Found!

Heard a tweet out in the entry-way, located, caught, and returned Buttercup to the birdcage (when I went out there he was sitting on top of it, not inside as I had hoped as I'd left the door open for them to get back in if possible).  Later, heard a fluttering in the kitchen, chased the bird, chased the dogs out of the room and shut them in the bedroom so I could stop tripping over them, returned to the kitchen and chased the bird some more, finally caught him and returned Summer to the cage.

Both budgies back home safe and sound.  Yay!

Missing!

Crash in the house this morning as I was working, and I go out at lunch to find that one of the cats has managed to knock over the birdcage, which no longer contains two budgies as it happened to pop loose from the base.

The kitchen window above the sink (which doesn't have a screen) was open a bit, so right now I don't know if the birds are hiding somewhere in the house, or if they have completely flown the coop.  I have done several circuits of the house and been calling and chirping for them, but haven't turned up a flurry of little wings, so I have a feeling they made it outside (and I must admit, I would prefer that to finding them somewhere in the house still but mangled by a cat!).

I'll keep my eyes and ears open for them both inside and out, and hope to find them and get them safely back into their home.  Wish me luck!

Beautiful Day

Sunny out and the curtain is gently blowing in the wind.  Imp is sitting in the window, watching the world go by and ocassionally going nuts trying to catch a passing house fly.  When they don't come close enough for him to have a chance to catch them ... he barks at them madly, demanding that they do so.

Still... Storm?

Maxx's computer has been calling for thunderstorms today (Sunday) since yesterday evening ... and I'd like them to hurry up and show up!  I love a good thunderstorm but am very much not so fond of being led to expect one and having those expectations dashed!

Storm?

It's grey and gloomy, rainy and a bit windy outside.

I'm actually hoping that we could wind up with a nice thunderstorm or rain storm tonight, to relax to ... as long as Imp and Elf react to storms the same way Angel and Hobgoblin do, by curling up with their humans to enjoy it while it lasts (at least while inside!).

Clear Skies

Well, earlier today they were clearer of clouds ... but I am really referring to eagles.  I haven't seen any today during the times I've had the dogs out, thank goodness.  I think they're beautiful, but I don't want to risk my little ones, and worry about the cats as they are outside unsupervised.  As Maxx points out, though, if an eagle wants to take one of the dogs even with us out in the hard too, we have no chance to save them, as their dive is so fast.

The lawn is starting to look like it needs to be mowed again.  Why oh why does grass grow so quickly?!?

Look Up, WAAAY Up!

Very glad I was paying attention to my dogs this morning when I had them outside on my coffee break.    I was wondering what had Elf's attention, as he was gazing up into the sky.  I glanced up and lo and behold, there was an eagle circling our yard.

Needless to say, I herded the micro-dog pack back into the house in short order!

Grindstone

Yup, as of today I'm back to it.  Working at work today (so at home on my lunch break right now), and have another four hours.  I did have two meetings this morning which took up 1 1/2 hours, and a training module which took 15 minutes, so really only "worked" 2 1/4 hours.  Four more left, then working at home again for the next week weeks.

With my shift change-over from having Saturday and Sunday off to having Sunday and Monday off, this weekend is a three-day weekend.  Hoping Maxx and I will have the energy to do the storage room this weekend (we were both so tired and I was so arthritis-achy for the second half of our vacation, we didn't get it done).  Once completed, hopefully I'll be able to access that room more easily, keeping on top of the recycling, and being able to access my craft supplies so I can get back into the swing of things.  Hoping to have the shoe rack on the back of the door, too, instead of the front, so it will be less of an intrusion into the doorway but still accessible.

Gettin' Melancholy

Today is Saturday, and I just have today, Sunday, and Monday left of my vacation.  Getting melancholy about heading back to work ... although I do work in the office on Tuesday and get to see my supervisor and team-mates, and have two meetings to go to, so that's good.

Since we've been home the weather has been less-than-sunny, so we haven't gotten much done ... that and the fact I've been feeling so tired and lazy!  Maxx is asleep right now, and I look over at the bed to see that Angel, Elf, and Imp are all curled up sleeping as well.  Hobgoblin is likely tucked in with Maxx sleeping.

Guess I should go do something productive!

Snicker!

My sister-in-law fed us this wonderful concoction last night of sausage, grape tomatoes, feta cheese (and black olives) which is baked up, then served on top of pasta.

She calls it "turds and tomatoes" ... likely because my nephew is really into the whole "poop" thing right now, as he's 3 1/2.

Yummiest turds I've ever eaten!

Late Night

Heading to bed after an enjoyable day spent with the family in Richmond!

Dogs were generally well behaved, but Imp is NOT impressed with Bailey and will chase her around the yard, barking wildly ... until such point as she turns around and gambols back to chase him in turn,at which point he yelps like he's being murdered and runs for cover.  Silly dog!

First Day of Vacation!

Yesterday was our first day of vacation together (although poor Maxx had been scheduled to work Saturday, so he got off work at 7:00am).

We managed to get the bags, doggy stuff, and dog carrier into the car and made the 8:30am ferry to Horseshoe Bay quite easily ... and although it seemed fairly busy, we didn't have much of a wait in the cafeteria line up to get our breakfast.  I love the scrambled eggs on the ferry.  They take me back to my university days eating scrambled eggs at the cafeteria for breakfast almost every day.  After four years, it left me with a "thing" for what I call "institutionalized scrambed eggs"!

Walked the dogs around on the ferry and up the ramp to the next level of car parking, so they got a bit of a leg stretch, then when we docked we headed directly to Richmond to descend on Holly and Todd, Noni, and the kids.

After a while, Imp calmed down a bit around the big dogs, so he's not barking his fool head off any time they are near him.  Angel gave my littl nephew some kisses (such a huge step for her, as she doesn't like little children..... I think both a sign of her being more socialized and the little fellow growing up!).

When were trying to inflate the air mattress, it wouldn't turn on (battery powered pump built-in), and when we tried another set of batteries from Noni nothing happened ...but luckily third time was the charm and Todd had some batteries of the right size which actually did have juice. At home we realized we don't have sleeping bags any more (although we aren't quite sure if it's because we washed them and they fell apart, or if we loaned them out to friends and they have not yet been returned -- which would be pretty much on-par for items we loan out, they NEVER seem to be returned and I keep saying that we won't loan anything else!).  Luckily, Canadian Tire was having a sale on sleeping bags, so we got two new ones which are rated good for downto -10 degrees celsius, and they are also very light, and each have their own storage bag ... so all's well that ends well on that front!

Holly made a truly delicious chili for dinner, and we had gone out to Cobs bakery during the day to pick up a nice loaf of bread, so Maxx made some cheesy garlic bread to go with it, which was also very toothsome!

Right now I think I'm the only one up, other than Todd who has had to leave for work.  My poor little nephew was sick (throwing up) most of the night, so Holly and my neice are pretty tired, and I hope Noni's been able to go back to bed for some more sleep as well, as it was a very long night for them upstairs.  Maxx is fast asleep on the livingroom floor as we're camping out in the house due to lack of dry soil in the back yard ... and Hobgoblin is curled up under the covers with him,Imp and Elf are curled up on top of the covers with him, and Angel is curled up at my feet as I type this.

So relaxed!  Gosh, I love vacation!

Home Again!

While clearing stuff out of the car today in preparation for packing it tomorrow for our trip, we noticed Jinx lounging under the hazelnut bush.  Coaxed him out and over to us, picked him up and brought him inside.  He seems just fine, not that thrilled to be inside, but having a bite to eat at this time.

So glad he's come home, and hope he shows his face more frequently, to keep me from worrying so much!

Missing Kitty

I'm starting to get really worried about Jinx.  Neither one of us has seen him for the past week.  While he is the cat who is around the house the least, being gone for a week is unusual for him.  The last time he was gone for a week, he'd been hit and rolled by a car, but he did come home.

I'm so hoping that he will show up before we leave for vacation.  Tomorrow I will have to wander the neighborhood calling for him, hoping either he will hear and come to me, or that I will hear him calling if he's shut it someone's garage.

I should check the SPCA site and perhaps log a "lost cat" report on there, in case he gets dropped off.  I don't know if they can find us with his ear tattoo, but I would hope so.

Will have to remember to forward the home phone to one of our cells while we're away from the house, just in case we get a call.

Wish us luck and pray for my big Jinx!