this cat does not do rain....

... unless I can be dried off with a nice warm fluffy towel.  Which I am told, there was not a single one to be found at the Vintage Marketplace in Springfield, Ohio.  So I am very happy to report that I had the foresight to stay  h. o. m. e. I can see that I amaze you with my keen senses, leaving you speechless since I don't hear you...

So while I was at home, where it was also cold and rainy, I was inside snoozing in comfort.
Meanwhile 400 miles away, she unloaded in the rain...

two hours into set up and it's still dry in the tent

four hours into set up -
note lunch on table....cookies and water

...sold in the rain and froze her tail off in the rain.  Such dedication for me and the acquisition of monies for my catnip! I should keep her right? Better to send her out into the rain, than risk freezing my whiskers off and getting drenched.  The results would be horrific! My fur would take days to return to it's glorious shine and my whiskers or lack thereof.... oh my fur stands on end just thinking about it! Let's move on, shall we.....

It was so cold, one very kind customer took pity on her numb fingers and gave her their extra set of gloves on Saturday.  If you are reading this, a huge thank mew!!!!  If her fingers had gotten frostbite, however would she feed me?!?  It really was that cold!  Four shirts and a heavy sweatshirt on Friday was not enough.  So on Saturday she wore four shirts, a denim jacket AND a sweatshirt trying to stay warm.

So now you've got a feel for how bad the weather was.  And you might be dreading what I'm about to tell you regarding the show sales.....

There were very few people on Saturday due to the cold, rain and hail.  A day that should have been the best of the three days.  It was the worst sales on record for a Saturday.  And that's thirteen years worth of sales data.

However, sales were very good on Friday and 45 minutes before closing on Sunday.

 The afternoon sun and warmer temperatures Sunday afternoon certainly helped convince a few people to come out. And sure made it a lot nicer for load up.

This show was probably one of the craziest, unpredictable, out of the norm show sales yet.  But in the end when the trailer was packed and she was ready to go....

....there was very little to pack up! 

How purrfect is that?!!!

So you see, it was all good!

Now where is my catnip?!?!!

still out there....

It's true! I'm still out here and yea she is too.  Not that you are particularly interested in her - I know it's me you come to visit.  Of that I have no doubt.  She's too boring.

If this was her blog she'd probably tell you about all the flowers blooming and that I had my anal glands purged.  Me, I'd let you know that the winter killed off the gardenias but not the ticks and I wanted to kill the veterinarian.

She'd probably also mention that she's been working like a dog and I would tell you that I've been working hard supervising (cats are VERY good at this). I work much harder than she does.  And I'm also much quieter while I work.

Note: paint on head....do I get workers comp for this?

She has been making a lot of noise for months now.  Building, hammering, measuring, hand sawing with the miter box, ripping up old nails off a barn door and just general woodworking, rabid woodchuck style.  And all this so I can have a few extra catnip plants this summer.  You know, thinking about it, I AM grateful!  So long as she doesn't delay in getting those catnips in the ground asap.

So how is what she created and gathered going to get me catnip?  I'm sending her off Wednesday morning (only after my breakfast naturally) to Springfield, Ohio to sell all this stuff.  And while many folks are familiar with the wonderful Springfield Ohio Antique Show and Flea Market, did you know within that venue is The Vintage Marketplace?!!?  The brainchild of the Junk Mistress herself, Sue Whitney!  And what a show Sue, Jon Jenkins and the staff puts on! And I'm not just saying this.  Seriously. Great. Show.

At The Vintage Marketplace you'll find all kinds of talented vendors and fantastically magical goods!!!!  And this year they have all kinds of great perks for the customers!  Giveaways and drawings for $500 and $250 shopping sprees just to name a very few things.   If you live in the area, this is a show not to miss!  And if you're not in the area? Catch a bus, train or pull the rusted tricycle out of the garden and head over! It's so worth it! Whisker promise!!!

Here are a few more things that I'm sending out with her......

I'm also sending the camera with her. I'm hopeful she'll bring back some good pictures.  She should be hopeful that she has time to get some pictures.  "Why?",  you may ask..... she either brings home some good photos or I pee in her brand new walking shoes.  It's just that simple!  Check back with me in about a week for the outcome.  In the meantime, the betting office is now open.  Pictures or wet shoes?  Let me know....

Romeo equals Genius

Sometimes, I don't know what she'd do without me to manage her life.  I mean really.

Things that seem like a big deal to her, well are they really such a big deal?  I mean I can easily see the solution to these problems.  But without me to solve them?  Well can you imagine the state of her whiskers without me to solve these crisis'?!?  Me neither.  

Today a potential tangle of whiskers of GRAND proportions was narrowly averted.  As in within a whisker width of narrowness.  

You may remember from my last post that she has a show coming up.  Soon.  

Very soon.  

The issue started last Thursday when her and Dad notice that the truck stinks like gasoline. Ah well drive it anyway, they say.  Made it down the road five or six miles.  Truck still reaks of gasoline.  

Stop to eat. But Dad pops the hood first to check and see if anything obvious is wrong. Purrhaps there is a problem.  

Gas is running down the side of the engine casing in waves.  Purrhaps? Yes, purrhaps this is a problem.  Dad calls for roadside assistance.  Even though he is in a parking lot not the side of a road.  

Roadside assistance calls tow truck and fire department.  Fuel leak requires fire department.  Really?  

Yes, really!

Truck is towed home (where it can catch fire in a comfortable location and we can roast marshmellows and weinies).  Although Dad told me it was towed home because they met someone in the parking lot who seemed knowledgeable and nice and he offered to fix the truck.  Cheaper than what the dealership would charge.  (You know I would never have chosen this purrsonally right?) But nice, knowledgeable ..... well.....that doesn't always fix a truck does it?

Monday rolls around and Dad is told that the required part for repair is still missing in action.  Dad gives up and calls tow truck again to have truck hauled.  This time to dealership. Cost isn't free this time, it's $66 worth of towing.  There go next months cat snacks.  Ah, might as well, truck didn't burst into flames in the yard and they have already used the grill to cook the weinies and Dad ate all the marshmellows for comfort food.

The truck is towed and several hours pass.  I decide that everything is under control.  Or so I thought it was.....until she checked the weather for Springfield Ohio (where the show is)

Oops, I think I see yet another potential issue brewing.  Unloading is Thursday; show is Friday through Sunday; load out is Sunday.  Hmmmm.

Being the company problem solver and all around go to man, I tell her that wet weather shouldn't be a problem.  Just bring towels for the wet customers.  It's always won me over and it's not like she doesn't know how.....

She reminds me that her customers are not cats.  Hmpfh.  What does she know - everyone loves a dry towel when it's raining and they are all wet!  

But in an effort to keep her happy, I come up with another solution.  Actually one solution for TWO so called problems!  

Transportation! AND a trailer that isn't overkill since she is concerned whether she is bringing too much inventory when there might not be anyone shopping in the rain.  And not only that but when no one buys it she has to load it all up again.  In the rain. 

Hey wait, I think I've solved THREE problems not just two! I am some kind of genius!  Think I'll get a raise for my ingenuity????  OMGOSH I am so excited my whiskers are curling!!!!!

And what does she say to this genius?  

"Romeo, that won't work, what if people come anyway? It's better to have a whole trailer load of inventory. If it's really bad when I unload, I just will leave some of it in the trailer."

Okay, I tell her, I get this - you want to bring the regular trailer so just in case, you'll have enough inventory.  Sheesh, alright already wish she'd make up her mind.  That's what I recommended early on. 

On days like this is it any wonder I have grey fur mixed in with the tabby???? 

 It's been a full day so I think I deserve a nap at the very least, don't you?

But before I doze off I wanted to let you know the dealership called.  The fuel rails needed to be replaced. $900 worth of fuel rails. They are shipping the part over night from Atlanta and the truck should be ready by noon tomorrow.  She leaves on Wednesday first thing.

And if for some reason the part doesn't make it, I've already figured out a solution!  See for yourself:

Genius right?!!  I know.  Purrhaps you understand better why I'm in charge here.

See? No worries! 

While she's gone, I'll have a lot of free time....so just drop me a line if you need any advice.

Have a great week!

pity the humans

Yep, I do.

Really.

You listen, but don't hear.
(like when I say "meOw" and you don't hear me saying "let me out. nOw")

You look, but don't see.
(as in when I cough up a furball and Dad walks right through it and keeps on going)

You have a life, but you don't live.

Oh wait, maybe some humans don't really have a life.  Take for instance her.

Yeh, I know it seems like I am picking on her again.  But I'm not, it's just an observation. Honest.

And why this opinion you may wonder?

It's well founded I assure you.  Take for instance today.  Dad likes to drive around.  Yep, for no reason really.  But he lures her in to going along for the ride with a promise of antique shopping.  Hey, this doesn't sound so bad, right? I mean this could be the day she brings home something new for me to scratch up! Oh happy day! Now this is life!  An adventure waiting to happen.....

Don't get too excited thinking I'm about to show you some wonderful old crusty junk.

Because what really happened.......

Yes, believe it.  They stopped and took photos of chickens.  

Claimed it was at a stop that had the potential to have good vintage junk.

Really?!  So good that the chickens shop there?

Hello? Shopping where chickens shop, is NOT living life to the fullest!

Whole herds of chickens? Really?!

So I ask, "what did you buy?"

The reply: "Chicken feed for the chickens."

Really?! Does this look like a chicken that needs to be fed?!??

Exactly! 

And what about the money for the chicken feed? Would it not have been better spent on something old and crusty? Something I could sink my teeth into?  Or roll on? Or scratch up?!?

Wait!

Did you......maybe......bring me home a chicken????

...or a Rooster?!!!

......a nice big, plump Rooster?!?!?!

oh.

I see.

No chickens. No roosters. None at all. For me.

Pity the human.

Who lives here.

Because this cat is now forced to find something already here.

That hasn't yet been scratched  clawed  chewed "initiated".

Pity her.

She just went to sleep.....

....and I am unchaperoned....

....in a house full of temptation....

....and I am about to live life to the fullest.....

Details of a Day

Lots of you are having icky weather. The kind that makes a cat want to hibernate. We've had lots of rain and that's not so wonderful either. The only part about rain drenched fur is the towel drying that I get when I come in. Yes I do intentionally get caught out in the rain. And yes, I have her trained VERY well - a towel is always waiting and applied without hesitation. But that's another post for another day.

My point is that although the weather here is not optimal, it is by the standards of the northern states a beautiful day! It was at least 60 and the sun was shining. So I went for a walk in the woods. It did my whiskers good and so I thought I would share some of my pictures with you hoping that it might brighten your day! Come along, let's go for a walk....

Yes, the daffy's are about to bloom and the trees are budding....

Although the chipmunks live in the base of this tree (look left for their door), they didn't want to come out and visit. Not sure why. I can normally give them a good run....

So I wandered off deeper into the woods. I saw a bunny butt. No I didn't get a picture - he was really fast and all you would have seen was....yes a white fluff of a bunny butt. But I did find lots of wonderful places to stretch out....

(Remember, you can click on the photos to see all the details....)

Not sure about this one and since "she" saw a snake yesterday I decided not to linger here. "She" doesn't mind snakes but purrsonally, I'd purrfur to stay clear of them. It's a mutual respect thing.

Speaking of "her".....loves textures, so I took some pictures of forest textures....

It's supposed to rain again starting at midnight. Those who claim to know say we'll have about 3 to 4 inches. But today? It was a good day! I hope you've had one too.

He said, she said, I said....

You may not have noticed my absence, but "she" has. And has been on my tail to get back online and blog. Well, it's not like there hasn't been a bazillion and one things going on - where the heck has "she" been. I mean it's not like I locked "her" in a closet for the past month. Although after all that pushing about getting online, the closet looks like a lovely spot for "her".

So a few weeks ago, (gee has it been that long?) I went outside looking for an adventure to blog about. "She" stayed inside to vacuum. VERY good time to go OUTSIDE for an adventure.

Well, I thought it was. Initially.

Until the neighbor's big black dog showed up. Being new to the neighborhood, he doesn't seem to be too well versed in how things work here.

So he barked and I hissed.

He chased me!

I was not believing it, until I smelled his dog breath steaming my butt fur. And then I did believe.

So I high tailed it up a tree.

Way up the tree.

"She" finally heard big black dog barking like the crazy dog that he is.

"She" intervened and yelled, "YAH"....what the heck? That's what you say when you are herding cows isn't it?!?

Well it worked. But "YAH" - how humiliating. I should have kicked that dog's butt.

Could have done it.

Yep, sure could have. But I was trying to show some self restraint. That's what I said.

"She" told Dad about the incident and the bad mannered dog.

Dad said, "what a wuss".

"She" said, "he's ferocious, he could have hurt that dog".

I said, "I could have SERIOUSLY put the hurt on that dog."

Dad said, "Romeo is a wuss."

I said, "better check your shoes before you put them on in the morning....."

Am I getting old?

”She” went to Illinois last week and I opted to stay home.  That's what happens when you get old isn't it? You prefer to stay home.  But the weather there was at least 30 degrees colder with fur-parting winds, some rain and threats of snow.  I don't like being cold and having my fur blown off my body - so does that mean I am getting old?  I mean really, who in their right mind would willingly make an eleven hour drive for cold weather???

One of "her" traveling finds on the trip

“She” would.

And “she” did.

Told me "she" needed to check in on a few relatives – one in the hospital fighting an infectious nasty something or another; and another having recently had an emergency heart bypass and now in assisted living.  Some serious stuff and totally not my idea of a friendly alley to prowl. So I declined to go with. I’d probably end up with a fur ball or something from the seriousness of it all.

“She” also wanted to go up to St. Charles and check out the Flea Market for possible business options.  Again, I declined, don’t need no fleas!  So I told “her” to get the information, check it out and get back with me so I could make the executive decision.  Gotta keep her on a leash or at least a bungee cord regarding business matters.

What “she” did NOT tell me was that “she” had plans to also meet Rebecca.  Yes, the Rebecca of Vintage Living.  Now if I’d known that I may have considered going.  Maybe.  They had lunch together with “her” Aunt at a wonderful little Italian restaurant, Chianti’s. And they talked and just had a good time.

Beautiful Ladies - THE Rebecca and Aunt Bernice

Without me.

How is that possible?

 Yes, I’m pouting.

Or was. Until I saw what “she” brought home for me…

From the Iowa Junk Gypsies - LOVE this mirror!

“She” said that there was some wonderful folks there 

One of the nicest and loveliest gals was here at Willows

.....and some very talented ones with nice displays that I would have enjoyed.  Check out “her” favorites....

Willows Beautiful Garden Display

Special attention to detail was a signature of the gals at Willows

Lisa of The Frenchman's Wife had the most wonderful French soap!

Willows creativite touch!

The Frenchman's Wife Display

Did I mention that I got some kewl  new junk?!!

New bling and a shoe for my tail....

Life is good.

Even if I did NOT get to purrsonally meet Rebecca…