Tillie, ive been putting the bowls up on the table when its not raining hard enough for roof leaks & just a bit ago i saw the little @#&*#x out there trying to get on the table, so i put tuna in the live trap & set it, but he didnt go for it. This has gotten so frustrating. I love wildlife & nature, but ive never had to battle it to protect my territory this much in all my years out here.
I hope youre enjoying movies? I sure am! I hadnt done this for a long time. It seems theres something in the way of everything i want or need to do & that i need to just wait it out, so movies are perfect...and right now im watching the 1st season of The Waltons, which brings back mixed feelings of memories from back home. Im even related to the real family it was based on, so it really is a bit emotjonal...
I think im going to clean an area in the kitchen that has been bugging me. Its hard to get to, but ill wear long sleeves so my arm injury is covered. Im gonna do that right now! 😀

Tillie the fire is absolutely heartbreaking. I am left speechless by its scope and size.

I have a theory re shoes: anything is possible if you're in the proper footwear. I see people hobbling along the sidewalks and I don't understand it. Mind you, there have been times in my life where my shoes would hurt as I walked and every yard would seem like a mile. I generally have two pair of walking shoes that I rotate. At work I have a few pair of high heels/dress shoes to change into. At home I have different dress shoes to wear.

So if I want to roam the city, I'm in lightweight walking shoes. That's it. And I can always throw a pair of dress shoes in my purse if I need to change upon my arrival.

Well our temporary roommate has gone home. He was a terrific houseguest. Until there is more work going on, he won't be back.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Thank you for replying to the other thread.
Your own personal knowledge is very valuable in helping to teach others. (((HUGS)))
How is Bunny?
Hope you get some pretty veggies today. 😀

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
So happy Tigger is relaxed! (((hug kitty)))
Your Mom will be so happy and pretty with the new nightgowns. ;D
I suppose that in the city good walking shoes are a necessity for getting around. More important than owning a car.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Happy you read up on F.U.S. so you would know what to watch for 🙂
Now you have fighting raccoons too!!! :O
As if skunks and neighbor's cat weren't enough already to deal with.
Could you put the food bowls back on the table and make a protected cover over them?
Like a couple of cinder blocks with a board across the top of them to block the rain drops?

A surface challenge is what I need.
I will want to wipe down/wash every surface, even the surface of the ceiling fan blades.

No change in the conditions here over night.
Woke up and saw the sunrise and it was that same ugly orange orb of a sun.
So I went back to bed and slept more.
Problem is the air current just keeps bringing the smoke this way.
We need some wind to blow it all away.
Did do the very needed watering last evening.
Placed the hose/sprinkler, set the timer and waited inside until time to relocate the hose/sprinkler to another area.
Plans for today is wash dishes and shower & wash my hair.

~♡~Good morning, all!~♡~
Tillie, thank you pointing out the possibility of F.U.S. I read your post last night & started researching it & thinking on changes recently that may cause that with him. Im gonna make some diet changes, etc. & watch him, but then this morning i saw him squat & ran over there to check & right before he covered it i saw a puddle, so i think hes likely ok. Also a raccoon fight last night happened & those things are amazingly loud!!! Then later a skunk came in the bedroom. Theyve come back since i put the food bowls under the table because the rain leaks in the porch roof into the bowls.
It seems like im dealing with nothing but cat & critter issues around the clock lately?!!
Im so sorry about the fire smoke?! Ive never had it that bad here. Im so glad your cooler is working well!
SubC, i havent finished vacuuming yet cuz in this heat, the sweat is dripping into my eye that has something wrong with it. Its getting better, tho. Thanks for the reminder! Have you exercised, yet?
Tatoulia, you are such an amazing & attentive daughter! And i just love the wonderful changes in you in your energy & happiness!
Hi, CM!
Hi, Porter!
Hi, Joan!
~♡~I really do love & appreciate you all soooo much!!!~♡~

Checking in. Cats are good. My cat has eaten but BF's cat hasn't. I just found BF's cat asleep on the marble bathroom floor. Dear cat. It's not hot here and there's no humidity but he's loving the cool tiles and his privacy.

I love the surfaces idea! And just in time! I've onky had Clutter Creep in two places and I need to stop that now! I'm in on the surfaces for August!

I didn't do as much drawer/cabinet work as I would have liked but I did more than I would have!

Tillie I worry so about your health. I know you take good care of yourself and the kitties but I'm a worrier by nature. Praying for some clearer air.

Anony I'm back to two cats today. Tigger is much more settled today, since it's now a familiar place for him. No meowing and pacing. I'm sorry you have a cat spray issue. Oh boy.

Yesterday my mother called me before 9 AM. Unheard of! Someone at her place had woken her up. So we got together early. I stopped by her house to clean the cat's box then I got the car and took her out for the day. We stopped at my office so I could pick up some paperwork then we went grocery shopping. I made her come inside where she could sit on a bench and be cool. She read a magazine and I was able to do her groceries without worrying about her in the car. Afterward I came home for a sandwich then I walked to the hardware store. BF met me and we stopped so he could get a bite to eat. We then went shopping and I returned a dress and bought a few blouses for myself. And a pair of walking shoes. And a couple of nightgowns for mom. It was a good day all around. He bought a ton of stuff but I didn't pay attention.

Tomorrow I will return my shoes (different store, different part of town).

I did one load of laundry yesterday, just my sheets. I had a good day. And mom seemed happy. I'll bring her the nighties sometime this week. It'll give her something to think about. Nice, cool cotton nightgowns. Really lovely and pretty.

Let me know how you are!!!

Oh Tillie, I can't imagine!

It must be scary and horrible to be out there. So much destruction and people losing their homes and lives in these fires all over the planet. And all the horrible things that are pouring into the air and water so that the fires harm even people far away...

Stay safe.

Anony, did you vacuum?

I am going to the food bank today. I cleaned stalls again yesterday, but won't today, so I need to make sure I get my exercise in.

Tomorrow is the end of July. My floors are good, and I have done a little shelf/drawer work.

Can we focus on surfaces in August? I am having trouble keeping mine (counters, tables, dressers, beds) free of piles. I think floors and shelves could be surfaces too. Basically, anything flat that you can see?

Hopefully the fires will be out and Tillie will be wiping hers off.

Been the worst day ever.
A high of 104.
Late afternoon, about 3:00pm the shy turned a dirty brown and you could look directly at the sun because it was just this funky looking orange orb.

When this is all over with I'm looking forward to washing EVERYTHING to get the smoky smell out of the laundry.
I'm not doing any laundry until the smoke is all gone.

Cats and I watched Netflix and ate watermelon all day.

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Good luck with your plans for today. 😀
Boy kitty is probably sick & tired of the intruders and just marking his territory.
But keep an eye on him to be sure he isn't getting F.U.S. (feline urinary syndrome).
Boys get it more than females due to their narrower urethra.

Today is horrible.
Smoke is very thick, visibility next to nothing.
Danger warning, air quality is so bad keep all people & animals inside.
Limit time outdoors to short necessary trips only.

Was planning to water some things this morning but decided to wait and see if the air is better this evening.
Cats are not well. Watery eyes, no appetite and some vomiting.
No playing today, just laying in places looking miserable.

This smoke is coming all the way from California.
That deadly Carr fire.

SubC, if you try the diatomacous earth, get the food grade kind, so the bunny licking it off wont hurt it. Good luck!

~☆~Cinnamon coffee clinks!~☆~
SubC, try diatomacous earth for the fleas on the bunny? Theres a thread on it here from yesterday. Its non-toxic, cheap, effective & not wet or sticky, etc. I use it a lot on my cats & the house! 😀
I can not believe that yall are cat ladies that are allergic to cats?!!? And Tillie, to have certain cats help your allergies?! Wow!
Ive had an animal shocker for 3 days in a row now. Just now my alpha male sprayed next the stove where the skunk goes & i guess hes spraying for the skunk, but ive never seen him spray, ever?!!
Its supposed to be much cooler today, so im going to get something done. I havent decided yet, but maybe finish vacuuming the living room, which is a bigger job than it sounds, cuz its got spider webs in everything, maybe ill pick up some bits of trash that surfaced from the rain outside, too....

Good Morning Everyone 🙂
Iced chai masala "Clink!"
cough,cough,cough...

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Hope you resisted laundry and are out and about in the city today. 😀
So happy you are at a stage where you can rearrange furniture and redecorate your home! (((HUG)))

Hi Subclinical 🙂
So happy Bunny is now with you where she will get all the love, care and attention she needs. (((HUGS)))

Not doing anything today.
Just hanging in here surviving.
Cats are already all flat and melted at 8:45am.
Another day of Netflix and watermelon. ;D

Bunny is home! She has been clipped instead of brushed, so she looks funny.

She also has a small but not angry looking sore on one foot, and fleas.

CM, I have never had a bunny with fleas! What do I do?

They said they had a batch of kittens that arrived with fleas and gave been battling the problem and that they washed her last night, but I found one in her fur.

She will have to stay outside for now.

Good morning! I hope to get a lot done today. I will get mom out but I'd also like to go downtown and return a pair of shoes and maybe stop by office to pick up some paperwork for tomorrow. The shoe store opens at 10. If I don't start a laundry I'll be in perfect shape to accomplish this. I think the humidity is lower today so I could even walk downtown then take the subway home.

I'll ponder this as I enjoy my iced tea.

My friend loves my chairs and has sent me three sketches with ideas of where the second one can go. Right now I like their placement but one is a little forced and I knew it would have to be moved. I'll try my friend's ideas later on. For now, I should change my sheets and resist the urge to do laundry.

WOW! lots of chatting today! 😀

WTG! Subclinical cleaning and fixing the bunny hutch!
Bunny will love helping you use up excess produce. 😉
Thank you for the wet blankets (((HUGS)))
The evaporative cooler has been doing a pretty good job of filtering the air today.
Hope your exercise motivation helps. 😉

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
I too am allergic to cats.
Standard short hair cats make me itch.
My albino cat makes me itch, sniffle and eyes water.
But the long haired orange and white cats cause me to have asthma attacks when I do not live with one.
Living with cats really helps me to not have such severe reactions when I am exposed to them.
Those spotted skunks usually become very friendly after they eat two pounds of raw bacon.
Discovered this camping in Arizona and having well fed skunks sleeping on the sleeping bags when we woke up in the morning.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA! for things in consignment! 😀
NEW chairs too! How wonderful and new and fresh you are making your home! (((HUGS)))
Big dogs cause me respiratory problems but those tiny little dogs don't.
Horses, allergic to them too. 🙁

Yeah, the smoke is really bad here.
Feel so bad about all the death and destruction from the Carr fire.
Heard there is another fire by Wadsworth.
When all this heat and smoke is all over with I should feel up to cleaning in here for real.
Not just sort of tidying up but really clean.
It needs it. ;P

Tatoulia, they are a smaller variety of skunks called the Western Spotted Skunk, and these are even smaller cuz they are young, so i was just calling them skunk-rats cuz im so disgusted with them. They are not even the slightest bit polite, like SubC's skunks...ha ha :D. Your place does sound really beautiful with all youve done recently!
SubC, i hope you can get back into exercising. Ive felt better since walking at night & i bet you will, too! ;D ...plus, of course, then youll get your ipad back...ha ha. ;D

Great work on the bunny hutch!!! I'm excited for the new bunny! Anony, could you tell me are skunk rats skunks or rats or just what you call them?

Tatoulia, I am glad the guy took your consignments. A furniture upgrade, a new rug, things must be really nice there!

Anony, I wish I had some advice about the skunks. Mine like bread, but mine are very polite. Even if they poop in the barn, it is always the same out if the way corner.

We'll see how the exercise goes - today I did work.

I finished fixing up the bunny hutch.

It was nice to be able to easily find a piece of wood and the screws I needed for the job. I used up more if my cardboard stash on the garden when I cleaned the stalls, so that is progress too.

SubC, how exciting to bring a bunny home! 😀
That idea is great about holding your ipad till you exercise! Just do a little exercise at a time & you will feel better!
Tatoulia, you are really getting things done at warp speed! Fantastic! 😀
I just saw what is likely the Mom skunk-rat. She is WAY bigger than the ones ive seen lately, so now i realize theyre a young litter. That makes 2 litters of skunks around now. The thing is, if i set those rat traps & the Mom gets in it, it would not as likely kill her...at least not instantly & i dont want any animal to suffer, even if its making my life hell....dangit....i really dont know what to do about these mini-skunks...they wont go in the live trap or even eat the bait outside the trap......
Tillie, i hope the smoke is not bothering you as much & youre watching some great movies?! Movies can be such a wonderful escape & inspiration! 😀
~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~♡~☆~

Enjoyed reading your exchange, Anony & SubC! I went to consignment shop and he took all of my things. I bought two very nice chairs for my living space (I'd had my eye on them) and I've already put the chair I'm getting rid of in my car. So I'll take that chair to the shop soon. It's out of the way and in my trunk.

Oh, crossed with Anony.

I have to get dh to take the iPad because I know I don't have the willpower to force myself. If I try to tell myself no iPad until after exercise, I will just rationalize my way out of it.

The rabbit hutch has been thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned, and is drying in the sun. I discovered a minor but essential reinforcement I need to make and found a piece of wood in the barn to use, but will do that after it is dry.

Washed and disinfected the water bottle, and have a new food dish (I don't know if she will come with anything...) tomorrow I am driving 35 minutes to meet the man who has been fostering her for the last 7 months (at a busy restaurant near a major highway, don't worry) and if all goes well she will be home before lunch.

I am starting to feel happy/excited.

SubC, losing your ipad until getting good things done is a great idea! I like that!
I understand about not wanting to be messing with your brain chemistry, it scares me too. Thats why ive never done anti-depressants. Im just so desperate to get going in fixing my place up....but i cant seem to....i hope you feel better soon?! For me, exercising almost always makes me feel better, and shifts my mood! 😀

Tatoulia, your cabinet work was really good!

Anony, I think it's not so much apathy as detachment? I know it's biochemical. I always care, but sometimes I feel and sometimes I just keep going on philosophical principles. Sometimes I care so much I can barely stand it. Like the first day of fair this year - I was actually unable to focus because I was dizzy and nauseated from all the water bottles in the trash cans. Because my biochemical emotional state can swing like that, sometimes very quickly, i'm afraid to take anything to mess with it. Drugs have a build up time and a half life and I don't want the pendulum swinging worse than it does because my body and the drugs decided to push in the same direction.

I took care of my floor. I also worked on cleaning out stalls because it is only a high of 80 and not raining here today! I am in poor physical condition. (Also, my elbow hurts again, but I should not be this winded.) I haven't ridden my exercise bike or gone swimming in months. I asked dh to help me with a consequence. When he comes home, if i haven't done an hour of yard/barn work, swim laps, or ridden the bike that day, he gets my iPad. And he can't give it back until after I do the bike. That will give me at minimum 7 half hours of stationary bike a week, which should help with my cardio Heath.

I'm glad the kitties worked it out.

I'm another allergic to cats person who has a cat. But he is a short haired cat and outside a lot. Also, I have a hepa vacuum.

I want to hang wet blankets over all of tillie's windows to hell with the smoke! But I guess they would dry too fast...

Tatoulia, we cross posted! I never knew allergies were different for each cat?!? That is true cat lady dedication!
I just vacuumed some more until sweat was getting in my eyes...im so bored & restless from this heat. Id be swimming if it weren't for my arm injury....sorry for posting so much, im going so stir crazy...its like cabin fever desert style...ha ha...im gonna make a pineapple banana smoothie next....♡
~☆~I hope everyone has a special & splendid day!~☆~

Tatoulia, i dont clean much...ha ha...but as far as cats & cleaning, its the vacuum that the cleaning person needs to be careful of with the cats, giving them an easy escape away from it, but im sure you know that....♡

Anony I believe in breaking my allergies to cats one cat at a time! My dog allergies are exponentially worse! And I've never successfully overcome a dog allergy.

Take care dear friends!

...well, i just wet to hang with my kitty in her RV & she & the bully neighbor cat were sitting right next to each other & she didnt seem bothered at all....it must be her buddy....she didnt even bother to get up when i told her i was outside & he didnt run away or get up, even though id just chased him off only like an hour ago, so im figuring he is an invited guest...i told him its ok ONLY if he is an invited guest....im glad they are friends?!! =^-^= ♡ =^-^=

Ooh Tillie. I'm so sorry about all the smoke irritants. Wow you and Anony know so much about stuff that this city mouse has no knowledge of!

The Tigger/cleaning lady challenge was more worrying about two litter boxes, two areas of dishes, his giant carrier, etc. plus I'm just a worrier! At work the employees do the vacuuming and dusting and all the maintenance. He's good with a lot of activity/it just seemed like a lot of cats for my tiny living space. He's used to a lot of noise and people in and out. I was just fretting more than the situation required. Problem solved!!

I'm off to consignment store and hoping beyond hope the guy that takes my stuff without an appt is there! I texted him and didn't hear back, which increases the likelihood he is there as he doesn't have his phone out at work

Ttyl!

???!
I meant to post that thing on diatomacious earth in that thread?!? How did that happen?!?
Yes, i get the food grade kind at the Holistic Animal store, cuz i also use it for internal parasites for my cats.