This is the continuation of Xe’s story while in gay Paree. We are also joining in Aww Monday at Comedy Central. Leap over and see your buddy’s blogs.                                               

Lucy: So Xena, it seems that your story character Xe has a new friend. What are they going to do? You can’t just leave the story there.

Xena: They’re going to have grand adventures, and another friend is joining them.

PARIS REUNION

When last we met, Xe had just met a lovely French poodle named Gigi. They quickly became fast friends. Gigi offered to show Xe more sites in her home town, so Xe extended her stay at the Air B&B for an extra night. The next morning over café au lait, the little schnauzer regaled her hosts with stories of both her day in Paris as well as her adventures with her BCFF (Best Cat Friend Forever), Tye. Xe and Gigi had just returned to the Air B&B to prepare for anther fun day together when Xe got a text.

“It’s Tye!” Xe exclaimed. “She’s’ on her carpet, hovering over Sacré-Cœur. Let’s go!”

Gigi already knew who Tye was from their long talks the evening before. The pair ran as fast as they could to the stairs to the summit and on up to the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. They only stopped once to catch their breath before reaching the basilica.                                                                               

“There she is! Here I am, Tye! Down here!” Xe hopped up and down and waved frantically with excitement.

Making a smooth four-point landing, Tye had barely hopped off her carpet when she felt Xe’s arms around here with a big schnauzer hug. They grabbed paws and danced in a hoppy circle with excitement. Tye, in her fancy French beret, suddenly stopped as she saw another dog approach.

Gigi, who had been holding back, shyly approached the happy pair.

“This is my new friend, Gigi,” explained Xe when she finally stopped hopping. I just know you two will become good friends too. She has offered to be my – and now our – tour guide in Paris.”

“Meow, meow, meow! A friend of Xe’s is a friend of mine,” smiled Tye.

“Je suis heureux de vous rencontrer,” responded Gigi.

Tye turned to Xe, and whispered, “Uh, did she just swear at me?”

Gigi, who had very good hearing, said, “No, no, mon amie, that was ma langue français. I will speak your language, English, if you like.”

Having come to that agreement, Gigi offered – in English – to take them to the famous horse racetack, the Hippodrome de Longchamp Moulin. She explained that it is a lesser-know attraction where the locals enjoy losing their money. After paying their 2€ each to enter, they found the best seats, right in front of the track.                                                                         

Xe, very confident in her running abilities, stated, “You see those horses? They could run faster if they didn’t have men on their backs. I bet I could even beat them in a race right now.”
“Ah, but you could not beat me.” The little poodle said this with such confidence that Xe couldn’t help but challenge her to a race.
As soon as the horses began leaving the track the three friends ran out onto the racecourse to settle who was fastest. Tye decided to let the race be between Xexe and Gigi, taking on the role of “starter.”                                                             

“Xe! Stop! You’re running the wrong way!” Tye called out as Tye tried to get her turned around.
“Wee!” exclaimed Gigi. “C’est fantastique! Je vole, je cours si vite!” (I’m flying, I run so fast!)

(A little later) “Wow, quelle fun?” Gigi exclaimed. “I have never before been in a race and I have never before been tossed out of a venue. Vous deux savez comment le vivre.” (You two know how to live it up.)

“I thought you said you would speak English so I could understand you,” complained Tye.
“Je suis désolé, er, I mean, I am sorry,” answered Gigi. “My English is actually very good. I just forget, since I was helping Xéxé practice her French. Now, let’s keep exploring.”

“Here is the Musée Picasso. It is a ‘must see.’” This time, instead of paying the admittance fee, the trio slipped in the dock door as the museum was receiving a delivery– something Gigi would never have done by herself.

“How strange all these paintings and statues look,” mused Xe. “That Picasso dude must have had a really warped mind to come up with all of this. Hey, Gigi, we never got to finish our race. Wanna’ try to catch me?” Xe started running with Gigi close behind. Several statues wobbled, almost tipping over. They stopped and listened at the sound of approaching footsteps.                                                                   

Tye, oblivious to imminent company, was still thinking about what to do with the big-nosed man in front of her. “Hmm, this doesn’t make a very good scratching post. Maybe I’ll leap onto his head and take a bite out of that huge schnozzle.”

“Hey! You three, what are you doing in there?” a guard asked as he approached. Gigi quickly translated the guard’s French.
“Nothing,” they all said in unison, with wide eyes and ready to flee.
“Sortez!” He gave them all a stern look while Gigi told Tye and Xe that they were being thrown out of the museum.
The friends ran for the nearest exit, trying not to do any damage on their way. They got outside and stopped at the bottom of the stairs, woofing and meowing in laughter.
“That is two times – deux fois – we have been thrown out of somewhere! How fun!” laughed Gigi. “Let us find our next adventure.”

As they travelled through Paris, they came to the pool of water in front of the Louvre. Xe quickly got out her ball and jumped in to cool down.                                                                   

“Wee! Wait for me!” yelled Gigi. “I have always wanted to do this, but never before had the nerve.” The little French and German-American dogs played ball in the water until – once again – they got thrown out. Tye, not too fond of swimming, watched from the side, and clapped her paws and laughed as they they climbed out of the water. “Here, we will cool you off too,” woofed Gigi as she and Xe shook the water from their hair. “It is getting late,” said Gigi, “and I must go home before Maman wonders what has happened to me. She worries too much.”
“Come on, Tye, we can stay at my Air B&B tonight,” said Xe. “You will like our hosts, and I am sure they will let me stay another night. I have a nice room and big bed we can share. Help me remember to text Mommy to let her know I am OK. She worries about me, too, even though I am a big girl now.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” meowed Tye, “I promised to text Sho when I found you in Paris, and, with all the excitement, I forgot! I’d better do that too.”

And so, another fun day in Paris ended, with plans to meet up the next day.

Welcome home girls!  I hear summer camp was a success and you Tyebe were purrmoted to a Cougar at Cat Scouts.  Yes, I can scare all the mancats with my Cougarness now. mol

MOM…….MAROON
TYEBE…..ROYAL BLUE
SHOKO…..BLACK

Did you read my write up on the Bald Headed Eagle. You really have to listen to their cry mom…..I had a hard time believing it.

Bald Headed Eagle

A majestic bird of prey with a huge wing span of between 1.8 – 2.3 m.  Bald Eagles became endangered in the late 70’s mainly from the use of pesticides like DDT which poisoned their food supply.  They are no longer endangered and flourish through Canada and Alaska, all of the contiguous United States, and northern Mexico.  Adult Bald Eagles have white heads and tails with dark brown bodies and wings. Their legs and bills are bright yellow. Immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails; their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in varying amounts.  These birds live to be about 20 years old in the wild.

Interesting fact….It’s a scene you’ve probably seen countless times in movies and on TV: An eagle flies overhead and emits a rough, piercing scream. It’s a classic symbol of wilderness and adventure. The only problem? Bald eagles don’t make that sound.

Instead, they emit a sort of high-pitched giggle or a weak scream. These noises are so unimpressive that Hollywood sound editors often dub over bald eagle calls with far more impressive sounds: the piercing, earthy screams of a smaller bird, the red-tailed hawk. If you were a fan of The Colbert Report, you might remember the show’s iconic CGI eagle from the opener—it, too, is making that red-tailed hawk cry.  Go to https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/sounds and listen to the sound of a real bald headed eagle as opposed to the Hollywood version.

Mom and dad lived up in Prince Rupert, BC which is on the route of the Bald Headed Eagle to Alaska, the Yukon and the Queen Charlotte Islands.  These hangouts for the Bald Eagles saw many a nest.  Mom liked to talk about the family of Bald Eagles that would inhabit a wooden telephone pole at the very tip which had rotted away…..raise their children and be gone til the following year.  Then they’d raise another batch of kids for the world to admire.  Mom was a city kid and this was her first observation of Bald Eagles in the wild.  Just a wee glimpse at a most fascinating bird…..we hope you want to discover more about America’s symbol for strength and freedom.

Where’s Budd?  I gotta tell him how we did at Camp Mau.  He will be so happy for us.  Do you remember how sick Budd was feeling when you both left for Camp?  Yeah, but we thought he’d sleep while we were gone and feel better by the time we got home.  He got much worse girls.  On Thursday dad and I helped him go the the Rainbow Bridge.  He couldn’t eat or drink…..his time had come.  NO!!!!  Not my……   Tyebe he will always live in your heart….furever.  Do you remember how he walked into our lives 2 years ago when he saw you out playing on the deck?  He loved you with all his heart, Tyebe.  You were the little girl he never had,                                                                       

Geez, I remember the first time I hissed at Tyebe to keep her in her place.  You know what I mean, mom.                                                                 

Budd came right up to me and stood over me as if to say….”How dare you hiss at my perfect little girl….you piece of meezer garbage.”  He sure could put me in my place.  Budd and Tyebe studied the whole backyard together.  Budd introduced Tyebe to nip for the first time.  He was also there so she wouldn’t overindulge.                                                       

He had a crush on you Shoko once he got to know you. He thought you were so beautiful and he just wanted to be close to you.

He did, you’re right, mom. He always smelled funny though. Personally, I didn’t like the smell and told him many times. He smelled different cause he was a male, Shoko. He couldn’t help that. He was who he was because of that smell. OH, I never thought of it that way.

He was our angel even back when he first came to us,  I loved him the moment he started to play with me.  He was huge to little me at the time.

This is the picture of Budd we will always remember. He made you into the fine lady you are today, Tyebe.  Budd will be forever in our hearts to guide us through life,

I am so sorry, I forgot to put the badge for Budd designed by Ann of Zoolatry down here.  Please forgive me…..I’ve been overwhelmed with the kind and thoughtful statement of folks and their furries.

Everyone got their duties for the dinner?  I handle the chicky boobies.  I look after the beans and  I look after the potatoes.

I did use 1 extra pot to cook the apple and craisin mix for the beans.  We shall start off with this lone pot.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut one apple in small cube size pieces. Any type of apple. Throw the pits out….don’t try growing them in the garden.
Throw in 3/4 C of cranberries or craisins
About 1 Tablespoon butter
1 and 1/2 Tablespoons of red wine vinegar
1 Teaspoon of sugar
1 Tablespoon water
Cook for 5 minutes.

*NOTE I added a leek from the garden….about 1/2 a leek. DON’T do this! The leek was lost amid the stronger flavours. Thumbs down for the leek!!

I then washed the fresh beans and cut off the stem and broke off the tails. I would say a cup of beans…..guess..mol

The next step is to put the beans in a piece of tin foil which will cover all ends of the mixture.  Spoon about 1/2 to 3/4 of the apple mixture onto the beans in the tin foil and do the tin foil up tightly.  The apple mixture has only been cooked for 5 minutes and will continue cooking in the oven around the beans.

Take your large cookie sheet and apply tin foil or parchment paper so you don’t get a dirty cookie sheet and have to wash it.  Tuck the sides in good so there is no leakage.

Now for the chicken boobies.  There are two peeps so a chicky booby each will be great.  Slice the chicken boob in roughly half lengthwise….not cutting right through the meat….leave part attached.  Sorry, no pictures.  Open up the top of the boobie.  Put in 1 teaspoon of garlic, shredded and 1 teaspoon of shredded ginger.  I put in 3 slices of cheese per boob that were left over in the fridge. 1 slice of monterey jack, 1 slice of gouda and 1 slice of herb and garlic white cheese.  Slice a red pepper in small slices.  Apply 4 slices to each boob on top of the cheeses.  Sprinkle liberally with thyme.

Now you want to tie the booby up so the innards don’t fall out while you are coating the meat.

Dip the boobies in stirred up egg mixture. and then put them in a bread crumb mixture in an empty plastic bag that has 1 cup parmesan cheese and 3/4 C of bread crumbs with 4 Tablespoons of ground rosemary.  Spray oil on the parchment paper where you are oing to put the chicky boobs.

The last step is mine,

Take 3 medium sized potatoes and cut them into 1/2 inch wedges. Toss them with 1 tablespoons of oil. Then lay them out on the parchment paper and salt and pepper them.

Place the cookie sheet into your oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

While the meal is cooking take a piece of feta cheese and cut it into small cubes. Do no use crumbled feta as the taste is not there. Use the feta in brine and let the brine soak off. Much more tasty.

There is your one sheet meal of Parmesan stuffed chicken, sliced potatoes with feta cheese and beans with cubed apple and craisins.

Hey mom….tuna juice for everyone,

                                                                     Bony Petite

                                                                           Sheet Pan Shrimp

from the kitchen of Chef Pete Hartley.                                                            

2 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch thick half moons

1 medium yellow summer squash, sliced into 1/2-inch thick half moons

1 medium red, yellow or orange bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, cut into 1-inch chunks

1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks

kosher salt and black pepper

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, divided

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, divided

juice of 1 lemon

1 1/2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails left on, if desired)

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup roughly chopped basil leaves

Instructions

Place one oven rack in the center of the oven, and the other rack 4 inches from the top heat. Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Combine the zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, tomatoes, and onion on the prepared sheet pan and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 cup of the olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the vinegar and the lemon juice. Toss to coat.

Roast the vegetables on the center rack until they are softened and they are beginning to brown on the edges, about 20-25 minutes. Remove the sheet pan from the oven.

While the vegetables are cooking, place the shrimp in a large bowl and add 1/4 teaspoon salt, the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the remaining 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and the Worcestershire sauce. Toss gently. Let the shrimp marinate at room temperature while the vegetables are roasting.

Once you remove the vegetables from the oven, turn the oven to broil. Scatter the shrimp and the marinade over the vegetables in a single layer. Broil on the upper rack in the oven until the shrimp are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Scatter the basil over the finished dish.

Serve with bread or a side of couscous.

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I was not going to write a Remembrance Day cause I spent yesterday upset for the peeps that had lost a dear member of the family.  Today I feel differently.  Kali was such a huge part of my life.  I just had to talk about her.

Thank you to Deb Barnes for making this day possible and to Ann at Zoolatry for the beautiful badge.  You both are angels that walk amongst us.                             

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was started by Deb Barnes from The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey. It came from her desire to find the love, beauty, and dignity in saying goodbye to Jazz, her Ragdoll cat, that she let go of on August 28, 2013. Each year we use this day to remember our beloved furry friends that have left us. Deb is hosting a blog hop, which you can find here

Kali was always a little different.  When I first met her she was walking along the washer and dryer in her parents home. Her mom was a lovely slink Lynx Point and her dad was a big Flame Point.  Kali took after her father.  There was nothing dainty about Kali…she was sturdy, shall we say.  She was parading back and forth on the washer and dryer with her tail held high and she….FELL into the washing machine.  I laughed and I swear she did too.  Our fates were sealed.  We had to pay for Kali….a whole $40.   Kali is Hawaiian for “Happiness” and she was happiness incorporated. I remember handing her over to my friend to hold till we got home.  He fussed the whole way home that he might hurt her.  He never held a kitten before.  We all arrived at home in good shape.  No broken bones or fur falling out from stress.

When we got home my other Siamese was there to greet us.  Keeko was a Siamese Birman cross and she didn’t care for other cats at all!  She liked and even loved me but other people and cats were not to be trusted.

Kali fell asleep the instant we got home.  My friend was so happy he hadn’t somehow squished Kali.

The next time we looked over at Kali…..Keeko was on top of her. We were afraid Keeko’s streak of liking just me would come out but Keeko seemed to really like this new white furball.

They became fast friends and remained so.

When Kali was 2 she started losing her teeth.  She had a disease that attacked the gums not gingivitis but something she was born with.  By the time she was 3 she had 4 teeth left.  She couldn’t seem to hold her food down without it coming out the other end.  I went to so many vets to find the cause and no one knew why.  The final vet in town thought she might be allergic to commercial cat food and sure enough….she was allergic.  Once the change was made she never looked back.  We spent many a long night on the bathroom floor when she was so sick.  Me just a singin’ my heart out and cuddling Kali and her finally relaxing in my arms.  This was a bonding time for us.  Kali had her own album on the computer which I would play when she got uptight.

We would all go for a walk down along the Fraser River. Keeko and Kali didn’t need a leash cause they kept right up with me.

Kali would rush over and greet her friends at their doorways and Keeko would hiss at them from the road. Everything was as it should be.

Kali was absent minded and would forget she was out walking with all of us. She would consume herself with the smells of the day. I would call Keeko and Kali and Keeko would go round up Kali and bring her to my spot.

Kali never cared for catnip but she loved Oregano.  She even had her own plant.  One day she came in from the backyard smelling like dinner.  This is when I discovered just how much she loved oregano.  She was black from toe to the top of her head.

A quick rinse and she no longer smelled like spaghetti. We bought her an oregano plant she could call her own after that episode.

Shoko entered Kali’s life when Kali was 7 and she was very unsure of this whipper snapper.  They also grew to be fast friends but Shoko was very similiar to Keeko when it came to liking others.

The day came that we had to part with Kali.  We will not talk of that day.  Kali watches me now from the garden right next to her oregano plant.

May your memories be as sweet as ours.                                                           

This post will also appear in The Cat On My Head’s selfies.

Xena’s Story: Paris

Here is a continuation of Ex’s Story as she lands in Gay Paree.  Her lifelong dream to enjoy Paris when she was older is coming true.

“I made it here to the City of Lights before dark,” thought Xe as her magic flying carpet hovered close to the iconic Eiffel Tower. “La Ville–Lumière,” she thought to herself. “Yes, I must start using the French I learned for when I got a chance to come here.”

“I’m sure glad I tied my suitcase to my collar,” she continued to muse. “There was quite a bit of turbulence over Turkey. All those big birds must have stirred up the air something fierce. Speaking of turkeys, my tummy’s starting to rumble. “Swirl,” Xe said to her carpet, that she had named Swirl, “take me to a cafe to get something to eat, please.” Xe had been taught well, and carried her manners over even to her flying carpet.

“It’s really late for my supper, but I remember that Parisians eat later than we do at home. Hmm, this place looks busy. I bet they have good food. I think I’ll ask if they serve steak tartare — two of my favorite foods in one dish. I love that the restaurants in beautiful Paris allow dogs to dine with the peeps. I might have to ask for some help with the menu if they don’t have what I want.”

As Xe walked into the patio area, a nearby couple stopped her and – with a lovely British accent – the lady asked if she was with anyone. With only a slight hesitation, she admitted that she was in town by herself, doing some sightseeing. At that, the couple smiled and invited her to dine with them, even offering it to be their treat. Of course, Xe thought they were going to share their food treats with her, and was only mildly disappointed when she realized at the end of the meal that they meant they would pay her bill. She did indeed dine on raw ground meat and egg, while often wiping her beard so as to not appear uncivilized. Not wanting to offend anyone, she accepted a very small glass of red wine and spoke as much French as she could remember. Mostly though, Xe lapped a lot of water after her long flight from Tyeland.

That night, Xe slept soundly in a quiet little B&B that her Mommy had booked for her. Her hosts were ex-pats from the U.S. and were excited to hear about her life in Tennessee. When she fell asleep in the man’s lap, he gently carried her to a quiet little room of her own and tucked her into a soft bed where, with a full tumy, she snoozed away the night.

Waking refreshed and ready to see the sights, Xe thanked her wonderful hosts with much tail wagging and promises to give them rave reviews on the Air B&B site. Off went the brave little schnauzer to visit the icon of Paris that she had spotted from the sky the previous evening: the Eiffel Tower.

On the way, Xe wondered about all the people playing in the Seine. Since the day proved to be heating up quickly, she decided to grab her ball from her little rucksack and jump in the water.

She swam up to a man who was all alone and asked, “Vux-tu jouer au ballon?” When he looked at her puzzled, she realized he was also American, so she said, “Do you want to play ball?” He readily agreed, tossing it only a short way. After many swims to retrieve the ball, Xe decided that although she was having fun, she didn’t want to wear herself out in the water. There was so much more to do and see in the City of Lights! She bade him adieu and swam to shore – with her ball.

She soon reached the boulevard around the Eiffel Tower, where she stopped to eat a bit of brunch. All that swimming had made her famished.

 

Xe bowed her head and gave thanks for her safe trip to Paris, for her new friends, for her Mommy, and for her food. While her eyes were closed, a French Poodle came up to her to see what she was “looking at.”

“Qu’est ce que tu regardes?” inquired the poodle.
Startled, Xe jumped and barely stopped a growl before the poodle could hear it. She covered her reaction by asking the dog’s name. “Comment t’appelles-tu?”
“Je m’appelle Gigi,” she replied in a soft voice. “Et tu?”
“Je m’appelle Xexe,” Xe smiled.
“Gigi et XeXe!” they both exclaimed, and thus began a new friendship.