.
It was only a matter of time before I heard scampering on the deck.
.
.
And once baby chuckies find the deck?
.
.
They’re hooked and treat it like a playground.
.
.
It’s adorable.
.
.
They run and spin like whirling dervishes.
.
.
In and out of the railings, under the grill.
.
.
Until…
.
.
They spot a cat.
.
.
And have to investigate.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten was riveted.
.
.
Have you ever been to a cat cafe?
I hadn’t, but always wanted to… imaging myself sipping a cup of tea surrounded by purring felines. So when I saw an advertisement for one right on our planned route for the day, I had to stop.
.
.
Mind you… though the husband loves cats, he wasn’t totally on board with this plan.
.
.
It was a small place, with everything appropriately cat themed.
.
.
And though I wanted iced tea, all they had was chai… which was grossly over sweetened.
No matter… we were going to pet some cats!
Or were we?
.
.
Turns out my dream of leisurely sipping and petting was ill formed as the actual cats are not allowed anywhere near the food and beverages. They’re in a separate room, which because we always have bad timing… was hosting a book club that wouldn’t be done for another half an hour.
.
.
At that point the husband wanted to leave, but he loves me and indulged my desire to stay. With 30 minutes to kill we ordered overpriced sandwiches to go with our overpriced beverages and settled down to wait.
When the book club ladies started filing out of the chambre des chats, we disposed of our trash and made for the door… where we found a sign.
.
.
At this point my husband really wanted to leave as he discovered it would be $20 for us to enter and pet cats… for 20 minutes.
But remember….
He loves me.
.
.
So in we went.
.
.
All the residents are up for adoption.
.
.
And most of them were asleep.
.
.
With the exception of little Miss Attitude…
.
.
And this poor fellow who was thin and looked ill, though we were told he belongs to the owner and is just old.
.
.
There weren’t a lot of cats, maybe 6.
We weren’t allowed to pick them up or sit with them on our laps.
And there was definitely no leisurely sipping and petting.
Conclusion?
Cat cafe – great idea.
Mediocre reality.
🐾
.
.
The red bitch is alive and well…
.
.
And driving Lord Dudley Mountcatten crazy.
.
.
She scampers all over the back deck to get his attention…
.
.
Then perches on the back of a chair in front of the window, chattering nonstop to taunt him.
So close, yet unattainable.
It’s a kitty’s worst nightmare.
😉
.
.
The very last thing we had to move to get ready for new flooring ?
Was the very worst, hands down.
.
.
Treadmills are big, and bulky, and heavy, and awkward as Hell to move.
Much thinking and strategizing went into the process.
.
.
Yes, the tread itself could be raised.
But it wouldn’t fit out the door… even with the door removed… in its entirety.
.
.
Which is when tools were employed and breakdown occurred.
.
.
Or tried to occur because try as they might… they couldn’t figure out how.
.
.
I spent the next half hour on the phone with Nordic track customer service… who, may I just say?
Suck the big root.
.
.
They didn’t help at all, and didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know.
.
.
After a lot of hassle, the two parts were separated.
Kind of.
.
.
Annoyingly they were still connected by the electrical wires with no clips or disconnects in sight.
.
.
Which means the top half was precariously balanced on the bottom half and squiggled down the hall.
.
.
Turning was not fun.
.
.
And at one point the husband got stuck. Which, I’m ashamed to admit…
Was a little bit fun.
.
.
Placed on a sheet in front of the den couch is where it landed. Completely in the way of everything.
His Lordship?
.
.
He gave the treadmill a try.
.
.
But exercise isn’t his thing…
.
.
So he found a towel free cushion on which to shed more fur.
🥴
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten is blowing his winter coat.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten likes to sleep on the new den couch.
In order to limit the pounds of shedding cat fur, his servants covered the right and left cushions on which His Lordship reclines with towels.
.
.
His Lordship is a true cat.
.
.
And by that, I mean an asshole.
.
.
Please note the placement of said towels.
.
.
And the location of said cat.
.
.
🥴
.
.
It’s tough being a cat with parts that just don’t fit.
.
.
Granted he could have moved to the left a bit…
.
.
But why waste all that energy.
😉
.
.
Fess up, I know you have some.
My bowl set is that lovely 😳 mushroom pattern from the ‘80’s on the bottom row, second from the left.
They’re ugly, but indestructible.
.
.
We’re getting new carpet in our den and office next week which involves a week’s worth of emptying closets, desks, shelves etc…. Ugh.
It’s a massive amount of work but a good excuse to clean and get rid of things I no longer need. Like six tubs of acrylic paint, sealant and brushes…
.
.
And a tub of cross stitching books, hoops and material.
Yes, once upon a time I was crafty.
Those days are gone.
.
.
I don’t mind a nice kosher dill spear now and then, but pickle pot roast?
Hard pass.
🤢
.
.
See? Hummingbirds can feed in the rain, without an umbrella.
Who knew?
😉
Mark, this next one is for you… and I have only two words.
.
.
Goth.
Flamingos.
You’re welcome.
💀
.
.
When the rain ended, I went outside to remove the jerry rigged umbrella shelter my husband had erected for the hummingbirds the day before.
.
.
With a few hungry natives buzzing nearby and telling me to hurry up.
.
.
On closer inspection of the installation?
.
.
I decided to let the husband remove his handiwork later on.
.
.
In the meantime… a gentle breeze was blowing the umbrella and His Lordship was perturbed.
.
.
Seeing the shadow through the blinds he believed we were under attack….
.
.
And was not happy to be excluded.
.
.
Fearing my blinds would be ripped to shreds, I opened one for his viewing pleasure.
.
.
And after seeing his kingdom was safe?
.
.
A nap, in the shade.
.
.
Just a few things I chuckled over this week.
.
.
That’s me.
.
.
Other than the last one, that’s me as well.
.
.
No children, but you all know the mountain of crap that awaits me on my husband’s passing.
🥺
.
.
True.
But we love them anyway.
.
.
It won’t take long, I promise.
.
.
That’s an easy one.
I’d trade places with any cat who ever lived with us.
.
.
They’re loved.
(Frank)
.
.
Well fed.
(Mr. White)
.
.
Spoiled.
(Bubba)
.
.
And indulged.
(Cracker)
.
.
They also have two human servants who cater to their every whim.
(Lord Dudley Mountcatten)
So yes, I’ll say our cat.
❤️
How about you?
What animal would you trade lives with….
.
.
Remember the improved box cake mix recipe?
.
.
I tried it with butter pecan.
.
.
And while the cake didn’t seem to rise quite as high as it normally does …
.
.
My husband raved about the texture and proceeded to eat 3/4’s of it.
Honestly? I didn’t notice much of a difference.
.
.
I’m so sick of this AI generated nonsense.
.
.
As if.
.
.
This is a real cat.
.
.
Who jumps up to sleep on the spare bed pillows….
.
.
And is too lazy to shift when he slides down between the shams.
.
.
I found some old military photos when I was cleaning out a drawer the other day. That’s my husband in Beirut, with the remnants of the bombed Marine barracks behind him. He removed the bodies of six Marines from the wreckage on that horrible day.
.
.
Welcoming my guy home after a six month Med float in 1988.
Damn, we were young.
.
.
And talk about young.
My husband, right before he went to Vietnam.
❤️
River's world..... 