Mimmsical Creations

I wanted to share our holidays with you, even though they are well past! Mike's birthday falls right before Christmas. We had quite the crazy couple of weeks filled with celebrating and presents! Mike was very good to me for Christmas! Not only did he buy me a couple things that I had put on my "list" - he surprised me with other unexpected things too! Project Runway - Season 4 DVDs were on my list! Yay! Amazing, superb jewelry was a surprise!!

The gift wrap was also entertaining! Mike does not do gift wrap. I'm lucky if anything is even sort of wrapped. He sort of outdid himself with one of my gifts! It was wrapped in a brown paper bag (from a local restaurant) and "taped" with tape from a lint roller that he tore into strips. So lovely! And then right next to it was the lovely present that the jewelry store wrapped for him - what a contrast! We had a good laugh about that!

We enjoyed our low-key holidays. We spent a lot of time enjoying our new TV and blu-ray/playstation as well! I did a lot of cooking of recipes that I got from spending way too much time watching the Food Network - my new addiction!

Baked Garlic Cheese Grits - a little bit of southern heaven in a pan from Paula Deen. Yummy!!

And Brussel Sprout cooked with Pancetta - WOW! I can't remember which show these were on! But, man, were they ever good! I also made these hash browns from Tyler Florence. Of course, they weren't as easy as he made them look - but they were tasty!

And just because I have some really adorable photos of our cats, and I haven't shared any in a while - here are some great shots! :)

I had a sad kitty weekend at my house. It's sad AND happy actually.

We have five cats - 3 boys and 2 girls. The girls (Miss Girl and Luna) do not get along. We combined our kitties about 2 and a half years ago, and for this whole time - they have not gotten along! We kept thinking that it would settle down, they would get used to each other, but it hasn't happened.

Miss Girl is a special case. Mike (my other half) rescued her and Ben from a very abusive situation. She has some pretty odd medical issues that we are working on figuring out. What I finally decided is that this little cat deserves to be happy, and with Luna in the house, she is not.
So - after much worrying, we decided to try and place Luna somewhere else. Luna is a happy-go-lucky cat who likes everyone, so she'll adjust. We're hoping that Miss Girl will adjust and settle down a bit with Luna gone.

Thankfully, our friends Rod and Rebecca love Luna and have decided to take her (temporarily for now - but permanently unless something bad happens). We took Luna to them on Saturday morning. (They have two cats - both boys, so we think she'll do well!) She was doing quite well when we left her on Saturday - wandering around and checking out the house. She was nervous, and shedding like a fiend, but she knows and loves Rod and Rebecca already! Their two cats (Angus and Fezzig) hadn't come out of hiding while we were there.

I had to call (concerned kitty mom!) yesterday to see how she had done over night. It seems like she is going to adjust quite quickly! The boys are taking longer to adjust to her, but there hasn't been any actual fighting or bad stuff!



I am very sad that Luna had to find a new place, but I will be happy if it helps Miss Girl be a happier kitty. Knowing that Luna is with people who love her, and knowing that I can still see her and get updates has helped immensely! If this works out, and Luna stays with Rod and Rebecca permanently, the next time I visit, I plan to make a ClayPaws® print for myself of Luna's paw so I have a keepsake of my big girl!

You know, the thing I missed the most about her this weekend? She has been my "bathroom buddy" her whole life. I never went into the bathroom where Luna didn't come with me for almost five years! It was lonely without her!

(I cross-posted this blog entry with my work blog - it was pertinent to both work and home!)

1/18/08 - Ben the Fuzz

1/19/08 - Berry Crisp from this recipe.

1/20/08 - Treasure Map mandala - made in an art group with my art therapist.
I'll do a whole post on this soon!

1/21/08 - Miss Girl enjoying catnip.

1/14/08

This is Mike in his favorite environment. In the dark, playing World of Warcraft with his lighted keyboard! :) He is playing the battleground Alterac Valley with his level 67 Warlock, Bantz.

1/15/08

Oscar has enjoyed this bag immensely. It's torn to shreds, but he still loves sitting in it!! :) He chases across the room into the bag.

Yesterday was my favorite thing... a dentist appointment. YUCK! I hate it, but it wasn't too bad. It was a new dentist, and he was really nice. My teeth aren't too bad in spite of the fact that I haven't been in about three years. I was prompted to go in because I'm having some jaw pain. Turns out I have a really bad, crooked bite. It's been that way forever, but only now has it started hurting. For today, he made me this bite splint - it fits on my front teeth and keeps my jaw straight when I'm wearing it. I can't talk with it in, but it has already helped - the muscles in my jaw feel less tense already!

For more long term, he will make a bite plate for me that I'll wear much of the time. Hopefully I'll be able to talk better with it than this splint! It's not a cheap procedure, but if it helps, I'm game. I think that this jaw problem may be the source of some of my headache trouble too. Maybe correcting this will help that!

1/16/08

And last but most certainly NOT least, the wonderful Mary Ann gave me a "You Make My Day" award a couple days ago!! Since she nominated me for this, I'm now supposed to pass this on to ten other bloggers who make MY day! There are so many, it is difficult to narrow down! I know some of you will have already received this from someone else too. If you have, and don't want to pass it on anymore, that's OK too. But, it really made my day to know that I make Mary Ann's! So passing it along is a good thing!!

My ten nominees for this fun award are (in no particular order):

Mary Ann - I have to pass it back. She is always so positive and upbeat. She creates up a storm, which is inspiring. And she is always so loving and generous with the blog community! She is definitely a blogger I aspire to be like! Mary Ann makes my day every time - no matter what the post is about!

Melba - Melba inspires me as well! Her blog is so open and honest. I have learned a lot from reading what Melba writes about her own journey! I don't always comment, but boy, she makes me think! She has created a wonderful place for creative bloggers with the Create a Connection blog also. I have "met" many new, wonderful bloggers through challenges and swaps there! Melba's photos always make my day too!

Tammy - The Daily Warrior - she is inspiring partially because she writes about her struggles with ALS. Tammy makes me laugh and cry with her honest posts. (Plus, she has a great name!) The music on Tammy's blog always makes my day!

Suzie - Suzie has inspired me to find my path again to do with all things pagan! I feel like Suzie and I would be great friends "in real life" too! Suzie's recipes and kitchen photos make my day!

Jamie - Suzie's sister - she inspires me with her drive to accomplish her goals. Her progress reports and accomplishments always make my day!

Shannon - Yes - she is Suzie's sister too! Shannon makes my day with her updates to her 101 in 1001 list. She has accomplished so much already, and it's so fun to see what she is working towards!!

Jana - Jana's blog amazes me because of her openness to share. I've learned a lot from Jana. She makes my day with her little comments... such as *giggle*!

Lila - She is so creative and has so much artistic talent! She makes my day when she posts new projects and art!!

Jill - aka The Happy Hooker. Jill makes me laugh! Her posts always make my day. She is quirky, crafty and very funny! I was lucky enough to have a winning bid on an altered journal of Jill's. I love it!

Jolene - aka Jill's mom! Jolene and Jill are two bloggers who I just know would be fun to hang out with! Jolene never ceases to amaze me with her talent! I also own a journal that Jolene made - I was the lucky winner of a drawing!! :) You make my day too Jolene!!

No, the two are not really related. But I have some photos to share! :) Last week, our cats Ben and Luna decided to help with laundry. Ben was buried in my clean laundry and didn't budge when I put hangers on him! Luna just had to get into the act as well. They were so cute, I couldn't be mad. What's a little cat hair?!


Last night, Mike and I went to Old Town, Fort Collins to do a little Christmas shopping and have dinner. We found a few things for Christmas, but still have more to get! Sheesh! He has his dad's name and I have his step-mom's. They aren't the easiest to buy for!

While we were walking in the plaza, we noticed the fountain! I don't remember seeing it actually running this time of year before - it was SO beautiful. Some of the water was frozen, and some was moving. It was just great!

And has been since Friday night it seems! We had about 4 inches over the weekend, and woke up to about 3 more this morning. It's still snowing too! I can't decide if I'm irritated or happy about it. On one hand, it is pretty. On the other, driving in it is NO fun. This morning took me more than twice as long to get to work as usual. It seems the roads weren't at all plowed!!! Even the main "drags". Sheesh. I think... just maybe, I'm ready to move somewhere that gets little or no snow! (And I know for sure, I don't want to live on a corner ever again! Scooping twice the sidewalks!!! Blech!)

Our backyard on Saturday night - the first one with flash, second one without. I love the flakes that are visible in the air.

My grumpy Oscar boy begs to go outside when there is snow. I don't let him stay out at all alone - but just for a couple minutes with me. He was SO happy!

Our Tibetan prayer flags in the backyard - with snow sticking to the line.


My mirror gazing ball in the front yard... look at all the snow piled on top! :)

Henry is SOOO happy it's space heater time. He can be found any time the heater is on, curled up near it, or with his paws stuck under it. I even caught him with his nose stuck darn near in it!



Miss Girl hasn't discovered the heater. But, she loves it when I sit still (for instance, watching a movie)! She curls up in my lap and demands pets. Mike captured this photo. She leaned up against me and then flopped over so I would rub her belly. That is her ultimate favorite thing! (I didn't correct her eyes because... check it out - one is glowing green, the other is red! Weird!)

I've caught some illness - flu or some such. It's not strep, but viral instead so nothing the doctor can do to help really... And Mike has it too - so we're a bundle of fun.

I almost forgot a post altogether, and here it is... Such that it is.

I'll leave you with some gratuitous cuteness that is kitties! :) This was a few days back. Oscar was on my lap "helping" me play, and Henry decided to join. They both stayed for quite a while and weren't even in the way!

Guess what we did this morning?! :) You got it in one - we raked leaves. And we're not done, but doing the front yard alone got us all tuckered out.

We live on a corner (a mistake we won't make again!) so we have WAY more area to cover than our neighbors... We've got a few more piles to pick up and the entire back yard still to go. I don't think it's going to happen today! Mike is off tomorrow (and I'm not!) so he may do more then... If not, it will have to be next weekend! It was fun, but a lot of work.

These photos show Mike working, and me laying down on the job, but I helped too! :) I promised Mike if I lay down in the leaves (for a photo op, of course) that I wouldn't spread them all about again! :)

Laundry was the other order of the day. Normally, I'm quite careful about leaving the dryer door open because of our cats (I've seen a kitty in a dryer accident and it's just awful!) But, just a few minutes ago, I had to run upstairs for more hangers... and I inadvertantly left the door open. Of course, I came back to find a black tail sticking out of the dryer. Luna had climbed in and curled up in the warm clothes... she didn't want to leave! Now that she's discovered this, I'll have to be doubly careful! Crazy girl!

All FIVE cats in one spot - no hissing or fussing... Can you guess why?

Yep - we forgot to give them breakfast on Monday... they almost staged a coup! They were so starving that all differences were forgotten so they could all get bites! (and dribble them all over the floor apparently! Sheesh - slobs!)

Can you say guilt trip? I felt so bad. Obviously, they aren't starving! But, boy were they happy to see me!