Koi Pond - small update adding plants

Not much has progressed with our koi pond since we first started. Life gets in the way. But I did manage to pot up some plants for the pond today. Also, I noticed we have baby fish!! I'm so excited! I can't believe they've made it with no where for them to hide, so that kinda spurred me on to do the pots. I had the plants there and waiting on me, just hadn't done it. Now I'm so glad I did. I am quite pleased with the way they look and maybe it will push my hubby back into "pond mode"... haha

Anyway, enjoy the pics :)

This waterfall spills into the lake

Main waterfall getting some character with the algae

Pot is on concrete block in middle of pond

another view of plants in middle of pond

Plants in a pot on a pond shelf we made, almost not big enough!

another view of shelf plant

Here's a picture I took today of the twins Thunder and Lightning. Can you believe how much they've grown? They are 10 months old now and look like regular cats, not the cute cuddly little fur balls they were. But I still love 'em. They've been booted outside, so I don't get many pics of them anymore.

Thunder (l) and Lightning (r) now 10 months old

And look at Zoey posing just as pretty as a picture.

Zoey in the summer grass

Happy Friday and Happy Independence Day Weekend everyone!

Is there a Blog-oholic Anonymous?

So you all know I'm a night owl. But that doesn't mean I get to sleep in until noon (I wish!). So... while I should be sleeping like baby kitties...

shhh...

I look more like poor Zoey, who has to share her bed with the bed hogs... and who doesn't get as much sleep as she should. Notice her blood shot eyes.. poor thing, here baby, I've got some Visine I'll share.

I'm up reading blogs! I can't help myself... I just can't stop. I've got a neck and back ache out of this world and my derrière is throbbing from sitting in my broken chair. Yes, I said broken. Probably from all the crap I eat and plop on this cheap chair. It also gets my sciatic nerve going and I still wont' stop. I put my son to bed and tell myself... ok tonight I'm really tired, I'll just spend 30 minutes online puttering around and go to bed or maybe catch up on Medium. But no... 3 hours later and here I am. Literally, 3 hours later. I think I might have a problem. "hi, I'm Jaime and I'm a blog-oholic." Say it now... *Hi Jaime*

I may be getting a little slap happy. I'm running on low sleep. I'm probably backlogged by 8 hours or so this week alone. I know I'm not alone out here! Gimmee a shout out!

Also, if you commented on my blog from the OWOH post and I still haven't gotten back to you yet please hang on. I'm still going and you know I practically leave a book on everyone's blog. oyi. If you are a new follower, I promise I'll be by to your blog soon and reciprocate! Not just to do that, but because if you care enough to see what's going on in my life, I want to know what's going on in yours! Cause that's how I roll... haha (I don't know where that came from) I think I need some chocolate.

Owwwww... my aching neck

Thunder massaging Zoey

My neck, my back, my neck and my back.

Ok, that's funny for those of you that don't know it. I can't remember what movie it's from but my husband and I crack up on each other with that line. Although it doesn't get me the massages I'd like anymore.  pfttt.

But truly, that's what is hurting at the moment as I read all these fantastic blogs from OWOH. Here it is 1:46 am again and I'm still reading these posts. If I haven't gotten to yours yet, please be patient. I am answering each one individually, and you all know I got a lotta hot air.

Thank you to all my new groupies (hee hee). I really don't think of you that way I just thought it was cute. I have joined quite a few new blogs myself. Man, there are a lot of cool people out there! Maybe some of that coolness, sweetness and creativeness will rub off on me.

Snow, snow go away

Zoey's thoughts --"more of this crap?"

Enough already. I know I'm whining but I am sick of the cold stuff and ready for spring. I especially know I'm whining when my friend Theresa keeps getting more and more of the white stuff. But I guess that's what you get when you live waaaaayy up there in the North East like she does. Here in the Ohio Valley, we're just supposed to get 15" a year. So it snows an inch here and the schools are closed.

It's just so gloomy. I made myself a crystal sun catcher and have only been able to see the rainbows it creates like twice since I made it a couple weeks ago!

Speaking of Theresa, (of Welcome to My World) she gave me some great advice about listing on Etsy. Did you know that they have this new feature that you can copy a current listing and just change a few things here and there which speeds up listing dramatically! I just listed my little stylish girl birthday card in no time! Thank you Theresa!!

Here's a look at the card:

Stylish Girlfriend Birthday Card

inside

You all wouldn't believe how big these kitten monsters are getting! I'll take a current photo and post that soon. I still call them monsters because they are still that way! I lock them up in the basement at night because they are so obnoxious. There's nothing like being woke up out of a deep sleep to a ninja cat bouncing off your head. They have wrecked my basement, strewn my seed collection everywhere down there and can single pawedly trash my pantry. Lightning actually has a weird obsession, he chews on my potatoes through their plastic! Who knew the damage they could do? I am shocked all the time at what they are able to demolish. Cleaning up the messes is never ending. Dare I say they rival the mess that Asher can make??? Maybe not that bad, but you get it.

OH, the picture above of Zoey. If only I had gotten the second afterwards when she looked up at me with this look on her face like "I have to go pee out in that? You're kidding, right?" Ha ha, poor girl. I don't blame her.

Christmas Decor tour

Welcome to our Christmas Home Tour!

I've got lots of pictures, so I'll try to keep it short and sweet.

Our Christmas tree, as you may know, didn't get it's usual decadent treatment this year due to the kittens and Asher. It's a pitiful little thing but it does have some ornaments that we've made together to liven it up that I'm sure I'll treasure down the line if they make it past this year! Ha ha...

Let the embarrassment begin.

Poor crushed tree

Our tree started out looking nice and fluffed up. For about a hour. He started to put the cats in it and just flattened it and then the lights started getting pulled every which way so I gave up. That's when I came up with the home made ornament idea and thought I'd dress up other areas of the house that I'm going to show you :)

Star cut out by me and glitter by Asher.

Ornament shape

Star topper

Here's what I've got scattered around the living room, dining room and entry.
So when you enter my home the first thing you see is our staircase and my old upright grand piano all decked out with shiny tinsel.

Stairs that lead to my studio to the right

An angel that my mom gave me. I'm afraid to add her to the top of tree so I added her here

I like the white from this magnolia. I wish I had bought more last year when they were marked down so cheap.  I may do more white in the coming years because my house is so dark.

As you turn left, you enter the living room and see the fireplace glowing with my poinsettia garland that I added twinkle lights to.

and the stockings all hung from the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there

I like this the best I think, the fireplace with this garland.

So as you walk towards the dining room, the stairs to the basement gets gussied up with a wreath.

Here's my snowmen gourds! Yes, I kept them ;^) I normally have my grandmothers very old nativity set here, but thought it best not to get it out with the kittens jumping up and playing with everything.

Snowmen gourds

And here is a print out of all these pictures I took of Asher during his first Christmas. I keep meaning to find a cute frame for it to display better, but I just have it leaned up in this area for now. He was 9 months old. Oh, how cute!

Look at that toothless grin!

So here is the same hat, same kid... only here he is 4 and three quarters! My how time flies!

With the twins...

Asher, Lightning (L) and Thunder (R)

Finally with Zoey...

Buddies

So I tried to get cute and put the hat on the dog, but she just wanted to chew on it and now it stinks like dog. Thank goodness for Febreeze.

That's about it. Notice there are no presents under the tree because Santa hasn't come yet. At the rate Asher is going he may find out what a lump of coal is this year. Sorry this turned out to be longer than I intended but I felt you all needed the details of the tour... hee hee

Merry Christmas to you all my friends!

Am I a glutton for punishment?

What have I got myself into with these new furry babies!? I now have 3 times more animals, including Zoey our dog and about one hundred times more the work. Before July, I was down to just my one princess cat, Glove who really has been the easiest fur baby to have besides a few fur balls here and there. Now between Asher, my Tasmanian mess making 4 year old and Zoey the ever shedding inside dog that loves mud and dirt and the twin kittens who have discovered my plants and love to hurl the kitty liter a good 3 feet all the while totally missing the stinky pile they just left... whew... It never stops.

Come on, how cute is this?

If it weren't for their sweet loving faces and purring little selves I would be a basket case. Just yesterday about 5 minutes before I had to leave the house (in a dead run) one of the kittens decides to pee in my book bag. Ick. You wouldn't believe how hungry these little kittens are either and boy they make a huge mess when they eat. Little pieces of Kitten Chow everywhere, que the living Hoover... Zoey. I have given Zoey about four different toys now and she methodically shreds them to pieces to retrieve the little squeaky thing in the middle while leaving stuffing all over the house. Last week, I stepped away from my dinner table with pizza on my plate, to come back with an empty plate and a sheepish looking dog. I've had an outside dog for the last 12 and a half years so when I got Zoey, I wanted her in with me not thinking about all the extra work that's involved. It's like having another kid. We just had some much needed rain the other day. Did I mention she loves dirt and mud? Well in she came with brown muddy paws. Her feet are white. I had to take a bucket and stick each one of her feet in the water and wash them off before I let her totally in. She didn't understand what all the fuss was about and looked at me as if I needed professional help.

Blink, blink... sleepy babies

I won't even mention all the toys that are strewn from one end of the house to the other. I've lost the use of my couch because it's where Asher runs his cars and he freaks out if you mess up the track. Ugh... Calgon take me away. And all 4 of them are jealous of each other. It's just crazy.

What? This isn't mine?

Thanks for letting me vent ;)  I love my readers! MWAHH! There's a big smooch

Til later! Have a wonderful Sunday and don't forget to turn your clock back.

Meet our newest family member - Zoey!

Well, things usually work out like this for me and never as planned. I had plans to get Shena, she was my first pick from the get go... but things changed and I'm so happy (so far) with Zoey. Let me share my story with you...

If you've been reading along, you know that Asher and I went to meet and hopefully adopt Shena yesterday. She turned out to be full size and 6 months older than her picture, but I accepted that in my hour long visit. What I couldn't shake and through no fault of that sweet girl Shena, was that she was part Pit Bull mix. I know, I know for those Pit Bull lovers out there, there is a horrible misconception about these super intelligent creatures, but I just couldn't get over it. My baby and my adult life long cat's life were possibly at steak here and I just tossed and turned last night in bed and barely got any sleep just worried to death about this dog. I felt committed to her, I still do to an extent but in the end I had to go with my gut. I pray she finds a home and real soon. I really hate to think about this animal being put down.

I met Zoey's foster family tonight about 7:45 pm for the first time and they are really great genuine, truthful, no holds bar, good kinda people. I felt immediately at ease and fell in love instantly with Zoey. She was calm and friendly, no jumping no barking just curious and happy to see us. I think I knew the instant I reached down and touched her soft coat that she would be joining our family. Asher loved her, but also loved the foster family's cute daughter named Chevy, they were just a year apart and screamed and played in between playing and hugging Zoey. We went to just visit Zoey tonight not intending to bring her home but everything felt right and fell into place and I guess Asher and I passed "the test" to the foster family. There was another lady that wanted Zoey, but she lives in an apartment with no yard and they had to make the best decision for Zoey. I'm so glad things worked out. God always has a plan, now I just hope that my husband will fall in love with her, too.

Asher was so cute telling Zoey what each room was. He talks to her like she is his buddy. "This is my room Zoey, this is mom's room, here's the bathroom Zoey". Too cute, I wish I had it recorded, oh well.

I have to report that she needs work on a leash and needs better car riding manners but we can work on those. She hurried through the house sniffing and wagging the whole time. Glove, my cat, of course vacated the vicinity. She has lots of safe havens for her to escape to. They have plenty of time to "meet" and honestly, I get the best feeling from this. I'm just sure they will get along, I'm not afraid for her safety at all with Zoey. Glove is sleeping at my feet as I write this, so she's not mad like I thought she would be. As a matter of fact, she has already helped herself to Zoey's food. I may need to stop that, you just don't mess with a girl's food ya know. Plus if something would set Zoey off, I would think her food would be the only thing. We'll see... in a controlled situation.

I set up Zoey's "den" (crate) and put in her brand new fuzzy and soft pad and Asher had to add one of his baby blankets for her "to put her head on" and soon after checking out her new surroundings, we put her to bed. I plan to crate her at night and that is what the foster family did as well, so it's working out perfectly (so far). Granted it's only been about an hour since I put both Asher and Zoey down, they both did excellent. Zoey wimpered a little but I think she got the idea. I turned all the lights down low and put a sheet over most of the openings on her crate and as ASher fell asleep she calmed down and is being quiet and I hope has fallen asleep. Daryl will be home any minute now and I'm nervous, but I think things will smooth out once he sees what a good girl she is. Think positive thoughts for me!

Looking for new family member

Well, I don't know what the appropriate time to wait is, but I think we've waited long enough while grieving for Banshee. Although it's strange to grieve for her not knowing for sure that she is gone. But I have accepted that she is not coming home to us. I got to looking and she was 12 and a half. She lived a great life here with us and we miss her terribly. I especially miss her sweet face looking up from under the pine trees when I come home. She would also greet me at my car door, her soft muzzle gently bumping my hand wanting and getting love in return. I'm getting a little misty eyed just thinking of that sweet face I'll never touch again. I was her main care giver and I think her loss has affected me the most.

We are not replacing her, but bringing in a new family member to add joy and laughter to our lives that we miss with Banshee being gone. I have a bit of a struggle on my hands, unfortunately though. My husband was raised on a small farm and animals were kept outside. So of course he wants an outside dog. Asher and I do not, we want an inside one that we can snuggle and love all the time, no matter how hot or cold outside.

Banshee was an outside dog, which I hated but had to go along with. She was destructive as a puppy and while we were both at work, she got bored. She also hated her crate and howled... well like a banshee all through the night. She had the coat for winter and I groomed her to thin it out for summer and later in her life I started to shave her for summer, which she hated... ha ha. I've looked for the photos of the first time I did it and she looked like a cartoon character. She was mad at me for a few days with that one.

This disagreement has been a source of trouble for my husband and me, but I'm sure once he gets used to it, he'll love having an inside dog, too. Growing up, we always had an inside dog, they were part of the family. I want that for Asher... and myself again. Besides, he is not home (awake) for many hours during the day and we are here all the time.

I've done my secret search with petfinder.com and have come to find two little girls that I think will make a great match for Asher and myself. I want to share them with you. I have contacted both the foster owners and am anxiously awaiting for their replies. I keep checking my email, since that's how they want it, over and over! I want to go look right now!!! Asher has surprisingly understood the secrecy. I've showed him the pictures and he is excited. So here they are:

This is Zoey

And this is Shena

Oh my goodness, if they are still available... how will I ever decide???? Both of those faces just make me melt. Asher says lets get both!! Well, that might push my husband over the edge, so we better not.

Shena is a puppy and I have to admit I am leaning towards her. She is an American Staffordshire Terrier Boxer mix. Which really doesn't matter too much to me just that she loves us and we love her is all that matters.

Zoey, is a Spaniel Engish Setter mix, which again doesn't matter. She is 2-3 years old and past the puppy stage (seductively!) She is well mannered and already accustomed to a 3 year old child.

So an upcoming post will either be about the girls or a pending divorce... haha just kidding. I think I will win this one. Wish me luck ladies!

Happy Independence Day everyone!!!