Animal Farm

In addition to that niece of mine I am hanging out with this week, there are a few animals keeping me entertained (and up at night). Meet Bones: the most adorable, cuddly, patient dog in the history of dogs.

He showed up at my sis-in-law's work three years ago, abandoned, starving and the epitome of skin and bones. He was the scrawniest, skinniest dog I had every seen, still alive and still sweet as can be. They nursed him back to health and won the dog lottery, as he is the coolest boxer I've ever met. Evidence below. He didn't even try to eat the cat, at least not while I was looking.

Speaking of cats, this curious and daring cat is Heathcliff, the newest addition to my niece's zoo. He too is a rockin' pet, except when he jumps onto my head in the middle of the night, purring loudly with one of those toy balls with a bell inside. It's my fault, since I bought the noisy toy. Heathcliff doesn't like to just bother Bones, he's also got a knack for teasing the pig. Pig? Yep, meet Tinkerbell, the pot bellied pig who is currently snoring loudly next to me on that warm bed, in front of the heater.

Tinkerbell is a funny one, she loves (or hates) the color pink and will chase you if you happen to be wearing her favorite color. I found this out the hard way when I showed up at the house wearing pink sweatpants and my brother suggested I run as fast as I could across the yard, just to see what Tinkerbell would do. Pigs can't fly, but they can certainly sprint (and grunt). Tink loves carrots, the color pink, lounging in front of the fire and is looking for that special someone so she isn't the only barn-yard animal living in this domestic house.

I almost forgot the reptilian member of this household! Tigers!

Formerly known as "Tiger Lily" until it was determined that she might actually be a he. Tigers is a leopard print gecko, apparently a fairly common house pet as my other niece also has one named Buttercup. They certainly didn't carry these at pet stores when I was a kid!  He eats three crickets a day (bought at the store and kept in a separate container hidden from the cat who likes to eat bugs) and is the quietest, lowest maintenance member of this pack.