Make a Bud Vase / Votive Holder

My daughter, Steph, and I tackled a little project the other evening.

This is a great way to reuse baby food or other small jars and scrap wood.

Flower Beds Galore!

Well, our hot Kansas summer is in full swing and I am allergic to sweating while working in the yard. As a result, my project list has moved back inside.

However, I realized I hadn't updated on the yard projects I started in the spring. So, here you go....

Along the front fence line, where I had planted my grandma's peonies...

 ...I put these flower beds down to protect them from the lawn mower.

My plan is to add perennials in the fall - daisies, coneflower, stuff like that.

Old Cat, New Trick?

31 Days of Order - Day 24

The reactions to my declaration about training the indoor cats to use the toilet were varied.

My kids thought it was funny and cool. My husband wasn't too keen on the idea. Many of my cat-loving friends were cheering me on hoping they could do the same with their cats. My very dear friend who just so happens to be a counselor told me she worried about me having gone crazy. (Love you, too, Janet.) A handful of people said, "Ewww - gross!" Some simply stared at me.

Before I tell you our progress to date, allow me to introduce you to my indoor cats.

This is Hershey....

...and this is Snickers.

Hershey, the reigning queen, sits around like this most of the time. 

She is calm and in control. She can take you or leave you.

However, she is a fierce protector and great family cat.

Once she jumped on the back of a large dog that was barking threateningly at me and

she always joins us when we play in the yard.

 Snickers is high strung and generally freaked out.

She meows loudly and bolts whenever slightly startled.

As you can see, Snickers is not cuddly. Not in the least.

Okay. Enough chatter. Here is the progress report.

1. Put the new litter in the old box. Check. No problem. A week went by.
2. Put the new pan up on the toilet. Check. No problem.
1. At this point there were no accidents.
2. After a few days I began to suspect that Hershey was not using it, but going outside.
3. Removed the first disk in the pan of litter, leaving a small hole in the middle.
1. Hershey definitely not using it; going outside. (And this is the cat who will come in from playing outside to use the litter box inside.)
2. Snickers was NOT happy about the hole in the pan.
1. The first night there was nothing in the pan, but the next morning I found that the back door rug had been wet on.
2. The second night she paced and yowled. She ran into the bathroom and upstairs, then back down again, meowing wildly the entire time. I finally picked her up, talking calmly, set her in the litter pan on the toilet and closed her in the bathroom. It got quiet for a minute, then she meowed again so I checked on her. I could tell from the - uhhh - smell that she had done something, but there was nothing in the pan. She opted for the sheet that was on the floor. Sigh!
3. The third night, same routine. More pacing, yowling, and running up and downstairs. This time she made herself at home in the sink of one of the upstairs bathrooms and wet in it. Even after that she continued to roam the house hollering. 
4. I felt sorry for her and caved in. Bringing the litter box back into the house, I refilled it, showed it to her and she promptly made use of the familiar facilities. Peace and calm came over the household.

So, that's that. The grand experiment didn't work on my cats. Oh well, it was worth a try. Guess I'll be heading to the home improvement store for supplies to convert the cabinet under the sink to a litter box holder. I can live with that!

Have you ever tried to train your animal to do something unique? How did it go?

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

That Darned Litter Box

31 Days of Order - Day 5

Okay - you're either going to crack up laughing or be totally grossed out by this one. (How's that for an intro?)

An issue that has bothered me from day 1 is where I have to put the litter box in this house. There is no basement and no attached garage for our indoor kitties to take care of business. The litter box sits in the laundry room, which in most cases wouldn't be so bad except that our laundry room is right off the kitchen. Rrrrrrr. I have changed litter a few times and finally settled on a particular brand that takes care of the smell very well as long as the box is kept clean.

But, I still have to look at it! I don't like looking at it!

Here it is in all it's glory....

One morning I was minding my own business, checking my email as usual and clicked on the message from Groupon. Up pops a whopping discount on an item that promises to make my house litter free in a month or less! Of course, I clicked over to see the details and checked the product website. I started feeling giddy inside and couldn't help chuckling while remembering scenes from the movie, "Meet the Parents."

After consulting the children who happened to be looking over my shoulder at the computer screen, I did it. I bought the kit.

Litter box. Your days are numbered.

Cat re-training starts Monday. I will definitely keep you up to date!

In the event this doesn't work, I have a plan B. Remember the little cabinet under the sink? The litter box will go in there. I could use the floor space and it would keep the box out of sight.

I found some creative cat box cubbies online in case I decide to go that route instead.

Source: houzz.com via Calista on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Calista on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Calista on Pinterest

Ummmm - maybe I'll just take this whole laundry room instead....

Source: houzz.com via Calista on Pinterest

What's the craziest thing you've ever done to bring order to an area of your home that really bothered you? What do you think about the "litter free" home idea? Think it'll work? Have you or someone you know tried it? How did it go? Leave your comments please!!!

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This post is part of my 31 Days of Order series. See the rest of the posts here. 

To find other bloggers also writing for 31 Days this month on a variety of topics, click here.

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This post is not a product endorsement. I was not paid or given anything in return for mentioning the product. I simply saw something that amused me and I thought I'd give it a try.

What's Growing in the Yard?

Spring has sprung in the yard!

I have been anticipating new growth this first Spring season in our yard. Besides Grandma's peonies, which are coming up beautifully I might add, there are things popping up all over the place. I know the names of some of the blooms, but will have to wait until the others decide to show their pretty faces before I can name them.

The peonies by the front step are the tallest so far.
However, every one on the divided plants is growing like crazy!
I'm so excited to show you more when they finally bloom.

Can anyone out there give me a good reason to keep this yucky yucca that's growing at the front fence?

We discovered this moth just emerged from it's cocoon.

It was about four inches from antenna to wingtip.
I waited and waited for it to open it's wings,
but it was being private.

Having always admired redbud trees in other people's yards,
I was thrilled to find out this beauty was in my own backyard.

I woke up one morning to find the bunch of sticks beside the
porch had burst into yellow blooms!

Nothing says "Hello Springtime" like forsythia.

Plants aren't the only things growing at A House and Yard.
Bonnie and Clyde are getting bigger every day.

Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. 

They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon 

in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today 

and thrown into the fire tomorrow, 

he will certainly care for you. 

Matthew 6:28-30 NLT

I hope this Spring finds you happy and blessed!

Cabinets and Kitties

The long-awaited cabinet update is here!

When I posted last I had stripped and restained the lower cabinets

and was ready to tackle some doors to see if they would match.

Well, they didn't.  Take a look.

Three doors.  Three colors. Three kinds of splotchy.

As you can see from the door on the far left, they seemed to strip down fine, 

but they didn't take the stain uniformly.

My son-in-law, a cabinet maker, said that since they weren't protected

with a clear coat they've had years of fingerprints, grease splatters and

spilled water, etc. that could affect how they receive the stain.

I moved on to Plan C and bought this.

Source

I chose the Dark Color Kit in Cabernet.

Here's my workspace.  

Every door and drawer cover was laid out so I could do them all at once.  

It was a long process with multiple steps, but it wasn't hard and I love the results.

And you ready for the big reveal?

Here's a reminder of how it looked before.....

And today it looks like this....

Ta Da!

I love the richness and depth of the color.

Another great thing is that you can still see the texture of the woodgrain.

The glaze that is applied after the bond coat adds variety to the finished color.

I am extremely happy with the results of this kit and would call it

the next best thing to stained wood.

The kitchen is still a work in progress.  I will be adding a backsplash and we need to paint,

but I think we'll move in and have Christmas first.  :-)  

Here's a couple more fun things that happened this week.

The new outdoor kitties moved in.  They are staying in the loft of the shed.

Isn't this a handsome little guy?  His name is Clyde.

The little girl kitty wouldn't sit still for a portrait, so we caught her in action.

She is Bonnie.  (You saw that coming, didn't you?)

Pretty soon Clyde discovered the opening in the bass drum.

It didn't take them long to decide it would make a cozy nest for them to sleep.

Nighty, night Bonnie and Clyde.

Silas has started working on their little outdoor house.

Yesterday, I had the piano movers out to pick up & deliver our old upright grand.

This was given to me by my Grandma and Grandpa.  

It was in the house they purchased in the early 1940's.

Mom tells me it used to be painted black, but Grandpa refinished it.

It was built in 1903 (or was it 1905?), and I can't remember the manufacturer.

At any rate, it is a treasure to me and my family.

That's the latest!

Moving Day tomorrow.  I need to get packin'!

Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

Outdoor Kitties

I really like kitties.

I find it hard to resist them.

My brother's cat had kittens several weeks ago.

Six of them and they need homes.

Since I'll be living on a short acre....

I'm going to need a couple outdoor kitties.

Right?

We have two cats already.

This is Hershey, the Great Hunter.

She has been known to leave lovely presents on our porch

and has jumped on the backs of doggies who dare to threaten our territory.

She follows when we go on a walk and meows loudly if we venture past the stop sign.

When the family plays wiffleball in the back, you will find her in the outfield.

Occasionally, she will even chase down the ball.

During schooltime, her favorite place is in the middle of the schoolroom floor.

She is the one snoring.

Very cool cat!  :-)

This is Snickers, the Freaked Out.

She is a lovely tortoise-shell kitty we got from a friend's grandpa who couldn't care for her anymore.

Snickers was declawed when she came to us and we try our best to keep her inside,

but she inevitably bolts for the great outdoors when the opportunity presents itself.

A ridiculous scaredy-cat, it's unlikely you will see her if you visit me, 

the moment she gets outside she heads for the deck so she can get back in 

or hides until we come looking for her.

Her favorite place in the house...someone's lap.  (Unless there are strangers in the house.)

The new kitties

We're only taking two, but we have picked three.

Isn't this guy adorable?  I've always wanted a gray one, but this guy might be my nephews' favorite.

If I'm going to retain my status as favorite aunt, I guess I better not take their favorite kitten away from them.

Here are our next favorites.

This little black and white....

And this little splotchy one.

So cute!

Hope they like being outdoor kitties!

I'm wondering about the best way to introduce them to each other?

Should the new kitties go to the House and Yard first?