i finally got around to

shaving the cats.  Strat didn't like it at all.  He was doing that growl that cats do when they're not happy and about to lose their crap.

It was fine though.  I told him to shut up and that he didn't make the rules today.

Lucille mostly liked it and she took a lot longer.  She has had all that long hair, but she just sat there and licked me.  Now, when I got closer to her butt, she got a little anxious but who wouldn't?  She looks much better now.  She went into it as a little kitty and now she's a fierce lion.  Well, a lion.

"WTF???" - Strat

That went so much better than expected.

It's also time for the sprinklers again.

I don't know why that makes me so happy.  There's just something about having the sprinklers going first thing in the morning that I like.  Maybe it's the sound or maybe it's just TCB.

I figured since I was out there watering the yard, I'd also get my new stuff in pots.

I'm hoping for better luck with cilantro this year.

I got rid of my dead rosemary and filled that pot with basil.

I also pulled a few weeds from around my few sprigs of chives.

And then there's Dodo's azalea in the former basil pot.  It's still looking pretty good.

Maybe we'll get a little rain today to help out.

Spring has sprung and I'm really liking it.

Next up this week: making vet appointments for the cats.  They need to get back on their flea drops and that stuff we got Strat on last year was awesome.  The only down side is it has to come from the vet and the cat vet is in Houston.  That's just not something I can do anymore so I asked on fb for a good cat vet and I'm going to call this week for an appointment.  I wonder if they'll see a lion...  Speaking of vets, I noticed Archer walking weird so I need to keep an eye on him and hope he gets to feeling better.  I think it might have to do with his stomach.  He's walking slow and his hind legs are spread a little.  I saw that walk once before, right before he crapped on the sidewalk.  I'm going to see if he goes to the bathroom today.  If not, I'm wondering if he might be constipated.

The fun never ends around here.

have you ever been

outside grilling and the hamburgers smelled SO good and then you thought how awesome it'd be if those cheeseburgers had bacon on top?  I hardly ever make bacon cheeseburgers but this weekend was different.

It was good.

Another thing happened this weekend.  A lost dog found me.  I was sitting in the garage waiting on Eric and Paige to come by and this guy showed up.

He was super friendly and sweet.  I tried to put him in the cat carrier so he wouldn't run off and get into trouble but he wasn't having it.  Also, I was only trying to keep him around to give the neighborhood time to see my post so his owner could claim him.  We waited a while and he followed me everywhere.  He wasn't wearing a collar and he smelled really bad so we wondered if he didn't escape but was dumped instead, but on the other hand, he was plenty big and obviously hadn't missed any meals.  I didn't want to hang around outside anymore so I set him up on the front porch with a towel, milk bone, food, and water.  He had water but that was it.  Something was able to distract him long enough for me to get away and get inside.

He found me and started scratching at the door.  That annoyed me.  It annoyed me more when he started barking, setting off ALL of our animals.  I felt really bad for him but there was nothing more I could do.  I let the neighborhood know (63 people had already seen the message) and I set him up with food and shelter in case he needed it.

Then he left and we never saw him again.  I'm hoping somebody took him in or the actual owners claimed him, you know, as long as it was a happy ending.  I didn't end up with a third dog so I guess that's happy enough.

I have nine bananas that are ready for banana bread and I think the recipe calls for 6.  I might could math it out and try to make muffins with a half batch of batter or I could just put those extra 3 in the garbage.  It depends on how confident I feel with baking time/temp and measurements when the time comes... and if those measurements needing to be divided are basic enough.  I'll see what my calculator has to offer.  More importantly, I'll see what my schedule has to offer.

Now I need to make a grocery list and feed the dogs.

while we were in

San Antonio, the dogs were at the vet for boarding.  They've never been left anywhere before and I felt bad for Archer because he doesn't like going to the vet for a regular appointment, much less a whole weekend.  Anyway, Friday morning I pulled out the leashes and they were so excited.  I got them hooked up and we went out to the car.  I loaded them up in the back and by the time I got to the driver's seat, they were both piled up in the passenger seat.

Oh, happy Archer... if you only knew where you were headed.

They were tumbling over each other and it was a bit crazy.  Then we pulled up at the vet and it was a lot crazy.  I've compared our situation to a circus act and people in the waiting area found it amusing.  They definitely got a few laughs, especially when Archer was trying to creep towards the door and somehow ended up standing there with Maggie's midsection stuck on top of him with her hind legs in the air and two front paws planted on the floor.  It took a vet tech to help me get them untangled.

The show ended and I made it out the door.  They were good and even got a bath while there.

I picked them up Monday and neither one paid much attention to me at first.

Maggie took the usual spot in the front seat.

Archer was done with it all.  He found a safe spot in the very back of the car, hidden under the trunk cover.

They were happy to get home and happier to roll around in the grass to get the freshness of the bath off.  I do love the smell of dog shampoo so I let them hang out with me in the kitchen for a while.

I'm ready for another long weekend, if not to be a tourist and see a new place, then at least to have that clean dog smell again (from somebody else's doing).

i tried a new recipe last

night, I think.  A while back I tried a good meatball recipe but never linked it here... you know, the main reason I share new recipes here, FOR EASY ACCESS TO THEM AGAIN.  So I couldn't find the meatball recipe but found one I saved HERE.  I made that one.

We liked it and I'm officially linking it as my meatball recipe.  We had them in sandwiches with toasted sandwich rolls.

Today I need to make a dessert.  Cosme asked for a cheesecake yesterday but I don't think I have enough room in the refrigerator to store one.  I think we might end up with cookies.

Last night we were watching tv in the bedroom with the door open.  I've shared pics on fb where Strat sits there, hoping we'll let him in.  Here's what happened last night.

We noticed him.  He really wanted in.  I think he passes by and glances at us hoping we'll break down and let him in.

Oh, hey.  It's just me, hanging out by myself.

 It didn't work so he went about it another way.  Hiding around the corner, I saw him eyeing the carpet.  He wanted on it so badly.

I caught him looking at me.  I'm sure he was assessing the situation.

He got bold and sat at the edge, putting one paw on.  It's like his nerves wouldn't let him make eye contact and left him staring into space.

OMG.  I'M ON IT AND IT FEELS AMAZING.

Realizing he'd made it that far and not knowing how he'd been able to keep it there for that long, he finally looked at me.  Was he was watching me wondering why I wasn't looking at him but at my phone instead?

Does she not see me???

Then he decided he probably got as far as he could for the night and turned his attention to the tennis match.

All that for tennis?  Was it worth it?

That didn't last long.  Who can blame him?

This morning I took the dogs out to eat.  I put food in each of their bowls and Archer started eating while Maggie didn't.  I kept telling her to eat but she would just put her head down.

One last time I said, "Maggie, eat your food".  Archer also had enough of her case of the blahs.  He took his nose and pushed her dish right in front of her and went back to his own bowl.

She didn't get up but finally started eating.

I think she was just having a slow moving morning, until a squirrel popped up on the fence and they bolted.

I took the Bitter Bandage off her leg this morning.  I figured it'd been on long enough.  Once I hear licking again though, I'll put another piece back on.

I think I'll go see what all we have on hand available for desserts now.  I did buy a few cake mixes the other day so maybe I'll just go with that.  Sounds easy enough and it won't need the refrigerator.  Maybe I'll turn my nose up at dessert like Maggie did her breakfast.  Yeah, not likely.

I don't know how much work

will get done on the fence this weekend.  There's supposed to be a lot of rain.  It would be awesome to get some done if there are rain breaks while the clouds are still out to shield us from the sun.  I doubt it'll happen though.

In the meantime, I changed the dog food Wednesday morning.  I bought a small bag of Abound from Kroger.  It's one of those healthy, free of everything foods.

I started them out with a little on Wednesday morning, a little more in the evening and same for yesterday.  They really like it and haven't been snacking on grass since.  I'm wondering if the bag of Kibbles n Bits I bought is bad or tainted or something.  Oh well, I'll let them finish this bag and maybe get another small bag of it or a small bag of Purina One.  (They used to eat Purina One as well as Beneful and were fine with both.)  I don't want to keep them on this free-of-everything food.  I feel like they need the regular stuff.  My opinion is if you cut that extra stuff out, you almost make yourself intolerant to it.  I'm sure the dogs of yesteryear managed without all the special foods, just like their owners managed on regular food.  Now if you (or your dog) have issues from the beginning, then sure, don't eat what makes you sick but don't go and create problems for yourself.  My blog, my two cents.

I also picked up a roll of Bitter Bandage at Tractor Supply.  Since the vet said Maggie needs to be trained not to lick her feet, I'm starting with this.

I bought the pink one with hearts because she's a girl and needs the cute one.

It was a struggle getting it on at first.

I'd never pull it off as a nurse with my bandaging skills.  I'm definitely no Florence Nightingale.

I put the dogs back in the cage and…

A little bit later…

I let them out for recess and decided we'd try this again and I'd get her in a better position for wrapping.  They ate a little more of their new food.

They ran around a little.  Archer chilled a little while Maggie tried to catch dragonflies.

Maggie rolled around in the yard a little.

I'm also pretty sure there's a critter living under our shed because they've been tracking something and now they're set on getting under the shed.

So after they had enough, I wrapped her foot again and brought them back inside.

(looks like my bandaging skills might be improving)

And she didn't start licking it.

When I got up this morning, she still had the bandage on… but was licking above it.

Next?  I'll wrap her entire leg, all four if necessary.

it's monday morning and

Maggie is running and jumping with no problem.  A squirrel finally fell out of a tree yesterday.  Cosme said the dogs bolted over to it and that Maggie must have jumped eight feet to try to snatch it after it made its way back up to safety.  Her meds are working.  I noticed this on the inside of her leg, just above her paw.

One mark was definitely there on Thursday but I just noticed the other on Friday.  I didn't know if it was always there or if it has something to do with her injury.

It seems like I'm seeing s'mores stuff everywhere.  Maybe it's a summer thing but everyone is pushing the ingredients.  Even Dairy Queen has a s'mores blizzard, which by the way is AWESOME.  After I tried it, I still had s'mores on the brain.  I've only had one once so I bought the ingredients and made some more s'mores.  Meh… I'm not a big fan.  I like graham crackers, I like chocolate bars, and I love roasted marshmallows but as it turns out, I just don't really like them together.  I only made the two and after that I skipped all the hassle and just had roasted marshmallows.  Yum.

I think I'll stick to deconstructed s'mores from now on, unless it's in a DQ blizzard.

We made lunch yesterday and it was SO good.  After I prepped baked beans and macaroni and cheese and cooled off a little, we got the grill going and made barbecued chicken.

It was seriously an awesome Sunday summer lunch and the combination together was just typical outdoor bbq stuff.  I told Cosme we need to make bbq chicken more often.

I also made a trip to Brazoria yesterday to borrow the chainsaw and stopped to take a picture of one of the local beer joints.

The new thing around here seems to be painting people on buildings and in most cases, it's country stars.  I do think Cooter Brown's Country Club looks better with the artwork.

I'm going to start laundry now before I lose every last bit of energy and end up like Strat was over the weekend.

Goals.

sometimes you just need a little

alone time.  When that time comes, you bark while you and your buddy are together in a cage to make it seem like you need out.  When the owner opens the cage and your buddy heads outside, you stand in the back of the cage acting like you don't know where that bark came from.

Not only was the bark too deep to be Maggie's but Archer refused to make eye contact with me.  He hung his head and stared at that really interesting wall.

I know it was you, Archer.

And just like how you sometimes need a little alone time, sometimes you just need some gravy on your chicken fried steak.  I never put gravy on my meat, unless the gravy is homemade and turned out to be what might be the best batch of gravy I've ever made.

Look at that.  Look at how thick that gravy is.  Don't look too hard though.  No meat today.  Remember?

Speaking of no meat, for dinner I'm making shrimp po boys.  It'll be a first for me.  I prefer shrimp alone.  The texture and consistency don't seem right for tacos or quesadillas or anything.  We'll see.  But first, I need to make the remoulade so it can sit in the refrigerator all day and taste better by this evening.

Time to start dinner... at 6:00 am. 

can banana bread be

frozen?  Well, I'm sure it can.  Let me ask a different question.  If I were to stick a loaf of banana bread in the freezer, would it be just as awesome if I take it out to thaw next week?

I've got too many bananas that need eating so bread is my only answer.  Cosme and Eric are going to Las Vegas and I'd rather not spend the weekend with two loaves of banana bread.  If I could freeze some, it would make things so much better.  I guess I'll try it.  What have I got to lose?  If I don't make the bread, the bananas will end up in the garbage.  If the bread sucks after freezing, the bananas will end up in the garbage.  I'll try it.

I wonder how all our dinner leftovers would hold up?  I'd already planned on meatball subs for dinner tonight so that means the ribs and baked squash I made last night will be left for me this weekend, instead of using them as a dinner on a weeknight.  That sucks because I'd be fine opening a can of chili and having Frito pies or a can of beans with rice.  I'm simple like that.  I guess it's just a menu planning fail on my part.  Oh well, looks like it's ribs and squash and meatballs for me this weekend... and maybe movie theater popcorn.

I'd planned on working on wedding reception centerpieces but it looks like I might be able to knock out most of what I had planned before then.  I started painting the book sale books yesterday.

I think I'll wear gloves today.  If you didn't know it was only paint and not dirt, you wouldn't want to shake my hand.  On second thought, you might not want to shake my hand regardless.  Today shouldn't be a problem though.  I'll get my gloves on and I don't even think there are 15 books left that need painting.  If the weather wasn't so cold, wet, and dreary, I could paint the two birdcages that are left in the to-do section.  Oh well, maybe next week.

Change in plans.

Maybe the books won't get done today.  Luckily I read the fb notification from the neighborhood page.  It's the post I've been dreading and expecting.  Someone was letting us know a black lab mix and brown and white dog were loose in the neighborhood.  Now I'm going to the hardware store to buy fence pickets to replace the ones that were busted out.  You know, the busted out pickets along the HIGHWAY.  I'm so angry right now.

a few facts about some

of our animals:

One way to get Maggie to smile is to stick your finger in her ear and rub.

Her ears were irritated so I mixed up some essential oils and made them better.

If you're a black dog and you like rolling in dead grass, every will know it.

It was just the one side that was covered.

Tennis makes Strat fall asleep.  Wait, I guess that's pretty much everything.  Everything makes Strat fall asleep.

Except food.  Food wakes him up.

When you don't give him any, he goes back to sleep.  Oh, and if you're a cat who can't fit on the ottoman, the coffee table makes a great place to prop your feet.

And if you're Melanie and have a lot of things to do, you find other things to distract you... like posting animal pictures.

it's no wonder my head has had so

much pressure.  The weather has been crazy.  Last week we were bundling up like it's the middle of winter or something.  Yesterday I was wearing flip flops.  I'll be back in flip flops today.

When we were having one of our cold spells either last week or the week before, I heard noise out on the back patio.  It sounded like furniture being moved around.  It was.  Archer was trying to build a shelter again.

 I went to the garage and got a tarp and some twine and fixed a spot for him.  He loved it.

He didn't want to come in and as long as the temp didn't drop too much, I let him stay outside.  It's funny because the reason we started bringing the dogs in at night was for a barkless night of sleep.  When Archer is outside by himself, he doesn't bark at all.

The tent didn't last long because Maggie didn't want it there and every time she was around, it would get torn down.  I figure she knew he liked it out there and wanted him staying inside with here.

Meanwhile, the cats were taking it easy in front of the fireplace.  Nothing says cozy like a good face plant in the the rug.

Now let me just talk a little about getting back into my routine.  I said I was giving myself until Monday and here we are.  It's Monday morning and I'm sitting here with my oatmeal starting my day.  I went for a walk on Saturday, seeing what that would do to me.  It actually gave me energy and I came home and took the Christmas lights down from the trees.  Today I'm going for another walk, just to see.  I'm even going to show up at the chiropractor this morning.  I don't even know how long it's been since I've gone in.  Between being sidetracked and trying to avoid people (not just being antisocial, I'm trying hard to avoid the flu), I know I'm way overdue.

Oh, in my avoidance of people, going out and anything else requiring my attention, I managed to binge watch an Amazon series over the weekend.  It's called The Last Post. 

I liked it.  I'd probably watch a second season if there is one.

7:00.  That means it's time to get out of this chair and get busy and back on track.  Now let's just hope it works.