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Sunday, February 9, 2014

This And That








  1. A fresh bloom for Valentine's Day.  Wasn't sure this little rose bush would survive inside for the winter.  So far, so good!
  2. A monochromatic fruit salad.  It wasn't planned that way, but when you only have grapes, blackberries and blueberries, that's what happens! ha.
  3. The little fern came home with me from the grocery.  The tag said her name was Lemon Drop.  The little carved wood bird came home with me from the auctions.  I love her painted flowers.
  4. New shoes.  Things are just more fun in threes. ha.  Well, except the bills. ;)
  5. It's hard to photograph sparkly snow, but I tried.  It looked like white glitter in the morning sun!
  6. Mrs. Cardinal enjoying some sunflower seeds.
  7. Marmalade, looking lovely against the snow, and finally providing an outside shot that didn't look black and white!
  8. My next project.  Can you tell he doesn't belong to me?  A little disheveled, dirty, and homeless looking?  I found him on the back porch sleeping in a chair, curled up with Tiger.  Tiger must be practicing the Random Acts of Kindness Adventure. :)  He also brought Cocoa to us about this time last year.  So, this is Slate.  Some of the cats are friendly to him, some not so much.  He's come by a handful of times but doesn't stay.  He lets me pet him.  He acts starving when I give him food.  I told him if he sticks around he has to clean up and eventually go to the vet for shots and a little outpatient surgery. ha.
And thank you to all of you who participated in this first week
of the Acts of Random Kindness Adventure.  Not many linked up for
a post on their own blog, but several of you left comments here giving
your stories that were heart warming and also quite funny!
I hope more of you will join in next Friday!

53 comments:

  1. That painted bird is sweet and the rose and fern lovely! Fresh, living things in the winter are especially nice!! I've been thinking of stopping at a greenhouse just to smell the soil and things. haha- maybe I can get some plants started in my own greenhouse in a few weeks!

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    1. I'm enjoying that little arrangement on my desk this week. Green and living...yes!

      just to smell the soil...haha...you're so cute. Did I know you have a greenhouse? If you start plants, I want to see!

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    2. It's not big maybe 8 X 10. Just enough to tease or take the itch for digging in the dirt away :) and I usually just put larger plants in to attempt over wintering them. I'm kind of bad at remembering to water them!! But this would be the first for starting things from scratch. I think it would be a fun and interesting challenge.

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    3. I think it would be, too! How very fun! I'm sure you could get a great start on your garden veggies at the very least!

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    4. I think it would be fun to do planters and hanging baskets. But I think I'll keep it simple for the first time :)

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    5. I can see you doing that! It would be fun to customize them just how you wanted and have them full and ready to go when it was warm enough to hang them outside!

      I always think those little peat pots are so cute. All that stuff just makes you want to garden!

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    6. I know! Now I'm getting really excited! I keep walking by the stuff I might need just to look at it and decide. Haha

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    7. Well, I can't wait to see what you decide to do first!

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  2. Purple shoelaces? I got new shoes today but not snazzy laces.
    Slate is smart, if I was a cat without a home, I would come to your home too.

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    1. You know they really are black laces with little white stripes on them. Not sure why they look purple in that picture! haha.

      Slate may or may not stay! We had "Freckles" who came regularly for a month and then never again. You just never know!

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  3. haha another guest at your sea
    Geez one by one they find thee
    Know the spot to get fed
    And find a warm bed
    They said they will take pics of the kiddos enjoying the books I sent
    When i get them I'll do a post under my tent

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    Replies
    1. He might not stay.
      Freckles went her way.
      So we shall see.
      Only comes every two days or three.
      But acts like he hasn't eaten since.
      Guess he's just riding the fence. ha.

      Nice to get some pictures, too
      Hope you get to share them at your zoo!
      That's an act of kindness that will pay off right
      not like the other which was quite a fright.
      haha.

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    2. haha yeah no acts of kindness for old people will be done
      Any longer under my sun

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  4. Ah, yes, there is quite a difference between how Marmalade looks and how Slate looks. Poor chap. Maybe he will stick around and accept some care from you! Tiger must have a kind heart, bringing the homeless to his home. (smiling) Has he come inside?

    Vincent

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    Replies
    1. No, he hasn't come inside. He tried once and received a loud hiss from some cat here. Some are more accepting than others.

      First, I think he needs to learn how to use a napkin! haha.

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  5. Good luck with the Fern....my maiden hair fern looked glamorous for about 6weeks!
    But....it was a great 6 weeks! Hahaha!
    Hope Slate makes the cut!

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    Replies
    1. I've never had a maiden hair fern live very long. I think I don't water them enough. This is the first year I haven't brought a big one in when the summer is over. I just didn't have the room...and I knew it would be thirsty and dry in during this very cold winter with the heat running so much. So, we will try with this baby. I can't forget about her right here on my desk, at least!

      Slate needs a bath! ha. Doubt that's going to happen. ;)

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    2. I brought in a fern one fall.....couldn't stand the constant dropping of tiny leaves...it is sad, tho'....when they succumb to the frost.......Spring is just around the corner......mind You......a snowy corner!

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    3. I had one I brought in two winters....it was HUGE. That's the one I left outside...it was too big to bring in. I would have had to have moved furniture...it just wasn't reasonable. And yes...the leaf dropping...it's a lot of upkeep.

      yes, a very frigid, snowy corner! haha. But I'd rather be cold than hot....so I'm not ready yet. lol...

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  6. nice..i love the black shoes...i have a pair...ha...and i can get away with wearing them at school....smiles.....
    berries....i love them too.....cute pic of of your new acquisition....

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    1. He's a little scruffy, though. He seems sweet enough, though. I'll take him...let's just see what the feline family decides. ha.

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  7. Oops...just lost my comment. Will try again. Love your This and That posts ~ look forward to what you will bring us. Things jumping into your cart is getting to be a regular. HaHa. The little painted bird is adorable.

    And even your cat's do Random Acts of Kindness ~ I think they have a good model for that...guess who? Sending hugs

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    1. yep...even the cats do nice things. At least some of them. Others are fiercely protective of the zoo. lol....

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  8. That is a beautiful picture of Mrs. Cardinal! And the kitties. You take such good care of them. :)

    XO,
    Jane

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    Replies
    1. We'll have to wait and see if I get to take care of this one....

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  9. Hi Betsy- what a beautiful rose! A nice jolt of color during all this grey and white. Slate is a cutie- I'm glad he found nice people like you to willingly look after him (maybe the other cats will tell him that the outpatient surgery is well worth the comfy home! ;) )

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    1. yes, maybe they will. haha.....although, I doubt if any of them actually remember the experience. At least I'm hoping they don't! haha...but yes, most certainly worth the tlc and warm home he'll get if he stays!

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  10. Do you always buy the triplets the same shoes? It would drive me crazy trying to figure out which pair belonged to which boy :-)

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    1. Not always. This is the first time in a while they've had matching shoes. :) I write their initials on the bottom of the shoes with a permanent marker.

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    2. When my boys were living at home I made sure they had NOTHING that looked the same...they even each had their own underwear brand. That made it easy for me when I was folding laundry :-)

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    3. I did different underwear between the mr., taylor and the triplets. With triplets it's just different. They share clothes, etc...everything is the same size. It's just easier that way....but nice for them to be separated from the other men of the family.

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  11. Awwww – poor Slate! You can tell from his eyes too that he is on-guard. Makes me sad. But makes me very happy that he has found the Caring Cat Condo! I hope the other kitties will remember their past and eventually welcome him in… if he so chooses. I swear that, except for Marmalade, you co-ordinate your cats with your décor!

    Mrs. Cardinal looks content… I know the Misters are always more flamboyant, but I love her attire too.

    New coats, new hats – the boys are all set. I like those shoes – I am looking for something similar for easier walking. Kind of treacherous out there these days.

    Sorry I did not get my random acts of kindness in – has been quite difficult to get out this past week. I did a few things but I think they were more everyday things that I do anyway so they don’t really “count.” And a couple of them are long-term and I may not be able to post about them until after February is over! But I will let you know.

    By the way, my Mom’s birthday was yesterday (Feb. 7) and I gave her your cat calendar! She is a huge lover of cats too, and she really enjoyed it and thinks what you’re doing is great!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yes, Marmy really is the odd one out as far as color. Kind of funny how the blacks and greys are so dominant. I hope Slate stays around, too. I want to give him a makeover. haha. He has a sweet personality and lets me pet him....that's already a huge leap of progress from where others have started.

      So glad to hear your mom has one of my calendars! How very fun...and happy birthday to her!

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  12. LOVE the shoe shot!! =) I'm seeing a vet visit in store. LOL! blessings ~ tanna

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    1. I hope so....as long as I offer food, I think he'll come around. :) Haven't seen him in two days, though.

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  13. I hope Slate decides to stick around so that he can make the visit to the vet. That would be such a good thing. I enjoyed all your pics but fell in love with the darling flowered bird, so cute sitting there on your desk.

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    1. It would be a good thing! If I can time it right, I could still trap him and take him in...then he can decide if he wants to stay or never come back. haha.

      Isn't that carved bird sweet? I had to have it. I had to bid on her, but got her for $4.00. She's worth that, I do believe!

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  14. Your rose is looking so pretty Betsy, I remember when you bought it in and weren't too sure if it would be OK or not, so good to see that it is thriving in your indoor care! I hope that the new kitty settles in well - it looks like the numbers are going up again! xx

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    1. You remember? Yes, it did fine outside but I've had bad luck with those miniature rose bushes getting overtaken by dust mites. Maybe we don't have dust mites this winter? ha. Hope not. Sounds yucky.

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    2. Yes, I remember, sometimes I can't remember my own name or why I walked into a room, but I remember weird stuff like this!! My mind is a very strange place that I try and stay out of mostly!!! xx

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  15. I love Slate so much!! soo cute!!xxxx

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  16. I tried taking a picture of that sparkly snow too. Not so easy to capture on camera, but oh so pretty in reality.
    I like your new friend, even if he does have food on his chin.
    Perhaps I will be linking up with your random acts this week. I'm ready to do something fun.
    :0)

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    1. I need to think of what I'm going to do this week. I do believe it will involve cookies. :)

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  17. Late to the party again!!
    Slate is a good name and yes he does look a bit of a maverick, requiring refining and deportment lessons from Elisa Do-alot!! lol

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    1. haha...yes, he does need to enter my refining school. And when he's graduated from Elisa's Refinment Classes, he can begin Betsy's Beauty Boutique.

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  18. I am very excited to see you have acquired another cat. Well, maybe! And how kind of Tiger to invite him! But, what I don't understand is where all these cats keep coming from? Do people not routinely neuter their pets over there? Are they all strays that have just been wandering the streets? I am intrigued. You do a fantastic job, and I kind of secretly envy you! (I only have two kitties!)

    Kathy from Tasmania.

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    1. Oh, feral cats multiply very quickly! They really are just strays...not pets. Everyone gets their pets neutered over here. The humane society told me that two feral cats can multiply to 25 in one year...and those kittens are ready to reproduce themselves at 3 months of age. It can easily reach 200 cats just from the original two in one year's time! There is an apartment complex for the elderly nearby and they don't claim those strays as pets, but they feed them and enjoy their companionship. But they multiply! ha. I've seen much fewer in our neighborhood, probably thanks to my zoo here. lol.... I'll just keep at it! I haven't seen Slate since I snapped that picture, though, so who knows if he will be back.

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  19. I do hope he will come back! We have feral cats here too, but they seem to live mainly in non-urban areas, which is problematic, as they kill a lot of native wildlife. Mandatory neutering and microchiping of cats has been introduced here recently.

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