An Amazing Transformation, & One of My Cats is Next...

The spot on his pretty white skull cap is so unique...

The Girl with the Dogs is an awesome pet groomer I’ve mentioned before. A recent video featured this Alaskan Malamute. His undercoat was a disaster. By the time she finished blowing out loose fur there was enough to create a life sized model.

The change looks subtle; it was not...

It’s transfixing to watch and she says the process is almost as rewarding as the outcome. She wears what looks like a beekeeper’s hood until time for final brushing. The big baby’s whines also required her to don hearing protection and caused me to lower the TV volume.

Meanwhile I plan on transforming Dandelion. She has this super dense, almost microfiber layer that’s shedding like crazy. The stuff leaves snowdrifts on the carpet when she scratches herself. I don’t mind that so much as how it these fibers cover all textiles inside and out. When I’m sweating out in the garden and wipe my face on my sleeve… well… minor miseries commence. As soon as I can book an appointment with our pet groomer this girl is getting shaved down to her adorable pink hide.

Can you believe that huskies and malamutes are some of the whiniest drama queens? Have you seen any videos of their antics?

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Waylaid

With a laundered comforter, basketful of fresh sheets and pillow cases, I intended to make the bed this afternoon. But upon entering I found Dandelion tucked between the balled up comforter and one of the pillows.

What near perfect camouflage…

I adore how one paw is curled over her upturned toes...

Who could roust such a pleased and comfy critter? Doesn’t the word camouflage have one of the most awkward spellings?

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My Furry Houdini

Acclimating my plants to the outdoors (Yay!), I move them through our walkout basement onto the back patio. It’s easiest leaving the sliding glass door open in the process. Preventing our cats from getting out has an easy solution. I close the door at the top of the steps.

Left to right: pepper, cucumber, & tomato
all still have growing to do...

It didn’t quite latch one day, which I knew but wasn’t concerned. Everything locked up and plants nestled back into their little greenhouse, I headed toward the steps. The wide open door caught me by surprise. Surely my husband hadn’t woken from his nap and opened it. He would understand why I shut the door.

At the top I found Dandelion, who promptly got the zoomies while the sisters remained sound asleep. She is long legged, strong, and has big paws with claws to match, so she must have hooked the edge of the door and simply pulled.

Mischief & zoomies over;
time to nap now...

Dani certainly has done a number on the carpet outside the master bathroom. I finally laid down a wooden transition strip to both further prevent and hide the damage. When used for good, these feet are adorable.

 

It was lucky I rediscovered the thing. Even better was the perfect fit. While longer than the bathroom doorway is wide, it slid perfectly beneath our pocket door.

What is the oddest way you ever repurposed an item? Have you ever seen a pocket door?

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An Early Morning Mystery

After Dandelion joined me on the bed this morning I didn’t notice at first that she had dark brown staining behind her right ear. I can only imagine Terra or Polly swatted her ear and drew blood sometime overnight.

She ate kibble as if nothing happened...

My husband asked if I wanted to make a vet appointment. She acted her normal self, even alongside the sisters, so I didn’t see the point of stressing her. Dani later cleaned up a good portion of the stains.

The three have been doing so well. I hope this is an anomaly. At least Dandelion’s blood didn’t spatter the ceiling as happened years ago. That night she ran high onto a cat tree and swatted at her tormenters with her wounded paw. Ugh… Worse still, our beloved angel Tilly once received a mysterious slash to her neck.

We had no idea at the time, though she acted a bit uncharacteristic. My parents were visiting and the four of us went out for breakfast when my husband decided to leave and check on her. He discovered her downstairs, bleeding.

Aren’t I lucky to have married a man with great instincts and even greater compassion? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all beings who lack communications skills could express themselves?

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Unintended Consequences

When my very old Kindle Fire finally died I figured we could do without. E-books are accessible on my phone, after all. My guy had other ideas. We often play Scrabble on it while dining out and he didn’t want to give up that tradition.

He found a decent deal and I discovered a new addiction. Love of language and word play led me to the game Word Carnival. I refuse to either spend money on this or watch their obnoxious advertisements.

Instead I simply take my Kindle offline. At least, that is, until I’m utterly stumped. Watching an ad or two grants me ‘gems’, fifty of which give useful hints. Then I log off again to resume play.

Why I still can't upload video stumps me. Oh, well.

It’s a first world problem, isnt’ it? Does it surprise anyone that moving graphics sometimes enchant Dandelion?

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Polly the Punk

For several minutes Dandelion and Polly peacefully shared a tabletop the other day. Then I turned and found this little hooligan alone.

I like how this closeup makes the harmless
fluff ball look menacing...

Isn’t it nice that Dandelion didn’t let this stop her getting a drink? Do you think she will ever join in our younger twins’ play fights?

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Sweet Dreams

It’s always an endearing compliment when a pet goes into REM sleep. Dandelion went there the other evening. 

What do you think she dreamed? Have you seen the following video?

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A Tale of Three Kitties

This post is nowhere near epic as the title suggests. Sorry, Mr. Dickens, for any copyright infringement. ~grin~ But I just had to share each of our girls’ unique quirks.

Polly is known as The Great Ribbon Slayer. I think she wanted her sister’s assistance when this image was taken.

I just needed a beauty shot before continuing...

This time, Terra did not assist in killing ribbons. She enjoyed peering out the bedroom window before jumping to the top of my dresser. For reasons I cannot comprehend she occasionally becomes fascinated by my fan, which was running when she made the leap.

Your photos cannot do my majestic beauty justice...

Our One Fanged White Wonder (so nicknamed after her expensive dental extractions) received a very unprofessional haircut from me. At the right angle viewing her backside, it looks like she’s wearing a frilly miniskirt. Alas, my botched job did not prevent the buildup of a hairball.

Excuse my superior digestive system,
frail human...

In my effort to apologize for shaming her I took this much more flattering photo of her lounging. It disturbed her nap, though, so I guess a further apology is needed.

I am gorgeous no matter what you do to my fur...

Should I expect a thanks from craft stores for protecting their stock of ribbons? Do you think I have a future as a pet grooming trendsetter?

It's Tocktoberfest! Dandelion offers our first entry...

Finally, a Fan of the Tunnel

How Old Are You, Exactly?

 

A Strange Day

Our cat Dandelion woke me early this morning jumping on the bed seeking attention. After telling my husband, on his computer at the time, I returned to bed.

Ornery Terra later woke me by knocking my phone off the nightstand. To my shock, it was past 11:15! No wonder she wanted me up.

Discombobulated, I thought I might still be asleep and dreaming when my husband then told me about a derecho sweeping through the central United States. Unfortunately for those living in this weather pattern’s path, it’s very real and I wish them all the best.

On a lighter note, I opened a box just delivered. I turned around moments later and found the aforementioned kitty Dandelion sitting there.

Is that expression adorable or what?

Isn’t nature's force often either wondrous or terrible? On a different topic, did you know that the wonderful character actor Dabney Coleman passed away?

There’s a fabulous homage on the blog Shadow of a Doubt. By the way, I do not think the bubbles forming in the rain were caused by any chemicals but rather ideal conditions. It probably would not have happened had the guy who replaced our driveway done a better job years ago.

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A Very Silly Girl

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Sweet

This morning our cat Dandelion delighted me by coming out of her comfort zone, joining me in an another room. It was so sweet seeing her enjoy a good scalp massage despite the mess her fur left on my clothing. While unrelated, a bag of store-bought cherries also made me happy.

I like how these cherries look like Valentine hearts...
I will ignore any remarks about the crevices ~grin~

Unfortunately I also noticed Dandelion’s terribly dirty inner ears and used an ear cleaning solution which she did not like one bit. While she didn’t run from me or struggle much, I should have left well enough alone after swabbing one ear instead of going for a second cotton ball. She bolted under the couch we’d shared earlier and hasn’t come out since.

At least treating her ears removed a fair amount of gunk; I can only hope she’ll forgive and forget. It’s always me that notices and treats these types of things. ~sigh~ As soon as my husband sits down to watch television he’ll no doubt have Dandelion on his lap in minutes.

As for my clothes, I used leftover sticky fly paper to clean my sweater. It worked quite well.

Finding the stuff reminded me how Terra somehow got a piece stuck to her underbelly as a kitten. I didn’t panic and she calmly let me cut her free. Ah, memories.

Isn’t it funny how playing the mean role translates to raising both pets and young kids? Wouldn’t it be nice if either comprehended loving good intentions?

If you want to see how gross my hairy black sweater looked after petting Dani, keep scrolling down…

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Playtime!

Dandelion goes absolutely nuts over her fish toy. I purchased a second from Chewy after the string lost its elasticity, fearing it would get stuck wrapped tight around a limb. This happened to poor Luna back in the 1990’s and she never played with her squeaky mouse on a string after that.

Dani makes it very clear when she wants time with her fishy but apparently still doesn’t understand that sisters Terra and Polly only want to play fight. At least the paws exchanged haven’t drawn blood again, though Dandelion’s nose looks a bit scratched. 

Don’t the siblings sound like they mean deadly business? Do you agree that their white counterpart doesn’t act her supposed age (7 or 8!)?

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Good News – & – Pretty in Pink

Returning to the local YMCA for another round of resistance training, I carried in all the required financial assistance forms. The gal who encouraged me (S) was busy while another nice woman who usually works in the daycare center said she’d give it to S for review and would probably call early next week.

Imagine my surprise; I presumed the application would sit in limbo until some faceless committee declined it. Better still, S called to my sweaty, exiting self. She had done the math already and my membership for the next year will be almost half the current monthly rate.

On another financial note, I tend to overspend at auctions benefitting a good cause. It’s a recurring theme. ~rolls eyes~ For Winnie’s Wish List (discovered thanks to the Eastside Cats blog), an adorable, unicorn print pet tent was too cute to pass up. Terra and Polly never gave it more than a sniff. I almost offered the tent to some other animal lover, then we adopted Dandelion this summer and one day Dani did this...

I really do want her body fur shaved again;
besides being adorably pink that way,
her fur is close to matting.

Alas, she only stayed settled until
I got up from the sofa...

Can you believe my good fortune? Would you have expected such quick resolution, even from a not-for-profit organization?

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My Very Strange, Wonderfully Uplifting Day

I recently, once again, considered cancelling my YMCA membership. One month’s fee would almost pay to have kitty Dandelion groomed again, which she kind of needs. Silly me, while telling my husband I thought my eyes were watering but it turns out they were leaking tears.

Lifting weights and swimming year round really do boost my mood. Since he, bless him, said he wouldn’t urge me either way, I decided to go work out. At the front desk I found the sweet woman who’s worked there since I joined years ago.

She asked how I was, I said, “Great!” Then I told her my consideration, adding, “But I’m going to swallow my pride and ask if you have financial assistance paperwork.”

“No!” she blurted, “I mean yes! But don’t feel bad about it. We want you here. So don’t feel anything about asking for assistance.”

I brought the form home and my husband spent time filling out the financial details. He’s such a peach sometimes.

From there I passed a cute table sitting out for either salvage or garbage pickup. Driving half a block away, I turned around realizing it would free up my card table for a use other than supporting my haunted dollhouse. Huffing and puffing, I could not blow the house down get that table into my sedan. Meanwhile, a middle-aged man pulled over to ask directions.

I didn’t recognize the street name but, while searching on my smart phone map feature, told him my problem. He got out of his car, inspected the rather heavy item, suggested perhaps unscrewing the legs, then moved it back onto the lawn for me. In thanks, I drove him to where I thought he wanted to go. As it turned out, he’d taken a wrong turn. Solving his issue felt good.

And I drove home thinking I might ask my neighbor across the street for help. He owns a pickup truck and has utilized my husband’s computer skills more times than I can recall. The man kindly and cheerfully helped before heading to his workplace. I gave him a quick hug.

Have you ever shed a few tears without realizing it? Or is that just about the oddest thing to do?

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Life’s Ups and Downs – the Silly & the Serious

Once again, my husband and I shopped where that giant inflatable dragon is sold and a lady told me to watch for it to be discounted (!), perhaps after Halloween or even earlier. I’m guessing they’re not selling because so many folks struggle financially these days, which makes me sad. However, my childhood chum living across the state and I enjoyed a nice conversation, during which she said they have an inflatable dragon and would give it to me as incentive to visit. I should go because, unfortunately, her mother’s health is in steep decline while her father has his own issues.

Heartbreak and chaos are everywhere you look these days, it seems, so we need to seek any positivity. I found some just this afternoon. Dandelion jumped off my napping husband’s lap wanting some canned food. As expected, Polly wandered in and received a tiny plateful. What happened next amazed and delighted me.

Not surprising, my fluffy black cat finished first and strode toward her pale furred elder. Uh, oh, I thought. But they sniffed one another, all but touching noses (!), and Polly just sat down a short distance away. Dandelion did slink away a few inches. However, she resumed eating when I moved her plate over. The site made me very happy. When he woke, my husband heard the news and could hardly believe it.

On another note, the woman I talked to this morning was a store representative soliciting flu vaccinations. Since they’re offering a five dollar digital store credit to every recipient, I urged my husband to go for it. Ten dollars is ten dollars. And next week, a Hill Air maintenance guy will be coming for our autumn HVAC inspection. I’m crossing my fingers that I get another $300 (USD) Kroger grocery gift card for leaving reviews.

As I type, I’m enjoying a gorgeous day under my shade tree. A delivery driver pulled up at the next door neighbor’s house and surprised me by walking over with my latest online Amazon purchase.

I look forward to playing with these...

I ordered this and another holiday light set yesterday. These leaves are a set of four, one of which will go on my outdoor wreath in place of my silk sunflower blossoms. It’s nice they are battery powered except I can’t put them on an electrical outlet timer.

If it looks cute during daytime should I leave them on? And ooh, do you think these oversized leaves would look fun in my haunted dollhouse?

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Videos!

I have two videos to share. One is of Dandelion, who slinks around looking for Terra and/or Polly, then relaxes for play or just showing her cuteness. ~grin~ By the way, I’ve started pulling out the vacuum cleaner whenever anyone goes after Dani, who couldn’t care less.

While disrupting the contentious dynamic is my current goal, getting the other two used to the noisy ‘beast’ would be a perk, as is cleaner flooring. Heh… Please, any cat lovers let me know if you think this is a bad idea.

 

The other video is of my neighbor, a kind young lady who braved my barbed wire sans gloves (!) without wounding herself. I was appreciative and relieved. Now my scrap wood ‘demon’ can be completed for display.

Do you think Dandelion has leucism with those pink eye reflections? And isn’t my neighbor a dear?

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Caught Red-Handed, Sort of…

A Photo Fail I Will Explain...

Since the bloody catfight ruined our nice evening several days ago, things have been blessedly quieter between Dandelion, Polly, and Terra. But the black-furred twins ganged up on poor Dani when she slunk out from a hiding place late last week.

Not Very Prime Real Estate = Safe (?)

Athletic Terra didn’t continue the pursuit like her floofy, innocent looking sister. Today, I’m happy to report, peace has reigned. Nonetheless, Polly got caught wearing evidence of her transgression.

White Fur Between the Right
Toes Equals a Brat...

Should I instead say Polly was caught ‘white clawed’? Have you ever tasted the tasty alcoholic beverage White Claw?

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Plans: A Creature Feature – & – Crap

My mild frustration with the YMCA led me to discovering an interesting event at our Caesar Creek nature center. I planned on attending two Sunday afternoon seminars on local critters. And I forgot. The place is a half hour away and the event started fifteen minutes ago. I could attend the second but am just not feeling it.

The other day I even typed up the following to share here (and obviously didn’t):
Fingers crossed, there won’t be a ton of kids there and I can see some captive (rehabilitating?) specimens followed by a natural pond exploration. Both hour long events are free. I don’t even need to register.

And I concluded with:

What odds do you think I have of a peaceful visit sans rambunctious children? Have you ever walked out on an event, paid or free, due to annoying crowds?

Isn’t that a shame? Can you believe I not only let a spat with my husband wreck my day but allowed my upset to spill over to our innocent kitties?

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