Oh Where, Oh Where, has My Turtle Gone???????

TRAGEDY strikes the Critter Farm.

I left the house a few hours on Friday morning and when I returned I found the small plastic aquarium Tony Turtle lives in on the floor. The lid was off, water all over and rocks laying on the floor, but no Tony! I had the aquarium on the cupboard pushed clear to the back wall. I had put a cookie jar, a 1/2 gallon container full of water in front of the aquarium to protect it from

Murphy.

I must tell you Murph loves to dump STUFF over. We never leave a glass or cup of liquid around on the cupboard or table. He will jump up and push it off. He finds alot of joy in making messes.

Knowing this, I barricaded (so I thought) the aquarium from him. Well it did not work!

I have looked and looked for the Little Turtle. AJ has pulled out the furniture and I have run the yard stick under Fridge and Stove. I have found pens, pecans in there shell from last fall, many plastic balls, little fur mice cat toys, a lost check book, and lots of dust bunnies, but no Turtle.

I have even got on the Web to see if a Cat would EAT a turtle and was told no, but he would have a good time playing with one.

I am sure Murphy did just that, played and played with Tony untill he batted him under something. After a while I am sure Tony just crawled to a safe place and is holding up there untill we find him. I have no doubt I will find him (someday).

He is a Water Turtle so without water I am afraid his days are numbered.

Poor Tony

and

"That Darn Cat!!!!!"

Tony or Tonie ?

Teeny-Tiny-Turtle-Tony

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Tony's Tummy
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Tony's Tired

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Tony's Thinking

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Tony Treading (water)

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Okay, I am sitting at the PC doing eBay and I get a call from

AJ who is at work. "Come on down to the Store I have something for you" he says.

"What ?" I say.

"A turtle" he says.

"WHAT???" I say.

He then goes on to tell me, he was behind the counter and looks down

at the floor and sees something crawling.

At first he thinks it's a bug.

Looking closer he sees it a Baby Water Turtle.

He picks it up and puts it

in a box to keep it safe untill I get there.

Now how the Little Guy or Gal got in the Store is a mystery.

I bring the Baby home and put it in a small aquarium I had for

a Beta Fish-"Moe".

I get on the internet and read about how to care for these Little Guys.

I have had him 4 days and so far he or she is doing fine.

Oh My Gosh!!!

What Next?

Meet Mr. Herman Opossum

No touching this Guy!!!!

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Those teeth were like needles!

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Opossums are not really that eye appealing.....
but this Fellow was cute!

A few mornings ago AJ went out to check on our Pigeons

and found that something had reached through the wire

during the night and snatched one of our Baby Birds. He

found the remains of the Little thing and figured it was

a raccoon. We have had raccoons in our back yard before, so

they became our first suspects.

He put the remains of the Baby into a Live Trap Cage in

hopes that the Bandit would return that night and take the bait.

We would then take the racoon to the woods, let him go

and he could live Happily Ever After.

Well the next morning AJ gets up and checks the trap

and sure enough there was a Critter in it.

A Young Opossum!

Now we did not blame the Crime on this Little Guy.

He was innocent.

He was in the wrong place at the wrong time!

He was looked after and then taken to the woods and

let go.

Before he left our back yard AJ had already named him

"Herman".

Herman was not a Happy Camper here with us,

as you can see in the pictures.

He complained alot!

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While you are watering your plants don't forget to fill the Bird Bath!

That Darn CAT!

This, as most of you know, is Murphy. Murf will be 2 years old in Oct.

Murphy has taken over AJ's and ME's house.

We have always been very lenient with our Pets,

but this Big Guy has taken it to the limit.

There is no keeping him off the furniture.

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We can't eat a meal in peace.

Usually we put him in the

Bathroom till the meal is over.

Sometimes we just say to heck with it!

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As you can see Murf will just sit patiently waiting his turn.

Eyes on the prey, not moving a muscle.

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AJ always leaves him a bit in the bottom of the bowl.

He will lap it up with out spilling a drop!

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Then it is on to the spoon to get the very last drop.

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Sometimes Murphy sits on his chair
and watches as we eat.
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He actually sits up for AJ to get his treat.
We have got to get a Dog!
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It 's normal for Cats to go high.

Murphy will find the highest spot in the house

and some how get up there.

Then He will just look at you as to say

"Look what I can do!"

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This is what I wake up to every morning.

This is a 6 drawer Tower Chest -of-Drawers

that stands next to my bed.

He sleeps there.

The first thing I see every

morning is this Big Guy

looking down at me.

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When a Cats sleep belly-up

it means they feel completly

safe in their surrounding.

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Please keep the Bird Baths full of water this Hot Summer.

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Brown Sugar Chewies MMM-MMM Good!

For years I only had local TV channels.

Now that we have been forced to view TV

differently, I got Dish TV.

I have got 250 channels. I still mostly watch the

local stations. One channel I have really gotten

hooked on is the

"Food Network".

Some of the recipies are so off the wall,

I would never attempt to try them. But once in

a while there is a recipe that is appealing

to ME.

My Family loves

Chocolate!

But after awhile I long to make something not

dark brown.

One of my favorite Food Network Stars is

Paula Dean.

She does alot of home cooking.

This is one of Paula's recipes and I tried it out on my Family

at Cassie's Graduation Party.

They went over great.

Paula serves her's with Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

We had ours with Coffee and the Plate emptied

FAST!

These are so easy and Sooo Gooood!

Paula Dean's

Brown Sugar Chewies

1/2 stick butter or oleo

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup chopped pecans

greased 8"x8" cake pan

350 degree oven
bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick

comes out clean

Melt butter or oleo and brown sugar in small sauce pan.

Remove from heat and put in mixing bowl.

Let cool for just a few minutes.

Add egg and beat by hand until blended.

Add flour, baking powder and vanilla.

Beat by hand until well blended.

Add nuts and mix in well.

Pour into greased pan.

Bake

When done let cool on wire rack and cut into squares.

Dust with powdered sugar.

This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9 x 13" cake pan.

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Paula Dean and ME hope you like them!

A Star Spangled Finish to the 3rd Grade

Madison's last days of school were while the Out-of Towners were here.

They had the pleasure of getting up early one morning and going to her school and watch her perform

at a morning assembly.

Can you find Wade? He is in a Yellow Shirt. Hint: a Striped Yellow Shirt.

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Madison and her BFF (Best Friend Forever) Courtney, were picked out of 3 -3rd grade- classes

to sing "The Star Spangled Banner", ACHAPELLO!!!

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I had been hearing her praticing for a couple of weeks and I tell you

I was nervous.

That is a hard song to sing even with back-up music.

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Well, those 2 Little Girls got up on the stage all alone.

The Music Teacher gave them the down beat and they

began to sing.

They sounded like Little Nightingales.

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They got a huge round of applause from their peers.

The Principle said it gave her Goose-Bumps.

The Music Teacher gave them both Big Hugs.

And doesn't the Teacher look Happy and Proud?

In the back ground of this picture you can

see Mom, Grandpa Steve, Grandma Donna,

Aunt Deb and Uncle Larry bursting with Pride.

What you can not see is Mimi (ME), behind the camera

so teary-eyed I could hardly take the pictures.

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Good Job Girls!!!

Out-of -Towners Part IV - Graduation Hang-Over!

The Party is over and the Guests have left except Larry and Deb.

They stayed on for another 3 days.

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Teddy is so tired from looking for and eating, any crumbs that fell on the floor

during meals.

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Tilly finally got her cage cleaned.

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Hillery is just plain Pooped!
Her tail has been wagging 24-7.
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The Cats have come out of hiding.
Alphie is so happy
he
finally has his sofa back.
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Cassie can now nurse her Sinus problems with no
embarassment.
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Madison is happy she still has a face, it was almost
kissed off the past few days!
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Steve and Donna just wanted their own bed again.
You are only 12 hours from your bed Guys!
They drove down from Illinois.
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Larry and Wade are now headed to Dallas to see a Base Ball Game
and spend the night.
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AJ did so good at spending alot of time with this "Family"
he married into. I sometimes think they like him better than
they like
ME.
Jen is wondering "what day do the Cleaning Ladies come?"
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It was a long week but it was sooo fun.
Thanks !!! everyone for coming down.
I know Cassie was tickled to pieces
to see each and every one of You.
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Out-of -Towners Part III - Graduation

On May 26, 2009 Catherine Lee Graduated From High School.

This is the "Bunch" that went to cheer her on.

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The 2 in Shades are her favorite Guys.

Dad & Little Brother.

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As you can tell by the photo we were in the "Nose Bleed" section.

See anyone you know?

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There were about 550 Kids Graduating.

There was a Big Screen so you could almost see Cass

get her diploma.

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After Graduation we all went to a Local Restaurant.

There was alot of hugs and smiles.

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In 8 short years we will be watching this Little One Graduate.

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It was so nice seeing Family again. I had not seen Deb for 4 years and
had not seen Chris for 1 1/2 years.
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Cassie & Jordon
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These are Our Furture Leaders!
Kind of Scary?
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Out-of Towners Part II - Memorial Day

Memorial Day was a combo of Holiday and Cassie's Graduation Party.

What is the best thing to do on a Holiday and and at a Party?

EAT!!!

Jen didn't want to spend the day cooking, so she catered in Lunch from Olive Garden.

Yummm Yummmm!!!

We had

Spaghitti with Meat Sauce

Spaghitti with Marinara Sauce

Cheese Ravioli

Lasagna

Noodles with Alfrado Sauce

Garlic Bread Sticks

Salad

It was wonderful!

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She served it Buffet Style and on very nice paper Plates. There was little

preperation and barely no clean up.

We all had a lot of time to visit

and did not spend alot of time in the kitchen.

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This is the Grad Girl with her New Best Squeeze, James.

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A Lot of visiting was done by the Guys.
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My Brother John made it down from Texas.

He does not live in

Luckenbach!

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Chatting at the dinning room table was an on going thing.

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After eating and chit-chating we all settled in the Living Room

to watch Cassie open her Graduation Gifts.

She got a Lap-top from Aunt Jen & Uncle Wade.

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This really fit :

I GRADUATED!

can I go back to bed now?

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Some cards were funny and made her laugh

and some made her cry.

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This little Fellow played and danced

"The Chicken Dance"

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After the gifts, we all had a whopper size piece of this!

It was a really great day.

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The evening was upon us and we all went out on the patio.

The sky looked as if it was Celebrating the Day also.
It looked like an explosion of Clouds.

A Beautiful OK Sky.

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