I thought I was so clever

On August 29, 2020 By CarynIn Life Hack

Having small toys roll under the couch has been driving me batty. So I thought I might stuff pool noodles under the edge of the couches to block errant balls from rolling underneath. Being the end of the pool season, I couldn’t find them in stores, but I found some lovely black pool noodles online. I industrially cut them to size and stuffed them under the edge, only to have the puppy take singular interest in pulling them out and tearing them apart. Sigh. I stuffed them deeper under the couch, which I’m not sure will actually help, but maybe it will a little. Puppies.

Pool noodle under the couch as a block for toys rolling underneath

Observations during yard work

On August 28, 2020August 25, 2020 By CarynIn Flora, Wildlife

I keep my phone on my pocket while I’m working in the yard, and often use it to document flora and fauna. We have lived here over two years and I am still finding new things!

Single rain lily amongst the grass, even though we haven’t had any rain. Maybe the water overspray touched this one patch of ground.

Yellow puff flower (Neptunia lutea) in the meadow, which looks very similar to the purple powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa) that grew at our old house south of here. Very different scientific names, though.

Grass spider set up in the rocks and leaves at the side of the house. I think this one ate all the others, she is huge.

Bark scorpion under glass, since I actually found him in the house near where my puppy had just snuffled. Yikes!

Smelly dog

On August 27, 2020 By CarynIn dog

Missy the Mystery pup loves her crate, but loves her boy Griffin (50 pound lab/schnauzer/gray hound) more. She kept sneaking into his crate instead of hers. That is a big no go for him since he is not a cuddler; loving, affectionate, playful, loyal, but not cuddly. I tried keeping the crate door closed, but she would sneak her nose in and grab one of his blankets and try to pull it out. So I gave Griffin a nice clean blanket, and put the smelly hairy blanket in her crate. She was in heaven. I guess if she can’t cuddle him directly, sleeping surrounded by his scent will do. Dogs.

Missy in her crate with her stuffed jaguar and Griffin’s smelly blanket

What do you see

On August 26, 2020August 22, 2020 By CarynIn art

Walking past the snake’s cage I was suddenly struck by an image in the bark of the log tunnel. I see a woman in a full dress, apron, and bonnet reading a book. Seeing images in random patterns is called pareidolia, and despite that it was originally thought to indicate the early stages of psychosis is now considered perfectly healthy. So, what do you see?

What I see, enhanced with some digital painting

The Girl Who Lived

On August 25, 2020August 22, 2020 By CarynIn dog

My eldest noticed that at certain angles little miss has a lightning bolt on her forehead reminiscent of Harry Potter. I suggested we change her name to Harriet, but that was rejected.