Posts or Comments 29 January 2012

House/Pet-Sitting &Houston joydeanlee | 12 Aug 2011

Alexander cats—new additions

Three new cats were added to the Alexander home, Houston, in May, 2010. These additions were not planned, but when the neighborhood stray (Pumpkin) whom the Alexanders had been feeding, had a litter of cats before she could be caught and fixed, they faced the chore of finding homes for the kittens.

Pumpkin was a scrawny feral cat before the Alexanders started feeding her. Patience and lots of attention resulted in Pumpkin running into the garage when the door opens, ready first to be fed treats and brushed and then to partake of the milk and both dry and wet cat food. The indoor cats don’t get the milk or wet cat food, so Pumpkin is truly spoiled.

To view a slideshow of the Alexander cats, click on any photo. If info about the photos is not displayed in the slideshow, click Show Info.

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Pumpkin displays her gorgeous sleek body.

Unable to find homes for all, the Alexanders took Piper, Luna, and Sonoma into their home which already consisted of Scooter and Bella. See these links for previous posts about Scooter (http://www.joyontheroad.com/wordpress/?p=36) and Bella (http://www.joyontheroad.com/wordpress/?p=89).

Now the cats are slightly over a year old and to say that they are a lively bunch is an understatement.

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Didn’t I say above that to call the younger Alexander cats a lively bunch is an understatement? This is the sight that I found when I woke up one morning.

Bella-Aug2011 - 3

Bella has that “I’m not guilty” look as she stands by the swim suit drawer. She can join the fun even though she’s one of the original household. According to Sheila, Bella opens the drawer and Luna (below) is the one who actually pulls the swim suit pieces out of the drawer and often carries them all over the house.

Piper&Sonoma-Aug2011

Piper and Sonoma guard the path to the kitchen, the most important room for that’s where their food is and well as the place where they are treated to snacks every morning as part of the coffee-making ritual.

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Luna brings gifts (usually little toy mice) and announces the gifts with meowing. She half of the team (with Bella) who unload swim suits from their drawer and deposit them all over the house.

Scooter-Feb2010-08

Scooter, the oldest of the cats has never been #3; he’s always been #1, and if you challenge that status you’ll receive a loud hiss and perhaps a bite, if you get too close to him. At heart he can be a sweet boy, but you cannot trust him.

House/Pet-Sitting &Pets &San Antonio joydeanlee | 27 Jul 2011

McColley dogs—Max and Pip

House/pet-sitting for the McColley family in San Antonio has long been one of my favorite tasks. Max (their Maltese) was the first dog I spent an extended period of time with and he became the “love of my life.” With the years that have passed, I now have innumerable pets that I love dearly. When I recently stayed with the boys, numerous photo ops popped up for me to experiment with my Canon PowerShot S95.

Note: I‘s just completed writing the index for Your Camera Loves You by Khara Plicanic (Peachpit Press) http://www.peachpit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0132776308 and was attempting to apply principles from the book.

Pip, a Yorkshire Terrier, has joined the family although he is technically their daughter Kat’s pet. Pip has an entirely different personality than Max. He’s a hunter which is reflected in many of the photos I took of him.

To view a slideshow of Max and Pip, click on any photo. If info about the photos is not displayed in the slideshow, click Show Info.

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Comfy and Cozy. Max and Pip recline on the back of the sofa in one of their numerous relaxed poses.

Pip-July2011—03

Hunter: Pip’s mission in life is to check out every flower pot, drain hole, rock pile, doormat, bush, and tree for any critters that might hide there. He even tries to tree squirrels.

Max-July2011—01

Now that’s a yawn. Max shows his contentment; he’s ready to relax on HIS place on the back of the sofa.

More about Max: After viewing this slideshow of Max and Pip, you might enjoy reading more about Max from an earlier post: McColley dog–Max, my man…I mean, my beloved dog…though he’s not technically mine

Grand Teton &National Parks &Yellowstone joydeanlee | 28 Jun 2011

National Parks: Grand Teton and Yellowstone

One advantage of the vagabond lifestyle I’ve adopted is that I’ve visited numerous national and state parks from coast-to-coast. I’m starting a series highlighting the major features of the national parks.

In October 2009 I drove from Indiana to Colorado where I visited with family and friends in Colorado Springs and attended the fall workshop of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Society for Indexing in Denver.

One of my sisters, Mary Hunt, flew there to meet me, and we began a 10-day road trip that for her ended in Portland, Oregon, because she had to fly back to Indiana. I then drove to Bellevue, Washington, for a house/pet-sitting assignment which provided me with new places to explore…but that’s another post.

To view a slideshow of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, click on any photo. If info about the photos is not displayed in the slideshow, click Show Info.

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Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

A serious snowstorm challenged the beginning of our road trip, but we persevered. When we encountered a total white-out lasting just a few seconds on I-80 West (after we left Cheyenne, Wyoming), Mary and I both screamed. Thankfully the white-out lasted only a few seconds. Much scarier than any snowstorm or fog I’d previously encountered!

Jackson, Wyoming was our home for the few days we spent exploring the highlights of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Although I’d attempted to reserve a room at Old Faithful Snow Lodge months in advance, I was unable to book a reservation. Thus we’d reserved a room outside the park. I’d been able to make dinner reservations at the dining room at Snow Lodge, and when we walked into the hotel a sign proclaimed Rooms Available. I guess it would pay to recheck the reservations site closer to the date you’ll be visiting a national park.

Highlights of our trip: Grand Teton mountains, Old Faithful Geyser, hiking the Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Mule deer, coyotes, and bison were abundant. A herd of the bison grazed along one of the roads. Mary had the passenger window rolled down as I drove very slowly through the herd. She was able to photograph one of the bison very up close and personal—no zoom lens required!

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A bison strolled by the road allowing my sister Mary to photograph him up close and personal.

Austin &House/Pet-Sitting &Houston &Lake McQueeney joydeanlee | 10 Jun 2011

Emerson dog—Mia, may she rest in peace

I never had the privilege of pet-sitting for Mia, the beloved dog of the Emersons in Austin, Texas. I did enjoy her company when we had outings at Lake McQueeney and when both the Emersons and I were guests of our mutual friends in Houston, the Alexanders.

Obedient. Patient. Congenial. Faithful. Calming.
One could not ask for a better dog to be his best friend.

Mia died early in 2010, a sad event indeed.

To view a slideshow of Mia, click on her photo. If info about the photos is not displayed in the slideshow, click Show Info.

Mia, Christmas, 2007

Christmas, 2007—Mia relaxes on her blanket with her new red toy.

California &Family &Lakeport &Weddings joydeanlee | 03 Mar 2011

Chis Hunt/Devona Boerema reception, July, 2010–Kelseyville, California

After a lovely wedding in the town park in Lakeport, California, the crowd traveled to nearby Kelseyville for Chris and Devona Hunt’s wedding reception.

Chris/Devona's Wedding ReceptionChris & DevonaDevona throwing bouquet

A banner proclaims the occasion. ••• Chris and Devona. ••• Devona prepares to throw her bouquet.

Click on any photo to see a slideshow of the highlights of Chris and Devona Hunt’s wedding reception. If info about the photos is not displayed in the slideshow, click Show Info.

California &Family &Lakeport &Weddings joydeanlee | 26 Feb 2011

Chis Hunt/Devona Boerema wedding, July, 2010–Lakeport, California

On July 31 families of Chris Hunt and Devona Boerema, along with numerous friends, gathered in Lakeport, California, to share their marriage ceremony and reception with them.

Chris’s mother Mary (my sister), and some of our other sisters, Joyce Ann, Barbara Jean, Nancy Lynne, and I and two of my nieces, Melissa and Nancy Carol, met in San Francisco for two days of sightseeing before driving to Redding, California, to visit overnight with Angie (Sunnie), who is Mary’s daughter. The entire crowd then drove to Lakeport for a weekend of fun, the wedding being the main event!

Wedding party presented to the crowd.

Here Chris and Devona are flanked by her two children, Daryl and Melissa, who participated in the ceremony in a gazebo in the lovely lakeside park on Clear Lake.

To view a slideshow of all the wedding photos, click on one of the photos. If info about the photos is not displayed in the slideshow, click Show Info.

Chris and Devona ride to reception.
Off to the reception. Chris and Devona ride their Indian motorcycle to the reception in nearby Kelseyville.

Devona, displaying helmet.Devona, displaying helmet.
Devona’s friends created a proper helmet for the bride!

House/Pet-Sitting &Houston joydeanlee | 07 Nov 2010

Alexander cats—Piper crawls into our hearts…and every other space he can find

Pumpkin, the Alexanders’ yard cat, produced a litter in late May, and Piper immediately realized the advantages of being a loving cat and thus became a permanent addition to the household.

To say that he is a bit of a “spaz” is an understatement. Observe!

To view a slideshow of all of the Piper, click on one of his photos.

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Piper, peeking from behind the shutter, presents his “I’m very cute” pose.

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Piper is washing the dishes…before the dishwasher has its chance.

Quilt Trail–Jefferson County &Tennessee joydeanlee | 24 Jun 2010

Barn/building quilt trail in northeastern Tennessee

After I’d read about a Quilt Trail in far Northeastern Tennessee, friend Doris and I decided to take a “spur-of-the-moment” trip in early June.

We never made it to the section of Tennessee I’d read about. These photos were taken over two days in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

A kind hostess in the county’s visitors bureau provided a brochure that had both addresses and GPS coordinates of buildings that had quilt patterns painted on them. Without using those coordinates, we would have never found all these locations.

We visited some where taking a photo was impossible; a couple we never found. However, we visited and photographed approximately 40 of the 60 places listed in the brochure.

A fun three-day trip!

To view a slideshow of all of the quilts we photographed that were painted on various buildings, click on one of the photos.

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Not painted! This quilt pattern is made of small ceramic tiles, a beautiful creation.

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This design was painted on a barn. We found designs painted on all types of buildings.

House/Pet-Sitting &Houston joydeanlee | 20 Jun 2010

Alexander cats—Memories of Raja warm hearts

Raja, the 20-year-old cat of my close Houston friends (Alexanders), died last week. Raja had become quite ill in January of 2009 and was not expected to survive the month. But…survive she did, until June 15, 2010.

Click on the photo to view a slideshow of Raja during the last five years.

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Raja drives Scooter’s car…and he doesn’t even object.

For the last year and a half, if Raja meowed and someone was there to hear her, she was either talked to, picked up, or fed regular food, soft food mashed up with water added, evaporated milk, treats, canned tuna, or cooked chicken or fish.

I’ve had the privilege of caring for Raja (along with Miss Black, Fugley, Scooter, and Bella) when the Alexanders travel. Returning to their home and not having Raja to greet me will be difficult. We’ll all miss our “fur baby.”

Austin &Wildflowers joydeanlee | 30 May 2010

Austin, Texas—Food, fun, and glorious wildflowers

My time in Austin house/pet-sitting for the Emersons was a delight. My older daughter Helena and her husband Dan live there. We found many reasons to get together: an art gallery show of the works of one of Helena’s friends, a yard art tour, and birthday celebrations for Helena and me, who both have March birthdays, and for Dan’s mother Virginia in early April.

After a trip to the AAA office for a map of the Hill Country, exploring Austin and as many of the small towns around it as time permitted was my goal. With helpful hints from Helena and Dan and from travel/food articles, I found great restaurants.

Austin: For my birthday we dined at The Grove (http://www.GroveWineBar.com), which has become Dan’s favorite place. Note: The opening of The Grove’s website has cool graphics.

Marble Falls: Friend Kim Scott, who lives in Georgetown north of Austin, and I lunched at the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls (http://bluebonnetcafe.net/). Kim is another former Macmillan Indianapolis employee. You won’t believe the height of the meringue on the cream pies.

Bastrop: I drove southeast of Austin to Bastrop where I dined at Baxter’s On Main. An interesting dish was the mashed sweet potatoes with green chilies. Tasty combination! (http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/39221144/bastrop_tx/baxters_on_main.html)

From Lampasas and San Saba northwest of Austin to Llano, Marble Falls, Burnet, and Johnson City on the west and Blanco and Wimberly on the southwest, I photographed wildflowers which started blooming late in March.

To view a slideshow of all the wildflowers, click on the photo below.

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Bluebonnets

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