1. never a dull moment

    This morning there was the most mega cat vs. dog race of all. Oh my word, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you! Snuggles was so smart and hid in the hallway bathroom bathtub. Blue didn’t figure it out (even though that crazy cat kept right on with her mountain lion growling). It wasn’t until after our walk that he found her. THEN he tried to get in the bathtub with her! I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out. As I did, Snuggles ran away to the master bath, her safe spot. I closed Blue in my youngest son’s bedroom to give Snuggles time to make her getaway. I found her hunkered down, sitting alongside the tub in the master bath. I sat on the opposite edge, to hold and cuddle my Brave Like A Mountain Lion Cat. She was quiet. No growls. No purrs. I think she was in shock. That big Blue dog is still looking for that cat. He’ll be on the main floor sniffing one moment, then he runs upstairs to look for Miss Snuggles in the next. I really think he just wants to play, and considers their mega chase as a game. With his wagging tail and goofy grin, Mr. Blue is saying, “That was fun! Bring it on! I’m ready to do it again!” Me?! I’m just ready for coffee and some breakfast. The best part about Blue starting his day by chasing the cat was he didn’t strain against his leash as much on our morning walk. He even missed a chance to try to chase a wily rabbit that was sitting statue still less than six feet away. The rabbit and I acknowledged the other eye to eye, as I walked on past with my wolf-lookalike dog, Blue. Woof.

    June 13, 2013

  2. overslept

    6:52am
    I just woke up
    Coulda kept sleeping
    No alarm
    No woof
    Just a purring cat
    Damn crow
    Cawing out my window
    (Good thing too)
    ~ sleepyhead me…oops

    February 27, 2013

  3. I awoke

    I awoke with a smile
    I nearly always do
    sleep refreshes
    body, mind and soul

    I awoke with a smile
    and lollygagged in bed
    purring cat sat atop me
    ‘til sunlight was shining in

    I awoke with a smile
    even as I heard
    a muffled woof
    that’d be Blue dog
    testing the airways
    from the main floor
    to see if I was up

    I awoke with a smile
    and tonight shall fall asleep
    with one too
    a quiet curving of lips
    upturned
    speaking of joy
    and contentment
    within

    February 24, 2013

  4. hiding spot

    The cat was in my closet.
    I didn’t know…until I was putting clean clothes away and Blue followed me in.
    YOWL WOOF
    That cat practically flew to the way back, as I grabbed Blue’s collar, hauled him out and shut the door behind me.
    Laundry isn’t for the faint o’heart in these here parts.
    Gotta stay on your toes. Always.
    Now there are mountain lion growls comin’ from the closet, and Blue is pacin’ and can’t settle down.
    I got your drama. Dog and cat kind. =^.^=

    February 17, 2013

  5. more wind talk

    I prayed aloud as I walked Blue on our usual route in the biting wind, at times towing the dog to follow me, as I pressed on against the frigid gusts.
    I am not a quitter but I’m not a stupid fool either. < Just had to add that!
    God can move mountains. I’ve seen and felt Him do it, time and time again.
    I trust God. I love Him too.
    Trying to wake up sleepy boys and need to corral a barking dog who has the cat cornered behind the dryer.
    Must be Monday morning, and a school day at that.

    February 11, 2013
    6:40a.m.

  6. closer to home

    I’m going home today. HOME! Wish it meant my husband was sprung from the hospital near Chicago, but he’s not. I’m going home to my two boys, ages 12 and 9, and that striped cat. My sweet pup, Blue, who I miss too, comes home on Monday from the canine resort. Home to central Illinois where the land is flat and fertile, though the fields lie fallow, and the bare trees of winter show off their curvy bones. Oh. Home. January 26, 2013

  7. purrrfect

    My house seems too quiet with that big Blue dog checked into the canine resort, just for a week and a few days… On the flip side though, while the dog is away, the cat will play. Miss Snuggles is purrrfectly pleased. Meow. =^.^=

    January 19, 2013

  8. not one bit lonely

    I have the house to myself.
    My husband is at work for a few hours more.
    My boys are at the neighbors playing. My big Blue pup was dropped off earlier this morning, to be boarded for a week or so, at a friendly canine hotel.
    This silence is sorta divine.
    Oh. I love being home alone.
    Well, just me and the cat. =^.^=
    Why is it, with a million things to do, all I want to do is nap?!
    ~ Janean

    January 19, 2013

  9. leakin’ salt water

    everything is making me cry today
    gonna unplug
    ^ from the woman who totally sucks at it
    solitude and quiet would be lovely
    but they aren’t layered into the schedule
    things to do
    places to go
    people to see, love, hug and care for
    one big ole dog and striped cat too
    so I will go and do
    but I can’t read words today
    not on Facebook
    not on Caring Bridge
    not on Twitter or Tumblr either
    everything is making me cry today

    December 6, 2012

  10. I began writing this post on our last day of vacation in Orlando, Florida. The day we headed home. In the midst of packing suitcases, carry ons and getting everyone and everything ready to GO, I tried to post this photo and story about my youngest son, but of course when you&#8217;re time crunched is when you&#8217;re most likely to have technical difficulties. So, I quickly saved as &#8220;draft&#8221; and decided to wait and post when I could finish a thought again. It&#8217;s now Monday morning. My husband is working, my children are at school, the happy-to-be-home-again-dog is sound asleep at my feet and the glad-we&#8217;re-home-but-mad-the-dog-is-back-too-cat is plotting from the floor above. Ah, q-u-i-e-t. Just what I needed most.  On October 26, 2012, my youngest son (age 9) woke up happy and said, &#8220;Yeah! It&#8217;s Friday! We&#8217;re not going to the parks today!&#8221; Sweet boy who is happy to be going HOME. It&#8217;s his safe spot. I packed a patterned blanket, in shades of golden brown, on his request. It&#8217;s a comfort to him. He likes the cozy, softness it offers at night - it feels like something in between fleece and velour. It was worth the luggage space I gave up to bring it along for him. He needed that extra bit of home with him this wonderful week away. A week spent under palm fronds blowing in gentle breezes and a clear blue sky above. The gray clouds and rainy moments never lasted long or dampened the fun of the trip. We made our own fun, he and I. He was my apple this week. The crowds were a bit too much. Rides not really his thing. Especially fast, dark and loud ones. Up and at &#8216;em rushing to eat breakfast and catch buses didn&#8217;t feel like vacation to him. Extra desserts agreed with him just fine though! So we swam in the hotel pool nearly every day, played video games at the hotel arcade, split brownie desserts down the middle, tucked in early and watched TV or read books in the quiet of the room while his big brother and dad rode the wild rides and stayed up late, adding to the crowds. Most of my vacation pictures are of him (palm trees come in second), caught my oldest son, husband and in laws a few times too. The memories will last. The smiles too. It was a lovely vacation. ~ Janean October 29, 2012

    I began writing this post on our last day of vacation in Orlando, Florida. The day we headed home. In the midst of packing suitcases, carry ons and getting everyone and everything ready to GO, I tried to post this photo and story about my youngest son, but of course when you’re time crunched is when you’re most likely to have technical difficulties. So, I quickly saved as “draft” and decided to wait and post when I could finish a thought again. It’s now Monday morning. My husband is working, my children are at school, the happy-to-be-home-again-dog is sound asleep at my feet and the glad-we’re-home-but-mad-the-dog-is-back-too-cat is plotting from the floor above. Ah, q-u-i-e-t. Just what I needed most. 

    On October 26, 2012, my youngest son (age 9) woke up happy and said, “Yeah! It’s Friday! We’re not going to the parks today!” Sweet boy who is happy to be going HOME. It’s his safe spot. I packed a patterned blanket, in shades of golden brown, on his request. It’s a comfort to him. He likes the cozy, softness it offers at night - it feels like something in between fleece and velour. It was worth the luggage space I gave up to bring it along for him. He needed that extra bit of home with him this wonderful week away. A week spent under palm fronds blowing in gentle breezes and a clear blue sky above. The gray clouds and rainy moments never lasted long or dampened the fun of the trip.

    We made our own fun, he and I. He was my apple this week. The crowds were a bit too much. Rides not really his thing. Especially fast, dark and loud ones. Up and at ‘em rushing to eat breakfast and catch buses didn’t feel like vacation to him. Extra desserts agreed with him just fine though! So we swam in the hotel pool nearly every day, played video games at the hotel arcade, split brownie desserts down the middle, tucked in early and watched TV or read books in the quiet of the room while his big brother and dad rode the wild rides and stayed up late, adding to the crowds. Most of my vacation pictures are of him (palm trees come in second), caught my oldest son, husband and in laws a few times too. The memories will last. The smiles too. It was a lovely vacation. ~ Janean

    October 29, 2012