Piper

It's really hard for me to write this post because I can vividly imagine the rolled eyes and sighs of certain family members and friends but....

I got a new horse!

Rationalization for non-horse owners: Cooper is struggling to keep/put on weight, meaning he needs time off to eat and gain strength. Also, I have not bonded very much with Cooper, and think he would be better suited with someone who will love his sweet self for who he is. Any gelding I get will be compared to Tanner and that is just not a fair competition. Therefore, once he is healthier, I will sell him.

Rationalization for horse owners: None needed...I fell in love with her.

So this is how I found myself picking up a horse on the way home from Acadia yesterday. I am pleased as punch to introduce to you Piper, formerly known as Reese!

Piper is a big, GORGEOUS girl who came all the way from the other side of the state to be a Blonde Bomber. She is very calm and sweet, and Tanner is already following her around like a puppy dog. BFF alert!

We're going to have a lot of fun together.

Rescue

I don't like to leave Nellie (Fat Cat) outside overnight because she's gotten into some scuffles with the neighbor cats. However, she was nowhere to be seen last night at bedtime so I left her to be eaten by the wolves.

Usually when that happens she's at the back door bright and early, desperate to be let inside and fed. This morning she wasn't there, and didn't come when I called for her out the back door...I was worried but had to go to work so walked out to my car. I gave one last call for Nellie and lo and behold, heard a pathetic mew in return.

She's gotten stuck in the garage before so I walked in and called for her. It was seriously a game of Marco Polo/hot and cold...I'd say "Nellie?" and I'd get a meow in return. She was not in the garage so I walked back outside.

"Nellie?"

"Meow."

"Nellie?"

"Meow!"

"Where the heck are you?"

"MEOW"

My stomach sank as I realized the meowing was coming from above me.

Found you.

I laughed sickly. It was a pretty hilarious sight, but I also had no idea how to get her down. I thought about googling "get cat from tree" but didn't have much time. People aren't really supposed to call the fire department when their cats are stuck up trees, right? I had no idea. So I grabbed the ladder, hoping against all hope that it would somehow reach her.

When I stood on the very top of the ladder on my tiptoes, my fingertips juuuuuuuuuuust made it to her.I have illustrated the perilous climb for y'all. Please enjoy.

That is me, hanging on for dear life, as Nellie continues to meow at me.

But would she come quietly? Of course not. After a few aborted attempts that nearly toppled the both of us off the ladder, I finally got her by the scruff, crushed her to my chest, and made my slow way down.

I'm still picking bark out of my hair and I probably lost a year or two of my life from the experience, but we both survived. (I made sure to have my cell phone in my pocket just in case.)

Happy Friday! Don't get stuck in a tree.

Nefarious Plan

Now that I've anchored myself in rural Maine for at least a few more years, I've been secretly luring others into my clutches. And it's working...mwuhahahahahahahahahaha!

My college bff Annie moved up to Boston last week, and is quickly becoming a savvy Bostonian. Like seriously, I kind of hate her for being so brave and amazing while I burrow further into my comfort zone of rural, animal-filled living. (I don't actually hate her, I am just jelly.*) Follow her adventures and be jelly too!

AND, sister McAwesome (her awesomely chosen pseudonym) and her husband begin the moving process today from Florida to Boston!


That's right, my pretties...come closer.

 Boston is just three + hours away from me. Inspired by having friends/family within day-trip-distance, and also motivated by my $300/month gas costs, I bought a little 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid this weekend. I have gone from 12 mpg to 45 mpg...woot woot! The F-bomb will be relegated to occasional farm use, hauling horses, and winter driving.

It does however, cut into my superiority complex. After sitting so high above the other cars, cackling maniacally as I imagine rolling over all the slow-moving cars, I am now one of those very ground-dwellers... I flew too close to the sun and my feathers have been pinioned. Is this what it feels like to be average?

In all seriousness, it's a fun little car. And I am very excited to be able to go visit Annie, McAwesome, and Mr. McAwesome soon, and have them all up to the ol' farm!

Who will be next to sucuumb to my wishes and move closer?


* That's what the cool kids say these days for jealous, right? At least, that's what the whippersnappers yell at me when I tell them to get off my lawn.