Checking out the cabin

Up on the hill I have a cabin. I've never stayed there. Some of Mark's college kids camped up there, and there is a hunter and his son who use it each year. Over the years, we've allowed different neighbors and friends to hunt, but they've been more interested in trophies than taking doe off our overpopulated hill. A buck is just one deer. A doe is three deer - herself and the two fawns she would have in spring. If a deer is going to be shot on this hill, it needs to benefit the population, not just put antlers on someone's wall. We finally found someone who would hunt for meat, and he's been hunting here for two years so far.

The cabin has suffered from the weather, so when the hunter offered money this year to use the land, I said "fix up the cabin instead." He, and sometimes his son, have been up there five or six times this summer so I thought I'd go up and see what they accomplished.



Quite a lot. The roof has been painted with roof sealant. The ceiling inside has been painted (to wipe out the old leak marks, to check for new leak marks). They built a little stone threshold, cut down a bunch of old dead trees, moved a lot of junk, and even raked, it looks like.

They even brought up a carpet and a piece of vinyl flooring. I hope the mice don't eat it! And, speaking of which, they even laid out mouse traps (which are unsprung).



The son made a sign, and his father brought it up one day and nailed it to the cabin.



I suppose I should fire up the heater to make sure it is working, and get some water up there so they have something to put out campfires. Maybe I should put a gutter on that cabin and just get a rain barrel. Anyway, I was pleased to see the cabin wasn't going to fall down this year or next.

Go, young traveler, to Chicago.

Oh, hell, go even if you are old. What a gorgeous city! It's hard to keep in mind that, like all cities, it has its challenges. With my train and part of the hotel paid for by work (I paid for the extra night I stayed over), a great conference, and two half days to wander and learn, it was a rare opportunity to take a few breaths and a few steps for myself.

I love traveling alone. While companions are treasured for laughter and sharing (and sharing again, afterward), there is something to be said about sitting when you wish to sit, eating where you wish to eat, napping on a bench in the sun, pulling out a book at your table during your meal, falling asleep with the TV on in the hotel, and deciding to spend the last hours before the train leaves stepping from water taxi to water taxi to watch the city grow dark and the lights grow bright on the river.

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

I went to Chicago with three goals for my free time: Eat really good food, visit the SkyLedge, and buy a ring. (I buy a locally made ring, when I can, everywhere I travel). I did eat, I did get up to the Ledge (the regular windows had better views, IMO), but I couldn't find a local craft jeweler anywhere. I guess I needed to wander over to The Magnificent Mile, but time was too short.

The water taxi more than made up for any ring. I love finding beauty for just a handful of dollars, and it probably was the most beautiful experience I've had in any city.

So now I am home and inspired by the Feline Forum. I can't say I'm rested, but I'm certainly revived.



(the view from the water taxi, approaching Navy Pier, around 7:00pm)

Thinking that I might be happy

Yup, I think all ya'll worriers can find something to worry about other than me. I was sitting here on the porch the other day wondering what had changed and realized I don't feel GUILTY all the time. No guilt about my cats, about what colors I choose to paint the walls, about whether the grass got a little bit tall before being mowed, about whether my partner is doing more work than I am on the property (because now I'm doing it all)...

I don't have to obsess about being I'm too tired from work, home, and cats to be affectionate enough--because now I don't have to be affectionate at ALL. And you know, there's something to be said for that!.

I'm able to do things that I had compromised on before for the sake of the relationship. Don't get me wrong. It's worth compromising for the benefits you get from a partnership. You OUGHT to compromise on things when you love someone. But I have to say, once the pain of a breakup fade, the benefits of singlehood shine through.

It's funny to see what is getting done now that didn't get done for ten years...even though before there were two people here instead of one. I have to wonder what tied our hands. For the first time since I've been here, my front garden is actually a front garden, albeit a somewhat wild one (Yes, that is a zucchini in there). The house is (still slowly) getting painted. I'm looking forward to having the house redecorated by next spring.

Now all I have to do is get some serious drawing done, as well as some writing. When I sit back with a glass of wine and look up at a finished drawing...well, then I'll know things are really really OK.

Here's to all my friends, and my family, and all those Friends of Wildrun. You have saved my life, and I know it!

It's September.

And September is MY month. Well, my sister Linda's too. And now and then a new song comes across the radio that makes you keep the truck on when you pull in the drive, just so you can sit and listen.

Turn off the monitor to avoid those annoying colors and listen.




So damn easy to say that life's so hard
Everybody's got their share of battle scars
As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars that I'm alive and well...
It'd be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me...I'm alive


And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life and I'm alive
And well...I'm alive and well

The stars are dancin' on the water here tonight
It's gonna fall a soul when there's not a soul in sight
This boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life now I'm alive and well

And today you know that's good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can't you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life and I'm alive
And well...I'm alive and well

Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews.

Summer ends; fall begins; nesting

My neighbor around the corner used to have a "perpetual garage sale." This year she held no sales at all, which was sad because I enjoyed knocking around in them, but is just as well for me, because this woman doesn't stock junk and I always found something to buy. She has a knack for finding very cool, antique to near-antique stuff. Monday, I was running into Ithaca to feed the cats and realized she had her sale up...the only time this summer. Argh! On the way home I stopped by, and of course found something silly to buy for $3--a cat doorstop (signed, but I can't read the signature) that I am using to hold open the screen door on the den.

I'll know life is back to normal when that screen door is back in the barn.

Then I discovered she was the person who left this note. Well, I probably would have helped her had I realized it was her...but it's just as well I didn't, because she caught the little cat on her own, took it to the vet, and the cat is now living as happy as a clam in their house.

So there you go.

I'm down to three kittens in the house because Francine is at the off-site cage at Cornerstone. It seems nearly quiet here! That will end, since I have four in the barn who will soon come in, or go to foster homes. Still, at least they are going out about as fast as they are going in.

I'm waiting impatiently and happily for my carpet to arrive. The thought of having floor covering that is clean, one color (versus countless throw rugs), and a color of my own choosing, thrills me. And two rooms with matching carpet, running into one another? You mean...continuity?

I'm not quite sure what's up with the gold and brown theme that is running through my life lately. I've decided not to wonder about it. For some reason I look at colors ranging from deep gold to copper and think "I want THAT." Well, okay, fine.

Sometimes I think "There's too much yellow and gold in the house." Then I get the same attitude that I did with the tattoo. Who the hell cares? It's my house. It's not like there are hundreds of people passing through here. It's probably more important that I like it, because then I'll keep it nicely. People are more likely to notice that the house is clean than "gosh, all her rooms are yellow or gold."

Speaking of tattoos, I continue to be very pleased with mine. I have no regrets at all...not one tiny twinge.

These days are so gorgeous. I love fall. I try not to think about the snow that will fall soon and enjoy these beautiful days.

Happy Labor Day...now get back to work

Yeah, I know it's a fuzzy photo, but I was too lazy to take more.

Fart and Hiccup were adopted today, leaving little Burp alone with the teenagers, and he doesn't seem too intimidated, as long as there is a door between them!

With Henry adopted as well, that's three kittens off to new homes this week.

You can see the pink carpet in the photo. Donna and Tim had old carpet come their way and I put some of it down in the walk-in room to see if I could tolerate carpet in that area. The floor near the bow window is like ice in the winter. But carpet and cats? Not to mention a little dog who isn't absolutely perfect with her house training? No way did I want to spend money on carpet, only to regret it later.

However, the cats were happy as clams once that carpet was down. I even found them sound asleep on it a few times. Apparently they have no sense of interior decorating and didn't notice how badly the bright yellow walls went with pink carpet. Ditzy obliged by throwing up on it three times to give me a nice "real world" experience.

So off I went, and after some serious sticker shock, purchased a really beautiful copper brown carpet for the walk-in room (but not the hall way) and the fireplace room. It won't be wall to wall in both rooms, and I'll be installing it myself (no way could I afford the $2000 I was quoted at two places to have two rooms entirely professionally carpeted). But it will be clean and neat, and it should tie the two rooms together. Especially once the screen door is down and stowed in the barn again after kitten season!

You little son of a *$&##!!!!!

Do you know how much this hat COST?

I got it at the Lorenzo competition last year and it was the only one there! I love this hat!

Oh well. I cut the chewed parts off and I guess now it has character.

Dogs!!!!