Oh BOY!

 Guys, Ladies, doggies and Kitties!  This cake looks home made, and no attention to smooth icing, it's all just slathered on.  Ooo la laaa!  The boys licked the beaters and the big bowl I made it in.  I scraped off what would be a tablespoon full of icing from the bowl sides before I handed it over.  I know *I* made it..but I don't care!  I outDID myself with that icing.  PERFECT balance of chocolate, real butter and peppermint.  Whatta woman!  Sure not looking magazine worthy but, oh MY! My My MY!  We will all have it tomorrow.  I tried to make the cake tender and moist. 

The cake is bustin' out with peppermint inside, baked in, and the icing...same thing.  

I am looking forward to having Christmas dinner at one of the kids' home...opening presents there, and hoping I don't bust wide open from eating too much!  

Tonight I will make this boy staying here for the week marinated pork chops...marinated with a rub..bought already put on the chops..I have only to cook it.  Strictly Southern sides to go with it......you don't wanna know.  We don't do 'fancy' in this house or try to imitate being chefs, or adding odd stuffs like leafed greens, and other not liked stuffs around this house, in it. Fancy cook I certainly am not. :-) 

This is in the Fridge so it doesn't decide to slide the top layer any from nascent heat still in the cake part.

Now.  I hear my son chopping vegges so I am headed to the kitchen.

Merry Christmas to those who come to see me.  XX

Look! Sound asleep after baking in the window ledge. 

 
 

things-im-suddenly-tired-of.html

Hope you'll click and read.  Included comments. From 2012

 Howdy!  Think I mentioned that I always host Thanksgiving and my youngest and his wife always host Christmas.  This is a fun and successful Holiday for us...and we ate well.  I thought I was never going to quit cooking!  I took the easy way out and made boxed brownies with ice cream if anyone wanted that with them. 

I totally hate that stupid gizmo Google put in here right on the page you are typing on so that you might accidentally hit it..hooray for Google!! Or, make a typo that you can't see to correct because it obscures that part of the page.  I will never use it!  I wish they'd get flippin' rid of it. 

In this part of the Country it was exceeding hard to buy a turkey- or a turkey breast.  And when a few of each were available, they were of an unknown brand and extremely costly!  A 7.7 pound breast was a couple of cents under $20.00.  May as well say $20.00. I bought it as they were having a sale..saved me a couple dollars, and it was not really meaty (I try to buy larger,  up to 9 pounds but this was the heaviest one I could find in all three grocery stores.) The turkey breast when carved revealed not what I expected for the breast meat,  puny and pale; and it was not meaty elsewhere either.  We're tired of ham...one of the kids detests roast beef...sigh....things will likely be better next Thanksgiving.  The bird flu was blamed.

 I took this in an acquaintance's yard.  The deer were in there eating them almost faster than I could get out there and take some pictures.  

Don't be sad seeing these.  I think they were dear, and worth seeing.  It is what we wish so much; depicted to express what cat parents feel like.  And dog parents too  of course.   Oh. can you imagine the joy if that happened? 

Peace at Last

 Almost called you all "Kitties!" as I just finished helping Angel Admiral with hers a few minutes ago and Katie had my strict attention with hers early about 0900 this morning as well.

This title is meaningful.  ALL the work in and on the house is finished, thank YOU!! all of the people I managed to get to show up.  AND I may actually be getting the $400.00 extra I had to spend because the "workers" who brought the washer and dryer didn't do anything but get it in the house and filthy up my carpet and wood floor with muddy dirty boots.  I had to hire someone in town to come and do a job, like I didn't know  I needed doing the cleaning of the dryer vent. I hired them in their second job to install said machines and level them.   I complained in a reasonable and polite way both to the seller- who was not at fault and the installer.  I enlisted the seller  manager to please call the other manager in Nashville as I knew HE could get in touch whereas me, I would be lucky to talk to him at all  to the delivery management in Nashville.  (I always spell it Gnash-ville and just did!  Had to stop and change it.)  It's been quiet again after three weeks of upheaval. 

I have a new TINY camera.  First one that isn't a Nikon, ever.  I feel nekkid without one, but my youngest advised me to get this one.  There is a learning curve for me.  It is still a technical camera.  It is mirrorless...so no long lens on it as with my Nikon Digital.  It is amazingly small.  I  took it out to take pictures--- and came straight home after the drug store. Furthermore, left it in the car for pity sake.  I'll go get it in a second.  They're going to be my always closeups, but not like the ones with my good trusty Nikon DSLR. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!  

I'd move here to Charlotte in a heartbeat if I could

This is true.  Every word and one of THE single most amazing acts there is on technology.

What a Week

 Monday started with a visit to the Vet for another Vitamin B shot and mats cut, nails done and earsies cleaned.  House work etc. when home plus a lot of asked-for snuggles.

Tuesday started with doing the wash, drying, folding and putting away.  Just at the last, the dryer gave up the ghost and that was that no matter how I pled.  I went out immediately and started looking for a new dryer (it was old and iffy anyway and didn't do a good job...not worth the $$$ for repair.) Found one and a washer too...both on sale for some fancy money.  I stayed quite a while waiting on their appliance specialist to come over and we got an order made, payment made (gasping for breath at the cost) and the machines will show up tomorrow.  Wednesday, I got the peacock green chair back!!  I got rid of the behemoth as I called it.  The Behemoth is way too large and hard as a rock.They took it back after 6 months and gave me back my original chair I had paid for already but traded.  No charge for trucking it here to the house.  The cat and I are delighted.  So it doesn't recline the way it should; but after that Behemoth, I have learned my lesson.  Had to wait till 5:40 in the evening to get the chair.  

Thursday, they store came with the door...an hour later the installer came and it took him the better part of three hours to get the evil vicious old storm door off..and the new one on.  Some of you may remember that *$@# door locking me out at 0530-0600 while I was outside with the Nikon taking pics of the sunrise in my gown!  30 some degrees.  You see it,  You had better get out there NOW as it changes every second as the sun rises.  I went out and got locked out a good 4 times.  The kids had to come from Knoxville to let me in the window...as they couldn't;t make it open either.  Neighbors were wakened for the same reason.   Well, the stinkin' dirty mannered door locked me IN.  Could not get out to the deck for 3 weeks.  Paid the horrible fee for the door AND just as much for installation.  The same fee to install it! 

Then, today I have to stay all day till I can sign for my new camera coming from NYC.  They aren't here yet.   They came, did not ring the doorbell or knock and left me with a door tag ND Fed Ex does not have a way to contact them but a so-called virtual assistant.  0 help.  

Tomorrow, they rip the washer and dryer out...showing the filth under each of the old ones and the walls... the same there..and install the new machines.  That's Saturday. Tomorrow.   

the two old appliances...

The one in charge.

colors are starting

new storm door and they fixed the wood one too

Peacock is back. 

That's all I guess.  No camera thanks to the loony bin who refused to knock or ring the bell and went trucking off. 

What a Neat Day

 Had to take Katie in to see if she could have more Vitamin B12.  And get mats shaved, and clean her ears and cut her nails.  But she was also weighed and went from 6 and a half pounds last month after that 5 days of not eating anything to 7 and a half pounds today.  An entire pound.  She was eating 2 cans of Fancy Feast a day for close to a week, and a can and a half  a day up till about a week ago.  

Welp...my storm door didn't get here when I said it would.  There was a snag.  However it will be here Thursday.  The guys are going to pick it up for me and bring it with them instead of it lying against the house for several days.    The one guy who came over to measure and... I wanted to pay for the door since the guys ordered it for me.  They volunteered  to because though I am good at academics and certain other things, I am NOT good in a hardware store.  I said to him on the phone when I first called inquiring if they would like the job of taking the old and installing the new door, that I really need a man to do these things.  I am useless as those mammary glands I keep talking about on a boar hog.  So he upped and said he would.  They are handymen who have been taken over by ACE Hardware.  SO cool! When the other guy came and measured just as happens so many times, he wound up staying for 2 hours...just over...and we talked about every weapon we both had ever had to qualify on.  Don't get your panties in a wad with that statement.  It's me you know...a total maid servant to the cat.  You know me. 

Meanwhile, guess what?  That pretty peacock green/blue recliner that I had and loved for a week will be on its way back here in 2 more days; after 6 months ago when I complained at the furniture store that  it wouldn't hardly recline..I was given the option of trading it back for another since I barely had it at my home.  What I chose I call "the behemoth".  It is too large...hard as the pavement outside and ew-glee.   Even Katie won't get on it and I probably have been maybe 10 times since mid May.  

The chair doesn't fit me but the peacock colored one does as it is for petites. My feet are on the FLOOR!  Heavenly days.  Can't wait to get it here again.  They never could sell it again probably because of the color. 

I have three frozen bowls of that heavenly chili left in the freezer.  Better tunnel on over, cat parents.  I bought some Swans Down Cake Four--- and I may make a home made chocolate cake  and the frosting too.  Better git on your horses and come on.  

OOXX

Fall...My Favorite Season

Everyone, I am sorry about all the mess Google just did to my blog.  I hope I can make it stop!! Try to ignore all the links it put in.  

 Howdy everyone.  The other member of the family is much better for now so I won't waste your time whining about her.  :-) 

It has been with small exception absolutely beautiful days and nights.  Just what October is best known for. I have started gathering the last of my roses and gardenias and bringing them in a few at a time.  Gardenias are about finished but come off my roses are still trying to keep going.  

Cleaned house yesterday and concentrated on the kitchen.  Here's the floor.   I gave it 24 hrs. to dry well after I shined it up so that  the throw rugs won't mar their shine with their rubbery backing. .

👆I "skate" all over it with old bath towels several times till the shine is satisfactory.

 

Went to the grocery store this morning.  They had strawberries @2 for 4$.  👆 As you can see they looked as though they might be good.  Well, they looked good and the taste was like water in that there WAS no taste.  I haven't had a good tasting strawberry in quite a few years.  If my grandson didn't always want them when he is here I wouldn't buy them any longer.  I use canned pineapple to make my smoothies instead. Quite good. 

Had to get my echocardiogram a few days ago.  Won't hear about it till Tuesday probably as tomorrow i a holiday.  With the type of heart surgery I had ten years ago...this is part of my life now.  

Wednesday I have Ace Hardware coming to install a brand new storm door.  Mine bit the bullet entirely after locking me out for several years in a row.  Over that now.  New one one the way.  Lotsa $$$$$$ what with the door and the installation charge AND tax. This State has 10% sales tax. (for years and years.) New door will look like the old one.  I'll show ya. 

Lastly, here is my beautiful girl.  A painting done by a fellow blogger.  Barb, Kozmo's mom. And  Nutmeg's, Jo-Jo's, Kozmo of course and Marvelous Marv. 

 XXOO

Cat on the Keyboard!!

 Have to stop trying to blog and kiss this thing for at least 10 minutes!

Well, at least five minutes of loud smooches from me to her have been accomplished.  I do the loud squishy sounding --the attention drawing awful sounding smooches on her cheeks and head. She's used to the noise and loves it.  Seriously.  I loudly smooch one cheek and she turns the other. Smooch. Then she tips her head down for me to smooch the top of that too.  Endlessly repeat! 

Katie's chair at 0800.

Thing is, I tried to take a picture with the iPhone of the chair when the sun was shining on it so beautifully and the phone darkened it despite my trying...and her chair just never came out the way I was seeing it.  This is one of those times you need a real camera.  I was going to say that when she isn't using it, it is something I will read in.  The pillow props me forward as I am a short stub...and I find most chairs too large. I adored that beautiful peacock blue one that fitted me to a T.  Which it, tho called a recliner...wouldn't.  So I gave it back.  Got this clunker.

I went to the grocery and by impulse, went to their produce section.  They had heirloom tomatoes.  Never had the pleasure.  It was terribly expensive (to me) at 4$ a pound.  ($3.99)  I got one.  First and only good tasting tomato I have had in 2 years!!!! All the others have been close to tasteless, dryish...hard...gassed to redness as the hot house kind they are, but the store is honest.  Says hot house on a sticker.  Those are always only good to use for children's baseball practice.  The Heirloom however, was like a real home grown tomato.  I also bought a Bosc pear. I just ate it before I sat down here as I could not wait any longer.  I LOVE those things. They always seem in short supply.  Horribly expensive as well.  I bought a Gala apple...3$ a pound. 

I have started buying those expensive but good to the last bit icicles that are genuinely fruit flavored.  Only 60 some calories per treat, and I have fallen in love with the tangerine flavored ones as well as the pineapple ones (with lots of pineapple bits throughout.  I bought lemon one today and after supper I will try the lemon. These are real, not artificially flavored and delicious to a fault. $$ though.  Worth it. 

I'm nattering on and on.  Carol, my new friend, thank you for the birthday wishes a little ahead of time.  I loved seeing that~ and thank you again.

Oh no.  She's back...no kidding.  Right here in front of the screen.   

I found a superb feline sculpture

 Hey Guys, I started my Christmas OR Birthday shopping.  This is what I got my middle son for either Christmas or his birthday.  That is on Jan 14th so I generally give it to him to take back to NC with him.  He is excellent not to open until the day.  Want to see?   It is a tribute to our tiny Tortie. Who passed at 14 years of age in the late 90's.   

My kids never read my or Katie's blogs, so he won't see this.  Not till he unwraps it.  Now I wish I had 

gotten two of them.  One for me.  I told him if he didn't like it...(he is a very strong cat man as are the other boys) or plans to give its away, store it somewhere...not appreciate it at all....give it BACK TO ME!  And I mean it.  This is a tribute to Robin, our tiny  DEEPLY loved and cherished 6 1/2 pound Tortie who had more brain cell's than any  seriously lacking combative political trash talker on the streets, blogs,  FB, house, work, whatever, wherever!  When she was hungry, she jumped to the washing machine, pawed the cabinet open, pawed out however many paper plates came down on her... out of the cabinet...then hopped to the counter, walked to the cabinet (that still to this day holds it all) that held her wet food.  (Dry kibble was down all day.) She pawed out a can of wet food. When we heard it crash to the counter, we got up and gave her her supper.  When the Vet gave me sample KD food to try her on (1997- so it was HORRIBLE) I laid some out in her bowl for the first time in her dry food bowl  and headed to work.  I was on days  that week, so I left at 0400.  I came home, heard the resultant crashing as I was in my room putting on something more comfortable.  Came out, gathered her dish and can of choice..fed her and checked the litter box. 

I will tell you now.  She got that pouch of KD food off the microwave top where I'd put it as I headed  out the door  to work.  She put the pouch in her litterbox and covered it.  Thoroughly.  It wasn't  5PM yet, so I called the Vet office and told them.  I heard the person who answered the phone telling all the Vets.  I heard LOUD laughter! I was rolling myself.  I think Robin said "don't bother!!"

I miss telling you guys stuff like this  Hope you read it.  Not many come by, and I sure appreciate those friends who do.

XXOO

Pee Ess: She also stood with her tiny orange paws in her paper plate so it would not move as she scarfed  down her meal!  Whatta girl!  

Fill-In's from Katie's Friends...

 Here's mine...I "filled-in" over at Two Spoiled Cats in the comments.  Today is Fill-In" day and most of the kitties, woofies and other Anipals love that.  Happens every Friday and a favorite feature for most of us in the Cat Blogosphere. 

Here's mine.  I love when Friday comes along and we can do these.  Thought I would bring it over to my own blog--- since Katie had something else to talk about this morning.  Here is mine.  I cut and pasted my reply in "Two Spoiled Cats" where I did my Fill-Ins.   The answers right here below were  mine in reply to the Fill-In questions and to Pam's answers  to the Fill-Ins in her own blog 

  So, those were my Fill-In's in a reply block on  the Two Spoiled Cats blog this morning.  It was fun.  I appreciate the two ladies who make the questions  for us in the CB each week.  My answers were directly related to Two Spoiled Cat's answers.  The illustration at top shows you the authors of the Fill-Ins. 

Now, To Me, THAT Was Funny!

 Guys, Me and Micah, the Toyota were sliding on down our hills on my way to the turnpike to get to Wally World, Pet Smart and assorted other things.  Lo!  To what should my wondering eye appear?  One of those yard/house signs, maybe 4 feet tall, and a foot wide maybe, that had to be home made.  I LOVE it.  I looked behind me, no one there and stopped to read the sign again!  Said: "Go Away."  Next line was "Go on",  the third line was "GIT!"  Typically Southern humor.  Now I'll show you mine! I wanted to take a picture but some folks don't like that.  However I will show you the hanging sign I put up last week.  One on the front door, one on the side door!  

Here's mine: No one can escape, it's at both doors. Ready?

It's about 13x13.  First time I saw it, it tickled me. 

Some of you know I am attending PT twice a week.  I have a great therapist.  Maybe things will get better.  

 

Bad Penny Edited to add a few things

 I'm like a bad penny!  Here I am again.  

The Grandson was here again today as well as yesterday and he and his Mom  brought me something he made himself to celebrate my re-birthday!  I will always have it.  

He's a boy and awfully young but he sure meant it with all his heart! His Mom said he used a jar of paste for every piece of paper!  :-) 

LOOK!  Look what got assembled right here in my own living room!!!  My crystal and brass floor lamp..cost a few cents when I bought it 20 some years ago, and a week or so ago, it lost its insides.  So had to buy a new one.  Got in on Prime Day.  The first thing I ever assembled was my newest vacuum.  Even though I hated every second, it got done pretty quickly.  This lamp as well.  It's purty!  If you biggafy the next picture  below this first one of it, you can see the decoration at the top...just below the bulb area.   Oh!  And everyone has a dinosaur sheet over their big chair..right?  Right! 

I dislike assembling anything and I hope the two things I mentioned  will be it.  I went to our new Cat Cafe here where I live and visited with the cats.  In the lobby there were things one could purchase.  A word leapt up off the shelf and said BUY ME! It was a dish of crocheted crowns!  The word that leapt up was "Crowns".  If you live with a kitty, you know they are royalty so you MUST get the crown.  It was crocheted in a close- to- golden- tone yarn.  All the points of the crown were there, but flat so you havta tease up the points the best you can.  But it does not matter.  They are Royalty and it is a crown.  I sent one to Katie's mancat furriend and one to Auntie Ellen to her Rosie.  Kat's is large and Rosie's is small.  Kat got his but Rosie hasn't meowed anything yet.  Oops, my lines here  are out of sync.  BYE! 

Oh My Goodness. Today is THE Day.

 Today is what I have called my Re-Birthday.  Ten years ago I had some extreme heart surgery. I am so glad I lived through it.  I wouldn't have gotten to see my Grandson otherwise.  Thanks to the awesome but complicated surgery and the almost 10 day stay in the hospital...I got to come home, and take the entire year I was told it would take, to recover.  But I did.  So happy Re-Birthday to me!!

It isn't essay typing with a cat right smack in the middle of the screening the keyboard off to the left.  I may have to give up.  I just wanted to wish my self a happy Re -Birthday and express gratitude that I am still here.  

Tomorrow I have to hope I can get Katie into her carrier and get her off to get her ears cleaned and those claws trimmed.  Never easy.

That above is one of my Gardenias with a friend on it.  

Doing PT this past month.  They are helping wonderfully well.  I over did it exercising.  I never learn.

By the way, before I forget___ who likes NCIS...the one with Mark Harmon in the lead?  I love that show.  

This cat will NOT move.  I give up.  

Good Grief!

My roses

 Well, shew!  This has been a LONG time since I gave been here.  You'd think I'd take a hint and deep 6 the blog but Nooooo.  It's still here.

But here I am and I approved about 4 comments once I got here.  Glad you liked that all too true story.  Whoa Nelly.  The was a bad...very bad lunch time.

I made Katie upset the past few days and I should have realized I would; and I should have changed things back when I had the first niggling idea that I goofed.  Firstly, I took up the comfy red crocheted mat that she was gifted with when she first came home with me.  I usually don't have comfies out like that unless it's cold.  I usually take them up and wash them and put them away for cold weather.  Several are on the floor by the hot air blowy things so that she can be baked more comfortably. She tried lying there without them and looked so miserable I gave up and just laid them back out.  The worst transgression was 5 days ago, when I hosed out her hooded litterbox, I could NOT get the remnants out of that one corner she inevitably uses to pee.  It looked like heck.  I'd had it for some time so I gave her her first regular litter pan.  She used it but sat in front of it a short time before use.  She took to her bed(s) and went on a 'strict diet', powered her tail to all the way down at all times. She declared war with the guise of no interest AT all in ALL her toys.  She slept at my feet instead of on my head.  She stayed under the bed most of the day.  She would NOT go to a single sunpuddle any place AT all, and all day.  

Today though I certainly saw and suffered seeing her doing all this I finally thought "GO GET THAT HOODED BOX UNDER THE HOUSE AND PUT IT BACK!!!!!!!!!"  I did.  She very quickly ate an entire can of Fancy Feast above what she'd already had.   Peed in the box twice.. she ran thundering in to look for pretend prey outside...she asked for many more treats,  She stayed in my lap instead of leaving.  I have learned my lesson!  I was ready to take her to the Vet.  What a maroon I have been.  Not worth killin' as they say around here. 

Pictures won't post here so  will go ahead and publish and come back hoping Google is in a better mood.  Dham thing. Does this frequently.

here another...duh...

The star of the show always.  

 

She works hard for her living...so hard for her living.....

A True Story

 Someone yesterday in Thursday Fill-Ins mentioned an embarrassing time in a public place with their child.  

Hey. I know what that's like.  I had three sons and let me tell you that third was quite a show in a fast food restaurant one Sunday.  We were tucking into our burgers and fries, the boys and us, mom and dad.  

It was busy in there, the after church crowd who like us, what with three boys, didn't want the long waits etc. in a regular restaurant.  So we headed to a fast food place.

The youngest was about 2 1/2 then..sitting in a high chair, eagerly watching all the traffic going by.  Pointing and occasionally announcing cars as they swooshed by.  "Car!  Car!  Car!"  then---a big truck went by.   An announcement was made by that baby/toddler who was not that adept with pronunciation yet.  (Who DID have speech therapy deemed needed by the school where his kindergarten was.) Pointing with both hands announcing his interpretation of Truck  Use your thought processes.  He was not shouting "TRUCK." He was shouting something else.  Heads turned...quietness descended on the seating area...we his parents shrunk into the tiled floor or wished we could, while another  "truck" went by, equally well announced.  That second time I made to rise and go to the car but I was out-voted.  We remained and got the youngest interested in some bribe or other to be quiet and hurriedly finished our food.  Sort of.  That was the few minutes without end...that continued into eternity.  The stuff of which ones memory tries desperately to NOT remember, but does anyway.

Oh..have a new privacy fence street side  my deck.  I have to wait another 4 weeks or so before it can be stained.  The men who built it will stain it for me.   Got two new porch lights.  A new mail box, new house numbers, and a RING doorbell. I think Katie mentioned that her Mom, me, looks like a thug on camera every single time.  Seriously.  Yuk. You should see my so-called 'real ID.'  Talk about THUG! I was wearing a black turtleneck top...a warm black jacket (it was January) and all you can see is my face above that turtleneck shirt neck top and a grim expression...whew.  I wouldn't want to meet me in a dark alley at night!

  

Whatta 24 hours! or---It was the worst of times, it was the baddest of times. Sorta.

 Jumpin' Billy Goats and Leapin' Lizards.   What a day and who knew?? What a night.  But who knew?  [Oh, it was just me and Katie, so don't get your thoughts to stirrin'.] 

Anyway, I had an appointment for a nerve conduction test  NCS   yesterday morning at 11.  The many people I know who have had one have always said it was an 'awful experience'...that it was painful...that they couldn't wait till it was done..etc. etc. blah and blah.  

If you need to have one, take it as complete truth from me that it, the test, was almost unnoticeable.  I don't want to trip you out saying how it is conducted..but even if you knew, I am here to tell you there is no unpleasantness whatever.  He explained as he went along and now, I can credit one thing he said...that he had some patients fall asleep.  I imagine those are few and far between and probably there after a midnight shift., but trust me.  Never fear that test.  It sounds and reads like a torture chamber but trust me...it's not.  

Now to the nighttime.  Got ready, and we headed to bed.  Time passed and time passed...and I grew very cold.  I woke shivering.  The temp dropped to the low 30s outside and although I have heat, I forgot that it automatically sets to a lower temp at night.  And because it had been hot enough for shorts and the ceiling fan being on in the house,  I took the blankie off the bed and had my new microfiber sheets on.  The top sheet felt warm.  Not at 0215!  I woke miserable and shivering. I lay there thinking I could go back to sleep.  No, I could not.  I finally gave up and found a heavy bathrobe to throw over and fell back to sleep warm at last.  Katie came back too.  I also raised the thermostat setting!!!  Man, all 24 hrs were a scrub!  Anticipation of the test for days and certainly that unknown part! Then freezing to death last night...my fault entirely.  Now, if she won't crush my chest tonight...it'll be good! 

 

Rainy Day and Other Stuffs

Here is another rainy day.   We actually do need the rain, however.  That announcement about needing the rain is a change from my constant blogging of ever-present rain throughout all my blogging years.  But it has been very dry for probably 8 months.  We have been under a fire alert for some time. 

I had an unpleasant discovery an hour ago.  I was back over there helping Katie write her blog, and I had gone to check if any comments needed approval.  I do that every day in her blog.  I require approval afer 24 hrs. on this one of mine because hardly anyone visits, so, comments much later on will be mostly SPAM if I allow them to post unhindered, as I found out.  I stumbled on....actually the truth about the verb usage here...I stumbled on the right place to press to see if there was any SPAM.  Holy Moly.  There were close to 600 comments made by good friends on my blog and hers, all the way back to 2022~friends that Katie and I see daily.  I often wondered why several never commented, but figured that was the way it was.  Didn't keep Katie and me from going to see them!  There were several that seemed to have commented sometimes but not often.  

Messy Mimi was one whose many many kind comments remained in SPAM till now!! And Mudpie, Friends Forever,  even Brian's Home. Ruby's blog, Kevin and Tracy's blog, so MANY! Must have been 50+ titles!  That was awful.  There's only one that has never been to see Katie...so that wasn't a fault of Google Blogger. So, as I work away at approving all 600 nigh about, they will be there.  I had NO idea whatever.  

Ackshully, (I do know how to spell that...I just like this way) I was going to talk about something close to my heart about today's world but after discovering the Google Blogger's bad mistake, I won't bother.  Only I will say when I do write about it, it will be in the neighborhood of my never hurting others' feelings for things out of their control.   I can talk to the cat and she can answer me.  No need to be all and know all and tell all.  Hey!  I think that did it right there!!  No need to come back and say what not!  Just did.  Whatta woman!  I'll give myself a hug.

I take many landscapes...as well as flowers, birds, etc,  Hardly ever people.  I don't invade their privacy.  Family..HA!  Get outta my way.  Here comes the iPhone. 

A Treat for my Bees

I love bees.  I go out among them all the time.  With the Nikon or my iPhone.  So far they tolerate me and know I will make a story about what they are saying...so they have been kind to me.

Here are some flowers in the yard today.  I skipped the daffodils.  The bees will love even the violets.  They do get nectar from them.  And I would never harm the dandelions.  The bees need them. 

I hope you are all well.  

Revolutionary War!

more on this a paragraph away.

 Ow.   The scourge of Sciatica is back with me  unless it is Piriformis, or the Sacroiliac joint.  All three conditions have similar symptoms. Whatever it is...it's killing me after I go to bed. Hurts in the day too, but it fires up  even worse at night.  

Had a nice morning.  I am a member of the D.A.R. and attended a meeting this morning.  There was a speaker, two really, who spoke on the Battle of Trenton    (N.J., The Revolutionary War.) I am very familiar with the Battles of the Revolutionary War.  History is one of my favorite topics and items of study.  Even largely accurate Historical Fiction. I was strictly a World History aficionado as a teen but my Freshman year at the University forced me into American History.  Then, Tennessee History.  I was "outraged" and didn't like to be forced into that.  Turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me at the University~ I have become a lifelong fan of all those Histories since.  

The speakers are also re-enactors of the Revolutionary War.  So they wore the dress of that time.

  The speakers were excellent and spoke as though they were a soldier and a doctor.  They maintained that the entire time they were there.  

That is a musket.  I have never seen one till now.  It's from that war as are the swords shown. 

That old saying:  "If they could only talk. The men went into character while speaking and one was a Doctor while the other was a soldier.  

For those who aren't familiar with the letters I used...i.e.  D.A.R. that is The Daughters of the American Revolution.  Been a member since I was 18, and a junior member at that time because of my age. 

One of the Authors of historical fiction I am fond of is Gilbert Morris.  He wrote many historical novels. One of them had many passages...chapters ...in it re: the Battle of Trenton.  General Washington and the Hessians were amply covered in that book..whew!! as were the conditions at that time as well as the terrible time the Continental Army faced...but they won.  

Katie said I caught her asleep and she gave me permission to show her.  

Well, of Course

  I just peeled and ate two Minneola Tangelos. OH my word, those things are so good!!!!  I washed them down with the rest of the red grapes I had.  I managed for the first time in two years to find some grapes that were normal in size...not those huge ones big as golf balls just about, grapes they are forcing on us now.  I exaggerated a little, not much, to make a point about the size. "Forcing" because there is no other choice but the huge ones.  I don't like large grapes.  I got lucky the other day.  

OH.  I paid the price, but it was worth it. What?  I bought my Egglands Best eggs again, and finally, they were available.  These were cage-free brown eggs and the shells were wonderfully hard!  The cost was even higher than the standard white Egglands best.  But the store brands eggs have been like frying water, they were so thin in the pan, and relatively tasteless.  I had decided to stop having eggs in the morning until I saw a few Egglands Best out at quite a price hike.  Worth it. 

 Miss K. here said she is starting to be a pill about her foods again.  I have been in the pet food areas all over town so much in the past several months that I probably look like I'm casing the joints!

I made me a big pot of vegetable beef soup yesterday.  Ate a (very) LARGE bowl of it last night and another even larger bowl for lunch today..and I'll have more for supper.  Wish you were here!  Hate to eat by myself but there I am.  All the more for me though.

I took a page from a new friend's book and headed out into the wilds of the park this morning.  Have to work my way back up to speed, I see.  But I loved it.  Had the iPhone earpods in and I was listening to '70s through '90s music with a few in the early 2000's. 

See ya Bye and thank you for reading.  That cat's expression in the cartoon cracked me up.