Gift: Predator

I recently mailed  a variety box of bath bombs to my niece for her birthday.  

Hailey was all about sharing her opinion on the bath bomb she called "Predator" since it looked like an alien.

The bath bomb is actually called Lava Lamp and it is by Lush, but it will forever be called "Predator" in my house. 

I would hire her to name bath bombs and give reviews if I could.  She cracks me up with her commentary and makes me want to go buy a "Predator" bath bomb and relax. 

A Challenge

A challenge.  That is what Faye offered me.  Almost a decade ago, Faye and I acquired a book of prompts called Writers Block by Jason Rekulak.  From time  to time we will challenge each other to write something based off of a random prompt.  Faye threw down the gauntlet and I picked it up. A total of 5 weeks with a random prompt each week. It is a chance to brush up my writing skills and break out of my comfort zone. 

First prompts have been picked.  I have until Saturday to come up with something.  An idea has been percolating since yesterday.  I can only hope that she has as much fun as I am on this challenge.  

Here is the prompt I have been given:

Come back Saturday to see what I have done with it. 

You can also check out Faye's blog to see what she h///as done with her prompt at http://thehookandthepen.blogspot.com/

Protect the Tomatoes

This has been a terrible year for my tomatoes.  Normally my tomatoes are all over the place. I can barely keep them in the garden. I am up to my elbows in the romas and my kitchen constantly smells like red gravy. (That is tomato sauce.) This year I cut back the number of tomato plants by half, thinking it would be like every other year and I would be giving tomatoes away to people who just happened to stop by, just to get rid of them.  Maybe it is the weather, with the rain being weird. It could be the vermin in that frolic and galavant in my yard, despite the fencing.  It has been a sad year for me for tomatoes. It doesn't really matter what the cause is.  I am not having a very good crop this year and perhaps next year will be a bit better.  At least that is what I am telling myself.


My brother understands my woes.  The deer took out his entire crop of tomatoes. He doesn't have a single plant left standing and there are no tomatoes for him, unless I send him some. It is time to protect the tomatoes.  Out of the kindness of his heart and sympathy for my troubles,  he bought us a tomato protector.  One to go in my garden and one to go in his.
That way if someone is lurking in the garden, they may think twice before helping themselves to my red beauties.  I was a little skeptical at first on if it would work, but so far mine seems to be working.   Nothing has gotten into the garden and the tomatoes that I do have look good.

Arnie the Armadillo

His name is Arnie, and he is an armadillo.  He is my new cuddle friend. 

I will admit that I sleep with a stuffed animal.  It is comfortable to have something tucked under my arm.  I read some where that it was healthier and you will get a more restful sleep if you have your arms slightly elevated. It was recommended the use of pillows to elevate the arms in a relaxed stance.  I just want to state that pillows and stuffed animals are made out of the same thing. It is only logical to use something that reflects your personality and style while still getting the job done.  Why use a pillow, when you can have a stuffed animal?

I don't think you ever reach an age where stuffed animals aren't something to bring a smile to the face. While I was on vacation, my husband and I stopped by a speciality toy store on a whim.  They had a zoo's variety of stuffed animals and a charming young salesmen around the same age as my youngest niece stocking the shelves.  While my  husband and I were exploring the shelves of all the unique animals, the savvy young sales lad talked to us about Fennec Foxes and Red Panda's and how they are "really cool."  I loved the enthusiasm he had about his favorite stuffed animals, and while I didn't end up taking a fox or panda home, the whole experience made me smile.  I love the way people light up from the inside when they are talking about one of their favorite things.  You could tell that the Fennec Foxes and Red Panda's were his favorite out of all the stuffed animals there by the way he talked about them.  It made me want to change my mind on my selection or at the very least add an extra friend to the basket. There is something wonderful about finding a new stuffed friend.  You are never too old to enjoy stuffed animals.

Cuddle Cats

We went to the beach for a week and I think that our cats missed us.  Most people describe their cats as being aloof and distant with them if they have gone on a trip.  Our cats are the opposite.   Despite the fact that their favorite house sitter spent quality time with them, they both acted like they haven't seen another human in at least a decade and they haven't  eaten in at least five hours. The reunion was full of cat dramatics. 

Dib needs attention.

 Dib Cat greeted me at the door and demanded to picked up and cuddled. The entire time he purred and smashed his face into my face. If he wasn't receiving the attention he felt he was owed, he would do every bad thing he could think of to get attention.  Iggins moseyed down the stairs and then plaintively meowed in the dining room his displeasure of us being away until we properly rubbed his head. Both boys have been our shadows since we arrived home.  

Iggins looking for love. 

Sleeping in bed is prime time cuddle kitty time for Iggins. There is no sleep. There is only pet the Iggins. There is no relaxing in front of the television, there is only play with the Dib Cat.  If there is a lap that is empty, it is only temporary. We were only gone for a week. They did not approve. It is nice to know that we were missed.