Poop!

Did you know... Premium kopi luwak coffee is made from coffee beans isolated from civet poop. Civets are small mammals from tropical parts of Asia and Africa.

Did you know... The types of food animals eat can change the color of their poop. Penguins leave white or gray droppings after eating fish, pink droppings after eating krill and yellow droppings after eating squid.

Did you know... Some coprolites (ancient poop) have mineralized over time and contain beautiful swirls of color. Some of them are polished for jewelry.

Poop - enough said right? Never! Poop is a fascinating subject - if you say no, you are in denial. 

I had a "poopy" birthday this year.  Tim and I visited Fernbank for the Scoop on Poop exhibit - "the #1 exhibit on #2".  The exhibit had some fun facts, but it was really geared for a younger audience - we still had a great time. 

Tim then gave me the CitiKitty - a potty training system for my cats - as a part of my birthday gifts! That is right, we are now training my two cats how to use the toilet.  No more cleaning the litter box or having litter all over the bathroom!

I was so excited!  The first week, it was great and the cats had no problems using it.  Then, the next step when you punch out a ring (see 2 Train in the photo above), things went down the toilet - except not literally.  The cats wouldn't poop in the toilet.  I knew they were holding it and to my horror - they decided to use my bed instead of the toilet.  Vomit and triple washing my sheets.

I hoped it was an isolated incident.  It was really a revolt.  After another bed poop and then a poop in my dirty laundry - I was done with potty training.  But, end the end, Tim and I decided that we would not let the cats win.  So, we locked them in the bathroom (with plenty of food and water and toys). 
They are finally using the toilet again.

I think this process will take several more weeks to actually get them through training as we don't move to the next level (a larger and larger hole in the training ring) until both cats successfully use the toilet repeatedly without being locked in.

I feel like a parent, monitoring my cats bowel movements to make sure they are going - knowing when they are holding it - and then cleaning up the messes. 

Hey - but if I ever have kids they can't be more difficult to potty train than two huge cats, right?

This is Suzy Homemaker, keeping you posted on the poop!

The One Year Itch

I feel so cliche when I comment on how fast time seems to be flying - but it is really mind blowing for me.  Like, I just got a notice for my high school's 10 year reunion.  Granted, I am happy high school is well behind me - I would consider it at the bottom of an amazing ride up in my life.  But, 10 years, really?

Next month, I will celebrate the one year anniversary of buying my house.  Since I bought it in nearly perfect condition (fresh paint, recently renovated, nice lawn), I didn't have much to do house project wise. 

Now, if you look back on my blog, I have done several small projects: staining the fence and back porch, glazing the bathroom windows, painting my porch furniture, creating storage spaces, etc. 

I have also done some things that haven't made the blog - like cleaning out most of my junk - from cleaning out flower beds to organizing paperwork in my office to cleaning out my closet and attic.  If you hurry, I am sure you can find a TON of my stuff at the local GoodWill stores!

I guess I am officially settled into the house. 



So, what next?  I have been here a year, and... am bored.  I was so used to moving every year or two - but I am home now.  And my home doesn't need anything other than cleaning, ugh!

Here's to 1 year and being a happy homeowner!

Squirrels: A Rant

My yard nemesis.  Rats with fluffy tails. Squirrels.

They have taken over the neighborhood. 

They constantly chew off little branches off of my trees (which I constantly have to pick up out of my yard). 

They dig holes throughout my yard - I swear just to annoy me.

They obviously allow snakes in the yard - the supposed one benefit of having these rats around.

I hear them running on my roof and watch them run along my fence and power cords - laughing at me.

I have tried cayenne pepper and other critter solutions that should deter them away from my yard.  The squirrels haven't been deterred.

Now, back in the country - Dad would just take out a screen and shoot them from the house.  Oh, sometimes I do miss the country.

If you have any ideas on dealing with them - pass them along, please!

Squirrels - 1.  Suzy Homemaker - 0.