It's the simple things in life, like looking over and see in your dog watch the world go by. He sits, he stares. Sometimes he will lay day, sometimes he'll rest his chin on the back of the couch. Nevertheless, he patiently watches.
Monday Mash-Up
In preparation for winter hours at the shop, I have been using my Mondays as a catch up day. Sometimes that means editing/emailing/filing/accounting/some other dreadful office duty that gets put on the back burner and other times it means folding three baskets of laundry/emptying the dishwasher/vacuuming/restocking our fridge/etc. On really great days it means going to yoga without feeling guilty. Today it will be a bit of all of that, minus the yoga and replacing it with dinner with my two greatest friends in the entire world. I'm also going to use this time to play catch up with my thoughts, in hopes it will clear my mind and rejuvenate me for this busy week ahead. So without further ado, here are some tidbits and lessons from last week:
- I am the new photographer for Lakewood Animal Shelter, which officially makes me a volunteer for CCLAS! Just another something on my personal goals "to-do list" that I've finally gotten around to. I will be photographing all of the adoptable animals that come through (or at least most of them)! More on all of that later with a proper length blog post :)
- I spent Saturday morning with my 2 year old nephew and it made me realize how fast time has been flying by. First of all, how is he already 2? Second, when did he learn to talk so well? On a side note, he is the easiest 2 year old in the history of the world. At least for those 3 hours I was with him. We literally ran errands all morning and he was as happy as can be the entire time. Probably because he is so effing adorable, and everywhere we go people comment on that fact. I mean, who doesn't like going out and about only to be doted upon by every single person they encounter?
- Early morning pet sessions are becoming a new favorite of mine. The lighting is perfect (even if it's a bit drizzly), the wold is calm, and I get lots of puppy kisses to boot.
- After going through a whiney, "I have no clothes" phase last week, I took an hour to go through every single article of clothing I have. I got rid of 2 fully packed garbage bags of clothes and yet my closet has never seemed more full! I don't know what I am more excited about, the fact that I am totally pumped about my fall/winter wardrobe or the fact that I didn't have to spend a ton of money to obtain it. Win win.
And because no post should ever be without photos, check out Harvard (collar #146)! He is STILL available through Lakewood Animal Shelter...
All of these photos were taken within a 3 minute time frame. He is a total ham!
A Little Self Realization...
" I saved the paper towel roll from work for Seamus to play with. Does that mean I am now a cat lady?" My sister promptly replied, " I think you've always been a cat lady. Now you just have a cat."
At first I laughed at her response, but then I realized what a true statement it was. I've always fancied myself a dog person, and still do, but now with the addition of Seamus I'm realizing that there is no more hiding the fact that we are "that" couple. The couple who who has animals in lieu of entertaining any thought of having human children. We have a little zoo here and I'm quite fond of it.
Seamus is a jerk. He runs and not only pounces your feet, but wraps all four legs around yours (sometimes upside down, I swear) while biting your ankles. He loves to chew toes and don't be surprised if he wraps his entire body around your hand while you're petting him. It's not a hug, I assure you. He is plotting the best spot to latch his jaw around.
He loves computers. Especially their cables, the mouse and keyboard. He likes to bat at your fingers while you type, and isn't afraid to add in his own commentary mid sentence. The external hard drive is his favorite place to nap.
At least a dozen times I have cursed my printer for not working, only to realize that, yet again, it had been unplugged. I can never find my favorite pen, as it seems to also be Seamus' favorite - so much so he worries it may be dehydrating on a daily basis, as nine times out of ten I will find it in his water bowl.
I was introducing him to my next door neighbor, i.e. pointing up to the window he likes to sit in, when he decided to show off his parkour skills. He was scaling the window screen in my office. All four legs spread as wide as can be with his face smashed right in the middle.
He stole the dogs' stuffed squirrel. He wrestles it for several hours a day. Sometimes he passes out mid roll. He also likes to randomly pass out while batting at the leash hanging from the credenza. By pass out, I mean sprawled out on his back, belly up and legs in every direction. Oh, with his mouth open and tongue hanging out. Once I though he was dead, until I got close enough for him to peek one little eye open, do a complete ninja flip and grab on to my leg for a ride to couch.
On the other hand, he is a complete doll and a sweetheart. He never stops purring. Ever. Even when he is crying (more on that in a minute) he is purring in between "meow's".
If you go and sit next to him on the couch while he is asleep, he will slither right over to you and plop himself right across your belly. Without even opening his eyes. When he's really feisty, he'll start doing somersaults. Not just rolling around clumsily, I mean full head tucked somersaults. I don't know, maybe all cats do that ( I really wouldn't know) but it gets me every time.
When he is done annoying me while I'm working, he'll climb over the computer (yes, over the screen) and into my lap, curling up ever so tight and snuggling in for the afternoon.
Oh yeah, his cries... Basically the most heartbreaking sound I have ever heard. While Petey and Tank whine, they really are more like children in that it annoys me more than anything. It's a whine, not a cry and I typically ignore it as I feel as though I would be giving into bad behavior. Seamus, however, let's out these little cries in the morning when he knows we are up but haven't come to greet him yet. Or when I put him back in the office before he has had ample house wandering time. It's the saddest, most pitiful thing I have ever heard. I liken it to what normal people feel when they hear a baby crying. I could just scoop him up and snuggle him to pieces. And typically that is exactly what I do (until he bats at my face one too many times).
While I like to think that I like Seamus so much because really, he is so much like a dog, I suppose it is true in that I am indeed a cat lady...
Love what you grow and what you love will grow...
We have had a morning tradition for a few weeks now where we drink our coffee in the back yard and soak in the calmness of the early morning sun. Petey and Tank go back and forth between wrestling in the dew covered grass and snoozing in their chosen sun patches. Really, it has been a glorious summer so far.
Yesterday, I looked over at my pots of basil and it seemed like over night they tripled in size. The leaves were dark green and crisp, perfect for a fresh batch of pesto. Up until this year, I hadn't really appreciated how wonderful having a backyard and garden really is. We are (very) far from eating primarily from our garden, but it is really fun to look right in the yard for dinner inspiration - especially when we just just stocked up on other local treats from the farmer's market! Oh summer, I am so happy you are here...
Taking Flight...
