Author: Caryn

Paint brush hack

On By CarynIn Life Hack

We’ve been painting rooms in the house, which is monumental, because we’ve lived here for five years and only done touchups. My kids wanted a room switch and that is a good time to paint. We did install a utility sink awhile back, because both my husband and I have always wanted one, and it makes a good place to do the final rinse of the brushes. But then where to let them dry? I grabbed some clips from the kitchen drawer and tada, paintbrush hooks.

Kitchen clips as paintbrush drying hooks

One of the clips is designed to hold spoons on a pot. It was not a stretch to extend the use to holding a paintbrush on a utility sink. The other two are clips made from coated wire, which are my favorite kitchen clips because they can be used in the pantry or the freezer. I bent open the thumb loops enough to hook the paintbrush handle hole through. It works to keep the bristles off the bottom of the sink and allow them to dry!

Foster fail

On By CarynIn Cats
Thor the kitten fresh off the street, 8-weeks-old

Well, the 8-week-old kitten that ran across four lanes of traffic in front of my car, that I then pulled out of a thorn bush, took home and gave a bath, with the intension of fostering since the local shelters were full, is now part of the family. I always knew if I tried to foster, I would be a foster fail. He gets along well with the dogs, well enough with the other cats, and keeps himself clean enough that he doesn’t trigger my husband’s allergies. He is playful, but still cuddles, and likes being a lap cat. He has now been fixed and microchipped, with our home address. He’s ours. Below is a recent picture, living his best life.

Thor the kitten at 16 weeks old

Where have they gone?

On By CarynIn Garden
Pepper plant with no peppers

I had about six green bell peppers growing on my pepper plants. I checked them every time I passed going to the chicken coop. I had one starting to turn red, and since I like red peppers better than green, I was hoping they were just not ready yet, and needed some time on the stem. Someone thought they were ready, and took them all. All of them, in one day. We have raccoons, fox, opposum, squirrels, deer, all of which could be capable of carrying out the heist, but I suspect my oldest dog Griffin. He was sniffing around the peppers, and is getting rather stubborn in his old age. I think he is more than capable of consuming six green peppers in a go, and still eat all his dinner. I guess we’ll see if pepper plants pop up in the yard next spring.

Quadruplets

On By CarynIn Wildlife
Armadillo quadruplets

My eldest, of the eagle eyes, spotted this year’s batch of armadillos foraging in the back meadow. Nine-banded Armadillos give birth to identical quadruplets. They eat insects, digging into the earth to get to grubs. They also eat ticks and other pests. They can contract and spread leprosy, so best just watched or only handled by trained professionals. They are fun to watch!

More ways

On By CarynIn Cats

After adding shelf space to the catio, it became apparent that there were some bottle necks. There were places where one cat would sit and block passage for the other two cats. To help add escape paths (either out or in), we added some bridges.

Scrap lumber bridge outside the window catio entrance
Solar cloth wrapped 2×4 bridge installed diagonally

One cat will still sit in the window, which blocks the way, but we can see that going on and Missy the dog can break up those tiffs. Missy has given herself the job of cat peacemaker. She will go and investigate any growling or hissing and effectively breakup stand offs. The cats all appreciate the help, even the instigator, because all three cats are still on nose sniffing terms with the dog.

For your entertainment, here is a video of Thor at the top of the catio, reaching out to play with the wind spinner.