Painting the skylights...finally

We are working on the skylights this weekend, it's been what - three years since they were installed? We went to HD and got some No VOC primer and paint. It was pricey (I think), I didn't bother to check the high fume stuff since I figured the price difference would probably make me change my mind. The Primer was $30 / gal and the paint was $40/gal. We have primed and will start painting in about 30 min. The primer had no odor whatsoever, big difference from Kilz!

Not like one can tell anything from the pictures - but there they are!

Badger, the stray shop cat, is being dropped off at the vet today - he has a neuter scheduled for tomorrow. We applied for a voucher from the Maricopa County Big Fix program and he is being neutered at no charge. One has to send in an application and it took about 2-3 wks to get the voucher. There is a local rescue I have been speaking to who may take him when they have a slot open up at one their Petco adoption sites. They also do the FeLv/FIV testing for $14.50! He needs to be tested and everywhere I've called wants $63 + for the test. When the rescue has their clinic, I am going to take Ocho as well. I think I am going to speak to them about finding Ocho a home as well. Its unfair for him living without a real family - he is still segregated from our cats and I can tell he is lonely living down in the big room. He's such a lover and deserves better. Here are some good pics of Badger:

Sweltering Saturday

Started off our morning training wth Sam from Pet Behavior Solutions http://www.petbehaviorsolutions.com/. Its been over a year since we last worked with her and she said Trigger has come a long way since she last saw him, she said our work with him is obvious. Mike and Sandy came and helped; Sandy is a mellow, sweet yellow lab who was as perfect as can be.

Then we had lunch with our friend Thuong who is moving to Portland in a week for work training. He will be there until December. Kind and thoughtful friend that he is, he brought me a wonderful painting!

This is what our cats do on hot Phoenix afternoons:

On another note, we had a feral cat living in our warehouse at work. It was pooping and peeing on the rug outside the conference room. So, they trapped him and he was going to be delivered to county animal control ( which = euthanasia). I figured I'd bring him home, get him neutered and set him lose with our neighborhood colony. Well, when I got him home, out of the trap and into a dog crate - I realized he is not feral at all but a very sweet little boy. He was severly dehydrated and very skinny and extraordinarily filthy. It was gross petting him. Here is his picture:

I know all of the rescues are struggling but I'm going to have to get him placed. He is recovering nicely but hates living in a dog crate quarantined. (His nose is bloody from trying to escape from the trap).

River Trip & Happy Anniversary

Just back from a week of rafting the Colorado River in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It was spectacular and so cool to see the Canyon from the bottom. The trip was a gift from Jeff's boss for his 10 year anniversary with the company. We put in at Lee's Ferry, took out at Phantom Ranch, stayed a night at the ranch, took mules out then stayed a night at El Tovar on the South Rim. We took the trip with OARS, who I could not recommend more: http://www.oars.com/

Mom & dad were utter angels and came down to watch our kids. They also cleaned and did some home repairs which are SO APPRECIATED! The day after we arrived home was their 39th Wedding Anniversary so we treated them to dinner at Marcellino's - one of my fave restaurants here in town. Dad said it was good sign when he heard Italian coming from the kitchen. I think they were not disappointed! http://www.marcellinoristorante.com/

Saturday June 20th

I decided late last night that we would go riding first thing this a.m. I woke Jeff up from the couch and warned him that I was making him get up early and we were riding at 7am.

It was a ball! Boy, are we in for it on the mules for five hours out of the Canyon. The one hour killed my butt, knees and thighs - I forgot how riding uses such different muscles! Jeff's horse was so pretty, she reminded me of a draft horse with her large furry feet. My horse's name was "Stubs" because one ear was partially missing due to frostbite (when he lived in CO).

After the ride, we ran over to The Farm and had a lovely breakfast before they close down for the summer.

Although the garden is slowing down in the heat, we do have melons coming up. Here's one of them below. Can you believe we didn't get one single pepper out of the six+ transplants we put in? Worms got every single pepper.

And a pic of my boy for good measure.

Happy 9th Birthday Leonard!

Where do the years go? Our little bean is 9 yrs old today. So me and my boy celebrated by going to Steele Indian School Park before it got too hot out. He had a ball. We are taking him to the pet store shortly - maybe even a new toy?! Happy Birthday punkin.

And from the garden this morning....I am going to have to start delivering pints of tomatoes to the neighbors....

Saturday's Bounty. So, the unknown thing looks like miniature butternut squash to me...it stopped growing so I picked two of them. We also harvested a bunch more cherry tomatoes and two zucchini (one normal and one deformed). More zuchinni have ended up in the compost pile than in our bellies. From reading, I think they were not fully pollinated and that's why they are staying tiny. I have thrown 4 of the green peppers into the compost pile as well...hopefully we'll get at least one before the plant is done. Oh, by the way - I was going to assist with the zucchini pollination this morning and was pleasantly surprised to find a BEE in the flower! Yay - Mother Nature!! I decided to wait another week and see what happens - maybe the bees are just finally finding my house :) Jeff and his girl, Magda. This is absolutely the most exciting for her: pulling Jeff on the skateboard. She must have Husky in her somewhere because she totally goes ape-noodles when her harness goes on. Going.....
Returning.....

Happy Mothers Day

And a very Happy Mother's Day to Jeffs step-mom, Marilyn, as well. Marilyn - I have -zero- photos of you, do you know that??