Pretty Kitty

Back in April, my baby had babies.

And they have been melting my heart every since.

When they all disappeared recently for more than a week, I was devastated.

My husband assumed a hawk got them.

It made me sick to my stomach.

But then they slowly started showing back up.

Each day a different one would reappear in the shop.

And now my heart is full again.

I seriously can't get anything done with these fluffballs around.

We just snuggle.

All day.

Meet Flip.

(Short for Flippy Floppy)

A super sweet little boy.

He got his name because he's like Gumby when you pick him up. 

You can flip him all around and he just flops in your hands.

This is DG Ranger.

(Short for Dirt Girl Lone Ranger)

She got the Dirt Girl title because anytime there is a pile of dirt, that's exactly where you will find her napping.

And Lone Ranger because she used to separate herself from everyone else in the litter.

She likes to do her own thing.

On the left, we have Lou Lou.

(Short for Lou Lou Holtz)

My husband named her Lou Holtz (and added the second Lou after we realized she was a girl) because she's got this cute this pink spot on her lip and nose that reminds him of the former football coach.

Weird, I know.

And on the right is Tigger.

No great story here.

He just has tiger stripes.

Tigger is the playful one.

They are absolute doll babies.

All of them.

The snuggliest barn cats you've ever come across.

Now hopefully these little punks figure out how to catch mice.

Pickin' Berries

My husband has been trying to get me to make preserves from the wild berries that grow on the farm for several years now.

It finally happened this year.

But I managed to trick him into doing it himself.

We went out to pick berries the other night.

And one of the benefits of being 1,000 months pregnant in the scorching heat is my husband helps me out with little chores that he otherwise wouldn't.

And I don't just mean picking berries.

When it came time to make jam the next night, I had enough berries and plums for three batches.

He got home from guys night at 11:00 pm and I put him straight to work.

I convinced him I just needed him to stir.

But by time the night was over, he had made the berry jam all by himself.

As well as one of the batches of plum jelly.

I'm entering them in the fair in his name.

Who's manly now?

Well Damn, So Much For That

My husband has worn his wedding ring a total of maybe ten times since we got married. And only for a few hours at a time at church or a wedding. 

At last check, he wasn't even sure where it was.

I don't think he's seen it in a couple of years.

Everyone wanted to act like I was some huge a-hole when I bought him the cheapo $168 ring.

Now they see why. 

I'm starting to think now I could have saved an additional $30 by not opting for the comfort-fit style. He doesn't even wear it long enough to be uncomfortable.

I, on the other hand, haven't taken my wedding bands off since our wedding day almost five years ago when he put them on my finger.

Until now.

I had dreams of wearing them until the day I die.

But pregnancy and the summertime heat had other plans for me.

Rather than risk getting them cut off in the very near future due to swelling, I went ahead and took them off.

My finger still hasn't regained its original shape.

It's actually pretty gnarly right now.

I guess that makes going to the bar and playing single out of the question.

If the giant belly doesn't tip guys off, the crazy indention on my ring finger will.