The Black Dog Farm is back to normal now that our two dog friends - Katy and Oscar - have gone home. We really enjoyed getting to know a whippet and a greyhound for an extended period, and thought both of them were really wonderful dogs. They were so unaggressive that over the entire time we never had to deal with doggie problems...and we were very surprised by that, because Angus wants to be the boss of everything! But basically they let him be the boss, and when he realized that he also realized he didn't want to be the boss very much...so they were all pretty much equal pals that got along great.

Tiko has now been with us two weeks. The result of the sex test is that Tiko is a boy! We have been having a lot of fun with both birds - really working with Tiko on talking - and letting them both out for more playtime than we had been previously. Partly that is because I also took Maya in for a wing trim so we don't have to worry about her flying all over the place when she is out of her cage.

Tiko is way more adventurous than Maya - he will try basically any foods and will venture out on the flimsiest "branches" (like the jar with pencils on the table.) He is trying to talk, and if you listen closely you just might hear "Hi Paul" and "Hello." We are doing nutty things for his benefit - like for example Friday when Paul came in the door from work I shrieked with happiness "Hi Paul" and he shrieked back "Hi Mom!" All so Tiko will get the idea... Today we watched part of the Seahawk game with both birds and both dogs in the TV room with us. Hopefully Candid Camera never captures what nuts we are on camera!

Fall is proceeding here on the Key Peninsula. I just wish sometimes that all the leaves would fall off at once so you could go outside, have a huge cleanup and be done with it! But they come down little by little and then of course it rains so they get sloppy and messy. Can you tell I get a little frustrated by it? We took down three smallish cedars next to the driveway yesterday. They had grown enough so that with the trees on the other side you kind of got "car washed" by them coming and going, but I admit I am sad to have them gone. I liked the way it seemed kind of like a hidden paradise. It still is paradise, just not quite as hidden.

I finally finished my felted bag project. It looks pretty granola for my usual posh look (ha ha), but I really like it. I am getting really close to having a couple of other projects done, too. I enjoyed the felted project so much I think I'm going to make another felted bag - this time with some left over Lamb's Pride in red and orange.

Paul has approved the new tattoo that will incorporate the dragon on his upper arm. The plan is for a Geisha to have the dragon as the design on her kimono. There will also be a bird of paradise and some clouds, etc. Andrea will do a wonderful job, I'm sure. November 4 is his first session!

I can't believe how happy I am with my tattoo. Sometimes I wear my shirt folded up so that it peeks out - sometimes I wear short sleeves and sort of strut. I really love it.