Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Bribery Works

It's currently Navaratri - we wish our Hindu readers a good festival.

Snow's current favourite plaything is one of those transparent plastic storage boxes, (designed to be filled with clothes and go under the bed), full almost to the brim with those little, expanded polystyrene foam, packing pieces, (colloquially known round here as "plastic snot"). She leaps in and out of it, twists and burrows and generally has a whale of a time.

In fact, she loves it so much it's difficult to get her out.

Which is a right pain when I need to put her back in her cage so I can go out.

In the end I resorted to bribery to get her out. There are some little ferret bits she loves, not her normal kibble but special treats. They have a crunchy outer shell and the inside is a malt-flavoured paste. Snow adores them.

Three bits waved where she could smell them brought her right out of the box and back in her cage waiting for them. Bribery works.

Unfortunately I've now made a rod for my own back - she knows if she holds out for a bit she'll get a treat. She now flatly refuses to get out of the box - or the pipe - or her crackle tunnel - until she can smell treats.

Bloody intelligent little so-and-so...

Ze

Monday, September 29, 2014

Marvelous Monday

Another week is underway. Sadly E slept like crap last night and she's the walking dead today. Her Monday was a long one as a result.

I'm hopeful E has better rest tonight.

Tamara

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Weekend Wrap Up

So a weekend with not too many things and yet it felt very busy. I, of course, picked up Tamara's cold and have felt like shit all weekend so that did not help. And how exciting...I get to go back to work on Monday. Really one must remember things could always be worse.

Here is hoping you had a decent weekend. Enjoy what little updates we found. If you know of a site we are not capturing please share.

Have a good one.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Evening is here already?

Our Saturday went by way too fast. I'll let you get to reading.

Tamara

Friday, September 26, 2014

Fall is Here

Weekend is also a good thing. A cold I got from Tamara is not a good thing. Here is hoping you all have great weekend, cold free.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Thursday, September 25, 2014

And the week just keeps rolling along....

My cold is much improved. I've actually had several nights of good sleep. Unfortunately I must still be a wee bit congested because I drove E to the couch last night.

I'll take my cold meds again tonight and hope for quieter sinuses.

Enjoy the updates!

Tamara

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Autumn's Back

First - Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, starts today. We wish our Jewish readers a good year.

Next - thanks E for covering yesterday for me. Much appreciated.

They say that when you're young you go to a lot of weddings and when you're old you go to a lot of funerals. I must be getting old because since the beginning of the 21st century I've been to twice as many funerals as weddings...it would be nice if I didn't have to do another for a while.

Last weekend marked the autumnal equinox, the first day of autumn. The early mornings have felt very autumnal - pretty cool, very misty, no birdsong, dozens of eight-legged monsters in webs in the gardens and fields, (there must be twenty-five of the beasts in our front garden - and our front garden is not very big!!). But other than that we've been enjoying some very warm weather indeed.

The UK, (and you have no idea how very happy I am that my country is still the UK and not just the bit that would be left if Scotland had departed), has been enjoying an "Indian Summer". I've never been sure if that's "Indian" as in the Asian sub-continent or "Indian" as in the common (but incorrect) name for American First Nations peoples. I'll have to investigate one of these days. Whichever it is, it's unseasonably warm - and very welcome.

Hope your days are as beautiful as ours. Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

A Tuesday

Been a while since I updated on a Tuesday. Yeah I miss Ze as well. She will return either tomorrow or next week. Funerals suck. Send her some happy messages telling her how much you miss her. I know I do.

Enjoy your updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Monday, September 22, 2014

Aaaaa-choo!

I was right about our Sunday. We were slugs.

I ended up succumbing to an irritating head cold. I went to bed early but slept horribly even with the application of a lot of cold meds.

As I got ready for the morning I moved around on autopilot. If I were still at my old job I probably would have taken a sick day and slept. As it was, I dragged myself to work and by about 9:30 I was more awake. Thank goodness for day time cold meds and a school schedule that keeps me moving.

Once I got home tonight I crashed. I'm looking forward to bed early tonight. I hope I sleep better.

Tamara

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Beautiful Sunday

Our weather has been awesome but we know the shoe must drop eventually. Rain will return and I will need to enjoy it again. I can say easily I have really enjoyed our incredible summer. Here is hoping next year brings similar weather.

Have a great night and a good start to the week. I be back before you know it.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Usual Weekend

We haven't done too much today. I tried to sleep in...managed to make it to 6:30. *sigh* I'm sure tomorrow I'll do better.

This morning we ran a few errands. Then we came home to do chores, homework (little e) and play outside (Cal). Soon enough our weather will be dominated by rain, rain and more rain. Today, however, has been beautiful and sunny.

Sunday I expect us to be good slugs.

Tamara

Friday, September 19, 2014

Friday Night

On to the weekend we head. No major plans beyond our usual chores. I think each of us would like to sleep in so hopefully that will work out. Here is me sending good thoughts for your weekend may it be filled with Joy.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Thursday, September 18, 2014

One week down, many more to go....

Tomorrow will mark my first week at the new place of employment. So far I think it's going well.

I'm slowly getting used to the way this school does things. It's been interesting working in an inclusion program. It's certainly brought back memories of my days going from class to class in middle school. Maybe by my first month I won't find myself getting turned around in the school.

Of course, the best thing about my new job is the kids. They make going to work fun and I love talking to them and discovering their quirky personalities.

Friday is cooking day...one of my favorite things to do at school. The kids will be making blueberry-peach crisp. I predict we'll have a blast and the kids will make a killer crisp.

Tamara

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Blank

What can you say when there are no words that can comfort??

What can you do when there is nothing that can make it better??

Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Thanks

Thanks, everybody, for the thoughts, messages and condolences. I've passed them on to the rest of the family as well.

Funeral is next Tuesday.

Ze

Monday, September 15, 2014

The Week Begins

Monday goes by fairly smoothly. Only 4 more days 'til the weekend. Tamara had a decent first day, unfortunately more paperwork came home with her. We will tackle some of that tonight.

Enjoy those updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Ugh

New jobs start with a lot of paperwork. That's what I've done this weekend...paperwork.

Tomorrow I'll get to meet my student. And learn all about this new school. It should be interesting and very nerve-wracking until I get used to things.

Wish me luck.

Tamara


Saturday, September 13, 2014

Beautiful

The sun has been out all day. Nice and warm but you can almost feel how it is not as hot and Fall is just around the corner. Few more days of Summer trying to hold out with Fall winning and the cold gray is on our doorstep.

Hope you enjoy the updates and remember you have something to share you let us know.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Friday, September 12, 2014

Change

Today was my last one working for the Shoreline School District. I'm going to miss working for Shoreline. It's a great school district. I'm leaving an excellent special education program and a wonderful student.

But on the bright side, Monday I start my new job with Seattle Public Schools. I'm looking forward to seeing new programs and approaches. It will also be interesting to see how a much larger school district functions. I'll miss a lot of folks in the Shoreline district but I'm ready for a new challenge.

Tamara

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Pooped

It was a long day. Hoping to hit the hay early. Maybe I will be more chatty this weekend. Until then have a good evening and enjoy your Friday.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Now this bell tolling softly for another...

Thank you everybody for the good thoughts & prayers...

Unfortunately he deteriorated during the night. They took him off the ventilator at lunchtime and he was gone by quarter-to-one this afternoon.

He was 47.

Goodnight and may your God/s go with you and keep you safe.

Ze

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Family Issues

My cousin's (the one I share a house with) younger brother collapsed a week ago, suffering from a sub-arachnoid haematoma. He was rushed to hospital. They put him into an induced coma, hoping to relieve the pressure so that they could then operate & put a drain in. The pressure has not decreased.

Because of the haematoma, and a second bleed he suffered before being put into the coma, he has massive brain damage - the sort where he'll have to re-learn how to walk and talk. And he will have memory problems - far worse than mine. If he survives.

He has a 30% chance of surviving.

She's keeping positive for his kids (he has four) and I'm keeping positive for her. Any prayers & good thoughts you can send our way would be gratefully received.

Ze

Monday, September 08, 2014

Doctor Who

So I've slowly been watching the new Doctor Who episodes. I'm currently at the beginning of Season 4. I've never been too picky about who plays the Doctor. Tom Baker will always be my favorite but I don't start out each new incarnation despising the new guy playing him. David Tennant does an excellent job handling the frantic pace of your typical Doctor Who episode.

Season four introduced someone who is turning out to be my favorite new series companion so far...Donna. The new series started off on the wrong foot when they had two companions in a row fall in love with The Doctor. Not that I didn't like Rose and Martha. Donna, however, can make me laugh out loud. That's what I like in a companion...pluck and a smartass attitude. If Donna ends up falling for The Doctor as well, please don't tell me.

Tamara


Sunday, September 07, 2014

Weekend End

Back to the work week we head. We had a nice day today...took the kids and dog to Greenlake and walked around it while the kids rode a paddleboat on the lake. Pretty good day all around.

On another note keep sending good thoughts to Ze and her family as things are not going great (see her Tuesday post).

Enjoy updates.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Saturday, September 06, 2014

Bah!

I really wanted to sleep in today. What did I do instead? I woke up at 5:20...earlier even than I have to get up during the week for work. I gave up around 6:30 and stayed awake. Yuck.

E and I ran a few errands today. The kids enjoyed time relaxing in their rooms. More of the same tomorrow and then back to another week of work.

Decent sized update for y'all tonight. Yippee!

Tamara

Friday, September 05, 2014

End of the Week Wrap Up

Made it through work with lots to get done next week. Tamara made it through her first week back, safely. Kids have a bit of homework but not overwhelmed and this weekend the heavy sun will return. It may be time to visit a park this weekend.

Once again not a ton to read, but Ze should return Tuesday.

Have a great one.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa

Thursday, September 04, 2014

Ready, set, go!

After tomorrow the kids and I will have completed three whole days of the new school. So far things have gone well for all of us. Positive thoughts for next week when the kids in my class traditionally have more issues.

I'll let you get to reading.

Tamara

Wednesday, September 03, 2014

Apologies

Got a bit of a family crisis. I've done the update but I really can't do the chatty bit tonight.

Take care. Stay safe.

Goodnight and may your God/s go with you.

Ze

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Weatherproofing.

I was looking at a new home for Snow last weekend, because the nights are drawing in and getting cooler, and I want her to be comfy through the winter, not cold and wet.

All the ones I liked were a bit too expensive. So I decided to build one myself. Or at least, adapt and weatherproof her old one. There wasn't anything wrong with her house really, it's just it's not insulated and it is a bit open to the weather at the front and sides.

Since I had today off anyway (doctor's appointment late morning) and the weather forecast was good, I thought I might as well do it today.

First thing to do was get the measuring, cutting, and sawing done - all the dangerous bits - while she slept, because she was going to have to be out of her house and running around the garden while I worked on it. I didn't need to wake her up, her natural curiosity kicked in, as soon as she heard the sawing she was down in the bottom section, hopping from foot-to-foot and peering through the bars.

When I let her out she promptly tried to climb up my leg to see what I was doing. Not very successfully, as she couldn't get a good grip on my jeans.

It took a lot longer than I planned as I had to keep stopping work to play - or to catch her before she wriggled out of the garden through the fence.

Eventually it was done. I raised it slightly and rested it on plastic insulation sheets. Then I insulated the sides and roof - couldn't do the front because she needs to get in and out and I need access to clean, change the tray, and put her food bowl in.

Then I covered the whole thing in one of those easy-assemble, plastic, walk-in greenhouses. It's ideal. Keeps the wind and rain off but still allows her to see out and come and go. Perfect.

She had a good nose around and explored - fun new bits to climb and places to hang toys - and then she went back into her house and demanded her supper. Food is so much more interesting than weather protection!!

Ze

Monday, September 01, 2014

Slow Day

Got up nice and early and went out to purchase new tarps for the leaky shed. Let's hope it can make 2 years and be done. Tiny update meaning Ze is just around the corner for one of her mega updates. We owe her big. May you all have a great week.

Peace, Health and Happiness.

Elisa