3-DS: FINALLY IT'S FINISHED!

The 3-Ds have been subject to lots of ruckus and upheaval over the past couple of weeks.  If you recall, someone stole their driveway, and most of their front yard -- and even their front steps!!!

Over time, they became accustomed (more or less) to all the vibrations, clanking and growling that those caterpillars make.  They would even take a peek out the front window from time to time once things got quiet at the end of the day.

So last weekend, even though it wasn't yet finished, Mom thought it was okay if Domino and Dante went outside to check things out (Dylan was too chicken).  Of course Mom was there with them -- and Auntie Susan (Mom's friend and neighbour of recent birthday fame).

This is what we saw.

 Even though they stole our old bricks, they gave us some new ones!!!

And it looks like they're giving us some new dirt, too, to make up for all the old dirt they took away.

The front steps still aren't finished, but at least we have some!

Domino The Brave sets out to take a closer inspection.  "Seems sawlid enuff", says she. 

"Smells kinda funky, but I hasn't hadda chance ta wub myself on all of dem yet."

"Now I checks owt da driveway!"

"Seems pretteh sturdeh, too -- and nice an' smoove!"

(You may recall this picture from our Wordless Wednesday this week.)

"Butt dis side a da garage is still kwite a mess!"

Domino returns to complete her inspection.  Auntie Susan is checking it out, too, from the comfort of her camp chair.  The sun is warming up the stone.

Dante has been standing on the porch all this time and hasn't moved a muscle.  I think he's in shock!

"I cant beleef my eyes!", says he, looking away.  Wot happined to my gahdin?"

For Dante this is just too much to bear, and I had to let him back inside to grieve this devastating loss.

Now fast forward a week and a half and this is what we see.

The sun is no longer shining and now we have a dusting of snow on the ground, but it's finished!!!

 We have front steps!  

And a new front walkway!

This is the view from the street.  From this PURRspective the seating area in front of the bay window looks small, but it's actually a little larger than it was previously, as is the actual garden space.

Dante will have lots to do come Spring, with all the planting that needs to be done.  I sure wish we could fast forward to that and forget about Winter entirely.

Anyway, now I can walk down my steps and not worry about tripping or falling down.  The front patio is simply gorgeous, though you can't see it at its best right now.  In the sun, the stones look rather gray, as it washes away the colour, but they are really different shades of brown.

They made the second step really wide so there's plenty of room for the iron planters.  And the bench will take up its usual spot on the patio space in front of the window.

Ah!  Life is ready to return to normal.  WhateFUR that may be.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DOMINO: JUST ME AND MY SHADOW!

TUXY TUESDAY WITH DOMINO: A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION

Domino is the consummate hostess, as you may have seen before.  It's been quite some time since I posted pictures of one of her parties, though.

This is Domino in her new hostess dress.

It's a sparkly little number with a silver skirt and an overlay of black and silver rosettes.  The bodice is black velvet and there are silver sequins at the waist and the neck.  Very classy is Domino!  But hark, she hears the doorbell ring ...

And it's the guest of honour!  It's Auntie Susan and it's her birthday!  Auntie Susan is Mom's best friend and neighbour from across the street.  She loves the cats, and always brings them something when she comes for dinner.  This time she brought them a toy and two packets of treats to share!  Yum!

Next to arrive is Val, who likes to make a big entrance (just look at that smile!), closely followed by ...

... Renate.  Both Val and Renate are cat people, too!  Val has her Buttercup and Renate has her Dolly. 

It isn't long before the coffee table fills up with birthday gifts, the guests fill up with wine, and Domino settles down on Renate's lap.

 Domino doesn't mind 'flashy' as long as it's not in her eyes.  Her outfit's rather flashy, don't you think?  And she's become quite attached to Renate (literally).  Ouch!

Aha!  Caught you with your eyes part open there, Domino! 

So now it's time to open the gifts, and Domino must supervise the process so it doesn't get out of hand (or paw, as the case maybe).  Auntie Susan has just opened a beautiful gift from Val.  Of course that was followed by something equally lovely from Renate, and me, of course.

The funniest thing was that Susan got two birthday cards with Marie Antoinette on them!  Coincidence?  PURRhaps.  But Susan is well known for her penchant for all things Parisienne.  Val made a birthday card with an avatar of Susan on it, Renate gave her a card with a kitty in a Marie Antoinette wig, and Mama gave her a card with Marie Antoinette and the Eiffel Tower on the front, and she wrote her a birthday poem (like she does every year).  Here is just part of it:

Susan is just like Marie Antoinette

Even though, of course, they’ve never met

When looking at people who’ve gathered around

They’ve both said the same thing, which is quite profound

Whether in Paris or here in Orleans

The pronouncement is certainly that of a Queen’s

For those who are hungry and aren’t into steak

By every means possible “Let them eat cake!”

Cake is good when you’re feeling quite crumby

Or you’re just in the mood for something real yummy

You can have it in layers or by the cup

Iced, glazed or dusted, you’ll eat it right up!

But when it comes to Susan’s birth day

Do you think she wants cake, tell me what did she say?

“Cake is OK, but I’m really more fonda

That chocolate desert that you call a fondant!”

  

“It’s rich and warm and gooey inside

Much nicer than any cake I’ve ever tried” ...

 Domino interrupts the card reading to announce that: "Dinnah is reddy!"

Domino escorts all of the guests into the dining room, where the table is set with a lovely flower arrangement in honour of Auntie Susan's birthday.  The ladies are all drinking some of the bubbly.

Dinner starts off with a Caesar salad.  Everything is homemade (except for the lettuce which we did not grow).  Mom made the dressing (there's nothing quite like fresh), bacon bits and the croutons, to everyone's delight.

When Domino announced the main course, Auntie Susan was ecstatic!  It was filet mignon done just the way she likes it (well done), over smashed potatoes drizzled with a red wine reduction sauce.  The meat and the sauce were flavoured with garlic and rosemary, along with a side of long green beans.

Here's Daddy with his filet.  He opted for the 12-oz. instead of the 8, and likes his a little more on the rare side.  Efurryone was very happy.  Some of them even said it was the best filet they've ever had.  Compliments to the butcher, methinks.

Dinner finished off with a chocolate fondant.  If you read my birthday poem, you'll know that ...

 ... Auntie Susan preferred this to any kind of cake.  Mom also made up little gift bags for her guests.  Inside were 2013 calenders of either Domino or Dante, as well as some low calorie chocolates and a bunch of jokes that Mom made up.  It has become tradition to go around the table and tell these jokes after dessert.

In keeping with the "Marie Antoinette" theme, Domino made up this card for her beloved Auntie Susan, and included Dante and Dylan as well.  Looks like Susan's getting cake whether she likes it or not!

After dinner, Mom put down her camera and all of the ladies (including our ladycat who had successfully shucked her party dress) retired to the family room to watch episodes of 'Miranda Hart', a British comedienne who has her very own show.  She's one of the funniest people Mom and her friends have ever encountered.  With Miranda, there's no shortage of actual laughing out loud moments.  She's a real hoot!

From start to finish, it turned out to be a very special occasion indeed.  Daddy helped Auntie Susan carry her birthday bounty back across the street, and we all settled down for the night leaving the aftermath until morning.

Amen.

TUXY TUESDAY WITH DOMINO: GALLERY OF A GAL

It's been a while since these pictures have seen the light of day, though they were indeed photographed in it (the light of day, that is).  These are photos from about a year ago, and were taken inside in our living room. The curtains for the front window were already down to make room for the Christmas tree, which allowed plenty of light in to take pictures. None of them have actually appeared on this blog before.  Many were fuzzy or washed out.  However, I picked out the best of them and after a bit of editing, they turned out just fine.

Domino is sitting on the coffee table which is directly in front of the fireplace.  We had also just placed some of our breakables there (decorative plates and bowls) to keep them out of harm's way temporarily.  Domino, being a 'fashion plate' of her own decided she would pose for me.

Here are the results.

After all was said and done, Domino deserved a good rest.  "As yoo kin see, I'm a rugged kinda GAL", she says.  No one's more deserving of her own GAL-lery than this little GAL.  That's fur sure!

DYLAN & HALLE: HALLELUJAH!

Dylan was just hanging around in the back yard this morning, when a letter came for him by Special DeliFURRY.

"Hmm, I wondah wot dis cud be", MEWSes Dylan.

"O noes!  It can't be anyfing good -- it's frum da SSS!"

Yes, it WAS from the SSS, but it WAS good news.  Dylan was surprised and ecstatic!

"But wot abowt Halle?  I hasta call her rite away!"

Thankfully, it was good news all around because Halle just received the same letter.

 Dylan and Halle realized that, if it wasn't for their FURiends, they'd still be on Santa's hit list.  So they want to thank you all for helping love triumph once again.

And now the SSS, too, has realized that "True Love is never naughty".  Love is more than just 'nice'.  It's a PURRiceless gift to all who find it, and it should be nurtured by all and treasured furever.  HALLElujah!

"Thank yoo frum the bottums of our hearts!"

(Pee Ess: Thanks to Ann of Zoolatry for the heart graphic.)