Mini-book and Halloween cards

I didn't feel all that great today. In fact, I was almost sick this morning. So weird. So 9 episodes of Scrapbook Memories later (and I think I must have napped a bit because at one point I was shocked to see Cha-Ching on three feet away from me trying to see what was there - have I mentioned that he's horribly cross-eyed and I don't think he can see much?) I felt much better. So I tried out this little album I saw on the show. It's not completely done because I need to decorate it and add the photos. But I got the entire book built using some scrap cardboard from an old cereal box, some paper from the Travel Stack from DCWV, and a scrap of paper for the closure with a brad. From the outside, it doesn't look like much yet: But the inside is what's really fabulous. It too still need decorating and pictures, but the book is built. All the little pages fan out to hold lots of photos when the book is open.So then I pulled out the DCWV Ghost and Goblins Matstack that I found at JoAnn's the other day. They only had one left! I really wanted two so we drove almost an hour away to another large JoAnn's and they didn't have any other. I've been back to our Jo-Ann's and they are still sold out. Argh... But I started playing with it today. I had so much fun making card kits to send to my aunt and cousin in sunny San Diego, that I decided to do another set using this mat stack because it's so freakin' cute! I only got two sets finished today since I also had to finish all the laundry and make a loaf of zucchini bread too.

Well, that's probably it for this week. I have to take a little trip for work and since I'll only take a carry-on, I can't take my crafty stuff with me (well I'll have a cross stitch project along because it doesn't take much space) and I'll probably be so busy the entire time that I wouldn't have time anyway. Poor hubby has to stay home and take care of the furballs. But if he's good, I'll bring him back some great bread and maybe some chocolate (well, if that makes it through the whole plane ride back...).

Amazing day...

I had been thinking for days about things that absolutely needed to be done today: pick the peas, pick the last of the raspberries, pick the blueberries, pick the zucchini (well, you get the picture). So this morning when I couldn't go back to sleep, I just got up. I went outside and it was glorious. The neighborhood was so still and the morning was cool, but not cold. It was really nice just being out there. It wasn't long before dear hubby came to join me and we made pretty quick work of the picking and a little weeding. Well, two hours worth. But we also watched the furballs having a ball running all over their yard. Smoke and Tigger did a little tree climbing, but we only got pictures of Tigger in the tree (don't worry, they are small trees, no kitty was harmed in the making of this blog post). Eventually they all tired and found their own places to rest for a bit. Chewie picked the top the rail on the deck.Smoke found his favorite hiding, ready to pounce "resting" place in the flowers under the deck:Cha-Ching was in his "no hoomans can get me here" and don't you dare get too close or I'll run resting place. I swear that cat is the most beautiful apple faced seal point but he is the least photogenic cat I've ever seen with Tigger running a close second. Eventually even ADHD kitty, err Tigger, decided it was time to rest too and found a comfy(?) place in the barkdust.While watching the furballs cavort, I finished picking the blueberries and said for about the 100th time that I was going to pull out the one blueberry bush that I don't think has grown an inch in five years and looks half-dead. Of course, I say this every year so I mentioned to dear hubby that I wanted to go get a new bush. He said we'd have to wait until next year when the stores will have them again, but I protested that Al's would have one and since we were planning a drive a little while later over to Silver Creek Falls, why not head that way afterward? He didn't seem to keen on the idea. Maybe it's that I also mentioned wanting to pull out "the beast" in the front yard and the peach tree that didn't have so much as a single peach this year...

Any how... a quick shower later, we piled into the truck and took off to tour the campground at Silver Creek Falls. It seems that we always camp at the same places every year so we've decided to look at some other options. This one is not too far away but is always booked solid. Now I know why. It's a really nice park. There's great walking and hiking trails. Many of the campsites are very private. I love it, oh and the falls are stunning too. Here's the north fall from a viewpoint during our drive: So we were driving on the backroads when I just could not believe my eyes. There were these entire fields of flowers. No, this is not photoshopped, this is an actual picture (well minus the big old sign that says private property and not to stop and no trespassing)... Honestly, I didn't pick a one and I really only stood on the edge of the road to get the picture of these bachelor buttons, African daisies and California poppies. So then we drove through Silverton and hubby pointed out where he went to grade school and floated milk carton boats down a drainage ditch in the summertime. Doesn't that sound like something every grade school boy would do? Now for my favorite part... We stopped to get Oktoberfest sausages. I love Oktoberfest. So sad that I won't get to go this year, but this is the next best thing...Then it was off to Woodburn! I didn't turn him off with all my talk of pulling out trees and vines and such. On the way, we saw another field of flowers. It wasn't quite as stunning as the first, but still quite remarkable. I often forget just how much we grow here in the valley until we go for a drive on the backroads. It really is stunning. So now we are back home and I'm going to try my hand at making a Kusudama flower, well right after I go eat the garlic chicken that hubby was cooking. Here's a shot of it browning in the skillet before he pops it in the oven. Yes, those are whole cloves of garlic and I have the most amazing just baked french bread to spread those on. Yummo!

Catnip Calamity

So I finally finished a big project I've been working on. I actually thought about not finishing it, but I knew that it would "haunt" me if I didn't. So now it's done and I can move on. But of course I have a headache tonight and don't feel all that good. It's this stupid Spring weather. Could it just stay sunny or stay rainy? Why does it have to keep fluctuating back and forth, driving my sinuses crazy?

So tonight I just cleaned up my craft room. I don't know about all of you out there but I am a messy crafter. I pretty much have to clean my room after every project. Now honestly, it doesn't take that long. I cleaned it up during the commercials of one episode of Glee (yes I am a Gleek), so that should tell you, it's a pretty simple task. Now I am ready to embark on some new projects and I have a few in mind, but they will have to wait for another day.

Over the weekend, we planted all the Spring flowers just in time for last night's frost. Again, stupid Spring weather, pick a temperature already! I cleaned off all the dropped potting soil, dirt, leaves and other stuff that builds up over the winter and was pretty happy with how it looked. So, of course, the furballs had to go investigate or snoopervise as I like to call it. So tonight, I'm checking my e-mail and posting about how happy I am to have won the gift certificate to Paper Zone (whoo hoo! still celebrating that one), when I hear this crash! I leave the craft room and the first thing I notice is that Smoke is cowering in a corner and won't look at me. So at least I know who the naughty kitty was (Notice the mark on his nose? That's not a mar on the photo, it's from "fighting" with Cha-Ching the other day). Now I just have to find out what he did. Fortunately, that didn't take long because I found this mess just outside the back door: Of course Smoke now is willing to come investigate the damage he caused and then Zoey has to come check it out too:

So that's when Matt tells me what happened. Matt was out playing with the fish in the pond when Smoke jumps from the railing onto the pot of catnip that has some how miraculously survived five cats and the winter. Of course, Smoke (the klutz) overestimates the security of the pot sitting on its stand or, perhaps under-estimates his considerable size and weight, and the whole thing comes crashing down. Fortunately I had another pot I decorated a while ago just ready for this such occurrence. To try to give the catnip a fair chance, Matt did some kitty-proofing. Given the fact that Matt's managed to kitty-proof the backyard to somehow keep five furballs within the confines of our fenced backyard, I'm betting on the catnip making it.

Cha-ching's home!

Cha-ching slipped outside on Sunday while Mom and Dad were painting the house. They were very worried because he was hiding and they couldn't find him, but finally last night they came home from work and found him in the house. They were furry happy he came home. Of course, he doesn't know it yet, but he's happy he came home too because DaisyMae's mom, aka the kitty crack dealer, is on her way here. I'm sure everyone will be very happy (and well fed) soon.

On another note, Mommy has been playing with her Cricut machine. She made this birthday card for Daddy's Mommy.

Meezer Monday

Here are my beautiful whiskers but I really wanted to show you my ferocious little teeth that stick out (but they didn't show in the picture). You should always make sure that your human knows that you are the boss and showing my teeth is the best way to do that.

Also, I want to wish happy 1st birthday to Mommy and Daddy's nephew Asa. It was Saturday and they went to party for him. He was adorable!

Featuring Mr. Cat, aka Snowball, aka Casper and Photohunters: Happy

This is Mr. Cat, also called Snowball and Casper. He is our cousin. He used to live at Auntie Kim's house in Texas, but two weeks ago he found a new home at Grandma and Grandpa's house. At first he wasn't too sure because G&G have a woofie, Rosie. Rosie and Mr. Cat are working out the terms of their new relationship.

So far, Mr. Cat is winning (he he he).

As for Photohunters today. The happiest time for any us is when we are snuggled up with Daddy, so here is Gandalf being very happy.

Finally, for those of you who have asked about Cha-Ching's little crush, he's finally done something proactive about it and sent her a Catster Star. For those of you who are really good sleuths, you might be able to figure it out. For the rest of you, hang on while he finds out if she's interested. Stay tuned...

Smoke: He he he... I'm taking over the blog to give you a hint. She's a sweet little girl who has an adorable older brother and was introduced to the blogging community old last month and is already a star (at least in Cha-Ching's eyes if not everyone else's too).

Smoke! You behave or I'll mention somethings about you that you would rather the whole world not know!

We're back...

This weekend we didn't get to blog at all. Mommy was going to let us blog on Friday but after battling all five of us into PTUs for the vet, she was busy cleaning the house. Then Daddy took her on a date. They went out to dinner and to see Harry Potter and didn't get home until late. Then on Saturday morning they got a call that Grandma A. was sick (food poisoning she says - ick!) and Uncle Jason and Aunt Janette needed some help. So Mommy and Daddy hurried up and finished up some chores around the house then headed down to J&J's for the day. They got home really late so no blogging that day either! (By the way, we continue to ask for your purrs and prayers for J&J and their son Asa as Uncle Jason battles his brain tumor. Also please purr and pray for our Mommy's Uncle Jim - DaisyMae Maus' grandpa who is having surgery this week.) I thought for sure I would get to blog on Sunday. Mommy got up for a while and was wrapping glass in tape but before she finished she went to bed because she didn't feel good. Daddy said he didn't feel good either and they didn't do anything on Sunday. So no blogging either! Man, I don't know what to do about these beans. I've got friends I've got to keep up with!

All of us were nominated to the Schmooze Award by Forty Paws and we are sooooo excited!

Here is the definition of schmooze and an explanation of the award:

"As it goes, schmoozing is the natural ability 'to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.' Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship."

Here are the rules: Each award winner is to display the badge on the sidebar of his blog with a link to the post which contains the explanation of the award, then nominate five bloggers to receive the award. Now comes the really hard part. It's not hard at all thinking of bloggers who schmooze, it's finding ones who haven't been nominated yet. Here are our picks:

1. Chase, because that cat has a harem! He charms them all!

2 and 3. Millie and Jasmine, because they make all the cats feel welcome and provide an excellent education on the making of a Gizzy quilt.

4. Derby, because he's good at making a bed and is ready in a snap to entertain (particularly the Big Piney Woods girls).

5. Poppy Q, because she's adorable and loves everyone!

Hey and don't forget about me, Cha-Ching! I was nominated for the meme by Peach the cat!

What were you doing 10 years ago? I wasn’t born yet. I'm not sure where I was but I'm pretty sure I was causing trouble!

What were you doing a year ago? Again, not born yet, but I was thinking about it.

5 Snacks I enjoy: What's a snack? Am I missing out on something? All I get it Science Diet crunchies and a little stinky goodness. Mommy! Are the furballs getting a snack? Is that why you feed me in a separate room? I protest. I want this thing called a snack or I'll talk all night long so you can't sleep and you know I can too!

5 songs to which I know all the lyrics: I know the Meow Mix song: meow, meow, meow, meow... well I'm sure you get the meow, but I'm young yet. I'm sure I'll learn more. I've heard something about songs to get lap time, snuggles, etc. I'm definitely going to learn those.

5 things you would do if you were a millionaire:
I would go buy all my siblings and give them good forever homes (at least a few with me so that we could gang up on the furballs - they're a handful. So far only Smoke is really willing to play with me but sometimes he acts like he's not sure). After that, I'm not sure. I've heard that Mommy and Daddy have to work to pay something called a mortgage. Perhaps if I paid that off they would stay home with me all day. I would like that.

5 bad habits
I don't have any bad habits. I'm a perfectly sweet kitten (or at least I have convinced Mommy and Daddy of that so I'm not saying anything here that might change their mind. Mommy calls that "pleading the fifth" (whatever that is) although Daddy is the one that told me all about it. Apparently he uses that with Mommy all the time.

5 things I enjoy doing
1. Playing with the fleece wand thingy.

2. Playing with the track ball.

3. Playing with the feather wand.

4. Terrorizing the furballs by my very presence.

5. Hiding under things and then pouncing.

5 things I would never wear again
The only thing I've ever worn was my collar which was so big my paw kept getting stuck in it even though it was as small as the beans could make it. Oh, I guess techincally I wear my microchip too, but I want to wear that. They say that it will help me get back to Mommy and Daddy if I ever get lost.

5 favorite toys
1. The fleece wand thingy

2. The track ball

3. The feather wand

4. The milk ring

5. The furballs

I think pretty much everyone has answered this one, but if you haven't been tagged, consider yourself "it."

Oh yeah, and we can't forget to say "Way to Go!" to our driver and Smoke's namesake, Tony Stewart, on your awesome win at Chicagoland. Mommy says there's nothing better to beat the sicky-ickies than watching Tony climb the fence!

Introducing Cha-Ching, the Tasmanian Devil Kitty

Let me introduce the newest (and last according to Mommy and Daddy) member of our feline family: Cha-Ching, the Tasmanian Devil Kitty. He's a lovely little Seal Point Siamese from the Orecatay Cattery. His dad is Orecatay Tigger and his mom is Raz2Taz Ming Jiao of Orecatay. He was born only three days after the furballs on February 25, 2007, but he's much smaller than the furballs. We're sure that he won't be for long though! He's taken over the furballs' nursery where he promptly hid under the desk then discovered hidey hole in the cat tree that grandpa made and refuses to come out.


The furballs so far are not terribly impressed. Chewie hissed at Mommy when she picked Chewie up after coming out of the nursery. I've tried to tell them it's no use not to bond with the meezer; it's here to stay. After all, I discovered that about the furballs!

Mommy reported that Cha-Ching does not like the PTU and cried for much of the ride home and displayed a temper and destructive streak to rival a Tasmanian Devil trying to escape from the PTU.

Daddy had the pleasure of naming this kitten (he also named each of the Furballs). He chose Cha-Ching because Mommy sucked lots and lots of greenpapers out of his wallet to pay the V-E-T today and the cattery. Mommy let him have the name since he's finally agreed that she can get a stroller if she wants one. To which I say, he he, cha-ching Daddy, more greenpapers are leaving your wallet!