Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? No, Cat in a Bread Box!

I took the lid off and she just jumped right in there 'cause

she's curious like that.  She was laying down completely

and I could have put the lid on, until I went to get the camera.

Yes, I purchased my Italian Spode bread box.  I bought it

off  Ebay, it was brand new though and came in its original

box unopened.  Kissa thinks everything is for her.  Every

box that comes in the mail is inspected for quality.  Our 

outdoor kitty Minny came running in the front door the

other day and walked past Kissa and growled at her.  But

Kissa decided she was mad as hell and wasn't gonna take it

anymore!  Kissa hunkered down like a panther, flattened 

out her body, and ran after Minny, pounced on her.  They

rolled around for a few seconds and Minny headed for the

front door which I opened and zoomed out.  Kissa looked 

rather pleased to have taken care of business.  I could only

laugh.  

Ziggy

Can I get a little Kitchen Aid?

Don't you just love Kitchen Aid appliances?  I have my

blender, toaster, mixer, and food processor.  They are

all so useful and well-made.  I first used to watch Julia

Child and then Martha Stewart using them.  I would long

to have one.  I got my mixer for Christmas as a present

from my husband many years ago.  I'll see if I can find a 

picture of me opening it.  I was thrilled.  I like practical gifts.

This is me and my mixer Christmas 1998.

Bubbly

We almost got to see Colbie Caillat in concert. We heard the last two of her songs as we entered the gate. The traffic in Dallas was unbelievable that night. Everyone must have been on the same road we were on and going to the same place. We were all late. But at least we did not miss John Mayer. But it was disappointing to miss Colbie!

My Blogging Style

I found this on Gattina's blog:

Your Blogging Type Is Thoughtful and Considerate

You're a well liked, though underrated, blogger. You have a heart of gold and are likely to blog for a cause. You're a peaceful blogger - no drama for you! A good listener and friend, you tend to leave thoughtful comments for others.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Well, I don't know how true it all is according to what other's might think but I like it!

Stinkin' Rotten Smelling Flower

5. The Foul-Smelling Starfish Flowers Of Africa

Some of the most notorious carrion flowers belong to the Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae), a very diverse plant family characterized by milky-white sap. Several South African succulent genera, including Stapelia, Caralluma and Huernia, resemble spineless, sprawling cacti with strange starfish-shaped flowers. The flesh-colored, hairy blossom of S. gigantea may be 8 to 10 inches across (20-25 cm), with a nauseating stench. Fringes of soft white hairs on the reddish-brown petals superficially resemble a layer of mold growing on rotting matter (at least through the compound eyes of carrion insects). Occasionally grown in southern California, the curious flowers attract flies and maggots when they are in full bloom. Another South African species, S. flavirostris, has strange blossoms that look and smell more like a furry, dead animal than a flower. The striped "zebra flowers" Huernia zebrina also produce an intensely fetid odor as they lie on the desert sands of South Africa. Another genus of climbing milkweeds (Ceropegia) produces striking, malodorous blossoms shaped like a wine glass, often with glistening cilia to attract flies. Like Aristolochia, they detain their visiting flies until the male flowers are mature.


The putrid-smelling starfish flower (Stapelia gigantea) is flesh-colored and covered with soft white hairs. It attracts flies and maggots to the central orifice where the male and female floral sex organs are located.  I found this information here.

These flowers start out as a big closed white plume.  But buddy, when they open you better be ready for the scent.  If you were a fly you'd be in maggot heaven, otherwise you are ready to clip that flower off and take it outside where it belongs.  With the flies.  I have had several blooms in the past but none lately.  I forget to water my cactus sometimes, so it has been a dry year for it.  Quite like a desert?

The first time we had a flower I couldn't wait for it to open.  Then one day it did.  I was walking by the laundry room and smelled a foul odor.  I got closer to the bloom and realized that it was stinking like rotten meat.  I took these pictures and then decided the blooms needed to take a little trip far away from our noses.  They do look just like a starfish.  

Helicopter Highlights

Did a little tree trimming yesterday.  Skeptical?  Oh yeah,

I was only taking photos.  It was kinda cool though.  My 

husband called me after he left our house at lunch and

told me to get my camera and drive down our road and

I would see a helicopter doing something.  He said it

might be a good picture.  

He's leaning out a little too far for me!  Here's my puny 

attempt at a video.  There are a lot of blades hanging from

this pole.  He is trimming the trees for the power company.

Wordless Wednesday-As Time Goes By

Time seems to fly by these days. 

For more Wordless Wednesday visit here.

Just Calvin

This is a new kitten named Calvin.  My brother has a mama

cat who has had six litters in the past year or so.  He wanted

me to take this little kitty.  He will live outside with the other

three cats we have.  One of my cats is named Hobbes, so I 

decided this one should be Calvin.  After I had him for a few

days I decided he needed one of his brothers or sisters to keep

him company.  So today my brother brought me his little 

sister.  I will show a picture of both of them soon.  Hobbes is

a year older and he hasn't gotten used to Calvin yet though I'm

certain they will soon be sleeping together this winter.  The

two big girl cats do not like kittens.  But it's ok as they live

mostly in the front yard.  And kittens stay in the back yard.

Ziggy

Washing Time

My new Maytag Epic front-loading washing machine was

installed yesterday.  I am pleased with the small amount

of detergent and water that it uses.  It only uses about 18

gallons of water compared to 40 with a top loader.  It really

spins out the water too leaving your clothes practically dry.

Which means less dryer time and less lint.  The service man

said it would probably last about 20 years.  Which is wonderful 

but they may invent a washer that dry cleans by that time.  And

I may just have to have it?

Wordless Wednesday-Left Hand*Right Hand

It has been written:  "Don't let your left hand know what

your right hand is doing."  Wrigley's Doublemint says:

"Double your pleasure."

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.

Dry Gulch USA

Friday and Saturday I went to a Women's Retreat at Dry Gulch USA.  It is a beautiful place next to a beautiful Lake Hudson.  The weather was pretty muggy and warm because we were expecting Hurricane Ike to bring some rain.  We got there Friday evening and made our bunks up.  Most of us got bottom bunks.  Then we went off to explore the place and get in line for dinner.  They had plenty of good food to eat.  It was a buffet line with a salad bar and brisket and chicken kiev and lots of vegetables to choose.  We attended a meeting that night and after the meeting we got to shop for arts and crafts sorts of things.  I bought a Dolce & Gabbana purse.  It is made of very soft leather.  The real ones sell for $1800.  Mine was $50.  

Ziggy

Remembering September 11th

Happy Birthday to Jason, my nephew.
He just happened to be born on September 11, 1979.

He's not in Iraq now.  He was there for

one year though finding land mines for

the Army.  I am proud of him.  And thankful

for his courage.  

Phil Collins-That's Just the Way It Is

All day long he was fighting for you
And he didn't even know your name
Young men come and young men go
But life goes on just the same

And I don't know why
Why do we keep holding on
I don't know why
Pretending to be, oh, so strong

Oh, why
Is there something I don't know
Or something very wrong with you and me
Or maybe

That's the way it is
That's the way it is

They've been waiting for word to come down
They've been waiting for you night and day
They won't wait any longer for you
It may already be too late

And I don't know why
Why do we keep holding on
I don't know why
Pretending to be, oh, so strong

Oh why
Is there something I don't know
Or something very wrong with you and me
Or maybe

That's the way it is
That's just the way it is

You see the dying, you feel the pain
What have you got to say
If we agree that we can disagree
We could stop all of this today

It's been your life for as long as you can remember
But you cannot fight no more
You must want to look your son in the eyes
When he asks you what you did it for

'Cause all day long he was fighting for you
And he didn't even know your name
Young men come and young men go
But life goes on just the same

And I don't know why
Why do we keep holding on
I don't know why
Pretending to be, oh, so strong

Oh, why
Is there something no one told me
Or something very wrong with you and me
Or maybe

That's the way it is
There's nothing I can do
That's just the way it is, oh

That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is
There's nothing I can do
That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is

That's the way
That's the way
That's the way
© HIT & RUN MUSIC PUBLISHING INC;

Wordless Wednesday-Downright Cold

For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.

Phil Collins & Junebug

Meez and Phil
Do You Remember?

Is it Bigger than a Bread Box?

I liked this bread box until I saw the price of $200. It is Spode Blue Italian. I have the dishes.

This little red bread box is very retro.

I am going to go for the stainless steel model.

I have always wanted a bread box.  When I first got married we didn't buy one because of the unnecessary expense.  Then I forgot all about them.  My mother and my mother-in-law both had bread boxes.  The thought of a bread box once again crossed my mind the other day while I was cleaning out my refrigerator.  Today I ordered this lovely bread box from Amazon.com.  Hopefully it will live up to my expectations.  

And the award belongs to...

I received these awards from Kitten this week.

She has been a blogging buddy of mine for awhile.

Her mom has not been well for some time and she

takes care of her.  Just recently her little KB got sick

and we're praying for her complete recovery.  Gee!

Stay strong, Kitten.  Life is hard, but God is good. 

 

Wordless Wednesday-Don't Bug Me

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.

The Office

For those of you who might like to see the view from my home office.
Here is what I look at while working. This computer is not online.

I like to keep the sun and the moon and the stars around for

company and light.

My three beauties below:  treasures they are!

My little Ziggy poster.  Capture all the joys life has to 

offer!  So true.

Fun Monday-My Place

Gattina at Writer's Cramp is hostessing Fun Monday this week.  She wants to see a photo of our blogging camp.  My Fun Monday logo was borrowed from Gattina many Mondays ago.  I really thought it is a joyful picture.  

Here's the place:

The computer is located in my daughter's bedroom that

is now a music and computer room.  And a mess!