Squngee good fun!

For quite some time now we’ve had a bird feeder in the back garden.  It was here when we moved in, so we filled it with wild bird seed to see what sort of birds we’d attract.

So far ther’e’s been Robins, Sparrows and a few Blue Birds…  Probably all standard stuff for most people, but aside from the Sparrows, I’ve never seen the others in real life, let alone the humming birds I just noticed a moment ago.

Pretty cool!

Anyway…  The added bonus of the bird feeder is that all the birds it attracts entertain Oliver endlessly, and since there’s the occasional Squirrel too, he’s in kitty heaven.

Yesterday afternoon I decided I need to increase the entertainment levels, especially Oliver has maintained a vigil at the front door for the 2 and a bit weeks that Mulder has been gone, waiting for him to come home.  Very sad to see, his little heart is broken.

So last night we hit up the Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Store and purchased an additional bird feeder for the larger birds, as the existing one is for small birds (it snaps shut when a heavy bird lands on the perch), and a Squngee for the Squirrels.

Apparently Squirrels like dried corn, they like peanuts and birdseed too apparently, as I’ve been throwing peanuts outside for months, and they keep picking through the cast off birdseed from the feeder.

A Squngee (Sanda, you’re gunna love this!), is essentially a corn holder for Squirrels, only it’s a hanging feeder with a built in spring, so that the Squirrels actually bungee while using it.  Sounds like good fun to me, although I’ve not seen them use it yet.  I do have the camera ready on the off chance it happens soon though.

I couldn’t find a decent photo online to share, but I did find a YouTube video, so check it out for yourself.

So there you have it.  All the birds and Squirrels are (or will be) happy, and Oliver has endless entertainment.

Cheers!

The Houdinis’ Great Escape

In 7 years, 2 continents, 4 flights, 6 airports, and 5 addresses, we’ve never lost them…

Today, a day that’s already miserable…  I dropped Mulder’s remains off for cremation, a task that was a lot harder than I ever imagined…  Crappy weather…   AND I was at Physical Therapy (PT) being “tortured”…  my phone rang.

Do you own two little dogs?  A brown one, and a black one?

Apparently this morning when the gardener came, he either didn’t close the gate properly, or left it open, and Dolce and Vita, who until now have never left the yard unaccompanied, absconded.

Too make it worse, after leaving my PT session half way through, I found them both, in the care of two women, being hand fed roast chicken.

Let’s just say “Father was not amused” when on being called, he was completely ignored.  This is one of those instances where it’s entirely appropriate to point out that they’re both now “in the dog house”, literally, and figuratively.

Oliver may very well become an only child!

Argh…  Guess I’d better finish my workout at home.

Hooroo!

The ass fell out of the sky

Well, it did!  It started out a beautiful day, and now it’s misty outside, humid and the rain is falling in torrents, but at least it saves me having to water the garden.  So there’s definitely a bright side.

It’s been a relatively quiet day, we caught up with a friend; Scott, saw his new house, had lunch, then played pool and had a couple of beers.  Nigh on perfect if you ask me.

Now we’re home for the night, a night that marks the second Mulder-less Sunday.  It’s still hard to believe he’s gone.  Gone but not forgotten.  It’s early days yet, but I’m considering adopting another cat to keep Oliver company, he’s not been his happy little self for a while now.

So we’ll see what happens.

Until then…  Hooroo!

Movie madness

Perhaps “Square Eyes” may be more appropriate.

This weekend, well at least so far has been spent in front of the television catching up on all the recorded shows from the last couple of months.  In my defense I’ve been sorting the laundry and doing the ironing.  Mark has been lying on the couch.

Later on…  We’ll actually be leaving the house, and going to the cinema…   Lazy, leisurely goodness!

Hope you’re all having great weekends out there!

Whoah Nelly!

This week has flown by.  It’s hard to believe it’s Friday evening already, at least it’s been a productive day, the house is almost back in order again.

Tonight is going to be a relaxing evening, if people have to be beaten for it to happen that way.

Have a great weekend!

Crossing to the darkside…

I nearly forgot to blog today…  21 minutes to midnight and I remembered.

I’ve become completely addicted to Civilisation Revolution on the Xbox360 recently, and have spent the evening vying for world domination….  Which I achieved a few short moments ago.

Ahhh sweet bliss…  and horror that I’ve succumbed to the siren song of the video game consoles.

Hooroo!

Sad reunion

I got the phone call I was dreading this morning.  Mulder had been found.  Or all that was left of him.

Symbolically all that remained was a paw.  Which is fitting as regardless of where he sat when he sat with you, he always had to rest one paw on you.  Just to be touching at all times.

So, while it’s tragic and sad, we finally have an answer, he was killed by a coyote, just as we expected, but at least now we’ll not be left eternally wondering.

I’ve decided to have his paw cremated, and his ashes returned to Australia where he was born.

Mulder you were the best of friends, much more than a pet and a cat, you were my little buddy.  We’d been though so much together.  Everyone who met you, loved you.

There were times in previous houses where we thought we’d lost you, only to hear a knock on the door late in the evening, and find you safe in the arms of a neighbour.   You’d wandered into their house to share your love, and spend an evening on their couch.  They’d carry you home, so your paws wouldn’t get cold.

There was even a morning when another neighbour came over to tell us she’d stepped out of the shower to find you curled up on her bed looking up at her.  When we moved away, other neighbour’s bought you farewell gifts, while we, "your staff" got no more than a cursory goodbye…

You’ll always be in our hearts and memories.

Mulder; 24th October 1995 to 10th August 2008.  Rest in Peace.

I’ve shared this poem before, and I’ll share it again, as it’s never been more appropriate than now; Rainbow Bridge.

Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor.  Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.  His bright eyes are intent.  His eager body quivers.  Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…

Author Unknown

Have your cake and eat it too…

Cake of course being a metaphor.

Our friend Mark had his send off this evening as he’s moving from Washington State to Washington DC.  For a chuckle we bought him a cake on the way there.

A very unique cake, one that was the centre of attention, a cake from The Erotic Bakery.  View the site at your own risk.

We thought it funny…   So did Mark (our friend)…   His mother…  Well, she asked me about my motivation, I just smiled and told her it could have been worse, they had alternatives, and at least it was memorable.  Fortunately she laughed too.

You could say it was tasteless.  I can neither confirm or deny….  We left before it was served! 

Oh well, enough of making a dick of myself.  Tee hee!

G’night!

Getting organised

Well today was a busy one.  First thing in the morning was gym, then home to do a stack of chores, organise some paperwork, primarily letters and posters for Mulder, and then post them off to every Vet around.  I’m totally thorough when I search. ;)  Print some photos for family, write out some postcards, and then hit the post office and get them all posted, before meeting a friend out for dinner.

… and now I’m home, and ready for bed, I’m exhausted!

Catch you on the flip side.

A tribute…

8 days, and still no Mulder.  I don’t want to keep harping on about it, or let it take over my blog entirely, but he’s been a large part of my life for over a third of it.  He was more than a cat, he was family!

So, I’ll continue my search, and if there’s any good news I’ll be sure to share it, but until then, I’m going to share one of my favourite photos of him.  It’s how he’s slept with me every night since he was a kitten, right up until the morning he went missing.

Hooroo!