Photo Phriday - Seneca

Raise Awareness Wednesday - Shop & Help Animals

I just discovered a page on eBay where you can buy and sell to support nonprofits helping animals big and small. It's called eBay Giving Works. I learned about the page from Big Cats Rescue in Tampa Florida. They just received a check for $10,671.43 from the site! So if you're looking to shop, check it out. Get some goodies for yourself or as a gift and help animals in need at the same time!

Twitter & Blog Promotion

Remember how I said I wasn't going to actively use my new twitter account? Strike that. I want to promote my 2 other blogs and I'm trying to figure out twitter to help. Interested in mysteries? Follow my blog Cozy Up With Kathy. Do you armchair travel? Follow the adventures of my plush rats in Ratkins Deux the World. You can also follow them on Facebook- Ratkins' Travels. Become a follower of both blogs and join them with Networked Blogs. You can also follow me on Twitter: @KatreaderKJK. Thanks!

Photo Phriday - My New Car

A 2012 Jeep Liberty Sport. The color is called Winter Chill.

It's Coming

It's getting darker earlier. The weather has been just brilliant-blue skies, low humidity, temperatures in the 70's. It even is chilly at night. Autumn is coming and I can't wait. Fall is my favorite time of year. I'm happy to say goodbye to the hot weather and embrace the cool, comfortable weather. I'm not quite ready for the winter boots yet-but I'm looking forward to sweatshirts and jackets!

Friendly Rental

My rental car is quite friendly. Every time I start it the dashboard lights up and displays "hello" and when I turn it off it says "goodbye". Isn't that nice?

Vacation's End

Tonight is the last night of my vacation. How I hate to see it end. It had a fantastic start-America's Grape Country Wine Festival, Brockport Art Fest, fun in Medina, then a lousy middle-Dad not feeling well, car breaking down on the thruway, needing a rental car and a search for a new vehicle, frustrating minor issues Friday with a nice discovery of a new winery, then a decent ending at Wedgefest and another art show, with a quiet relaxing evening home. Unfortunately, I'm still stressed and in need of another vacation. I soooo don't want to return to work tomorrow. The week went by too quickly. Sigh.

Photo Phriday - Amelia & Me at Deer Run Winery

Photo Phriday - Pepsi & Bear

Twitter

I spend too much time on the computer...and my iPad. I have to check on e-mails (multiple accounts), blogs (2 with a 3rd premiering this Sunday), Facebook, Pinterest, Pet Hotel, and more. I certainly didn't need to add Twitter. However, I needed treats to get a lime llama in pet hotel. I won't pay real money (the easy way to get treats) but I could get treats (and get a cute sea urchin) if I showed pictures of my Pet Hotel on my twitter account. So...I created a twitter account. I don't plan on tweeting, or reading the tweets of those I follow (I had to pick several people to follow to set the thing up), but I have it. I wasn't able to use my regular username, but I got something close. So, if you see a tweet from Katreader-it's not me, but should you get one from KatreaderKJK-I've given in and added another technological time sucker to my life. Or I'm trying to get another pet for my hotel.

Raise Awareness Wednesday - Wolves

Tell the White House: Don't roll back 40 years of wolf protection.

The killing has been relentless. Last year since Congress delisted wolves in Idaho and handed their lives over to State officials, more than 400 wolves have been killed.
Now the tragedy that swept over Idaho wolves is set to come to Wyoming at the end of this month—unless you and I stop it.
We've seen what happened in Idaho. Urge the President to protect Wyoming's wolves from suffering the same fate.
Help send 100,000 signatures to the White House for wolves by August 31.
Click to go to the Defender's of Wildlife Petition page.

Wolves are not our enemy!

Yankee Candle

Damn you Yankee Candle. As if I didn't have enough candles, you have to send me your first fall catalog. Fall is my favorite time of year. Just glancing through the catalog I saw over $70 worth of things I wanted...and that didn't even include the candles. And new scents? New scents I really want!?! Harvest Welcome, Apple Pumpkin, Season's Blessings...Come on now. I could easily drop $200. I won't...but I could.

Disappointing Read

I'm so disappointed in the book I'm reading. It's the first in a new cozy series. It features a garden society, and I love gardening, plus I fell in love with the cover. It's a place I'd love to visit. Unfortunately, I don't like the characters. They're childish and, sad to say, behave stupidly. For a gardening mystery there's not much gardening involved. The writing is OK, transitions are a bit abrupt at times, but it's not horrible. I don't want to ever badmouth a book (which is why I'm not giving the title or author here) and it's not a horrible book-some people may quite enjoy it. Perhaps I had too high expectations and the author just couldn't meet them. I sure as heck wish I would have gotten it from the library instead of buying it, but I've learned that first book sales early are crucial to an author continuing the series...and the premise was so promising. I will finish the book-I just can't leave a book, even one I'm not enjoying, unfinished-but I hope it ends soon. There are lots of other books waiting for me.

Salt Potatoes

I love salt potatoes. I don't know what it is about those little balls of salty, buttery goodness...well, OK, maybe that's it; they're little balls of salty, buttery goodness. I got some small potatoes at my local farmers' market and fixed just the amount I intended to eat. I put about 4 little potatoes in a medium sized pot, filled it with water and brought to a boil. I also added a bunch of salt to the water. Once they finished cooking, I put the potatoes in a bowl and added butter. Lots of butter. (It's OK, I use Smart Balance-still tastes great) I added a bit more salt and dug in! I had them for dinner last night and again for lunch today. Do you like salt potatoes?

Hot Hot Hot

It is very hot today. There's even a heat advisory. Since I can't take the heat, I changed my plans. I was going to take a ride on the Arcade Attica Railroad, but too hot for that. Sam and I took an early walk-but he turned back toward home quite quickly. Then I walked to the farmer's market. I got all kinds of goodies-but everyone was already sold out of eggs. I have such a craving for farm fresh eggs. Sigh. Other than moving the sprinkler-I've stayed inside. I've been working on a new Facebook page for Amelia & Cabot Ratkins. I also want to type up some more of my posts for my upcoming Cozy blog (which will debut a week from tomorrow). I've been doing a little tidying up, and watching a little TV (Top Chef Masters, Olympics, The Andy Griffith Show). I may get a little crafting in too. But now...time to move the sprinkler and give Sam a bath! Stay cool everyone!

Photo Phriday - Nene Goose

OK, I didn't actually take this picture today...I took it last Saturday. That's my hand and I'm feeding a Nene goose at the Gooseneck Hill Waterfowl Sanctuary. These friendly fellows are endangered and on the brink of extinction. How lucky am I, not only to see them, but get to give them a treat as well!