

A few mornings lately I have awakened to discover a heavy, immobile object wedged between my thighs. Now don’t get any dirty thoughts because it’s just Murphy who has nested out a warm spot on top of my pretty pale blue bed spread. He found a warm spot and he is not going to give it up.

Murphy only weighs about 13 pounds so he should be pretty easy just to toss off the bed you say? Think again. Cats have a way of attaching themselves to any flat surface making it almost impossible to dislodge them. The only way to extricate myself from this morning dilemma is to scoot up towards the top of the bed until I can get my feet out from under the covers.

Rather than have this battle with Murphy every morning … because we all know he always wins … I have come up with a solution that is hotter than me. Let me rephrase that. I have come up with a solution that provides more heat and is more comfortable for me.

The solution? A heating pad! I simply wrap a heating pad in an old, washable towel, put it in one of his favorite chairs, plug it in on low, and leave it there till spring. About once a week I wash the towel.

The reason this is one of Murphy’s favorite chairs is because he can see pretty much everything from here.



Unfortunately, there is something about this chair that attracts human beings when Murphy is not in it. I am constantly warning guest - “Don’t put your purse there. It’s covered in cat hair!” “Oh, don’t sit there - it’s Murphy’s chair!”
 
Of course - Murphy just thinks this is funny.

Devil Cat's Morning Routine

Every morning Murphy does this to me. He will also do it to anyone who is visiting our kitchen and is fool hardy enough to fall for his innocent act.  So be warned!

He starts to circle my feet making these sweet little burrrr noises. He gently nudges my ankles as I go about fixing coffee in the kitchen.

He slithers around in a snakelike fashion, always the same move - kind of like a dance routine.

He looks up once or twice, making eye contact to be sure he has my attention. Notice that strange look in his eyes. I know you think it is the flash from the camera bouncing off his eyes but this is also when “Murphy the Devil Cat” starts to appear.  All sweet and innocent you think????

Then he sort of just plops down on my foot. The dance continues. Always the same maneuver. Most cat owners know this maneuver as the “scratch my belly with your foot” maneuver. But Murphy has added a new kick to it.

Be careful. Be very careful!!!! Look a little closer at that innocent face. 
 

Not so innocent looking now, is it? This is “Murphy The Devil Cat.” You have to just walk away. Do not, I repeat DO NOT give in to the urge to scratch his belly with your big toe. If you do he will bite the daylights out of it and while you are howling in pain, jumping around on one foot - he will be dashing around the house, leaping from one piece of furniture to another in pure glee!

That’s how he likes to start his morning.

Junk Mail and Dust Bunnies

Did I mention Eric was laid off a few days ago.  He has a lot of free time on his hands.

Yesterday he discovered junk mail. An offer for dental insurance. He spent 30 minutes discussing rates with me. Called them for a few more details. How much more junk mail will that generate since he had to tell them everything including his blood type to get answers?  He was about to call our dentist to discuss his rates - when , thank heavens, we had to leave.

A while ago he brought in the shop vac and so far has spent about 45 minutes cleaning behind and under the refrigerator. He brought in the air compressor a few minutes ago and told me he was going to have to blow a little to get everything out. I reminded him - it is the kitchen, the place we prepare food as I quickly covered the pot of boiling chicken. He said he would blow just a “little.”

Murphy has gone into hiding. I would go with him if I could find him. The house is kind of vibrating from the air compressor. I think the shop vac is running too!!!  I know when he is finished, it will be so clean back there we could eat off the floor. But it’s kind of scary!

I love my husband

Wall Calendar

Fall doesn't seem to have arrived yet.  We still have impatiens blooming as you can seen here around this little Dutch Girl in my Mother's garden.