Cheryl B. Dale's Blog: RANDOM MUSINGS, page 23
April 12, 2014
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR
We've had company the past week or so. They all left today, and we're sorely missing the hustle and bustle they brought with them. So we took off down to the Village where they're holding an arts and crafts show this weekend. There were lots of people along with lots of arts and crafts.
Here are a couple of the eating tents. Naturally I gravitated to them first! Had to buy some kettle corn.
Here's a shot of one of the aisles beneath the great oaks. Lovely place to hold a festival.
And here's a pottery piece up close. There were also small birdbaths and other figures, but this one was the coolest.
Now we're back home and it's way too quiet. The cats, who are glad to have their house back, tell me they're here and we don't need company. Wish they could be a little more talkative.
Here are a couple of the eating tents. Naturally I gravitated to them first! Had to buy some kettle corn.
Here's a shot of one of the aisles beneath the great oaks. Lovely place to hold a festival.
And here's a pottery piece up close. There were also small birdbaths and other figures, but this one was the coolest.
Now we're back home and it's way too quiet. The cats, who are glad to have their house back, tell me they're here and we don't need company. Wish they could be a little more talkative.
April 2, 2014
VISIT TO THE JACKSONVILLE FL ZOO
So my guy gets a new camera lens (no, I don't know what kind; I don't even know why he needed a new lens except that he seems to collect them). He decides to go to the Jacksonville zoo to try it out before we make the long trek to the Alligator Farm down in St. Augustine. Naturally, I go along for the ride.
He wasn't thrilled with the lens but I think he got some great pix.
This is the older jaguar (maybe the mother) taking its bath. Just like my cats!
And here's the cub eyeing something in the water. He was so cute! Just like my cats.
This is one of the latest additions. The Jacksonville zoo now has a tiger exhibit. There are three in all, I believe, but this is the only one showing himself. And boy did he pace back and forth! Just a few feet from all us gawkers! Glad there were a couple of fences between us.
Then we come to the lion and his missus. They were cooling it in the shade but my guy got a good picture anyway.
Not sure what this guy is. Some kind of antelope maybe? Anyway, they'd just put his food out. My guy had to wait for him to stop stuffing his face to get this shot.
And a Komodo dragon that we are all fascinated by, I'm sure. Ugh! Creepy things!
There were a lot more animals -- flamingos, pigs, warthogs, et cetera -- but I wanted to show that deserts aren't the only places cacti grow. This plant is a lot taller than it appears in the photo and it's thriving!
He wasn't thrilled with the lens but I think he got some great pix.
This is the older jaguar (maybe the mother) taking its bath. Just like my cats!
And here's the cub eyeing something in the water. He was so cute! Just like my cats.
This is one of the latest additions. The Jacksonville zoo now has a tiger exhibit. There are three in all, I believe, but this is the only one showing himself. And boy did he pace back and forth! Just a few feet from all us gawkers! Glad there were a couple of fences between us.
Then we come to the lion and his missus. They were cooling it in the shade but my guy got a good picture anyway.
Not sure what this guy is. Some kind of antelope maybe? Anyway, they'd just put his food out. My guy had to wait for him to stop stuffing his face to get this shot.
And a Komodo dragon that we are all fascinated by, I'm sure. Ugh! Creepy things!
There were a lot more animals -- flamingos, pigs, warthogs, et cetera -- but I wanted to show that deserts aren't the only places cacti grow. This plant is a lot taller than it appears in the photo and it's thriving!
March 29, 2014
CRIME BLOTTER
Our crime blotter's always good for a few chuckles. In the past few days we've had several items reported, to wit:
A lab mix puppy was stolen. When they talked to a nine-year-old girl, she admitted taking the puppy. Awww. Everyone loves puppies.
A woman reported her daughter was struck in the face by an older female. The daughter says she and the older female were fighting; evidently videos prove it. At least she's honest.
A woman reported someone took her nasal spray (worth $60) from her purse. Ugh! I wouldn't want to use someone else's nose spray!
Two juveniles, male and female, attacked another juvenile in his bedroom before fleeing in a pickup truck. They were reported using alcoholic beverages. Wonder if the pickup was parked in the bedroom!
Someone stole a box of 24 cigars worth $24. Hmmm. Must not have been very good cigars.
A woman reported her Retro 3 Jordan sneakers were stolen from her apartment. At first I said, "So?" Then the value was given: $150.
A woman chased a male from her business. He was wearing two stainless steel bracelets he stole. Wonder how she would have got them off him if she'd caught him?
A man left his girlfriend's $700 iPad on a table in a business. Naturally, it got gone. Bet if it had been his iPad he wouldn't have left it lying around!
And an officer had a suspect steal his taser but retrieved it before it got used on him. Bet he'll be more careful with his questioning next time!
Ah, the joys of small town papers! I only wish they'd name names!
A lab mix puppy was stolen. When they talked to a nine-year-old girl, she admitted taking the puppy. Awww. Everyone loves puppies.
A woman reported her daughter was struck in the face by an older female. The daughter says she and the older female were fighting; evidently videos prove it. At least she's honest.
A woman reported someone took her nasal spray (worth $60) from her purse. Ugh! I wouldn't want to use someone else's nose spray!
Two juveniles, male and female, attacked another juvenile in his bedroom before fleeing in a pickup truck. They were reported using alcoholic beverages. Wonder if the pickup was parked in the bedroom!
Someone stole a box of 24 cigars worth $24. Hmmm. Must not have been very good cigars.
A woman reported her Retro 3 Jordan sneakers were stolen from her apartment. At first I said, "So?" Then the value was given: $150.
A woman chased a male from her business. He was wearing two stainless steel bracelets he stole. Wonder how she would have got them off him if she'd caught him?
A man left his girlfriend's $700 iPad on a table in a business. Naturally, it got gone. Bet if it had been his iPad he wouldn't have left it lying around!
And an officer had a suspect steal his taser but retrieved it before it got used on him. Bet he'll be more careful with his questioning next time!
Ah, the joys of small town papers! I only wish they'd name names!
March 23, 2014
WINGS WHEELS AND RUN
Our mainland airport had an event yesterday. Planes flew in, classic cars were exhibited, and there was also a couple of races for runners.
We missed both runs because we were late getting there due to a lunch engagement (Doesn't that sound important? It was really just lunch with friends.), but I wouldn't have run anyway. I'm a bit of a slug when it comes to exercise. Walking and swimming are about the best I can do.
Anyway, the neat thing was one of the aircraft that participated in the Berlin Airlift. We got there too late to line up and go through it but it was awesome to see a little bit of history.
You may be able to see the writing on this one: "Spirit of Freedom" by the door and on the tail, "Berlin Airlift."
Some more planes, though several were leaving even as we were taking pix:
Most of the cars had departed, too, but there were a few left:
We missed a lot. Like the candy drop for kids (imitating the airlift deliveries) which I would certainly have enjoyed! But it was still a nice hour we spent there.
We missed both runs because we were late getting there due to a lunch engagement (Doesn't that sound important? It was really just lunch with friends.), but I wouldn't have run anyway. I'm a bit of a slug when it comes to exercise. Walking and swimming are about the best I can do.
Anyway, the neat thing was one of the aircraft that participated in the Berlin Airlift. We got there too late to line up and go through it but it was awesome to see a little bit of history.
You may be able to see the writing on this one: "Spirit of Freedom" by the door and on the tail, "Berlin Airlift."
Some more planes, though several were leaving even as we were taking pix:
Most of the cars had departed, too, but there were a few left:
We missed a lot. Like the candy drop for kids (imitating the airlift deliveries) which I would certainly have enjoyed! But it was still a nice hour we spent there.
March 19, 2014
WELCOME, SPRING!
Yep, getting close to that time of year.
March 20th -- tomorrow! -- is the vernal equinox for 2014. And I'm really glad. This winter's been... Different. I guess that's the word I want. Cold one day, hot the next. Rain one week, drought the next.
I'm looking forward to things getting kind of settled. If weather can ever be called settled.
Anyway, my back yard's looking good, as we ready for Easter and all that:
The shrub on the right is an azalea. The one on the left is a loropetalum. Well, that's what someone who's a better gardener than me says. We'll just take her word for it.
I'm just happy to see things blooming again!
March 20th -- tomorrow! -- is the vernal equinox for 2014. And I'm really glad. This winter's been... Different. I guess that's the word I want. Cold one day, hot the next. Rain one week, drought the next.
I'm looking forward to things getting kind of settled. If weather can ever be called settled.
Anyway, my back yard's looking good, as we ready for Easter and all that:
The shrub on the right is an azalea. The one on the left is a loropetalum. Well, that's what someone who's a better gardener than me says. We'll just take her word for it.
I'm just happy to see things blooming again!
March 14, 2014
LIGHTHOUSE COTTAGE
The lighthouse keeper's cottage at the foot of our lighthouse is undergoing renovation. Thought you might enjoy some pics.
Here's the lighthouse from a distance. You can see the scaffolding on the cottage.
And here's a closeup of the roofer working.
Lucky the weather has been fairly pleasant, with just a few rain showers thrown in for a day or so.
We're hoping they get done before the busy summer tourist season. But down here, everything seems to run on 'island time' and that means a ten day job takes a month or two!
Here's the lighthouse from a distance. You can see the scaffolding on the cottage.
And here's a closeup of the roofer working.
Lucky the weather has been fairly pleasant, with just a few rain showers thrown in for a day or so.
We're hoping they get done before the busy summer tourist season. But down here, everything seems to run on 'island time' and that means a ten day job takes a month or two!
March 11, 2014
DRAGONFLY PHOTO
Due to Norma's request, I'm posting the original dragonfly photo my guy shot. For the black and white showing at the art gallery, he put it into graytones???
Anyway, this is what the original looks like. I like it a lot better in color, too!
Anyway, this is what the original looks like. I like it a lot better in color, too!
March 10, 2014
PHOTO SHOW AT ART GALLERY
My guy had some pix in the gallery show of black and white photographs. They had a reception Saturday night so we took a few pictures while we were there.
This guy looks entranced with the shrimp boat photograph. Wonder if it was his!
This is a shot of some of the attendees. You can't see it very well, but my guy's photo of a dragonfly is on the top left of the wall facing us.
These are, I believe some of the organizers.
As a side note: One of the organizers was coming in as someone was walking out with six photographs he'd bought. The organizer had to plead with him to leave the pictures up at least till Monday. The buyer wanted them right away!
But sales is what they're after, so it was a good night!
This guy looks entranced with the shrimp boat photograph. Wonder if it was his!
This is a shot of some of the attendees. You can't see it very well, but my guy's photo of a dragonfly is on the top left of the wall facing us.
These are, I believe some of the organizers.
As a side note: One of the organizers was coming in as someone was walking out with six photographs he'd bought. The organizer had to plead with him to leave the pictures up at least till Monday. The buyer wanted them right away!
But sales is what they're after, so it was a good night!
March 8, 2014
CRIME BLOTTER ITEMS
Okay, the usual from the local paper today.
A woman needed underwear and took a hundred dollars worth from the store without paying. She was arrested. (Wonder if she was wearing it. Hope they didn't restock it.)
A man was cold and stole a $250 leather jacket from another man. He was not apprehended. (Guess he's pretty warm today. Bet the owner's cold.)
A woman reported someone took $4000--yep, four thousand dollars--worth of sterling silver utensils from her residence. (Who in the world has that many silver utensils in their home? And why?)
Finally, a man stole four rib-eye steaks from a grocery store, value $67. He was arrested. (Wonder if it was before or after he ate the steaks. Wonder if his guests knew they were eating stolen steaks. Wonder why he didn't pick up some T-bones. Wonder if he'll have to replace the steaks.)
Oh, my. This kind of reporting leads to endless conjecture. Give us the facts! All of them!
A woman needed underwear and took a hundred dollars worth from the store without paying. She was arrested. (Wonder if she was wearing it. Hope they didn't restock it.)
A man was cold and stole a $250 leather jacket from another man. He was not apprehended. (Guess he's pretty warm today. Bet the owner's cold.)
A woman reported someone took $4000--yep, four thousand dollars--worth of sterling silver utensils from her residence. (Who in the world has that many silver utensils in their home? And why?)
Finally, a man stole four rib-eye steaks from a grocery store, value $67. He was arrested. (Wonder if it was before or after he ate the steaks. Wonder if his guests knew they were eating stolen steaks. Wonder why he didn't pick up some T-bones. Wonder if he'll have to replace the steaks.)
Oh, my. This kind of reporting leads to endless conjecture. Give us the facts! All of them!
March 1, 2014
ONE MORE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE CATS
It's not only litter my cats are finicky about. They seem to have taken up my entire life.
My daily schedule:
Seven a.m. - (sometimes as early as five if they've consumed all the dry food) - one or both start meowing for breakfast. Loudly.
I get up, replenish the dry food and put ice water in their fountain (yes, they demand ice cubes in their water).
Next, I fix their canned food. This means mincing the meat (and this is the ground kind, not the flakes or shreds or morsels) into even smaller pieces on two plates. If the can's been in the fridge, I must microwave the food for a few seconds. I then mound the minced food up on each plate before putting them down. At that time, I forcefully direct the boy cat to his dish since he always tries to eat the girl cat's food first.
Then the litter boxes need tending, including a sweep of the floor since my girl cat tends to get exuberant when she's in her bathroom and tosses litter everywhere.
Then back to the food dishes. Any food that's left gets mounded up on one plate for the boy cat. He likes to come back later and dig into a new pile of food.
About one p.m., the boy cat starts meowing. Persistently. It's time for his nap and he doesn't like to nap alone. Most days, I'll lie down with him on my bed for about an hour. Sometimes the girl cat joins us. If I'm busy and can't nap, I put her on the bed with him. If she stays, that will keep him quiet. If she doesn't, he ends up in my lap, squirming as I try to work on the computer.
About five p.m., the girl cat starts meowing again. She's quite vocal when it comes to meal times. So I go through the same thing as in the morning, except they take a stool softener before eating--yes, you read it right--to keep them regular. (Hey, they're old and have problems!) They learned how to hide the pills in their mouths until they got out of sight where they could spit them out. So I have to buy broth, and not the kind with celery and carrots but the unadulterated, expensive broth, to mix their powder in. They love this and lap it up eagerly. Sure beats using a syringe to force it down their throats.
At night, they don't sleep with us much any more, thank goodness. When the girl cat sleeps with us, she gets between my knees and I can't turn over. Lately, they've been staying in their cat bed or on the sofa where I've laid one of my dirty shirts to entice them to curl up.
And that's my routine.
This can't be natural. Surely, every cat owner doesn't cater to their cats like this. I must have trained them wrong, but it's too late to change them now. Guess I'm stuck till they kick the bucket.
My daily schedule:
Seven a.m. - (sometimes as early as five if they've consumed all the dry food) - one or both start meowing for breakfast. Loudly.
I get up, replenish the dry food and put ice water in their fountain (yes, they demand ice cubes in their water).
Next, I fix their canned food. This means mincing the meat (and this is the ground kind, not the flakes or shreds or morsels) into even smaller pieces on two plates. If the can's been in the fridge, I must microwave the food for a few seconds. I then mound the minced food up on each plate before putting them down. At that time, I forcefully direct the boy cat to his dish since he always tries to eat the girl cat's food first.
Then the litter boxes need tending, including a sweep of the floor since my girl cat tends to get exuberant when she's in her bathroom and tosses litter everywhere.
Then back to the food dishes. Any food that's left gets mounded up on one plate for the boy cat. He likes to come back later and dig into a new pile of food.
About one p.m., the boy cat starts meowing. Persistently. It's time for his nap and he doesn't like to nap alone. Most days, I'll lie down with him on my bed for about an hour. Sometimes the girl cat joins us. If I'm busy and can't nap, I put her on the bed with him. If she stays, that will keep him quiet. If she doesn't, he ends up in my lap, squirming as I try to work on the computer.
About five p.m., the girl cat starts meowing again. She's quite vocal when it comes to meal times. So I go through the same thing as in the morning, except they take a stool softener before eating--yes, you read it right--to keep them regular. (Hey, they're old and have problems!) They learned how to hide the pills in their mouths until they got out of sight where they could spit them out. So I have to buy broth, and not the kind with celery and carrots but the unadulterated, expensive broth, to mix their powder in. They love this and lap it up eagerly. Sure beats using a syringe to force it down their throats.
At night, they don't sleep with us much any more, thank goodness. When the girl cat sleeps with us, she gets between my knees and I can't turn over. Lately, they've been staying in their cat bed or on the sofa where I've laid one of my dirty shirts to entice them to curl up.
And that's my routine.
This can't be natural. Surely, every cat owner doesn't cater to their cats like this. I must have trained them wrong, but it's too late to change them now. Guess I'm stuck till they kick the bucket.
