Is It Too Early to Decorate for Halloween?

The summer is winding down here. Temperatures have been going down into the fifties at night! Horse balnkies were sent out for cleaning this morning. Our resident woodchuck is a tank and the hummingbirds are starting to go into training for their annual migration.

Fall is in the air.

It's the time of year when you start to want to bake

and be in the warmth and comfort of your kitchen.

I've been following a blog by an amazing woman at OctoberFarm.

I don't even know her name, but the recipes are A M A Z I N G !

This Best Pecan Shortbread Bar

recipe was tried here yesterday.

Very good, but a little over cooked, 

I'll adjust my time the next time.

Have you started decorating for Halloween yet?

I have.

Decorations are popping up everywhere.

Inside

and out!

It's a time of transition.

And now there's something to remind me

to stop, live in the moment

and savor the change

that is all life.

"To be interested in the changing seasons

is a happier state of mind than to be

hopelessly in love with spring."

~ George Santayana

♥

So, do you think that August 18th

is too early to start decorating for Halloween?

When do you start?

Life is But a Dream

"The Chicken's Dream" After Pablo Picasso

Row, row, row your boat,

gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

life is but a dream.

The Traveling Chicken
project has come to an end for me.

Wrapping it up, here's the final post and
some photos of highlights of their visit.

The Red Rooster and His Little Chickita

The Red Rooster flew in from California

and surprised the troupe on Saturday.

He came with orders to gather the flock

and move along to their next destination.

TC and he were overjoyed at their reunion!

They told me they wanted so badly to get married.

The Chicken's Dream wedding was performed here on Sunday.

I know the local justice of the peace,

so a simple ceremony was arranged

and performed here on Sunday.

The New Mr. and Mrs. Red

The newlyweds are anxious
to settle down and start a family.

The chickens visited some of their country cousins.

The Little Traveling Chicken and her troupe
were sent on their way on Tuesday, but on Monday,

we had time to relax and visit some of the locals.

The Chickens enjoyed popcorn on the deck.

Regardless of their many cultural and physical differences,

birds of a feather, really do flock together!

The Chickens all had a blast.

All in all, the time went by way too fast.

I'm going to miss The Traveling Chicken.
 She and her friends made quite an impression on me.
I'm sure I'll continue to see them in my dreams.

Have you ever participated in an online project like this one?
I'd love to hear your feedback!

Have a great weekend
and stay inspired!

The Summer is Speeding By

Calico Kitten - 5.5 x 7.5" - Watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8 x 10" 

I did this painting today from one of the sketches of my little calico

girl that I recently posted on SketchingEveryday here. 

The kids take a nap after a hard morning of playing in the studio.

It has been one month today since we started catching the babies. They are growing like weeds and have more than doubled in size! 

We caught their mother, Ja Ja, and had her spayed on Tuesday. YAY! We are keeping her in a cage in the barn while she recuperates. She is really sweet for a feral and we are hoping to tame her even more before releasing her.

Me (L) and blogging friend, Robin Larkspur(R).

Here's a snapshot of my good friend, Robin.

I am so glad we got to meet and spend some time together in person!  

My Princess Cutie Pye with Robin's Pyewacket and Pixie.

Robin's blog, PurrrrSnicKitty, is humorous and fun to read.

Her spunky Little Miss Pixie has already been busy

creating amusing games.

Golfinch on the new rocking chair feeder.

I've been trying to get a photo of this cute bird feeder that Robin and her hubby gave to Jerry when they visited. It looks so sweet when the Goldfinches use it. Unfortunately, the Doves now like it too and tend to hog it.  I'll have to settle for this poor shot through the window for now. At least you get the idea.

My Mom and Dad posing in font of the studio.

My folks were here visiting for a week on their way up to Michigan with their motorhome. They left yesterday morning. I miss them already. It seems so quiet here now.

I've got more company on the way though! And the guests are coming all the way from California. One of them is actually a celebrity and is touring the world! I'll be letting the cat out of the bag tomorrow on my Sketching Everyday blog.

☺

Thanks for reading!

As always, I look forward to receiving your emails and comments.

 

♥

The Whole Cat and Caboodle

We still haven't caught the kitten's momma.

The folks at Ace of Spays sent me to

the AlleyCat.org website for some help. 

They have a section on socializing feral kittens. They say ideally you should spend about two hours each day holding and playing with them, which I have had no trouble doing. Two hours each, times four equals eight, right?

My friend Nan, lent me her cat condo.

It's a real god send and the precious pussy cats just love it.

They can't jump very high yet,

but have learned very quickly to climb like monkeys

to reach the top perch.

The itty bitty kitties seem very happy,

enjoying their space, my frequent visits and each other's company.

This shy petite Pixie will be leaving us this weekend.

Along with her personable big sister, my sweet little Cutie Pye.

Yes, the calico girls will be meeting their new mom and dad this Saturday!  On Sunday they will depart with them and travel 300 miles to their new home in central, New York. I am really and truly grateful that they are getting such a wonderful home! I have to admit that it is bitter sweet however and I'm afraid I will miss them terribly. Even though they are incredibly awesome kittens, I am amazed at how I have become so attached to all of them in such a short time.

 Their new mom, Robin Larkspur, is starting up a blog called PurrrrSnicKitty that will feature these tiny "Jersey Girls" and their adventures.  So along with everyone else in the blogosphere, I will be able to keep up with them and their new lives. I know they will be treated like royalty.

"In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods;

 they have not forgotten this."  ~ Terry Pratchett 

Thanks for reading everyone.

Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Hugs and Purrs,

Update from the Sandy Land Funny Farm

All the plants Jerry has bought are doing well by the studio entrance. I love the baskets from Steve and his wife, at the Green Thumb Market. They mix in so many different flower varieties in their hanging baskets. There's always a surprise or two in each planter. Poor Princess (on the step), is not doing well. She is 17 now and has been on transdermal medication for hyperthyroidism since February. I will take her back to the vet as soon as I am able. 

My little herb planter by the kitchen entrance needs some trimming. It has basil, cilantro, parsley and chives. I think we have about a dozen hummingbird feeders up now. The action is nonstop and we are going through a gallon and a half of nectar a day.

Jerry has been busy with his "creating" and has welded up some new animals, wind chimes, bird feeder hooks and plant stands. Boy, I really lucked out being married to such an energetic handy man!

In addition to two large hanging Cherry Tomato baskets, Farmer Jer's got three big tomato plants. He had to move them up on the deck after our momma groundhog, Chuckita, started munching on one. I hope they're the Big Boy variety. The deer demolished his big garden and I think he's given up on it.

The whole horse routine is down to a system. They hardly pay any attention to me when I make an appearance in the barn, although I have fed them lunch a couple of times when Jerry couldn't make it home.

My Paint, Rembrandt (Rudy) has been doing real well. They had their shots earlier this month and I had some blood work done on the old guy (32) and everything came back really well! Woo Hoo! The weather has been real nice and cool here and he's been pretty darn frisky. He doesn't do well in the heat and the National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for Wednesday June, 2oth (also the summer solstice and the official first day of summer) into Thursday. They said;"MAKE SURE YOUR PETS HAVE PLENTY OF COOL WATER & ARE KEPT IN A COOL.WELL VENTILATED AREA. THE MOST HUMANE THING TO DO IS TO BRING THEM INDOORS WITH YOU."  Oh, Rudy and Rita would just love that!

Tigger spends most of the days sleeping and watching the hummingbirds from the screened in porch. Sometimes he stays up all night playing with his balls.

We put them back into his basket and few times a week, we wake up to his art. All four balls in a row, evenly spaced, like this photo taken today.

Since some of you have been asking, I went to the surgeon's office on June 12th and had these x-rays taken. They said everything looks good, come back in a month. The foot is stiff, swollen and still bothers me, especially at night.

It has been about eleven weeks since my accident on April fool's day. Along with going to physical therapy twice a week, I also ride my stationary bike and do my exercises at home everyday. Soon I can start driving! YAY! I haven't driven in almost three months. I am walking with a cane when I go out of the yard. When inside, I hardly use it. I am trying to go slow, which is hard. I'm learning patience. They said it will take about six months for a full recovery. The days still go whizzing by though, so I know it will be here before I know it.

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."  ~ John Quincy Adams

Besides sketching everyday and painting, I've been videoing and photographing the groundhogs and hummingbirds! What fun! I'll be sharing some of that stuff here soon! Hope your summer is going great! Thanks to all of you for your comments, caring thoughts and healing energy!

There is no season such delight can bring

As summer, autumn, winter and the spring.

~ William Browne ~

Getting Back Into Riding . . . If Only in My Dreams

The past few nights, I've been having vivid dreams about riding and caring for the horses. It is probably due to me getting more upright, flexible and mobile, while taking advantage of the boot, physical therapy and exercising. I even walked out to the barn once with help from Jerry and a walker. Yesterday my farrier came and I stayed out there for almost two hours. I also gave Rita a good grooming. We both really enjoyed it!

Jerry continues to lunge my 32 year old, Rudy, at least every other day

and they both seem to be benefiting from it.

Sometimes he takes me out in the car so I can watch.

Over the past two months, some individuals have been sending healing thoughts, get well wishes and asking how I'm doing. It's really nice to know that people care. Thanks especially to those of you that have reached out to me during this trying time. Your friendship and kindness really means so much!


"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."  ~ Henri Nouwen

"We are the captains of our own ships sailing the sea of life, but in times of a stormy weather, you will discover true friends when they don't hesitate to be a lighthouse."  ~ Dodinsky

Still spending part of my days in the chair; here's my current studio setup.

Jerry shot my leg last Thursday at my first physical therapy appointment. Only a week later, it looks much better. Still lots of swelling after exercise, but everything is going really well. I've been meditating nightly which is helping me heal more quickly, both physically and spiritually.

Although the time did go slow for me during my convalescence, I can't believe it is almost June! Now that I'm feeling better, things are really speeding up! This shot of Rita was taken by my friend, Jen, last August. She will have a collection of her photos at The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair at the Caracol Jewelry  booth. If you are local and you go to the show, be sure to stop by and have a look.  Her art is awesome.

Memorial Day weekend unofficially starts tomorrow. It kicks off the summer here in the states. I just started working on some of my stock photography again. I think this one of my folks, is appropriate for the holiday weekend and summer season ahead. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! YAY!"


No matter what your plans are, have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Take some time to reflect and be grateful for all those who have lost their lives so that we may enjoy the many freedoms we hold dear.


Wishing You Many Blessings, Sandy

Howdy Hoo From Cat Man Do!

Sophie - sweet resident barn/shop cat

I said I'd fill you in the cat happenings here at "Cat Man Do", so here I go. It's complicated. Eva, the one year old recent drop off and fred's last fling has been vetted, treated, spayed and contained in a large cage in Jerry's shop since last Tuesday. She's been in the same room as Sophie and Ginger, our outside/inside, barn/shop cats. Sophie is a real doll, but Ginger is a an insecure, neurotic pterodactyl. (Wow, how do you like the spelling of that word?) The three cats seem to be accepting each other and I think we'll open Eva's door to the room with the two girls on Wednesday. I hope her and Sophie hit it off, because Ginger really annoys the Soph with her constant clinginess.

Ginger - Sweet, skittish and fat with various issues

The love triangle - Eva,  Ja Ja and Fred 

Eva -  tiny newbie 4.5 lbs.

Eva seems very docile and tame. Jerry's been sticking his hand in the cage and petting her, which she likes very much.

Ja Ja - teenage mother, 6 mo. old

As per my previous post, we caught Ja Ja,

only to find she was nursing kittens,

so brought her back untouched except for a rabies shot.

She loves the trap and we have caught her several times since. 

Freddie the Free Loader - Still at large

Fred's just too smart and continues to be an outlaw. We set the trap. He sniffs it, sprays it and walks away. He's been around the block a few too many times and we're afraid he is going to be a difficult one to catch.

Princess has her good days and bad. She's 17 now and often seems grouchy. She has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. We have her on transdermal medication which is helping her have more good days. She now has a better appetite and is starting to put some weight on. 

Tigger is our big, lovable guy. He is spending more and more time with me in the studio, much to Princess' dismay. He's usually very good and tolerant of her and her space, but every once in a while he has to be a bad boy and get right in her face. This of course sets her off and gets her all riled up. He's young and playful and does it just for the fun of it and because it really annoys her.

Lately, Tigger's been taking all of the big soft balls out of his toy basket. Then, he walks around with them in his mouth. He carries it like it was a kitten, all the time crying in a loud, pitiful way until he finds a good spot to lay it down. Then he goes and gets another one and repeats the process. Saturday morning, we woke to find all four of them arranged in a neat, evenly spaced row. He continued observing and guarding them throughout the day until later that evening, when he started adding smaller sparkly balls to his arrangement. Then he seemed to loose interest. I think he wants to be an artist.

Leah - resident outside feral

Ziggy and Leah seem to be staying to themselves, mostly hanging out on the shed roof during the day where they occupy the penthouse suite.

Ziggy - Tigger's brother, resident outside feral

Snowflake  - spring 2011

They are not alone up there in their roof top abode anymore though. For the past couple of weeks, a raccoon has been coming out of their apartment and joining them for their evening meal. We don't think it's Snowflake, because it's shy and runs when it see's Jerry, but it could be one of the babies from last year. Anyway, they all seem to be getting along at the moment. Most likely, Ziggy and Leah don't have a choice and are just trying to hang on to their prime real estate. 

"Psychologists now recognize that the need in some people to have a dozen cats is really a sublimated desire to have two dozen cats."  ~ Robert Brault