Editors' Notes

Cindy, Madeleine (in front) and Emily

It seems my account of our trip to Spokane was not sufficient in the eyes of my editors/the blog's subjects. It was pointed out I did not include EVERYTHING we did. True. The main bones of contention appear to be that I did not mention playing with Cindy and the garden hose, going to the park and going to Cat Tales. So let me begin.

Cindy is my parents' dog. She is part Muppet and part unknown. She was rather hyper as a youngster, but appears to be settling into middle age nicely. She adores chasing water as it comes out of a hose and the girls had fun playing with her. The biggest issue was Emily and Madeleine tended to sort of chase Cindy with the hose, which confused issues a bit.

Last spring and early this summer we were getting some rather heavy campaigning for a dog. We pointed out that isn't really feasible because we travel for the holidays and in the summer. The girls were told the cats are okay for a couple of days before a petsitter comes, but a dog has to go out several times a day. Later, the dog issue came up again and Emily, from the backseat of the car, in her best Eeyore voice said "Yeah, we can't get a dog because we travel." Madeleine sighed heavily in agreement. The girls were told Cindy is their dog, she just happens to live in Spokane.
Emily (L) and Madeleine running from the fountain to the hill we like to roll down.

The formal gardens.

The last night we were in Spokane I took the girls to Manito Park. Sadly, I tend to take this park for granted as it has always just "been there". My daughters did not take it for granted. They loved the formal gardens around the fountain and wore their noses out in the Rose Garden - Madeleine literally told me "My nose is tired from all of this sniffing." Of course, we see the park when we go sledding in the winter, but strangely it is covered in snow then. Next summer, we will have to make more trips to the park.

And finally Cat Tales! For at least two years my dad has suggested going to Cat Tales, a wild cat sanctuary, every time we have visited. For some reason it never worked out. But this time we pulled it off. My parents and I enjoyed it, but my illustrious offspring were slightly put off by the smell (go figure, animals smell) and were more interested in the playground equipment at the front of the facility, than the animals in the facility. The only time they asked to have their pictures taken was when they were next to large fake (plastic?) roosters. I personally left rather fed up with humanity. The cats there are rescue cats from a variety of sources, not just from circuses, etc. One of the lions is there because some idiot "wanted their own Detroit Lion" and tried to keep this wild animal as a pet! Really? I have an idea about who should be put in a cage, preferably with the lion.

Recently, it has been VERY hot and humid in Williamsburg. Madeleine and Emily have handled this much better than their mother who whines and complains about the heat and dragging two kids around in it. Two weeks ago we went to Busch Gardens and were all literally dripping sweat by the time we left - and we were there when it opened...it wasn't afternoon heat - just God-awful humidity. This week is cooler and less humid (thank God!) so we have been able to go back outside. And...it appears the bugs that like to feast on my children have tapered off some too.

Yesterday was "Meet the Teacher Day" and there was a "vacuum for kids that really sucks stuff up!" in the classroom. We are thrilled!