Just One: The Other Side of the Glass

"Birds, Butterflies, & Bugs"

We were worried about the cats adjusting to our new home. So far it's been a pretty easy adjustment. Cruz has had the easiest time. His favorite thing about the new house? Being able to sit up on the window sills and watch all the wildlife outside. He seriously gets all worked up every time a bird flies by or a squirrel runs across the yard. Sitting on the other side of the glass, he's so eager to chase every creature that's out there. But, when we let him go outside, he turns into a little scaredy cat and jumps at all the new outdoor noises.  

Just One: Periwinkle

"Lazy Days"

Summer has brought with it a lot of lazy days. And no one does lazy days better than Periwinkle. She has officially claimed the bed in our guest bedroom as her "spot" and will lay there for hours. Nothing we do can make her leave the warm, sunny spot on the comforter. Unless, of course, we grab our jar of treats.

Cat's Meow: Favorite Toy

We've had our little man Cruz for about 4 years now. We adopted him from a local pet store shortly after I moved out of my parent's house so that Periwinkle would have a playmate. We had no idea how different their personalities would be!

Periwinkle is very chill. She's perfectly content with finding a comfy spot on the foot of the bed and laying there for hours on end. Cruz, on the other hand, likes to be the center of attention. He loves to play, and wants you to play with him.

When he was a kitten, we bought a wand to keep him playful and active. Little did we know that this wand would still be hanging around 4 years later, and it would become his favorite toy.

I seriously don't know what we'll do when this thing bites the dust....

Does your animal have a favorite toy that they've had since they were a kitten/puppy?

Cat's Meow: Fighting

We knew introducing a new cat into our home would be a serious transition for our first two furbabies. We just weren't sure how long the transition period would be. Well, nearly 6 months later, they still aren't getting along, as evidenced by recent scratch that appeared on Callie's nose.

We're not sure when it happened, or who caused it, but we assume it was Cruz. He's usually the instigator. And he's the one that Callie has had a tougher time warming up to. She and Periwinkle tolerate each other, but they still have their moments. 

We're still waiting for the day that all three of them will get along. Glimpses of that life happen on rare occasions, like when we treat them to wet food.

But we're keeping our fingers crossed that that day will come sooner rather than later...

Any suggestions for helping cats get along? We've tried nearly everything we can think of, so any ideas are welcome!

It's Been A While

Life has been pretty crazy lately. Let's catch up....

The month of January was pretty hectic. There was rarely a night that I didn't have anything planned.

Suddenly I went from having 1 class of AP students to 4 classes of AP students. So a lot of my afternoons have been filled with teenagers staying after school in my classroom for various reasons. Besides that, I agreed to be the ticket-taker at both the girls and boys basketball games this year. At times that meant 4 games a week. As much as it was a huge time commitment, I'm excited to earn a little extra cash to put towards a down payment on a house

When I wasn't collecting ticket money at the school basketball games, I was holding Powderpuff practices with my Juniors. I never played when I was in high school, and had yet to attend a game since I started teaching, so it was all new to me. I wasn't suppose to be at the Powderpuff game - it was originally scheduled while I was away at an AP conference in Jacksonville. But it was rescheduled due to weather, so I got to watch. In the end, I'm glad I was able to go because we ended up winning!

After the Powderpuff game I had to rush home and pack my bags. Dan's grandmother passed away and we had to make the trip up to Connecticut for services. It was my first time to Connecticut, and Dan's first time back since he was 2 years old. It was also our first real road trip. We left the next morning and drove straight through. It was a great trip, despite the circumstances. I'll share more later, but for now, here's a couple of pics from the trip.

We just got back into town last weekend. Things are finally settling down. Now it's just a matter of catching up on all the grading that was piling up on my desk while I was away.

While we were gone, my mom looked after our cats. We're still waiting on our little fur babies to quit growling and hissing at each other and become friends...

It's definitely been an adjustment since we added Callie to the mix. We're hoping that in the next couple months they'll have worked through all of their issues. Fingers crossed!

We've been experimenting with some recipes I found on Pinterest. Some were good (like this and this). Some not so good (like this one). You know how that goes!

And since last night was Valentine's day, I guess I should probably share a little about our Valentine's. Since Dan had to work last night, he made reservations for Thursday night at a local spot. When we came home there were tulips, a card, and wine waiting for me. He went all out this year! I gave him his gift last night - a card and some Reese's cups with stickers on them that had things I love about him or inside jokes written on them (idea from here). All in all, it was a perfect Valentine's!

Oh, and I can't forget the little gift a student brought me earlier this week! Her church was holding a "Love Week" where they pick one person each day and shower them with love. This student decided to shower her teachers with love in the form of chocolate chip cookies and Expo markers. What teacher wouldn't love sugar & markers?

So that's pretty much what's been going on around here lately. Although things are winding down, our schedules are never quite clear. Besides school and family life, we've now added trying to buy a home to our list of things to do. There's already been a few bumps in the road, and I'm sure there will be more along the way. One of these days I'll get around to writing about it. But, right now, I've got a pile of papers calling my name that I've been neglecting.

Cat's Meow: Stand Off

It's been a really long time since I've done one of these posts. Like over a year ago, really long time. Don't ask why I stopped. I'll blame Instagram.

Regardless, I wanted to share this photo of Callie, Cruz, and Periwinkle all in the same room:

You'll notice a couple things. We've moved Callie's initial litter box out of the office and into the hallway to force her to be in the same living spaces as the other two. (We did the same to her food/water, but they aren't pictured.) You can come to the conclusion that all of our cats still have their claws based on the fact that they've turned our couches into a scratching post. And you could assume that they still aren't getting along based on their distance and their posture.

We call this the "stand off." They all see each other. They all tense up. And they all growl/hiss at one another. It's rather entertaining. Unless it's past midnight and you're trying to go to sleep....

Callie

We welcomed a new addition to our family this weekend. 

Meet Callie!

You may have seen her on my Instagram feed last month. She was a stray that showed up in my mom's backyard. She's crazy friendly - even lets my niece and nephew drag play with her! In fact, my niece is the one who started calling her Callie, and it stuck. She happens to be a little vocal too....

As much as I knew we weren't exactly looking for another cat, every time I saw her, I knew she'd fit in with our other two furballs. She's the perfect mix of Periwinkle and Cruz. She's fluffy, has a nubby tail, and is a lap cat like Periwinkle. She's not afraid to tell you like it is and loves to nuzzle/head butt you when she wants attention like Cruz. 

But I had to convince Dan that we needed to bring her home with us. I had played with her a couple of times at my mom's house, but Dan had only heard about her and seen a picture or two. The first time he met her (which I caught on video below), he agreed to take her home.

Before we could take her home, we had to take her to the vet to make sure she wasn't microchipped, that she didn't have a disease she could pass on to our cats, and that she was spayed.

She wasn't a fan of the cat carrier. Or the car ride. But what cat is? Once we got to the vet's office, she was tortured had a series of tests run on her. Then, she came back into the room with us while we waited on the vet to come back with the results. She sat in Dan's lap for a little while before trying to find a hiding place.

The vet predicts that Callie's about 3 years old, which puts her at about the same age as Cruz. Even though he agrees with us and thinks she belonged to someone at some point, she wasn't microchipped. The scary tests (like feline AIDs and leukemia) all came back negative. But she did come back positive for hook worms and ear mites - both of which are easy to treat, and neither of which would be harmful to Periwinkle or Cruz while she was being treated. So, back into the cat carrier she went to go back to my mom's for one last night.

This time she slept the entire way home. Even when we stopped by Dan's parent's house to introduce them to her, she refused to get out of the cat carrier - just wanted to snooze.

We picked her up the next afternoon and brought her home last night. We've been trying to get the three furballs to get along ever since. Let's just say that Callie has taken over the office, while Cruz and Periwinkle pop their heads in occasionally only to be hissed and growled at before they run away in fear. Who knew such a sleepy cat could have such an effect on the other two?

Luckily, I'm still on winter break, so I'll be home all week to play referee to help them all adjust to each other. Fingers crossed they become friends sooner rather than later!

Friday Favorites

Every week I share things from around the internet that put a smile on my face in the hopes that they will put a smile on your face too. So, without further ado...

Bonnie's adorable new puppy

speaking of pets, the hubby won't let me get this for our cats...

this really cute space-themed nursery

this shirt is great!

can't you just envision people angrily poking their phones??

last but not least - an oldie, but a goodie

Nursing a Migraine

I guess while I was sleeping a couple weeks ago, the Hubby decided to snap this photo. Only, I wasn't just sleeping. I was nursing a migraine. They don't come as frequently as they used to. But when they do, the only thing I can really do is crank up the a/c, lay face down with an ice pack on my forehead and neck, and go to sleep. 

On this occasion, I took Periwinkle with me when I laid down. That's why I wasn't lying face down. Typically, she'll only stay on my chest for a couple minutes before jumping down and finding a more comfortable spot. But this time, I guess, she decided to get comfy.

It has always amazed me how pets know when you're hurting and know when to stay close by.

Life Lately

So I knew come August that this blog would take a back seat to all things school. I just didn't realize how true that statement would be. I love being able to catch up on my blog reading over my lunch break or while waiting for the Hubby to get home from work. But I simply have not found the motivation to write anything. Maybe because school has started to encompass everything I do - but by the time I get home, I don't want to think. Well, think too hard anyways. So composing and editing a blog post seems like a daunting task to someone who simply wants to veg out.

But, I thought I'd give it a shot tonight and see what happens. Much last the last time I posted (nearly a month ago!) I figured I'd fill you in on what's been happening lately. I apologize if it seems a little all over the place - I'm just adding stuff as it comes to mind.

First off, this is the first time blogging from my new school-issued iPad. I wasn't sure how I'd like the thing. And I'm definitely still learning the ropes. To make things easier on myself, I decided to purchase a bluetooth keyboard out of my own pocket (this one to be exact). I tried using just the touchpad features, but after a couple weeks, I was still struggling with it. I type so much faster, so I'm really glad I decided to invest in a keyboard. I'm excited to see how I can incorporate this new technology into the classroom next semester. Let's just hope I have this thing figured out before January! 

I should also mention that due to the fact that this is the first time blogging from the iPad, I'm not sure I'm up to tackling inserting and linking images tonight. So please forgive me for the boring and bland post.

I mentioned last month that the Hubby had a couple interviews lined up for EMT positions. One of them fell threw. Luckily that wasn't the one we were crossing our fingers and saying prayers for. That interview went well, but the Hubby made some simple mistakes during the practical exam. The examiner asked him how long he had been out of school - over 2 years - and said that his skills just need some practice. But they liked Dan enough to offer him a Volunteer position to work on his skills with the potential of moving to part- or full-time in the future. Althought it isn't exactly what we were hoping for, at least this means he's got his foot in the door and can refresh his knowledge from hands-on experience rather than simply from his textbook. This place that he's working with seems great - the people really seem to take an interest in their employees. We're both really hoping that in the not-too-distant future Dan can quit his current job and work solely on EMT stuff. Not only would he finally have a job that he loves, but it would bring him closer to where we live too, which is a big plus!

I tried a new food! Its not too far of a stretch, but it was still enough to impress my friends and family! My best friend has become a Pampered Chef consultant and has hosted a couple of parties. At the party, she showed us how to make chicken fajitas (with onions & peppers) using only a stoneware dish and a microwave. Let me tell you, it was delish! The fact that I requested it as the dish at the party that I hosted floored her. Hannah, asking for onions and peppers?! Insanity!

In other news, we've officially lived in our apartment for over a year. It's kinda weird since the last couple of years I've become accustomed to moving, but its also sort of nice not to have to worry about boxing up all of our stuff. I think the cats are grateful too.

Speaking of cats... we're battling fleas again. We have tried everything to get rid of these things. Is it legal to shave your cat?? I wouldn't. I'm not that cruel. But believe me, it has crossed my mind.

Anyone else loving the new fall season on tv? There's nothing worse than the months between seasons when all you have to watch are reruns. Grey's Anatomy. Revenge. Once Upon A Time. Castle. DWTS. NCIS. Hawaii 5-0. Bones. Glee.... Love them all! Know what new show I'm loving too? Revolution. It's interesting. I'm curious to see where they are going with it.

Ok... iPad update. Something wonky happened and it wouldn't let me view what I was typing anymore... weird. So I've officially switched over to the desktop. Like I said, still learning. But, that means I can add links to stuff without accidentally clicking on the wrong hyperlink. Hooray!

The first 9 weeks of school is officially over. Students are getting their report cards tomorrow. I'm anticipating phone calls and emails from parents. Yay me! Luckily, I've gotten better about taking daily notes about most of my students so that I'm more prepared for parent conversations in regards to student performance. It's time consuming, but it's definitely a CYA maneuver, if you catch my drift.

Also in regards to school, I finally signed off on my evaluation from last year. That's right. A whole nine weeks into school and I'm finally being told how my performance from last year measured out. It's a good thing that my job doesn't rely on this evaluation or anything. I'm only an annual contract teacher. So it isn't like they can just turn to me one day and tell me they would prefer not to renew my contract. I'm not going to get all political, but I'm just going to say that this new evaluation system (which is based on student scores for students I've never even laid eyes on) is whack. Hopefully they iron all the kinks out of it soon. There's nothing worse than being evaluated on a system that your administrators and district personnel don't even fully understand and being told that your job and paycheck depend on it. Someone remind me again why I got into this profession... cause it certainly wasn't for the money. And it certainly wasn't for the political malarkey that we have to navigate.

And while we're on the topic of politics - anyone else sick of the ads yet? Living in a "battleground state" its been nonstop since before the primaries. Even my Facebook seems to have taken a political side. I don't know how many times I have clicked to remove the political ads, but they still seem to pop up in my newsfeed. And always for the same candidate. Seriously? Why not show both sides? Heck, why not talk about the fact that more than 2 people are running for president and there are many different viewpoints out there?

In happier news, the Hubby's student loan has officially been paid off! Wahoo! That's the first check off our debt snowball list. Next up, my car. We're anticipating it only taking about 5 months. Then we'll move onto his car, which should take another 9 or so. After that, we think we'll save up some in anticipation of starting a family before starting to pay off the student loan that was taken out in his dad's name. Even though we still have a long road ahead of us, we're definitely starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ultimately the fact that we have a plan is what is the most reassuring. Even if the plan changes from month to month in terms of specifics, just having a goal in mind is what keeps us going.

It looks like the instagram feed in the sidebar has officially bit the dust. So I'm just going to take it down for now until I have time to look for an alternative replacement. In the meantime, you can follow what's been going on with us - my username is @hannahco11.

I really wish I could join in on the Pinterest challenge this time around. I love being able to link up with everyone and meeting new bloggers (you can see my old challenge entries here, here and here). But honestly I don't think I'll be able to get a craft done this season. But I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with.

Well, I just heard the door open, which means the Hubby is finally home from work. Time to start making up some dinner - my stomach is growling! So until next time...

Animal Instincts

#15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

Hm.... this is a tough one. There are a bunch of animals that I love....

Pandas....

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Koalas....

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Elephants....

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Dolphins....

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But which one would I want to be? Well, I guess the one animal I would choose is the one animal I know the most about....

...the domestic cat.

Why? Well, for one, all the cat naps. And I wouldn't have a problem with keeping my nails long. And I would forever be entertained by frogs and bugs. Plus, having human parents to love on me is always something to look forward to.

Yep, I think I'd want to be a cat.

If you could be any animal, which would you choose?

Cats Meow: Kisses

I'm not sure if this is typical cat behavior or not, but Periwinkle likes to give us "kisses." Well, I guess technically she thinks she's cleaning us. But we like to think we're getting some lovin' from our cat.

Sometimes they come out of the blue. But usually you have to work for them. First you have to pet her. Then, you nuzzle your nose on the top of her head. After you've done that, she might lift her head up. If so, then you tuck your forehead under her chin. And, if she is so inclined, you might get a kiss. A sand-papery kiss.

I managed to catch it on film using my cellphone the other day. Usually it comes out all blurry. But you can actually see her tongue on Dan's forehead if you look close enough.

Dan is the one who gets multiple kisses in one sitting. Mainly because she works her way to the hair line when she kisses you. Being that my hair is long, once she gets to it, she stops. But since the Hubby has short hair, she'll just keep going and going and going...you get the picture.

This particular day, she decided to keep going towards the Hubby's nose and lips. She started by sniffing them both out. When she got to his mouth, she gave one small kiss.....

...and then proceeded to bite him! Crazy cat!

Anyone else have a cat that likes to give kisses? I know dogs are infamous for it, but I've never seen cats do it.

Cats Meow: Close Up

So I realize that by posting these pictures some are going get the impression that I'm some kind of crazy cat lady. And you know what? I'm okay with that. 

But please understand that I was going a little stir crazy last week hanging around the apartment all day, every day, with little to do. I can only stare at a computer or television screen for so long before getting bored. And when you're bored, you come up with silly ways to entertain yourself.

My silly way? Taking close up photos of the cats while they were sitting on my lap.

That nose has woken me up on more than one occasion... Cruz LOVES to nuzzle my face in the mornings. Its his way of telling me that I need to get up and feed him.

Periwinkle didn't get to escape the torture getting her photo taken.

I just love her eyes! You may have seen this same photo on Instagram - the effects just add to the intensity of her pretty green eyes.

Anyone else take random photos of your pet's features? Or am I the only crazy cat lady out there?