Saturday, April 30, 2016

A Treasure Box Filled With Cats!


Juvy took a big risk the other day, jumping from the chair to the new sofa!
Very brave!


And Allistair was his sweet and cuddly self.
I don't know if you'll be able to hear in the video, but he was SNORING
while snuggling me the other day.
It's very endearing (when it's at cat level and when it's not while I'm also trying to sleep!)

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Two Videos



Here's a little surprise for you under the blankie . . . 



And here's what it's like to work in my beautiful sunny office:

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Moments In The Life Of A Christie


Here's what a typical evening 'round here might entail:



And here's an update on our new couch . . . 


Ahhh . . . what a relaxing post this is!  Off for more snuggles!

xo

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Gandalf


Allistair found a new place to nap!

There are comfy cat-friendly napping places everywhere in our house.



Allistair decided that this stack of books was the perfect thing
to prop himself up (so he looks suave).



 The other night, Daddy was out for a while, and Allistair (and Wanda the Whale)
went over and hung out in Daddy's slippers.
Sometimes it makes us feel less lonely to be near the people we love.


Getting ready for our trip in a while, Greg took the Visiting Driver Training Programme for New Zealand.
It was hilarious; obviously the Kiwis have a great sense of humor. 


As he got answers right, he won things . . . like a whale tail! 


They even used a "Lord Of The Rings" scene in the programme!
Do you see Gandalf, the Wizard?


Here's a close-up!



 While I was washing the bedding on Saturday, Allistair couldn't find a nice place to sleep, so he made do with this spot.


It sure was cute!



Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Fuzzy Sleepers


Stephen has been enjoying "helping" me work.


He lies there and smile at me like this . . . 


And then he uses his eyes to ask, "Why are you not petting me?" 


It's hard to come up with an appropriate answer.


 Allistair also talks with his eyes.

"You are too close."



 "Please keep it down.  I'm trying to sleep."





"I'm doing yoga, too . . . oh, I think I have fallen into the corpse pose.
Zzzzzzz."




Here is an outfit from last week I found on my camera.
I haven't worn this dress in a while, and I really like it!
The only issue I discovered is that it's starting to show wear (fabric balling a little).
So I'll wear it for home days and not out days. 
Perhaps it will become a Saturday dress.
dress: from Macy's
bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction from Ross


I really like pairing navies with bright green. 

And I love the shape of this bag.




We've been catching up on yardwork, and the yard is really pretty right now!

The cacti are blooming.
This cactus is teeny tiny and its flowers are HUGE!



Our red yucca is also blooming.
Hummingbirds and verdin love these, so I do, too!


Here's the end of the red yucca stalk that grows up a few times per year for the birds to eat:


Here are some tiny feathery sweet acacia leaves:


Here's that tree from farther away:


The sky was a beautiful blue while we were working out there,
but the clouds were a-buildin'
and it rained the next day. 



 Here's AFTER the yardwork:








And our Gila Woodpecker has been eating on the yucca flowers every day!


We also discovered that there are actually TWO Gila Woodpeckers.  This one is the female because she doesn't have a red spot on her head or a yellow belly.  We have a PAIR! 


We love her!  It's like having our very own nature preserve!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Gila Woodpecker!



I finally got some great photos (and footage!)
of the Gila (pronounced "HEE-la") Woodpecker who's been hanging out around our house!
I feel as if I won an award or captured a rampaging beast.
I deserve a medal because this guy has been very shy.




His long nose pokes right in those blossoms!







Here's the amazing video footage!


I love him and I'm thrilled to have a backyard that attracts such beautiful creatures!

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Selfies With Cats



I decided I needed some photos of myself with my cats.
I only succeed so far with Claude & Stephen - but I'll keep trying!

Christie & Claude:


 Christie & Stephen:


P.S.  Getting warmer . . . 
but much better than 115!


Thursday, April 7, 2016

Thanks, Tuft & Needle!

I got an unexpected box in the mail a while back . . . 

from Tuft & Needle, the company that
made our mattress!

It was a mystery because we hadn't ordered anything.



Find out more here . . .












Thank you, Tuft & Needle!

from: Greg & Christie

Claude,
Juvy,
Stephen,
& Allistair


P.S.  My brother and his wife just ordered a Tuft & Needle mattress for their daughter!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

A Spring Walk


Beautiful palm trees and blue sky!
Perhaps this can help you in colder climates feel as if you are on vacation.

I walked this morning after the sun came up, and it was lovely.

Sweet Acacia trees are in bloom:




Chinese Elm trees are leafed out:
 





Red Yuccas are blossoming: 


Hummingbirds love these. 


Curved Bill Thrashers are active! 


Mockingbirds are active, too!




This is some great zoom-age right here!


Happy little birdie! 



Dwarf palm trees are developing their strange flowers/fruits: 



Their fan leaves are pretty: 




The citrus are fruiting out . . . 
and we can all tell because we're sniffling and sneezing.
Citrus blossoms smell great, but in a sickly sweet sort of sneezy way.
They cause a lot of allergy symptoms! 


Oranges:




Grapefruits
(or maybe big lemons?):




Big palm tree: 


Someone lost some balloons:


Interesting tree bark: 


Bigger: 


I think it's odd how leaves develop on the tips of the branches first.



Flower beds are in their last glory for the year before the 
summer sun scorches them to death.


 I found a nickle!


Pink oleander shrubs are blooming, too.
They are almost always blooming. 


I can't get over the clear brilliant blue of the sky! 


This is my neighborhood.  I like how the mountains are visible through the houses.
Those mountains are very far away. 


Yellow Lantana.
Pretty, but they attract whiteflies and have sticky sap - yuck!




 The turn into our neighborhood has flowers, too.



And look what I found in our gold starburst sculpture this morning!
Cat fur!
Someone (Claude, our only long-haired cat) has been brushing herself!!!


We caught Allistair using it for this purpose, too . . . weird, but useful!