I spent something like eight hours making applesauce and pesto today. I still haven't finished canning all the pesto. I am pretty wiped out from all the standing. Sometimes I amaze myself with my ability for stupidity. Pregnant and suffering from an MS attack? Sure, excellent time to stand all day. Moron. I hope the sauces were worth it though.

The chickadees have already memorised where the feeder is


I am loving my new bird feeder. It has a cover that slams shut should a squirrel or bullying mourning dove decide to jump on the perch. It is so much fun to watch the doves get sent away seedless so my beloved chickadees can come back again and again. Hopefully the doves will learn to leave the feeder alone eventually. I'm sure the squirrels will take some time before quitting though. I'd leave peanuts out for them but I'm afraid the calico cat I've seen stalking the feeder might appreciate that all too much. It would be like pouring out salt in front of deer stand. Then again, the blue jays like the peanuts too.

Yesterday I spotted two red-tailed hawks circling overhead while walking Frankie. I think they must have migrated away somewhere for the summer. I hope they are nesting nearby and will hang out for the winter. Definitely makes the morning walks more lively!



They can be quite the Bluto Blutarskys of the feeder crowd


Chickadee gets ready for take-off 


Nuthatch shows off his chin and why he isn't a Chickadee 


This guy on the left still needed help eating 

If you leave me alone long enough I will figure out how to escape from here...


Frankie had a bath on Saturday. As usual he did not love it, but it was necessary. The stink was getting stanky!


I'm wet and I'm miserable and I'm not smiling for the camera

Goodbye Gene


On Friday, September 22, 2006, Gene peacefully went to sleep for the last time. We were able to help him end his life in a dignified way, and halt the suffering he had been experiencing for the last six months or so. It was a difficult decision for us to make, but ultimately it was the right one. After looking through all the old photographs of him and remembering all the stories of how vital he was in his youth, it was hard to justify keeping him alive to appease our pain. He spent so many hours comforting us when we needed it, and it was time to give him permission to go.

Gene was the most gentle, patient and loving dog I have ever known. Despite his terrible start in life being abandoned and abused, he never lost trust in humans. He was the best example of forgiveness and patience I have ever known. Ok, maybe not so patient when there was cheese nearby, but otherwise he was perfect tempered. Perhaps the lesson I was meant to learn from him was that everyone has good in them, and we all deserve second chances in life. Even though he was the one that was rescued, he spent the next 14 years of his life rescuing us.

We love you Gene.

- The Seal Family


Where I adopted Gene from in 1992: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/RI35.html
Where we found Frankie in October 2005: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/NY187.html

John Senior's Birthday Party

John's father's birthday was September 19. We celebrated with a cake and some coffee at our house. I made a three-layer yellow cake with orange chocolate mousse filling and a semisweet ganache frosting sprinkled with chopped macadamia nuts. Unfortunately I seem to have neglected to take a close-up photo of the cake, but it was a big hit nonetheless. I can't say that it was easy because it wasn't - I don't know that I've ever made a yellow cake from scratch before but having done it twice now I think I could easily manage it in future. If only there were birthdays every week to celebrate!


John opens cards



John opening a gift



John considers blowing out the candles