Can I Keep It?

What I've Been Doing On My Summer Vacation

Repairing and reupholstering the office is what I've been doing!  Not lounging and snoozing like the Pappies.  Exhibit A:

Simone, Zali, the Doppleganger and a random snake toy foozing it up on the newly covered dog bed. Under a silk screen with hand painted sparrows and quails from China. I know.  Who knew there would be an animal theme?  Next to the china cabinet Hud's mother gifted us some years ago that Hud displays vintage camera gear.  I keep my Boris and Natasha bobbleheads in there for fun as well.  Just in case you were thinking that I only have a fetish for animals.

Going waaaayyyy outside of my comfort zone, I chose to color the walls a deep saturated blue.  Normally, I lean towards shades of food --greens, melons, red.  Lots of red.  It's Hud's favorite hue, too, so we've got our money's worth of red at the Hudarosa.  The railroad desk on the left is where I paint ceramics.  Ruby's by the window.  She matches the drapes now.  Her green, yellow and blue ensemble with a bright red cap are the perfect compliment.  Yes, I got the fabric because it matches my finch.  Shut up. Don't pretend you're surprised. A Bert Sharpe concrete wall sculpture is resting on top of the mantle.  I'm too chicken (!) to hang it anywhere.

Yes, the furniture in this room is standing at attention around the walls.  This is not only my office, but the Romper Room.  It is generally littered with toys.  The middle of the room is clear in case some dog breaks out into spontaneous wrestling.

Way to rock out the fooze, Simone.

My computer desk, a tiger oak trundle table from the turn of last century, is home to the Hammies.  I like to watch them while I work.  Sometimes, when my lap is not full of cat, it is being perched upon by a tiny little dude.  The budgies are constantly squawking loudly in the aquarium behind me.  Floyd cannot get enough of the sound of his own voice.  Mozelle and I however, have had plenty.

I should have taken a shot of the fabric graphics.  The red *surprise* background has frolicking lions and monkeys.  I know.  Animals.  Shocking.

And that is what the Furry Godmother has been up to so far this summer.  Maybe now that's complete, I can find some time to get out of this room and into the studio.

A girl can dream...

Lazy Bum

I've been a little under the weather the last couple of days so I've been taking it easy today.  Dr. Hud's orders.  This morning I slept in, did a few loads of laundry, cleaned a bathroom, made balsamic glazed chicken thighs, baked potatoes with salsa and Greek yogurt and roasted broccoli with lemon and  and this afternoon, have been playing games on the computer.  In fact, I've been here so long that my 'tocks have fallen asleep.

I feel as lazy as Prosch, who naps all day under the water bottle.  Why?  So he doesn't have very far to go in case he needs a drinky poo or a nosh.

Prosch believes in economy of movement.  He's worked very hard to achieve his chubby physique and has no intention of blowing it by exercising.  Just look at those legs!  Hardly a muscle on them.  Perfection, if you're a hamster.

Today, for one day only, I'm giving Prosch a go for sloth royalty.

Top Chef Hamster

Today, on Top Chef Hamster, the only two cheftestants are competing in a Quick Fire Challenge over blueberries.  Never having tasted the mystery ingredient before, Parm and Prosch, nibbled tentatively.  

It was deemed delicious!

Prosch combined the unique flavors of strawberry and sunflower seed in a delightful amuse bouche.  Parm created a succulent blueberry bruschetta on dog biscuit.  As celebrity judge (and their mother), I could not decide.  I left it up to them to work out.

Parm has been sleeping under the water bottle for a week.  Prosch is pouting in the purple hut.  He insists that Parm's palette is trashed by his constant imbibing.  Parm says that Prosch is a "home cook", not a "chef". They've been bickering all day.

Either way, I still think it was the most adorable episode of Top Chef Hamster, I've TiVoed in a long time.

One Trick Pony

The budgies are in an uproar every day.  They have been repositioned to the hallway since the plaster man repaired the ceiling.  I can't wait for next week so that I can start redecorating.

Every time somebody walks upstairs, they flap about, squawking.  Today, the Hall of Fame kids are being photographed by Hud.  Pretty Boy Floyd and Mozelle are in a tizzy.

I try to comfort them by singing and saying the word, "Up!" It's Mozelle's only trick.  She'll step onto my finger.  Somehow, it calms her down.

Simone has only one trick as well.  She will leap into my arms if I tell her to, "Hop Up!"

I know, this is from one of the winter storms.  We're all covered up.  I had hair and Simone had a sweater.  Heeee.  She flings herself up at me.  Once she surprised me by jumping straight at my chest from an ottoman in the studio, right there behind us in this photo.  She almost knocked us both over.  That's when I introduced the "hop up' command.  Sometimes I'm a slow learner when they're teaching me their tricks.

Zoe can retrieve toys.  You have to be careful what you wish for with that dog.  Sometimes her clown car mouth will open up and six different balls, bones and bears will tumble out.

Zali's few tricks all involve kissing.  That dog is not right.  Or maybe it's me.

Carmen's got nothing.  She relies on her good looks and personality.  If you throw a ball at her, it will hit her smack on the noggin and earn you her disdain.

At least the fish come when I call them.  The hamsters?  Don't bite me.  Yes, I had to train them not to do that.  And Let's all leave Aida alone.  Shall we?   It's better that way.

I have to go now.  Cesar Milan called.  He needs help with a difficult dog training problem.  I'm his secret weapon...

Not.

It's Hammie Time!

The new hammies are here!  The new hammies are here! 

Introducing Parma Ham Ster and Prosciutto Ham Ster.  We're calling the last one, "Prosh" for short.  They've spent the last few weeks redecorating their new digs.  I'm trying to leave them with their creative license in tact, but I felt I had to draw the line when they moved the bed under the water bottle. The bedclothes were drenched by the time I found them in the morning.  I'll patiently wait out the black spray painted walls and black light posters.  I can't allow them to catch a cold, however.  We battled over it for a whole afternoon. Sigh.  These kids today.

The two of them are adorably spotted like a Dalmation.  Parma is black while Prosh is more of a smoke gray hue.

Ohhhhh! I could nibble up dem tiny feets.  Doesn't it look like they are wearing jammies?  The cuteness just doesn't stop!

Welcome to the family, Parma and Prosh.  We've been missing you.  Let's have some fun!

Like I Needed It...

Ooooooh, thanks to my friend Meg  and some pals of hers, I have newly adopted baby dwarf hamsters!

Everybody needs a friend, right?  Of course these hammies are not they.  My new charges are spotted like Dalamatian pups.  I am in love.  LOVE.  I tell you.

There's always room for one more at the Hudarosa.  That brings the grand total to four dogs, one cat, two Budgies, one Gouldian finch, three dwarf African frogs, one lemon snail, fifteen goldfish and two of the most delicious little dwarf hamsters on the planet.  Um, yeah and two adult humans with very generous hearts.  Thanks, Huddie for accommodating my hoarding.

Pictures of the newbies and their names next week!