It's holiday time!

It's the hottest summer here ever~at least up to now~just as my holidays have started, so has the rain! WTF is that about?

We spent yesterday at a local Blues and Roots Festival. It was great! There was a bit of rain on the drive, but it cleared up just as we arrived. Awesome music, lots of food, alcohol for those who wanted it. Sharon Jones has incredible energy, and Smokey Robinson has great pipes! Honestly, when he came out in those shiny, skin-tight red leather pants, well, it was just a hoot!

At one point we watched an eagle fly overhead with a fish in it's talons~and just before 8 PM hundreds of crows started flying to their roosting spot! there were dragon flies all day. Wasps too, but they were just annoying. Next weekend we're travelling to another festival about 5 hours away, encompassing the entire weekend! I can't wait!

it's an invasion!

Saturday morning I got up to discover a major ant invasion in my kitchen. After taking about a jillion of them outside in shotglasses(I'm a catch and release kind of gal) I googled non-toxic deterrents and discovered that they hate cinnamon-who knew! It looked to me like they were coming in where the water pipes are under the kitchen sink, so I covered the area with cinnamon! Either they are using another entrance or there were lots hiding out, because I've taken at least 30 out today. Honestly, I like ants. They're cool. Just not in my house! And seriously, why does this happen when mr pawprint is out of town??? And don't they ever sleep? It's nearly 1:30 in the morning and I'm still trapping them. Jeez, I'd have a martini, but all my shot glasses are in use...

it's summer!

Man, it's hotter than stink!! I don't want to complain tho~our winters are sooo long here. The biggest challenge (besides coping with the sauna-like atmosphere) is making sure the cat doesn't get out when the doors are open~we've been shutting her in the bedroom, since she usually sleeps there, but she's on to us now and has started sleeping under a desk in the living room! She stays put for awhile once the door is open, then when I'm not looking, she quietly pussyfoots outside and jumps off the deck to eat grass!

It should start cooling off in an hour or so. Then it'll be my fave time of the day~sitting in the cool air with a bunch of candles and some juice or a martini..

Hope everyone is having an awesome summer...

an anniversary....

Yesterday was our 4th anniversary of being together~the anniversary of our first date. For the first time, we didn't celebrate it, or even mention the day. I'm sure he knew~he gets email reminders for all special days~but this year even I didn't feel into the day. I'm not sure what, exactly, we would be celebrating. He remains married to someone else. Never would I have thought, 4 years ago when we started out, that this would be the case at this point in time. I have no feelings that we are moving forward in our relationship. I no longer wear my engagement ring. For the first time, this year we are not having vacation time together. He will be going away at the end of this month for a week and possible two weeks. And you know what? I am so looking forward to it! I wonder how we will both feel when he returns. There are lots of good things about my partner. He is wonderful to my daughter. He is so kind to my Mom and other family. He and my brother get along really well. He cooks. Often! He massages my neck and my feet when they're sore and tired. Again, often.

It's time to make our relationship a priority. We have a weekend away coming up in August. It'd be nice to really enjoy it as a couple. Better get crackin'...

bye, Kitty!!

Yesterday morning I was sitting on the deck having coffee when a car stopped and a man ran over to the mailbox and tore off the sign I'd put up about the kitty. I went in and got the phone right away! It rang in less than a minute and when he said 'bushy tail and tan belly' I knew this was his cat! They had just been on their way to check the animal shelter and are so happy to have 'Izzy' back! As for Julie, we've been telling her the whole thing was a bad dream. She looks at me as if to say "what kitten?" So we are back to normal again...

A tail of new kitty...

Last night I was waiting for Mr Pawprint to get home (working O/T) when I heard someone calling 'kitty,kitty'~couldn't see anyone, but did see the movement of a cat and thought it might be ours~altho had NO idea how she could have gotten out. So outside I went and found the cutest young cat out by the mailboxes. Couldn't leave it for the coyotes to munch on, so picked it up and brought it inside. This is how we obtain most of our pets~thru rescue. Julibelle, our resident cat, has forgotten she was found in the gutter and is not pleased! Hopefully, someone will be out looking for it today~totally a sweet kitten with a hugely bushy tail! Someone must be missing it alot!

Little bird....

I found my lovebird 'Golda' dead in the bottom of the cage yesterday. We hand- raised her and her sibling 'Shamus' from babies~they have always been called 'the babies' and it was a shock to see a mound of yellow and orange feathers so still on the cage floor when I lifted the cover. Shamus was squawking as usual, but was very quiet after I took Golda out. We wrapped her in gold and royal blue tissue~royal colors and fitting for her, we thought, and we'll bury her in the woods next to our house today. Poor wee mite.