Project 365 at Catobear.com!

Six volunteers were set up at tables, cleaning turtles with Q-tips. It was hot again today, in the 90s. Maybe rain tomorrow. I am exhausted.

A tech assists the veterinarian in examining and force-feeding a heron.

Today we went over to the cleaning center for the wildlife from the Embridge oil spill for a tour. This is the large tank room for the snapping turtles.

Another hot day in Battle Creek, around 92 degrees. No rain in I don't know how long.

We saw Becky at breakfast Saturday. I don't think I said that. It was so nice seeing her. I'm glad that she is our friend, even since Ron has passed.

Hot and sunny today, lower 90s.

It hasn't rained in forever...and I could use a day of rain.

The National Championships are taking off and landing at KCC, so we're getting a lot of balloon action around our house.

What's peeking out between the trees?

The cat balloon!

I couldn't decide if I liked this photo best, or the next one, so I posted both shots of the same balloon. The National Championships are going on this week.

Let me know which one of these two you like better :) The dogs went nuts when the balloons went over. It was a beautiful morning.

It's been a very long week and I'm not sad it's behind me now. I look forward to two days off, and not thinking about anything too hard.

Handsome Ridge. This is the look he often gives me before he meows for treats. He has me very well trained!

At the beginning of summer when I put the feeder out, I told Grandma I'd get a better shot of her. And here, you can see her pretty feathers.

She spent quite a bit of time with me, and seemed interested in the noise and the flash of the new camera.

The learning curve on the camera is steep and the owner's manual thick. But I got her! Here she is, in all her glory. There were two of them fighting for about five minutes before this one won out and sat on the feeder.

It really should be Friday today. I got my hair cut short...it was to the middle of my back and now it's about chin-length and dark brown. It feels better, anyhow...maybe I'll have fewer headaches.

Morning glory. Or, I suppose, the way I've been feeling, you could call it a mourning glory. I bought a new camera, so the next shots you see on catobear should be taken with it...if I can figure out how to use it. It's a digital super-zoom and it's a little intimidating.

There is some kind of secondary balloon festival in town this week. They flew near the Humane Society this morning, and it drove the dogs nuts in their outside kennels.

Went to Marshall tonight for a taping of Dishing with the Divas (I was interviewed). Caught the sunset on the drive home.

I took these photos on Friday on the way to work, and put them into a letter to my Grandma and put it right out in the mail that morning. She shared so much of my life. Nearly every photo I took, I took with her in mind, because I'd include them in my letters to her. All the unusual recipes I tried, I always wrote to her about them. My gardening, the hummingbird feeder, nearly all of my hobbies were shared with Grandma. It always felt like she was living life right along with me. I am so lucky to have had her in my life. And I am so very sad tonight (Saturday, August 21, 2010).

Birds in the parking lot at KCC.

Sunrise over the lake at KCC.

Goguac Lake.

Sunrise at the Humane Society.

Flowers by the front door, Humane Society.

Flowers at the front door, Humane Society.

This is Riley. She was hit by a car a number of months ago, and the injuries healed. She found her way to the shelter last week, and had surgery earlier this week. She's such a sweetie though!

Riley had a surgery called an FHO, and she will always walk a little funny and be a special-needs kitty, but she'll be okay. I am tired. I had nightmares last night. Shouldn't today be Friday?

Left work at noon today to go up to Lansing. Going to do the same tomorrow. I am exhausted, but I bet nowhere near as much as Mom and Grandma both. Colin was adopted today, and I didn't get the chance to say goodbye. Hope he has a wonderful life with his new family.

We received a call from our dear friend Becky tonight, letting us know that Ron had died yesterday. We last saw them a little over a month ago when they were up from Florida visiting. It is such a loss. We will miss him more than I can say. Ron had a good sense of humor, a love for live and being an active part in it.

This entire week was long and filled with headaches. Not metaphorically speaking headaches, but real migraines, all week. This weekend I hope to catch up on rest and just feel better.

The heat and humidity broke last night, but it's supposed to be back up in the 90s and humid next week. It's been a heck of a summer for heat and humidity, with a decent amount of rain and too many mosquitoes.

This graphic artwork showed up over the weekend at the abandoned gas station across from Horrock's. I love it! Happy birthday, Bob.