In Like a Lion...

I think one too many people observed we were having a mild winter. Over the weekend, Mother Nature emphatically reminded us who's in charge. Winter isn't over until it's over. Millions of plump snowflakes created a heavy, fluffy snow which clung beautifully to tree branches. Since I didn't need to drive anywhere, I could enjoy it from the comfort of my cushy easy chair while sipping a cup of hot chocolate.

My old Indy-boy used to love a snowy day. Now he's easily confused. This means I pull on my boots and troop out to fetch him back inside whenever he loses his way. Let me tell you, snow clings better to fur and hair than it does to tree branches. Even after a towel sweep off we're both pretty damp. Snow is pretty, but I'm looking forward to the fresh yellow-green of early spring. I sure hope March intends to go out like a lamb.

Of course, kids adore snow, no matter what fuddy duddy adults say about it. Watching them sled down the hill behind our house until their cheeks and noses are bright red, can't help but make me smile. I think being around children helps to keep oldsters like me feeling young.

Speaking of being around children, I recently wrote a story about my two grandsons which appears in this month's Sasee Magazine. If you have a moment, I'd love for you to pop over for a read. Please consider leaving a comment, if you are so inclined. Here's the link. Sasee is an awesome magazine for women and I bet you'll enjoy flipping through the pages.

Well, yippy-tie-yie-yay, here it is. March has arrived!

How to Waste Time

Are you sick and tired of being stuck in the house because it's just too darned cold and slippery to go out? I know I am. As I sit at my keyboard, old man winter has lowered the temperature to single digits and sleet is tapping at my window.

It's not that there aren't plenty of things to keep me busy. I could be cleaning. I could be cooking. I could be doing laundry. I could even be writing some (hopefully) brilliant piece of prose. Instead, dear readers, I've found my 567th sure-fire way to waste time. There's a site filled with games related to dogs (and cats, and hamsters, and horses, and even spiders, if you like). It should keep you busy for just as long as you feel like playing. I believe in sharing, so click here to check them out.

You're welcome!

A Sunny Room for Three, Please

I've got that winter itch.

No, it has nothing to do with traveling, or wool sweaters, or a weird skin rash. There's something about this time of year that makes me want to embark on a house project. Sometimes I paint. Sometimes I rearrange. Sometimes I put up a new picture.

But right now I'm itching for a lot more than that. Attached to my house is a lovely screened porch. The unlovely thing about a screened porch is it can only be used in good weather. So I'm tapping my forehead and pondering the possibility of turning my screened porch into a sun room.

Wouldn't this be pretty?

How about this one?

I like this one, too.

Oh me, oh my. So many possibilities. At this writing, I have 2 companies scheduled to give me bids. Since I did not win the Powerball, the bid must be extremely affordable before I can pull the trigger.

Both Indy and Bogey are thrilled with the idea of multiple places to lay around and sun themselves. Me, too.

We want a new sun room. And we want it now.

Anyone else thinking about a home improvement?

A Lesson for All

Here's my sweet boy, Indy. He's been right by my side since the day I got him nearly fifteen years ago. Then he was an eight week old fluffy ball of energy.

Today his vision and hearing are both practically gone, and his back legs have a pronounced wobble. But there's nothing wrong with his sense of smell. He's not too old to follow after a yummy treat...

and he's still fast enough to beat Bogey to the prize.

Indy can accomplish a goal without letting life's obstacles get in the way. Nothing's going to stop him. My little Indy demonstrates a perfect lesson for us all.

Clothes for Critters

Do you dress your pets or let them roam in a state of glorious nakedness?

At our house the answer is both. Most days, we prefer to live in Bohemian splendor. Other days it seems fitting to dress Indy in his sweater or put a hat (briefly) on Bogey. One serves a practical purpose. Indy is old, thin, and arthritic. In cold weather he needs a little help. The other is purely for my own entertainment. Or a photo op.

Apparently many people have extensive closets for their critters. Do a Google search and be amazed at what's available. You can find anything...sweaters, coats, dresses, shirts, hats, boots, necklaces. It's frighteningly true. Your dog or cat can (for a price) be better dressed than you are.

I ran across a picture of this fine fellow. He emphatically sums up Bogey's position about wearing anything except his furry birthday suit.

On the other hand, my son's dog has at least a half dozen outfits. What's more he loves to be dressed up in them, literally growling when you try to remove whatever item he's wearing.

Back in the days when Indy and I did pet therapy, a costume was part of our shtick. The people in the assisted living facility would laugh and clap whenever the fur kids had on some cute ensemble. Indy even had a pair of nifty sunglasses that made him look more like Joe Cool than Snoopy ever did.

How about you? Do your critters have a wardrobe?

He's Got Bedroom Eyes

Dogs are down to earth and fairly predictable. They enjoy squeaky toys, chewy bones, playing fetch, and being scratched behind the ears. They love treats and dinner time. They adore their humans. Take my Indy boy for example. He's now blind, deaf, and nearly fifteen years old, yet still gamely stumbles after me as I walk from room to room. Only occasionally does he bump his nose on an obstacle. Now that's true love.

Then you have cats. What I don't understand about cats is their obsession with the strangest things. One of Bogey's favorite types of entertainment occurs whenever I change the sheets. He can hear the rustle of cotton bedclothes even when he's in the basement. Such activity incites a mad rush to the bedroom where he wastes no time leaping right into the middle of the action.

If I try to tuck the fitted sheet, he worms his way under one of the edges. 

Snap the flat sheet and he attacks the puffs of air that balloon beneath it. And don't let your hand get in the way. Bogey has very efficient claws. 

Then there's the ultimate coup...

Frankly, the only way I'm able to safely change sheets is by closing the bedroom door. However, this creates a frenzied meowing on the other side, the tone and tenor of which causes my ears to ring. I'm pretty sure what he's saying in cat-speak includes exceptionally unprintable comments regarding my personality, parentage, and utter lack of moral fiber. It feels like I've come between a first day dieter and a triple chocolate layer cake.    

My cat and bed sheets. I just don't get it. 

A Key West Trip High Point...Meow!

Our visit to the Hemingway home in Key West was truly a high point for me. And in more ways than one. During the course of the tour we found out Hemingway's home is built on the highest point in Key West. It's a whopping 16 feet above sea level. That's pretty high. Well it is for Key West, anyway.

Right inside the gate I saw a sign asking visitors to alert staff if any kittens are seen wandering close to the gate that opens to the street. The cats must be trained NOT to exit the grounds. (I'm truly impressed by this fact since I've never been able to train Bogey not to bolt out the door).

Here's the Hemingway house and some of it's more interesting rooms.

The house is surrounded by palm trees and tropical plants. They provide shade, help keep the inside cool, and form an inviting oasis.

This is the living room found right off the entry foyer. The furniture is just as lovely now as it was then. I wish I had those gorgeous windows in my house.

Upstairs, the master bedroom features a hand carved headboard. Beautiful and intricate.

The bedroom has doors leading out to a full length deck that overlooks the grounds. Nice view, huh?

This upstairs bathroom featured the first bathroom in Key West with running water. A rooftop tank gathered rainwater that could be funneled into the tub and toilet. At the time, such an arrangement must have seemed the height of luxury.

Next to the house stands Hemingway's studio. Years ago, a walkway connected the upstairs studio to the upper balcony of the home. That meant Hemingway only had a short and scenic stroll to the office each day.

We weren't allowed to get any closer than this to Hemingway's desk and typewriter. I could almost sense the ghost of his muse in the room.

Hemingway's wife in Key West, Pauline, surprised him by building a beautiful state-of-the art swimming pool.

But alas, Hemingway was not happy. He dug a penny from his pocket and handed it to her, grousing that since she'd spent so much of his money to build the pool, she might as well take his last penny, too.

Pauline, having a wicked sense of humor, embedded the penny in concrete right next to the pool as a tongue-in-cheek reminder.

Legend has it that Hemingway was given a six-toed cat (poly-dactyl, or extra toes) as a gift. Sea faring men saw poly-dactyls as good luck. The cat found a true friend in Hemingway. Its descendants roam the grounds to this day. Currently 52 cats, all reported to be descendants of the original cat, are on the property. About half of them are poly-dactyl. They have free run, going in and out of the house as they wish. Of course there's an awful lot of nifty places for them to hang out on the grounds, too.

Over the years, kitties have come and then gone on to the Rainbow Bridge. This lovely little cemetery tells the story.

I got to meet several of the feline residents. This one posed to show off his extra toe. Looks like he's wearing a mitten, doesn't it?

Several of the youngsters were quite rambunctious. They pounced on the leaves I rustled for their entertainment. One paw smacked my hand and nearly drew blood. I didn't care. Who else can say they got scratched by a descendant of Hemingway's cat?

The property also has a gift shop. The cats get to hang out wherever they want there, too.

If you're a writer, history buff, or cat lover and travel to Key West, be sure to stop by Hemingway's home for a visit. And do tell the kitties I sent you!

We Interrupt Your Tour of Key West for an Important Message

Here it is...another New Year's Eve. It hardly seems possible it's been a full year since we ushered in 2014, but I suppose that's another tiny little sign telling me that I'm another year older, too.

It's about now, when my blood sugar levels are through the roof from holiday goodies someone is always handing me (okay, maybe I pick up the holiday goodies, but someone makes them awfully available), I know I'm ready for a change. The excess of gifts, food, and parties has left me tired and at least 10 pounds heavier. There's something in my soul that says it's time to stop for a moment and take a deep breath. Despite a few challenges in 2014, I know I've been blessed. But what lies ahead?

There have been scary things going on in our world both far away and very close to home. I can barely stand to watch the evening news bombard me with the latest terrible events, and only hope there's a plan somewhere in all this. I realize there's not much I'm able to do to change the world. I can only soldier on and do my best, fortified by family, friends, and an occasional Heath Bar Blizzard. Who knows? Maybe 2015 will be the year the evening news has only good things to report. Hope provides the possibility that prevents us from giving up.

If you've ever bought a lottery ticket or entered a contest, you've taken a chance. You take a chance because you have hope. It's endlessly fun to mull over what awesome things you would do if you win. A new year is sort of like a lottery ticket, but better. It gives us both the opportunity and the excuse to take a chance we might not have taken before.

I personally am a resolution maker, in my mind if not on paper. Who doesn't love the idea of accomplishing something new and wonderful? Or wish for the chance to make amends for past failings? Or conquer a bad habit? Like opening the pages of a new book, anything seems possible on January 1.

So as we contemplate our 2015, Indy, Bogey, and I want to thank you for spending another year with us. We appreciate all of you, and send wishes for a happy, healthy, and successful new year.

I'm hoping to make some new and exciting changes in my 2015. How about you?

Your Tour Guide Returns

Have you ever dreamed of discovering sunken treasure? If so, the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum would be right up your alley. Long ago, the waters around the Keys presented difficult navigating for ships. As a result, it wasn't unusual for wrecks to occur, taking lives and other precious cargo to the bottom of the sea. To this day, underwater archaeologists look for mysterious sunken treasures from long ago.

One of the most famous of these hunters was Mel Fisher. His dream of finding treasure began as a child when he read Robert Louis Stevenson's, Treasure Island. He and his crew were successful in discovering many lucrative shipwrecks, but Fisher had his cap set to find the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha which he had read about in Potter's Treasure Diver's Guide. It was a royal guard galleon with 40 tons of gold and silver aboard which sank in a devastating hurricane along with other ships in 1622.

For 16 years he told his crew every morning, "Today's the day", until finally it happened. They found the ship. Thousands of artifacts were discovered worth many, many millions of dollars. It was considered the richest treasure find since the discovery of King Tut's tomb. Mel Fisher was truly an example of what can happen when you never, ever give up.

We saw gold and silver, emeralds and goblets, jewelry and pirate muskets.

This small sampling shows the beauty and detail of the artifacts found by Mel Fischer.

And we we saw something else that widened our eyes. For those of you who recall me writing about our local sculptor friend, Don Wiegand, upon entering the museum the first thing we saw was a bronze sculpture Don did of Mel Fisher.

Talk about finding a touch of home in Florida!

If you get a chance, I strongly recommend you visit the museum. You won't regret it.

Next time I'll show you one of the highlights of our trip...the home of Ernest Hemingway and the fabulous felines that live there.

Just Call Me Your Travel Guide

A few weeks ago, Hubby and I traveled with Son and Daughter-In-Law to spend a few days in a tropical paradise. And we didn't even need to leave the United States to do it.

On a dreary, chilly St. Louis Thursday morning, we hopped on a plane and flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then we took off our jackets and rented a car, driving 3 and one half hours to arrive at our destination...Key West. At first I wasn't thrilled about such a long ride from the airport to our hotel, but then I realized the obvious. We were driving through the beautiful Florida Keys! A tough job, but we soldiered through it anyway.

What a place. Our hotel was a stone's throw from the ocean. It had stunning views with palm trees everywhere, a long boardwalk from which to view the sights, and best of all it was totally pet friendly. Each day an artist sculpted something interesting from sand for the guests to enjoy. This guy was my favorite:

Speaking of pet friendly, I think it's fair to say that pretty much all of Key West is pet friendly. People brought their pups to restaurants, bars, and shopping. In one restaurant I saw a cat napping in a comfy chair while the bartender's dog sat politely next to a bar stool and a customer's pup lounged beneath his table, perhaps waiting for a handout.

How about these cute boxer pups I discovered sitting outside a bar on Duval Street?

Nothing like a puppy fix to make a good day even better. But wait, there's more. Key West has chickens that roam pretty much wherever they want. Apparently the chickens belong to no one in particular, but everyone seems to love them. Unfortunately the chickens are a wee bit camera shy. You can see them fleeing from the photographer (aka me) below.

A huge boat race was going on that weekend and one night some of the enormous million-dollar boats were lined up on Duval Street for the fans to take a look. The streets were packed with people. I pointed out a man carrying a parrot and cockatoo. The next thing I knew...

What can I say? Proof that anything can happen.

This is your travel guide signing off until next time when I'll bring you more salty tales of Key West.