A Hog Holiday

Groundhog, that is.

Yes, that's right, folks, tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2nd, is Groundhog Day.

(Incidentally, it's also the anniversary of my having eaten pizza that a dog licked at my friend Lori's birthday party when we were in, like, third or fourth grade. I always thought she was SO lucky to share her birthday with the Hog's Special Day. Anyhow, I left the room to use the bathroom or something, the dog licked my pizza while I was out of the room, and then my friends let me eat it like everything was fine. They told me when my pizza was gone. Some friends.)

For those of you who don't remember or DIDN'T know of Zoe at this time last year (GASP!!!), it was this exact time last year that I went to stay in a cabin in the woods a few miles from our house for a little Winter Retreat.

Let's take a walk down Memory Lane:

A "Snow Zoe" that I built in honor of the World's Best Rabbit

My Cabin, "Hildegard"

Me, relaxed, on retreat, in my Kitten Hat (with Hildie behind me)

Due to my weird work schedule this week, in which I worked Sunday and next Saturday like bookends, I have two days off in the middle of the week. With the addition of what should be a Federal Holiday, Groundhog Day, I have three days off and decided to inquire about the availability of my cabin. Hildegard was available, and so I am going Into the Woods.

It's practically Shakespearian.

Sadly, I cannot take Miss Zoe on my trip. Nor will I take Toby the Mini Cat, Miss Lilly the Great, The Wild and Crazy Miss Emmie, or F. Scott Fitzgerald, Famous Cat Writer. They will stay happily at home with the Chick in the Lilypad.

This year, I will do the same thing I did last year. I will take the writing I am currently working on and write, write, write!!! It will be funner than fun. Though I will miss my animals like CRAZY!!!!

Therefore, unless Zoe decides to write a blog on Wednesday, you will not hear from us for a couple of days. When I come back, we will share exclusive footage of my exciting stay in my Little House in the Big Woods.

Now it's positively Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Stay tuned for the excitement.

Last year, I saw this Woodpecker:


Will he be back?

"Ummmmm.....yeah. Who cares?"

Stay tuned to find out...

Oh, and HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY in the meantime.

Flip Friday: The Contest!!

SO, we all know how much you love Flip Friday.

Really. Zoe and I are aware of Her X-treme Popularity.

We'd like YOU to get in on the Cinematic Action!!

This idea came from Friend, Reader, and Dedicated Rabbit Lover, Emma.

Emma said, one day in an email to me, "Why don't you have a contest? You know, an Eat Like A Rabbit Contest. Have people send in videos of themselves eating their salad like Rabbits. It will be a contest. The winner will get an autographed picture of Miss Zoe!"

Well, it was something like that. I put it in quotes, but it was sort of a paraphrase. Sorry to all those fellow English teachers in the audience.

Zoe was pretty darn excited about this idea. She suggested adding pictures to the mix, too, though. "Not everyone has a video camera or can easily or quickly make a video," she said.

We are therefore, splitting the Contest into a Video Contest and a Photo Contest.

Here's the Rules:

1. Make a video or take a picture of
Yourself or Someone you Love
Eating a Salad Like a Rabbit!!!

(Remember that Eating like a Rabbit entails using no utensils or hands).

2. Post your Eating Like a Rabbit Photo or Video
to your blog, link back to this Contest,
and let me know that you've posted
by leaving Zoe a comment here.

OR IF
YOU DON'T
HAVE A BLOG
(Which Miss Zoe Can't Understand,
since She feels so obligated to have
one for Her fans.)

3. Email your Eating Like a Rabbit Photo or Video
to Zoe and me at
zoejobie (at) gmail (dot) com

Judging will be done by Emma, whose Big, Crazy Brain this idea came from (thanks for agreeing to be a judge, Emma. You did agree right? Whew!) and MISS ZOE!!!!

The Winners will be announced on March 5, 2010-- on Miss Zoe's Birthday!!

Now for inspiration. Watch closely!! Then, do it yourself! Gather your friends!! Or, make your kids do it. What else are children for, after all?

OK.....GO!!!!

Miss Zoe: Killer Bunny!

These days, the Lilypad is a place of contrasts.

What I mean is this: We just lost one of our best friends, Miss Rosie, so we are in the process of grieving.

But at the same time, a lot of excitement is happening with the Chick's Yogadance, my art and writing, and the usual Fun Things that happen here every day. It can get a little confusing, the mood swings from feeling good to feeling not so good to feeling good again.

I know this is normal. It can be hard to move on and feel good about enjoying life when you are also feeling sad. You wonder, "How can I be happy without this thing in my life that/who I loved so much?"

The Chick emailed me at work yesterday. She was having a hard time feeling like writing, let alone writing something of any substance. She was feeling sad. So, I suggested posting something silly or something healing or some pictures of something that were somehow helpful. That's what she did.

I'm going to take my own advice today. I'm going to post something that makes me laugh.

It will either make you laugh or it will scare you. I'm not sure which. I thought I'd say that to prepare you.

If you've seen this, it might scare you:


OK, so now are you ready to run away?

Presenting, Miss Zoe: KILLER BUNNY!!!!

What? It's just a harmless little bunny!!!

RABBIT TEETH!!!! (detail)

NOW, you'd better run!!!!

Just don't run too far. Rabbit movies will be here on Friday.

Miss Rosie is Still the Boss of Me

Rosie and me.

It was a strange weekend.

For the last month and half, we've been pretty focused on Rosie-- does she need a snack? Is she coughing? Should we get her up and make her walk around a little? Does she need something?

It was hard for us to let her rest. We wanted to squeeze out every possible moment with her that we could. We wanted to do all we could for her and meet her every need, but we also didn't want to miss any time with her.

Each day with her felt precious.

And now, with her gone, I find myself looking in her sleeping spots and simply missing her. Her sweet gray fur suit was in my sight everyday for the last 15 years.

It's just hard to let that go.

But, we're doing our best. We are doing so much better with Rosie.

Ernie was unexpected. Completely.

Jobie was not unexpected, but when he went to Sparkle Pond after so many months of sickness and discomfort, we were lost. When he was gone, it was like our day had no structure left. Each and every day had become about taking care of him. Each day was comprised of the struggle to feed him and to make him as comfortable as we possibly could.

With Rosie, it was as though she gave us a gift. No long, agonizing decline. She was very efficient. And no vet. She made the decision to leave this earth on her own terms.

We are so thankful for that.

On the morning of her death, Rosie meowed at me. I hadn't heard her use her voice in many weeks.

On the morning of her death, Rosie came out to the kitchen for breakfast and tried to climb up on her little red stool. She'd not done that in many weeks, either.

You've seen this before, but it's sooooo cute!!!

All these things were gifts. And if there's anything I want to remember about Rosie, it is this: That She Was a Gift.

That each day with her, each day on this earth, each day we meow and try to get on our stool, these are gifts.

My tribute to Rosie is to live. To live as fully as I can, doing the things I enjoy, and to love the things around me that are a part of my life, both in the Lilypad and out.

This is a reminder to you to LIVE YOUR LIFE.

Or, Rosie's going to kick your butt.

And, she's serious.

It may look like a yawn, but.. LOOK OUT!!!

(Not a) Flip Friday

Last night, our Beloved Rosie the Cat packed up and moved to Sparkle Pond.

We are excited for her in her travels. We know she has already met up with Jobie, who was her best friend for so many years, and who she has been missing for the past couple of years since he went to Sparkle Pond.

She's also met up with Ernie cat, but as she wasn't that fond of him here in the Lilypad, chances are, that reunion will just be more of a head nod and an "Oh, it's you."

We both had a feeling about Rosie yesterday. For days, she seemed to be doing so much better, and then suddenly, her breathing was difficult and she just seemed different, like something had shifted.

She died very peacefully, though, tucked up in her favorite blanket hideaway upstairs. We were there with her, petting her and talking to her. It was perfect. She just slipped away.

We should all be that lucky.

Rest in peace Sweet Rosie Cat.
We'll miss you so much.
We were so fortunate to know you and to be a part of your life.
We love you!

Animals So Cute You Could Just Vomit

As I was thinking through what to write about for today (I actually did have a few ideas that Zoe didn't care for), I began to scroll through the pictures in my iPhoto, and it suddenly and with great urgency became quite clear to me what I had to write about today:

ANIMALS SO CUTE YOU COULD JUST VOMIT!!!

There are so many cute Animal pictures on my computer, it seems a shame not to share them. Or re-share them. That's a little like re-gifting, I guess.

First, we have some butt shots (look away, please, if you are easily offended):

NOT FAT!!! Fluffy!

A Derriere! Hmmm...a little rude, but wait

Oops, wrong one!

There we go. A little modesty, Rabbit! Please!!

OK, never mind. That's just cute.

The Business End of Miss Lilly

OK, please don't ask what Miss Emmie's
butt is doing in this picture.
It's... complicated.

Now, some full on head shots:

Rosie the Cat is bored and annoyed with you. Please walk away slowly.

But, Toby wants to PLAY!!!!

Scottie hams it up.

Again, please don't ask about Miss Emmie.
Complicated, remember?

Wait! How'd they get in there? HALF!!!

Let's hone in on LIPS for a moment:

I mean, WOW!!!!

And, now, FEET:

SO many feet and hands!
Can you count them all?

Finally, things just so cute, you'd better get the bucket. NOW!!!!




Oh, and one more thing: A Rabbit to cleanse your palette:

"After all those CATS,
you need to cleanse your palette.
Believe you me!"

Well, there you have it!

What's so cute in YOUR life that you could just vomit?

(Disclaimer: the Chick here...HELLO!?!?! I no longer have those braces and my white hairs are covered and well...I do NOT hang out with that SHEEP!)

(Pay no attention to that disclaimer. She SOOOO hangs out with that sheep.)

We'd like to Thank Zoe's Fans...

Today is a Proud Day for Zoe and me. We won an award!!

The Kreativ Blogger Award.

We were bestowed with the award from Jeanne Klaver from the blog Daily Reflections from Atwater Pond.

We have to reveal a little secret about Jeanne Klaver before we go on, and that is this: when she first started commenting on the Chick's blog, I noticed her name right away. It comes up as JFKlaver when she comments, and for some reason, unbenownst to me, I read it as JKFlaver, and so she has been forever called by this, her Official Rap Name (apparently) within the walls of the Lilypad.

She may be chagrined to hear this. But, Zoe assured me that it will make her laugh!

So the rules of this award are as follows:

1. Thank the person giving the award.

THANK YOU JKFLAVER!!!!

2. Copy the award to this blog.

3. Place a link to their blog.

Daily Reflections from Atwater Pond

4. Name 7 things people don't know about you.

5. Nominate 7 bloggers who you admire (WHAT? ONLY 7???)

6 Place a link to these bloggers

7. Leave a comment on their blog notifying them of the award.

So, here's my 7 things:

1. My lucky number is 14.

2. I want to live in space.

3. I've lived in 2 houses that have burned down (I had nothing to do with either one!!)

4. My favorite penguin is the Jackass Penguin (it's real!! see for yourself):



5. I took piano lessons for 8 years, saxophone lessons for 5 years, and voice lessons for 2 years

6. When I was in Austria, I took the opportunity to yodel and to visit Mozart's apartment

7. I love rabbits!!!!

Oh, wait, did you already know that last one?

OK, replay number 7: I love cats!!!!

Ooops, I did it again.

Let's see..... 7. I used to have a collection of mannequin hands. How I got them will be saved for the next list of "Things you don't know about me and wish I hadn't told you."

I'm supposed to pass this onto 7 bloggers that I enjoy and that's always super hard for me...but here goes:

1. StorytellerDoc and not just because he's in our writing group but because if you don't read him, you should!

2. Jennifer Hayes Art because she makes the most awesome wool bunnies ever!

3. Nerdy Renegade because I like anyone who so publicly acknowledges their inner Nerd.

4. Playing Connect the Dots with the Universe because she is a faithful Servant to the Rabbit. (Did we say that out loud?)

5. She Who Seeks because we love MITTENS and Canada RULES!

6. A Clear Path to Happy because we honor all Sparkle Cats.

7. Linda because she is living and writing in Erie and has some awesome photos on her blog of the place I love!

8. Anonymous because she/he/it says it best when they write "I want not approve on it. I regard as polite post. Expressly the title attracted me to be familiar with the sound story."

And THAT is why I blog.