Some pictures of Hans going for a walk wearing his new jacket

It's been cold here in southern Ohio - so we got Hansi this fleece-lined jacket for him to wear on his walks. He doesn't love it, but he won't let him deter him from his walk...

"catawampus" is my new favorite word

I've just decided - "catawampus' is my new favorite word: 

also catawampous, cattywampus, catiwampus, etc. (see "Dictionary of American Slang" for more), American colloquial. First element perhaps from obsolete cater "to set or move diagonally" (see catty-cornered); second element perhaps related to Scottish wampish "to wriggle, twist, or swerve about." Or perhaps simply the sort of jocular pseudo-classical formation popular in the slang of those times, with the first element suggesting Greek kata-. 

Earliest use seems to be in adverbial form, catawampusly (1834), expressing no certain meaning but adding intensity to the action: "utterly, completely; with avidity, fiercely, eagerly." It appears as a noun from 1843, as a name for an imaginary hobgoblin or fright, perhaps from influence of catamount. The adjective is attested from the 1840s as an intensive, but this is only in British lampoons of American speech and might not be authentic. It was used in the U.S. by 1864 in a sense of "askew, awry, wrong" and by 1873 (noted as a peculiarity of North Carolina speech) as "in a diagonal position, on a bias, crooked." (from: the Online Etymological Dictionary)

A few snapshots from the end of the old year and beginning of the new

Returning to Oxford before the snow storm on Dec. 26th

Mieze watches the snow

cats and books

Quizzical Mieze

Mieze watching a video clip about fairy tales

Vegan lunch! (hummus, tomato & avocado on a "everything bagel" from Kroger. (They're vegan).

Lunch for Monday, Dec. 17

Lunch for Monday, Dec. 17, a photo by cathie on Flickr.

Now would be as good a time as any i suppose to fess up to the fact that I am no longer a vegan...
I still eat much less meat, dairy & eggs but they have crept back somewhat. I occasionally indulge in meat eating esp in restaurants.

I also occasionally eat meals with cheese or dairy in them at home.

Will remain faithful to my beloved Earth Balance whipped soy spread instead of butter - and except for holidays involving other people I think Bill and I will refrain from eating meat there too.

I have gone back to eating some fish: anchovies, which I love, the occasional can of sardines. (Yes I am the only person I know who likes them). And now and then some shrimp--another restaurant treat. Oh and smoked salmon, which I also do love.