Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!

Quack!

RIP Sandy

  Remember sweet little Sandy? Well, he's passed onto the great gerbil home in the sky. We know he's up there, frolicking in fields and rolling in sand with his brother Snow-belly. We were sorry to see him go but he had a long life for a gerbil - about 4 years. You can't ask for more than that. He was pretty cheerful right up until the end although I could tell he was having trouble getting comfortable, what with the sleeping in strange places, strange positions and all the tipping over. We buried him out back with the other assorted rodents and fish. Then Doodlebug and I said some nice words over his grave. He'll live forever in our hearts.

Doodlebug arranged some willow sticks (some of Sandy's favorites to chew on) into RIP over his grave:
 

Quack!

As Tasty as Paper Fruit

So I've been very creative lately. I rearranged my art station yet again. It's closer to the main family action (and therefore easier to slip in and work for 5 minutes here and there) yet, I have it cordoned off so it's not particularly easy to get into and not easy to see me when I'm holed up in there. All walled off in the back quarter of the guinea pig's room / music conservatory / backup pantry / catchall room for stuff, aka the room previously known as the dining room.

I have some work surfaces, storage for my stuff, a radio. What more could you want?

Here's one of the things I made:

Yes, it's a fruit bowl and fruit. Made out of paper. I know. Who makes things like that? Apparently I do. It was fun. I don't know what I'll do with it now that it's done, but I like it. 

Quack!

Like a Cherry Cordial, but with a Fly Center

You know what's disgusting? Finding a big fat black house fly floating in your coffee. That's what.

As you may know I'm not a big fan of bugs, but I'm not a complete wimp about them either. At least not all bugs. I'll pick up earthworms and let ladybugs walk on my hands. I'll pet woolly bear caterpillars, admire large slugs

and even be somewhat delighted by large green katydids walking up my stomach.

But something about a large housefly doing the backstroke in my coffee really turned my stomach.

You see, I poured myself a nice cup of coffee from the big urn at work. Then I poured in a bit of sugar from the sugar canister. I didn't think much of the lump of sugar when it plunked in. Sugar lumps happen. And usually they are tasty. But when the sugar lump has a fly center, like a corrupt, mutant cherry cordial, it's kinda gross. I carried my coffee down to my desk, took off the lid, poured in a bit of creamer and stirred it up. And a big fat black house fly floated up to the surface, no longer camouflaged in sugar crystals.

It took my mind a minute to process that it was actually a large insect floating in my much-anticipated morning beverage. I poked it several times with the coffee stirrer, watching its bloated, dead body, translucent wings, six legs and bulging eyes bob up and down.

I then carefully covered my mug again and returned to the break room. I dumped it down the drain and spent the next 15 minutes scrubbing my coffee mug and vowing never, ever, ever, ever, ever to use the sugar canister again. (I have a history with those things anyway).

Then I poured myself a fresh cup sans sugar and took it to my desk, trying to tell myself that I had scrubbed every fly molecule out of that cup. I wasn't quite convinced despite the elbow grease I had applied, the sore muscles I had acquired and the mounds of soapy bubbles I left behind in the break room sink. But I stirred it several times and nothing gross bobbed to the surface. I added some sugar from my own stash in my drawer (that sugar stash is a whole blog post in itself - maybe I'll tell you about it sometime). I stirred it several more times. It seemed safe. I tentatively took a sip. No legs. No wings. At least not that I could detect with my taste buds or my tongue.

I finished the cup with nary an incident, but I may not ever be able to drink coffee with quite the same carefree aplomb again. Damn fly!

Quack!

Dunkable, Drizzlable, Delicious

  So I finally got a chocolate fountain. I know I know, what took me so long, right? I mean, a chocolate fountain! Flowing with sweet, chocolately goodness! How could I have gone so long without one. I even managed to find one with a timer so each morning at 6AM it starts up and I wake to the smell and sounds of trickling chocolate drizzling down.

Ok, so the timer and the morning chocolate are just a dream, but I did get a chocolate fountain.

For the last few birthday parties we set that baby up with an array of dunkable, drizzlable, tasty treats - cookies, pretzels, strawberries, Krispie treats, cake, marshmallows, potato chips. I have to say, a Krispie treats dunked in chocolate is one of the most delicious things ever. EVER! Really!

In any case, a chocolate fountain is an incredible invention! The only downside was that I grossed out all the guests when I stuck my face under the fountain and just drank it straight up. It was messy, but wow! That was delicious!

Quack!

It's Wooly Bear Season

  Don't you just love wooly bear caterpillar season? Me too! I've seen quite a few so far this year.

The other day while I was at Dunkin' Donuts getting myself several donuts some coffee, I ran into one crossing the sidewalk. I think he wanted some coffee but I'm not sure. In any case, the ducklings and I took him for a little ride. We didn't think he was safe on the rowdy sidewalks of Dunkin' Donuts, so we drove him over to the mall and let him go in some nice big fluffy bushes. He seemed very happy.

Then I ran into another in the backyard. He was strolling across the grass, all fuzzy and cute. I brought him in the house for a short visit with the ducklings, then let him go in the willow tree. He really took off up the trunk! He was a caterpillar on a mission!

And of course I've seen plenty crossing the road. Just the other day Sweet Pea and I were driving along the highway and I said, "Oh no! I hope I didn't run him over?"

"Who?" asked Sweet Pea, looking at me quizzically.
"The wooly bear caterpillar. Didn't you see him?"

I think she thought I was crazy. Who sees caterpillars crossing the road when you're going 70 mph?

I do, that's who! I hope I didn't squish him!

Quack!