Friday Night Writers' Group AKA Kritique Kritics - Writing, More Writing, Books, Cats, Dogs, Horses, Gardening...

Landscaping: Before & After

January 25, 2019 Debra Davis Hinkle

We started *xeriscaping the front yard four years ago. It took use a few months to finish the following: Creating a buy list of plants and sprinkler parts, remove old plants, creating less of a slope in one area, converting all the risers to a drip system, and finally planting the new plants according to size, color, shape, texture, slope of the yard.

We used a large bulb auger to create most holes and filling in with a shovel on the, very few, big holes. Every day we would plant a small area three – ten plants, run a new drip system around the plants and then install the emitters. Hubby dug the holes and helped with the planting. I ran the drip line and installed the emitter. Every day we were both exhausted but thrilled with the progress. Sometimes we took a day off.

At the beginning of the job, he area that the slope was lessened.

Three years later, the lower area where the slope was adjusted.

Three years later, the upper area where the slope was adjusted.

*Xeriscaping (less commonly xeroscape) is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation. From Wikipedia.

Repairing a Cat Tree or Scratching Post

January 9, 2019 Debra Davis Hinkle

With several cats my cat trees seem to need repair periodically. The rope gets destroyed by their claws more frequently than I would like. Of course, this is the trade off for not having damaged furniture.

I’ve had to repair all of the cat trees in my house at some point. I use a u-shaped staple and a hot glue if the underlining material is wood. If it is cardboard I use hot glue and add a staple to the two ends only. I use a nail gun for the u-shaped staples, but you can use a hammer. It’s as simple as removing the old rope and gluing the new rope in place.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. I always manage to burn myself on the glue. Ouchy.

Ragdoll Cats

December 28, 2018 Debra Davis Hinkle

How many people have heard of a Ragdoll cat? When I thought of a Ragdoll, it was always Andy and Annie, the dolls. My mother made a pair once and I watched her. Interesting, but I would never go to the trouble of making a doll. I wouldn’t even want to own one. Enough said.

Back to cats. What is a Ragdoll cat. It’s a breed of cats that have blue eyes and mostly white background. Oh, hell. Here’s a picture.

This is Annie Renfield Hinkle and she is a tri-colored Ragdoll and this little girl is mine.

More information on Ragdolls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragdoll

Dac’s Twelve Days of Christmas

December 13, 2018 Debra Davis Hinkle

Dac’s Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
Someone gave to me
A kitten with extra toes.

On the second day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the third day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Seven koi a-swimming,
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Eight chickens laying,
Seven koi a-swimming,
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Nine crickets jumping,
Eight chickens laying,
Seven koi a-swimming,
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Ten doves a-flying,
Nine crickets jumping,
Eight chickens laying,
Seven koi a-swimming,
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Eleven mice a-squeaking,
Ten doves a-flying,
Nine crickets jumping,
Eight chickens laying,
Seven koi a-swimming,
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
Amazon sent to me
Twelve bunnies running,
Eleven mice a-squeaking,
Ten doves a-flying,
Nine crickets jumping,
Eight chickens laying,
Seven koi a-swimming,
Six balls a-rolling,
Five golden strings,
Four chirping birds,
Three French feathers,
Two cat toys,
And a kitten with extra toes!