Curating Sweets and Book Reviews

 My Facebook timeline is filled with book reviews, book suggestions and favorite reads of the season. If I have leisure time I take a look at most. The best ones yet and there are many, are the ones that give the book title, a brief synopsis and then lines out the major themes of the book. Why thankyou, now I don't have to buy the book cause the top points have been shared. Whether the book be a business book or self improvement or Christian book, the points all start sounding alike. The main subject matter is know yourself, embrace change, cultivate connections, open communication, slow down, cultivate gratitude, embrace imperfection, find meaning and purpose, practice mindfulness, embrace uncertainty, declutter, learn from nature, find joy in the small things, value experiences over things....and on and on and on. These are all from different books ranging from how to lead, how to get rid of toxic people, how to simplify and how to get ahead. Some of these books use $10.00 words to describe these values, but if one is trying to simplify doesn't this go against the grain? Also, I received an email from a company and based on my browsing, they have curated some  tasty treats I might enjoy. Several of the choices were fruitcake related. Lies, I tells ya! I dislike extremely any type of Christmas confections be they in cake or cookie form, in any way at all being related to fruitcake. If there truly was curating going on, it would be about gingerbread and sugar cookies. 

If I used all these principles for living, the rest of my time could and would be taken up with exercise and health activities. Now I am all for doing those things, but by the time you add up all the do this exercise three times a day reps of twenty as well as use the red light thing, or dry brush for lymphatic health. In September I began using Rowe Casa products and just about everything I have used is a keeper. Just a couple things I probably won't reorder. But all the magnesium products, lymphatic cream and lotion, deep sleep products, and some hair products I truly love. 

Somehow I have picked up a "bug" of the cold type. Runny nose yet stopped up. It was the worst on Sunday morning and out of desperation right before leaving, I took a pill so I wouldn't have to blow my nose during the lesson. Well, mission accomplished on that but the side effects have always had an effect on me, I get a little loopy. I was hoping the loopy would wait till the end of class but no, it arrived right in the middle of the lesson. Y'all, I took some bunny trails and while funny were not Sunday School material, although I think I tried my best to make it worthy of fitting into a lesson. Ugh! Since I still felt a bit congested we did not go to First Pres in Weaverville for their Christmas concert on Sunday night. Of course there would be such beautiful music but I would have to take a cold/flu pill and I might of stood up to sing with the choir. No, it was the best decision all around to stay home, read, watch football with Roy and play with the kitties. 

We have more good than bad nights getting the kittos into bed. Our problem child is Chubola. She missed out on the best part of her supper and only had dry food after taking such a long time to wrangle her in. The kittos love GMoey and like to hang out with him. GMoey is so laid back and takes their antics in stride. Willie is warming up slowly to them. He has quite the competition as the big bully. Buster seems to be the alpha cat for the kittos and somewhat with The Boys. The other day five of the six were on our bed having wrestling matches. They used that thick comforter for defense, offense, and strategic hiding. Quite entertaining to say the least. I love watching Roy with the kittens outside. The six sleep in a box filled with straw and only two of them wants to venture out into the cold but their venturing is fast and Roy always checks to see if they want to come back in. 

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A fog filled morning to start off this Tuesday. We are considering several options for the day. Haven't decided yet but hey, that's a great part of being retired. Roy is hunting rabbits I mean cats. He has an appointment for two tomorrow. So far he has caught several already members of the spay and neuter club. Just came in and said there is not a cat anywhere. Maybe they'll be around for supper. He won't put as much dry food out for the afternoon. Good news, Roy just caught a black cat. Just one more to go. Now, several hours later we are still holding at one cat. Caught three more members of the club so it was a catch and release thing. Roy has the two he wants to take in. Had a small kitty but he traded it out to let it gain a little weight. 

The fog being long gone is replaced by a whole lot of burning going on across and cattycornered from us. At first I thought it was the house but no. Saw no flames and nobody seems alarmed by the white smoke. Maybe we have a new pope in the area, who knows. 

I've been doing some research on ADHD and I am seeing some of the why of what I do. The little things that stop me because they are overwhelming to me but to others it is nothing. Now I wish some of those book summations had a little more to do with this rather than other subjects. Oh well...... 

Just the Daily

 Another golden morning. I was thinking about this the other day and pondered why I had missed so many of these golden moments. Well, I had a change of place. Roy and I traded living room chairs and side of the room. My view is now out the kitchen windows and the sun making its track across the back field of our neighbor. Lovely, lovely sight. Oh, I know the earth revolves around the sun I am merely looking at the path made most sunny mornings. 

With the exception of Wednesday, I have hunkered down avoiding the cold temps outdoors. We got a few and by few I mean very few, Christmas decorations out. No decorating on the inside this year. No reason to tempt six cats to destroy everything Christmassy in sight. Really, that is the thought outside as well. 

I just about have the lesson for Sunday written out. That is always a huge responsibility off my shoulders. Last week's lesson, while written out, was not something I had thought about much. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I've found and sometimes it is a detriment because I get hooked on one point and the whole lesson doesn't get that attention. Last week held many distractions. Not related to studying but somewhat in that genre, I am reading Mark Batterson's latest book. Of course the title escapes me but it is about seeing God's miraculous in our everyday lives. Well, that is kind of the theme of life right now, slowing down to actually observe all these little, haha, miracles. I've read that every teacher has a constant theme no matter the subject matter. Since moving here my life theme has changed and developed into the see God at work theme in the ordinary. 

Looking around the front room upstairs with books and papers covering the day bed, books stacked all around the room and a comfy, cozy blanket, I realized all of these things are like when I was a little girl. Must have been around 2 or 3 and every afternoon when my mom put me down for a nap, I would wait for her to leave, close the door and I would climb out of the crib. I'd gather all my books and stuffed animals in the bed and I would climb back in. My mom would check on me and find me happily reading to all the stuffed animals that I had gathered round. 

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Good Tuesday morning. We spent most of the morning out running errands at all the usual places yesterday. Got the kitties all set up to eat and poop. That is their life with some naps and play mixed in between. Seems like we have them on a schedule that they like and cooperate with. There are exceptions, always exceptions. The Boys are reluctantly accepting that the these kittos will be around. Willie is used to getting his way by intimidation but these three kittos are not easily intimidated. So, while he interacts somewhat he spends a majority of time upstairs. Mr Mo, well he is jealous and deals with it the only way he knows which is counter act with demanding attention. GMoey, he is so chill and he hangs out with the kittos. Chubola likes hanging out with him. Baxter is now more Roy's cat. His attention turned toward Roy last week. He still comes to sit on my lap but he follows Roy just like Fido does outside. 

Sunday night our praise team helped the children's ministry present, Through the Eyes of a Shepherd. The kids did a great job telling a familiar story. Roy said he learned a couple of things and I probably would have too but my ears were not cooperating. Costumes and staging were great. All over the country at this time rural and small churches are presenting the Gospel with the children telling the story. A Methodist church in our area did their presentation a little differently. They invited children churched and not churched come to be a part. I thought that was pretty neat with just about two practices. 

December 13

Well, things and schedules got crossed up but all ended well. With Roy's help, which means kept me focused, we put together the favors for tonight's Ladies Christmas Supper. So so out of my sweet spot, but think they turned out okay. 

All the Acts commentaries and books have returned to the bookcase. Now to find the Exodus books. That is the next book on the schedule. 

Once again I find myself just finding brief snippets of time to blog, so I will wrap this up and hopefully, next week I will have concentrated time to sit here and write a few thoughts. 

Herding Cats is Not For The Fainthearted

 It has been quite a morning with unexpected vet trip thrown in. Chubola seemed to be having a few issues and the vet was able to get her in for a check up this morning. I wonder if I identified as a cat just for an appointment if I could get in. Faster to get into the vet office than it is to a doctor office. No, I will rethink that and rescind that idea. Thankfully, Chubola has a minor issue so we can continue to afford to pay the electric bill. 

Roy had deacon meeting last night so that means he won't have a meeting in December. He and Billy brought the food for the meeting and it was kind of a snacky buffet. While he was at the meeting I visited with Dena. We needed to get caught up on all the happenings and I actually had happenings to talk about. We laugh quite a bit and that was so fun. 

Monday, we roused ourselves to get over to Sam's. The Plus membership is the way to go cause you can enter before 10:00 and not deal with a lot of crowding, especially in the popular areas. Although, the pet aisle is crowded at anytime. Got cat essentials and moved onto other sections of the store. We were in and out. That left time to head into Weaverville for Publix and Ingle's. Stopped on the way home at 6 Pig BBQ truck for lunch. 

On Wednesday last week, we saw not so much unusual blatant intent to deceive at Ingle's. The lady in line before us at checkout had just one big old turkey in her cart. At first I thought it was a backpack, but then I've been sick...haha... She wanted the checkout clerk to scan the turkey but you see to get this low low rate on the turkey you had to buy $35.00 worth of groceries. The clerk called for management back up. The lady was getting a bit impatient and demanding the girl to scan the turkey. I did not know this but if you scan it you cannot take it off and she would get the discount price without buying the required amount. Around this time I told Roy I needed to go sit down in the truck, so I left. Guess I missed quite the show but I tell you she gave quite a show in the parking lot. Yelling and gesturing and she scared a few waiting for the mountain transport van service to pick them up. She could have gone across the street to Publix and buy a turkey on the cheap without having to purchase other groceries. A lot of people here think Publix is expensive and it can be but the local home grown store that didn't have any competition for years is more expensive in my opinion, but they do have better deals on Pepsi products. 

December 2

I didn't have too much of a chance to sit down and write over the Thanksgiving weekend. We had a lovely Thanksgiving. After years of being at the beck and call over the holidays with my father, we welcome, dare I say cherish these holidays because of the freedom of doing whatever. Our schedules are like what schedules? We fixed a simple lunch and enjoyed leftovers into Saturday. We worked around the house but with all these little ones, the projects are eternal and ongoing. The Kittos are acclimating with The Boys. We still have to put them up in the playpen for the night but we hope to be able to get them upstairs in the bonus room each night.  

December 4

I think I will wrap up this post. The days of getting morning time to blog are seriously reduced to just a few days a week. Nothing exciting keeping me from blogging but it is difficult to focus when every few minutes there is a cat fight to break up or a noise to investigate or a sound of things crashing to the ground from the top of the bookcases. Not the Kittos but one very guilty GMoey. 

It never got above freezing yesterday but today we will. Then the bottom drops out again temperature wise. We had an appointment for two feral fam members at the ASPCA but Roy cancelled yesterday due to the iffy conditions of the road this morning. I think the roads are fine but it would have been cruel to have two trapped Feral Fam members in the garage while others enjoyed the free access of The Garage on the Catmore Estate. 

Well, their second nap of the morning was short meaning The Kittos are back at it, playing, being on tables they are not allowed to be on and of course the sound of silence things going bump in the morning.