To Sum It Up......

This mornings coffee had a hint of yesterday afternoons brew. Coffee has always seemed to be an early morning or late evening kind of thing. In fact, coffee resonates with me for those laid back days of no schedule or immediate pressings. On days of morning appointments or church, I don't drink coffee because it slows me down which seems to be the opposite of what it is supposed to do. With a bit of chill in the house yesterday, I decided to make some Taste of Texas cinnamon decaf coffee to take the edge off of the chill. That complementary coffee when dining at Taste of Texas is a great end to a delicious meal. Their coffee is now available in the gift shop and online. Man, that cinnamon coffee was the bomb diggity. Now we come back to the original thought of the paragraph, even with cleaning out the coffee pot, this morning a little bit of cinnamon lingered into the JFG coffee. Kind of sad to have just discovered this coffee and Ingles is not selling it anymore. To sum it up, coffee good, cinnamon coffee good, the best part of waking up is, you woke up....no, with JFG cinnamon hinted coffee in my biggest mug.

We are experiencing a lot of rain that has come up from the Gulf. Flash flood watches and warnings cover the area. We have a couple of waterfalls in the backyard that ebb and flow with the rain shower. It looks as if the worst of the rain is due south of us but living in the dry ridge area, we have seen a lot of rain. Knowing that the later part of Wednesday and all of Thursday held these showers, I got my grocery shopping done yesterday morning. I should have stopped to take pictures of the French Broad, fog and mist rising, making a most beautiful scene. This morning the fog is quickly overtaking our little valley. An interesting view from the front bedroom windows. To sum it up, don't need to go to Transylvania County to see waterfalls today, with several small ones flowing in the backyard.

This morning's Twitter feed is filled with all kinds of vitriol, bitterness, anger, defending, accusing and in the political realm, the pushing of books written by those in favor, opposed, disenfranchised, adoring...well, almost all the genres are covered. Platforms being strengthened and platforms in the early construction phase are following a building plan expressed by the current ebb and flow of righteousness or self righteousness or blatant disregard. I rarely if ever express politics or my lack of politics on Twitter, Facebook or Monablog. I have friends and family on the left and on the right and in between. There are friends who feel like I should make a statement or at least respond to where I stand. But here's the deal, before, during and yes, even after, I have never, ever used these outlets to express political views or lack of views. Early on when Monablog began, I did express some disapproval of "things" that I saw while working at a church. I did get some push back while tackling those themes. Then after a few years of not being involved in working at a church, those thoughts got pushed back to the back burner on my part and yes, there have been changes for the good in conditions of being low on the org chart. I do not believe anything I wrote changed that. Others who have a stronger voice and platform and God stirring hearts to do the right thing, made those transformations. These political times remind me of the big push for conservatives in taking over the SBC from the moderates and liberals. My crazy friend Debbie, who had Pentecostal leanings, would ask me when this is all said and done...what Baptist church will you attend? My answer to her never changed. I told her I would go to the church with a gym.

  

So, my thoughts and walk and belief, and not trying to be Sally Spiritual, is summed up in Micah 6:8. This is the fruit of abiding and walking with the Lord. Fruit is evident, so this is not an excuse for just thoughts and prayers. I am also a big believer in not announcing what or how you are planting for this fruit. This is also where I might veer from big church thinking, generosity is not just what you give to the church, a generous lifestyle is active in all areas of our lives. I love our pastor and his thoughts on reaching a community for Christ, sharing Jesus both internationally, nationally, and locally. To sum it up politically and spiritually, Micah 6:8.

I am probably thinking these thoughts because we are in Nehemiah for the next few weeks. It is a top five in books of the Bible...on my, nobody cares about this but me, list. One of the first books I purchased after becoming a Christian was, Victorious Christian Service, by Alan Redpath. The book cover says I spent $6.95 on it. Over the years, I have gotten that $6.95 back in multiples of study. It has been a joy to read through this book while preparing. Over the years Nehemiah has been used and taught for capital campaigns, building projects and the like but at the heart of it is, prayer, trust, being a leader who doesn't mind getting a little dirty in the process of helping repair and shoulder a load. Oh yes, Nehemiah was generous in all matters of life. One of the commentaries I read said, that some of what we find in Nehemiah, is probably from his personal journal and God has graciously allowed us to see Nehemiah in words that he might not have thought anyone would see. To sum it up, Nehemiah is a great book with so many layers.

On the feral front, with all this massive amount of rain, standing water, waterfalls and a general muddy mess, I fed the fam in the garage this morning, then left the backdoor open so they have the feeling of coming and going. I think Edee and Andy took up the offer, then when I went out there to get something from the refrigerator, Edee ran outside. Andy, he is still in his corner, doesn't move when I come and go and has let me see that he is there. I thought for sure Strawyer would stay because he has before. I am happy to provide indoor accommodations for them which includes, food, water and snacks...as well as indoor plumbing with a litter box. To sum it up, feral life is hard, trust is difficult but sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling and remember no harm has come to you by my hand, only food, drink and shelter. Andy is one smart cat.

Things To Do...Books To Read

Tuesday, a feeling of loss lingered around every nook and cranny. Probably from watching one of the kittens. Little Edee isn't well and I have been getting all kinds of probiotics in her as well as meds for parasites. It would be more effective if I could get it in her on a one to one basis but until she lets that happen...I have to trust she is getting what she needs in probiotic in the dishes she shares with all the other cats. She is still an aggressive eater and will push the others aside to get to the food. This morning I was hoping for some results toward a positive outcome but I've kept an eye on her and her siblings for a hint of positive. The all too familiar sitting near or close by has been going on this morning. She has always favored Mr McBeavy in her looks, especially her face but this morning in profile, she really looks like him. Of all the kittens, she has missed him the most. She spent lots of time in his presence. The adult cats have relinquished control of the back to the kittens. Punky is around once or twice and Strawyer is around a little less. I saw him the other day nearly all the way to the French Broad Community Store that now has another name. Anyway, he was looking in my direction when I passed him. He must have recognized the mustang because he was there in a heartbeat, as soon as I had parked.
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Now it is the first day of February. The past couple of years I have used January as a month to reflect, redirect, relax, and restore. It is a quiet month here especially with stores and such having winter hours. Instead of bucking that trend, I went with it. And it was a bit easier this year because of the whole tooth extraction, infection, implant thing beginning. The first few weeks I was a bit off kilter because of the strong antibiotics that had been prescribed. Since 2001 when I had a MRSA infection and it being at the beginning of those infections gaining nationwide attention, the last four months of that year were spent taking some of the strongest antibiotics prescribed and believe me, they did a number on me while healing things up. Since then on the few occasions of antibiotic treatment, it is a whirl of an emotional ride, being a little off balance and a general feeling of malaise. It is as if the thoughts are wearing me away to give into depression and depressing thoughts. So, as much as I could influence my thoughts and thinking, to take the old Bible phrase, I took those thoughts captive to Christ. Now, some days it was easier than others and some days it was downright hard and wearisome. The past Januarys was a sorting through and trying to figure out early life with a father who started hating me at the age of 5, just because I liked school and was making friends. The normal thing that parents want, but from that time onward, even into adulthood, life was a battle and so hard because with him it was all a battle and dominance. I now know the things that trigger my responses to arbitrary decisions being made for or concerning me without input as well as anyone speaking for me on my behalf without permission. I'm following the prescription, you have to starve a narcissist. Thankfully, in January of 2018 I got a hold of information that quickened the process because I found out what harm and strategies a narcissist will go to. Thankfully, I also came across information that helped so much in extracting yourself from a narcissist, and even though he was dead, it helped free my mind as well as take precautions with others who have a narcissistic bent. In January of 2019, I did more of a spiritual assessment and right the ship so to speak because I want to finish out strong.
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The fingers were willing but the will gave a mighty good fight. I've wanted to get back to this post and finish it up but distractions and some deadlines caused a lack of any time to sit down and blog. Today, with the rain falling and the errands ran, I'm ensconced till Friday morning. We are supposed to get a whole lot of rain with warnings and watches for homes in coves and built on the side of a hill or mountain. I've worked on the lesson for Sunday. We are in one of my favorite books of the Bible Nehemiah. We get to spend two Sundays in the book.

Yesterday, was the follow up appointment for tooth extraction and implant rod placement. The next few months are critical for the post to attach and fix itself in the bone graft. The mesh that he put in fell out over the last weekend and entangled itself in the remaining threads of stitches. So now we wait until May to see what's happening with it all. To celebrate a pretty good report I decided to have a late lunch early supper at The Biltmore Estate. When I was able to get a really close parking spot close to the winery, the Bistro became the choice. The Bistro is probably my least favorite restaurant on the Biltmore Estate but they serve a pretty good steak and fries. I also had a bowl of butternut squash soup...which was absolutely delicious. Then I made my way over to the winery and found infused oil oils for our Taste and See Bible study that begins in March. It was getting into the late afternoon so I decided going to Antler Hill Village will have to wait for another trip.

Little Edee is making great strides into health. She was puny and nearing the next stage of a slow process of death. The parasites got a hold of her, but with worming meds, probiotics  and canned pumpkin, she is returning to the land of the living. She has been playing and much more active. When her siblings were doing the death watch thing...I thought she was a goner, but she has never lost her appetite, so that is huge. They are all benefiting from the probiotics and pumpkin. Our neighbor Nancy brought down a bed for the cats this week. Her cats would rather sleep on the couch. I put it in between the two houses and it stays relatively dry. The four kittens have taken up residence in the houses, but not so much at night.

There are things to do and books to read, so for now...until the next post, ta ta.

Already Looking Toward Spring

February hasn't arrived and I am already thinking about spring...more specifically, the big front flowerbed's future look. I've stockpiled rubberized mulch rounds and edgers. Almost every time there is a 20% off sale and free shipping, a few of these are bought. Since I am trying to cut down the number of weeds that takes over, no more in the ground plants because we are adding big above ground containers. The front bed is really more a spring thing with the other flower beds more inclined toward summer and fall. So, the big less weeds experiment will begin in a few months.

For those who read the previous post, the garbage can was retrieved successfully as well as the delivery of LSU championship t-shirts. Why the mail woman leaves the door open to the mailbox is beyond me. Thankfully, I signed up for messages when items had been shipped and then delivered. So all is well with everything back where it belongs.

The clouds are hanging low over the valley this afternoon. A lot of the long range mountain views are merely clouds...thick clouds covering up the mountains. I was so sad to hear the news of Kobe Bryant's passing. So young as well as the other occupants in the helicopter. While throughout life I have had a love/hate relationship with basketball, mainly that is due to my ineptitude of being able to play the game...which always felt like a loss cause of being so tall. I blame learning how to play in junior high school when the rules for girls was only three dribbles and you had to pass the ball. Only shots that could be taken had to be in three circles by each basket. Now, as that tall girl, I played center and was the only player allowed to have full run of the court. So I mainly chose defense cause the three dribble thing messed me up. When the rules changed in high school, I was devoting my athletic ability to volleyball. Besides, I always took fouls personally, thus fouling out a lot.
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This morning I broke out the King Cake coffee that we brought back from Houston. We have Community Coffee here but none of the special flavors. It was a delicious morning coffee wise. The sun is out and hopefully by the time I get out and about the black ice will have melted. Lots of reports of slick roads.

Yep, I got out and took coats to ABCCM and books and shirts to Goodwill. I get in these let's clean out the stuff in January but the hardest part is letting stuff stay until April for the church yard sale. I  could put stuff in the garage, that is already messy but I am storing all the flat cardboard for the front flowerbed that will have artificial mulch in it as soon as spring hits the mountains. Looks like we will have spring like weather on Monday and Tuesday of next week with the highs getting toward 70 but the promise of cold lingers in the coming days.

Winter Supply- Coffee Creamer? Check

This Monday morning finds me easing into the day. I've done some reading and some feeding of the cats and some treating for Buddy. In the midst of all this morning easing I am thinking about this past weekend. Nothing particularly exceptional about it except the warmth of the memories and so much thankfulness for Newfound Baptist Church.

Saturday morning the Baptist Men of our church did a community breakfast. I haven't ever attended one and almost didn't this year except for the reminder from Judy C and a Saturday morning text that came at the right time. I was getting ready to turn over and go back to sleep when Inez texted and said they were going to the breakfast. Well, that was all the encouragement I needed, so I let her know I would be there but probably a little late. The breakfast was delicious and time spent with friends, priceless. After breakfast I headed over to Publix for a quick grocery trip. My usual experience isn't to go on Saturday but the trip was rewarded with seeing Velda there. At breakfast several of us mentioned grocery store trips but such serendipity to see Velda. We both like the same coffee creamer which Publix was out of. A little bit later Velda texted me that Ingles across from Publix had it and it was  on sale. The remainder of the day was spent working on the Sunday School lesson in Zechariah and then some for fun reading. Another unlikely of the day held watching two documentaries on TV. Unless it is college football season, I don't usually watch much TV on Saturdays. 

Sunday morning in class, there was an joy and excitement. We almost had everyone on the roll there. We welcomed back those who have been ill the past couple of weeks and rejoiced with our friend Patty that her procedure went well. Rumor has it that Brenda baked her a cake. Our class is appropriately named, The Joy Class. With Zechariah holding all the genres for prophecy, narrative history and apocalyptic, the decided approach to the lesson was narrative history for $500 Alex. We looked at three passages of scripture, return to the Lord, don't despise the day of small beginnings, and be so full of the Spirit that people want to walk with you in life because they can see God's blessings in us. Last Sunday I felt so tired and emotionally worn out over Mr McBeavy, I didn't go to Sunday night church or choir practice, so it felt good last night to be back in the swing of things. Pastor Bradley is going through I Samuel and it is a wonderful study. Choir practice was good and worshipful. We worked on new music that is exciting and challenging. As per usual, about 8:10 my ADD kicked in, attention span gone but tried to hold it together cause we have some new choir members. Ah, Behold Our God to the rescue...that is the song we finished out practice with.

My random thought of the past week has been, if we ever bought or built another house, during building or remodeling a lot more electrical outlets would be installed. In Katy we wish we had done that and added ceiling fans in the closet. Couldn't do that here, no room and low ceiling in the closet. If we ever redo our master bath, I'm thinking ceiling fan. That's probably weird but really, in the summer the additional flow of air would be welcomed when applying makeup. Every once in a while I think about having one of those old people bathtubs and showers put in, but common sense usually grabs a hold but a ceiling fan, it just might make the remodeling cut.

This coming Sunday we do a one and done stop in Esther. Started reading Esther last night and this morning read a commentary to get the historical facts. That is always a good place to start for me cause with so many repeat names and unpronounceable names knowing some background helps.

The whole retrieve the garbage can will be rescheduled for a break in the rain. I reminded Roy yesterday of the whole stress level that comes with trash can placement and removal. Uh, first thing, I shouldn't get so worked up about it and secondly, there aren't any HOA rules to abide by, so what if the can gets a little wet...well, that is not the stress. It is a busy road and one takes their lives into their hands delivering and picking up.

While we have rain some of the higher elevations are receiving snow. Everyone is keeping their eyes on the next two weather systems that will come though. Thanks to Velda, I have enough coffee creamer to see me through.

Rainy Days and Fridays.....

Ten degrees when I woke up this morning but the day promises to get above freezing and for this I am thankful. Today, holds getting out and about and then more study for Zechariah. Oh and maybe some fun reading too. Buddy is on the day bed in the front room soaking up the sunshine in nap form. The front room is the warmest room year round and even in the warmer months Buddy spends a lot of time in here. Sometimes when on the computer Buddy feels compelled to come over and sit on my lap or hands. Sunshine is the bigger draw for her this morning.

It is ironic that my favorite flannel shirt of this season is one purchased in Houston on our not quite annual or traditional stop at the Bass Pro Shop. Since there isn't one near us here, it seems more like a Texas tradition. With all the online sales happening I checked the website and on optional color shirt was available and yes, it was on sale. It arrived today and happy, happy, happy.

This was also a good day to get out of the house for a while. Since I hadn't been to Blue Rooster since last November and because they are closed next week, it seemed to be a good day to go and have lunch there. It was more crowded than I anticipated with this being an off season so to speak. Got to visit with Lora a bit and also enjoyed delicious food with coconut cake to go. Went to Belk with some reward dollars but didn't buy anything. This is a good time to visit Mast because there are parking places to be found. Found some good sale stuff and then moved onto Canton to go to Pigeon River Mercantile and first time going and not buying something. I was tempted but I'm remembering warmer days will be upon us later and they have had some cute linen tops. So, saving my $$ till then.
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It is a rainy Friday morning. With the forecast saying rain today, my plans were to have all errands and fun things done by today. In earnest this morning will come the writing out of the Zechariah lesson.

Mike the mower man came over yesterday afternoon to talk about the stone steps we want for the backyard. Think we have a plan in place and weather permitting work will begin next week. He is also going to put down the gravel around the outside A/C units to help the red clay from kicking up into them when it rains.

Watching the feral fam dynamics this week is rather interesting. No Mr McBeavy to keep the kittens under watch and care. Punky has taken up on the gravel road or over in the big firs of Mary Joyce's yard. Strawyer comes and goes and there is little to no interaction between the previously inseparable duo. Then there is a mystery cat that looks to be someones because the fur is shiny and bright, brushed, like a domestic cat. Nancy, neighbor, had mentioned this cat to me several times but I hadn't seen it until this week. Black and white cat but its face is totally black, nose and eyes included. It can be unnerving to look into its face. I've seen it twice this week, always on the gravel road looking down into the yard.

I am almost finished with the book about Pat Conroy. It is an enjoyable read seeing into his chaotic life that finally landed in some years of peace after marrying his wife Cassandra. Before reading the book thoughts about chaotic living had been given some thought. Those thoughts came from some tweets by people on Twitter...having immaculate houses and how that gives people some sense of control...but we all know that control is really out of our hands so we make perceptions of control. We all have control issues of some sort and thankfully mine doesn't lie in having a spotless, nothing out of order, sterile home. Sometimes I wish I leaned a little more that way but truth be told, I'd rather spend an afternoon reading, I'd rather spend a morning writing and I'd rather relax in the evenings than stress over a pile of books or a pile of paper.

After babying this cut on my index finger all week, I finally felt brave enough to unpack our new shredder and begin putting the new cordless vacuum cleaner together. These two things do not invalidate the previous paragraph. The old shredder gave up the ghost last week. Then Roy purchased a new cordless Dyson for our Katy home. It was on sale at Target and they were running a deal if you had it shipped, thus I joined in on the cordless bandwagon. We have several vacuum cleaners here and I am not crazy about any of them. Looking like one or two of them will be going to the church yard sale in the spring.

  

Wonder or Wander

Lest one worry that I spend way too much time with cats, but when it is really cold, not getting above freezing, and even though I love cold weather, yesterday and today have been biting cold. Thus more observation time offeral life in the backyard. It looks like Punky and Strawyer have parted ways for a bit. She is avoiding me because of the whole pan banging incident yesterday. Everything I have read says that cats forget about other cats around day three. While there seemed to be some mourning of the Mr yesterday, he seems to be out of sight and mind for the kittens today. 

I almost put on a hat to go out and retrieve the recycling trash can this morning. Think I set a new record in how quickly I got down to the road and back. My ears were frozen, although lined Uggs made my feet roasty toasty.

The heaters are getting a good workout but they will get a reprieve beginning tomorrow as we slowly but surely warm up. The sun is helping heat the house this afternoon so hopefully the electric bill won't blow the budget this month.

I am also mired in Zechariah. Two weeks of short winded prophets out the door with this fourteen chapter book that uses all the literary forms in sharing the message. Once again, Lifeway has kind of picked weird verses to emphasize, but I am not complaining cause there are plenty there they could have chosen. Yesterday, I felt overwhelmed by the whole book and this morning I listened to the chapters on Dwell while eating breakfast. I am feeling better about being able to teach a lesson celebrating that God sent His Son and a few applicable points along the way. I am no theologian but if a lesson doesn't have stories with the facts...my mind wonders and wanders.

To counter my overwhelming-mess of Zechariah, I have been reading a book written by Pat Conroy's wife. I can never remember titles. I am a huge fan of Pat Conroy and his narrative style is a genre that totally envelopes me. I remember reading her first work of fiction, which at the time was titled Making Waves in Zion. Last night I read a couple of essays in another book about him, written by authors who knew him and his style. One of those writers is Anne Rivers Siddons, who at one time was one of my favorite authors. Her last two books had too many scenes with baths...it started getting on my nerves. But she passed away last year thus I can reread some of her first works and truly fall back in love with her writing style. Also, I just found out a week or so ago that Elizabeth Spenser had passed away. I enjoy her work very much. Elizabeth was 98 years old. Let me get back to the book at hand, the authors writing about Pat Conroy....well, now I don't remember where I was going with this, but....I liked the few essays I read last night.

When you have a couple of days immersed in thoughts and trying to stay warm, oh and also wearing all my favorite heavyweight flannel shirts, sometimes the oddest things come to mind. I have had a few laughs at some of those thoughts and others...some pondering without getting trapped in the hmmm....  It occurred to me that once my parents were empty nesters, my father wanted to travel and see things. Now my mom, she would go if she could see it from the car. She liked being at home working outside in her gardens...her flowerbeds were some of the most beautiful you would ever see. Once she passed away, we thought Dad would travel, one of his best friends a travel agent and could book him trips to all the places he wanted to go. He never made any trips except to the cafeteria, doctor appointments and grocery store. You know, he probably didn't want to travel that much but he used that travel bug thing to aggravate my mother...cause he knew it would cause great anxiety for her.

Today for the first time since January 2nd, I didn't have to take an antibiotic. Especially this last prescription that was rather strong. Antibiotics can mess with you in so many ways. Hopefully, I will not have to take anymore for dental work next month.

Great, Roy's dress pants I ordered for him have arrived. I hope that they were delivered to the front porch of else I am going to have to go down to the mailbox and with the number of people walking up and down the road, looking in mailboxes, I need to get out there sooner than later. Nearly 2:00pm and it is only 29 degrees. Yea! They were on the front porch along with the paperback book I do every year of my blog. Last year, I didn't write as much, so it is a rather skinny book.

Hot Chocky Is Sounding Pretty Goood

January 20th, the third Monday of January and it is supposed to be the saddest day of the year. It is supposed to be the most depressing because the whirlwind that is brought on from Christmas has faded and the anticipation of summer hits. Well, that is what the experts say. I have not turned toward summer yet cause it is the hardest season health wise for me. On this MLK holiday, I bet the kids around here are hoping for more snow. You see, around here snow surprised everyone this morning. It did not show up in the forecast. I thought at first my eyes were deceiving me when first spotting the tiny flakes of snow, but off and on throughout the morning bigger flakes have fallen. When there is a slight gust of wind, the flurries pick up a bit. The kittens are up on the gravel road frolicking chasing one another and snowflakes. It is quite picturesque as the three black and white kittens play, Edee, the calico, has retreated to one of the empty houses, surely to keep warm and to keep her eye on the food supply. The gray skies of snow are quickly being conquered by the sun's rays breaking through. Now it will just be cold, not getting above freezing today.

In an attempt to feed the cats but not freeze in the cold, their food was placed on the steps of the back porch, only Punky decided to race through the door and hide on the porch. Now, if the porch gave her warmth and if the porch wasn't straight up and down screen, she could have remained but she was already attempting to get out by scratching the screen. She also wouldn't leave if I held the door open. I turned on the small heater out there, for cool evenings not cold days, to keep me warm as I worked to get her free and keep the kittens out. Finally, I left the storm door open just enough for her to race out while I banged a frying pan with a wooden spoon. If those cats want to come in the garage, I am all over that, but the porch, with screens that cost and arm and leg to replace, no thank you.

With the sadness of the confirmation Saturday morning that Mr McBeavy had gone on to kitty heaven, Saturday's plans were altered by a mourning heart and distraction. Most of Sunday's lesson had been studied and written out, thankfully. In the midst of distraction, while preparing funeral food for the remaining cats, no I haven't gone crazy cat lady it was just their regular meals, I wasn't paying attention and cut my finger on the sharp edge of a cat food can. No biggie except the cut was like a paper cut, on the diagonal and because I take blood thinners, the bleeding would not stop. So no, when you see speckles of blood on the garage floor, nothing sinister had taken place. The cut is on my index finger, so writing, typing and the plan of tearing up boxes for recycling had to be put on hold. Anything with pressure caused that cut to bleed. I would also like to say, those band-aids that advertise being able to open and put on with one hand.....liars! This morning I checked the cut once again, stuck my finger in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide and then applied detox gel to the cut. I'm thinking the cut is turning a corner, because minimal bleeding and able to only use two band-aids and as you can see, I am typing.

Sunday, after church Brenda, Lois and I went out to lunch. A good time was had by all. I came home and took a short fifteen minute nap. Then I came up with such a good plan about garbage cans. In all the fun of LSU winning the Natty, with my friend Dena having to put her beloved cat  to sleep due to his health or lack of it, and with a few distractions that were unexpected here, I never was able to relay the good news that we finally, yes finally, received our new trash cans from Waste Pro. Roy had been diligent to call them because it looked like we had missed delivery while being out of town. What is ironic is, the day they delivered them down beside the road is a day that didn't see me leaving the house, but the next day, what to my wondering eyes should appear, new Waste Pro cans with our house number on them. Several neighbors told me when they saw the cans, they rushed out to retrieve them, but then saw the house number....the next day all the other neighbors had theirs delivered, to their doors. Oh happy day, the trash cans arrived and all anxiety went away....only about receiving them. Now, the new thing is, they are huge!  to reveal the plan that all have been anxiously wanting to know while reading about the arrival. Haha! Since recycling will be picked up every other week, if there isn't too much trash, I will just put the can out every other week for garbage. That can hold till warmer weather because the cat food cans don't stink like the summer aroma of old cans in the garage.

A strange thing happened last Friday in the Ingles parking lot. I had parked and safety wise I know it is not a good thing to check your phone, but the doors were locked and I needed to respond to a text. I should have gotten out of the car while there wasn't anyone parked next to me, but alas, I didn't so...after a while, a SUV pulled in next to me. We both sat there like, no you first but she once again gave me the sign of go ahead, so I did. This woman didn't look like anyone I wanted to fool with. So, when I got out, I said thank you to her and smiled. While walking toward the store I heard her open a car door and then yell, are you happy and what's going on? At first I thought she was yelling at the child in the backseat but as time has passed and rethinking this, I think she was yelling at me. I think she took my thank you wrong, like I was being sarcastic or something. Later, in the store, she was all sweet and nice with the kid...as they picked out a stuffed animal. That's when I thought, oh yes, not the child but me. Glad I didn't turn around when she yelled. She yelled loud because I have a partial hearing loss in my left ear and don't hear things behind me very well.

We studied Haggai yesterday. Four prophecies in two short chapters. Wow, a biblical thought for long winded, oft repeating of points preachers. If Haggai can do it, so can you. Blessed are the short winded because they'll be invited back, is what I heard a pastor say years ago. Of course, we don't deal with this really, anymore. In Ezra and Haggai, there are great phrases that I have latched onto. Yesterday, it was the phrase consider your ways....but in the colloquialism of the day it meant, put your heart on your roads. Love that! I didn't do a good job of teaching that point which usually happens when I love something so much, I don't express the application of it well. In a round about way it also fit in with my personal study of the difference in being predictable and consistent.

The emotion of Mr McBeavy's death is not as raw as it was Saturday. Still sad not to see him around the backyard anymore, playing with kittens and climbing through the trees. Strawyer has been looking for him. In hindsight this is making me remember finding Cali on the side of the road, but she was perfectly in tack, only a little blood coming from her mouth. Only a precise removal or shaving of fur that now seems to me, is how they prepare a cat to receive anesthesia. Now I'm wondering if someone caught her and put her down. We had a distant, not nearby, weird neighbor that stories circulated around him with animals. He moved about a year ago. Seeing the remains of the Mr on the road now makes me wonder.

The snow has stopped, the wind not blowing as hard but still brisk. Beginning to look at the lesson for this coming Sunday, to think on these things in the next couple of days. But right now, a cup of hot chocky is sounding pretty good.

Rest In Peace, Mr McBeavy

One of the sweetest cats that ever graced this earth came to his untimely end yesterday morning. Mr McBeavy was hit by a car. When Buddy and I were coming home from her new vet, I saw a dead animal in the road and I thought for that moment it might be him.It also looked like maybe a fox. This morning the fears of it being him were confirmed. My neighbor's husband stopped to look at his remains and from what he could see, he knew it was the Mr.   How to put this politely, he was too far gone to be able to bring him home and lay him to rest by an aunt he never knew and a half sibling that he loved. 

This means that none of Punky's first litter has survived. 

Mr McBeavy, he watched over his mom and this last batch of kittens. He would play with them and keep them from wandering too far. He helped Punky bring them down into the yard from where she had them hidden. When the kittens were small and would hide in the cleft of the rock, he sat at the top entrance and kept watch over them. When fixing the meals for the feral fam in the garage, he would come in, didn't get too close to me like Strawyer and Punky, but he loved climbing anything and everything. Too many times I had to shoo him off the Mustang, he loved sitting on that car. Well, he had good taste. Just this week I was able to capture a few pictures of him with Edee. She eventually took a nap with him just like he did with Strawyer on the front porch when he was that same age. He was Mr Meany's offspring but I didn't hold that against him at all. In fact, he was the total opposite of his dad. 

My last encounter with the Mr was this week and it was a good one. Like all these ferals they know when I whistle, food and treats are involved. He would run like the wind toward the whistle and was ready to chow down. The last time I was near him, he put is nose to my hand and purred. 

At first I named him Bevo, because of his burnt orange color of the University of Texas but then changed his name to Mr McBeavy cause that cat walked among the branches of the trees like no other feral cat before him. He loved flowers, his half siblings, his mom, he adored Strawyer, and I hope that he loved, which is relative for a feral cat, me. I sure loved him.

Rest in Peace Mr McBeavy.

When Pets Rescue Us

A good friend is not far away from my thoughts and prayers today. She is saying goodbye to a fur friend whose health has declined in the past week or so. Last night as I crawled into bed at the ungodly hour of 1:30 am my thoughts were not on just watching LSU beat Clemson for the National Championship for football, although I was pretty happy about that, no my thoughts were about my friend and what she faces this afternoon.

This past August when Buddy gave us a good scare, there were afternoons when I just sat here and cried. Buddy has been apart of the family since 2005. Now, in 2005 when we first got her she fooled everyone including the vet because we all thought she was a boy...thus the boy name, but in surgery they discovered she had duped all of us. Buddy arrived right after recovery for hysterectomy surgery. My emotions were kind of raw and I was not in a good state of mind either. What was to be just a life convenience surgery became a possible cancer diagnosis because of a tumor they found on the ultrasound. They wouldn't know anything until the surgery was done. But Buddy, I don't know, she changed things and thoughts for me. She got so much attention from me and unlike Tiff our dog who bonded with Roy, Buddy bonded with me. Buddy rescued me. A change and marked difference in me can be charted upon Buddy's arrival into our lives.

These cats and dogs rescue us in a way, even if they aren't a rescued animal. They carry us through hard times and difficult seasons with their presence. Many will say cats don't do that, but oh my friends, they do. During the scariest days of heart issues, Buddy didn't leave my side except for the necessary trips she needed to make.

My friend's family rescued the streetwise, but affectionate cat from neighbors who neglected him. At first he just came into the garage and ate, then he would come into the house but want outside for his wandering ways. The funny thing about this cat, he wanted to come inside and use the litter box, then wanted back outside again. When the neighbors moved, my friend's family became the guardian of this sweet kitty and assured the neighbors if they wanted him back once they moved, they would return him. They never heard from the neighbors again. After a period of time and decisions, he came to live with my friend. He has been a good companion for her. He has seen her through those tough times and his presence has made good times even happier.

It felt strange not to be there in support for her because Roy and I were present for other fur babies of hers that went across the rainbow bridge. She is in that place of grief where if you begin to talk about an animal that you loved so much, you'll tear up... Even with Cali, the feral kitty that became such a huge part of life yet I never once petted her until I found her on the side of the road, hit by a car. It took several days to compose myself and I can still cry over Cali and Riley. Today the vet office sent an email reminder that it was time for shots for Riley. I would call them but since the vet we kind of liked there is on an extended leave of absence, we are trying a vet office that has come highly recommended and is closer to us. Buddy will see the new vet on Friday. It is time for a steroid shot and nail trim. We had her blood work done while back in Texas, so I am feeling good about this appointment coming up. 

Buddy, has grown friendlier over the years to friends and her temper doesn't show as much either. Last night, she was upset about something and she had the big eyes. I have not seen that in a long time so I got her off the couch and let her go cool off.

It is so difficult when we have to say goodbye to our pets. They bring such joy and companionship. Our hearts break but we can keep close to our hearts their memories.

All Feral, All the Time...At Least For This Post

With all the chaos of getting back home and unloading the truck only to stop that process to enjoy life in general, the regular and routine have called me back to reality. Thankfully, there is not too many pressing schedule busters in the next few weeks. I made a small dent in getting stuff put away on Sunday and now my attention is drawn back to the chores at hand.

There hasn't been an update on the ferals of late, so let me jump in and tell what they've been up to...being cats, yes, that is what they have been up to with a few jumps and lumps in-between. The group is accepting Mama Cat's remaining kitten, somewhat. It eats with everyone and shelters a bit but then things turn serious and they chase it back to the top of the gravel road. Sometimes when all the kiddos are eating together and seeing three black and white kitties reminds me that several months ago those loose dogs killed it as they rampaged in the backyard. They have grown and are in that very fun stage of playfulness. At night, if they are out in the back, the red laser light becomes the object of attention as they chase it about, around and up the hill. Even Punky still joins in the play and that is unusual because the older they get, the less attention they pay to the light they can never quite catch.

Strawyer is in and out. He wanders all over but comes back for brunch or an early supper most days. Mr McBeavy is still hanging out, playing with and watching over his half siblings. I was getting a little worried about Punky. She was not around yesterday or last night. The past couple of weeks, she has mostly stayed in one of the houses outside or on top of them. She is also a bit lethargic. This morning, she was the first to run into the garage and it sure was good to see her. I think she is also trying dodge male attention by staying in the little warm house. No room for two adult sized cats. Punky even came on the back porch for a second when I was giving them some treats.
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Continuing with the ferals, they got a late start this morning. Cold temps will keep you cuddled together. I noticed that the kittens had moved to the front porch with all the sun but the adults were no where to be found. Mr McBeavy hangs near the gravel road these days. I was getting ready to go upstairs when the loudest howl came to my attention. Heard it again, but nothing to see. An investigation outside in my jammies seemed to be the reasonable thing to do. Punky greeted me by running into the garage, the Mr made his way down...two of the black and white cats came near and then Strawyer appeared. His fur bloody on one side and his paws and legs covered in red clay mud. He didn't look hurt but it is surprising that he looked that way. He is so docile and not a fighter. Something must have riled him though. It is just a big hormone mess out there in the backyard and Punky is hiding out in one of the aptly named cat houses from her two suitors. She comes into the garage every chance she gets and I try to help her hang out in there but she isn't quite sure of the timing and probably me doing what she wants. Punky and Strawyer are in bad moods and have taken swipes at the Mr and the kittens. Mr McBeavy comes into the garage trying to scale anything that puts him up high yet he rolled around in the cat liter like it was a luxury. Strange but I still like him a lot.
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The wind is making sure we know its presence and with a little bit of rain we are getting a preview for tonight's weather. Talk amongst those who know or who are in the business is that we might just take a glancing blow but along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, they might get the brunt of everything. The howling wind has driven the ferals into their outdoor houses and under our house but the surprising, yet not surprising even of the morning is, Punky is now currently residing in the garage. I took out the food this morning and like always, the three came into the garage. Once the food is outside, they usually retreat to the great outdoors. Except this morning Punky came back in and headed to the corner where Riley once headed toward last year. I put out food and there is a liter box out there. I have checked on her several times and she hasn't stirred or given any indication she would like back outside. So, I hope she is enjoying the break and we will see what develops.

It is raining and the sun is shining so guess it is like what my mom used to say, the devil is beating his wife. I ran most of the errands yesterday and can enjoy staying home on this fine Saturday. Have the Sunday School lesson written out and studied but I plan to go over it again and fine tune. It feels good to be back in the swing of things after the holidays. Loved the break from studying and lesson prep but I was anxious to get back to it last Sunday. This week I have been in a normal routine or pattern so I feel much more prepared than last Sunday.

One last feral update, the lone black and white kitty from Mama Cat's liter, the others have been slowly accepting of it this week. At first it was for food and shelter, but like all of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games...all that to say, the kittens wouldn't play with him or her. Mr McBeavy would play a little but he is a teenager now and has his own life to conduct...yet he still watches over them better than Punky, who has taken to swiping at any and all cats who get near her. Today, they have all been playing together so this makes me happy for that lone kitty. So whether it be boy or girl, the name is Ranger for this little one.

Toothy Drama No More

We were on the road at 6:00 am. Misting rain and low lying fog made our travels a little slower than usual. Once we hit the freeway, the fog and mist were more intermittent and we were thankful for those little respites of plain old dark skies and roads. We stopped for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Morganton around 7:20 am and we both enjoyed pecan pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast. Got back on our way, with a quick stop at Shell to fill up the truck. The news says gasoline prices are holding steady...I differ on that opinion cause they are getting higher by the moment. The airport traffic was just beginning to pick up when we arrived and after that short and sweet goodbye as the police officer waved to me to move, it was over. An adventure beginning November 22nd concluded just like that and I awaited the phone call from the gate once through TSA and the long, long hike to the gate as I drove down the road and returned to the freeway. The sun began to shine behind me, since I was heading west and the hope of cleared up roads and skies awaited but just as I crossed over the Buncombe County line, the rain returned. Now, several hours later, the sun is out and the forecast for tonight could include a dusting of snow, fierce winds and cooler temps.

A funny thing happened on the way into the New Year, I got a toothache. I went to bed on December 31st happy and grateful that 2019 had been an uneventful year health wise with no cardiac events or lots of dental work. In fact, we almost made it to the new year with money left in our FSA. But around 3:00 am on January 1st, I awoke with a throbbing, hurting pain on the upper right side of my mouth. That is where the tooth that broke in 2017 is located...and it has been patched and keeping a watch upon, but suddenly, it decided to wake up, which in turn woke me up. I have a high pain tolerance but this breached the line of pain, quite a bit. I didn't know to go ahead and call the dentist office even on a holiday or to call the emergency number. Now I know and I was fortunate to be able to be worked in on Thursday afternoon. We have a plan and for now I am on antibiotics and over the counter pain meds. When the dentist told me studies have been done on combing Tylenol and Advil together and it was as effective but not addictive as opioids, I thought yea, right. But he is right, great pain relief without all the side effects of a narcotic. Yesterday, I was waiting for everything to kick in and start the healing and it is beginning to work. So talking and any movement brought pain, but thankfully, it is not like it was.
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The emphasis of life here of late is this tooth. The dentist office had a cancellation yesterday afternoon, so the tooth removal journey began earlier than planned. That is fine, I am ready to be done with this whole thing. The good news in the midst of it all is when my dentist was able to get into the "meat" of the socket, there was more room and hope for an implant. There were some doubts about the bridge work with the front capped tooth. Funny thing, the infection is what moved up the room before getting close to the sinus cavity. God can use anything or anyone. By the time I got home the pain of all the work began to hit and I was happy to get antibiotics and the aforementioned pain pills in me. This morning I am happy to have sat in the line at the pharmacy to get the new prescription dropped off on the way home.

Today is the first day since the first of November that I don't have someplace to be other than home. I love these kinds of days. The sun is out, the temps cool and not a lot of wind. We had a sleet/hail mini deluge yesterday morning.

Welcome Random Thoughts 2020

I am Nancy Mon and this is 2020. I couldn't make it to midnight and barely made it to 10:00 pm. This morning Roy is making biscuits and Buddy has just given up begging to be let out on the front porch. It is too cold and just checked the temp, it is 36 degrees. Maybe a little later when we won't be heating the whole neighborhood, a throw back to childhood with the admonition of shutting the backdoor cause we weren't going to air condition the whole neighborhood.

Happy New Year! Thankful for another year. 2020 will mark the fifth year of living in the mountains, That is a celebratory event. I have narrowed down my choices for my One Word and should make the decision before Monday. I could never keep resolutions but the One Word gives focus. Some years the word is more memorable than others.

We spent the last day of 2019 doing something we love with people we love. Inez and Cuman picked us up and we enjoyed a day in the mountains of Madison County. We went over Doggett Mountain and made our way to Hot Springs. Roy and I have been over the mountain once, with me driving. I wasn't able to see all the views, so yesterday was great seeing everything and Cuman telling us the stories behind the different places we passed. Such a rich history, good and bad, up there in those mountains. We stopped at a church on top of the mountain to take pics and then stopped at a little prayer chapel along the side of the road. I had read an article several years ago about the three chapels that you can find in Madison County that are open everyday. So I have seen two of the three. We saw the turnoff to Max Patch. Roy and I want to go there in the spring. Beautiful place and views. We went through Trust NC and at that junction you either go right to Hot Springs or left down the mountain to Lake Juneleska. In Hot Springs we stopped at the old fashioned hardware store...they have just about everything you can think of and we went to the outfitter/trail supplies/tourist shop next door, well across the river. Of course, I found a tshirt and Roy found mints with a tiger on the front of the tin. Geaux Tigers! We had lunch at Smoky Mountain Diner and the food was delicious! The good news is, they are opening in March or April in the space that used to be the Turkey Creek Cafe. We had a nice conversation with the owner and after our delicious lunch, I say come Smoky Mountain Diner, come! After lunch we hit the road once again going to a couple of places along the river. Not crowded yesterday but in the warm months, stacked up with rafters and buses. As our day came to an end we drove through Marshall and then on lower flat creek by the day lily nursery. Great conversation, laughs and stories with our friends who have taken us in and loved us well. After spending a day hearing stories of people and the mountains I will endeavor during the next few months of our colder weather to read and re-read mountain books. Makes me a better tour guide for friends and  for some friends, to be able to charge resort fees. You know who you are!

2019 is being celebrated as the year with no cardiology appointments or bad flare-ups. Only one time did I have to take the extra meds to get my heart back in rhythm this year and it was in the summer. Heat not stress being the contributor. For this I am so grateful. I remember what the cardiologists told me in the long ago, if you make it five years, that will be good. It is a miracle if you make it ten. In the eleventh year, going into twelve. God is so good!

Growing up I remember singing the hymn, The Church is One Foundation, on the first Sunday of the new year. I looked up the verses this morning...

1 The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word:
from heav'n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.

Yet she on earth hath union
with the God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.

These are the two verses I remember from those church days long ago....The middle verses are good too but I think we were the 1, 2 and last verse singing kind of church.

2019 is the year I began teaching full time as a Sunday School teacher. It is a joy and blessing to do so.

The biscuits this morning are so good. We had bought some bacon from The Fresh Market to go along with them. I had saved one last jar of the strawberry jam made by the lady in Roan Mountain. So although it is not a healthy breakfast, it sure was good and the way to start a new day, year and decade...on the decade I'm not too sure about cause there is dispute whether the decade has really started or not.

Welcome new year! Welcome Random Thoughts...you've been a wonderful companion for lo these many years.

Merry Christmas and Day After Christmas

Merry Christmas from the mountains. The scenery is the mountains but the temps today will be balmy and spring like. That is supposed to be the norm for the next few days. So we could have the top down on Mustang Sam today. That could happen in Houston almost every Christmas but it is a surprise and serendipity for here. Certainly not Christmasy feeling but for us Christmas has mainly been about the heart and our hope in the Lord.

Spending three weeks in Houston has kind of messed up Christmas decorating. We still have harvest themed decor in the house because we left before Thanksgiving. The blessing is, we won't have tons of Christmas stuff to put away...maybe the correct measurement would be in ounces. We have ounces of Christmas decor to put away.

Last night we went to our Christmas Eve service. It was a beautiful and worshipful service and the Christmas carol to end the service was Joy to the World, not Silent Night. Loved singing Joy to complete the service. We came home and texted our neighbors. We have been trying to exchange Christmas with each other and our schedules have not cooperated. This year we exchanged pies, homemade apple for us and Goode Company BBQ pecan pie for them. I was also able to thank Naia for doing such a fabulous job with the ferals.

This morning all the ferals greeted me except for Strawyer. He arrives in mid morning from his overnight dwelling. I think the kittens get on his nerves. Yesterday, FB brought up a picture from last year of he and Punky. Little kittens playing by the fir tree, wouldn't come near me for nothing. For just being a year older, Strawyer looks like an old cat but life in the wild will do that. This morning FB brought up the pics of Riley in the garage. She came into the garage last year and didn't leave for seven days. Then, the in and out began for several months. I didn't look at the pictures too closely because it makes me sad that her story didn't end the way I would have liked it. She and Cali truly captured my heart.

Buddy is thrilled by once again spending time on the front porch. She spent most of the afternoon there and she is out there in these chilly temps this morning. Yes, we are heating the neighborhood but happy to do so to see her feeling good and in seemingly good health. I feel better about her since visiting our Houston vet. Hands on and the direction we will take with her is more pronounced than the fear free vet here in Asheville.

Roy is continuing his de-stressing from the office. I think he needed this break with all the pressure and stress he has had the past few months. Deadlines before the holidays are never fun...well usually not fun when it comes to work.
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Happy Day After Christmas! We had such a fun day yesterday. Having a warm day for Christmas here meant we had the top down on Mustang Sam. We had a leisurely morning before leaving for the Biltmore Estate. I had made reservations in November for the Deerpark Restaurant. We were a little early but that worked out well because the sheep and the cows have been moved to pastures nearby. Roy had his camera and took tons of pics. We met a cute young couple from Florida while taking pics. They are trying to figure out how they can move to the area. Lunch was fabulous. We totally approach buffets differently now that we a little older. Roy's approach was a little bit of shrimp and a gumbo looking soup, turkey and dressing....then he proceeded to fill up on desserts. So many to choose from but he sampled the eggnog cheesecake, fruit cake, cookies and five dishes of ice cream with either caramel or a fruit compote. My approach was apple and pumpkin soup, flat bread and olives, then prime rib, mashed potatoes, dressing, carrots and parsnips, collards and a tart/sweet cranberry sauce. I had ice cream and caramel for dessert and some of their sugar cookies. We waddled out to the car and drove around for a bit. The new layout is different and not being able to drive through the estate was a tad disappointing but we were able to still drive around the lagoon and to Antler Hill Village. All the stores have 40% off which I've never seen before. At The Barn Door which has made in USA  and local artisan products, we found a wooden advent tree that we will use next year. I would have never paid full price for it but with the 40% and then the pass holder 10%, made it a reasonable purchase. We saw deer along the roads and attempted to take a few pics of the bucks we saw. It didn't feel all that crowded yesterday but maybe with the new buses taking people from the house around the estate is working. Anyway, Roy said on the way home, this was so much fun, let's do this next year. It has been awhile since he has been on the estate since many times we have so much to do that we don't make the time to get over that way. We spent several Christmases at the Inn and always loved that.

Today, we have things around here to take care of. I'm still going through things we brought back with us, trying to find everyone's Christmas presents. Oh well, it's a work and usually if it isn't late, it isn't from me. Merry Christmas Week!

Happy To Be Home

The rain held off to get in and out of church, began sprinkling while at Twisted Laurel and then in earnest by the time we got home. The ferals are trying to keep their feet dry but they are fed and under the canopy in and on their houses. The past few days have been exhausting, with packing, loading the truck, leaving at 4:05 am and arriving at the hotel at 7:12 pm. Of course we got an hour tacked on in Georgia, so it is back to the eastern time zone. We arrived home around 1:00 pm yesterday and began unloading the truck and then going to the grocery stores and grabbing a late lunch/early supper while out and about. We knew that today's forecast was rain, rain and rain and nothing like loading groceries in a car with the precip hitting on and all around.

Thursday morning I was able to meet CourtneyS at Three Brothers Bakery for coffee and pastries. I was there picking up gingerbread men for Roy. We got the great surprise of Lisa P coming all the way over for one last chat and goodbye. She had sent a video of her writing Merry Christmas in the dirt caked on our cars, but the video wouldn't open for either of us. Then she stood by our table for the longest time and finally had to say something to get our attention....woohoo! Lisa P is in the house or rather the bakery. I was able to take the back way over to Memorial Bakery for some of their delicious Christmas cookies that I was taking back for our Sunday School class today. I came home, let Buddy out of the study since Jenn had been there cleaning and then made one last run to Buc-ees and HEB. I had done most of the packing on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we just needed to load the truck when Roy got home. He left the office early, picked up burgers from Hat Creek and then we began the arduous job of loading the back of the truck. We had bought several items for our home here and then I had found some stuff at the house that had to be left behind on other trips. To say that there wasn't one speck of extra room is the truth. We prayed we wouldn't have a flat because unloading the truck on the side of the road is no ones idea of fun. I had also purchased a few things as well...so it was way more packed coming home than going to Texas. Also having a liter box and travel crate for Buddy in the backseat took lots of room, but Buddy did well both going and coming. We didn't give her any sleepy meds for the trip home and she did rather well.

Since we had done the hard driving on Friday, we were able to be a little more leisurely Saturday morning. We stopped a couple of times in the Oocoee and at Barber Orchard to get the last apple cider donuts for us this season, oh and some apples. Once we got home there was little rest for us as we unloaded the truck and got back into the swing of things of life here. I had very little of a lesson but it was a group effort this morning and Kelly, our pastors wife, wrapped it all up in a bow for us. I let her say The End for the lesson.

When we got home from church and lunch today I began working through the packed items and realized I was fatigued and really could use a nap...and nap I did. In fact Roy tried to do a little office work and gave up and watched TV. Buddy, took a nap too but that is no surprise. Now we are having fun with laundry.

It was so good to be at Newfound Baptist this morning and especially in our class. We sure do enjoy one another and I missed everyone so much. Since I was asked to teach in Dayspring lessons I had learned in the mountains, Roy asked if I would be teaching on lessons learned on flat land...no, but maybe in the future. It is good to be home, even with the rain, even with a warm Christmas on the horizon and even with our lost trash cans from Waste Pro. Glad Roy is here to make that call to them. Maybe a neighbor accidentally took ours...who knows...but happy, very happy to be home.

Here and There....There and Here

This trip is winding down yet heightened activity these last few days. Really, there was more to this trip than just going to favorite restaurants. Spending time with Roy even in his busy days as he completes a project at the office before the year ends, seeing friends, experiencing Celebration, and going through things here at the house for Goodwill or for keeps has seemed like a whirlwind of three weeks. I did not account for several days I had to rearrange plans because of this upper respiratory thing that is hanging onto me. I do not want to bring it back home but it feels like it has plans to be home with us for the holidays. Last night, after coming home from dinner with friends, while sitting on the couch I heard a strange noise...almost a mechanical noise. It was everywhere I searched and I didn't want to awake Roy and then it dawned on me....the noise was coming from me. It is a part of the whole wheezing thing that is going on with this junk.

People ask if I have seen everyone I wanted to see or eaten everywhere I wanted to go and done everything I wanted to do...yes and no. I didn't get all my projects done, missed out on Los Tios and Fu's Garden, and Celebration and church helped me see those I wouldn't normally get to see. I don't know if I will come back during the holidays again. Schedules so tight and traffic, it is always a nightmare but with the holiday spirit, that doesn't seem to translate into the Christmas spirit on the road, it is challenging. Some of the places I normally like to go to while in town, I just didn't get there and really, have no remorse that I didn't make it to those places. Just like in the mountains though, I ordered online. 

Buddy has adjusted well and seems to be enjoying her time here. I hope it continues when we get back. I feel good to have had a real conversation with a vet about her and options for her future. It feels like we nearly lost her several times this summer, so I don't know what life we are on if cats truly have nine lives.

I felt like I over packed...in some ways I did, but I have worn almost everything I brought. With the temps fluctuating all over one had to be prepared for it all. I wore all the linen I brought and have had a few opportunities to wear flannel. A few new things are coming home with me, but there is an extra suitcase going back with us.

On Sunday my mind began that turn home and like always it is like a horse going back to the barn, the steps pick up. Hopefully the Sunday School lesson I've kind of worked on will fall into place on Sunday. Can't wait to return and see friends. I'll be happy to see the ferals.

I didn't need confirmation but it has been good to hear comments from friends, you look really good! You look like the mountains of NC is just what your health needed. As Roy says so often, NC saved your life.

Houston has changed so much since being here three years ago. Rancho de Five has all kinds of new buildings and roads. Yes, there is still a nail salon and Chinese restaurant on every corner. New grocery stores, easier access to freeways and of course a Buc-ees makes everything around here wonderful. So much has changed in me these past three years. A slower paced life in the country and stresses I felt or put on myself dissipate in the mountains but I felt them building up while being here. But I'm thankful for both the here and there and when I get home it will still be here and there. Thank you friends who took time out of your busy, hectic schedules to visit with me. I truly appreciate the time and laughter. Y'all made this time such a delightful treat. Thank you to my friends at home that let me know I am missed and are waiting for us to get back.

Stuff and Fun

Yes, truly it is darkest before the dawn. How do I know that? I was up most of the night with one of the worst coughing jags in recent memory. My prayer is and is reinforced after last night, that I don't ever get really sick and need help in the middle of the night cause Roy...he would not be helpful until too late. Last night I was coughing so hard I couldn't get my breath. It really scared me and Roy kind of woke up and said, you need NyQuil and went back to sleep. Buddy followed me into the kitchen, coughing woke her up, and at least let me try to drink some water...difficult to drink and then get choked at the same time...  Only when she thought I was okay did she start working me for treats.

I took Buddy to our vet here yesterday afternoon. With all the road construction, what used to be a quick ten minute drive turned into thirty minutes. The Dr and staff were happy to see Buddy and I told her my concerns with the care Buddy was given in Asheville. With Buddy being an older cat her weight loss can be attributed to several things. The Dr had blood work run and it was all good. She thinks that Buddy might be experiencing heart problems because of her respiratory rate. This would also explain why she is fatigued so much of the time. The Dr was kind enough to write down the questions I needed to ask and gave me a copy of her blood work to show the vet in Asheville. The visit gave me peace of mind because I want to take good care of my Buddy Cat, cause over the course of her life with us, she sure has taken care of me.

Another thing got taken care of last night, thank you Roy. One of my prescriptions needed to be filled while here and getting that done has been nearly a two week ordeal. Finally, after several trips to the pharmacy I sent Roy. Roy was able to get a thirty day supply of my heart med and it wasn't a moment too soon cause my supply was low, really low. It would be nice to keep constant with that med since it helps control my heartbeat.

Truly, when Roy says North Carolina saved my life...that is the honest truth. The extra stresses of traffic and general road rudeness has taken a little bit of a toll on me these past few weeks. And I have also learned that some of those places I long for when I'm in the mountains has more of a nostalgic longing than an actual one. Shopping at Macy's and the like...online has been a better source than the actual store. Usually, I would have gone to the Nord but once again online has been the best way to shop. Some of my favorite niche shops have closed. So, the good out of this is, I have saved money by not doing very much shopping while here.

Roy most probably will make the Goodwill run by himself this afternoon. We have worked hard on getting closets cleared and dressers cleared of things that need to move on. I have not touched the casita bedroom and probably won't begin there until another trip this way. Just that one small box of treasures hit me emotionally unawares and there is more sentimental in the casita bedroom than here in the house. I have found a few things I forgot about but will be returning home with us. Thankfully, most of it is going out of the house, not to North Carolina.

What A Great Decision

I am awake earlier than planned but that happens sometimes when you go to sleep earlier than usual. My energy level has been feeling a little zapped probably cause I am way more busy here trying to fit everything in. But I am having lots of fun and feel rather productive over the work I have gotten accomplished here at the house. I don't think I will get everything conquered on this trip but a good dent has been made.

Even the rain couldn't stop Laurie M and I having lunch yesterday. We always have had such good lunches at the Nord but we opted for Katy. We shut down the place with the lunch crowd as we got caught up. Today a fun excursion is in the plans. The rain has moved on and the temps are still to be cool, so another chance, another day to wear flannel.

We have an appointment with the vet for Buddy. The vet office we take her to in Asheville is so zen and it would be nice for her to be examined by a vet who isn't afraid of a cat. Well, afraid might not be the word but all their concern for Buddy's fear makes me think that somewhere her health check ups are being compromised. It will be nice not having to give Buddy any chill meds before taking her in.
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Thursday morning, sunshine outside and warm and cozy inside. I am dealing with allergies or something and went to bed last night at 7:30 after a hot bath. I would love to bring the bathtub here back home yet I am not quite up for construction so soon after the back porch over the spring and summer. We had a six foot bathtub put in when we were building the house. I was asleep instantly and woke up around 7:15 am. Hopefully all that rest will do me some good today. This is setting me back on getting stuff done but I only have an appointment later this afternoon, so totally resting today.

I had such a fun day in the country yesterday with my friend Bev. She is my friend who drew the beautiful pictures of the ferals and Buddy for me as she practiced her craft. Touring her studio was fun, feeding the alpaca boys was fun, eating a delicious lunch was fun but our conversations over the day was more than fun...wow, what a wonderful day. I felt right at home driving the narrow country roads to her home. Only difference is being flat...not going to go off the side of the road into a holler or drop. And what's not to love about river dancing alpacas? She has put some dates on her calendar to come visit and I am more than excited. The dates will coordinate with the Leicester Studio Tour.

Yesterday Roy was surprised at the office with a celebration of his twenty years at EPD. They had a cake reception, read this as probably a cake in the break room...well, there aren't break rooms in the offices, but they do have lunchrooms....anyway, Roy and two others were celebrated by coworkers. He was given a really nice plaque. Which is kind of funny because they'll be moving to their new offices soon and the goal is to rid offices and cubicles of lots of personal kind of stuff... Cleaning out the guest room closet the other day, I noticed he had brought home a couple of bags of games and decor he has accumulated over...well, over these last twenty years.

Today, I am going to try and go through some of the bookshelves to bring books back home, not that there is any room for them but anything that helps with studying lessons is coming back. Ok, and a few fun books as well.

Today my friend Carole is celebrating her one year bilateral knee replacement anniversary. We both agree we are so happy we did both knees at one time, better physical therapy and truthfully, a better use of down time. Yesterday, Bev greeted me with, wow! Your knees! You walk so much better, what a great decision...yes, it was. 

Shopping, Churching and Brunching

It is looking and feeling like a winter day out here on the prairie. The wind is blowing and rain is keeping a steady beat on the back patio. I just read an article on wearing winter whites that was interesting but I am doing my best to bring about Christmas gray as a fashion statement. My campaign began several years ago during a discussion in choir about what to wear for our concert. We could have started a church trend by dressing the part of a winter sky and ended the concert with a rousing rendition of Bleak Mid Winter. Always brings a tear to the eye...the tears are there for different reasons but that is a bunny trail. I'm all about the Christmas gray.

I was able to run all my errands in one shopping center yesterday. First stop, Petco to find treats that Buddy will eat. I brought treats with us but forgot to bring her favorite flavor and in all my forays into grocery stores, haven't found Morning Munch. I did find some treats though that she is eating and seems to enjoy. Keeping Buddy happy is important. She has done so well this trip and has taken up here just like she had never left. Even though I feel my Academy days are not a priority like earlier in life, since it is here and close, I made another stop. Always fun to look around. With all the former Louisiana folks living here you would think they might carry LSU gear but no. Had an interesting conversation with the man working in that area. He said he has asked to carry LSU and he knows it would sell well, but the powers that be keep it at Texas, Aggies, and some UH. No Baylor either. Then a quick trip into the Kroger. We were out of yogurt and I wanted to look again at cat treats. There was a lot of commotion in the front of the store and I began to wonder if I should keep to the back cause who knew what all of that yelling meant. I went to the front of the store to check out and soon realized what the yelling was about...getting you in line for checking out. The official lady with the hand held radio was making quite a fuss as she directed us to the fastest lines.

This week I will begin working on the lesson for Sunday School for the first Sunday to be back in the mountains. On Sunday, I taught in Dayspring Life Bible Study at First Baptist. I had been asked to teach on lessons I have learned in the mountains so we looked at mountain man Elijah to apply what he learned, where he had victory and the places of despair. Lisa P was at The Loop on Sunday too because she was singing in the morning services. Roy and I found our regular places on the back row of the balcony. Before teaching Peggy treated us to one of her new characters, Tammy Tourguide. She and Drew are taking a group to DC in the spring. While teaching in Houston I could feel the prayers of friends in the Joy class in NC praying.



After church Roy, Dena, Malcolm, Lisa and I met at Willie G's for lunch...only none of us realized that the restaurant had moved to a plush and swankier location. I have always loved their gumbo but we were surprised that now there was a brunch menu. So, what could be better than gumbo and some of the best pancakes ever? Not much on a menu I tells ya, cause it was all delicious. 



After brunch Roy and I went over to Whole Earth Provision Company to see if any Flax was on sale. Found a couple of pieces and we left to return home. Lisa had invited me to the Nord Night that evening but my socks and boots didn't cooperate and I got such a blister on my little toe. Tried on several pairs of shoes and boots, nothing worked so I had to decline the invite...Nord Night is such a fun event.

Well once again time to bring the post to a close. More catching up later.

Catching Up On Life In Rancho de Five

The second morning in a row that Cinco Ranch has thrown out the welcome fog to make me feel at home and like at home, I don't mind driving in fog but so thankful when I don't have to get out and experience it.

I have sat down many times to write a blog post but either distraction or a Buddy in my lap made it nearly impossible. Tomorrow makes the completion of week two here and the time is going by quickly. I'm trying to get everything and by everything I think I might mean restaurants, fit in with the time I have before returning home.

So, what has been happening here? Well, let's see...last Monday was Roy's colon0$caphy, early last Monday. We were finished up, uh, well there's no we in the finished up part, but we left around 9:30, made a quick stop at Three Brothers Bakery for gingerbread men and then headed back to the prairie for a mid morning breakfast at Black Walnut Cafe. Roy rested all afternoon. Monday evening was the women's ministry event at First Baptist. Dena came over to the ranch from the foreign land, the name for where she moved to, and we left from here to go to the event with a stop for dinner beforehand. We had a delicious dinner at Collina's which is close by the church. Lisa P and singers led us in such wonderful music before Lisa Harper spoke. Lisa Harper brought it! Her Christmas message from the book of Hosea. The Word felt so fresh because our Sunday School class had just studied Hosea and Gomer a few weeks ago. At the fun reception afterwards I was able to catch up with friends. Got some fabulous pictures. It's funny, I have heard Lisa several times before and although I enjoyed her teaching, I wouldn't have gone out of my way to hear her. So glad the opportunity came to hear her again and have the Lord change my heart. Dena stayed the night here and then got up early to traverse to the foreign land and get ready for work. I introduced her to JFG coffee and I think she liked it. Sent her home with a bag.

Peggy and I had lunch at Lupe's this past week. We got caught up and had quite a few laughs. Serendipity, that she had a gift card to Lupe's that she had found earlier in the week while cleaning out her wallet...probably from teaching days and it still had money on it...score!

Wednesday I was able to go to the last session of this semester of Community Bible Study. I took the long way to go about it but after going to the 1463 campus, I found my way to Second West, where the study is meeting. So fun to catch up with friends but especially wonderful to visit a bit with Linita. She is the teaching director of the Katy group and she is wonderful! I was able to sit in with a core group and I realized how much I miss CBS. Love the approach the homework takes with the questions and commentary. Afterwards I toured the display of trains and took a look at the bookstore, then off to Target and Home Goods.

Thursday morning it was up early to get going on some errands in high volume traffic areas. Who am I kidding, all of Katy and Houston seem to be high volume traffic areas. But I made it over to Macy's in Memorial City and shock of all shocks, left the store buying nothing. Sometimes I lament not being close to a Macy's but I realize now I have better luck with online shopping. Then I made my way to Barnes and Noble and finally to another check it off the list restaurant, Escalante's.

Friday I began writing out the lesson for Sunday in Dayspring. It was on several scrap pieces of paper, tablets and computer. I hand write the lesson so I am more familiar with things than just reading them off a piece of paper. Roy got home and we headed over to Costco. Love to shop me some Costco. We found several things...well, more than several things. But a great find was a heater fan for the back porch. We have one we got from Plow and Hearth, but think we will move that one to the front porch. Then we had dinner at Red River BBQ and got my chicken fried steak checked off the list.

It was a total laid back day Saturday. I did my usual routine in the mountains of not wearing makeup. I do that a lot more there than here. Anyway, I finished up the lesson and began working on the guest room closet, cleaning it out. Lots of spring decor and some of it is returning with me but most of it is going to Goodwill. Three years of not seeing or using it takes the sentimental out. Have one more big storage container to clean out in there. I found a wooden box I had forgotten about that had a few things in it that made me tear up. Notes from my mom or notes I had written to her. By the afternoon Roy had returned home from his Toastmaster training and also brought back with him Goode Company BBQ...jalapeno sausage crossed off the list.  We enjoyed, no we were thrilled with the result of the SEC Championship game, LSU 2019. Then we watched a little of the Ohio State vs Wisconsin game that was interesting until Ohio State came alive.

And that is where I will end this post for the day.

Sunday

It's a difficult thing to do, type, when a Buddy cat has napped out on my lap right in front of the computer. I will try and accept the challenge. It has been a full and fun day. Roy is doing his prep for tomorrow and has the Hallmark Channel on. The other night we watched World War 2 in color...my choice.

The day was much cooler than yesterday. Roy and I had gone to LaCenterra for breakfast at Las Alamedas and do a little window shopping until his hair appointment at The Board Room. The skies were overcast and it was a little misty...but we never got real rain, so we kept on going, running errands and just doing fun stuff throughout the area. Over to Old Katy and back to Cinco Ranch. We picked up some lo mien and headed home. Of course we wanted to get home in time for the game....the LSU game. It has been a lot of fun this year being LSU fans and that doesn't always happen. I asked Dena today when she stopped watching the game since she is an Aggie, she said at 21-0 but she did check in on it from time to time...whoop.

We went to the Cypress Campus today of Houston's First Baptist Church. The church and campus are so beautiful and inviting. Has a real sense of warmth. I was happy to see friends from days gone by and do a little catching up. Dena met us there for the one service for the day. Zac Hufty preached and his sermon was so good. Long ago when we were on staff together he was the middle school minister and he was fun to sit with in staff meeting. Roger Cullins is leading worship there and he too was on staff in the long ago day. I ran into him this morning and we got a quick catch up. But the best of the best of the best was seeing Jason Swiggart and family. First of all his youngest two are such fine young men. Back in that day they were kiddos and sometimes I went and got them from FBA and delivered them back to their dad in the office. Their older brother was my paid Wednesday night worker and his dad cut the salary I offered to him. What is the going price of child labor anyway? I loved catching up with Jason and Paige and our laughter and conversations started back where they left off. Jason is doing so well as a pastor. He has a shepherd's heart. I am so proud of him and how the Lord is using him. He said to me, you haven't changed and I don't know if that was an Excel reference or not...cause Excel was not my friend. I was so thankful for a hubs that could set up and send me a spread sheet while he ate lunch. Sometimes Roy would add all this fancy calculating things and that for sure gave me away that the work wasn't mine. Hopefully, we can grab some lunch in the next few weeks. What a total joy to visit and hug their necks. Roy was off to workout right after church, so Dena and I headed back to Katy to eat lunch. We finally settled on Lupe's due to the fact the restaurant we wanted to go to was blocked by In and Out traffic. Lupe's has the best beef fajitas bar none and fresh salsa....oh my....so good! After our great lunch we decided to go to Hurts Donuts and it was good and the donuts are beautiful, but not as good as all the hype. Plus, they had run out of dairy, so no cream for the coffee....it also seemed to be run by 16 year olds...that's an exaggeration but maybe not. Anyway I can check it off the list. I told Dena when she comes to visit I'll take her to some of the donut places in Asheville.

This afternoon I have taken it easy and putting up some of the purchases over the weekend. The house is a little cluttered but nothing that won't take about 30 minutes. This week I have some plans but I also have work to do here at the house. I also need to fine tune and write out the lesson for this Sunday in Dayspring LBS at The Loop campus. Carolyn called a month or so ago asking if I would teach one week while here. The lesson is somewhat written out but not in final form.

Well, Roy has turned in for the evening. He has to get up at 2:30 and drink more of the junk for his 6:30 appointment. Buddy left and has given up on remaining on my lap.