Mad Ouva

living life in the last best place

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Mini Bio

I’m 45. I live on the outskirts of a small Montana town — one that has three stop signs, two bars, a blacksmith, and no grocery store. Sharing the hovel I call home is my husband, Brian, our dogs, Wicket and Elstree, and our cats, Chirpa, Gimmick, Alice, and Pigeon.

What’s a Suzzerpuss?

I have no idea.

My grandfather (Pappy) called my sister and I Ralph, Clyde, or Charlie, depending on the day. My grandmother (Nanny) called us both Suzzerpuss.

When I told her that I’d picked Suzzerpuss for a webpage name, she asked me what a Suzzerpuss was. So, I guess no one knows.

  • Hobbies,  Ramblings

    Waterbound Nowhere to Go

    February 3, 2020 /

    So many posts in the same month! A little update on the blackwater tank and other aquarium happenings. Firstly, yeesh. The plants have just taken off in Esme’s tank. The rotala? is now reaching the surface, the frogbit roots have extended, on average, about 1.5-2 inches. This is all since it was done on Thursday. I noticed the growth last night, but photographing this tank is anger-inducing. Speaking of… sorry about the glare. #@! Nevermind that browning on the sword. It’s been going on since we purchased it – you can see bits of it in the last post. I’m not concerned, since it was one of the sickly looking…

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    There Ain’t No Air and There Ain’t No Light

    January 29, 2020

    Place Your Bets on the Limits of a Beast’s Appetite

    February 21, 2020

    I Know You Want to Know But

    March 9, 2020
  • Creatures,  Hobbies,  Ramblings

    There Ain’t No Air and There Ain’t No Light

    January 29, 2020 /

    I shared a video of an amazing blackwater tank with Brian. Here’s the video, in case you’d like to find yourself a new hobby. We have similar tastes in a lot of things, so it wasn’t a surprise that he also loved the blackwater tank. It’s not necessarily a replica of a natural betta environment, but the dark water and the submerged branches, leaves, and other debris create a much more realistic glimpse into the natural world than a tank full of shimmering plastic castles and pink gravel. The tanks seem more like cutouts of a pond, one that happens to have fish (or not), than something focused on a…

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    You May Also Like

    I Think That You Know What to Do

    June 13, 2012

    Breathe Some Air That’s Never Been Breathed

    November 7, 2016

    The Story of the Beast with Those Four Dirty Paws

    December 8, 2019
  • Creatures,  Ramblings

    You Can Lay Down When the Day Is Done

    January 22, 2020 /

    This is Esmeralda. She is a half-moon betta female, or so said her dinky cup. She was adopted a little over a week ago. We picked her because she was an interesting blue-green color, which she is actually not, as you can see. Also, she was lively. I know the male bettas are much more impressive, but I’ve never been drawn to the animals who get the most attention, which is why I avoid kittens at the animal shelter and children everywhere. Right now she is in a five gallon tank with some of the fake plants that were readily available at our Petsmart. We will be ordering some softer…

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    You May Also Like

    Like Flashy Sparkles in the Water

    May 27, 2012

    Sweeter Than Heaven

    October 5, 2016

    The Story of the Beast with Those Four Dirty Paws

    December 8, 2019

Books I’m Reading/Using

Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies
by Frances Sizer, Ellie Whitney

Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life
by Tim McGraw

Healthy Smoothie Recipe Book
by Jennifer Koslo

(My favorite smoothie so far is the Herbed Pineapple Green Apple.)

The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them
by J.J. Pursell

Products I’m Loving

Decaf House Blend
from Peet’s Coffee

Big Ass Brick of Soap – Fresh Cut Pine
from Duke Cannon Supply Co.

Soy Candle – Pumpkin Hollow Farm
from 1803 Candles

© 2026 Mad Ouva