Happy New Year!

In Memory Of Emily

On December 15th, the world lost a truly beautiful person and blogger, in a car accident. 

My thoughts and prayers are with the family as they cope with their loss.

Emily, I will miss your amazing poetry and images.  Most of all, I will miss you, friend.

Click here to visit Emily's blog, "Alice In Wonderland "

Wordless Wednesday

The Day After

Christmas is over and I have survived! 

The family gathering on Christmas Eve went very well.  There was only one whiny child (that doesn't belong to me) and one kinda whiny adult, but bless her heart... she was frazzled.  No, it wasn't me.

I stayed in my pajamas all day, Christmas Day.  I didn't overeat, unless you count snacking on cookies and only had tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich and, of course, coffee, several times.

I took a short nap, since that was interrupted because I had to pee.  Funny how that always happens when I lay down.  I hate that!  All the perfectly good naps and nights that are ruined by having to get up and pee.  Okay, I know, TMI... sorry.

When my kids grew up, I started a little tradition at Christmas.  Care packages.  Care packages have included many things over the years, but always stuff I thought they could use.  The guys get flannel sleep pants and comfy shirts, the girls get flannel or fuzzy sleep pants and shirts.  Other items include, socks, snacks, lotion, razors, shave cream, coffee, hot chocolate, etc., you get the idea.  Imagine my surprise when my middle Son sent me a photo of the bag used for the care package and it had this in it...

Wait a minute, I didn't put that in there!  I offered to look for the receipt, in case he need to make a return.  He said no, he'd keep it!

Many of you know I've been wanting to get a new camera and haven't been able to make up my mind.  There are SO MANY OUT THERE it's mind boggling, even if you have a good mind.  Just imagine my problem, not having a mind to work with!  My youngest Son surprised with with the tiniest little camera you can imagine.  If I lose a few pounds, or buy bigger jeans, I can actually fit this little thing in my pocket!

To show you the approximate size of this camera, this is side by side with a pack of gum. (I couldn't use the new camera to take the photo, for obvious reasons)

 
Pretty small, huh!

I took a couple of tests shots and I'm loving this baby!

I've only figured out how to charge the battery, get it in the camera, put in the memory card, snap a shot, delete a shot and get the photos onto the computer.  There's going to be a lot more to figure out.  Sure wish somebody could have gotten me a brain to go with it!
 

Almost

It is officially December 24th and with any luck, by this time tomorrow evening, I will be snug in bed, filled with relief for surviving another Christmas.  Since the family will gather on Christmas Eve, my celebrating will be over for another year.  It is then I can breathe a deep sigh and relax.  I'm ready.

I'd like to wish everyone a joyous holiday.  If you are driving somewhere, be safe!  There are going to be a lot of idiots out there, drinking in the Christmas spirit(s) celebrating.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

 

Once Upon A Time...

... long, long ago, I was naughty.  

For Christmas, I got this... 

(coal wrapped in red tissue paper)

Sure hope I had fun, I don't remember!

Finding The Christmas Spirit

Yep, I found a little Christmas spirit.  It came frozen, with salt.

Unfortunately, it wore off pretty quick and now I'm back to Bah humbug.

I'll keep trying.

Thursday

I'm not a holiday person.  Sure, I'm thankful and grateful for my blessings... every single day of the year.  However, during the holidays, I go into survival mode.  I just want them to be over as quickly as possible, with as little drama as possible.


I can only imagine how the Thanksgiving turkey must be feeling.  I hope to fare better than he does!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Dear Lord

Thank you for this wonderful child.  She is truly a gift.  Guide her as she grows.  Protect her from harm.  There will be struggles and hurtful people in her life.  May she always be surrounded by people who love and cherish her.

And Lord, I might as well ask your forgiveness in advance, because if someone causes this child any problems... you can bet I'm going to do some serious damage to them.  Amen.


"HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY, TINK!"

 

Mews Flash

I would like to thank everyone for the comments, suggestions and emails regarding the cats.  It's wonderful to know there are kind, animal loving people out there, that really care.

Every once in a while, things work out well.  Those things aren't usually associated with me, however, this time they were.

I had emailed a childhood friend, who has always been involved with animals, either her own, or her kids, through FFA, etc.  I thought perhaps through her connections, she might know someone with a barn, that could use a couple of barn cats.  She recommended I call a local feed store and talk to them.  I did and the lady offered to take the kitten, but not the momma cat.  Had scheduling been different, I would have taken the kitten to her. 

Because of the amount of overtime hubby has been working and my allergy issues and worrying about trying to do the kitten transport by myself, I held off.  It's a good thing I did.  My sweet cousin, Linda, had sent out an email with pictures of the cats, to her good friend, Janice.  Janice, in turn, found a couple willing to take them both!  Momma cat and kitten are so close, I really hated the thought of separating them and now I didn't have to.  I can't tell you what a relief that was.  The plan is for them to be indoor cats... in a really nice home.

On Saturday, Linda and Janice arrived and the first thing Momma cat did was welcome them at the car.  Janice stepped out of the van and immediately stroked her, something I had been unable to do.  It did my heart good to see that.  She opened the back of the van, pulled out a small carrier and brought it over and sat it in the grass.  Momma cat didn't shy away.  Janice opened the carrier door and Momma nosed halfway inside and Janice nudged her in.  The kitten was watching from a few feet away, in the safety of the bushes.  Hubby was able to pick her up and she was put in the carrier with Momma, without any problems.  I can't tell you how concerned I was, that they would magically attain extra legs and cause dire wounds to the person attempting to contain them.  Whew!

There was no trauma, or cat cries, whatsoever, although I did have a few tears and will miss them.  Being able to only stroke them with my shoes, was not acceptable for such sweeties.  I hope they will have the love and affection they deserve and provide much joy to their adopted family.

I will end this post with a couple of pictures from Saturday.  Momma cat was impossible to take pictures of.  Every time I would squat down, she wanted to rub herself against me.  I only got one decent shot.

Thank you again, Linda, Janice and the new "Forever" Family!

   

The End!

One Week Makes One Weak!

I'm not a crazy cat lady.  The crazy part I have covered, however, I'm extreeeeemly allergic to cats.  As much as I think they are adorable and I DO think they are adorable, I can't have cats.  Three of my kids are also allergic and my Granddaughter has asthma.

Last Monday, in the wee hours of the morning, some jackass (pardon my language) dumped a storage tote of cats in my yard.  There were at least four.  I stepped outside when I heard them making racket and stomped my feet to discourage them away from my porch.  One kept approaching me, meowing.  I retreated inside to get a squirt bottle, to further discourage them.  That's when I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.  The baby.  Crap, an overly adorable young kitten.  Did I mention I'm allergic?

Shoot!  What now?  My neighbor is a cat lady, but she already has cats.  She said she wouldn't let one starve if it showed up at her house, but I can't get the cats to move along and I refuse to let them starve, or shoo them away and worry myself to death over what happens to them.

Only two of them, mother and baby, are remaining glued to my front beds and porch.  The other two have moved along, thank goodness.  I've tried calling three no-kill shelters and they are full.  Imagine that.

I CAN'T KEEP THESE CATS!  Have I mentioned I'm allergic?

My neighbor, the cat lady, gave us a baggie of cat food, for safe measure.  They went through that in no time.  I bought a small bag of cat food!  How crazy is that???  (Shoot me now) I don't want these cats to stay here, yet I'm feeding them!  That's not the way to rid yourself of cats.

4:15 am, hubby is trying to get out the door to go to work.  I'm trying to help by getting a scoop of food out there, so he can make it to the car without being followed and worrying about running over one of them, when the mommy cat squeezes between my legs and heads INSIDE MY HOUSE, LIKED IT OWNED THE PLACE!  We were able to lure it back out by jiggling a scoop of food, but the fact it got in, is very distressing to me.  Have I mentioned I'm allergic to cats?

Somebody help me, something has to be done!  Should I call the SPCA?  I won't call the pound, I'm pretty sure they would put them down.  I hate begging and feeling desperate, but I'm desperate to find them a home with someone who can love them and touch them.  They so want to be petted and loved.

I CAN'T HAVE CATS... I WON'T HAVE CATS... however, they are gorgeous!

FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD, IT'S IN MY DANG CHAIR!

Punctuation

 An English professor wrote the words:
 

"A woman without her man is nothing"

on the chalkboard and asked his students to punctuate it correctly.

 

All of the males in the class wrote:

"A woman, without her man, is nothing."

 

All the females in the class wrote:

"A woman: without her, man is nothing."

  

Punctuation is powerful

Halloween

My youngest Son loves the holidays, especially Halloween.  He never fails to come up with creative costumes for the parties he attends.  At a recent gathering of friends (he has tons of friends) they carved some pumpkins.  I'd like to share them with you, if you have a minute.

 And... I just happen to have a couple of shots of a past costume!

Pretty cool, huh!  By the way... my Son carved the Phil Collins pumpkin.

Thanks, Son... I love you!  

Happy Halloween!