Ashley Gets Lost

Our new orange flavored son splits his time between sleeping (like 50% at least), being adorable, and being an absolute menace to society (maybe 20%). This is him being adorable on some clean laundry I had to run out and bring in when it started to rain. Our ankles are in constant jeopardy. He likes to jump up and “watch” the tv by standing on his back legs with his front paws right on it. Last night he chewed the tops off some of my paint brushes and chewed up my pencils. He was caught before he got his teeth all the way through a paint tube. When I put my shoes on yesterday morning, one of my laces was missing several inches off the end. My clothing rack is off kilter and being supported by a wall and a night stand until I can put it back together. I put it in this supportive position after the last time he knocked the whole thing down.

He’s going in on Tuesday to be relieved of his testicles, and hopefully at least some of his terrorism is being sponsored by raging hormones. I had to talk them into it as they like to wait longer to neuter creatures around here. I get the argument on both sides, but I will lose my goddamn mind if he starts marking his territory in my house. So now, please! We have to leave him there over night, which is interesting. My experience in America was always to have them returned right after they wake up from surgery and are doing well.

Now this kitty is a very good boy! I made a new friend a couple weeks ago, and she mentioned a dead cat by the dumpsters. Her husband covered it up with something as it was horrible to see. I didn’t see Bobbi for maybe a week after that and I was so scared it was him, but praise be, he is doing just fine! Most of the time I’ve had to convince him that we were friends before I get to pet him, but he was immediately down for romance on Friday evening when Felix and I walked down to Plaka for dinner. He was rubbing on me as hard as possible, sticking his funny bob tailed butt up in the air.

Speaking of dead cats, I’m having to work on hardening my heart to all the kitty road kill I see around here. It’s not like a million, but I see at least a few every week. There is also a new dog roaming the area of my local villages. He was outside of our gate yesterday, and Felix said he looked scared. He was most likely dumped or abandoned here, and this is even harder on my heart. Poor guy doesn’t know how to be a street dog! The shelters are full, and I simply cannot take in every poor creature I come across here.

When I went out for my morning coffee and writing, I saw evidence that we had a kitty visitor to the porch last night.

Also on my porch is this new leaf on my monstera that is an actual monster! It’s so big, and it has glorious fenestrations! My old monstera at home wasn’t making windows in its leaves, but this one is already. Also yes, my porch is dirty. The rain brings down any dust in the air, and BMO tracks up soggy red dirt every time he comes back up from the yard. I wanted to clean it today, but it’s going to be very windy all day. I’ll let the nature settle before I get it back in glorious condition. You can really experience the filth in the next photo. You’re so lucky!

Remember how I wanted to make my own crab rangoons?! Well I found imitation crab sticks at Lidl last week!! Then I made Joshua stop at the asian grocery in Kalyves on the way home for wonton wrappers. I was never 100% satisfied on my goon attempts in America, but these ones were pretty much perfect! Perhaps desire was the ultimate spice?

Excellent ratio of “crab” to cheese! Which is like 50/50. This is all we had for dinner that night, and I froze a plate of extras to have next time the urge is undeniable.

And to satisfy another craving, I have a jar of cucumbers transforming into dill pickles in my refrigerator as we speak. I’ve only been able to find sweet pickles here, and I’m not about that garbage. Offense meant if you like them! Hahahaha. I definitely could’ve crammed another cucumber or two in here. They should be fully infused by Friday, and if it works, I will be so very excited!

We are having a nice slow weekend here with no big plans. I’m going to a “exploring creativity” event tonight hosted by Linda and Julia at Linda’s beautiful home in the avocado grove, and that’s been the only plan! I woke up early and went down to the thrift shop in Plaka yesterday morning. They’re only open from 10-12 on Saturdays. I found some gorgeous rag rugs for the kitchen, and they really make it feel homey in there. Unfortunately they are an absolute playground for the orange demon. If he can’t leave them alone, I’ll have to put them away until he learns to control those claws!

I’m not sure what I will do with my life for the rest of the day. I’ll probably take a nap. And by probably I mean definitely. We need bread. I feel like we need something from the store nearly every single day. I’m thinking of starting a sour dough experiment as the weather cools. Wouldn’t baking a loaf of bread every morning just be the cherry on top of a dream life? Or maybe I’d grow to resent my duties to the yeast monster I will create?