Changes for Our Boys Too

The move to Chicago hasn't only meant change for the humans in our family.

Our dog, Spike, who was strictly an inside creature back in Chattanooga, is now learning to do life as a real dog. Gone are the pampered days of laziness and inactivity. He now takes two thirty minute walks a day. During these outings he takes in every sight and smell along the way and expertly avoids any contact with manhole covers or other four legged creatures.


so much to see


so much to smell
We've supplemented his potty patch usage with the occasional outside "business"! It's a whole new world for this once sheltered pup. The good news? He's taking to it with gusto. Turns out, when you treat your dog like a dog, they begin to act like a dog. He was once a neurotic bundle of nerves scared of his own shadow. And now... well, I mean he's still pretty neurotic but he's making progress. And the best news is that all this walking is leading to one worn out pup.




pooped puppy
As far as the cat goes, I'm concerned that our move has only heightened his quest for world domination.



surveying his kingdom
He spends hours looking out our 7th floor windows. One can only assume he is plotting to annihilate and conquer. His tail twitches and his eyes remain focused on whatever is he sees down below. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty glad I'm the one that feeds him twice a day. Certainly that task has earned me amnesty when he finally puts his plan into motion.

Happy Thoughts (6)

Snuggling

Groomers Appointments to De-Stinkify our Dog

{image of Volumes which stands in front of our public library by Lexi}

Free Books at the Public Library

Seeing a Challenge Through to the End

This week I finished a 30 for 30 challenge.  This is super exciting for a person like me who loves to start projects but doesn't always follow through and finish them.  I'm a bit excited.

New Nail Polish

Vodka & Caviar :: Gift of Gold :: You Don't Know Jacques!

Your turn, Happy Thoughts Please...

 

Photo Challenge - Day 14 & 15

Day 14 – A Picture Taken using my Phone

Vance

(our VERY hungry Cat)

I had SUCH a hard time picking the picture that I wanted to share from my phone. I have bazillions of them on there, so it was tough to pick just one. I'm not sure if it’s the same for you but most of the photos on my phone require a little explanation. So, I chose this one because I’ve already told the story behind it. You can read its super short explanation HERE.

Day 15 - A Photo that You Edited

My Beautiful Sister & her wonderful husband on their Wedding Day

Yes, yes, I know. You’ve seen this picture already HERE. But, here’s the thing. I'm not an expert at photo post – production work (shoot I'm not an expert at photo PRODUCTION). The photos are few and far between that I doctor much beyond a simple crop. Considering I use Picasa for all my photo editing, that’s probably a wise choice. It’s wonderful FREE software, please, now, don’t misunderstand, I looooooove Picasa. It is just not in the same ballpark as photo shop or the other big guns. It doesn’t do the heavy lifting that the more fancy schmancy software does. So, my options were limited in the "Photo that You Edited" department.

When I took this shot I wanted to include as much of the sky as possible because it was a gorgeous day! But once I saw it on the computer I realized that I wanted Erin’s gorgeous smile to be what pulled your eye not the clouds. I feel like washing out the blue blue sky and softening the image up a little bit accomplished what I wanted.

Alright, guys, I'm in the home stretch of Krystal’s 20 day photo challenge. Just five more days! Head to Village for more photo challenge fun!
You’ll just probably have to check her archives since she finished it weeks and weeks ago…

"Snooooooow" (Sung like Bing in White Christmas)

There are grapefruit sized flakes falling outside and while the roads are light years away from hazardous, it is so beautiful I couldn't imagine being anywhere but here right now. Just staring out our dining room window enjoying the view.

(Had to throw this one in because he loves to pose for pictures! So I indulge him occasionally)

5 Days Until Christmas

We decided not to have a Christmas tree this year. We had lots of reasons why... the animals, the effort, the fact that we are traveling right after Christmas.

Friday night we changed our minds. So, after a full day of cold rain and with our bellies full of Mexican food, we headed out to a local tree lot and found the perfect tree!

We brought it home to let it dry out, allow the branches to fall, and give the cat a chance to check it out.

Turns out Vance wasn't the only one interested in the tree.

Today we dressed her all up and are so happy to report that our living room has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland.

9 Days Until Christmas...

You remember our seasonally appropriate nook, right? Well, it's all done up for Christmas!

Look how fantastic it looks.

Typically the handsome hubby and I have different taste in everything home decoration. Knowing this, I was armed for battle when I ventured to Lowe's to purchase the garland. Being that it's the Christmas season and all, I wanted to give him a say. So, I sent him a picture of both the Frazier Fir and the White Pine. When I asked which he preferred I was fully expecting him to choose the White Pine since I liked the Frazier Fir. But, I was WRONG. We. Both. Liked. The. Frazier. Fir. It was an actual Christmas miracle. We've notified the Vatican to begin the authentification process.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, the handmade stockings had to come down immediately after the photo session. With Vance the cat living in this house, they would create much too much of a temptation. But they look lovely in the picture, right?

Subtle Hint

Every day, just before 6PM, Vance gets a look in his eye that can mean only one thing.

"Feed me or I will kill you in your sleep."

We go ahead and feed him. It's not worth the risk.

update on the boys

i promise i don't typically talk about my pets as though they are children. i don't have children, we don't want children (gasp), and i didn't get my pets to prepare for parenthood. that being said, my pets are spoiled rotten. they live the high life. they want for nothing. as evidenced by the fact that vance went in for his yearly check up today and he weighs 13 pounds.

13 freakin' pounds!!!

"molly, your cat isn't too fat," you say. "13 pounds isn't all that big." but, i disagree. vance has developed a pear shape. and he's 3 times as big as his brother... WHO'S A DOG.

oh, speaking of his little brother, spike has developed irritable bowls. our fluffy, adorable, little beast has a habit of dropping bombs. he's shameless and wholly without self control. at first the little toots were entertaining. he's small, so his farts were too. small = cute, right? problem though, small + frequent = annoying real quick. and let me just say that i'm seldom grateful when i'm caught down wind.

too much information?

He Changed His Mind

After hanging out around our place for 4 days, we finally brought him inside. So far, so good. Spike is a little upset that Vance isn't more interested in playing. But Vance isn't quite in a playing mood yet. He's more in tolerating mode. We, as parents, consider it a victory that no blood has been shed in the wake of Spike's enthusiasm.

Free Pregnancy Tests for All

While I was at work today, this sweet little stray kitten found its way to our door. She looked so pitiful and cold that I went and got her something to eat. I immediately felt a tug at my heart.

I figured that she must be pregnant – considering where I work - and that she obviously needed someone to love on her. Sooooo, I took her into my vet and dropped her off to see if she had a chip in her and if she was flea infested, pregnant or carrying any really harmful diseases. I thought this would give me time to talk with my husband and try to convince him to let me bring her home.

The conversation with the hubby did not go well. He was not at all interested in inviting her into our family. Honestly, this did not surprise me. And I trusted his judgment. He tends to be the more rational, level headed of the two of us.

Once we got off of the phone, I researched “no kill” shelters in our area. Unable to find one that had any immediate openings… I asked the hubby if he would pick her up at the vet and take her to the humane society. I couldn’t bear to take her to the gas chamber. He agreed and I began my grieving process.

Imagine my surprise when the vet called back to tell me that he was not pregnant. I hadn’t looked too closely not wanting to invade the cat’s privacy. I let the vet know that my husband would be along to pick him up shortly.

About 30 minutes later I got a call from the hubby who was beginning to bond with the little stray. Apparently he is 6 to 8 months old, and his beautiful face and sweet temperament won the hubby over on the short drive from the vet to the humane society. He called me wanting to know what I’d like to name him if we kept him. I was overjoyed.
He decided we could keep “Vance” (he’s named after the road where our clinic is located) for a few weeks, on a trial basis, at least until there is an opening at a no kill shelter.

But that darn cat! Brian made it all the way back home with him sleeping in the car like a little angel. But, as soon as they got to the parking lot, just steps away from the front door, the darn thing jumped out of his arms and ran. Brian (who relayed the story with much disappointment) said every time he’d try to reach for him, Vance would hiss!

So, there will be no new cat for the page family tonight. That cat doesn’t know what he’s missing.