It is really quiet here, and a while ago I realized that the dogs next door have not been barking.

They had gotten started on the (essentially) non-stop barking when their people went on vacation a couple of months or so ago. It eased up a bit once they were back, but only a bit.

After I'd been out erranding today the answer came to me: the people were gone again, but this time they (probably) put the dogs in the pet-sitter's "Doggie Camp." I haven't seen the pet sitter coming by, so they probably put the cats in her feline equivalent.

Yes, it's a bit more expensive (in the past I've used both services) but the pets get a LOT more attention, (And the neighbor doesn't gripe about the barking in her journal!

Our dog(s) loved it when they went there. They had a fair amount of canine company in neighboring pens, but plenty of room to run around and play. And, long walks on leashes each day.

I hardly know where I am without the barking (not).

Today was another IUD on my part.

WalMart in the morning, then little stuff around the house, a quick trip to Walgreen's (it's a LOT closer than WalMart) for some notebooks and stuff, and now settling down for the evening.

My striped cat is on the double papasan, on a nice fuzzy/sluffy jacket of mine. The papsan is HERS, but when I ask nicely she lets me use it too.

The Big Guy is on the card table, stretched out on my left. He knows there are limits to where he can lie, and rules about messing around with the keyboard. He has his head a hand's width from the keyboard, so that he can get lots of head scritching.

Maybe the cats are enjoying the quiet too.

At any rate, it's been a nice relaxing day overall, and I look forward to a quiet evening with the TV and maybe a book.