Jiminey Jeepers! What a Jolt

 Good Morning!  Well, what's left of it.  I will head out here shortly and see if I can get some good blood-movin' air pumpin' exercise in.

The jolt?  Oh, that!  Well, I was headed down the hall this morning when I saw great clouds of 1. smoke 2. steam. 3. fog.  So I jumped to conclusions...that counted toward exercise, and stood there looking.  Called the company who put the new unit in (gas pack) 5 or so months ago.  When I finally got something besides the voice mail tree (I called a tech whose number I saved) and told the woman who answered what I saw and that it scared the hair off my head.  That IS what I said! She said I'll tell them and call you right back.  At her word she did.  They said it was steam from the exhaust of the unit.  (It is a gas pack as I mentioned) W-H-E-W! Thought the house was afire! That was an unpleasant start.  The next is:  the handyman didn't show up again nor did he call.  Several days later he texted and said he forgot.  Oooookay.  That's the (yes, I counted) 12th time in just over 2 months.  And the times he told me were at least a week apart. Moving on...I need to find someone else to finish the job I paid for already.  Could pay a gabillion dollars for a pro, out of the yellow pages so to speak, as such pages don't exist any longer.  There is so little to do.  Some paint.  About an hour's worth tops, & covering the eyesore he made on the wall. 

Meanwhile I am cat sitting again for an undetermined time.  The Mrs. is in sad shape back in the hospital after 2 weeks home. Unless it is very necessary I said once in the morning.  There IS a story here in that home. I won't write it in a blog.  

Thank you all who commented on the horrors I saw as recipes for cranberry sauce.  Glad I am not the only one who doesn't want turnip greens and mushrooms in the sauce, ice cream or cake.  

Guys, can you tell me how to make a subscribe button that works even!!! on this and Katie's bloggie? If so, I can supply my yelly-o-fone number to you for instructions while I do it  I don't think anyone will burn up my cell phone lines, so to speak but thought I would ask.  Those who text me see my number by default...but others don't know it.  

OK, I need to get out of here.  I'm kinda mad about that man, and need to get some of my OWN steam let off.  

Love ya bunches and appreciate your coming over  to see me and my Angel. 

Guys:  Reminder that because of SPAM, I have comment moderation on because of so much SPAM..  I'll always approve you all's..but may take a few days to get over here to check.  So, your comment "took"...but I have to run back over here when Katie lets loose of my arm to check it in. 

Recipes of Old, and Nowadays. AND Oxford Commas R Us.

 Ya know...I made the cranberry sauce myself last Thanksgiving.  Full berried and that is how we like it though we will eat the smooth.  For the heck of it I looked all over the internet and I have never seen such nonsense.  I thought I would come across yet another recipe of cranberry sauce with the ever popular kale, spinach, yogurt, sour cream, coconut oil, protein powder, etc etc.  I am slightly joking.  But the recipes I saw ...holy cow!  Ewwww.  I just bought the berries, picked through them, boiled them, added sugar.  Voila!  That was the way it was in the dark ages of my youth. Now when I go through various magazines or recipes on-line it is to me, a "no can do!" Is there ANYTHING that people don't put spinach and kale in?  Coconut oil?  Protein powder.  One day, I will look for a cake recipe and see stringy spinach AND kale in it...to "make it healthy!!" All this to say that if I need the assistance of a recipe, I sure ain't gonna get anything edible from the past 15+ years.  I have all the cookbooks I was given from the time I was married at 17 years of age. Amy Vanderbilt, The Random House Treasury of cooking.  Several others, including Good Housekeeping. No "sneaking" fish eyes and scales into the icing on your cake (kidding, I hope) for your dietary good.  No strings of boiled, steamed or raw kale draped and cooked into your broiled chicken.  All the "milks" out there .  The day I use any oat "milk" soy "milk" & you name it "milk" hasn't had the sun rise on it yet. 

I have gone over every recipe I see hoping for something edible in all the magazines I have and will read.  Something in the  ingredients never fail to make me reject it.  If I am in need of direction I will go to one of my many cookbooks.  Back before the mania for adding "things that are good for you" regardless of into what!  

Ah, that felt good.  Now.  On to other things.  I am a sky maven and take many photos of it.  This was here at my house.  No spinach or Kale involved.  😆

Mackerel Sky

Soon wet or dry.

Time Really Does March On! Like it or Not.

 Here I am! Just scarfed down a peanut butter and sweet pickle sandwich.  Want one?  Still have plenty of both.  Waiting on laundry to get dry.  Then have to fold and put away.  Wish I had someone else to do that part. 

Angel Katie told all about my Chicken and Cat wrangling for about a month for the one and just 4 days for the other(hens).  Both are done.  I don't anticipate the cats needing to be sat for any longer.  I hope they don't ask me to Hen sit.  The effort just to turn the faucet on to give them fresh water and  so I could clean their watering can was almost more than my wrists could take.  Took a long time to do each of the two things.  But they were sweet and I enjoyed them very much.  The cats were used to me and started coming out when they heard me at the door.  

LOVED this. Charlie Leghorn was the first to make a 7 yr. old..me..laugh so much people turned and looked at me.

One of my sons from NC came over the Mountains to stay with me here from Thursday night till Sunday morning.  I loved every minute.  If you-know-who was here, she would have loved it too.  Took him out to eat on my birthday after going to Costco.  It was the next day that we had dinner and presents at another son's home.  That was because birthday was on Friday and N. still had to work. So Saturday it was.  

Aster.  Sept. birth flower.  Taken at the Arboretum.

The guy who did some work for me left unfinished work, made two appointments after not showing for others he made, and today, canceled again.  He does have bad family problems.   He is permanently out of my contacts now and I need to find another. The money he has for three things he needs to do can be his tip (which I don't do for expensive "handy" help.  They charge enough!) 

I am still trying to get used to sleeping by myself.  I think I never will.  I would rather have a warm fur baby who tucked herself under my chin.  Then changed  position to into my neck, head first.   

Had my yearly Lab tests and the results visit a few days ago.  Tests were all well. Humana is raising their prices this tie around.  And changing tiers of drugs.  And imposing a co-pay.   And raising drug prices. Makes a fella think. Charge requires one to remember: A lot depends of who takes what re: insurance and Doctor.  

Time Marches On. (where did we always see or hear that growing up?)

 Here I am, car-less.  I really really don't like that.  But at least I don't have tp worry about getting Katie to the Vet in a hurry.  I'll get it back Wednesday afternoon.  The two friends I always ask in the rare times I am carless or such, are both sick!  So I see there is no such thing as a taxi any longer...can't depend on that to get me to the body shop.  Just about 4 miles away.  Not walking.  Believe me.  Uber I think must cost an arm and both legs, an extremely generous tip I guess from all I have read...and the entire idea makes me just say NO.  I never ask for help hardly ever so I don't have a list of people in that regard to turn to.  Both family members are working...so...that's out.  Small town so no busses, etc. May have to resort to Next Door and hope no murderer comes calling.  'Course, I could do pretty well if there was one, but I would hope not.  Don't want to mess up my hair.  

I just can't stand it that I can't go out and get anything.  I need 2 measly nails!  Tough bananas I guess.  Have to wait till Wednesday afternoon to try and buy some. 

Katie said on her blog about me being waked in the middle of the night and getting my heart jump started because I heard not just one, but TWO "meows" close together. sounding loud enough to be in my bedroom.  The first meow woke me,  made my heart like a trip hammer for a minute...the second one happened right after that while my eyes were staring into the dark wondering and wishing and thinking how silly.  

Maybe one was summoning me.  

Going to get all three bedroom doors painted tomorrow--- and new door knobs on all three.  Kids ruined everything I have regarding doorknobs.  Have some of them there purty switch plates to go over the light switch toggles.  Moving along.

Want to take me to the body shop?  About 2 on Wednesday.  I live right here.  Expect you about that time.  

Jiminey Crickets

 Well, I took the car to have it assessed a while ago.  And for Pete sake, I kept calling it the fender when in reality it is the bumper.  I need to turn my eyes (and mind) in for new ones.  

Found the clip, at least one is broken off and several were out there to assess it.  However, the OTHER side is also coming loose.  I didn't see that as it must have happened very recently.  The first assessor said that it may be the place that did the repair the first time, not having placed the new bumper correctly. They said they have had to re-do several cars from them.  I will know later when I get the car back.  It will be gone 3 days.  I bought a new halogen bulb for the "fog lamps" or parking lights as well as on the drivers side, it looks yellowish...it must me incandescent or something even cheaper! (candle lit on demand?) They said they would change the bulb at no charge since the bumper will be off anyway. 

Looks like my insurer sent me to the right place.  The estimate is very do-able.  Oh, it isn't cheap but it is very very reasonable.  I won't have to be concerned about taking my baby to the Vet because of illness during that time.  Haven't talked to her yet today except Good morning.  

If anyone is making a cake..I'll have a piece.  I sure want some.  I made a cake for my dil's birthday on 27 July.  Highest one I ever turned out AND!  The icing was so good that is all anyone talked about.  And I spread it thick too.  In between layers as well as sides and top.  Mouf is waterin'. I whipped the butter...unsalted I will add.  YUM.

The Days After

 Each day is born anew with me waking..saying "Good Morning" knowing full well Katie isn't here to come running and get kissed into oblivion just about.  I will ask her to join me when I am ready to slip into bed.  But in the morning she is greeted.  I said I was home when I returned today to the house.  

I habitually look in corners, favorite sleeping places and watch out when walking or stepping backward. AND as I already mentioned in her blog, I was reading a few nights ago before bed and I felt her brush against my calf as I read.  I lowered the book and expected to see her...waiting to come up onto my lap and one loved on.  She wasn't there; but I will go to my grave telling you that it felt like the old familiar brush of fur as she walked past to stand on the left side of the chair..to jump up. 

I miss holding her...the silky shining furs.  The purrs.  But right now, I will honor her.  Having another kitty requires a lot of thought to cover all the bases such a thing would require.  Not yet.  Not yet.  Fostering is a possibility.  But not now.  

Took this last Fall.  Soon to see it again.  Clinch River, here. 

Let me tell you about a body shop here in town. 2 1/2 years ago, because I could find no reason for a car body problem, I took it upon myself to just pay to have the fender fixed.  It sagged down on the passenger front side.  There was a good 2 inch gap formed.  It looked as though it would drop off. I went to a shop..had it done at my expense back then (true, absolutely that I had not any idea why that happened and wasn't aware of it till a man acquaintance pointed it out.   After over a week got car back.  Looked OK.  Fast forward to now. I saw that the same fender was sagging again.  I took it to the same body shop and they said their guarantee did not apply to me.  That I had surely hit something and he said he felt damage. ????????? and that even the paint was crazed.  Um, no.  He called me a liar.  I left saying noting.  But went my insurance guy today to ask his recommendation.  (and enjoy looking at him.  Ooo la la.)  He said they NEVER send any of us to that place for similar reasons and poor work. He is sending me knowing I am paying, not them, to another one he said he will call today saying I will be there tomorrow.  Wish me luck and hope they like red hair! 

Here's 1 of several pics I just took.

Debris from thunderstorm and heavy winds yesterday

Oh MY! What a Joy to Get!

 Look!  Barb from the Cat Blogosphere sent this a little while ago of the three Musketeers; Nelly Belly on the left, Katie Isabella and Admiral on the right.   They are having high tea at the Bridge.  As Angel Katie said a few minutes ago on her own blog, they're gossiping about their mancats of old.  Aside from the newest things going on around the flowering fields. 

Three beautiful girls...always and forever. 

See how beautiful our Land is?

My Darling baby

Kathryn Isabella    August 8, 2026

My life will never be the same.  A bond that enveloped both of us completely has been severed.  I stayed right there holding her headie and laid my face next to hers.  It will never be the same here for me.  As it is  for me without my oldest who passed a few years ago.  Not sure how.

Oh, how can I bear it. 

From Ann..

Rain Rain Come and Stay

 We have had 4.3 inches of rain for the month. To us, that is a bonanza. The roses are sure happy!  Tee-total for the year is awful.  But we can join many others in that fact.

A great good day to you! My goodness, it has been close to a month since I was here.  I know I'm boring-- so not many think to come over and get bored outta their skivvies.  But here I am again.  

The main purrson who lives here, to whom the house and all of its servants its belong,  is still having a decent quality of life. So while we have an agreement between us, we don't have to haul it out again and re-read for instructions.  She is doing alright, right now.  She has, and she mentioned it in her own blog yesterday, come upon another food that she just can't get enough of!  Two cans !!!!!! a day, a teaspoon at a time to avoid horking it up.   That will stop..maybe even later today (making it going-on three days.) Since she weighs the same as a bag of sugar used to weigh...(they shorted it some years ago to 4 pounds instead of 5)...go figure. Far as I know she is still six pounds.  I'll find out next ear cleaning, nail cutting, and Vitamin shot. 

I had someone send me a rude email a few weeks ago.  Unexpected and very rude.  Just a few days prior to that, they were warm and fuzzy.  If you don't care for something any longer  when you thought that you did want to do...just don't do it.  Simple.  Don't be rude completely out of the blue~ saying so.  Yeah, yer right.  Got my feelings hurt. 

Guess what?  For some inexplicable reason...completely out of the blue I'll tell you, I remembered when I danced a reasonable Merengue with Latin American friends while a teenager and got a hankering to do some here at home, just me, for exercise.  Um, no.  I thought, OK...let's do Salsa.  (had to learn how though) Um...perhaps go back to what you were always doing in aerobics,  OK?  Ok. Sometimes, ya gotta face facts.  Besides, I might get twisted into a pretzel and not be able to reach my yelly-o-fone (as I call it.)

OK.  "And that's the way it is" (still miss your actual unbiased accounting Walter.)

Jackie and Shadow...Be Blessed, Beautiful Pair.  

 

 

I'll be asking your opinion.

You all! 

First, here is the finished door and I have a question. Hope you answer sooner than later because the man will be here after awhile today.

I opened the door to show you that there is carpet all the way to the threshold.  You can see the rub marks if you look hard enough.  I was thinking of asking my man if he is willing to cut all the way across of course, the carpet down to about 6 feet in length what ever the door sweep is, I guess...no idea right now, and put in either tile, if it isn't too thick,  or fake wood flooring,  what is it, vinyl? What ever it is that is so popular now.  (I have it in the bathroom...LOVE it) (Keeping that clean is so easy it ought to be against the law!!) That way the carpet won't look any worse as it won't be there!  I'd love slate but that is VERY expensive.  

What do you think?  Seriously.  Hope someone reads and wants to comment.  Not many people travel over this way to come see me (and Katie.)  If no one feels like  saying an opinion, dang it, I'll have to think for myself.  Hate it when that happens.  I will also ask the man...as he would be the one to do it.  

In case you're wondering, I've been saving for repairs etc.  So, all is well.  It's best to sock away a few shillings to have for a rainy day.  Then, if it's not needed...you can give yourself a fab present.  Right?  Right. Have a dead dead dead tree out back and the guys will, as mentioned before fell it for me.  It is tall but it can fall anywhere.  It'll just hit other trees equally tall or more.  

If you come by, let me know your suggestions or not if you don't have 'em.  See ya later! 

Good Golly Miss Molly!!!

 Well, the new door is finally in place.  Not the lock and knobs but in place.  He's gone for a few to the hardware store.  He'll be back.  Wanna see?

Taking its ease in front of my closet in the Hallway

He's done the weather stripping, and made sure my front door burglar alarm sensor will work. He'll install the doorknob and lock mechanism when he is back here shortly.  I have asked him if he will refinish the solid wood doors in the house as well.  Said he would.  Don't know the estimate.  He wanted to do this first. 

Things are going alright.  Just Katie Isabella has her aging problems. Eating (not)  is the hardest to bear.

Need to have a dead dead dead tree felled.  The guy gave me an estimate and said maybe next week if it isn't as hot.  I never even saw that thing (dead tree) until a week ago!!!  

It's supposed to be in the mid 90's today and all week-- and it's well on its way!   Katie's Client is gone earlier than I expected as is his Mom of course who brought him about 1130.   (He's 11 now, btw.)

All that complaining I did about being too cold with the thermostat set on 72...it was me, not the a/c.  I bought an inside digital thermometer and right on the money.  I am used to it now.  No longer in flannel nighties and flannel shirts in the house! One of my boys programmed it before he left after a weeks visit and I am loathe to mess with it.  (In other words I don't know what I'm doing.)  Next time he comes back, we really need to set the 7 days a week temps for winter too.  We were so hot and uncomfortable we (he) just did the summer stuff. 

I am soooo taking my time here

 Holy Moly.  I have been reading enough on Face Book to seriously consider quitting.  It's a terrific waste of my time.  I am a slave to reading the posts when nothing else beckons. I will say, however, that I love the Country and Gospel music I get to hear occasionally.  And Sigra ,the Lioness.  However, I can do without all the horrible posts from  discombobulated strangers. Getting so no place is safe from filled -with- hate- and extreme profanity posts.  May as well close the page I have.  I'll think about it strongly the next few days.

Meanwhile, the new a/c is keeping it cold -seeming in here.  I have it set at 74 for the day time.  It waits till it gets 72 or even 71 before it kicks on.  I sit sometimes in the evening with a heavy flannel shirt on.  Can't wear shorts or sleeveless things.   (The programming is a pain) That old motor that finally gave up the ghost on the Trane must have been far more pitiful in its waning months to even years, and kept me from seeing how cold it could be set at 74. 

  OH!  I inquired about my new front door an hour ago.  It should arrive at the hardware store in a week...then, my man said he would text  me to get a good installation date.  After that fuss is all over, I am calling in the carpet cleaners.  The door will need to be painted.  I have already chosen the color.  To those who have been here, it will be the same as the old door in color.  

I am a perfume wearer all the way back to early teens.  I got hung up on Chanel Mademoiselle.  I have used that for years,  Maybe ten years.  Rive Gauche  (YSL)  before Chanel (Norell before then) Now I am hung up on Yves Saint Laurent again. A new one out not long ago.  Yessiree, it's expensive.  But worth it to me.  Still have half a bottle of Chanel Mademoiselle.  Too bad you can't wear them both at the same time ;-) But that would be "awfully loud" as they say here in east Tennessee.  So, one at a time.  Since it is perfume I have a while before I need to be concerned as to its condition. Katie would not like me wearing it to bed. 

OK. Time to get out of this house!  Come on along.  We are going to several types of stores.  Name yer poison and we'll go there too. 

Ew UGH and Yuck

 I got up…got into the kitchen to get her breakfast ready and wondered why on earth the floor was sticky.  I looked down and she had had a diarrhea on the floor (not the carpet thank goodness) and I had unknowingly stepped in it and spread it around.  The rug  in front of the sink was ruined as I walked over it with the largest amount on my feet.  I won't pollute my machine washing it.  I'm throwing it out. I had to stop all I had been doing of course and wipe my feet, clean up the smeared stool all over the floor, go put my feet in the tub and try to clean them, come back and try to get the smears remaining off the floor.   Half an hour later I started her breakfast.  She didn’t do it on purpose.  I was glad to see tan earlier offering already in the box.  It must have hit her suddenly.  She just went again a few moments ago.  In the box.   I saw later  after the flurry of my activity that the afore mentioned “product” had been produced and put in the proper place durning the night.  I assume that it must have been something that "came over her" before she could get to the Box that cause the kitchen accident.They are incapable of doing these things on purpose.  I know it was an accident.  But what a mess to clean up. 

I have a new AC/heat unit out there now.  Mine had a blower motor that quit.  My son is visiting and though I warned him it was hot in here he came anyway.  We ready suffered.  It was so so hot in here.  Sleeping was spotty at best.  Went out early Friday and they didn't come to install a new HVAC till Tuesday.  Man.  That was really hard with all the heat and humidity.  My house is old and not insulated in the walls.  I think I had better call and get an estimate.

Going to get Micah's oil changed this morning and the brakes tended...brake flush..and whatever else is needed with them.  Son is here, and will follow me there and I won't have to sit hours waiting. 

I hade a lemon pound cake that was so good I can't believe it.  Found why.  It was faintly underdone in the middle third.  But oh MY!  GOOOOOOD!  

Come see me.  ;-) 

Oh What a Day!

 The day  mentioned in the title is in HER blog.  I will try not to let her make me type it all for her again here.  The little hussy. 

We are in a drought as are many of our friends.  One son in Charlotte NC,  along with the City of Charlotte  and surrounding area are in severe drought and under water restriction.  My roses said they were sick and tired waiting for me to get the memo that THEY needed water very badly.  They started looking badly and that is what it took for me to realize how remiss I had been.  The sky finally opened and so far in the 6 days of this week we got 2  inches.  Supposed to keep on for another week.  When nature stops watering, I will start moving the hose from bush to bush right after with each getting 30-45 min. each day for several weeks & get them caught up.  The gardenias were starting to look sad and only the camellia kept looking normal.  

I hope daylight savings time for all year does pass.  I'd take either time cycle if one would be chosen and stuck to.  Let's hope.

*RANT* I was wondering.  Am I, and many of the CB, the only ones in the U.S. who can write a sentence without the F word?  That's the surest method to keep me from reading your blogs and Face Book page.  I can't STAND that! If you have to say it aloud as well with every breath and I am there to hear it, well, so long.  I know you won't miss me.  Nor I you.  I guess said offenders think they look allllll grown up. *END RANT*

For the first time in probably 12 years, said boy in NC is not going to be traipsing around the rest of the world as he usually is during the Summer...and will be here the seventh of June for a WEEK!!  HOORAY!!!  Can't wait. Neither can Katie.  He's her favorite brother! 

Got me laughing even when I didn't want to. 

LOVED this one!!

For Pete sake

 First of all, her wonder who this guy named Pete is, that we do things for his sake?  

Anyhow, I entitled it that because if it isn't one thing it's another!  I have a  thing going on with my right eye for the past year.  A few days ago, I had to call for a work-in with the ophthalmologist as I thought I had something rough edged in my eye.  Got the appointment within an hour.  He flipped my upper eyelid inside out.  Thought that would hurt but all I knew was for a few seconds~ The pain was gone when he flipped the lid  until he let the lid back down, then, pain back. The pros have to give me eye drops to just examine my eyes for years they are so dry. 

While the lid was back side forward...he saw that the problem was extreme dryness and the inside lid was very irritated.  He prescribed three things for it which started working right away.

Using eye drops don't help but for 20 minutes or so.  Because, after all this time, the problem turned into something worse...still under the "title" of dry eyes however.  It was explained to me why this happened, why other painful event on my eye happens and now that I know I can try to alleviate the  problem going forward. Wish I had known what was causing all the problems the past 3 years so that I could have taken some steps to help.  Again eye drops are not the answer.  Too long to go into here.  So right now, I am much much better.  Can't wear my mascara for awhile now.  My blonde eyelashes are there looking invisible~ unless yer gonna smooch me. Then, they're pretty. Got my blonde eyebrows darkened some though.  That's it.  Plainest face I have had for a while.  Decided to do without lipstick too for a while.  That's just a personal silliness.   May as well be invisible except for my hair. Red. 

Grandboy is coming over after his haircut!  Get ready for some noise and lots of eating.  

Katie said to tell you CB'ers that she is still doing decently.  Eating her meals, though not large ones, playing a little and staying with me all night, cuddled up. 

Warm and Sunny

 I have been out pulling weeds that I had nothing to do with--- meaning they were brought by the mower the my lawn man uses.  I have lots of heavy mulch in the rose bed which stretches in front of the entire house.  Nothing ever showed up weed-wise till this year and right after he mowed the first time.

Being there bent over pulling the weeds and dragging the weed bin along which is still heavy from the last time...oh my aching legs!  I found this next thing a few weeks ago and it sure applies to now in effort...I wasn't doing any cartwheels however, I assure you. 

Got a kick out of that!  

Anyway, up and at 'em.  Celebrating John's five new kittens!  And doing various work around the house while I am at it.

Anyone else a**dicted to CSI and NCIS?  I swear, I can't MOVE when those are on.  Gotta see it all and it is the hardest to watch sometimes of any two shows I could mention.  These police-type procedurals from the 90's...Oh-My-Word!!!  They are violent with a capital V. 

Seems to be a huge heap of Spam being dished out to we CB bloggers!  I mentioned it yesterday and several others got the same treatment.   That is why I have comment moderation.  On this blog it is shorter than on Katie's.  I just never expected a truck load of it all at once on the "present" day of blogging.  They, the crappy spammers try to steal/sneak  in to old ones. Admiral's are locked up tight except for the first hours. 

Does anyone else contribute to Tabby's Place?  They are asking for contributions to a kitten nursery.  I will.  

Katie revealed yesterday that I got my hair cut.  Just four inches but it serves for now.  Next month I may go up an additional four inches.  Since I started Plavix for the (organic) mitral valve I got at the same time as my whoopty doo heart surgery.  In for a penny, in for a pound I guess.  :-) , I need the Plavix against any untoward happenings.  But it does thin the hair.  Unfortunately.  

My two other sons, the youngest and the middle one went off on a week long "brother time" mini vacation.  They flew each from their own home to a central location in the mid west and then, stayed a day or so and rented a car and drove to NM.  I have always wanted to go there.  I was going to go once with a friend of mine but she swarmed all over it, took all the planning over and it was her way or no way.  I told her I changed my mind.  

Ah, the lawn mowers are here.  What are you doing this day?  I'm going out in a while for things I need to do.  Then aerobics. 

swiped from Face Book!  

I'd say we've all been there!!!

Seems like Winter Again. Just started sleet and Snow!!

 I'm one of those who don't mind winter or cold weather.  BUT: Got up this morning to the temperature in the mid 40's-- and it is dropping slowly.  I knew the temps would drop all day and we will be in the very low 20's at dawn tomorrow  Had to go out a while ago and cover the camellia and gardenias again!  Thought that was over.  My roses were fiery red with new leaves and  now, they are turning green.  Poor guys will be frozen again.  Roses are hardier and I haven't had to cover them.  But then, they were bare.  But now they aren't. Hoping they stay well off.  So, in other words I guess I  am ready for Spring.  Cold beats sweltering in the heat sweating like a person laying railroad railings. Or something.  Awful grammar there! 

Made some soup a few days ago.  Sectioned it into containers and froze.  Have some each day.  Yum if I say so myself.  A version of hamburger soup. 

Got busy yesterday.  Cleaned and shined up that wood floor in the kitchen.  Stood out there just before cleaning the floor and shook the four kitchen scatter rugs  in beyond gale force winds..and man, the dust and cat litter I flapped out of them was a LOT. I always shake the rug in front of her box daily but her walking through the kitchen multiple times spreads all that  litter stuck between her toes all in  and on the other scatter rugs.  :-( 

I was sleeping like gang busters last night and woke to gale force+ winds.  VERY loud...and hammering rain. You'd have wondered if it would break the window!  Thunder, lightening..and a cat who was hollering in the living room... then at the far end of the hall.  Thought she might be afraid-- so I kept calling her.  She finally came in.  Got on the bed and laid at my feet.  When I woke I saw she had brought in Donkey and THAT was what all the hullabaloo was about!  Man. She outdid herself announcing Donkey this time! Whew.  Took me a bit to go back to sleep.  

I LOVE corny stuff like this! 

Wonder if any restaurant out there still makes actual and real waffles any more?  Not pancake batter (ewwww) thrown in the waffle iron and getting pancakes with holes in them.  Waffle House has been using pancake batter for YEARS!  I left my order lying in the serving plate and left.  Had to pay for it, but I don't like pancakes..they are hard on my digestion and their texture is heavy, like poured concrete.  I'll never go in there ago. Bought me a waffle iron and made my own light crisp golden waffles. Lotsa syrup.

My middle son will be here at the end of the month for his nephew's 11th birthday, (my grandson) and I will get to see him 1, 1/2 days and night.  Going to make him some cinnamon crunch cake. 

This is boring to you all.  I'll quit for now.  

Stolen from another blogger's blog yesterday.  So funny.  

My Valentine

 My Valentine was dressed in an elegant Tuxedo, all ready for an evening of food and scintillating meows and talk.  I begged her pardon for my gown however as we slipped into the restaurant where she had made reservations.  It was long and made from flannel.  But, it had a lower than usual neckline with lace edging  If I had thought to cinch it at the waist I may have carried it off.  She was charming and did not show any untoward behavior (though I did per my attire.)  I could have told my glamorous date that my dress was an evening gown.  Wait!  It was an evening gown of the first order wasn't it?? One she is most familiar with. 

We retired when we got home.  This precipitates my asking you if you have a cat and experience like mine.  Where it is time for bed and I am in it, covers drawn up, awaiting my bedmate still wearing the Tuxedo...(never let them see you she believes, not glamorous.) For me, if my cat does not wish to come to bed once the light is off, I have a very difficult time falling asleep.  I will, on such occasions fruitlessly call and call again- but I am ignored.  

However, the more usual is-- as I am trying to get settled between the sheets and blanket, she tries to crawl on my chest.  After much spoken and ignored direction from me, she settles on my chest.  We have petting and a little pillow talk.  Then, the light is turned off.  Within a few moments, she steps between the pillows and turns to face my head on my pillow, placing her chin on my upper arm and putting her face, tickle whiskers and loud purr right into the crease of my neck and shoulder.  And I am asleep within seconds. 

Sometimes she parks in such a manner that I hear her heart beating right in my ear.  Can't go to sleep with Xavier Cugat revved up with his Conga Drum in my very ear.  Or with my ear pressed to her satin side with purring sounding like a tornado that has traveled to the outside of my house in the night.  But her whiskery face inserted between my neck and shoulder...no balm beats that unless I can hire a professional massueur to only rub my back from neck to just below the shoulder blades.  I would go r-b a bank to have the wherewithal to hire such a pro masseur for a month of back rubs!  Too bad such a bevy of male back-only back rubbers don't exist.  Dang it! Males have more textured hands and a larger area of palm width etc.   Ooooh my, what a back rub.  I oughtta get married again. 

However I will take the purring little sweet face by my own face.  That's pretty special too.  

The More Things Change...

 You probably know the rest.  "The more they stay the same." Well, the thing that seems to stay the same right at this hour is, people aren't very nice many times.  

I okayed a plumbing inspection a couple of weeks ago and the plumber, from the company that services my HVAC unit-- who wasn't very nice-- tried scare tactics on me.  After a while, I told him "I don't care easily." He was trying to pressure me into things I didn't need and at great expense. I had my HVAC guy who came for the winter inspection trying to do the same thing last month.  I also told him that I don't scare easily.  And that a second opinion would be necessary.  He was an OK guy with that from me...and quit trying.  But the plumber...he went under the house, that part I knew, and while there he bent my copper water pipe.

 Found THAT out when I called a stand-alone plumber who came out Saturday to repair something in the bathroom.  He'd gotten under the house for that problem and found a severe crimp in the water line.  I know for a fact it wasn't there even three weeks ago...as I was over there looking at the water heater.  So while I can't prove it, it was the unpleasant plumber who was here being disrespectful.  Things were remedied.  I would write more paragraphs but I will spare you. 

See what I got myself for Christmas in November?  These are pink pearls, real ones, and almost too big for my ear lobes.I took this in the car before starting home.

Colder'n kraut out there today~ but it is January after all.  I was going to take a long walk, but I think I will just double up on aerobics instead. 

Look at the flowers....wish they were actually blooming here but...again, it IS January after all.  

Well, trying to get up the impetus to get UP and start exercising.  Join me?