Texas Lou

Archive for the ‘Cats’ Category

I found another new and interesting beer at the one and only Beer Run.

Dogfish Head Chicory Stout  from the amazing Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is a seasonal beer made with chicory, the same ingredient used to make the famous coffee at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.  This is one of the first seasonal beers that Dogfish Head brewed when they first started operations in the mid 1990’s.  It’s a dark, thick stout filled with many unique flavors like chicory and licorice that you won’t find in many other craft brews out there.  Give it a try!

P.S.  Revolver Ocelot approves!

Yesterday, I watched the documentary, Happy, which explores what makes people happy in all different walks of life.  The movie was very enlightening and definitely worth the hour and a half it took to watch.

Lately, I’ve been doing quite a bit of research: reading (books, blogs, and articles), watching (online and TV), and exploring of myself to try to become a happier and healthier (mentally and physically) person.  I know that true happiness does not come from a pill, or other people, or money, but from inside myself.  So I’ve been trying to figure out how to access this happiness that I know is hidden somewhere inside of me.

One of the methods for finding happiness within that the documentary suggested was listing 5 things you are thankful and grateful for on a regular basis.  I’ve heard that this is a great way to bring about feelings of happiness and well-being from many other sources, so I thought that this blog could server as a great medium for listing what I’m thankful for on a regular basis.  I’m going to try and remember to post 5 things that I’m thankful for every Monday here on the blog.  I like to think of it as a good experiment.  If it works and succeeds at making me a happier person, then I’m better off.  And even if it doesn’t make me happier, it will serve as a good reminder as to why I should keep my chin-up and count my blessings.

So here it goes, 5 things I am grateful for on this Monday morning:

1. I’m thankful for my cat’s health.  We found a large lump on Revolver Ocelot’s chest Friday evening and I’m so grateful that not only was the vet able to get us in for an appointment at the last minute on Saturday morning, but also that the vet seems to think that the lump is not a tumor, but only an infection that is being treated with antibiotics.
2. I’m thankful for cell phones and wireless networks.  It is because of these, that I was able to call my twin brothers, Christian and Bradley, last night and wish them a happy 7th birthday.  I would have liked to be there to celebrate with them, but I’m very happy that I could call them and talk to them on their birthday.
3. I’m thankful for my husband’s family and that we live close to them.  I am often whining and feeling sorry for myself about the fact that I live so far away from my family.  However, I realize that many people have no family or friends close to them.  When my dad moved to America, his entire family was half way around the world (and a much longer and more expensive plane ride than the one from Virginia to Texas).  So I am very thankful to live close to my Virginia family and have lovely traditions to share with them during the holidays.
4. I’m thankful for strong legs and a healthy body that allows me to run on a regular basis.
5. I’m thankful to have the ambition, desire, and knowledge to seek out a happier and healthier me.

A couple other things that the documentary mentioned that I’m hoping to try are compassion meditation and committing regular random acts of kindness.

Back around Easter, Ben’s mom decided to buy some chicks.  As a 4th grade teacher, she had hatched many eggs in her classroom over the years and then brought the chicks home to raise as pets.  These are the first set of chickens that she has raised in a long time and we have all been eager for them to start laying eggs.

There are 3 roosters, Big Red (the alpha male), Roger, and Adam (he was originally Ms. Pretty until we discovered he was a male).  The 3 hens are named Briana, Evi II (aka Evi 2 or Evi Too named after our cat Eva who we call Evi), and Henna.

Sunday, when we were visiting Ben’s mom, we discovered that one or more of the hens had laid their first eggs.  We found four eggs spread out in various spots between their hen house where they sleep and the fenced-in area where they eat and roost underneath an old Concord grape vine.  Unfortunately, before we were able to get to the fourth egg, the chickens all pecked it and devoured it.  That seemed like strange behavior to me, but I’m sure it’s not the first time it has happened in the history of the world.

Two of the first eggs laid by the Davidson chickens. We assume they came from different hens since they are different colors.

The chickens gathered together possibly hoping for us to give them food.

It’s been really cool watching them grow and mature over the past few months.  I remember how exciting it was the first couple of times we heard Big Red crow!  And I learned that roosters will crow at any time of the day, not just in the mornings.  I’m looking forward to lots of eggs from these beautiful birds!

A couple of roosters posing for the camera.

Looking for food

Underneath the grape vine

Beautiful Rhode Island Reds!

Big Red and his beautiful iridescent green tail feathers!

Roaming the garden

Almost every night, our cat Eva brings one of her toy mice to bed when she comes to join us.  Like a child needing their stuffed animal to fall asleep, Eva needs one of her mice before she can settle in for the night.  Ben and I will often wake up in the morning to find a mouse or two (and sometimes a q-tip) in the bed with us.

Last night, after Eva jumped into bed with her stuffed mouse that is pretty unrecognizable at this point, a scary thought struck me.  When we eventually have a house, where our cats may from time to time go outside, what if Eva finds a real mouse and brings that to bed?  I mentioned this to Ben and he replied that he’d heard of cats doing this before.  All I know is if I wake up with a real mouse in bed with me, dead or alive, I’m going to freak out!

YAY for the weekend…it’s the first one in a month that I won’t be traveling!

Don’t get me wrong, I love traveling, and I had a ton of fun in Washington D.C. at the zoo, in Warrenton for the wine festival, in Texas for Megan’s wedding, and in OBX for the girls’ weekend, but man was I EXHAUSTED from all of that flying, driving, and getting up early so as not to miss a single thing (my motto when on vacation is I’ll sleep when I’m dead)!

Tonight we are having dinner with good friends at Outback and getting to meet little miss Erin (technically I met her at the hospital when she was born, but only through the glass).  Tomorrow is my company’s picnic which I helped plan as a member of the Events Committee.  I love company events like the picnic and holiday party because its so nice to get to talk to people outside of work in a very relaxed setting and meet their families.  On Sunday, we are heading to Ben’s parents’ place to celebrate his mom’s birthday!  I found her the most beautiful, unique gift in OBX last weekend and can’t wait to give it to her!

Besides all that fun stuff, I plan to do some more unpacking and clean up around our tiny little apartment, spend some time with my kitties, get some quality outdoor time, including a 6 mile run, which is part of my half marathon training, and maybe even lay by the pool.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

I survived the Great Snowpocalypse of 2009…and so did my cats!

Ben took this awesome picture of the cats with his phone.

Revolver Ocelot was in mid-yawn, but he looks like he’s doing the “Wuzzzzzzzzzz Up” from Scary Movie.

This is Eva as a kitten discovering the other species that shares our home. It wasn’t long before she figured out how to find her way to the top. Now the goal is to find her way in. Hopefully that won’t happen for Shadow’s sake.