Busy

I'm not sure what is wrong with me.

The housecleaning obsession

 appears to have departed,

but the new obsession is gardening.

And not even at home.

Well, yes, some of it is at home;

the rest, however, is down at the cabin.

We've spent the last two weekends

working on the area behind our cabin.

We've planted peach, apple, fig,

 pear, and plum trees.

And blueberries.

And daffodils down by the tree line 

along the creek.

Fee built two frames for raised beds.

I helped--a little.

Amelia and I planted the daffodils.

Who knows how the vegetable garden

 will turn out?

Right now, we are full of ideas and enthusiasm.

Summer comes earlier and earlier, though,

and hotter and hotter.

I suspect my enthusiasm 

will decrease as the temps increase.

Nevertheless, for the moment at least,

I look forward to the drive to the country,

full of plans and energy.

-------

At home, the back garden 

occupied me during the fall.

Yesterday, garden clean-up was in order.

Picking up little limbs and branches

 that have blown down

over the last couple of months,

weeding, getting leaves out of the pond

and into the compost bag took most of the day.

Good thing we have a TINY back yard!

I've tried several methods for cat hair

 and rely on The Furminator 

(around $20 from Walmart

 and well worth it) 

for grooming The Triad.  

They love it!

The biggest problem is

 they jostle for position 

and push and shove 

to be the one getting the stroking.

With three cats, however, 

there is always an abundance of cat hair.

  The worst location is the cat tower,

 a favorite spot for all three 

and vacuuming just wasn't

 working well enough. 

 Oh, and the fact that I often neglect this chore.  

So I turned to Pinterest for some helpful hints.
     Tried the rubber glove tip 

and was pleased that it worked.

 Quickly.  

And with little effort.  

Cat tower is now cleaner 

than it has been in a long time!

Antonis Achilleos

Rubber Glove as Pet Hair Remover

Put on a damp rubber dishwashing glove and run your hand over hair-covered upholstery—the hair will cling to the glove, not the sofa. Rinse off the glove in the sink alcohol, two parts water, and a dash of dishwashing liquid onto vinyl wallpaper or 

via Pinterest, via Real Simple.com

(note: it doesn't work exactly the way 
the picture implies!)

After grooming with the Furminator,

a stroke or two with the rubber glove

also helps pick up fly away hair.

Of course, this is an alternative solution.

And if all else fails:

Amelia, something of a smart ass, 
gave me this book.  
I plan to make her a muffler.