The Rest is History

 I probably say this every spring, but the colors are popping right now. The dogwoods have finished blooming and so have our red bud trees, but the multiple and verdant greens in the trees is certainly fabulous to take in from a window in the house or with the top down in Mustang Sam. Our service berry tree is blooming, well kind of. Every year we doubt that the tree has made it but each year Roy has the faith it will come through. Late arrival but certainly in the time span of spring. 

MB Haynes came yesterday to do the half yearly inspection. I don't like to be here so I took off to hide myself in the wonders of Marshalls. I probably wouldn't have used the term half yearly inspection except that I ordered some shoes from Nordstrom yesterday and half yearly is a very familiar term with Nordstrom shoppers. I'll probably write more on this in a bit. Also, it was so fun to shop in Marshalls all by myself. Don't get me wrong I love when Roy comes along but he sometimes cramps my spirit in the shopping realm. So I took my time in the paper goods section...and I know everyone is in suspense, yes, I bought unnecessary notebooks. I was there mainly for soaps, both bar and liquid. But I also bought some things for The Boys and The Trio, produce containers that keep fruit and veggies fridge life a little longer. I punted Hobby Lobby and went straight to the Publix and Ingles. Got everything with no room to spare in the trunk. The AC guy had left and we sat down for a delicious lunch of leftovers from our church's last Sunday of the month fellowship lunch. Country steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, creamed corn and dessert. 

Saturday morning we had a WM meeting. Got lots discussed and made some plans. Such an enjoyable morning with friends. 

Last Friday we bought tomato plants and bell pepper plants in various colors. Got them planted in the soil bags just in case we have frost before Mother's Day. We can move them to the front porch for protection. Gives us a two week start on growth. I am itching to get some flowers planted but I know better and I also know that the raised beds need to be prepared. We went to TJ's Mountain Produce and The Farm Connection. Love both of those local places. 

The blackberry bushes have blooms and that is always quite exciting. So in accord with nature this weekend will hold a slight dip in the temps. Blackberries need to have cold to help the bloom and thus produce those little purple tastes of delight. All the fruit trees have bloomed so we will wait to see what will develop. 

Mike the Mower Man has been here this morning, actually early for him. I need a fresh start in the front flower bed, so got all the brush and weeds out and left most of the plants. Although, I wasn't too worried about loosing plants at this point. A little later this afternoon the gutter people will clean out everything and give us a price on gutter guards. No gutter people, they'll come next week. The rain last week slowed them down a bit. 

We had a bit of a scare last week when Fido was not on his regular schedule. We were getting a little worried cause he had missed lunch and supper. Coco had been gone several days but that isn't unusual. She goes on a cat bender for several days, comes home, wolfs down food and sleeps for 24 hours straight. She's fixed so I am not quite sure what type of bender she might be on. Fido finally shows up right before his bedtime and since then he is back on schedule. 

This morning our neighbor told Roy that there was a black and white cat lying by the side of the road, close to the garage of the messy house. Roy went as far as he dared cause one never knows who or what group is living in that house. He wasn't too sure if it was a member of The Feral Fam. There is a colony across the road. This evening I think that the black and white cat might be Cutie. She doesn't hang around here like she did when she brought her kittens but would be around for mealtime. She also is one of those who could not resist the lure of the road. If it is her, she was a good member of The Feral Fam and the best mama cat out of all the mama cats that have come through the yard. 

I realized my Nord card is getting close to the expire date and since I haven't bought anything from them since 2022, I thought it best to use the card to keep it rolling along. Well, I just happened to find a pair of shoes that I have been looking for this past winter and glory be, they were in my size. So got new shoes and kept kind of current. The Nord doesn't really interest me anymore, which I never thought that could be. I don't know when they removed the pianos from the stores that kind of was it for me. 

*******

Foggy Wednesday morning. We had a surprise thunderstorm last night with a nice amount of rain. The loud thunder spooked The Boys and what has been an easy bedtime ritual was not so much last night. Willie got scared and wouldn't go in the bonus room. Of the three he is the least likely one to wake us up at night so we let him stay out. He woke up Roy scratching on the bonus room door wanting in with his cuzbros. 

We punted on a trip to Sam's and just did the Publix shopping thing. The gutter people came today instead of next week. Then just as they left the heavens poured forth a nice little rain. With a few thunders thrown in. 

This week in our lesson we are in chapter 3 of I Peter, talking about wives and husbands. I've been studying and I want to teach something else. Haha! We figured out how to get along a little bit ago in time. Basically, it comes down to self centeredness. On either party. This was more written with an unbelieving husband in mind. Anyway, after last Sunday as we studied we are to crave the Word I told the story of Ninfa. She made such great tacos al carbon that people craved them and as they say, the rest is history. 

April Will Soon Be Gone, Come On May!

 These cats are rumbling without the official, "let's get ready to rumble" announcement. They are due for a a nap. Thus we await the quiet time of the morning. I am pulling together my notes for Sunday and will begin writing out the lesson later this today. I'm thinking about connecting where we are in I Peter with the resurrection story from Mark. A couple of things grab my interest and am excited to study and learn. I am embarrassed that we only got through two verses. The last two weeks it been a lot of foundation laying of who and why of Peter and suffering. So, I guess the class has suffered with only two verses of coverage. I am not planning for Sunday to go that way. 

I think the rest of the pasture across the way will soon be filled with homes. Sad, but people need places to live. Although, almost every home for sale has had a reduction in price. There are a few that have come on the market and I guessed they would be under contract quickly. Most of those are older homes than what is being thrown together these days. 

This week hasn't had an early morning for which I am thankful. Next week there are several early appointments to be out the door for. So, what am I doing up so early this morning? I woke up around 3:30 am, fully rested yet hurting. Just the regular aches and pains but some mornings is worse than others. 

Several have suggested I do little vignettes on our kiddos in the house. So, guess I will begin with the first little one to be rescued from the great outdoors, Mr Mo. He started off being Monet when I thought he was a girl. As a kitten he never seemed afraid of me and would run right up and if I was sitting, he would jump or rather crawl, which hurts, onto my lap. It had been several months since Buddy passed and I was considering bringing in one or possibly two kittens. The schedule for that moved up when Mama Cat took a swipe at Mr Mo on the back porch step. I was putting out treats and Mama Cat being old fashioned believed in cat verses kitten protocol. Mr Mo was a little too aggressive for her old fashioned ways, so she popped him one slicing open his bottom lip. I didn't know the extent of the damage until I went outside and he ran up to me with that little lip hanging down. Called the vet and got him in. The sewed up his little lip and while he was there did the spay/neuter thing. In hindsight, we should have waited until um...things developed. He is the kindest cat. When I had a melanoma removed from my leg, he laid right by my leg for several weeks. While I am studying he cozies his way next to me and cuddles up for a nap. He is usually the first to greet me in the mornings as I open the bedroom door. When we brought GMoey in, Mr Mo picked on him unmercifully, that is until the day when GMoey grew into his size. Then Mr Mo wanted peace. They get along but every once in a while, there is a skirmish or two. Mostly playing...but...there are times.  He is a jealous cat and somewhat needy. He lets the other cats intimidate him to give up his food bowl to them. Mr Mo falls asleep next to me while studying. I hope that his interest or lack of isn't predictive of the lesson on Sunday mornings. 

Looks like this Easter Sunday will be a warm one. Finally all of the spring clothing hanging around in closets will get their cue to make an entrance. I am considering a floral dress but most likely I will wait to wear floral. Well, don't count me out on that. I am mood wearer of clothes. 

*******

It's after Easter. Taught I Peter with Mark for the lesson and now we are back to I Peter. This week's lesson is mostly written out except for the last part. That will be my project for the afternoon. 

This morning was a very early morning. Roy had his last check up for his cataract surgery and he is doing well. We were at the Dr office at 7:30 for the 7:45 appointment. He was finished a little after 8:00, so we headed to Moose Cafe for breakfast. I don't think we have been there since before Covid. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast. In fact, Roy ordered the all you can eat breakfast. It has been a while since I have seen him eat that much food. Then the next stop of the day in Mars Hill. We went to TJ's Mountain Produce and bought tomato plants as well as pepper plants too. Quick stop at Ingles and since it was just a little after 10:00 am and there were parking spaces we stopped in to pick up a few items at the new bakery. Wow, just had some focaccia bread with lunch. Very tasty. Since we were taking the scenic way home we stopped at another nursery, The Farm Connection and found the Cherokee Tomato plants. It is too soon to really put them out but we can do what we did last year, make cuts into bags of potting soil and plant them in there. If we have coolish, frost temps, we can roll those babies into the enclosed front porch. In fact just came in from doing the Cherokee Purple and the red, yellow and green bell peppers in two bags, then it began to rain. We are to get another break so we will be out there to finish up the work. Other than early and a Dr appointment, it was a fun morning getting out and somewhat getting back into the swing of things. I have been using the Rowe Casa elixirs every morning. I don't get as tired in the afternoons and it feels like I am revived, feeling a bit like I did before getting that stupid vaccine.  

Mike was here this week both mowing and removing a couple of damaged tree limbs. We officially had the tulips cut back and a few other yard things. With warmer temps we are just itching to get back into the gardening saddle. We have a couple of new raised garden beds to put together along with a trellis for greasy beans. 

It looks like the skies have cleared, so back out to finish planting in the potting soil bags the rest of the tomatoes. 

Observations Of The Old Kind

 Things I have officially done in the recent past that makes me certifiably old.

• I handed out cough drops on Sunday morning to a young mom. The saving grace the cough drops were not found in the corner of my purse all linty from a wadded up used Kleenex. 
• After applying blush, almost said rouge which ages one in colloquialisms, I forgot to blend it in on my upper cheeks along the cheek bone. Ah yes, rouged up and handing out cough drops
• Age defying skin care is not that interesting to me anymore. I have already defied age but not in the skin care way. It's like I say to those who have tried to sell to me over the years with face products, only 15 minutes a day doesn't interest me cause it is the time of the 15 minutes...upon waking up or before going to bed. 
• I'll be playing, from my phone, organ music in Sunday School, more specifically or most probably Christ The Lord Is Risen Today. It just seems on Easter Sunday majestic organ music needs to be experienced even from Apple Music. 
• Yep, I'm old. In the paragraph below I make a Leave it to Beaver reference. 
• I told Roy I thought the PO would be busy today with tax returns needing the proper postage. Silly me, silly old me, most, including us file electronically. 

It is in the times we live but I believe we are experiencing some kind of coup to leadership and governance...  No, not in the government but here in our home. As The Trio comes near to turning one years old, they are testing the The Boys better known as the power that be. There has been a whole of of shaking and wrestling once or twice a day between the two clans. The Trio have an advantage as they are siblings, grown up together, they wrestle and chase amongst themselves but are a solidified army if one of The Boys feign attack. The Boys are bigger for the moment and that looks to change. The Trio are from the lineage of Big Daddy, the original orange cat in the Feral Fam. For sure Willie is in the lineage of Darth and Radley. This morning Roy told me how Baxter decided to take on GMoey. GMoey has the most patience of The Boys but once a line is crossed he means business thus he will taking care of business. As Wally in Leave it to Beaver would say, GMoey gave Baxter the business. 

As for The Trio continued warm up to us, we are quite happy to report Chubola now will jump into a lap for some pets and then scoot off. She carries a little Lamp Chop sheep with her most of the time. Originally, Lamb Chop was a part of my collection but Chubola acting just like Buddy did, thinks any soft cuddly lamb of mine is to be shared by me with them. Buddy ripped their faces off, Chubola bats Lamby around like a soccer ball. This just in, Lamp Chop has suffered some facial type damage. 

Sunday and Monday night the full moon beamed brightly into our front bedroom. It was quite the sight to behold. I took a couple of pics because you know phone photos at night are so good. But I took in all that beauty. I could have belted out This Is My Father's World but didn't want to worry Roy. 

Roy surprised me by bringing home orange chicken for lunch. Not the same as Fu's Garden but it is tasty. He worked out after going to the Post Office, filled the car and take some stuff over to Habitat's resale store. 

Our windy day here has caused some trees to fall thus knocking out the power to 1068 homes. We are part of the 1068. Our generator is running but the time estimate for the power to be restored is 7:30. Well, it came back on at 5:01. 

I might add more getting old observations in another post but I will end this particular one with this thought. The other day Roy received a package and he hadn't ordered anything. He carefully opened it and it was from American Express thanking him for using their card for fifty years. Enclosed is a really nice throw. Such a nice thought but I told Roy that is the most expensive throw we will ever own, fifty years of charges. He gave it to me cause he didn't want it ever said he hadn't given me an expensive present. That is a pretty darn funny expression from him. 

  

It Has Been a Minute

 Well, it has been a minute since writing a blog post. There are always several subject matters rolling about in my brain but many mornings the quiet hides and then the day's activities and chores bid me come to take care of those responsibilities. That desire deep in my soul to write is on vacation or something. I am sure it will return. Roy has gone to workout and The Boys have settled into naps and soon The Trio will do the same thing. 

We bid ado to Exodus and the foray into Numbers yesterday. I looked at the schedule for upcoming quarters and after The Psalms we are in Deuteronomy and Numbers. The wrap up just took a few minutes and then we began I Peter. Not so much the first chapter but a reminder of who Peter was and how he came about writing these two letters. We took a moment to look beyond just the facts of Peter's life but we looked at his emotional and spiritual life, his friendship with Jesus and how this apostle moved out of the limelight and into the work he was called to do. 

Our area got a less turbulent version of the storms moving across the country. We had some hard rain and just a tad bit of wind. Those two factors contributed to the power going out around 5:45 am. It came back on before 2:00 pm. The trees around here have not recovered strength from Helene in September. We've had wildfires, none to close to us, but close to where friends live. So truly, we have seen to quote James Taylor, "we've seen fire and we've seen rain."

Last week both Roy and I had the stomach bug rolling around these parts. Roy had a worse case than me but we are thankful that symptoms weren't around for several weeks as can be the case with these bugs. We were fatigued along with the usual stuff and finally by Friday we felt as if we had come out of the fog. Roy rarely gets sick, so I was constantly asking him how he felt. You know, if it was more than just a bug, but alas that is just what it was, a bug. 

Think Dogwood Winter arrives tonight with the temps falling due to a cold front. Last week in the 80's and this week, very cool maybe even cold. 

Tomorrow, is the funeral for one of our class members who has been in bad health for a long time. 

*****

Friday morning with rain chances later today. Love that everything is looking so green. The apple trees and lilacs have blooms. Mike mowed this week so outside in the front looks so springy. Guess the tulips are done having all the petals blown off on Monday. The side flowerbed is now a weed bed filled with mug wort and clover. We need to get those pulled but Roy was able to get the compost down around the blackberry bushes. 

Patty's funeral was Tuesday afternoon. In the little brochure they pass out to you upon entering the church had pic in it from her life. I've never seen that done before and I loved that idea. I met Patty ten years ago and she was rather sick even back then but to see her pictures from childhood and with her husband at those young ages always makes me think, I wish I knew her back then. 

Whenever we were studying the book of Mark I learned that Mark gives a majority of attention to how much Jesus was teaching, pouring into them and making ready His disciples. Moreso than the other Gospels. I got to thinking about something we can hear. It sounds good but it might be a rather simplistic and rather wrong. Over the years I've heard preachers and pastors say something to the effect of, we don't need a program, we have The Great Commission. That's true but it seems to me that those three years with Jesus in today's meaning and interpretation, well that was a program for training and teaching the disciples. A divine program to walk with the disciples, and change their thinking from fishing or tax collecting or whatever occupation to being kingdom minded. In other words it could be called seminary, a program. I read an article a couple of weeks ago on the push for pastors of small churches both in cities and rural areas to get their doctorate. The author said he thinks it is all about keeping the seminaries filled and in a positive cash flow. 

I never quite finished the complete switch of summer to winter clothes last year. The dreaded sickness that took me out for six weeks and then quite some time for recovery plus returning to normal energy levels slowed me down. Although a plus, this season of between seasons I truly went through clothes and the sentimental clothes are not going back in storage bags, most have gone on to drop offs and the like. I've started packing away true winter weight clothing, not that it won't turn cold again because it will, but the texture and fabric patterns are just too much for March and April. Of course I am not bringing out linen yet, but a few layering pieces might work. 

We had quite the lightning storm last night with a good amount of rain. Higher in the mountains they got snow. 

Well, back to studying I Peter. It's all about the suffering while rejoicing...hard to teach for sure.