{the neighborhood kitty}

This is Moo Moo (I named her). She likes to hang out on our porch and beg for food and love. We think she has an owner, but we aren't quite sure. Moo Moo likes to roll around in the dirt and run inside our house when we open the door. She's a tricky little cat. 

Jordan made this amusing video for me one day when he was home alone and apparently bored out of his mind. 

She's so cute :) 

update.

This is what has been going on lately...

My "Tea Time" Bridal shower in Marion, Indiana, hosted by my future sisters-in-law, Jathniel Shepherd and lauren Shepherd.







A week later we had my 2nd bridal shower, in my hometown of Battle Creek, Michigan. This one was at my Aunt Linda's house, and she made amazing food and delicious coffee punch. My friends Elise and Marie made all of the decorations, and my maid of honor and little sis hosted the event.










We had a few open houses...





and the final event of the week. Leah's graduation!!! She is growing up so fast :-)










It was definitely a time for celebration :)
Congrats to all of the grads!

cozy home

Lately I have been imagining how I am going to decorate our little house in Marion. It's tough to decide, and I really haven't gotten anywhere yet. I know that a few trips to IKEA will provide some useful inspiration and a bit of a shove in the decision making process. But right now I can only dream about my cozy white kitchen, fluffy white bedding, and the natural soothing vibe I want to feel when I enter each room of the house. I'd say that is a good starting point for now.

And my home wouldn't be complete without a little kitten baby like this guy. Let's hope that eventually Jordan will let me have one :-)

The Cat and the Moon

William Butler Yeats is my favorite literary figure we have been studying here in Ireland. I am fascinated by his life story, and I absolutely love his poetry. He writes of fairies and forests and cats (my kind of guy), plus other more important things like the history of Ireland.

We spent an entire day in the West of the country traveling to places that inspired some of his most well known poems. We saw a waterfall, lake, forest, and his grave and memorial. Plus we went to his exhibit at the National Library of Ireland. I bought a giant and beautiful white book which contains all of his poems along with commentary and explanations from other writers.

I love learning about things and people that truly come to life. But I guess this whole semester has been like that really.

Here is one of my faves,

The Cat and the Moon

The cat went here and there
And the moon spun round like a top,
And the nearest kin of the moon,
The creeping cat, looked up.
Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
For, wander and wail as he would,
The pure cold light in the sky
Troubled his animal blood.
Minnaloushe runs in the grass
Lifting his delicate feet.
Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?
When two close kindred meet,
What better than call a dance?
Maybe the moon may learn,
Tired of that courtly fashion,
A new dance turn.
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
From moonlit place to place,
The sacred moon overhead
Has taken a new phase.
Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils
Will pass from change to change,
And that from round to crescent,
From crescent to round they range?
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
Alone, important and wise,
And lifts to the changing moon
His changing eyes.

-- William Butler Yeats

poor little animals in cages.

The pet store makes me sad. My obsession of having my own kitten only gets worse when I'm there.








one day. one day.

Meow.

I am not the only one who loves cats so much. I found some hilarious and adorable photos from blogs of cat lovers like myself.






Although cats are my favorite, I have recently begun a new love for yorkie dogs.

Jordan and I went over to Mark and Lauren's house last night and watched "It's Me or the Dog". The episode featured a little yorkie who's owners spoiled him and treated him like a child. But Victoria's magic transformed him to be a well-behaved and trained dog. By the end of the show I was begging Jordan to get me a yorkie someday.