Not a good morning.

Warning: you may want to check the blinds around your house, for your families safety- read the following story to understand.


Yesterday, I woke up before Etta did. It was nice a quiet rainy day morning. I sat and ate my whole wheat Chex cereal in perfect peace and quiet. When I was done, I heard her Etta waking. I walked in and we smiled at cooed at each other for a minute of two. After picking her up, we headed to the front room so I could feed her, and that is when I heard Kitty crying, in a strange talking sort of way, upstairs.

Now, I should explain that this is a normal happening. Kitty will cry out, really vocally and loudly, several times until we answer her. But this time, I felt a really urgent need to go check on her. It just didn't seem right. I am SO thankful for that warning in my heart from the Spirit.


I rushed up the stairs but didn't see her immediately. I head toward her favorite hang out, which is behind the drapery in the corner. As I approached I could see something was wrong with her, she was not sitting normally. When I get close enough to see her from around the sofa, the most horrific sight met my eyes. There is my cat strangling in the blind cords! She was hanging there by the neck in the cords.

I quickly deposited Etta on the couch and leapt over the sofa to Kitty. I scooped her up in my arms and began unwinding the cords from around her tiny body and throat. She was obviously really upset and struggling against me. I got half of the cords off quickly ands easily but the others were knotted so tightly that I couldn't get them off her. Every time I tried to loosen them she would cry but I couldn't get them off. I had to pull up the blind to give her more slack, set her on the floor and run to get a pair of scissors. It was so tight I could almost not get the scissors underneath it, and finally I was able to cut the blind cord off to get her free.


I am so thankful she is alive. Luckily not only was it around her neck but her body too, which I believe kept her from getting into more trouble.


Now, before you think I am a neglectful mother, I must say that I am pretty careful with my blind strings. When I moved into the house they were all huge knotted messes about 40 feet long. I have in time shortened every single blind to only the necessary length to let the blind down. Meaning, when the blind is down there is only about 4 inches of length left of the cords. Then, when the blind is pulled up I wrap the strings sailor style around 2 nails at the side of the window, under the drapery up about my head height. This keeps the cords from tangling, and now I know, much worse.

I know that there are warnings for children strangling in the cords, and that is why I shortened them and usually have them tied up. What if this had happened while we were gone? We just got back from vacation.

So a cautionary tip- Keep all cords up away from the kids, and tell everyone who may operate the blind to also wrap them up.


Now, if you have any love for your children and pets, please go check all your blind's cords. I am certain that a child would have died if this had happened to them. I know they sell some little sailor things for blinds but if you don't want to go out and buy those, do what I've shown below, all you need are two nails, a hammer and a rule that the cord ALWAYS be wrapped up when you raise the blind!

I most certainly never will forget again!

Urgh,.. Sorry,.. Hairball

It's that time again.

You know what I'm talking about, the crazy cat lady posts,

that come at you when you least expect them!

(these are from the past year or so)

"And they call me Scrooge?!.. Well, bless my tail!"

Kicking back!

Purrfect place for a nap!

Buddy is a little jealous of that dude in the mirror!

What mess?

Take that, Bam! And that, Pow!

(sleeping in an upside-down chair)

"I'm just really not a morning person."

Buddy, go to time out! And don't come out for 2 minutes!

"Waz up?"

Sleeping is the best, sleeping is my favorite!

Happy trails to you!Buddy will now attempt a combination tuck and pike.
Get along little pony!

The stats

We went to our first month appointment this week, here is the report.

97% for Height (23"3/4), about 90% for Weight (10# 12 oz)

So, we are growing strong and loving it!

Here is a picture from last night, of all the girls hanging out together!

Buddy-Budster-ton

Buddy is such a loving cat. I just adore him.

I got this picture of him today and I think it my all time favorite picture of Buddy!

Buddy sure likes to be where the action is,

I had to get a shot of him in the picture cuz he is too cute!

Flying Saucer

There are those jobs that I just don't care to do.

Translation, they don't get done.

Detailing our car is one of them. I am just not so interested. Seriously though, if you're that concerned about a perfectly clean car, you can come over and clean it. I will not stop you!!! That said, we do this maybe twice a year. Saturday was the first for this year, but I just had to show one little detail that makes me happy (and Justin especially) This is complements of the power of baking soda (a little dish soap, hot water, and toothbrush action)!!

I had to add these pictures of Buddy. He was majorly concerned when Justin brought in the center unit thingy in our car to clean.

Budster is not allowed on the counter, but water going down the drain fascinates him. This was how he was trying to get away with seeing everything but not being "on" the counter. I think he's just cute.

What's for breakfast?

Mornings are a funny time at our house. We have these little furry creatures that follow us around hoping to somehow lead us to their breakfast bowls.

I am usually brought to consciousness, an hour before I want to be, (at least) with a furry 17 lbs pound Buddy walking across my head-literally. This he does to get to my hands which are out from the cover. He then rubs his own face on my hands in an attempt to be petted, crying in his loud high pitched (girly) cry to pet him, cuz he's here already and he can see my hands after all.

After a little love, I turn over and hide my hands under the covers. After which he makes his way to my feet and sleeps on them for the duration of the morning.

About an hour later, Kitty will come along. She tests for my body with one paw till she finds my hip, then jumps up and balance beams it to my shoulder and plops down, on my now pinned arm. There she waits to be petted and loved. I have to move carefully as not to upset the princess so that I can show her some attention.

Then, as I get up and ready, they follow me from the bathroom to the closet yelling at me all the while and hissing at each other until I make it into the kitchen . Buddy then runs full throttle to the washer to get to his special source of dry food goodness.

That is the norm. Well, the other day I woke up naturally happily and strangely cat free. I got up and showered and walked into the kitchen and they still didn't come running. I ate breakfast and they came down, but didn't bother me for anything. I thought "Humph, maybe Justin already fed them." The they disappeared again, "Proof" I thought.

About an hour later after my finishing the dishes, daily blog stalking and email check, I walked upstairs into my family room. And there where my little furry babies. Trying to catch THE BIRD, perched on the entertainment center. Yes the live bird that I do not own, flying around in my living room.

***Flash back to last night*** The day was a sweltering 86 degrees (winter in Texas). We opened the front windows a sliver about 1 1/2 inches, (the screens have been missing since we bought the house). And we left them open through the night. Oops!

So I rush to the windows throw them open and the bird flutters through the living room. "Please don't go downstairs and for heaven's sake don't poop on the couch!!!, and don't let a furry being catch you" is what is running through my head. Luckily about 3 minutes later the bird flew out. I closed the window, quickly and completely! (Not surprisingly, the furries were ready for breakfast when their little birdy "happy meal" took flight!)

Buddy's new bed!

Kitty, watching out for buddy.
Buddy helping me check my email!

(or just fully blocking the screen)

Kitty say what?

I just got this awesome email from my dad. I think that I must share it. I am changing it ( and adding pictures of our pets) to reflect our family a little bit, but otherwise it is very fitting.

Excerpt's from Buddy's Journal

8:00 am -

Dry Cat food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am -

A drink from the bathroom faucet! My favorite thing!

9:40 am -

A nap on Mommy and Daddy's bed! My favorite thing!

10:30 am -

Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm -

Nap Again! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm -

Chased kitty! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm -

Chased my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm -

Nap Again fabulous! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm -

Dinner, dry cat food! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm -

Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm -

Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpt's from Kitty's Diary-

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomited on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Jerks.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

My so called brother Bu-D doesn't seem to get my drift. Even hissing and spitting right in his face doesn't dissuade him.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously not all there.

The Bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.........

Little helpers

Yes, you all knew it was coming - while hoping you could avoid it, but at last it has come.

Another blog about cats.

We have a plethora of funny pictures from all the random changes, and had to share them. (Oh, and we have some especially cute pictures of Natalie that had to be shared too)

Buddy helped me by sleeping in this basket, while I scraped and painted the master bedroom ceiling.

Natalie with her safety glasses- remember Safety First!

They occasionally sit by each other when they think we aren't looking.

Yeah, Sorry Buddy! We just had to.

We ordered a lot of take out, while working on the house. This meal was too cute and hairy to actually eat.

Buddy is just making sure no one takes his bowl. He loves his dry food!

Purr-fection

Well it has been a while since we last updated you on the state of our furry little children. That should really show you that we are trying to diversify our blog, because more than half of the pictures we take are of them. So, now we have some of the very best moments available for your viewing pleasure. Hope you enjoy these photos as much as we do the real things.

This is Natalie's (the toddler I watch) diaper bag.
One day when I was changing Natalie, I left the bag out.
When I came back to throw something in it,
there was my darling furry daughter, all cozy and happy.
(And there she stayed for about 3 more hours.)

Buddy was hoping we could hand him the remote, Lost is almost on!

As humans we have the good angel on one shoulder and the bad angel on the other,
Kitty has them both in her own little head, and here they are staring out at us.
(no doctoring of the image was performed)

Buddy is helping daddy balance the checkbook,
mostly he just wants to catch the mouse(cursor),
we don't have the heart to tell him that he is supposed to be catching the real kind.

A long day of chasing his big sister really wares our Buddy-boy out!

Kitty is always trying to hide from her rambunctious little bro.
This lamp shade seemed to be her brightest idea.

Is it just us or does buddy think he is Superman?

This is my childhood Barbie bunk-bed, made for me by my Daddy.
I was planning on letting my little niece have it, but kitty took over,
she is quite the sleeping beauty though.

I don't know if you can tell by this picture but Buddy's body is totally contorted.

The back end is one direction and the front end is facing the camera- look close!

Such a love bug!

Hairball! Sorry, you'll have to wait for the bathroom!

Honestly there is no convincing kitty that she is not human,
and mostly that she is not in charge.

Buddy trying on women's clothing! Awkward!

He forgot to take out the hanger!

Peek-a-boo!

Now you should be able to sit back and relax and know that you will not be subjected to our the crazy cat lady's pictures for at least a month or so!