Queen of the weeds

So yesterday Dan and I got a civil notice in the mail.  The Weed enforcer finally caught up with the Boes.
we have been advised that we have until August 3rd to clean up our yard and get our weeds cut down. It came with a lot of bull about health hazard and stuff like that, but all really know it was more of a issue of property values.  I would not be surprised to find out that the people who are taking care of my neighbors house (she passed away a few months ago), call the county.

They even sent us a picture taken of the front of our house with a orange cone next to the tallest of weeds. I suppose this is to demonstrate that our weeds should not be taller than the cone. hahaha.

So the next couple of days will involve Dan and Denise cutting down, or trying to pull out weeds. I am going to have to buy some loppers. you know those long blade scissor type yard tools?  Dan asked me to cut down the weed that are in the "flower bed" with the cutters, but the blade is too short.  It would take me forever and I can't stand for longer than about 20 minutes. 

To be honest though this year has been really bad for our yard because of the spring rain. Our weeds haven't gotten this bad in the 5 years we've lived in the house. Of course Dan and I should not have bought a house with a lumpy, hilly yard. If it was flat we could mow it.   :p

My Little Lion Man

Argo got shaved. His fur mats were so bad, and I could tell he was very miserable, so we decided we needed to get him groomed. I had been researching places that groom cats. Argo is such a love and I so didn't want him traumatized. A few places I read reviews on, left me scared.

Lorie and Jo were going to try to get an appointment with one of their friends, but they couldn't reach her. Stef had suggested that we try Aunt Ernie's. That is where they take Lily and have been very satisfied with their work. I called and got an appointment for Saturday. They quoted me between $65.00 to $80.00 depending upon the badness of the fur and the temper of the cat.  I told her that he was a love, and was declawed in front, but that his mats are bad. She said about $75.00.

Saturday came and we stuffed our big boy into our largest carrier. He meowed all the way, which I thought was odd. We dropped him off and went to lunch. A few hours later they called to pick him up, and he was a very hairless kitty.

They told us that it was only $53.00 as they didn't bathe him. They said he was so good getting shaved, that they didn't want to punish him by putting him in water. I guess he just freaked out when they got to the tub.

We asked them to shave them like a lion. He was great. You could tell where they were at in the process when he got tired of it, as his legs aren't even.  He's also got a few tufts here and there.

His tail is so cute, but I will admit that I will not do this again. He just doesn't look like my fuzzy butt. But for Summer I think he will be happy.  The other cats have actually cut him some slack and been nice. Even Tiger has been pretty laid back.   So now we have a Lion, a Tiger and our Bear. OH MY!

Lord of the flies, or the house that Fly took over

It's so unreal I almost liken it to a Rocky and Bullwinkle episode.  For the past two days Dan and I have come home to a house full of flies.   They are all over my sliding glass door in my kitchen and all over my new bay window in my living room.  I kid you not. It's disturbing since we can't find out where they are coming from.

We have so far:

1. taken out all the garbage cans. We had a BBQ on July 3rd, and thought maybe some meat products were left in the cans.
2. emptied the sink and washed all the dishes
3. did a spot search throughout the two rooms looking for obvious things.
4. actually checked out a few other rooms. 

No luck.  since I am so exhausted by the time we get home, we are waiting until tomorrow to do a major hunt and find. I have a sneaky suspicion that one of the cats has brought in a surprise that left it hidden somewhere.  AUGHHHH.  Ben and Tiff apperently has some organic insect killer spray that they left. I found it, and sprayed the heck out of the flies. I have to admit that I don't rightly know if it's the spray that killed them, or the fact that I drowned them in it, but it's been working. Much better than Dan squishing fly guts all over my BRAND NEW WINDOWS! lol.

But I am worried. I am afraid of what I will see when I get home tonight. hopefully not a window full of flies again.  Dan last night mentioned when he got home that he felt like he was the lord of the flies. I felt like they were trying to take over my house. Either way..... this weekend they will be gone!