Porch Critters?

Ever since I bought this house 18 years ago, there have been feral cats under the porch, or in the culvert, starving, ragged and looking for food. Sucker that I am, I put left overs out ton the porch and by morning they have all disappearred. Usually it is a big black, badly matted cat, or a gray one with shaggy fur. SOmetimes it is a litter of kittens getting shown the ropes by their mother. Whatever, the food has always been gone.

Thursday I was ready to throw stale cornbread to the birds, and a cat caught the corner of my eye as it scurried under the car. I looked again and it was a raccoon! I have never seen one here! But there she was with three babies shoved up the maple tree for protection. She grabbed a piece of cornbread and headed up the tree, then back down, and behind her came the babies, and one by one they picked up a piece of cornbread and followed her off into the woods.







Last night as I let Sadie out about 230 AM, she went ballistic barking at something. I went out on the deck to see what it was, and up the plum tree with her face hiding behind the trunk was Mama.

I have a garden this year, and my onions were doing great until about two weeks ago, when it looked like someone had been laying on them. I blamed the dogs of course because the cats do not get to go outside. and then I noticed that the onions were dissappearing! I can only guess that Mama found a virtual feast in my backyard, and has been feeding her babies pilferred onions! I told her she was to stay out of my garden! ANd I wagged my findger at her to show her I mean it! She just looked at me until I finally got the dogs to come back into the house, then I went into the house, and as I shut the door, I heard plop, plop, plop, plop! as all of them Mama and 3 babies hit the deck heading for the onion patch! I wonder what onion flavored raccoon tastes like.

this and that

Last night was the final show of CINDERELLA, and I finished my job at the playhouse, went down to the Ferry Landing to unwind and watch the Sunday Parade.

THe first boat had already gone by, but there were two more in the passage, so While I was waiting for them to come by, I watched the seagulls and shared a bag of Tim's Potato Chips with them.

There were a multitude of young seagulls, and a few of the adults hanging around. The babies were begging as all babies do, and I noticed that one particular Male Adult was just standing on the picnic table out of the way of the young ones. He would occaisionally hop over to the edge and back. Seagulls generally do not hop but waddle, so I looked closer, and this guy obviously was almost dinner for either a seal a sea Lion or an Orca. He was doing quite well though, and I tossed him a chip where the others did not see.




This is one of the castles I made for the Princess Tea center pieces. THey were a BITCH to make, and Judy and I spent hours trying to figure out the non-verbal directions given. JEEZ!!! They were cute though.

Now on to CHICAGO!

Meet Wilson...

I now have another baby to raise! My son's step-daughter to be, brought home a 7 week old kitten, but Mom said no way, we have a rat, 3 St. Bernards, 2 cats, a Baby on the way and a wedding to plan! So guess who got Wilson? He is a little SHIT!! I have to remember to wear long pants, because he will climb anything he can sink his claws into...including bare legs! (No Joanie, I am NOT gonna show you the scratches!!)

He is now 9 weeks old, has had his first shots, is gaining weight, and is terrorizing poor Schroeder! Sadie and Loki are used to strange things comng n the house, but Schroeder is only 2 and a real wuss!! Wilson found his hiding place under my bed and moved in, and now Schrode does not know where to hide. Poor little thing.

Wilson is a ball of energy looking for somewhere to explode. He also is a real lover when he is ready to go to sleep...He meows like a tiny baby, and kneads my arm until he goes to sleep. AWWWWWWWWW.

Kittens are my most favorite THING!

Kat's DRAWERINGS

Right after AI started Blogging in 2002, I mat Kat...also known as SPECIAL K. Her blog was very advante Garde, but I loved it. She was not afraid to tell it like it was...and in very graphic terms. She even warned MAMASITA not to read on, as it would embarass her mom. As we all got to know her, and follow her through her life, she started using windows PAINT to draw with and illustrate her blog. Below are just a few, and they are PRICELESS. She was so talented. She could write, she could draw, she was so smart. Even her English Teacher from High School ELLEN said that she was a genius with words. Unfortunately, she did not live long enough to realize how talented she was. She died Yesterday at the age of 39, of Lymphoma I believe, and she will be missed GREATLY!!!

FOr those of you who knew her, take a trip down memory lane. FOr those of you who DIDn't know her. you really missed someone special!

...and a few more from Whidbey Playhouse's CINDERELLA

a few more pics from Cinderella

Rehearsal shots

Last night I had to run in and get a few rehearsal shots of Cinderella for the local newspapers. Half of them are in costume, half are not, but you can tell it is gonna be fun!

WHAT!!!!!!??????

Is anyone besides me just mad as hell that one political entity in One state can change the wording in History books at their own WHIM? There were wars fought over the fact that someone burned books and covered up the real history, and we are doing it again in TEXAS!! (sorry Donna!) I can understand religious entities wanting to write their own history for their own people, although I personally think it is WRONG, but to change real time school books just because you dont like the way they portray history should be forbidden!

If I had children in school right now, I think I would be jumping up and down on the school board's desks to ensure that our entire history was told correctly! The bad and the good! If we continue covering up the bad, and changing things, then our future generations will NEVER learn from our forefathers misdeeds, mistakes.

I am so sick of the Religious Right dictating things in MY life. Religion has NO PLACE in our governments or in our schools, but in our CHURCHES and Synagogues and other places of worship.

GAK!!!! I am becoming a nasty old lady! And no one hears me scream! Look out! you could be next!

It LOOKS like Spring...

The Baby Geese are getting bigger, the trees are all in bloom, but I'll be DAMNED if it did not have snow mixed in with the rain yesterday. It was not just me that saw it either!

The wind blew 60+ MPHs, knocked out phone, lights, and cable. Even had a TORNADO in Eastern Washington...RARE indeed.

It is so cold out right now, that I am seriously thinking about building a fire to take the chill out of the house.

I know that if it ever warms up and gets really hot, that I will complain about that too, but Man oh man what I would not give to have some nice summer or even late SPRING weather! I really think we are entering a mini ice-age. no matter what they say about global warming. BRRRRR!!

I have on my fuzzy slippers and nice warm socks. and my feet are STILL cold.

I am so glad I got my garden planted early! PHFFFFTTTTT!!! so much for tomatoes this year I guess!

spring...finally?

Well, our weather has sure been strange this year. A warmer and wetter than average winter, and a colder than average Spring! I THOUGHT it was safe to put out bedding plants, but aparently I was wrong, as my lettuce is not doing well, and my spinach is turning yellow! My pumpkins did not thrive, and we had frost last week.

HOWEVER! They are predicting warm and dry for the next few days. in the 70's! Whew! Everything is late growing, but the tulips were really early! The blossoms on the apple and pear trees are setting fruit already also! THe grass is growing like mad! So MAYBE, just MAYBE, we have ventured into SPRING!

I wonder what the summer will bring?

I attended a class on Septic tanks this weekend. We are required to have an inspection before July 1, and hardly anyone has heard of this yet! with over 40 thousand septic tanks in the county, I am sure that they will extend the deadline, as there are very few qualified inspectors. After this class, I supposedly am qualified to inspect my own system, however I am not physically able to. So I have to pay some one to come dig up the cover anyway, so might as well bite the bullet and just have them inspect it for me. That way I know it will be correct.

Egads, There comes the jets!! along with good weather come the Navy jets bouncing off the OLF. Lots of noise! SIGH!!! Sound of freedom!!!

MUD!!!! Oh Boy!!!

You dont EVEN want to see my Utility room! SIGH!!!!

It's RAINING grandma!

I could tell the minute it started raining. The BOYS had been sleeping in the snoopy doghouse all day, just laying around being puppies, suddenly, they stood up, looked at the dirt pile and ran full bore toward it. Before I could stop them, they had their muzzles and their elbows in the mud and were having a ball. I just shook my head and grabbed the camera.

I have a better picture, but it is not downloaded yet. I will get to that tomorrow. Right now I have them locked in the utility room with a big blanket on the floor, so maybe they will dry off and shake the mud off. GOD!!!!

They are just adorable! But MAN can they eat! I put them to bed with a big pigs ear apiece, thinking it would last a few nights! WRONG!!! after about 20 minutes all traces of the pig were GONE!! Not even a smear on the floor was left! Each of them gets 4 cups of puppy chow twice a day, and all the water they can suck up! Sadie is in AWE! Loki tolerates them, and Schroeder has not been seen!

Tim and Misty were in Talladega during all of the tornadoes, and now are in Columbus, GA. Having fun and enjoying family. The boys and I are having fun too, before the rain started, we all were laying on the couch watching TV, and relaxing. MY LORD they are heavy!

Bubba and Napolean

I had to laugh when I saw this picture, as I know exactly what Misty was thinking. OHMIGAWD! They had gone out to potty, and discovered a mole hole, and decided to explore it. The looks on their faces are priceless. SEE HOW DIRTY WE ARE MAMA! We are sooo proud of our muddy feet, and we brought it into you nice clean kitchen too!

THey are 9 weeks old now and getting bigger by the day. I get to babysit while Tim and Misty go to Talladega to NASCAR and then on to Georgia to meet the family. I actually THINK I am looking forward to it. then again.....

Cash On Delivery On Stage Now!

Air station talent hits stage in ‘Cash on Delivery’

Whidbey Playhouse photo
“Ooh no! Poor Uncle George is dead.” If you’re looking for a good laugh, see “Cash on Delivery” featuring, from left, Kent Peckenpaugh as Eric Swan, Allen Young as Uncle George and Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Dustin Curtis as Norman McDonald.


Thursday, April 1, 2010
A live comedy featuring NAS Whidbey Island military and civilians hits the Oak Harbor Whidbey Playhouse in April.

The show is a full-on farce, complete with slamming doors, dead bodies, bold-face lies, mistaken identities and men dressing as women. This fast-paced physical comedy involves a con artist who has duped the welfare authorities by claiming every type of benefit for the innumerable people he claims lives at his address.

The cast includes Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Dustin Curtis of Fleet Readiness Center Northwest, who plays Norman McDonald.

The audience will also see retired Lt. Cmdr. Kent Peckenpaugh, who works on base with Innova systems Int’l LLC, a software contractor for the Navy. Peckenpaugh is in the role as Eric Swan.

“Following the lost of his job, Eric rectifies his situation by creating fake tenants and submits benefit claims in their names,” said Peckenpaugh. Although in the lead role, Peckenpaugh said. “Dustin Curtis really steals the show, becoming the central character.”

Navy Exchange customer relations employee Joyce Napoletano plays Sally Chessington.

Among those working behind the scenes in lights and sound are Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Mike Tucey of FRCNW and Aviation Electrician’s Mate Airman Matt Benson of VAQ-138.

“I’ve been doing live theater since middle school,” said Benson, a native of Wenatchee, Wash. Only arriving here last February, Benson said he originally went to the Whidbey Playhouse to help usher, but the Playhouse decided to use his theater technical expertise instead.

The play directed by Bob Hendrix and Melissa Bridges opens April 9 and closes May 1. Tickets are $16, and groups of 10 or more receive a $1 discount on each ticket. Call the box office at 679-2237 for more information and show dates throughout April.

© 2010 Sound Publishing, Inc.

Poor little Sadie!

My poor little Sadie bug is a wreck! She has been digging at her neck for 4 days now and it is raw and bleeding. It looked like there was a dog bite on her neck and it could have been Rocky, although I am not sure he has the energy to actually clamp down on anything as he is so old. But they do get into it once in awhile. It is usually Sadie's fault. I held her down and looked at her closely and it looked like there may have been a B-B in her neck and her leg. I would not put it past the wicked Witch of the North to do something to her, so I took her into the Vet today.

No B-B! Whew, I would be in jail right now if there was. But the Dr smiled and said, I know it looks bad, but what she has is an extreme reaction to all the pollen in the air right now.

WHAT???????

He said that they have been so busy the past two weeks with dogs with exactly the same thing. Well....Shut my mouth!

So she had to have pills. She is on Prednisone and Antibiotics for a week. She will not keep a bandage on, and I can not put a CONE OF SHAME on her either, because it would rest right where the sores are.

I tried to get a pill down her today...PHFFFTTT! no way! so I waited awhile, and went in and cut a piece of Zuccini bread and came in here. Sure enough there she is begging for a bite. I put the Prednisone in it and mushed it up and gave it to her. She sniffed it as if to say "I Know you did something to this". But when I put a piece in my mouth, she swallowed hers. So then I did the same with the Antibiotics. So there are two pieces of bread on the desk, one with the pill one for me.

Guess which one she got?

I worked out in the yard all day Saturday. Cant work hard or fast, but I worked! I pruned all of the wisteria. It has taken over the fence, and has grown roots under the fence and up the trees out back. Si I am trying to get it back into the two spots it was originally planted. I found a yellow climbing rose that the wisteria had covered. so now it will thrive. THe two climbers I planted two weeks are are sending up shoots already. I cleaned up under the bird feeder and now that area is ready for some petunias. 5 of the eight raised beds are planted,. The cabbage is doing great and so is the spinich but the onion sets are wilting down. May have rushed it a bit.

I transplanted the rhubarb and got five plants out of it, so they new plantings should do better in the sun.It too is looking good.

Now to get Tim to come home and move the rest of the dirt into the backyard so I can have my driveway back. (Yeah, THat will never happen!)

Isn't he CUTE?

His name is Bubba, and he is 6 weeks old. He is my New GrandPuppy! Tim and Misty got him last week. THeir neighbors were raising a litter and mama quit nursing, so they sold them cheap. Tim says he has doubled in size in a week. I told him, Phhft that is nothing compared to what he will be!

I have wanted a St Bernard Puppy ALL MY LIFE!! I wanted a female, and I wanted to name her Heidi. But I love my little Sadie just as much!

Bubba is a rough coat St Bernard, and will soon be HUGE!!! He came and spent the day with me. ANd I get to puppy sit next week and then again in May!

Sprinter?

I can't really say we have had a bad winter, because we haven't. It has been one of the warmest. driest on record. The snowpack is very low, below normal, which means that there will be a water shortage this summer. We don't run out of water, but our rivers get lower, and our reservoirs behind our dams get really low, and we can not generate enough electricity to sell to California. (oh DARN!) If you watched the Olympics in Canada last month, you saw how very mild our weather is right now.

Well Hang on! the weather reports have a possibility of SNOW in the next few days. Not at all unusual for this time of year, but the record COLD temperatures are. THe tulips in the Skagit Valley are blooming a whole month early, the fruit trees are all in bloom, the bees are buzzing, and as I have said before, i have mowed my yard three times already this year. The cold will hurt the blossoms on the fruit trees and even though they are loaded with buds, They may not produce fruit if they are frozen in their infancy.

My roses that I just planted, already have new tender shoots on them, and those too will freeze if I dont cover them.

We are a week or so away from SPRING, and have not yet had a WINTER. So I guess we are going to have a SPRINTER or maybe a WING? El Nino is giving up and we are in the middle of a new phenomenon called ( Well, I read it last week, and now I can't find out where I read it, so I can't remember what it is called. Anyway it is between el Nino and La Nina, and affects the weather in the Pacific. Hard to say what we have next.

I wish I had paid more attention to science when I was in school, as I really get into the geo sciences! I love geology, climatology, and earth sciences. It is just awe-inspiring to me, to watch things happen, to walk along a beach and see where the cliffs have fallen away, and realize that I am the first human to EVER see that particular ROCK!

Ah...I digress. I really need to get my taxes done, so I had better stop and go visit taxact.com!

Bad neighbors..

Anybody got 80' of solid fencing laying around? I have a wicked Witch living next door with two darling children, who love to tease my Cocker Spaniel, My SMALL Cocker Spaniel. Sadie also likes to bark at them when they are teasing her. She also likes to bark at strange people walking on the other side of the chain link fence.

Wicked Witch moved in about 6 months ago, and proceeded to tell me that she works from home, and she is not supposed to. And if they find out she is working from home she will lose her job. She told me she works for a credit card company. She told my other neighbor she sells travel insurance to time-shares. If she hears her kids playing outside she screams at them to be quiet or she will lose her job, then they will lose the house. THe kids stay outside from the time they come home until dark. RAIN OR SHINE! COLD OR WARM! so SAD!

Sadie is used to being out side during the day, but wicked witch called the animal control officer on her. Said officer came to the house, with a citation. I met her on the porch, and asked her if she heard anything, she said NOOOOOOOOO. and rolled her eyes. I said Sadie only barks at strangers, said officer said "that is her JOB!" I said that I am trying to keep Sadie in when the kids are out so she wont bark at them, but it is really hard. She agreed and said just make sure you comply with the noise regs. Which state, "continuous, repetitive, barking..."

I put Sadie out, and when I hear her bark, I bring her In. 7 barks max. It takes me that long to get up and let her in. I have even gone so far as to sit out there and watch her while she is out. Now I am being accused of SPYING on her!

Dear Lord! Will you PLEASE give her laryngitis so she will MOVE! (cant talk, cant work, have to move!) I wonder just what she REALLY does that she has to have complete silence? Wonder how she explains the jets flying over? I wonder what she would do if I sat in the backyard and sang....

I HATE being held hostage by an evil minded Witch who does not even OWN the house! I was here first! GRRRRRRR