Tuesday Morning Catch Up

 Here lately, I have really been into orange drinks both carbonated and just plain orange water. It dawned on me that my mother craved orange popsicles when she was pregnant with me, so the love of orange came to me later then sooner but it draws me in a bit closer to her in mind and heart. I dreamed about her the other night, I don't remember anything other than I was spending time with my mom and was sad when I woke up but happy to have had the dream. I don't dream about her often so it was a treat. 

April 1, will be our sixth year living in this house. The movers were here and delivered then but Roy and I had come up earlier to get things ready for them. That was 2015. In 2017 my father died on April 1st. So, instead of being April Fools Day it is more of liberation day in my book. Roy and I were just talking about the changes in us individually and togetherly...I know it's not a word but have the "ly" thing going on since we bought the house and faced toward North Carolina with Texas in the rearview mirror. Not there yet but closer all the time. Yesterday, visiting with Inez and Cuman, I told them how I shed a few tears when driving out of the mountains and heading toward Texas. Sad, cause I don't want to leave the mountains, really, ever. Of course there are happy tears upon returning and seeing the beautiful mountains in the distance when we hit Andrews. These has been the best years of my life! Even this past quarantine year. I think I might have gone nuts in Texas but here there are enough distractions to take up days and days and nights and nights. While we were talking about change we noted that some changes are only noticeable by us and other changes have more of a public view. I think too about other friends who are experiencing change of views or how they have done life. I learned from experience it is best to give lots of room for this to happen. We approach life, our views and thoughts knowing we will come out on the other side, different; so we go from extremes to somewhere in the middle or sometimes stay at the extreme. One thing for me, health-wise, the pace of life and the important things are so different from Houston. Not the same stress and letting some stuff go, has been the best thing. A Houston friend asked the other day about recommending a restaurant near the Galleria...and nothing came to mind. I told her, it has felt like a lifetime and with Covid even, didn't know who made it or what places have closed. Since then I have thought of a few places so I need to get back with her. 

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Around 3:00 am, the heavens busted loose with rain. It sounded like a hard rain and I tried to stay awake to see if I heard any thunder. Didn't, so maybe no snow for the next ten days. The kiddos were waiting for me on the porch steps and the Queen is now asleep on the back porch after having treats and breakfast. Buddy is asleep on the bed, not too happy about HP being on the back porch. I think Buddy spent most of the night downstairs guarding her domain, only HP wasn't on the porch. In the evenings the kitties scatter and then gather back at some point in the night. Last night I saw a HUGE raccoon in the side flowerbed. So big I thought it might be some other kind of animal. He had a root from a sunflower from last summer and was happily busy with it. 

The Covid curfew has been lifted. Not that this news affects me much cause really, I am not out after 10:00 pm as a rule. But now, if I want to be out, I can. I think a few more restrictions have been lifted that has to do with sporting events and restaurants. Yesterday, I was thinking about what I have missed and this list is not about being with people and such, but just things or just what used to be normal. Like not having to think twice about going into a small shop. I miss Corner Kitchen's breakfasts before getting a haircut. Or drop in someplace for lunch or to grab a coffee or something. Again, with change in mind I do like how life has become even simpler. I am thankful to be easily entertained and amused. Sometimes in these months I have felt some confrontations and those have been good to sort through beliefs and thoughts but I don't want to be drawn in for intense discussions purely based on a selfish reason that I don't want flutter or fib to happen. Some days and weeks it's all about No Flutter or Fib.

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I slept thirty minutes later into this morning. So, I missed the Queen on the first round of treats. She arrived fashionably late and came on in to the back porch. Bobbsey nearly came in this morning too. The Queen was a bit restless so after eating and grooming she wanted back out to play. It's kind of cold this morning but I don't blame her when most of the Feral Fam is chasing one another. I had a little talk with Junior yesterday. He is a teenager and went after one of the older and more seasoned male cats. The older cat took out after Junior but more in a warning way. Junior seemed a bit puzzled and he won't admit it but frightened. I told him of his great grandfather, Big Daddy, the largest orange cat around. He was the cat among cats. Now Strawyer, he was as big as Big Daddy but didn't have the fight or anger in him. So, Junior, I said, you have a great mix of both of those fine cats and you will come into your own. Then he hissed at me. I take that as confirmation that my words got through to him. 

The Flag Flies, Queen HP Is In Residence

 

The Queen is in residence this morning after an all day bender yesterday. She has been treated and is napping on the back porch and this is important because rain is supposed to start up in the next thirty minutes or so. When I came downstairs, the kiddos were playing and chasing. Bobbsey was staring into the window and so with so many in the back, I ventured to the porch to share treats. Taking a head count when who should run up to the stairs and then through the crowd to come inside when the backdoor opened. HP, her most royal highness. She ate a few treats and has selected her royal cat bed to nap upon. I believe she is sleeping off her day/night long bender. Just checked on HP and she was doing some morning grooming but she went back to napping after cleaning up a bit. 

Made the most happy trip to Penland's over in Marshall yesterday morning. Georgette has found a new potter while the other one is building a house and the new potter does beautiful work. I bought a few of her cheese serving dishes as gifts around Christmas but what got me back over to Penland's yesterday, was not the fried pies, although that was part of the equation, no it was the new pottery Marshall mugs. They are so pretty. As always, I found a few more items that needed to come home with me. Headed over to Weaverville and did some grocery shopping and came on home. After a quick lunch I headed over to The Fresh Market and got a few premade meals for the next few days.  

With the sun out for the past few days I have tried to be outdoors more. Nathan and Andrew came over Wednesday afternoon to put mulch in the side flower bed. Always good to visit with them. New mulch always looks so fresh and clean, ready for new beginnings. 

I am enjoying the book Just As I Am by Cecily Tyson. She pulls you into the story, her story from the get go. I am making myself take the book nice and slow although Tina Turner likes to do it nice and rough...but of course I have digressed. The book is hard to put down but I don't want to be finished with her story too soon. There is so much to learn from her.

HP has settled in for her second nap of the day. She got up to stretch. I fed her, she cleaned up and now she is back in her bed or throne as I continue to get things done around the house. I cleaned out a few more kitchen cabinets and have stuff I will take to Goodwill. Even though I know winter weather around here is not done by a longshot, I do know there are several shirts and sweaters I will probably not wear until the next winter roll around. Got some of those things put in storage containers and while I am feeling the mood, I am going through t-shirts cause Lawd knows I have a few too many of them and sorting them out to figure out what is going bye bye.  

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Two days in a row for HRH HP to be in residence. She has eaten, towered over her subjects by sitting high up on the daybed and has now turned to her morning repose. Buddy has taken to the front bedroom with all the sunlight beaming in on her. She too, is on a daybed. 

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Well, Saturday didn't get too much writing done. I did some work around here and went over to see Inez and Cuman for a bit. Then came home, let the Queen in residence again and finished up a project. The evening was spent in good company reading Just As I Am. What a life! What an approach to hard circumstances and the built in prejudices. I was thinking of the stories that Cuman was telling me about growing up in the mountains, what his parents did for them to survive. Both equally interesting stories worlds apart. Both stories of survival. 

Roy attended a Zoom conference yesterday on story telling. Beforehand he was to have a story ready with transition being the main theme. He based his story on our move from Loop Living to Katy. He told me his story after the conference was over. Wow, it was really well thought out and done well. Toastmasters has been such a good experience for him and although this was not a Toastmaster event, it will certainly help him in his future speeches and such. The conference was his birthday gift to himself and I think he picked a great present. After this semester of CBS ends, he is going to take the humorous story telling done by the same instructor but over a four week period of time. 

With the rain ending and warmer temps the Feral Fam was outside, as they should be, for most of the day and early evening. I had forgotten to put up the cardboard barriers to keep cold wind out and I went into an empty garage. As the temps warm and keeping an eye out for winter blasts still to come, I think they will be sleeping less in the garage and more in their little houses outside. Of course feeding them in the garage is a huge help cause I can go out there in my jammies. 

Boodos is looking a little better. He has some kind of back or hip injury that he is in the process of healing from. If I could get him a little closer I would take him to the Med Vet and see if it is possible to fix. It is an interesting view of his fellow feral cats how they treat him. Bobbsey and Baby treat him so well and will sit with him up by the fence. When all of them are chasing and playing, they all seem to know he is not 100% so they don't tackle as wildly as they do with each other. Punky is still in her very bad mood and totally understand why, but she takes her anger out on the kitties that look like Strawyer. None of the cats are too fond of her, but HP makes an effort. Mama Cat was on the back steps yesterday and saw HP on the daybed, sitting next to me. I should have grabbed a pic because her eyes told the story...what in the Sam Hill are you doing HP? She gave Cali the same look and bopped her on the head when she acted like she might come inside the house. HP came on the back porch for a little nap this morning but wanted out to play. Don't blame her. It is just good to see her three days in a row.  

Once Upon A Time...A Feraly Tail

 This has been one rollercoaster of a ride since Monday afternoon, well emotionally that is. Monday began a little rainy, then a little clearing, and a little more rain, then clearing. Along with the rain and no rain the temps were a bit warmer than they have been in recent weeks. Thus, beginning a crescendo toward today with temps in the high sixties. I have broken out a between season outfit of denim shirt, retro by the way, jeans, t-shirt and my dressy muck boots. Good outfit to wear in the truck when I take Buddy to the vet later this morning. But, of course as per usual, I have digressed.

Monday morning I called the vet office because Buddy needs her yearly exam, guess it would be a well cat exam, some shots and the all important nail trim. While talking with the vet office, I mentioned HP and needing to get her fixed. Because she is friendly around humans and because they might not be fighting that feral part too much, they said yes to the one and done appointment of fixing and vaccinating. This will be happening in March. There was a spring to my step and happiness on beginning this part of the Feral Fam story. Gone from Cali, who wanted somewhat to come in then rebuffed by Mama Cat, to Riley Cali's daughter who stayed in the garage and would pet me but barely let me pet her to now, Hector Protector that loving cat who will sit on my lap, rub against my legs, follows me around the yard, who lets me pick her up and gets to come in the house from time to time. HP, is at that season in life her first experience with the attentions of male cats, especially by her friend and almost twin, Bobbsey. She had spent around four hours on Monday morning sleeping on the back porch. It was kind of funny to see the male cats sitting in the background and trying to figure out the fragrance that drew them but not finding the source. HP was under the soft blanket on the daybed. After having a few treats after her nap, she wanted back out to the wildness. Later, Monday afternoon HP was on the driveway and she came over to sit on my lap. She had a huge piece of wire, jagged wire wrapped around her tail. I carried her to a higher spot and grabbed scissors along the way. I got a huge piece cut out and HP tried to bolt. I was able to grab her by the tail as well as a piece of the wire and cut my little finger. She let me pick her up again, after I grabbed a paper towel and began to work again getting the wire. This time she made a move again and I let her go. She first went up into the horse pasture and then made her way to and then past Mary Joyce's house. She has gone over there before but she just kept going. The thought crossed my mind, HP is leaving for good. She's been harassed all day by male cats and now the human is cutting fur. She did not come back Monday night, nor was she there to greet me Tuesday morning. Bobbsey looks so much like her and I would see him and think, she's back. But seeing that mole on his face or the fact the black patch was missing off the right back leg, led me to disappointment. I realized Baby and Biggio were missing too. My heart was heavy, so much so I decided on this beautiful day I would get out and around. So, I went to Johnson City. Mainly for the drive, not to shop. The scenery is still winter but a few bits of green dotted the landscape. I stopped at Barnes and Noble and here is the shocker, I didn't buy anything. I went to Hobby Lobby across the way and got some copper color spray paint. Then the drive over to Troyers and there is where I spent money. Got the peanut butter Roy loves and some of the cookies I love along with other needful items. I drove the scenic drive over to I 26. Discovered the road that takes you to this beautiful bridge and I will be taking Roy over that way to get some pictures. Love love love, bridge pictures, especially old, metal bridges.  I came on home, no HP but some sad acting cats, Radley, Bobbsey and the orange cats. Biggio and Baby are life and energy sparks in the backyard. No random chasing or fighting or wrestling, but the movement of cats from one corner to another with their ears tuned in for maybe a few treats.  I did not relish getting the food served to this spindly, sad group. The joy was gone from all of us. It is kind of fun feeding a bunch of furry ferals. HP and Biggio close by and Biggio only close because he knows HP gets special treats. Baby and Jazz meowing their impatience. Bobbsey trying to decide if he is brave enough to join in and Radley is usually up high someplace watching his brood. None of that last night. 

This morning I checked the cameras, no kitties. I came downstairs to make coffee and looked once again out back, no a kitten was stirring. Once the coffee was made and Buddy treated, I decided to go look in the garage to see if anyone of them were there. I opened the door and who was there sitting on the car? HP...!!! I was thrilled and startled her a bit with a hug and petting her. I noticed the jagged wire that had been left in her tail was now gone. She was ready to eat and followed me over to where she usually gets treated first. I looked around and the kitties were moving about, there was Baby but no Biggio. Several hours later, Biggio was back. Baby and Biggio zonked out in the garage, so wherever they have been, sleep must not have been involved. 

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HP spent most of yesterday on the back porch. I was tempted to leave her there while Buddy and I went to the vet. Buddy was cranky as per usual for her checkup but the vet said, she got examined somewhat, shots and back paws trimmed. She is taking that as victory. Me too! Here lately Buddy has let me trim her front nails, so it was really a win. While sitting in the truck waiting for Buddy, two horses were brought in and put in the padlocks for their vet visit. It was really kind of a nice feeling dogs, horses and cats at the vet. 

When we arrived home HP was waiting in the backyard and went straight to the back porch when I opened the door for her. She slept most of the afternoon. With the temps being warm, I sat on the back porch with her and read. 

So, the new normal for HP right now is, she's not as consistent in being around. It looked as if someone cut the wire out of her tail, so I think maybe someone else is helping take care of her. I don't know though. Everyone showed up this morning for treats except HP. It is too early to bring her in the house before her appointment. I want her not to feel cramped up or trapped and that is what it would be because of Buddy. She is a little wary of me after Monday afternoon. She has to do that she is a cat but warmed up some toward the afternoon and sat beside me. I'm praying and asking God for wisdom. I love that HP and He knows that. That little one changed the whole plans for yesterday and I stayed home once returning from the vet. It was a convertible day and I didn't get out. Happily satisfied staying home for HP and for Buddy. A high note this morning, late arriving Bobbsey let me pet him.  

This morning I sit here in hope, hope that HP will be back again. I served treats a couple of times this morning and on that last trip into the house, the fragrance of spring was in the air. Just a hint mind you, but enough to grab my attention. Yesterday, one of the dutch irises in the back had sprouted blooms.  Daffodil and tulip stems are peeking through the ground. So signs of hope and that's what I will have to do for now. Have hope. Ask for wisdom. And since it is a warmish morning watch those kitties play and chase, with that every present lookout for HP. 

Book Review and Weather

 This morning seemed to be an eggs and bacon kind of breakfast day. Scrambled eggs with cheese, delicious. I am waiting for the day to warm up. It was 21 degrees when I woke up and slowly but surely we are reaching out toward the freeze line. In the middle of the week we get a warm up so that will be a welcomed reprieve. The kitties are out back running wildly to and fro. I couldn't figure out what could cause such a ruckus. One of the bird feeders resembles a church building and the sun coming through that nearly empty feeder is reflecting or refracting that light. The wind blows and the reflection moves with the wind. The cats are chasing something but they'll end up with nothing. Surely there is a spiritual example with that illustration but I believe we can see this without me writing about it. Chasing the wind, that's what these kitties are doing this morning. It will keep them warm as they play. 

Roy attended LBS by Zoom this morning. He told me of no pun intended but chilling stories of generators and fireplaces and gasoline, oh my...experienced by his class this past week. That is generators that didn't work, gas logs in fireplaces being out of control and finding no gasoline to run those type powered. In comparison his week of cold weather was rather uneventful. From FB posts, during all the trouble and chaos, friends kept a sense of humor. He is waiting to see if they can officially go back into the office on Monday, the concerns being low water pressure. He is still under the boil water advisory but is hopeful that will be rescinded tomorrow as well. Roy bravely made a Costco run yesterday and was surprised that it wasn't that busy but Whole Foods had been picked clean.  

I turned and rearranged our feather bed topper yesterday. It was difficult turning over because the indentations had created a valley thus hills difficult to top in the midst of sleep. Fluffed and rotated, tossing and turning was much easier. This feather bed topper is much better than the ones we had in the 90s. They bunched up and even with vigorous fluffing and arranging never evened out. I thought about a phone conversation I had with a friend from Sunday School, how we get into our easy and predictable ways. We both talked of finally feeling pandemic fatigue and re-motivating ourselves to do worthy and productive work as well as productive leisure. There are days, like last Saturday, I didn't do one thing other than read and eat. Now a string of those kinds of days in a row is not a good thing, but in a devo thought this morning it was on attentive living. Guess it is the spiritual word speak for mindfulness, which is a buzz word in publishing circles right now. I kind of like the term attentive living, cause it is a better word picture to me of how one does that. With Covid and cold temps one, if not a first responder, is obligated or even forced to slow down. That doesn't bother me like it would have years ago. Quiet, I love that too yet, conversations this past week has been what has energized me. Yep, God made us, fearfully and wonderfully made. 

I read about Midway BBQ being destroyed by a fire this past week. When we first moved to Katy, this was one of the great places we discovered to eat. Friendly and served delicious BBQ. I had to break the news to Roy and he was rather sad but now after reading a statement by the family who owns Midway, they are going to rebuild, I'll share that news to him and he will be mighty glad. 

The fiction book I began on Thursday night is winding down. I've liked it but think I am getting too old to keep up with so many characters in a similar setting which is a New England girl's school in 2015. The story is based around a sexual assault on campus back in the 90s. So each character in some way is reacting or reliving their own personal experience as the school tries to keep emotions ebbed as a lawsuit has been filed by that long ago student against the school. I have finally come to the part where the mysteries in the book are solved and I realized I was skimming the pages to finish up. Put the book down and will read the last chapter tomorrow.

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It doesn't look like we got any winter precip last night but we do have rain. There is hope we will be done with rain this afternoon and the sun comes out. 

Back to my book, still haven't picked it up to read the last chapter. The story and plot has been good but for me there were too many people to keep up with. Some of the characters don't get a revisit but it looks as if the wrap up concerns the first few people you meet in the book. There are a few intimate scenes that feel added on. The author does a good job in delving past the obvious and a few character traits are defined and what seems to be real isn't that at all. What a perfect setting, a boarding school, freshman through senior girls, the masks removed. In hindsight no one is really that sure of themselves in high school. Girls can be especially mean during those years and that is covered here as well. The author also takes time to look into alumna lives that reveal high school was the height of power and prestige for some, they never live up to the potential. I usually pass on books to friends and will do so with this book but I didn't know a whole lot about this debut novel but saw it recommended. Really, I think Gail Godwin has the girls boarding school genre perfected. Several of her novels are based on that setting. Usually around the Asheville area, so that's always entertaining.  

On last thing for this blog post; several weeks ago I accidentally bought decaf Irish Creme Brule' coffee. Mixed it in with regular coffee this morning, added Baileys Irish Coffee creamer to the mix and it is very delicious. 

Easy Saturdays Are Always Welcomed

 There are days when the thought occurs to just get off of Twitter. Many times it is just a place to argue. It's just a place to disagree and then there are those days where the dots connect, people help one another and I think, well, Twitter isn't that bad after all. Twitter was a huge help in keeping Roy up to date with weather and news. So, it is with a languished move, that I resist the temptation to let deactivation take place. As for Instagram, I couldn't care less. I don't care that people post pics and tell stories there. Of all the years with Instagram I believe I posted twice and then the hack took place and boom, it was gone in a heartbeat. No regrets. 

The regret this morning is that I didn't go outside when the sun was shinning to feed the birds. Now, with overcast skies and a bit of a breeze, it will feel rather cold. The kitties have assembled on the front deck because it is a warm spot with the sun. Even with all the flannel, blankets and sweaters making up the padding for them in the garage, there is a coolness that hangs in the air. Inside the house, I made a spring/summer change and put out decorative lemons, limes and oranges. It brightens up the family room a bit. The daffodils and tulip stems are coming up in the backyard and they announce spring is nearly here. As much as I love cold weather, I am just about done but we will have dogwood and blackberry winter before the arrival of truly warm temps for the duration until late fall. There was an ad on FB for Strawberry Hill as they begin the process of hiring for spring and summer. Oh yes, that means it won't be long at all until strawberries. The local plant nursery is getting fruit trees on Saturday so I will make a trip there at the first of the week to buy another peach tree and see if Mike or Nathan will plant it for me. Nathan and crew will be here soon to put down mulch in the side flowerbed. 

Oh Ted Cruz, you got caught leaving the storm, the cold winter storm of the century. I can barely listen to him even when the weather is good, so I'm not listening to him now. Roy said each time he tells his story to different news organizations, Ted is getting deeper into untruths and not sticking to his story.  

When Roy and I were tourists here, we came many times in cold to colder weather. We stayed at the Inn on the Biltmore Estate and didn't miss a beat with power outages. I remember reading a story about a woman who told her husband, this is ridiculous riding out this short term storm at home and they made reservations at the Inn cause they felt there would be water and power. 

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With the temps at 21 this morning, there was a full house for breakfast. I brought HP in for a bit but that didn't last long, because of Buddy. At least HP got warmed up before breakfast. The forecast calls for the high of 40, so with the sun, that won't be too bad. Got most of the bird feeders filled in the winter chill yesterday afternoon. 

I began a new fiction book last night. Debut novel for the author. She has pulled me in already with the story and I can see this is not the kind of book to read before going to bed because it gets my brain working, so I thought about the story so far last night and didn't fall right to sleep. 

The new Cecily Tyson book was just delivered. I read the introduction and I'm hooked. The mail also contained two new pairs of jeans, a size smaller thank you very much. But, if I keep winter eating diet, my old jeans will be fitting just fine in a matter of weeks. 

I am trying so hard for Buddy and HP to like each other. Just had a big fuss between the three of us. HP is definitely a girl, a late bloomer. I am trying to do the slow introduction but the wild spirit of a cat that runs free is not cooperating with the cat who doesn't even like Roy to sit close by. 

The sun was welcomed and the day was an easy day. Somewhat productive but most of the time spent reading. Trying to finish up the book I began last night before starting Cecily Tyson's book.  

Just In Case

 The last couple of days I have been Roy's eyes and ears for news and updates. We got a weather radio with all types of gadgets ordered for him in case of any future weather developments. Around 3:00 am he got power along with internet and water. So, he paid bills online before taking a shower. I love him! 

What a hassle with my Instagram account being hacked and then the ensuing email that contained a threat of blackmail for very specious reasons. I reported it and filed a IC3 claim with the FBI. Then I took to my blog and Facebook letting anyone and everyone know that the Instagram message is not from me. Also the message of sending to my contacts and also via social media me being disgusting in front of my webcam. The only times I have used this webcam is for Bible study with Community Bible Study and with Houston's First Baptist. 

Last night we got a lot of rain and even some thunder but our temps are above freezing but it looks as if they will plunge tonight thus setting up icy conditions tomorrow. I was able to run errands yesterday and so I am ready to be here just in case. Since Covid, I'm usually always here, just in case. Just saw there might be a rock/mudslide on Monticello. I did some other preparations last night just in case after reading about generators that stopped working. Both in Katy and here we had house generators installed and the one in Katy paid for itself during this week long cold and miserable weather. Well, it has been paid for for quite sometime but you know what I mean. Someone kind of made a snide remark to us once about the generator. When budgeting for them, we traded vacation trips for electricity. In the big picture we may have not gone far in travels but we are happy for the decisions we made. I went to bed early last night thinking I might be up a lot during the night with impending ice and such. I was up a lot but not due to a storm but Buddy. At least she was able to settle quickly once returning to bed. 

Tuesday evening on PBS I watched part of the first part of the program on black church. I felt like I learned so much, heard things I had never heard before. But, maybe that isn't unusual cause I'm white. I am reading books on racism and this truthfully is the first thing I have watched because as I have written about before, my attention span for watching programs or documentaries, no matter the subject, is just not there. I ask the Lord each day to show any hurtful or wrongs. As the Church of the Redeemer song says, "I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to be like Jesus."

I defrosted a container of taco soup yesterday and it hit the spot both in warmth and in comfort food. Then after that delicious lunch, it was time to cut up strawberries. Strawberries from Florida is the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year. That means it won't be long and NC and SC strawberry season will be in full swing, which is usually the herald of produce stand season. Since December, we are slowly working our way through what we froze and man, those peaches taste so good, like a summer afternoon, when you bite into them. 

The strange and odd emails continued yesterday. I received one from a bank that Roy uses and then from LifeLock. Neither one of them sounded legit. I did not use the links but logged into accounts in a different manner. The affirming message that would be on the website was not there claimed in the emails and both of these phishing emails had very similar language. Then last night I got another email from a computer service that wasn't real.  A friend told me a relative of hers is getting almost the same kind of stuff and a hacking into the Instagram and trying to exact info from scam emails. It makes my head and heart spin, emotionally exhausting especially since I try so hard to protect my heart from overreaching stress. So all passwords have been changed, everything updated and doing everything to keep safe, just in case.

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Yesterday afternoon around here became the perfect storm. I won't go into a lot of details but several unrelated happenings, happened and since I am the daughter of one of the best conspiracy theorists that could ever put together unrelated happenings to make them a happening, I was at it. Yet, I was fighting the compulsion to do so. Roy talked me down so to speak. 

Got a few more of those phishing emails from companies we use or have used. It is a bit emotionally draining to be on point all the time. 

We are rejoicing this morning that Roy has power, internet, water and phone. They are still under a boil water directive but that is a small price to pay. The casita bedroom did fine and maybe the heater company will be out to fix the damper that goes into that room today. Temps are to be above freezing. 

Around here we are rejoicing that the temps held one degree above freezing thus saving us from an ice storm. The rain was plenteous and heavy. With the exception of the mornings today and yesterday holding some black ice situations and with the sun shinning through, roads are probably passable now but being cautious, I will give it a couple more hours if I decide to head out. It is almost the high for the day this morning, so in a bit I will refill the birdfeeders. I was just on hawk duty and got the kitties back into the garage. Just hanging out on the trash can...without a clue to the danger overhead. 

Instagram Hacked and Attempted Blackmail

 My Instagram account, that I hardly ever use, was hacked this afternoon. I changed the password, friends reported the fraudulent account and then I deleted my account. This afternoon I received an email from a scammer threatening to blackmail me and reveal on social media and via email to my contacts that I had either logged into pornography or that I had been doing unseemly things in our home, more specifically in front of my webcam. None of that is true! I filed an IC3 complaint with the FBI. I know that these criminals send out these things often hoping that someone will take the bait.  Now, if someone posts something or sends you something, you know it is fake and not true. I cannot believe that a sixty six year old woman has to write this out, but these are the days in which we live. 

Texas, Wow Too Cold

 It seems topsy turvy that Houston is waiting on the much anticipated as well as dreaded winter storm. If snow comes with it, I will get to marvel and wonder over snow pictures posted by friends. Here, we are in the low 40s, with overcast skies with a slight chance of both rain and some sunshine. 

I feel like I am being kept under surveillance by Buddy. On Friday I tried bringing HP in under controlled circumstances. Buddy was not very happy at all. Since then HP wants in and Buddy follows me downstairs when she suspects I might be seeing other cats. My neighbor thinks I should just let it be a free for all with those two but Buddy is old and fragile. If a fight killed her, I would be so upset and beyond being consolable. 

Once again, I will say, this group of the Feral Family has been my favorite of all the Fams that have come through. They are fun to watch like the others have been but they play with the toys and are a little more interactive with me. Radley let me pet him yesterday. Bobbsey is more friendly and even the family of Boos are trying. The orange cats, still skittish. On some of the coldest mornings I go out to the garage and the Fer Fam is in the corner, some asleep, some looking at me, orange cats run out the door but come back in when they hear the clinking of their metal dishes. HP, is at my feet, with Biggio close by. I fix them a small bowl of food next to me. Radley climbs up toward the back of the area where I am dishing the grub and I give him a bowl too, which he will sometimes share with Baby.  Then I get the other dishes fixed and on the carpeted area I set up for them. Their paws gets so cold and to give a little warmth break to them is something that doesn't take much effort to do, and hopefully, appreciated by them. This morning the heart pillow was on the steps again to the backdoor. Yes, I know they have no idea what that heart is but it is a little thing that I appreciate greatly, cause just maybe, that is God letting me know I am doing a good job at taking care of those He has sent my way. A little Valentine's from the Feral Fam. 

After several instances of having heard asides in the past few weeks, I still think that is where the truth resides in conversations or listening to someone talk, in asides. They are those words that the tone drops a decimal or two after stating a sentence. There is where you hear the heart of the matter. 

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It is so hard to look at Texas and winter weather right now. It is more unbelievable than hard I guess. Houston, over a fourth of the city and surrounding areas are without power and have been for hours. ERCOT who regulates the grid and power for Texas aren't able to meet the demand due to power sources being maxed as well as wind turbines are frozen and can't produce. Roy has power but just lost water. He had faucets dripping and to Roy dripping means a stream but he thinks it is a problem at the water company cause it all just went off like that and with the house being warm, probably not due to frozen pipes. I am so used to this being here that I keep thinking like I am in the midst of all this, but no, in a balmy 45 degrees. We will get colder temps tomorrow, but for now, NC seems a bit tropical compared to TX. Meanwhile, water has returned for Roy. He wanted to go out and take pics but not enough communication with our cell phones in case anything happened. 

The road crew is back at work and it has started to rain. Lots of noise happening and guess it is getting me ready for the coming months of construction noise. 

Just saw that Sephora is carrying Oribe now. Wow! Wish I still used a lot of their products but I am slowly making that shift away. I do like the dry texturizing spray and think it is about the best out there. 

Buddy is out like a light. Checked on the Feral Fam and most of them are in the garage with the exception of Radley. 

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Roy still doesn't have electricity. The water came back yesterday afternoon. We have a generator so he is warm but the furnace is doing some funky things and he has a call into the AC company. Without much water yesterday, he didn't go to our neighbors but he is this morning to see if they would like to come over and get warm. No internet, so he is limited on what he can do to work from home today. I am so glad he added a Houston TV channel to stream here and I keep him up to date on the Houston local news. When it starts cycling stories, I turn it off. Last night he called really late and said I just need to talk to someone about what I am planning to do with the furnace situation. I think is so concerned about a fire starting, he just wanted me to know. The connection wasn't very good so I only understood every other word. His plan has worked so far. This morning's phone connection is much better. Despite everything, he sounds in good spirits. 

 

Mom Jeans, Hair, Rain and Feral Fam

 Yesterday, I wore the most ever, in recent years, the most ever mom jeans. Everything about them from the color to the fit. The jeans had some kind of tummy control thing, which I guess, made my pants stay up better. The blue was some weird, non jean looking denim blue and I went ahead and wore them because the only people I would be seeing are at Goodwill drop off and the grocery store. When did I buy these jeans? Probably from Haute Look cause they are at a discount. Think they will become my work around the house jeans cause, really, since I am not a mom, I shouldn't even be wearing these jeans. I will call them the crazy aunt jeans and feel good about them.  

Back to a new painting project. I haven't finished the first one, the tree, because I didn't have the color of metallic paint I needed. It has arrived so once I finish experimenting with a smaller project I will get back to the tree. Last week I began painting and I hated how it looked so, I am going to gesso and spray paint a background. That project is discontinued but it is good practice for me. Maybe I will start it again. 

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A dreary Friday morning and it is mind boggling to think that this weekend and into next week Houston will be colder with chances of snow and ice than here. Who would have thunk it? In 1973 parts of Texas received significant snow, well for Texas measurements. I was at SWTSU now known as Texas State. My dorm was at the bottom of the hill but we made it up the hill to the cafeteria. One of my friends knew about a window that didn't lock and went inside and got cafeteria trays that we would use as sleds. We weren't stealing, we were borrowing because we returned them to the cafeteria after all our sledding fun. In 1983, Houston got a blast of winter weather. The pipes in the garage going to the washer burst. 

Thinking about those crazy aunt jeans I wore the other day, I wonder if and when the pandemic portion of life is done with, if we will go back to the way we were? 🎵Memories in the corner of my mind, misty water colored memories of the way we were. 🎵 When you spend anytime in a hospital setting it comes to a point where you just don't care...so many come in and look at you, treat you and it feels like we leave our dignity at the door. While rehabbing from bilateral knee replacements for two weeks in the rehab hospital the thought came to me, will I go back to normal once this is over? Thankfully, I didn't choose hospital gowns with open backs as a fashion choice upon returning home and then resuming life as I knew it, although with more mobility. So, will I stick with non-highlighted hair? Will I keep wearing stuff that doesn't match, usually just around here not out and about? Will I go back to wearing makeup everyday? On Tuesday at the hair salon, we talked a little about adding some blond back into my hair. Mainly as chunky streaks on the hair near my face, but I don't know. I think that if we keep it short enough and soon spring/summer will be here and it will be for most days visor hair, don't care. 

I am a hair product junkie. Since I am social distancing, see above reference, I am not caring too much about my hair. Jenn, stylist, thought she was introducing me to a new product line but oh contrare I have some of the products by that line. My search for the perfect styling products continue and maybe we have hit the one. The thickening shampoo and conditioner and the style product goes by the name Dallas. Now, being a Houstonian, I try not to have anything Dallas in the house. I told her it has to be called Dallas cause you can almost tell a woman from Dallas by her hairstyle...cause it's big, high and poufy. Jenn is from New York. 

This styling product I bought is pretty dang good. Best for second or third day hair or during a pandemic, week long hair. 

I'm trying to work through a book that came recommended and I am struggling with it. Seems like there is a lot of anger in it, especially toward her husband. Now, I totally get being mad at the hubs, why even one time I was mad at Roy. Wow, what was that huge flash? Lightning? Oh, nonfiction book by the way. Anyway she is telling her perspective of moving from the south to New York City, going from conservative to liberal. I don't care about that. I love reading from all different perspectives and it is how we learn. Being a fence sitter and all. I already know how to be angry and fight it constantly. After heart issues, you better make a change cause your heart cannot stand that stress of being mad or angry or bitter or whatever. Several reviewers said they couldn't put the book down, I am having trouble picking it back up. 

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Another drizzly day with a little bit of rain. Meanwhile, friends in Houston prepare for one of the coldest weeks ever there. Lots of Lowe's shoppers and grocery shoppers preparing for the coming days. It could be a work from home week. 

Our fluid plan for starting back to Sunday School remains fluid. Love the leadership of our pastor. I had begun to work on the four lessons I am responsible for and that is never wasted time. The Luke 17 story of the ten lepers who are healed and only one returns to thank and praise Jesus. The despised Samaritan. I ran by church yesterday and afterwards headed to Shorties BBQ for a burger and a side of fried okra. That was my lunch and supper and it was good. 

The kitties are a little stir crazy hanging out in the garage. They were all there for breakfast and hardly gave me any room to move. Last night I did an old tradition that none of them other than Punky, who was not around last night, knew about. Sharing my tuna salad with them. It was a hit and this morning I was greeted on the steps by HP and Biggio along with a stuffed heart toy I gave them this week. So, I am taking that as a declaration of love, better than chewed up, not distinguishable animals that they have killed and then played with, where they leave them by the back door as a token of thankfulness. 

No Theme, Just Thoughts

 Another foggy morning greeted the mountains this morning. The fog doesn't bother me except for those few times I am out early and the fog is set in making driving a little more tedious. You know more tedious than twists and turns and narrow mountain roads. I read a devotion several years back about fog and being thankful for the fog experience, not so much what fog hides and then reveals just fog. This morning I have another thankful and grateful reason for fog, it will cover up just for a bit all the new homes that will be built in the pasture, in the near future. 

This post will be just some random thoughts, although that is pretty much what it is most of the time, but those times are usually thematic. Today, not so much. 

A friend on FB, Pam, posted an article about Carole King  turning 79 and the 50th anniversary of Tapestry, her album of music and words she authored. The article mentioned that King really doesn't have a singing voice but I never noticed that. Whenever I hear any songs from Tapestry, Fire and Rain by James Taylor and Rocky Mountain High, by John Denver, I am whisked away to musical memories from high school and college. Like Pam, Tapestry is a part of the sound track of my life. I wore out my original vinyl album, then got the CD and now have it in my Apple Library on my phone. How can Carole King be 79? Wow! Then if she is 79, then I am...still young, at least at heart. 

Another friend, from the long ago, back in the day time, which is from the previous paragraph timeframe, so this might be thematic after all, anyway, my friend and I keep in contact via FB. But we, in the last few weeks, we have had some messaging and email conversations. She mentioned a revisited song that had meant a lot to her again. The song, I Want To Walk As A Child of the Light. It is from an album that Church of the Redeemer released in the early 1970s. I had the album transferred to CD many years ago and I put it on iTunes library, but several computers later, Apple won't let me listen to it. My friend Emily told me years ago, the music can be ordered from a church community in PA. So, I looked them up and the site is still like an early website construction, so I wasn't too sure this would work, but I ordered and received the CDs in the mail just a few days later. I've been listening to the CD, God's People Give Thanks while running errands. It is as if I'd been listening to it all the time over the years. The words came back easily. That album got me through a lot of dark days and many times it was as if I was in church. Well, liturgical church, which I really have a heart for and don't experience too often but relish those times I do. As the Baptist music has gone more contemporary, many times liturgical music in Episcopal churches has gone that way too. It looses something. Ya's got to have an organ playing those high holy church songs and hymns. 

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Wednesdays seem to be some of the clearest and warmest days here recently. I've missed a lot of CBS because of the weather. This week I have gotten out and about twice, Tuesday had a haircut appointment. Being so close to Biltmore Park, I ran over there for a few minutes and then came on home. I had such a rough Buddy sleepless night on Monday that I came home and crashed. Even went to bed early, 9:00 pm. Yesterday, I didn't need to wear a jacket or gloves as I ran errands. Made the Goodwill drop off, then grocery shopping. After putting up groceries, I hit the road again going to the Post Office and then on a drive. Even with warmer temps a few icicles hung onto the rock, slowly melting along the river road. Truly a beautiful scene.  When it is warmer, without a cutting wind, it is so much easier to take care of the outdoor chores. I am contemplating asking Mike to bring more stone like last year and finish up a few projects when we make that turn toward spring. Also, talking to him about planting a few trees for us as well. 

Several books and some Twitter comments has me thinking about a book that I need to re-read. Leaving Church by Barbara Brown Taylor. The title expresses not how she left the church but how her approach to ministry changed. She saw that the same type of ministry she could do in her sleep, needed something, not meaning to but she was doing it by rote. She gives an example of how she tended to a wounded wild bird. She took care of it and when it was ready to fly and resume bird life, it didn't want to leave her. It didn't want to fly away. The wounded and then healed bird was an experience that helped the move to ministry that wasn't so predictable. Everything is so cyclical said the cynic who really fights being one. Predictable is rampant, consistency is difficult sometimes to see. Many times people or programs trying to be consistent are just so predictable. As the saying goes, we will see if this dog hunts, can be applied to catch phrases and definitions used by businesses and institutions. Like a laundry product, the advertising is in the vein of "new and improved." Wow, I feel really dumb, using an inferior laundry product, now. Oh well, there will always be spin and advertising and marketing campaigns but when they are rolled out with the thought of not respecting people's intelligence...

I also watched on the History Chanel, The Men Who Built America. Mainly, I watched the episodes on J P Morgan, Carnegie, and Rockefeller. They built their businesses in the time of monopolies. Low pay and unsafe work places seemed to be the hallmark of the electricity, steel and oil industry. The show made it clear that it was more of a competition between the three men on who could be the richest in America. The tie in toward the end episode I watched was the breaking up of Standard Oil made the way for Henry Ford to win his lawsuit to be able to produce cars an average person could afford. Mainly, this was on in the background but it didn't seem that the problems back in the early 1900s day, are no different than what we experience now. And the fact that several "disgraced" business leaders are featured as they comment on these three moguls, means this series was produced long ago. 

The rain has been light this morning. The garage currently has almost a full house of kitties napping. Thankfully, the temps are not too cold. I've heard a few cat fights out back from cats I do not claim. Always the fight for being the dominant male. The black and white who used to win these fights was injured last year and although he has recovered, he isn't the dominant force he was. That means Frankie and Radley are fighting it out. 

 

Weary and Exhausted

 

We’re all exhausted. A perfect time for proving our love for one another is real. By God’s grace.

 Ray Ortland tweeted this yesterday morning and it was a rope, a word rope thrown to me in some recent days of rough water. It has been creeping up on me for a few weeks but Friday night into early Saturday morning, the not too often but yet with familiarity, the thoughts were pounding on my brain, you're depressed. Get over it, give into it, you're depressed. You know how middle of the night thoughts are usually worse than daytime musings. Buddy couldn't settle Friday night, up and down, in and out of the bedroom, that finally after the fourth time in an hour, I shut the door behind her as she went into the hall. Buddy normally cries for a little minute then goes to one of her favorite sleeping places. She did not do that. She cried off and on. Finally, I got up, didn't immediately go downstairs or to the bonus room and Buddy followed. I chose the bonus room after a few ups and downs the hallway, turned on the TV and argued with myself about the onslaught on depressed thoughts. Buddy went to sleep beside me and when she looked to be out, I went back to bed around 5:00 am and got some sleep. 

When I woke up and after making coffee, I realized not depressed, the dreaded pandemic fatigue was trying to settle in. All these months I have kept busy, been productive, rested, read and enjoyed staying home. None of that has changed but there have been a couple of things I would have attended, but in the back of my mind, the limited space available to properly social distance and an iffy weather pattern held me back. Friday night, I had just totally vegged out in front of the TV with The Andy Griffith Show. You know, you can feel that sadness start up on the inside and sometimes in the sadness you tell yourself lies. I took those baby steps to telling myself truths, and one of those truths is, we live in one of the most beautiful places in the country. The pace of life is slower, six or seven months out of the year I get to wear boots, jeans and flannel shirts. The pressure to dress up or dress to impress is practically nil in my life. Camels and elk just live down the road and watusi cows live around the corner...being generous on the around the corner thing. But the cows no longer live across the road and there was the huge drift into my feelings. They were tearing down the trash trees and burning them in the pasture across the road Saturday morning. Soon enough the barn will be gone and they'll begin building houses. Roy and I have discussed, not too seriously, about moving but we also have a plan in place to make some decorative changes in the front yard. Cause really, we still have long distant views of the mountains and dang, the flowers in the yard make me happy. I spend most of the spring and summer on the back porch...so, we will probably stay. Everyone we talk to says the same thing, where would we go? I thought of one place but the address is Asheville and don't want to pay the city taxes cause taxes are going through the roof. Of course there is the Southern Living Master Planned Community...ah, no. Been there and done that mindset long ago besides I don't play bridge, don't want to take up tennis again and neither one of us plays golf. I'd have to give up boots, jeans and flannel and be a lady who lunches...of course social distanced and all. Oh and HOAs, really...I mean, no. I have felt so exhausted from just about everything going on elsewhere. I am weary and tired, have no clue at times what I can do or say. There are wearier people for sure and people dealing with more than pandemic fatigue, but right now this is where I am. Here is where I am struggling. 

Then I read the above quote on Twitter...I didn't forget about it to the story. A perfect time to prove our love for one another. I was so happy to find it because I was all too enamored with, we are all exhausted. That is only a part of the story. All exhausted but in that exhaustion prove our love to one another. Several opportunities to avail myself to doing this opened up over the weekend. Some took action and some of that proving took no action other than keeping my big mouth shut, not to mouth off in weariness and exhaustion. 

Now, thinking about the flowerbeds in the spring and makes the thought of spring more exciting because daffodils and tulip stems are sprouting up in the backyard. I looked in the front bed I put in last fall but don't see any stems coming up yet. The ones in the back are several years established so that might make the difference. 

About four or five big trucks pulling equipment are lining the road on old 20. Looks like today the developer will begin in earnest to develop the pastureland into stick homes. Makes me so sad and I've noticed that people are slowing down to look and it has the feel of a funeral procession passing. Respecting the loss of a way of life and more break ups of farms and pastureland and mourning the loss, cursing the traffic and all that goes with the way of progress. It is just a view we are loosing and in the grand scheme of things, it is not that important. People need homes and people need work. Know people feel the same way about pipelines and such, but because Roy is employed in the oil and gas industry, I have empathy and sympathy for those experiencing that. Just seeing the equipment has made me sad on this beautiful, sunny Monday morning. 

Yesterday's snow melted rather quickly with the sun and the temps getting above freezing. Major concern for the day, getting the trash bin down to the road. I had two weeks of trash in that can because last week I only felt like rolling down the recycling, which is every other week. The wind is a biting one, going right through you. 

The good news at the end of today is, the barn is still there. The men worked mainly on getting the road prepared for more people and traffic. It is a hint of things to come with all the noise they make. Gives me a little hope that it will be with us this week. I think I could fall asleep and the sun hasn't even gone down. 

Snow Melts, Kind Of, In Time For Maybe More Snow

 We are certainly enjoying the warmth of the sun coming through the windows on this very cold day. At least we will get above freezing, so that snow is melting. Buddy is enjoying her regular sleeping locations that are bathed in the sunlight. She is not quite sure where to land on overcast days. She spent most of the day yesterday under the covers of the bed. I turned the electric blanket on the lowest setting and she was a quite delighted cat, roasty toasty and warm. 

This morning I set out to see if something worked and it did not. Into the trash bag, but while I had been working with this thing, in a kind of desk/secretary type deal, I began cleaning it out. Not on the plans for today but just sorta happened. So much junk has been thrown away, things to donate to Goodwill and a few things for a young friend who loves paper products about as much as me. It became a fun time because all kinds of cards from friends were packed away in corners and I stopped and looked at many of them. This cabinet also held things I had forgotten about, like the letter from my father's lawyer asking me to contact my father and ask forgiveness...uh, from what? He is the one who lied and fabricated this whole mess. She reminded me that she wasn't sure that I was on the up and up when she served the papers to me that contained my father severing the relationship, legally. I still don't know what that means other than, my father was one of the best liars ever! So believable, so convincing and yet so wrong. It is ironic that soon after she had done his dirty work, he fired her because he thought she was overcharging him and might have transferred some of his stock. I remember Roy was furious at her emails and wanted to try and have her law license revoked because she was "acting" as a therapist in these emails. Of course, Roy goes 0-60 in a half a second, over reaching somewhat, but I loved that he wanted to protect and take care of me. I skimmed the journal I wrote in reference to that difficult time and truly it helped that my word for the year was perseverance. Of course that is all behind now and trying to come to grips with more of that time of life, well that retrospection ended in January and really ended on a good note while remembering fifty years of Jesus being my Lord and Savior. 

Before undertaking this job this morning, my new boots I wrote about were delivered. Most of the snow had melted off the front deck so it wasn't slippery or dangerous. Got the boots and then went down to the road to pick up the recycle bin from Monday's pick up. Looks like none of us on our little road was too quick to get the bins while it was snowy and icy. Earlier this morning, I watched my neighbor make her way down to their gate to close it so that the horses can roam about the whole property. Must have been some ice close to the gate because she walked gingerly to and from it. 

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 I stayed up past my bedtime and finished The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett. I really liked this book and it is not the type I usually buy so it was good to read out of my comfort zone. All along you knew how the ending had to go but she took some twists and turns to get there. Many have compared the book to A Man Called Ove. I never could get into that one and gave the book away. 

Last week I did an old person thing. I really try to keep that kind of stuff at a minimum or at least just here at home. Checking out at the grocery store, thinking about the next errand, I removed my debit card before I was supposed to. The young woman gave me a look like, are you okay? Are you able to drive by yourself? When I was in the rehab hospital for knee replacements, I once said I was confused about something. The look on the nurse and her assistant, said...oh...we have someone who doesn't have all her wits about her. There are certain words and actions that tip people you might not be all there. With ADD I go from thing to thing, trying to pay attention but there are days of slip ups. 

The kiddos left me another present this morning. I saw them playing with "it" yesterday and determined it was either a mole or a field mouse. At that time, it looked like a field mouse but this morning, it is undetermined mass and matter. 

I got out on the roads after several days of being home and the forecast looked rather clear but now people are talking about sleet in Weaverville and near a couple of other places I went to. Glad I am home. There is talk of a slight chance of snow tonight and again on Saturday afternoon. Did the grocery store thing, church drop off thing, book drop off thing and The Fresh Market thing. Now if I'm lazy, I can just fix tuna sandwiches. I love their tuna salad. 

Beautiful Winter Days

 I must confess that when I woke up yesterday morning and didn't see snow, the lack thereof was somewhat disappointing. Then during the morning and into the afternoon, we got a few snow showers that stuck, then melted. Last night, the snow began to fall and upon awakening this morning, the delightful scene of snow was a gracious and fun greeting. The snow continued to fall and at times rather blustery winds accompanied them. We must have gotten around 4 1/2 inches, maybe 5 with this mornings flurries. The French Broad River Valley was blessed with one of those streams of snow making weather while passing through the higher elevations. Watched a video from someone driving down Alexander Road toward New Leicester Highway and the closer he got to Leicester, the less snow was falling or even covering the ground. Even after living here nearly six years, the snow fall and forecasting mesmerize me. In Houston winter weather comes from the north and in the summer from the south. Sometimes from the west but rarely from the east. We gets it all here, from all directions. Guess the old wives tale of thunderstorm in winter certainly proved true this time. We had a rather mild. snowless winter last year, but this year seems colder and snowier. 

Yesterday afternoon after applying gesso on some boards, vacuuming the upstairs and folding laundry, I sat down to continue reading The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett. It is an interesting and thoughtful read. I am almost done and I have enjoyed the main characters except Eudora is a little too proper. Takes place in London so proper is a proper word. Of course loving to read southern fiction and nonfiction, when I read Eudora, I think Welty not Honeysett. Eudora Welty is not one of my favorite authors but she certainly is one of the more interesting authors of her time. Just like Elizabeth Eliot and Jan Karon, I have tried and tried to read  their works, and their style and my reading style don't mesh together. 

Hopefully, another Facebook ad for the win. It is so difficult to find size 12 boots. Sometimes Merrill and Keen have them, but mostly no. Academy Sports and Outdoors in Johnson City no longer carries size 12 tennis shoes for women, so at times, there is difficulty in finding boots and shoes. This morning a new ad for Kuru came up on the timeline. Began looking at their site and they carry size 12 in just about everything they have and not only that but their advertising says their shoes help with plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. Last spring, the bone spur on my right heel started up, again after years of not experiencing that kind of pain. Because I said if someone made good boots in my size, I would order from them, I did so this morning. Looking forward to them arriving to see if these boots and then order shoes will help. Some part of me thinks my hip replacement and not working on my stride and steps is causing some of the pain. Part of the pain is from a pair of cute boots I wore last February and those boots are no longer in the house or even the garage. 

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With very little sun and temps not getting above freezing, the snow stuck around all night. Yesterday afternoon as the wind picked up and howled from the north, the snow on the side of the driveway, whirled its way across the driveway into the flowerbed on the other side. Actually had a few small drifts of snow. The wind gusted from time to time in the night. It is a lonely and eerie sound. This morning there was a full house of the regulars for breakfast. All three, Boo, Boodos and Bootrey were in the garage. That is unusual. Last night all three of the male dominant cats ate dinner together, which is rare and they didn't fight or command territory. Easy food overcomes the macho strutting of cats.  Mama Cat and Punky came for supper last night as well and they are the ones who will stir up trouble. Once everyone saw there were enough bowls of food for everyone, the cats ate together like it was a family reunion. 

Where the Boys Are, was on in the background last night. I've seen it so many times, so I didn't pay it too much mind. The movie is based on a book. I Googled this up last night. The author heard an interview of girls at the beach on spring break and asked why they didn't go home for the week with mom and dad. One girl said, this is where the boys are and as they say, the rest is history. Book written, movie made. 

I'm seeing a lot of local shops closed for the day due to ice. Yesterday, several closed due to water pressure issues. Lots of reports of ice still on side roads with not all roads being salted or sanded. The mountains I can see from our windows have snow on them. Not an unusual sight but these are the ones you rarely see snow on for any period of time. 

The snow from our roof is beginning to melt and the sound of snow falling onto the deck and driveway is loud. One of the orange cats is sitting on a table on the deck and I sure hope he is fast enough to outrun the falling accumulated roof snow. 

This morning the sunrise was brilliant and exceptional. There seemed to be a shaft of pink light coming down from the heavens. Someone said, sunrise all for you, Nancy. My response, I have to remember to take the time and go to the front room to see the scene unfold. There are many mornings I'm just getting downstairs to make coffee. These winter days can be like that. Not taking in the full beauty of snow and blue skies or gray skies. The reflection of sun on snow, can almost be blinding at times but the trees proclaim with those leafless branches, the glory of God. Life is flowing where we can't see it, but in about six weeks we will. 

Delightful

 There is nothing like watching snow fall and taking a bite of summer. I opened a container of peaches. Those peaches we sliced and froze were so delicious last night. I ate them partially still frozen reminding me of the peaches that were severed at Wyatt's Cafeteria back in the day. We still have snow on the ground but as temps rise and as the sun is trying to break through clouds, the snow is fading away into slush and water. Gone are the kitty paw prints on the driveway that were made earlier this morning in the snow. The comings and goings of kitties. Junior let me pet him this morning, a first, but probably because he was enamored with treats on the steps. I think Boodos has a little limp going but he is one of those cats that has never ventured close. It is a miracle that they come into the garage to eat. HP has started going to the opposite door on the porch, to be let in, eat some treats, maybe rest a bit and then wants an exit. It looks like HP likes to eat alone and doesn't care for the hustle and pushing the kitties do to eat morning treats on the back porch. 

Churches in the area have all cancelled services due to the snow and ice. Even our road, which is a rather busy one, is seemingly quiet. At both ends of the road, there are predictable patches of black ice. Our driveway looks a bit icy but now with temps above freezing, this afternoons hauling of garbage bins to the road shouldn't be too treacherous. The sound of snow sliding off the roof catches me by surprise now and then. Yesterday, I was very tempted to go to Burnsville and then onto Johnson City, but in hindsight, I am glad I talked myself out of going. With the snow beginning just a little before 4:00, I probably wouldn't have been home yet. 

Since today is Sunday, I noticed I am wearing holy clothes, a Baylor sweatshirt and a long sleeve Montreat shirt underneath it. Wearing warm sweatpants to complete the outfit. Funny, during this pandemic time at home I have rarely worn sweatpants. Sometimes workout pants, but I didn't work out in them. 

I discovered a FB group last night that is from where I was born, a then and now kind of site. Lots of old pictures that seem vaguely familiar. The question to join the group, I couldn't answer specifically but I was able to give enough details for them to know I knew the area. Interesting to look at pictures from the early 1900s and beyond. Reading people's memories of places there resonates with the few places that I remember. Sometimes I have to go to Google Maps to remember street names but I somewhat remember how to get from grandparent to grandparent homes. 

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I woke up to no snow, so the forecast for snow in the night didn't pan out. It is snowing now, light snow and it is accumulating but not like Saturday. Roy is still trying to predict mountain weather with Houston knowledge and it just doesn't translate. 

Since I have been going to online church for the month of January, I have noticed one trait with most of the younger, trying to act younger, and a few of the older preachers, they all wave their arms and make way too many gestures. It is probably done to emphasize their point but when it is almost an exclusive thing...for every sentence and point, with ADD I get to watching the waving, pointing and arm spread instead of listening to their points. I understand arm and hand gestures usually mean you are a good communicator but it seems like every online preacher has taken the same communication course. Just one of my January observations. 

Saturday evening The Music Man was on TCM, so even though I was so tired I stayed up and watched most of the movie. Last night as I was falling asleep, I was trying to remember the actress' name that played the librarian. I went through tons of names trying to get to hers but it didn't ever come to me that is until I woke up this morning and knew it was Shirley Jones. Weird how the brain works or doesn't work or finally shows up to work. 

Light snow is back after several hours absence. Made a quick walk to the delivery drop box and it was as if Christmas had come. Several envelopes and boxes. Didn't disturb the kitties by using the garage but I will be out there soon enough with their supper. I am almost finished with my second book of the year and I still had time to vacuum, fold laundry and pick up a few odds and ends. I love these days or even weeks where I have nothing planned and don't have to be anywhere at any time. I made lean pork chops in the slow cooker yesterday and had leftovers for lunch. Delicious as always. Never was much of a pork liking girl, with the exception for bacon, but since living here, more pork is on the menu. Buddy has settled once again in the window to keep an eye on the kitties, but the kitties are not playing on the driveway, too cold. Now Buddy has drifted into another nap. I worked putting Gesso on some small boards so I can paint them but directions say 24 hours is best to let it rest. So now, even with some new metallic colors I will option the rest of the afternoon to reading, sitting by Buddy, in the window with a cup of hot tea. It is a most delightful afternoon. 

January 29, 1971...

 The promise of ice, sleet, rain and snow are in the forecast but depending on the temperatures, even by one or two degrees will determine what area gets snow and the rest a cornucopia of an outpouring of condensate. Right now our forecast is of the mixed variety. Several on FB have posted red sunrises which by the comments being made other than beautiful is; there's some bad weather a brewing. 

Last night I remembered what happened fifty years ago on January 29, 1971...I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. He has made all the difference in my life. I've shared the story before how my friend Beth invited me to a revival at her church. I said, sure, I'll go but I cancelled with the excuse of homework. Now, I find that kind of funny because that was in the period of my life when doing homework wasn't even a blip on the screen. When she hung up she prayed, Lord, get her there anyway you can. As I hung up the phone, it began ringing, I answered and it was the boy who I dated at that time. His friend had invited him to a revival at his church and Richard told him yes, we would attend on Friday night. I was not happy about this development, in fact I was downright mad. How fitting the preacher for the revival at Willow Meadows was James Robinson, who at that time was known as God's angry young man. My plan for Friday night, was to sit all disgusted like in the pew to show my miff-dom. As we drove to church I told Richard my plans concerning Friday night church would be for a wedding, not some revival. We arrived the pews were spacious, I could not slump my attitude. Then I recognized several acquaintances from my church. Oh great! That night, God touched my heart and I knew I was not saved and very much in need of a Savior. The invitation was extended to those who would like to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. My pride would not let me walk that aisle, those people from my church, what would they think? They had assumed I was already a believer and it seemed that reason would be the stoppable reason  until Richard looked at me and said, I don't know about you, but I am going down front and asking Jesus into my life. Me too! And we both walked down the aisle.

Afterwards, we went over to Westbury Square to have pizza. I had a joyous perplexity because I knew, this night forward would be a changer. A friend from high school came over to our table, Richard and I went to rival high schools, and he looked at me and said, do you want to tell her what happened tonight? Scared, nervous and unprepared, I told Karen, I had asked Jesus into my life. Her response is lost to me from that long ago night but what isn't lost to me is the gift that Richard gave me that night. It wasn't ever too difficult from that time forward to share my faith. Really, Richard gave me two gifts that night, the first in giving me the opportunity, stupid dumb pride tried to hinder me, to make the best decision ever. 

When I think about it even more these days, I see the path and map God had in deliverance not only from sin, but from the trap and future mapped out by my father for me. As the old Campus Crusade pamphlet said, God has a wonderful plan for your life, but my father had a devious and destructive plan for me. God used this what seemed insignificant beach trip in junior high school. That's where I met Richard and on the way home I sat on the school bus seat beside him. Ah, those school bus trips that don't bother you when you're young but now, I shudder at the thought of. You see, I went against everything that I was being told at the time by my father. Not to approach or talk to boys, not that it would do any good for me to do so because no one wants to talk to an ugly girl and that he, even my father had difficulty talking to me due to my repelling and awful face. Richard just seemed like a nice guy. He was a year ahead school wise and I really don't remember seeing him too much after that. The week before I was to begin high school, all of us, Mom, Dad, and Doug were painting bedrooms in our house. The phone rang, I answered and heard; this is a voice from the past. Do you remember me? Anyway, Richard asked me to a church dance and I said yes. My father had to be steaming mad at this development after all his gaslighting. I had no idea how to act on a date, so I feel like I was really stiff and too formal. Acting differently than who I was because I thought that is what one did. Richard told me later that after that date, he had no plans on asking me out again cause I wasn't very friendly or at ease. But, once again, I went against all that I had been told at home and asked him at the end of the dance if he would like to go on a picnic at The Hill in Herman Park in the near future. Again upon reflecting on this, I am glad I did that because you know my father would have turned on me with the, see I told you kind of stuff and thus taking away the little bitty tiny shred of confidence I had in this area of life. Richard and I dated on and off the next few years. 

Richard went onto college and seminary. He married, has a lovely family, now with grandchildren, and retired from being a pastor in the Methodist Church a few years ago. We are friends on FB and I saw him once when Peggy and I did a Mildred and Gertrude thing for a group at the  state Methodist conference in Galveston about nine years ago. 

Seeing how what seemed to be unrelated circumstances became the first baby steps in loving Jesus and following Him. At the time, it seemed like, just a date, a revival service, and pizza but truly, it was a whole lot more than that. Fifty years! Wow!  

God made such a change in me, even my parents were amazed that this sullen, depressed, apathetic girl had seemingly changed overnight. I began attending Willow Meadows Baptist Church and made some of the best friends and we are still friends to this day. I was taught the Bible by some of the best Sunday School teachers. God truly laid a foundation for me beginning on January 29, 1971. There were still tough times and issues at home but now I knew I was not alone. Life has not always been a breeze yet there were times that it was as if life was floating on a breeze. Reflecting on these past fifty years, walking with the Lord thanking Him for His goodness, His gift of salvation and His gift of friends, His gift of people in seasons of life that helped me, and for His fabulous gift of Roy, fills my heart with joy. 

I started out this post talking about snow, precipitation and the chances therein. Our area got snow, more than we anticipated here on dry ridge. The snowfall began slowly and then escalated into big flakes of falling snow. In just over an hour everything was covered, thus bringing on the quietness of snow. 

Friday Morning Catch Up

 The beginning of this post feels like Snoopy on his doghouse, typing away..."It was a dark and stormy night." Last night was a dark and windy night around here. The weather service had a winter wind advisory out for the early morning into the afternoon. Right on time last night, the wind began. Around here I do not like wind from the northwest because it affects us more than wind from other directions. Just like storms that move toward us from the south seem to be worse because the mountains aren't as high and don't break up the storms. Late in the afternoon yesterday, I began checking things, making sure the cat toys were put up and checked on other items around the house. 

On schedule, the rain began with a forecast of possible snow, just a dusting. I decided to settle in early and was soon joined by Buddy. Restful, peaceful sleep until around 12:30. I heard a noise. It sounded as if something was on the back porch roof. Drawing back the curtains, I saw nothing. Laid back down and soon enough, the noise occurred again. This time I got up, looking out both back windows to see nothing making the noise. I came downstairs and checked, nothing amiss but I decided to stay up and see if I could decipher the origin of the noise. Got my book and settled into bed. Buddy got comfortable finally. Then I heard something, not the same noise as the two times before, almost sounded like a bobcat. All through this the constant was wind. Some of the gusts seemed like micro gusts and the force of the wind was making objects outside, sound differently. I was deep into the plot of my book when I heard one of those micro gusts and a crash. Up once again only this time I went out onto the back porch, cold and windy. I shivered while looking for the crash sight. It was a vase of flowers that held both wooden tulips and artificial foliage. Scattered by the wind, so I quickly gathered everything and put it all in a decorative white enamel bucket and hoped for no more wind bursts to break the silence. All of this felt like I was in a movie or that the happenings held more meaning to them other than wind.  That emotion could have come from the book I am rereading. I have read this book many times but this time around I am picking up truths that didn't stick with me or even noticed from previous readings. The ending, it stays with me though. So, now once again I read through the lives of the people involved and can see how the conclusion comes to be. Hopefully, I will finish it today. It is easier knowing the ending up the process of getting there has more of my attention on this reading. 

It looks like we are getting a few flakes of snow, very tiny flakes. At first, it seemed it was from wind blowing snow off of trees and roofs, but alas my non professional opinion is snow. I just had to walk down to the road for a package in the mailbox and it is a mix of blowing snow and snow falling. Dang, it is cold out there! I even put my hoodie hood on my head. On the way back in, gave the kiddos a treat or two and emptied the litter box so no one would feel like they had to go out in the cold and snow to go. 🎶 no go on snow, no go on snow. In the bleak mid winter, litter box is the way to go🎶

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Waiting for the temps to get above freezing before getting out to run errands. The sun is bright and so welcomed. I finished Keepers of the House last night. 1965 Pulitzer Prize winner by Shirley Ann Grau. In interviews she told how after the book was published the K%& came to her home to burn a cross in her yard. They couldn't get it to stand up, so they laid it down, set it on fire and the fire fizzled. I've started the next book, The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett. Opposite genre but it is entertaining and didn't take long to pull me into the story. 

The Feral Fam was hungry this morning, well most mornings they are. Last night at supper, we had a full house including feuding male cats. Laid down the law that they would need to get along at least while eating. Everyone settled down, thankfully. 

Off to run errands...not above freezing but with the amount of cars and trucks going by, the roads shouldn't be too bad. 

Storms, Ferals and Birds

 We had a storm Monday night, in the middle of the night. The lightning flashes and then semi close thunder that woke me up. It is kind of unusual to have a thunder storm in winter. The old wives tale says, if you have a thunder storm in winter, there will be snow within the next ten days. Guess, we will have to wait and see if this come true. What is kind of unusual about the thunderstorm is, almost everyone I have talked to heard the thunder, and part of this conversation comes from my dental appointment, talking with people who live all around the Asheville area. 

My plans had been to go over to the Biltmore before my dentist appointment but thick fog that rose up late in the morning as well as cleaning paw prints off the Mustang before leaving took those plans away. It was a warm, spring-like day here and just like Texas, we can get all four seasons in a twenty four to forty eight hour period. I ended up doing the practical thing after the appointment. The Lowe's on Tunnel Road had a throw rug that the Weaverville Lowe's didn't have. The floorplans of those stores are almost the exact opposite but I finally found my way around. Then on the way home, a quick trip to pick up a few things at the grocery store. 

Since it was so nice in the late afternoon, I put together some treats for the kitties and set on the back step to draw them in a bit closer to me. They were enjoying the treats, fighting one another off for them and I enjoyed the brilliant winter sunlight. The sunsets in winter are spectacular because of the clouds but for us not only the clouds but the sun peeping through the branches of those tall trees make for a beautiful scene. My neighbor Nancy stopped by for a visit on her daily compost horse poop disposal trip. The land they have been trying to purchase, went under contract to a couple from the Weaverville area. While they are disappointed in not getting the land, the new owners are going to build a house for themselves and told Nancy that she and her daughter can continue riding on the acreage. She didn't know about the pasture in front of us and we are all feeling a bit hemmed in. My dentist lives out this way as well and said yesterday our rural is going suburban and then we all say the same thing, where would we move to avoid this? Some of the most beautiful areas can be sketchy and we all like our neighbors on our hill, so guess we will wait and see. 

The Feral Fam continue to be entertaining. With a warm day, I scooted them out of the garage to run off some of their energy. Monday morning, they left me a present at the backdoor steps. I don't know what it was when it was living but it had been played with quite hard before their leaving the gift. Guess, this is the Feral Fam regifting. Progress with them is slow at times but keeping patient with them has been a good lesson for me. Poor Boo, his siblings rescued but we could never get him. Punky kept him with her for weeks and then one day, as mama cats do, she had no more interest in him but moved on and had another litter. He is a bit of a loner, but he will hang out with the others. He has just now started coming into the garage not only to eat, but to sleep. He and Jazzy are the two that exit the moment I enter the garage, if they have been back in the sleeping corner. They make a racket doing so. Mama Cat doesn't hiss at me whenever she is around. Punky is still being a pain to the others but I know her actions are a result of missing Strawyer. She can stir it up in the garage. She has always had panic eyes, or at least that is what I call them, and her eyes hold a little more panic than they used to. I get impatient with her but deep inside, I know this cat is hurting, still. Biggio and Bobbsey are becoming friendlier. During treats in the morning, Bobbsey will let me touch her nose. Biggio lets me pet him every once in a while and that little bit of petting is usually associated with food. Radley is expanding his territory, he just loves the prayer of Jaybez, and taking on other male cats. Baby doesn't look like a baby anymore but is a beautiful cat. Funny, started out a black and white cat, then became a little greyer in color and now has gone back to more of a black fur. Baby is so playful and always looking for a fake fight better known as play. Sadly, I have not seen Gramps for several days. It is not unusual for these cats to take a road trip exploring the area. Nancy thinks he has been riding the fence line near her but the fence line is connected to coyote country and I hope that Gramps, as little as he was, did not find his demise among those viscous animals. I hold out hope because these cats have shown up before after I had given up hope.  But now, thinking about it just a bit, Gramps had signs of not feeling good. Since he was the smallest and the smallest don't always survive, I have a hunch, Gramps did what most cats do when they're ill and maybe close to death, he is probably back there hidden along the side of the gravel road. Junior and Jazzy, the two orange cats take after their dad, Strawyer. A little whinny at times but love the comfort of a warm bed. They are usually the last two up when I am fixing their food. 

Most of the birdfeeders have been moved to the front yard. The birds are able to eat in relative peace. I hung a feeder in the pear tree yesterday, meant especially for cardinals. They require trees and shrubs close by to use a feeder on a continuous basis. I walked the front yard looking for any problems that will need to be taken care of when spring arrives. I did see where I would like to put in a fence and then use the rest of the openness to plant trees to obstruct views closer to the road. Dreaming on a warm afternoon with the threat of a storm on the horizon. I went down to the road to check the mailbox and Nancy was there picking up her garbage can. We visited a few minutes and in those brief minutes, the weather turned. The wind picked up, clouds moved in, and the temps began a descent into the coolish range. Even a few drops of rain fell. 

For Now

 So many times I berate myself over social media. It can be a stealer of time, reading articles on Twitter or keeping up with friends on Facebook. I have Instagram, but hardly give it a look because it is just one more thing. The joy of social media is keeping up with friends and now living in another state, so far away, I would miss out on celebrations, those in need of prayer and many good laughs. Yesterday morning, I was especially thankful for Wifi and the technology that comes with it all. I was able to Zoom with my former Sunday School, Life Bible Study, class. My friend Dena who has faithfully taught in Dayspring for twenty years, is retiring....for now. She knew the Lord's leading for her to step down from teaching, for now. So, it was wonderful, for now, to be able to participate in that Sunday morning class. Dena is one of the best teachers and my Bibles are filled with notes in the margins from her lessons over the years. We have been friends for almost twenty years, about the same time when she began teaching in our class. After her lesson, when she shared her decision to step down, she went through a few memories that we have shared as a class. She mentioned her surprise 50th birthday party at Peggy's. We got her there, barely, under the guise of the party being for Carolyn's birthday. Y'all, I was so nervous that she would decide at the last minute not to go and that can always be a factor for this friend who cherishes her down time, alone. Thankfully, she rode with Roy and me out to Peggy's house and she certainly was surprised as church friends, work friends and family gathered to celebrate her monumental birthday. 

My Bible is falling apart, which is a good and bad thing. Good, because that is a sign of being well used but bad, finding one to replace it. I have one in the wings and when I read from it yesterday I realized that something was missing. I am a center reference column reader. Not so much that I use it but because it makes an ease on the eyes for reading. the turquoise Bible was not going to be the one. Dang, cause it is so cute.  I began the search online yesterday afternoon. Neither Amazon nor Barnes and Noble had what I was looking for. I did a Google search and lo and behold, I found what I was looking for at Target and Lifeway. I went with Target because of free shipping and a discounted price. Lifeway was about $10.00 more and $6.99 shipping to boot. This is partially why the selling part of Lifeway has done badly in the past few years and closed all their stores. Lifeway came out this week with a rebranding, with the W now not being capitalized and the i with a tear away look or something. Deep down inside for me, Lifeway is still The Baptist Bookstore. My favorite Baptist Bookstore was by South Main Baptist Church in Houston. Lifeway stores of the recent past had way too much Jesus Junk in them. There was a sleek but cold atmosphere in the stores. It never felt inviting to browse. In fact, when we had the store in Asheville, it was a stop of last resort. 

Yesterday morning, the verse from Proverbs 4:23 rolled around on the inside of me. Guard your heart. Sometimes the verses that become plaques, or plates or platitudes gets lost in the familiarity. We can regard verses like that with a yea, been there, done that kind of attitude. They might be memory verses that have just been that, a memory verse to get a star on a poster or to rebrand that thought, a notation on an Excel spread sheet. Guard your heart. Last week while delivering some things to friends, social distancing of course, Kelly and I talked about not going stir crazy as we hunker down during pandemic times. Mainly, I have unfinished projects and work occupy a lot of time and since I have slowed down just a bit, they take longer to accomplish. But, there are those days, if I don't watch it, contemplations can quickly turn into taking way too much attention and that is when guarding my heart kicks in. It is a literal thing, stress brings on afib and a spiritual thing. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 

On this rainy day, with pewter gray skies, my neighbors huge tree stands against this steely color. The branches are empty of leaves long ago fallen to the ground. Some think dreary, but I think hope, because against the dreary, in spite of the rain, there is life flowing deeply within that tree. Resting for the upcoming seasons when trees truly are on display, budding, blooming and sustaining until those cool fall days cause the leaves to turn and fall. I don't sit here and worry that the there isn't life over there, that buds aren't showing, yet. It makes me think in this quiet January time, when life slows a bit, nothing too showy going on, is there life teaming within getting ready for the upcoming seasons? I remind myself quite often these days not to be like a stunted shrub in the desert, Jerimiah 17:6. 

Being a fence sitter, this house is perfectly placed for a fence sitter. Sitting in the living room I can see the north skies that are seen from the back of the house and then I see the southeast from the front of the house. North skies can be clear, almost blue but a quick glance to the southeast holds dark skies and clouds. Yes, as a fence sitter, the views are adequate to continue fence sitting. 

I will leave this post with a Dena story. Dena was moving from an older apartment to a brand new, building of apartments, set in a park like setting. Parking garage so as not to worry about flooding when the rains came. Roy and I stepped into her old apartment to help her begin sorting and moving the smaller things that the movers would not be transporting. Roy about shook her to the ground when he asked, "what can I throw away?" At the end of cleaning up the old apartment with the big things moved already, there was a small pile of stuff. Dena gives great contemplation to these kinds of things and in the pile was an old globe that had been her sister's globe for use in junior high school. Her older sister mind you. Dena called her sister to see if she wanted the globe...that would be no, she hadn't thought about it since junior high school. Dena handed us the globe and said, don't tell me what you do with it. Well, we held onto it because I knew it could be of some use in the future. Dayspring had a apartment warming for Dena. Becky S and I had a plan for that globe. Becky decorated it, wrapped it up and gave it to her at the party. We had made it into a guest globe instead of giving her a guest book. When friends came over, they could sign the globe which turned out to be quite fun because Dena had international guests in her home from time to time. The look on Dena's face was priceless when she unwrapped and saw the globe. Maybe there was a bit of relief too, since it had not met a garbage ending but had been rescued and repurposed.