Battles, Skirmishes and Beetles

 Our portion of patchy fog has cleared. Guess July is getting us ready for August fog where we count the days for days of snow or inches of snow. I've heard both used but clearly in the eight years here, it has never been spot on. Extended forecasts are calling for a wet winter although I don't know if that means rain, icy rain, sleet or snow. Guess it is up to us to decide. 

There is a tiny change in Willie, the youngest Feral Fam cat indoors. He is beginning to climb into our laps even when the chance of food is nil to none. Willie get his afternoon whipped cream faithfully on schedule and that little special attention has calmed him down as well as growing out of his cat teenaged years. Neither Mr Mo or GMoey care for the stuff. Willie is still quite the bully especially to Mr Mo. This time last year we were concerned because Mr Mo was such a bully to GMoey but then GMoey got bigger and suddenly all interest in bully type moves recessed into the distant past. Willie has the biggest head and he uses it to push away Mr Mo from the food dishes. He also uses his big head to get past me. 

Berry picking the past few days has been quite fruitful. Oh and I know it's bad. We have been beating birds to the berries but somehow we are loosing the war with japanese beetles. We had a good clearing of them but their reinforcements entered the picture. Last night and will do so again tonight in the front yard, but I am carrying with me a bucket of Dawn and water, so dishwater to pick off bugs and put them in the bucket. In an all out offense, I trimmed back every rose bloom and any blackberries that do not look like they will produce. Scorch the earth policy. We also tackled the war against bagworms last night. We found the organic stuff to rid them from our firs, thanks Bev, and we began that battle in earnest. Also, with all the sunflowers in the side flowerbed and being just a few weeks away from all the sunflowers blooming in the front yard, I have been cutting off the heads of the spent blooms and putting them in the garage to dry out. I am leaving a majority of the seeds for the birds. I love watching the gold finches eat seed from the big heads. They are totally camouflaged by the yellow and the cats never spy them being relatively close. Also, breaking news on the plum trees that were mislabeled, he thinks they are cherry trees. So that would be two cherry trees and two plum trees. I think he is right cause the fruit sure looks like cherries. We will keep an eye on this breaking news. The beforementioned quince tree is really just a crab apple tree. Misidentification on the iPhone app. This gardening is such a wonder and we enjoy the serendipity of all we plant and grow. Some planned but most a happy ending. 

Another chapter another week in Jeremiah. I love chapter 31 but I got so engrossed with verse 21 about the road signs to return and we also looked at Jeremiah 6:16 where the people are given the chance to choose at the crossroads which direction they will turn. They chose their choice but even in judgement God gave grace to them when about 50,000 returned back home after the exile. We stand at cross roads everyday, minor decisions, and we have those impact decisions, like choosing between CBS core group leader training although I would be in NC because of Roy's generous gift or the gift...I chose NC and I think in hindsight, it had to be a yes/no decision cause once I made that decision, no looking or turning back. 

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I find Willie's stash of pinecones in a lot of places but this morning I found two small pinecones that had been put into a book. He usually puts them in my muck boots or hides them among pillows and such. 

We spent the morning in Burnsville trying out Pig and Grits for breakfast and then for a quick trip to Lamp Post Vintage Market. Stopped at Publix on the way home. Pig and Grits did not disappoint. Breakfast was delicious. After a snack type lunch we went to Ducketts and Lou Lou had canned greasy beans. So beans, strawberry sauce, and blue lake green beans that Roy wanted to try. 

They began work across the way placing the cinderblocks in place. Looks like hard and hot work. We are having a bit of higher than normal temps this week. July is the hottest month around here so August will be hot but not as hot as now. 

Roy picked his first green pepper and a bucket of tomatoes. Some are green cause they are so big and too much for the plant as well as little buggies that think someone has prepared a feast for them. We still battle the japanese beetles but I find it so satisfying to knock them into a bucker of water with Dawn detergent in it. We have not won the war as of yet but we have the battles down to skirmishes. 

Recoup, Rest and Read

 We met a feral cat lady yesterday and she had such good stories and of course sad stories of helping feral cats. I have learned so much from helping The Feral Fam, many of the lessons are spiritual in nature. I was telling her about King Herod and how he tried to kill the baby male kittens and I felt for sure he had killed HP. This is the first year that July 7th rolled around and I forgot that this is the last time I saw HP in 2021 or 2020 I don't remember. The cat lady said most probably KH had killed HP because she was no longer interested in what he had to offer. She wasn't filled hormonal urges after being spayed and he could not deal with that. She said many male cats just go on and look for another fertile cat but some take the rejection personally. 

Now on Thursday we begin with the chance of rain today and ending by the afternoon. Except for VBS there isn't anywhere we need to be today and even Roy is rejoicing in some down time. He is working on his lesson and soon enough I will be doing the same thing. Got some of it written out yesterday and know the emphasis and direction of the lesson. 

It was chicken night at VBS and it was really good. Clean up went quickly and I was able to get home, pick some blackberries and get the Feral Fam fed. Chanel looks to be doing good and no hesitation of acceptance upon her return. She even came close to me which I thought might take several weeks to happen. The big surprise is Fido, he climbed onto my lap for about five minutes and purred so loudly. Took a pic to make Roy jealous. 

Just saw on FB that my faux cousin passed away yesterday, suddenly. I've always called her faux because we didn't even know she existed until 1978 or so. She was the daughter of my Uncle Bob who was my Great Aunt Amy's second husband. When Uncle Bob's wife died from cancer her request was their two daughters be raised by her sister and husband because they were unable to have children. So I think for a long time Karen didn't know about us nor we her. I don't know when she learned about who her biological parents were. I do know this, she was loved and beloved in her community. She retired from teaching and being a librarian at the high school she attended and graduated from. Reading so many condolences on FB, of former students thanking her for the investment she made in their lives. 

Once again and forever always to be thankful not driving I 10 through Louisiana to get here or back to Houston. If we were making that drive I think we might just be going on I 20 instead. Even the usual detour route is closed for bridge repair or in some cases rebuild.  

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Friday and we are both VBS free. Haha! My food service and clean up duty done. I cannot participate for the Friday evening family night due to heat as well as being around a bunch of kiddos which wrecks havoc with my immune system. Roy doesn't need to take pics so he has been set free as well. We are both easing into the day. 

The other day coming home from getting our hair cut, a chicken crossed the road...really, in front of us and I swerved not to hit it. Most chickens around here don't usually get into the road but stay in yards. Definitely a first. 

Coming home from VBS the other night, a truck parked across the way was kind of on the new road for the pasture soon to be development. At first thought, maybe the guy in charge of the work checking things out but once I pulled into our driveway, the thought crossed my mind maybe he was looking for stuff to take. When last seeing him, he was on the way down the newly created road so I haven't a clue if for good or for evil intentions. With the rain and who knows what else has caused some delays. After the cinder block was delivered and one morning of cement trucks, not a creature has stirred over that way unless we think the truck guy was a creature of ill intent. 

We picked about a half of bucket of blackberries last night. Think we are even if not a little ahead of the birds, wasps and japanese beetles. The birds keep rather busy with the sunflowers, so that works. 

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Back to Monday of a new week. Hit and miss posting because of VBS and keeping rested. The obituary for my faux cousin Karen is posted. She is older than me but I thought we were around the same age. Oops. Anyway, she has had a tremendous impact on the community. Well, since it is Monday that means there are things to do and I guess I'd better go and get started. 

 

Full Circle

 The pasture across the road got a delivery of cinder blocks this morning. Soon the aforementioned pasture will be referred as the development. I liked the cows better. We have made and are in the process of decisions of any additions to make the yard more private. We feel like it is better to make these decisions before people move into the homes. For a quick minute we contemplated moving to east TN, but our Saturday trip reminded us that just cause land is near mountains that does not translate into the cooler temps of the mountains. If we were younger or just starting out in life, the holler makes sense but alas we are not starting out...

First night of VBS in the books. The whole church looks wonderful decorated as a castle Our Sunday School room held the same vibe. Roy is taking pics and I help serve and clean up after supper. Roy said the VBS songs are really good. I will get home earlier than Roy this week so I picked blackberries last night after feeding The Feral Fam. Got almost a container full but mad that after doing so much to deter japanese beetles, the evidence of their presence is there among the berries. The dried out remains. For so many blooms and young sprouts of berries, we have lost more than we would like to these hordes. The bug bags are working and killing them by hand is too. While picking berries, Fido climbed the trellis and sat there watching me work. He must have been missing Roy and their nightly trips out to the front yard to trim back tomato plants and water when needed. 

We studied Jeremiah 29 yesterday and I did my best to stay away from Jeremiah 29:11. Not that it isn't important but the simple steps that God gave the Judeans to thrive in captivity were so simple. Build homes, plant gardens, get married, have children and pray for the city you are in so that it goes well with you. Sometimes we forget there is work to be done to see the future and a hope from God. I kind of let my personal opinion of the verse and the over use of it show up in the lesson. I hate that I slid into that thought while teaching and reliving the thought of a Sunday School teacher that hit on this verse and prayer of Jabez once too often during the years. Oh yes and the dreaded mission statement obsession that I can't really be miffed with cause that mission statement stuff helped a friend to move more into her ministry. Back to the paragraph before digressing...found an interesting article about an exhibit in 2015 of small clay tablets from the Babylonian exile. Just daily life but gave great insight to the way though exiled and though not in their land, to the way life was lived and the religion was persevered.  I am convinced more and more that while there are spectacular moments with the Lord in life, the everyday in the day and noticing it is where the joy is and where our relationship with Him is found. Now we move onto Jeremiah 31, restoration and if memory serves me correctly, I think there are two verses about tambourines. Oh the joy!

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Successful trapping this morning. Roy got Chanel and Cha-naynay is not too happy about that fact. Think Coco and one of her siblings is the last of the female cats not spayed. Cutie, but she is great with kitten, so we will have to wait for her to make a trip. 

Another night of VBS in the books. It was BBQ night for supper and I stayed and helped the snack people by cutting strawberries. Came home, fed the Feral Fam and then picked blackberries. As friends in Houston say, there is tired and then there is VBS tired. I am feeling the VBS tired this morning. 

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Wednesday morning, still tired but it is a good tired. Roy has gone to pick up Chanel. I think the herbal supplement that the doctor recommended is working. About in week three and although my ankles and feet bear a lot of standing, the supplement and wearing supportive hiking boots have made a huge difference from yesterday to today.  Chanel is home and feisty. We will let her out a little later. 

I am so excited that one of the books on Vivian Vance and William Fraley arrived last night. I dare not pick it up cause I haven't written out the lesson for Sunday. The second book should arrive today. Hopefully, all the reading and studying and praying for this upcoming Sunday's lesson will all fall into place. We are in the midst of good news in Jeremiah, 30-33, so that is helpful. 

In the midst of the studying and working in VBS, there is an inside feeling in me that life is coming full circle. This is nothing profound or new, but just an observation. Well, more than an observation, more than a feeling, just a peace and contentment. Actually, the realization has been going on way before this week and there in the midst of joy, loss, repentance, rejoicing...just life really. I read an article today about a man's journey from a hard childhood into a productive and mannered adulthood. He was looking at real estate, looking to buy a house. He realized the homes he favored were older one story homes like his grandparents because his grandparents home brought safety and love in a rather loud and dangerous home with just one parent, that being his father. He shared that at his grandparents, they watched Wheel of Fortune, looked at photo albums of long gone family and heard tales of his Texas family on his grandmothers side. Nothing at all out of the ordinary, just routines of life, that made him crave that safe feeling. He would purposely get in trouble at school cause he would be sent home to grandma and grandpa, closest to the school and his father at work. Yesterday, I read about an experience a friend had and the full circle that God is bringing about in her family and ministry. So, I guess when God gave the Judeans a choice of deciding which path to take and now in chapter 31 instructing them as they go into exile to make markers along the road, so they'll know the way back. Ah, a full circle God. 

Olden Days and Rain

 Yesterday morning's capture of two kittens for neuter and spaying was quite a surprise. The ASPCA had said if we captured two, go ahead and bring them together. The bonus is, the two kittens were female. Roy has gone to pick them up. Calm has returned to breakfast this morning for the Feral Fam. The good problem that we have now is, not catching an already fixed cat. I know them better by appearance than Roy so my presence at breakfast is a tell tale sign something is up. Just heard from Roy they are boys. He thought when they sent over two female contracts that the two we caught...well, y'all know the story. 

We went to Burnsville yesterday to get a couple of things. We had planned to eat at a new to us place but neither of us were ready for a heavy southern cooked lunch. Another time for sure although the preference for us is the breakfast. A quick stop at Publix on the way home rounded out the morning. 

I have so enjoyed taking a look back at Houston from the 60s on FB. The openness of the city that developed into rambling subdivisions, stores and parking lots once on track, never stopped. Mentions of restaurants especially those along the edge of Main Street, flashy lights, torch lights, not a dim bulb in the midst. The mention of a few kiddy parks with rides and very docile horses brings back tons of memories of a shared growing up in Houston experience. Now where Harold Farb apartments were built, near Belden's on Chimney Rock in our early years in Houston there were trails with a few hills, man made, in the midst. Kids on stingray bikes or just walking and playing, our imaginations were the guide to the fun. If the water was low in Braes Bayou and if we were able to get our hands on a big piece of cardboard, we would wax the bottom of the cardboard and slide down the slopes till we hit the concrete slopes at the bottom before even getting close to that stinky, junky, stagnant water. Dinosaur bones were discovered along the big bayou that ran the length of Chimney Rock. That was exciting to watch. 

Still lots of digging and pointing across the way. The work to shore up the entrance has been going on and we can't see that cause of the trees in our yard. The land they are working on for a house is a little more toward Josh. It just seems that if they found water or a reliable source they wouldn't be standing around a lot, talking on the phone and pointing. That is my non professional opinion. In other related news the house being built across the valley had lights on for the first time. That house has been in the building process for a year or so. Just checked on the guys across the way. Sitting in back of truck talking. That's all the news for pasture news for now. 

Our two who went for the clip clip are running and frolicking around in the back. All are happy to see each other and things picked up where they left off. Nap time now cause it is a hot afternoon with very little breeze.

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Saturday morning. Ah, easing into the morning. Had one of those nights of getting up at 2:00 and going back to bed around 4:00. Roy got up around 5:00 and finally I got up for the day at 7:00. A few seconds of life you'll never get back from reading the sleep schedule last night. Anyway, after a busy day on Friday, I was so ready to go to sleep last night. We ran over to Erwin and then to Unicoi to visit a produce stand I had read about. We were not disappointed. Took the scenic route and thoroughly enjoyed it. Late lunch at home, unloading and then putting away stuff filled out the afternoon. For this area, the temps are a tad warm to hottish. Heat does a number on me. We got a little rain in the afternoon so the evening felt cooler. We both picked blackberries and Roy checked on his tomatoes. They are doing really well. I brought out to The Feral Fam two toys for the backyard. They have totally destroyed the red sled thing, so we got a new one as well as a semi tunnel with enclosure type thing. After a great dinner, these cats were pretty happy with the new toys. Chanel is getting closer to us and we are hoping for a breakthrough. Getting Coco and Chanel to the ASPCA is high on our list. 

We had about a fourteen hour back in the olden days adventure. The internet went out around 6:30 Thursday evening. After working outside I came in and started to read. I wasn't looking for anything that would gain too much of my attention but much to my surprise that trip to the olden days before internet was a rather profitable use of time. I've been skimming or just thumbing through a book I bought in the spring, Enchantment. The author has another book, Wintering that I enjoyed. I have written before about the struggle with my attention span. Nothing interested me too much in reading yet I still bought books. My attention span included watching anything, even if it was only 35 seconds long. So, reading the book the author details those very same issues and while she, at the time of publishing, had not resolved anything, she was on the road. I have been feeling the very same thing and the unusual things that are bringing me back to myself pre 2020. I also picked up a book by Luci Shaw as she desires to end out this earthly journey well. She's still around at 94 years of age. Just checked her website. Inspiring and she wrote the book at the age of 84. 

The long awaited rain has finally arrived. We got the Feral Fam fed and hopefully they will spend the night under the porch or on the top of the porch steps. Roy replaced two drawer supports in the bathroom, so that is good. Think we both have studied our lessons and talked about the 29th chapter a lot the past few days. So with a bit of thunder, I'll bid ado till the chance to write comes around and I always welcome that opportunity with wide arms. 

Beetles, Bears, Bagworms and Battles

 The battle continues against the dreaded hun more commonly known as the Japanese beetle. Reinforcements for the fight arrived on Sunday but it wasn't until Monday till they could be deployed. Once setting up the battle bags filled with the aroma of food and s%x for them, I approached the rose bushes with a sprayer of water and Dawn. Sometimes I resorted to hand to hand combat cause the sheer numbers of those little pests just get to me. I broke up their orgies in the rose blooms and smushed them into the ground, on rocks or on my hands. Well, at least they died with smiles on their faces. 

I learned yesterday that Dr King's Carolina Bison land is on the market. I've suspected as much since the elk haven't been around and the drive a couple of weeks ago with empty pastures where the watusi grazed. The land just down the road is about $7 million for 126 acres, houses, barns and a stream. Hmmm...will they take a check? Ha! Still looking for the reason why all their operations have moved from the area. Think their offices are now in West Asheville. 

Studying Jeremiah this week is so much better than last week. It really hit hard how much Jeremiah endured and how hard and difficult it was for him at times. Yet in-between all the out of chronological order, Jeremiah remembered. This week we are in Jeremiah 29 which as most know includes verse 11. Statistically one of the most out of context verses ever. Right up there with the prayer of Jabez and the necklace verse. The necklace is in the shape of a heart, but it splits into two necklaces, half a heart each saying, may the Lord watch between you and me as we are apart. Ah, great friendship thought only in the Bible it was due to the fact that the two didn't trust each other. Oh well... 

Only being older would make me think that this was a great day, our trip to Sam's yesterday. Parked close, got what we needed and an empty checkout, now that makes shopping at Sam's a little more tolerable. The only negative was cat food. Only had one choice of Friskies, The Feral Fam's supper, so we stopped in at Tractor Supply and found two pink boxes of Friskies. Has all their favorite flavors. I also, much to my embarrassment did an old lady thing. A young man asked if he could help us find anything and I mentioned the organic pesticide for bag worms. I could tell by his face he had no idea what a bag worm is. So, being an old lady in relatively good standing, I began to describe to him what they looked like and get this, I took it a bit further...I told him how that was my first job picking bag worms for family and neighbors, five cents a coffee can full. Mercifully, I stopped myself there, realizing I had just turned into Grandma D. She told long stories to grocery clerks about living in Illinois but she lived in Texas presently. Back to Tractor Supply, I told him that's okay, we would look for ourselves. I had lost interest in finding any in my ramblings, really. He said well, I never have heard of bag worms, but I have now. I thanked him on the inside for his kindness, cause he could have really gone another direction. Now I wish I had on an old flannel shirt that didn't match anything I wore and wore my hiking boots. That young man would have such a story to tell. 

I have also been thinking about the term, we want to live a simple life. We want to simplified lives. Yes, I would say we live a simpler life here but dang it is more difficult to do. We try to support and do support several local businesses but we might drive farther for that privilege and the goods might be higher in price. Growing food and we are so limited in what we grow by experience and knowledge, it hard work. Yep, did a mighty battle against those beetles on our blackberries. Daily battle. It is simplifier to buy blackberries at the grocery store or produce stand. Yes, we are still outsource types but we are trying to learn more. Well, this all fits in with Jeremiah 29, grow gardens...settle down. Gee, I wish we had seventy more years here although technically, we are not in exile. More like living in the promised land. 

Roy had his fitness evaluation this morning. He has gained weight but lost an inch in his chest. He was pleased with the report overall. 

This is a picture of the bear that has been roaming the general area. We have not seen him around here but he is just over the ridge or hill from us. Not sure what what to call the other side over our rise. Over six feet tall and he looks like he has raided quite a few birdfeeders and berry bushes. Someone saw him on her front porch cameras this morning. Wake up sleepy head. Good thing I am wearing a Baylor Bear t-shirt today.  I am sure he is familiar with the university. 

I've enjoyed being more observant for details while watching I Love Lucy. Lucy has brilliant comedic timing and I love that she used her friends to be extras from the time when she was Queen of the B movies. When Super Man was on, she didn't want the actor's name announced during the ending credits. She wanted any kids watching to continue believing in Super Man. That is really a wonderful fact to learn. As for Vivian Vance, I thought her timing and reaction was so good when she learns from Mrs. Trumble that Lucy might be Madam X, neighborhood cat burglar. 

The ongoing saga of our neighborhood information on FB has been about a concrete dalmatian dog stolen from someone's property. The woman whose sentimental dog was taken put out pleas on all social media. People were on the watch if that statue turned up on another porch. It was sighted, people confronted, said they ditched the dog at a nearby exit. The search was on but anyone could have picked it up and wouldn't have a clue. But, the woman that picked it up, not on FB, but her son is and saw the plea for the statue's return. They worked out a meet up, the returner was that found the dog was so nice. That is always good there are good people around still. The first sighting, at a house we pass everyday if we go toward Weaverville. Hmm...

I am in from the scouting report. Less beetles but still some on the roses. Took care of them and then checked the bug bags. They are doing the job. 

First A Nap and Then Install Reinforcements Against Beetles

 I haven't had an I'm a student at Baylor dream in a long time but that changed a couple of nights ago. The dreams are either I am back in my teens again going to Baylor or I am married but Roy wants me to go back and get a degree from Baylor. The other night, once again, married and my crazy friend Debbie and I are roommates, in Collins, freshman dorm. Nothing too weird about that at all and she has taken over our dorm room and left me very little space for me or my stuff. I woke up before anything was resolved but there were a lot of laughs in that dream. The month or so before moving here the Baylor thing came full circle for me with the Alumni By Choice certificate. Funny, for so long I held onto the thought that if I had been able to attend Baylor my life would have been better, great in fact but with that now feeling full circle, I began to realize that it would not have been the best thing for me to be there. It would have been a miserable existence that is for sure. Coming to NC a month or so after that ceremony, my addled brain, abused emotions, and all those hurts began to settle down, but now in the far recesses of my mind. This adventure that began in 2014 has been wild but in the midst of it all, I think I am who I would have been without all the abuse and sheer horror that could be childhood at times. Two times within the last month two topics on the I Grew Up in Southwest Houston Facebook group, have caused a little trigger in me. Someone posted the pic of the Six Flags of Texas Clock in the center of Sharpstown Mall, from back in the day, and it surprised me, the physical reaction I had to seeing it. That is where my father would bring me and tell me that our family didn't want me anymore and maybe if I was lucky, a new family would see me and want me to be in theirs. Of course the instructions contained the advice, it would be best not to cry. No one would want me. So seven or eight year old me standing by the clock, trying to smile and hope someone would like me enough to go to their family. Never, ever did anyone ask anything about me or talk to me like, are you lost little girl? With that evil grin we saw way too many times, my father would return for me and once again enforce the fact no one liked me, I would never fit in and I was doomed. The other memory was of Burnett Bayland Home. BBH was an orphanage back in the day and my brother and I were threatened constantly he was taking us there. Made the fake phone call to get us all worked up. Sometimes he acted like he was looking for a suitcase for us to pack a few things. I caught on quickly he wasn't going to do it cause there is no way he was going to let us pack our things in the good suitcases. With all this the truth remains, God was with me every step of the way, even when I didn't know His presence. I also know that meeting Roy, falling in love with him and getting married was the far better plan and boy howdy, do I know it. 

I think we bought our last bucket of strawberries yesterday for the season. As mentioned before this has been a particularly good season but free stone peaches being up next in the produce stand season makes the strawberry loss a little easier. 

This week's lesson is a struggle and it has been all week. Just reading over and over the travails of Jeremiah. No support cause everyone hated him from the Kings to prophets, priests, friends, family and his close friends. Yet he never wavered in his trust of the Lord. Wow! This morning I was feeling kind of down over the reading of all that goes on, but in the midst of it all, an encouraging praise would come forth from his heart, then some whining and then back on point and message. Not that I can identify with that. 

We are fighting the battle of the bugs, Japanese beetle and bag worms. Two traps for the beetles and the one by the blackberries is doing the job. I moved the other trap closer to the roses along the fence. When I can find more traps I'll be getting more out as well. Need to put one out front as well as another one for the back fence roses. Last year they weren't as bad but this year, they have returned and this time with a vengeance. This is also fruit fly season and those little buggers drive us all up the wall, especially The Boys who chase them down but have no clue if the fly survives cause they are so tiny. 

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Church was special in spite of the lesson in Jeremiah. The young man our class loves, preached in church. He is good. One more semester at Fruitland and then he is off to finish at Wake Forest, I think. The I think part of about Wake, not finishing. Our friend, K, joined our church this morning and great rejoicing was had all around. These things fill us with joy! Our pastor and family back from vacation. VBS starts in another week. 

There is a big bear in the area, over six feet tall and although we've never seen one close to the house, those blackberries outside, might be a draw. While Roy was working in that area picking and finishing up with some of the sunflowers we needed to clear, I kept a watchful eye. Several of the huge sunflowers toppled over and pulled themselves out of the dirt. Kind of helpful cause where they were, cleared a path for us to get closer to the blackberries.

It was one of those nights where I awoke in the middle of the night, couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up for a bit. Replied to a message a friend sent, reviewed the lesson one more time and did some reading. I should have mopped the kitchen floor while The Boys were in the bonus room for the night and Roy sound asleep. Made my nap this afternoon even sweeter. 

Reinforcements just arrived from Amazon to battle those pesky beetles. Means I have a battle plan to put into place.  

 

Just Stuff the First Week of July

 We are easing into the morning on this July 4th. Both of us and sometimes it is rare but Roy is truly coming to like the easing into the morning routine. We went to the deacon's picnic meeting last night. Truly a wonderful view from our church's picnic shelter. Looks like the old grill has become a little long in the tooth, so a new one was used last night. I forgot to take scenery pics especially as the sun began to set. 

Another fun morning at the tag office. This trip is for the temporary handicap placard due to the toll heat takes on me. Taking a chance that the line would not be long on the Monday before a holiday. The line was not long yet it took some time. Think a car dealership was there doing title transfers, so basically that particular clerk was tied up with all of that. The man in front of us soon went to the open line with his request. This man was wearing the tiniest tight shorts with an equally tight and short shirt/top/crop. He was very muscular and very blond. Never really got a look at his face but it would seem he was good looking. He starts the conversation with the tag lady and basically, he had come into the office with the piece of paper and when she asked for his ID, he had to go back outside to his car and he brought back a passport. More convo, no Apple Pay so he wasn't prepared for that. Cash, credit card or check she said. How about I give you the numbers and you can enter them into the computer? No can do, she said. He went back out to his car to search for a credit card...nope, none. He was going to have to do this by mail she made the conclusion after patiently answering his questions about the probability of his car business to be taken care of with the minimal output from him. So he surmised, so this trip has been in vain? Uh, yes for all of us, the lady, those of us waiting and of course for muscle man. If we played the game who is not from around here, well it wouldn't have even been competitive. We stepped up for our turn at her window giving her time to make those faces of, what in the world? Who comes to the tag office or even the DMV without ID? I think we learned that in Driver ED or at least it seems to be common sense. Bet these ladies could write a book about their experiences over the years. Just in two visits and we will have another one coming up in the fall, we've seen enough good people watching to last a long time. In the midst of all this a gentleman in line, came forward to ask about leaving a license plate and without hesitating at all, the reply, sure you can put it down over there but you'll have no receipt. I wanted her to say, put it down, go ahead make my day. Let's see who picks it up and uses it for other than good purposes. He quickly went back to his place in line. He kind of looked like the yoga butt cruncher from the last visit, but I don't think it was him. 

Roy and I made squash casserole for the first time and it was delicious. Between the two of us we chopped, sliced, whipped, beat, crushed, and poured all the ingredients into a Pyrex dish. Baked for 25 minutes. We also had some fresh veggies and turkey kielbasa. I was going to make onion, tomato and cucumber salad but will do that another day. Roy's tomatoes are coming in strong especially the grape tomatoes.  Think we have just now seen the last of strawberry season. This year's crop was so good! Seemed longer than usual but now we are into freestone peaches season. 

Watched Yankee Doodle Dandy this afternoon. Love to watch James Cagney dance. Now the Music Man is on in the background. Before all the movie watching, mainly me, we tried to get a couple of things taken care of outside. Heat stopped the work, then the threat of rain and then the rain came, nothing to write home about. Just enough to move the dishes toward the porch so that the Feral Fam stayed relatively dry. 

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Good morning, with a bit of fog thrown in. We punted our original plans for this morning. The Boys have finally settled in for their morning nap. Fast and furious play that sometimes develops into fights can wear one out. In fact, I could maybe ponder a morning nap, but that is really not in the plans. This week's lesson prep has been difficult. Roy keeps saying when you come up with your lesson plan, let me see it. Well, uh, okay. I was waiting for him to do that since that seems to be in the realm of overachiever. 

The ongoing saga of the land across the way, one guy showed up around 10:00 am and has been moving markers around and such but since there aren't any other guys around, no pointing but he does put his hands on his hips. Part of me wants to think, they can't find water but it is probably business as usual or the land won't sustain a septic system. Every delay is just another day to take in the beauty. Well, they found what they were looking for and have started putting in red dirt for a house or a street or something. Who knows? But Mike the Mower Man was here today and that is good.

We are having a hot spell but nothing at all like Texas, so I will keep those thoughts to myself. 

Remembering and Celebrating

 One night of volunteering for VBS, painting props and scenery. Did anyone get the number on the bus that ran over me? This ol' bod did not want to get up this morning and when the brain overruled the objection, the bod made it as painful as possible. Lower back ache and my feet, well they have failed me for now. It is several hours later and brain and bod are co-existing rather peacefully. Nothing like a little coffee, rub on detox gel and Jesus to get the motor running. Just good training that will be needed for VBS week. Like so many have mentioned before, there is tired and then there is VBS tired. 

Life has settled back in for The Feral Fam. With three females no longer attracting Tom cats, the Fam is down a bit. That's fine with us. Think we have another clinic appointment the week after next. Actually we have several booked appointments in July and hopefully some of the kittens and the remaining male cats get fixed. Not too many more to go. 

The past few days have held quite a few look backs via FB and several FB groups that remember and write about growing up in southwest Houston. Lots of Westbury Square memories, restaurants from back in the day and hang out places both in nature or clubs or theme parks. Someone mentioned Charlies 517. Not southwest Houston per se but delicious food and for us the beginning of a love that started out kind of rocky, but oh so wonderful.  Roy took me there for lunch after he had returned from Brussels, don't know that it was a date, but it was eating during our lunch hour when we worked downtown. We both came away from that lunch a bit disappointed. To me Roy was too aloof and Roy thought I was the shallowest person he had ever met. Gee, it was meant to be. Several other places have been mentioned and just this morning a mention of the Confeddy House got some love. Now you know, it was not Confeddy but more like a group of states during the civil war, but a lady that played tennis at The UC, always called it that, Confeddy. She said she was from France but she sure sounded like she was from Central America. She and her tennis partner Vonda were a hoot. Vonda was from South Africa and when the two of them got to talking, it became very hard to understand, both having very strong accents. My favorite memory is how Alex called out balls during matches. She had two ways of calling them, besides the call being in her favor, the first way; giving you an explanation of just how your ball was almost on the line. The second way? She would tell you the ball was out, with the afore mentioned explanation and then she'd remind you, you must believe me cause my accent tells you I know how to believably call out balls. Her make up never smeared nor do I recall her sweating but after we booked our next game, she would take her racquet, put it underneath her arm at an angle then lift up the well worn, beaten up, over sized Louis Vuitton bag and leave.  

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It has been a full week and truthfully, I don't really have those kinds of weeks anymore. Yesterday, was a slow start. Ran over to TJs in the afternoon and we deadheaded roses and such last night. We had a rather warm day for this area but we can almost count on a cool down in the evenings with a good breeze. A lot of The Feral Fam accompanied us for our chores. Then relaxed with us while we rested. Fido will sit at our feet, so will Beanie...well just a little. It was a pleasant sight to see Toup Jr playing with Beanie. Roy has felt a bit of disgust toward Toup Jr, for abandoning her babies. She was really young and a lot of cats don't get pregnant the first go into catwomanhood, but she did. She was still a baby and she still wants to roughneck and play. I have seen a few other cats be immature toward their kittens but this was Roy's real journey into that darkness. I am glad we got her fixed and Roy isn't as disgusted by her abandonment issues.

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Once again we roll into Monday morning. Have several errands to run today. Then the rest of the week looks to be a quiet one, for which I am thankful. 

While cleaning out bookshelves and drawers I came across several items I had totally forgotten about. I wore the bad hair pin from the Metal Museum that my niece gave me. I also found a necklace but the length was too long for what I wore yesterday. I also found a book that Peggy gave me back in 1987. When you find fun things it makes the chore a little easier. I kind of rearranged furniture in the front room upstairs and that right there got me started on the quest. Of course that happened in the middle of studying for the lesson, but then ADHD makes life interesting and never boring...just a lot of projects in limbo in the wake. 

Jeremiah 18 is where we were yesterday, and I love studying the creative nature of God and Jeremiah response. Pottery was an everyday thing, there is a potter in every village. So God is telling go to the everyday work, the everyday ordinary and there I will speak to you. I told the class about 7th grade art and how I looked forward to the class but art wasn't my forte. Okay in the 7th grade, I don't know that I had a forte. Told them about the three process picture of background paint wash, stamps made by carving a potato and then painting a picture of an interest or hobby. I was at the end of my horse infatuation season, but that is what I wanted to paint...only thing, I couldn't draw nor can I now...Anyway, I talked to the art teacher and she asked me to draw a horse for her on a white piece of paper. She saw my dilemma, might have been good in kindergarten, but not so much in the 7th grade. The next day in class, she brought me my paper and said I think if you look closely you can find a horse in your work. Sure enough, in faint pencil lines, there was a horse she had drawn. Now I just had to paint it black. The teacher made an A and displayed her work in the display case outside the art room. I will never forget her kindness and I have thought of that experience many times since then. Only she could do this. If a classmate drew it, it was cheating. If I drew it, well if she was compassionate that day, maybe a D. I threw myself onto the mercy of that teacher just like I throw myself onto the mercy of God. When I don't understand the why and how of circumstances, if I look closely I'll find where God is in those painful days and know I can color in the details with His presence leading me. 

Our friends dropped by with veggies from their garden last night. Pretty exciting and have plans for a great July 4th lunch. 

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Even on the 4th, the guys are back again in the pasture across the way. Clearing a spot and look to be trying to locate the spot for the well. I think some surveyors are out there as well. Watching them on and off the past couple of days these guys get a good arm workout pointing here and pointing there. All of them in most of their conversations are pointing with both arms working into quite a thing. 

So here is to a good celebration today and tonight. We can see fireworks from all around, professional as well as some pretty good amateurs. The first July 4th here, not one firework could be heard but that has changed in the past few years but still not as bad as in Rancho de Five.  

Tigers, Toupe Jr and Toupee

 What a great morning to be a Tiger, a LSU Tiger that is. Last night I did my part for the team much like 2019, only follow on Twitter or the ESPN app. I did watch the last out but the game cast on my phone was faster than our TV. After the second game in the series and Roy was a little down over that score, I reminded him that after a blowout win like Florida had, it is difficult to come back the next day and that baseball/softball theory proved to be correct. Since we were outside working when the game started, we didn't see the two runs that the Gators got, but we did see a deer in the pasture that soon will be houses while we were discussing if we or should we outsource getting a dead hydrangea removed. When we see wildlife, animal not partying, we are grateful and I took that as a good sign that LSU would win the world series. That deer was there for a second and was gone just like that. Yes, I know that is what deer do but still....

We were able to get Toupee this morning into the clinic and we transferred Toup Jr from a carrier into a trap for twenty four hours. She expressed her displeasure about the whole thing through biting into and through my thick leather gardening gloves. She got me good but we got her into the trap. Now we will slide some water and food in which should be okay cause we use jar lids. I was just watching Toupee's  kittens playing in wild abandon in the backyard. The little decorative long grass plant is getting ready for another round of kittens playing in the long green leaves. By summer's end this plant will be almost a straw color and war weary with extended hide and seek for kittens and some of the younger cats. Kingsley, Toup Jr's sister who is fixed, is out there having the time of her life playing as opposed to being stalked by male cats. Toupee still calls for her kittens much longer than most mama cats do and I am glad she had such a cute last litter. 

My brother sold his home in TN and has moved to the great state of Missouri. He posted a few pics of taking the first load and it reminded me so much from back in the day when he moved from Houston to Atlanta. He has always had happy feet, even as a child. Both of us have learned there are different reactions to childhood trauma. He would leave the house and be gone all day while I decided to stay holed up in my bedroom with my books. He had bike flight while mine was book flight. His home in Missouri is beautiful and shocked me that he didn't buy mid century modern but a home built in 1914 with arts and craftsman vibes. But when you fall in love with a house, there is no hope to look at anything else. Here we loved the views and the layout but could have done with a larger bathroom and closet. We have worked around the negatives. I do miss our CR bathroom though. Oh well, I don't miss the heat of Houston, that's for sure. 

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This week we got two of The Feral Fam for fixing and for a better life. I am sure that Toup Jr and Toupee might disagree with that right now, but in the long run, happier lives. Love that Toupee didn't bolt from the carrier when we let her out and after a bit of grooming she must have wanted to look good for the kids, she gave that mama cat call out to her bunch and those kittens came running. Although they are older, they still respond to the call. They were lost without her presence. The afternoons have been rather warm so The Feral Fam seek shelter in the shade of the gravel road. Later in the evening we brought out the food and I whistled. Here came Toupee a running for supper followed by Coco and Chanel. Soon her other kittos sauntered over to the food dishes, sleep not too far from their eyes. After a delicious dinner, life came back to the lethargic kittens and frolic was the name of the game. 

Tuesday, saw my doctor for the yearly wellness check. My first year of getting the draw the clock thing and then the can you remember these three words. I almost drew a clock radio with digital numbers for the clock. On the second round of what were these three words, I couldn't remember the third word, mainly because I had moved on to the clock. Remembered it began with a C. Drat, but I do remember that I chieve not over or a, chieve. I feel like I answered all the questions enthusiastically and my questions were answered by the doctor and his staff. We've known our doctor since he was a youth at church and know his parents. You are asked about your meds, sometimes at different doctors several times. I can't pronounce half of them so it seems my answers go with the name, then I say the generic version. While there waiting for a tetanus shot as well as a booster for pneumonia my phone buzzed but I didn't answer. My friend Bev was concerned over Toup's bites on my fingers. Just happened to have the appointment so that worked out well. On Wednesday, lunch at The Blue Rooster seemed to be where to celebrate the farthest day from the next doctor appointment for wellness check. Fried chicken and coconut cake. 

Had an early wake up around 3:00 am but I was able to work on the lesson and so some reading before returning to bed. Don't have these kinds of nights much anymore and for this I am thankful. 

The fields where Dr King had bison, Watutsi cows, and other animals looks like nothing has been in those fields for a while. Made me kind of sad. I hadn't driven back that way for quite sometime.  

Cats, Jeremiah, and The Boys

 Roy the Great Cat Whisper and his able partner Nancy, who can tell the cats apart from others but is hit or miss determining male or female, ventured into the world of capture this morning as we have two appointments this week with the neuter and spay clinic for our Feral Fam. We actually caught three this morning but released two because we got the one that needs to go in quickly. This morning we were able to get Toup Jr.  We had a sad week with The Feral Fam. Been keeping a close eye on Toup Jr as she looked like she would deliver any day. I caught a glimpse of her early Friday morning and yes, she had her kittens. We try and figure out where they are in the beginning because most cat moms move their litters several times and you only see mom at one meal. Couldn't find them but kept careful watch. Soon we began to notice her a lot, like a whole lot. She hung out around the front so we searched everywhere for hidden kittens. She looked dazed and lost and we thought well maybe they were still born or she forgot where she put them. We kept listening for kitten cries. There is a bird who sounds like a kitten cry and we chased those sounds down as well. We finally found them and they had not made it. We placed them together in a shoe box and we wrapped them up and buried them. Where we found them is where we had searched previously. So if she moved them and moved them back, we don't know. It is the sad part of The Feral Fam life. Toup is like her Aunt Tupac, who had a litter and abandoned them and her second litter she pawned off onto her sister Cutie. That large combined litter was too much for Cutie and last summer we rescued and lost kittens. One of the saddest summers, a cloud overshadowed the back yard and gravel road. Since she would soon come back into her "time" we needed to catch her and we did. The other cats have not been socializing with her and her mom Toupee wouldn't let her near her group as they huddled beneath a table in the covered part of the back yard. For this we are thankful because she hasn't normally hung about for breakfast. Toupee was not there this morning and we want to get her in as well. Maybe tomorrow. Fluff Mo probably won't get into a carrier or trap again, at least for a while. We had him too but only one appointment. Update; Roy just got home and they told him if we trapped two in the trap, they would take both. Good to know. 

Funny thing about Jeremiah in Sunday School, there are so many different directions to go. I read Dena's class handout, she went with it's okay to question God from Jeremiah 12, Roy went with Jeremiah and Jesus, and me, well mature me went with four points but one of them was Jeremiah 13 about underwear. How God uses things we are acquainted with to show and help us. The comparison to the things we are acquainted with was putting the quadratic equation on the white board. I have no idea what you use the quadratic equation for and I am pretty sure I have never even used it cause the only part of it I understand is = 0. Yep, nothing nada. God may use math to strengthen Roy but I take it as a sign or maybe even a co sign unto me, that the math direction is not God's will for me. A funny from class, I went over to the whiteboard to discuss the comparison and looked at several faces and I assured them I had not stood up to show my underwear. We all had a good laugh. We looked on a more personal view, thus underwear, of God strengthening and preparing Jeremiah. God told him his friends, family and village were plotting to kill him, Jeremiah didn't know but he then had a plan for God to take vengeance and vengeance he could watch happen to them. God said, you have bigger fish to fry than this. Thus chap 12 how can you run with horses when you can't even run with fellow human beings. God never puts us in a horse race before we race against people. The afore mentioned underwear passage and we ended with Jeremiah 17, don't be a stunted shrub but be a tree. 

Roy's glasses are ready so we will be getting those picked up. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow.  

We just returned home and I smell of olives. Why? Well, the other day I was taking something out of the bookcase/pantry and heard something fall to the floor but could never find it. With that being said, I never gave it another thought. Until just a few minutes ago. The jar of olives had rolled under the office chair and when I rolled back, the jar cracked. Quickly, I picked up the jar and the liquid ran down the front of my jeans that gave a similar look as wetting your pants. Roy went upstairs when we got home and while coming down the steps I stood there and said I had an accident. In that bare few seconds of time, you could see him contemplating the future with a wife who may or may not have wet her pants. He said almost in a whisper, did you wet your pants? Nope had an accident running over a free range olive jar. I've been anointed and will carry the fragrance of olives unless I change my jeans. Oh the joy. 

The warm day has turned into a cool evening. We cut back a few plants that The Feral Fam played too hard on. Roy picked tomatoes and did some general work that we have been finding reasons not to do. 

Our Three Boys are enchanted with my most lovely muck boots. This morning one boot had been knocked over and nearby the arch insert as well as the regular shoe bed had been taken out of said boot; only to be replaced with several small and much beloved pine cones. Princesses find peas under the mattress and rural girls find small pine cones in their boots. Oh the life! Mr Mo and GMoey had vet appointments and what a difference between GMoey, laid back, Mr Mo, quiet but nervous and Buddy. Buddy was in a very bad mood when at the vet and after the vet. Got shots, mani/pedis, and all in all good reports. GMoey has feline stomatitis,  not too bad yet but still in a manageable. I mentioned to Roy not only did those Penny videos help me get my attention span back, at least longer span for viewing, and now from watching her journey with it, Penny's feline stomatitis vet and dentist visits, I am not overwhelmed with worry and such but keeping a careful eye on him. When we returned home, Mr Mo hid under the bed till he deemed it safe to emerge or maybe he just wanted some quiet time away from the Protégé. GMoey just wandered around as usual and the Protégé, he hid cause he thought he might be next for a vet visit. He can relax till November when his regular check up will be scheduled. The vet that saw the boys is the same vet that was so very kind and compassionate when we had to put Buddy to sleep. The tech remembered Mr Mo when his lip was torn open by a swipe from Mama Cat. 

Quiet Projects

 Watching the past few days of work in the pasture across the way, we have noticed that progress is slow at this stage. One part is marked off, the trees are in a heap waiting most probably to be burned and the big excavator has moved on and the work is being done by smaller backhoes, bulldozers and such. Red dirt is in piles and some of the piles have been moderated a bit. Man, if I was a kid playing in all that mess might just be a lot of fun. Of course the red clay stains on clothes would not be. Ah, thankfully the grown up in me prevails. Also, this lack of progress is not a complaint...take your time over there. When we had the porch screened in and such, there were lulls in progress and that also seems to be the case on a house in the distance as well as the house up on the hill across the way. The house in the distance has been in the construction phase for well over a year. 

Lots of loose cows on the road this morning according to the FB group I belong to. Can't help but remember that time I had a bull in my front yard and heard a snort behind me and I tells ya, I never moved so fast in these older type years. 

Roy has gone target shooting with Cuman. There is a little extra step in Roy's stride this morning. He picked up an bunny sign out of the garage for a target. Glad to help by providing the target. 

Several months ago I wrote about finding extra storage for groceries, like coffee, canned goods and such. We had been looking for a cabinet or pie safe or something to that effect. Finally, I decided to put up a vinyl cover over a bookcase glass doors. It looks pretty good, better than the gauze material we found at a super discount at Hobby Lobby. Roy, who loves to grocery shop, will buy coffee, oatmeal and power bars in abundance when BOGO happens at the Publix. 

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Saturday morning with a blazing fire across the way. Burning all the trees they tore down but to us, just across the street, we felt it was too close to the road. We headed off for our first errand and upon returning home, a sheriff's car was there. The blaze had toned down a bit and soon afterwards, they moved the burning bushes and trees, haha, more into a gully on the property. We had gone to Ducketts and it just seemed so sad not to see the smoke puffing out of the smokestacks. Train cars still surround the property but the employee parking lot is what hit me. Not one car or truck. It is truly over, hopefully at least for now with hope for their community another business will come in. Lou Lou, she provides her baked products as well as canned goods to Ducketts. We like her salsa to make spaghetti sauce as well as her strawberry sauce for biscuits or ice cream. Loaded up and Roy found spring onions. We love em. Arrived home to the toned down fire across the way. Still flames but nothing like before. TJs held our interest because they marked down all their plants as well as any other produce we might like to pick up. Got twelve nice sized zinnias for ten dollars. Picked up strawberries, peaches and once again a jackpot hit, spring onions. Since we were near the Mars Hill Ingles, we made a quick stop for a few things. Ingles has the best music of any grocery store and there was no exception. After having a math moment with Roy over best by dates of keto hamburger and hot dog buns, think his over simplification of dates being the difference of the dates, 6/26 and 6/29. It came to me at that moment to react in the way when my brother and I would tease my mom in the grocery store when we were younger. Only I did a much milder version since it wouldn't be too PC these days. Just then, the Pointer Sisters, We Are Family began to play and I did something I haven't done in a long time...I danced using the cart or as they say here buggy, for a little bit of stability. Roy didn't know whether to be happy or embarrassed because like saying before, haven't done this in a long time because I haven't felt the mood or the need to do such a thing. 

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Over the weekend we had great convertible weather but that has come to an end this morning with rain forecast all week. We need it and Roy is thankful not to have to water plants for several days. He never believed me until he got here about the evaporation rate of water. He has picked a few tomatoes, so it feels like summer is beginning to roll along. The gladiolas are blooming now so the yard is a burst of color. 

Both Mr Mo and GMoey are one year old. Willie, he is still such a baby in so many ways. I call him the protégé and the Mr and GMoey ditch him often because he is energy balled up in a very cute and furry cat. His tail is so fluffy and gives him away. He likes to hide under a throw rug in the kitchen but his tail never can quite get under it. He is a very smart cat and proves that fact constantly. 

While they are quiet and while Roy is working out, think I'll quietly continue to work on several projects around the house. 

Curated or Friendly Cooperation

 The never ending chores of dead heading roses is upon us these days. We have roses in about four different areas in the back as well as the front. Roy was able to get a good portion done last night while I was...planting roses. Okay, not big roses but miniature roses for containers. Also planted a few more zinnias, also in a container. The gnats were so bad last night it made everything a bit difficult. Our helpers in The Feral Fam were along our sides as we made our way around doing chores. The payoff for Fido was playing with the planting pots the miniature roses came in. He was trying to show Chanel how to play with them and even engaged playing with her. Ah yes, the step across generations in The Fam. 

We made a quick drive over to TJs in Mars Hill. Great peaches and picked up some strawberries. Also, I liked their zinnias and got a couple more to put in the garden. Made a stop then at Ingles. On the way home, since the top was down, we kept an eye on the sky cause off in the distance across the mountains we could see rain. The temps cooled and the sky became the lovely rain patina of gray. We made it home and it never rained a drop. Made the above paragraph about dead heading roses a little easier.

Another year, another SBC convention. Another convention filled with everything the world has to offer, well in discussions or arguments or whatever. Social media presence adds a lot now because before that one couldn't be sure on which side someone was on. That seems counterintuitive to write. I didn't watch any of it but read Twitter and saw pics posted on Twitter. If I was a SBC pastor and of course there is no way I could be nor do I want to be one, but if I was, I would think the convention attendance as a punishment, but then again that's just me. No attention span and I might have to bring a coloring book to keep me occupied. At this time of year, back in the early 80s when the conservatives fought back and won power, my non Baptist friend asked  if the SBC spilt what church would I go to and I answered, the one with a gym. I can now add "friendly cooperation" to my list of phrases or words that make me laugh or question all I have ever known...not in Baptist circles exclusively. Like it is aggravating to get an email from J. Jill or Macy's, even Duluth Traders telling me that they have curated a few clothing items that fit my style. So far, they ain't even batting a 1000, curated or not. But, I digress, back to the subject at hand. Maybe if everyone went over here, on a field trip, there wouldn't have been so much dissention in the ranks. Or maybe if everyone got a sugar high from beignets...Maybe next year everyone can agree over corn fritters or corn products from Indiana. Sugar crème pie...that will do the trick!

Dena and I stopped on one of our road trips to the Biltmore. All I can say is, we were disappointed. No pumpkins. Hardly saw a Baptist either. 

The results from my bloodwork are in and there are a few changes as far as this non medical professional can read but I'll wait for the dr appointment. 

I am deeply considering doing something unconventional in the arrangement of the downstairs. With the furniture Roy brought with him last year, we decided to move the couch into the front room and for now go with chairs in the living room. It works okay and we need to decide what we are going to do. Doug suggested that with our dining room that we never use, we could convert that space and sell the dining room furniture...only I am not quite ready to do that, sell the furniture. So we have a nice sized entrance way and we can move the dining room table there easily. We can use this front room again as an office and then get rid of one of the desks. We'd have to have the chandelier changed or lifted higher but it is totally do able. We don't entertain and most people who would see it wouldn't judge us or if they did it would be on the quiet side. Even if it was on the loud side, I don't know that it would matter much to us. Anyway, we are measuring and I think we have found a small couch. Getting things together to get a junk hauler out here. So these are the things that occupy me today as well as studying Jeremiah 7. Roy and I are in friendly cooperation as we discuss these plans. 

Onward!

 The overcast, foggy morning is giving way to June sunshine and today, the temps seems to be a little lower than usual. Always welcomed, cool morning, bearable afternoons and cool evenings. We have been dead heading roses in the evenings cause bees and wasps aren't around them like in the morning. Slowly but surely the vitality of flowers is taking over and with the vibrant green of trees and the grass make a lovely view. The morning after rain, a favorite. 

On Saturday night I watched TCM and they showed Gilda Live. It was filmed on opening night of the stage production in New York City. I had forgotten some of the language but back in the day I don't think it bothered me as much as it should have and now, brain fog makes it more likely if I see or hear these words...what if they pop in. Wouldn't that be great on Sunday mornings. Gilda Radner was so talented beyond comedic abilities. Rosanne Roseannadana was my favorite but really so were Lisa Loopner and Emily Litella. She used subtle looks and expressions. She said things, gave the audience a few seconds to realize what she said and would erupt in laughter. Even her over the top rock star persona, Candy Slice, would have that subtle relevance to it. When the road crew drags her off the stage, they push her back up so she can grab her bottle of Jack Daniels and they drag her off the stage completely. The temptation to make a face or something is there toward the audience. In my love of comedy, Gilda ranks very high as does Lucy. Only right now since Roy said he has trouble watching I Love Lucy because knowing the truth of what was going on with Lucy and Desi, he was a serial cheater, causes those episodes of jealousy or anger, he can only imagine the hurt Lucy was going through. That hasn't stopped me from watching but it has made me look at things differently. I never realized until recently the over the top comedy, which is funny, happened not with subtilty but with her eyes, making them huge in a reaction and the distortion of her face. Yep, it really wasn't done until Lucy and she is a trail blazer even today for women comedians. Of course Ethyl couldn't be as funny as Lucy, it was in the contract but I love how in comedic moments she used her voice and body language to deliver some pretty humorous scenes without over shadowing Lucy. When I read about Lucy's last series being cancelled, she thought no one liked her anymore but the truth being, no one wanted to see an aging legend doing slapstick comedy with the likelihood of injuring herself. Although Gilda used slapstick for The Judy Miller Show and her gymnast routine, she didn't seem to do that later in life, although she died when she was 42. I love this quote in one of her journals found after her death;

,“And then I realized what comedy is: It’s hitting on the truth before the other guy thinks of it.” 

I was never a big fan of Milton Burel or Bob Hope, they were very predictable and totally scripted, especially Bob Hope. I appreciated the comedy writing of Laverne and Shirley. Used all the comedic devices. Witty dialogue, they did their own stunts and used funny and creative standard comedic entrances. So I went down a rabbit trial on comedy and comedians where originally I was thinking after watching Gilda Live, several lines now in hindsight, unfortunately became truth in her last year or so of life but this bunny trail was kind of fun for me to go down. 

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🎵All the trees are, all the trees are gone and the sky is gray...no really Carolina blue🎵 Well, after returning from our full morning into afternoon, we came home to all the trees across the road on the edge of the pasture, felled and in a pile. We knew it was coming, but it feels so deeply sad. They have marked a straight line in the lower part of the pasture and can be seen from upstairs with upended ground. We've mentally and emotionally prepared the last few years for this day and as we prepared for this day, we also began to focus more on the backyard as well as making flowerbeds that draw our eyes away from across the way. Several years ago, we looked into having a fence put in and we might do that in the near future. Nothing like a tall fence but one that more of less draws the eye downward into the yard. We shall see. 

Got blood work done yesterday morning and had a great conversation about Jeremiah with the tech. She saw my notes when I left them in her chair whilst going down the hall to provide a sample to bring back. Then, Roy and I headed over to Fireside Restaurant for breakfast. They have a mural on one of the walls and we sat right below the waterfalls. We had a delicious breakfast and in particular the pecan waffle is my favorite. A quick text to Audrey to see if she would be able to help us with picking out new frames for Roy and she was available. We made our way back toward Asheville, Audrey helped us tremendously with finding the right fit for Roy, and then he and I went over to Barnes and Noble. I am trying not to buy a lot of books, and yes, it is a difficult discipline but I did find the magazine I was looking for and a wall calendar for the kitchen. Roy talked me into going over to Sam's and it was a quick trip cause this girl was fading fast. Some days are really good energy wise and yesterday was a good day, but once we got home...it all hit. So thankful that Roy understands the energy and the drained energy of heart life and he takes care of me so well. 

I was saddened to learn that a store I liked has closed and the building is for sale. I hadn't visited since the pandemic shutdowns. Unusual pieces done by local artists. Several other places have closed as well and it surely is the ups and down of retail but also gathering back steam after being closed down for so long. 

The immediate plan was to vacuum but when The Boys are quiet, I like to keep that peace. Guess that means going upstairs and begin writing out the lesson. Trying different ways to have notes cause Jeremiah and my large notebook aren't quite the right partnership. Onward!  

People Watching and Cats Too

 I am tired after a full and busy day. When we left the house this morning, a big excavator was sitting close to the road in the pasture across the way. It has been feeling like they are getting close to developing the land across the way. When we got home this afternoon, they had dug up some trees and look to be in the process of making a road opening off the small dirt/gravel road across the way. Right now our trees cover the area where the work has started. 

On the way over to TN, we stopped in Marshall at the tag office. I usually know not to go on Friday but we thought we would be early enough, but everyone else had the same idea and most of those who had business with the tag office had complicated paperwork, titles and all that kind of stuff, not just getting their tags for the license plate. One must amuse oneself when there is a long line. So I played the game of who in this line is not from here? One or two men in line stood out as, not from around here. Mostly men with long white beards, Harley t-shirts, bib overalls and a few in mechanic uniforms and I was feeling quite good by wearing my support Appalachian farmers t-shirt. One in particular with the impatience of a two year old, could not stand still keeping up with who might or might not be cutting in line. One man in particular who had come in and stood by us, at the end of the line was called forward for some special attention. Impatient man could not stand it and he yells out to the front, hey I was here before him! What is going on here. The tag lady explained he had been the first customer of the day and had to return with an official document, so she was taking care of him first. He calmed down a bit but the need to stand in the middle of the room took over his mind and to amuse himself while waiting, he began to do yoga. I knew right then and there, he wasn't native. The other men who looked and were from the area just stared at him as he did butt clenches in between his yoga poses. We all kept our giggles to ourselves but we were all looking at him and then looked at each other making eye movements like, what in the Sam Hill is going on with this guy. Roy was oblivious because he was all involved in market watching and the stock market on his phone. Finally, it was yoga mans turn. He talked loudly and authoritative concerning his antique car blah, blah blah...The man next to me whispered do you think he was trying to fart when he was squeezing his butt like that? I hadn't a clue and there had been no odor that took over the room. Whatever business he had come to take care of would not be done cause the Asheville office had put his paperwork on a shelf, then probably forgot about it. He was trying to tell the tag lady what to say and what to do as she called them on the phone, she looked at him and said, they'll hang up on me if I do that. She added I would do the same to them. She assured him he was on the top of her list to get this for him, asked his phone number and his one last grasp at finding some favor in this little bitty office, in a small town in the middle of rural Western North Carolina, he told her he trusted her and had faith in her more so than that Asheville office. She gave him a look and said move on, I'll call you. Once we had finished with getting our renewal and got back to the truck, I asked Roy to look up the area code he had said with his phone number. I had narrowed my guess to California and New York, but was heavily leaning on New York. Bingo! I guessed right. Roy then said, what was he doing with his butt? I didn't even think he noticed with his face deeply entrenched on his phone screen. Butt crunches, with a yoga move is my guess. Roy said, I thought he was trying to pass gas and there he was standing in the middle of the room! 

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While Roy was with some of the guys from church playing gin rummy last night, I did a few chores, very few and then spent a lot of time outside in the cool of the evening. I watered a few plants as well as watering the truck. I saw a kitten climb up in the area under the hood. So a couple shots of water to discourage such adventure was administrated. Yesterday morning, there wasn't hide nor hair of the kittens. While concerning cause there are predators from the sky and dangers on the gravel road above us, we left for most of the day thinking we would return to see them all. Came home and just a few were hanging around but last night I discovered the new playground. Our ornamental cherries provide coolness and a protected area of play. Trees to climb and a great place to nap. We put a mesh covered pet bed out there. The older cats love it and now too the young ones. 

The Boys have finally settled a bit. Rambunctious and playful, eat breakfast, try to eat my breakfast, groom and take the first nap of the morning. Been a bit reflective on Mr Mo this week. It has been a year since we brought him into the house. Mama Cat had taken a swipe at him and her nail connected with his lower lip. Got him fixed up and fixed in that appointment with the vet. He doesn't have a loud purr but it sure is sweet when he can get a good, almost silent purr going. This morning he spent a lot of time on my lap. 

The side flowerbed is filled with sunflowers and perennial wildflowers, along with some roses and azaleas. Although I didn't envision the flowerbed filled with sunflowers this year, that is what reseeding and birds do. But my goal of that whole bed being filled with flowers is now after all these years coming into being. On a much smaller scale I've wanted to recreate the field between my Grandma B and her best friend's house. At least the feeling of it. The added blackberry bushes adds to the story. 

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I should get this finished up. Roy just left for a meeting at church. The Boys and I took a nap this afternoon until someone started playing and it was not me. They were all banished so I could finish up my nap. 

Two weeks into Jeremiah and I'll have to say it is challenging. We looked at the first thirteen verses of chapter 2. So much there so little time and sometimes a lot of prep but not feeling like I got a point made. I think I did make some points today though, especially about the living streams of water verses making broken cisterns. I am thankful for a class that bears with me when trying to get my bearings in a new study. 

Bloodwork this week and with the news that Strawberry Hill now has their peaches, we might have to make the journey to the Upstate. The peaches that we've bought at TJs have been so good. 

Scattered, Sleep and Stuff

 Good Monday morning! Thankful for an ease into the morning kind of day. I kind of overslept and for that I am truly thankful. Roy and The Boys were especially quiet. 

A lady in our Sunday School class passed away last week after a long stint in a nursing home. She was youngish, in her 60s. All throughout the years I've known her she has been on the sickly side. Her service is tomorrow. 

I felt so mentally scattered yesterday while teaching the lesson. After the familiarity of John, Jeremiah was a dive into cold water...which I assume will warm up as the weeks go on. The very essence of Jeremiah is accepting the often difficult and hard call of a prophet to a nation who didn't want to hear a word he said. During study throughout the week several commentaries showed how if he continued on with the role of priest like his daddy and granddaddy before him, his life would have been easier but not fulfilling. So in that chapter we studied as Jeremiah is prepared by God and given the assurances that He will not leave him and He will watch over His Word, I was drawn in also by the almond branch. The first sign of spring in Israel, blooming usually in January that gives the hope of warmer weather and fruit and veggies. Here, our first sign of spring is daffodils and even some years you can photograph daffodils in snow. The first sign of spring, then tulips, plantings after Mother's Day. This year I wasn't going to plant sunflowers over in the side flowerbed but it is profusely growing lots of sunflowers along with four o'clocks and a few other wild flowers. In fact this morning, the first bloom of the season for sunflowers showed out. I came to love gardening late but so glad I came to it before it is too late. But of course, I digress, the almond branch showing out after the dormant months of winter. Living out life sometimes can feel like that, dormant...where's God? Then, the first bloom of spring gives us reason to know our dormant season is not forever. We had a guest in our class yesterday. She said she loved to discuss and get into theological issues. Maybe that's what knocked me a bit cause I am more of an applicable teacher. Thankfully, she made great comments and we didn't do a deep dive and beyond my pay grade. 

Looks like the Yancy Farmer's Market still has spring onions. How did we go so far in life not knowing about spring onions? Perfect size for hamburgers and not a real strong taste. For this we are thankful. 

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Roy has missed two nights of watering plants so he is out this morning watering his tomato and green pepper plants, oh and flowerbeds as well. He has his companion "helping" him, Fido the feral cat who acts like a dog. Roy even pointed out that Fido has the coloring of a husky and this cat doesn't mind water at all. He is beautiful or maybe should that be handsome. He is the second cat in the line of several and hope to be many that we've had fixed. Fido is letting Roy pick him up a little and that is so encouraging. 

While Roy was at deacon's meeting last night, I watched The Shiny People on Amazon Prime. So many are commenting on it and while not a Duggar fan nor a fan of Bill Gothard, IBLP, I remember oh so well friends who got involved with that ministry. I happened upon it in the mid-seventies while single but couldn't afford to attend the seminar. A friend let me borrow her sacred book, don't let anyone look at it who has not paid the price of admission. Once I looked at it I was never so happy not to be able to afford to attend. I had lived and still influenced by this kind of thinking and living with my father except there wasn't anything spiritual about his reign of terror. Although for awhile I thought we might have attended FBC Hammond IN when we lived there because somewhere my father had picked up a few things. Thankfully, in a baby book I found out we didn't attend that church when I was a toddler. The other thing I remember from that brief encounter was being told, I really wasn't the type for the movement...guess it had something to do with my always too much and too often, non filtered words and thoughts. I remember asking several friends who really got into the whole thing, using the umbrella example of authority, what and who protected from the "rain" that is sideways and the umbrella isn't any good. I don't know if I will be able to watch the last two episodes though. 

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Well another punt day so our plans for today will now happen next week. That is fine by me. The smoke from Canada is thick here and yesterday afternoon we could feel it in our eyes and throats. The mountains could not be seen in the distance. 

Our Sunday School class was represented well by class members for Kathy's memorial service. It was a nice service. 

I have loved that several grocery stores have been playing Tina Turner to remember her and her contributions of great music over the years. While I had stopped wearing stiletto heels, I still had several pair from joint venture auditor work. I would learn the choreography from watching the VCR recordings I had and then when I knew it by heart I challenged myself by doing some of that hard chorography on the bed. Soon had to give that up cause, it was dang hard to do. As I have watched tributes to her over the weeks, I noticed as she got older, she adjusted Proud Mary chorography to make it a tad easier. 

Part of the reason we changed plans for today is because I woke up at 3:30 am and could not go back to sleep. Got up and right about now I am feeling the effects of a shortened nights sleep. When I woke up I thought about the lesson this Sunday and probably was too afraid to go back to sleep cause I would forget the point. Doesn't matter cause I forgot it even being awake.   

🎵Go K*ll the Fattened Calf 🎵

 I am about to share with y'all a wild story. Along with it being a wild story it also has a happy ending. Yesterday, Roy decided to go work out early and then run to the grocery store to pick up a few items. He loves grocery shopping and for this I am thankful. Our standard practice before driving the car up the driveway is to honk, bang on the front hood and do a visual inspection for cats or kittens. A couple of years ago, I had to spray water under the car to get the little ones moving. Roy even added to the ritual yesterday, he had to shut the trunk. When he got to the bottom of our road the mailbox was open, so he checked on that and with the shutting of the opening on the mailbox, he got into Mustang Sam and was on his way. It wasn't too long after Roy's departure that he called. His voice lowered and in soft halting sentences. My thought is oh no, he has been in a wreck but not that at all. With all the tree trimming going on around here by Duke Energy, parts of the main road become one lane take turns kind of thing. While stopped, a man in the truck behind him came up to his door to tell him he saw three kittens drop and run from underneath the car close to the former Exxon station. Roy was able to turn around and go back. He called me as he made the turn to go back and look for them. I went outside and searched long our road and the main road. We were both so upset. Roy looked all around the area, not a sign of them anywhere. He came back home and we opened the hood to see if there were any remains...nothing and for this we thanked God. Roy took some time to gather himself and retraced his route looking for them as he went along. I felt a hole in my heart cause I knew that one of the kittens was Coco, probably one of the Radley Juniors and a quad kitten. We call all the little solid black kittens quad for quadruple. There are many that have come this way over the years. I worked on my lesson with multiple breaks checking on Toupee and the kittens. In those breaks, I would go to the front yard and whistle the tune that calls them to feeding time. Those kittens know that tune. You cannot help but think that they didn't make it or they were injured and lost. My prayer was if found, people would be kind and help them. All day I checked on sites of lost and found animals...not a mention. We had brief but numerous rain showers late afternoon into early evening and that delayed supper time for the kittos. As soon as the rain let up, I fixed plates of yummy food and brought them out to the regular spot. Beanie and Toupee met me at the door and escorted me. I watched for a bit as the five remaining kittens came to eat supper and I whistled the food's on tune. Fluff Mo came running from underneath the deck and long with him he had three kittens, Coco, Radley Jr and Quad. I could hardly believe my eyes. I stood there a moment taking it in just in case this was some cruel trick of my imagination. No, they were there. Coco had some coral color paint on her but none the worse for ware. I hurried into the house and told Roy that the three who had gone on the great car adventure had returned home. He came downstairs and we watched them all eat. One of the big Quads arrived on cue to welcome the prodigals home with a fattened calf squirrel. As he came toward them I could not help but break out in song, 🎵Rejoice, rejoice our kittens have come home again, go kill the fattened calf squirrel🎵 After a bit of time, I looked out the window and all that was left of that squirrel was the tail, the bones of its arms and a few unidentified pieces. 🎵 Roy went out and got the plates as well as the bits and pieces but not the tail cause one of the kittens was using it as a toy and wouldn't give it up. Even though we consider near the former Exxon station nearby, that is a pretty good jaunt for kittens. Toupee, Fluff Mo and Beanie were not around that afternoon and maybe they went on a search, but really the three returning is quite the miracle. 

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We needed this lazy Saturday morning. For us, we have had a busy week. We ended up Friday with a trip to Burnsville. Christy's Crafts had an open house and Lamp Post Vintage Market had a restock, So many cute things. One of my favorite vendors had more of her flowers made from book pages. She trims them in red and they are just beautiful. We bought a table top desk top as we are making plans to redo furniture and make our home to accommodate our living. We stopped in Burnsville first and then headed over to Christy's. Found many cute things but only purchases a few. Our next stop, Mars Hill and we timed it just right to stop at the new Mexican Food Restaurant, Taco Fiesta.  It is something Fiesta not sure Taco is right. Yep, just checked it is Taco Fiesta. The food is good and I even had to get a to go box. Lunch menu good till 3:00. We waddled over to TJs for strawberries, onions, tomatoes and peaches. Then a quick visit to Ingles. The weather was great and we had the top down for most of the ride. 

Roy is now the teacher for his Sunday School class. This is his first week working on a lesson. We talk about Jeremiah and our lessons are taking different approaches. That means the Word is alive and active, that's for sure. My emphasis is on the almond branch as well as Jeremiah accepting the call. He puts his lesson on his iPad and I write it out by hand in a notebook. Helps me remember it better. Jeremiah has never been on the top hit parade but so far, yes just the first chapter and intro, but so far I am encouraged by the study. I bought several books months ago to prepare and it is funny that two of the books are recommended in commentaries as great resources of study. The third book is a very technical book but I did find something for the lesson in it. The into to the book is like sixty something pages long. 

Our garden is looking good. Lots of blackberries on the vines and tomatoes have little tomatoes showing. I need to go check the plum trees and the apple tree is right on course. At least we will not be overwhelmed with apples this year. Camo, now the matriarch of The Feral Fam made an appearance last night. I was able to get some food close by to her on the driveway. She ate keeping an eye on me because in all these years, she doesn't trust us.   

Roy is leaving to go workout and has added spraying water under the car as part of the morning ritual of leaving. Don't think we will ever quite forget the miracle of the kittens. 

The Days Await

 Hi, my name is Nancy and I am hooked on watching videos of apartments available in NYC, Brooklyn, Hells Kitchen, Williamsburg, and other places outside of Manhattan. Upper east side, Soho.... I have no interest in moving to New York but I am fascinated by the descriptions of what constitutes spaciousness. Almost every bedroom they show looks like it might have room for bunk beds, but the realtor says, room for a queen size bed. But I think the catch is...that is all there is room for, no chest of drawers, nightstands, a chair or even a small desk...sometimes the closets are bigger than the bedrooms. Of course the price is out of reach for many and thus comes the roommate situation. One person commented, yes living on the ground floor is a reprieve from stairs but if only you can deal with the sound of rats wrestling outside your window. That would be it for me. The other interesting note is commentary on kitchens. I did not know that dishwashers could be made so small. I am just happy to have an attention span again and while I try not to waste time, if I am going to view much, this isn't so bad.

The pasture, soon to be homes, but now, the pasture across from us was mowed, fluffed, and rolled into bales last week. Such an interesting process and the fragrance of fresh cut grass with the hay feel, is one of my very favorite fragrances. The man on the all purpose John Deere is an artist as he maneuvered around the stakes and flags marking houses or roads or whatever they are going to do over there probably sooner than later.  

We finished up John yesterday. John 21 is a favorite chapter and although in the quarterly we were mainly to cover the last half, we barely looked at that yesterday. Now, the challenge of Jeremiah. Several months ago I bought some books on Jeremiah. One of them is very technical and goes into the detail of the of all the kings and rulers of other countries and the timeline of it all. We kind of studied that last year in the divided kingdom but what has interested me is Jeremiah himself, his calling and through it all never seeing any results of his preaching and warnings, he stayed in the strength of God. 

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I have been feeding the kitties, main concern, and any other of the Feral Fam that join in. We found these great sectioned platters in the picnic section of a store, so that is what we use. I stay out there hoping to get these kittos accustomed to being with hooomans. I have a couple that will come up and smell my extended hand. Fido has let me pet him and he is a part of the welcoming committee when coming out the garage door to serve brunch and after supper snack. Fluff Mo is even braver about near me. Since Radley has taken over from King Herod banishing KH over the rainbow bridge, he has kind of become a snoot head. Guess it comes when one is the King of the Territory. He makes life for any non fixed male cat a life on the run. So when Radley comes down the backyard steps, the male cats scatter. An interesting happening last week, Beanie had just finished eating and he was having a sneezing attack. I saw the problem and right as I was making the move toward him, he came to me for help. Not only had he inhaled his food, he had inhaled a skinny piece of grass up his nostril. Picked him up and put him on my lap, then on the second try, I was able to pull that long skinny piece of grass from his nose. Think that is resume worthy. 

The sound of trees and overgrown areas is the sound of yesterday and this morning. The tree trimming part of Duke Electric is out working to cut back trees, take out dead trees and such for the upcoming summer season, well and winter too, because it has been about five years since the last major push to make the electric lines and such safe from falling trees. Our busy road is one lane for the duration of the trimming. Some of the equipment used looks like tanks. 

Just got in from feeding the kittos and misc cats. Now the back is a whirlwind of activity. Fighting, wrestling, some waiting for the right moment to attack and a few ready for the morning nap. The adult cats spread out from the top of the yard and across from fir trees to the buttery fly bushes. Some will join Roy out in the front as he works in the front garden. In a bit I'll be pulling weeds, the ongoing work of the side of the driveway flowerbed. It is at that point I am taking pics of plants because I can't remember if they are wildflowers or weeds. 

The beginning of these summer months where the sun coming through the fully leafed trees making odd patterns on the grass in the yard. Soon the yellow school busses will take a break and those luxurious carefree days even if we are not affected by the school year brings an inner joy even in the busiest of moments.