What I Did On My January Snow Days

 Greetings from cold NC. We still have some snow falling this morning but most of the storm has moved on out of the area. The snow is from the northwest backflow. I don't know what that means but after almost ten years here, I kind of know if only in my head. The snow in the afternoon was blowing in heavily from the south. Quite pretty. We had some sleet/ice fall in the early evening. The main road in front of the house has been scraped or salted but it is looking a little sketchy driving wise. Our road to the main one is solid white. We won't get above freezing today so I don't know about church in the morning. It is sanctity of life Sunday, so hope the decisions will be made with that in mind. You, know we don't want y'all slipping off the highway and losing your life type sanctity of life thought. Oops, next Sunday is sanctity of life Sunday...hmmm...well, you want us to be there next Sunday right? **** this just in, snow day tomorrow. No services so everyone can stay safe and off the roads. 

Y'all know that Peggy and I exchange recipes all the time...some of the time? Okay, every once in a while. She sent me a recipe for Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake. I think I have a similar one around here somewhere. Anyway, I got to thinking it has been over a year and a half since I've eaten at The Blue Rooster and last fall, I ate only three apple cider donuts. Oh how the mighty have fallen. 

The Jimmy Carter funeral was certainly an interesting view into the art of the snub. Even people, important people aren't really that good with snubbing. If some snubbing is going to take place it falls into these categories, oh, I didn't see you. Here is a good one, just don't acknowledge or be polite or something like oh my, this funeral program is just so dang interesting. Bill Clinton looked like he was reading a menu, deciding between the deluxe burger or the double deluxe burger with waffle fries. Nobody even mentioned Al Gore. He is probably thinking, hey I was snubbing too but just out of camera range or maybe he was being snubbed. The heater probably got turned up with the solid cold going on between Jill and Kamala. I mean everyone has snubbed or have been snubbed sometime in their life. Snubbing is an interesting story being told but not being told. For the love of it all, personally, I am a recipient into year three of a one sided continuing snub. How does someone do that? In the words of Whitney Houston, 🎜This is the greatest love snub of all....🎜Yes, children, adults even high ranking in a political realm snub. Guess it is something that continues with being a grown up.

*******

I didn't sleep like a sinner till half past nine, but we had a leisurely breakfast that included waffles. Very nice treat for a snow day Sunday. Lots of roads are still iced over but the main roads have been treated. We will get above freezing today and the sun is out. All the snow out front will melt but the backyard with lots of shade will take another day or two. I saw the professional scrape and salt trucks yesterday, but I also saw someone just being helpful. Had the scraper on the front end of the truck and a DIY salter attached to the tailgate of the truck. He seemed to be concentrating on the middle spots in the lanes as well as right in the middle. 

This afternoon we will clean out The Garage on the Catmore Estate. You know clean up any messes, check the linens and such. We aren't kicking them out yet but it wouldn't take much for Roy to say, shut it down. Nope, too cold. 

Roy is recovering nicely. But being the overachiever that he is, I'm keeping tabs on what he needs to do, what he is able to do and what he can't do. His answers are entirely different from a couple of weeks ago. The overachiever needing harder goals to accomplish but when one is married to a "cheive" person like me, the extra credit stuff does not interest me. 

******

Remnants of snow remain this morning. Icy patches on some roads. We got out the snow shovels yesterday and cleared a path up the driveway out to our road. Our road was dry until you get past the gravel road behind us. We got the trash can down to the main road in case of a Monday pick up. Got the beautiful Christmas wreath off the front door of the porch, so all two things of Christmas decorations has been taken care of. 

With a snow Sunday, I got a lot of things done. Made my two week portions of adrenal, vitality, infusion and elderberry into single serve containers. Makes the medicine part of the morning easier and faster. Started working in the front room upstairs and made a dent into things on my project desk. I finished two books last night. Both biographies, Lucy and the other Brooke Astor. Both interesting and thought provoking. I've mentioned before on the ol' blog that it is sad how Lucille Ball could not modify her appearance or her comedy stylings. She finally agreed with critics that she could not reproduce Lucy now as the younger one from the I Love Lucy days but she blamed fans for that, not that she kind of ran the schtick into the ground. Most of the stories in the book I had read from other sources but this is the first that I read of there being issues between Lucy and her writers. Again, this is later on from the I Love Lucy days, but Desi was a bridge that could make the verbal blows she dealt out, land softer on bruised egos and hearts. Now, the Mrs. Astor book, I knew nothing about her and found the book interesting on how she lived life and what came as she got older. She lived till she was 105. I googled it up, the ending, because the book only goes to the civil and criminal indictments of her son and a somewhat trusted friend.   

2025 and Other Stuff

 Happy 2025! I had written a post wrapping up Christmas and New Years here and well, it was too boring. Not boring to live but boring to tell. I try to have some original thoughts but they are becoming hard to manufacture when in a routine. We are in the eyes have it season with Roy getting cataract surgery the day after Christmas and this week they will do the other eye. We are all about eye drops and eye patches and a schedule for all these things. 

I'm in a funk but I don't know why. Sometimes I feel like I can't complete a sentence or a thought. The funk isn't from winter because I love winter. There is a lot of hope in this season but sometimes it stays hidden and hope arrives just when you need it. 

Since I have been so distracted of late I think that will be my One Word for the year. It can easily be changed into a productive or a spiritual connotation. It feels right even though I feel like I have been living a distracted life the past few years. Thankfully, I have regained some ability to focus but it has come with a lot of grace and a lot of work. You know connecting a thought or completing a sentence is a worthy goal. 

Wrapping up 2024. It seemed like one of the strangest years of recent memory. The county changed trash pick up companies and the last month has kind of been a mix of when will the old trash bins be picked up and when will we receive our new ones. That has pretty much resolved itself but for those who haven't received their trash bins some have resorted to stealing them from the side of the road. Last Monday was the last Waste Pro pick up and they emptied trash and recyclables into the same truck. I've heard it has always been that way but on the second to last day of a contract, not trying that hard. This was a year when a hurricane in the mountains happened. You can still see just how devastating it has been. It will takes years to recover is some areas of the mountains. I still have effects from my six weeks of illness. Had a short reoccurrence of the illness a couple of weeks ago, but it ended sooner than before if because of the supplements I'm taking. The never ending cough hangs around a bit, less and less thankfully. I've been taking a mixture of immune support, elderberry, antioxidant infusion, adrenal and tart cherry. It truly has made a difference. Also the cough syrup works! Thank you Rowe Casa.  

We made the realization that this spring when we plant veggies and such, we are going to keep it in a smaller, more accessible area of the yard. Think we will plant sunflowers over by the fence. We shall see. It's not that the yard is too much for us, but maybe, that comes sooner than later.

There were some losses this year, not in the usual way one would think of loss. If this was several years ago I would have fought to know the whys but at this stage, it is something that can take a backseat from now on. Sometimes these things happen because of a third party and you can be thrown in with a group just being guilty by association. It feels a little passive/aggressive intentionally. Been there and ain't anything new. Other losses come from someone outgrowing you or the friendship or vice versa, me outgrowing them. It is all a natural thing of life but it can be painful. In 2024 I just wanted to be done with the whole thing. Sometimes communication feels like a set up and not genuine. 

Our cats like to rearrange the rugs in the kitchen. It is mostly a small rug that is pushed and played with. They are non skid type but they are able to get underneath it and move it all over. One never knows where or where that rug will be. The play tunnels are moved quite a bit as well. 

*******

Friday. We are supposed to get snow and maybe some ice today and through the night. We've had little flakes of snow since Monday. The roads have been salted but there are still slippery spots. We headed out a little earlier for Roy's cataract removal appointment. Because of several cancellations he was taken back for preop rather quickly. On our way to the surgery center the tire pressure light came on. That happens in cold temps and we decided we were close enough to get there, then if a tire problem occurred we would call AAA. By observation, it was the front right tire. Roy took several steps back while assessing the situation and caught his heel against a concrete parking thingy. He fell backwards. Didn't hit his head and only the side of his right palm hurt. Roy did so much better this time in recovery He was awake and even drank some coffee. We got home much sooner than anticipated and the tire pressure light came on as we drew near home. He rested a lot yesterday. I did a lot of his chores thus no rest for the weary. 

Schools are closed this morning but by the look of it construction must go on. Big trucks hauling heavy equipment are prominent on the main road this morning. Roy cancelled his appointment with the ophthalmologist this morning. They gave us the paperwork yesterday and then did a quick consult with the Dr's nurse. I am thankful not to be out on the roads this morning.   

Merry Quiet Christmas!

 Christmas Eve Day. Wow, Christmas seems to have come early this year but it feels this way cause Thanksgiving came late in November. I didn't get to wear nearly any of my Christmas frocks, not that I have frocks. I mean things that seem Christmassy by colors. Some go into that period of time between Christmas and New Years. We don't have too many occasions to dress up for and when I write this, I am not complaining at all. These years of quiet Thanksgiving and Christmas are so welcomed. We have a non traditional meal planned for tomorrow since we did the usual ham for Thanksgiving. Not a huge turkey fan but a real fan of the sides that accompany said turkey. 

Yesterday morning, Roy surprised me. He had a huge smile and a softer tone in his voice. He said he was thinking about going someplace that morning and he wanted me to come along. Y'all, it sounded like it was going to be something special and of course I responded enthusiastically, why yes! Where are we going? Not out for breakfast but he extended the invitation to accompany him to the landfill. He got me good. Well, it has been a while since we've been there. He is a stinker! So, yes, we went to the landfill with so many others who had that thought. The new trash service trucks were in abundance, so that is a hopeful sight of timely trash pick ups. Lots of us non professional environmental engineers in line. We got through the line faster than anticipated, got the trash deposited, and we were on our way. Next stop Tractor Supply, Exxon, Publix and Ingles. We got home fixed lunch and then headed out the door with a few little Christmassy things for friends. Oops, we forgot one thing and had to go back home. Andrew was there finishing up trimming all the shrubs, plants and bushes in the back. It looks so good. We ran a couple of more errands and came back home exhausted. 

We did not make any Christmas Eve services this year. 5:00 is too early but I know why churches have services at that time. Roy and I used to go to St Martin Episcopal Church for Christmas Eve services. Nothing like a liturgical, wonderful choir and music, an organ and the smell of Christmas mixed with bourbon or scotch. We loved doing that. When we were younger we could stay awake to go to the 11:00 pm service but as the years went by, we went to the 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service. For years when I was in the choir, First Baptist Houston had an 11:00 pm service. Most of the people attending were not members and it seemed to be a good outreach but over the years it disappeared.

******

Merry Christmas! It is cold and sunny this morning. We've had breakfast, the kitties are getting out the last of the yips before taking a nap. We stayed up a little later than usual watching The Bishops Wife. It is one of our favorites. Earlier, we watched the parts of White Christmas that we like. Of course the song Sisters and all the dance numbers. Then the ending. Usually by this time, I have watched it many times but somehow I forgot about doing that this year. 

Our Christmas lunch is prepared and staying warm in the crock pot. Just have to add a few sides. We didn't put out much Christmas, so we don't have to put up lots of stuff. Our neighbors brought us some of their honey yesterday. It is so good, sourwood honey. 

Books that I ordered came in on Christmas Eve so I have been able to spend the afternoon reading. I also took a little bit of time to study for Sunday. Roy has cataract surgery tomorrow and an appointment on Friday. 

Sunday, we had a little Christmas celebration. No lesson, no devo thought, just eating, visiting and playing one how well do you know your Christmas Carol game. Thankfully, God has provided people in the years of teaching, that help me remember some of spiritual things. I invited everyone to start in the snack line, but Karen reminded me we hadn't prayed. Oh yes, that is an important thing to do. I really am hyper ADD with organizing these kinds of things. I give a half minute of thought and don't proceed in a timely manner of either giving instructions or arranging food for presentation. My brain is going a thousand different ways with a thousand different thoughts. Not unlike many Sunday School lessons, but that is another subject. The Joy Class knows what I love and I have a Barnes and Noble gift card burning a hole in my pocket. I'm so grateful for such wonderful friends. Like Jennell and Lori who brought delicious goodies to serve alongside the biscuits from TN. Kim made wassail which was perfect for such a cold Sunday morning. 

 Sing we quiet Christmas and now onto a quiet New Year!

If I Wrote a Christmas Letter....

You love em, laugh at em, and dread writing one. Talking about a tradition that is slowly disappearing, the family Christmas letter. My cousin does one every year and I always look forward to her Christmas letter or in the case of some years, the New Year letter. I used to write them and had fun doing so. I'd still do it but we are living a rather simple life which some might call boring and not that many want to be caught up on all the news.

" Dear Friends and Family, we bought more fox urine than we have in the past to help the Feral Family keep up with pest removal."

 My father wrote their Christmas letter and each and every year, we were not disappointed with the tone or the way he took the letter. During the later years when my mom was still alive his letters took a victim tone. Not about her health issues cause they were staunchly in favor of telling no one she had Alzheimer's. The usual letter was about their trips, they only went to Branson, twice a year. All of us experienced PTSD when Branson is mentioned. Not so many good times there. Then he would mention all the work there was to do. Finally, he caught everyone up with going ons of his children and families. Glowing reports and accolades for Doug, Nancy and the girls. Then he would come to Roy and me....there was a lot going on in our lives too but while he didn't actually write this, the references to us came in the form of, "Well, Roy and Nancy are still on the planet taking up valuable oxygen that could be used by others." It reminds me of the SNL skit that parodied The Lennon Sisters on Lawrence Welk. Roy and me, well we be Dooneese. 

I once wrote a Christmas letter and only sent it to my parents. It was filled with all the accomplishments of the past years like, Roy getting his MBA and then graduating from Law School. I was doing well in tennis. Then when I went back to part time work at church, I shared that a major part of my duties included pushing a coffee prep cart to set up for Bible studies. Now, why would I include that? Because since junior high, my father told me that the only work I was qualified for was being the ice tea lady at a cafeteria. Gee, I accomplished my destiny for him. Ha! Really, I loved doing that coffee prep, it was the clean up after all these fine Christian ladies that I didn't like. some messy ones. The other interesting insight into this was how some casual friends treated me as the coffee cart lady. Such an eye opening experience that impacted me and serving. Lord, let me never ever be like some of those Bible study ladies. 

So, if I was going to write a Christmas letter this year, it might go something like this:

Dear Friends and Family,

2024 has been quite the year. It hasn't been an especially great year but it hasn't been an especially bad year for us. We acknowledged the tenth anniversary of buying our home here in the mountains. We had a great conversation remembering the homes we toured in and about the area. We only made an offer on one and someone gave a better one. Not unhappy about that at all. We found all types of homes that had great potential but we are thrilled at the one we chose and live in now. It was not on the market when we first began this adventure but yes, God's timing is best. Also, we bought before the housing market when bonkers in price increases. 

We added to our family this year. In 2022 we brought in three kitties at various stages. All related as cuz bros and that has worked out, well for the most part. This summer we added three more kitties to the fam. Now, in my wildest dreams I never thought I would have six cats in my house. Lots of vacuuming going on. These three that we rescued from The Feral Fam were to be only rescued to look for fostering but no one was available. So, the longer they lived with us the more attached we became. Then we gave them names and I knew these three would be living with us as our own. So far, things are going well. Chubola is difficult to get to go to bed at night but we need to think of a different set up. Buster and Baxter go right in. The Kittos are such fun to watch even as they grow out of their kitten stage. They play hard with The Boys chasing laser lights, pine cones and toys. 

Roy's gardening was successful this year. Had a good crop of tomatoes, plums, peaches, bell peppers, and apples. He has already began his winter prepping of his flowerbeds, waiting for spring to arrive. Of course that is several months away. 

There have been some sentimental moments this year. I can watch these cats who live with us now and remember how they came in and why. Touches a soft spot in my heart. Even seeing pics of the two we lost grabs at my emotions. A couple of weeks ago I was going through a closet and found a bag of goodies I had bought at Penland's. But Hellene came though with a force and destroyed downtown Marshall with floods, so no Christmas shopping there this year. Marshall is rebuilding and that includes Penland's. I just knew I was going to win the $100.00 drawing this year. And I cannot forget Christy's Crafts. Her shop was washed away by a different river. After helping her community she began working again on her designs and creations. She did several shows. I don't think there is a room in our house that doesn't have something from Christy in it. Christmas has a strange feel to it this year with so much still in chaos from the storm and storm related set backs. I see others who don't live here saying pretty much the same thing that Christmas doesn't feel very Christmassy this year. Guess Karen Carpenter said it best, " I wish I was Christmasing with you."  

When Hellene blew in, so did pneumonia along with RSV or long Covid here and decided to attack my health. It was the hardest six weeks of my life and I don't never ever want to see it come this way again. Thankfully, congestion was not a huge part of it but the cough that lingers is still unwanted. I am booting it out but still it remains. Ugh! I slowed down a lot, a whole lot. Gave me time to think and pray. Anytime I gave very much time to it I fell asleep. Heck, I fell asleep eating or sometimes when texting. Roy went beyond the call of duty in helping me get well. Now, I feel good but feel like I am a month behind on everything. Well. guess I am.   

Roy and I are still teaching Sunday School at church. My class took a slow down in Genesis and we came to studying Acts late. Think we made it through sixteen chapters before ending in Acts 27. Roy slowed down, like really slowed down and taught Genesis. He didn't teach any of Acts. In big church we were in Acts for two years and then still had a hangover of Acts from First Baptist Houston days. The Joy Class will have a little Christmas celebration accompanied by some treats before we jump into Exodus.  Have a game or two and this year I think I will spare the class a Christmas thought or devo. We only have about forty five minutes so you do what you can. Along with my study theme this year, personally, what I do is it because I am following God or am I doing things to make myself feel good about a situation. Really, it is called legalism but it doesn't make me feel good to say it. Haha! After studying that the Holy Spirit cut off Peter's sermon at Cornelius's home I'm making a point to be a little more conscious of being short winded. 

Both Roy and I are trying to read more. He has taken up mysteries and I am just trying to read again for fun. I finished a Christmas book and it was okay. Lots of things didn't get resolved or the author got tired of the characters and just let them dangle in the wind, so to speak. I am now reading a biography of Suzi Spurgeon. Like it, mainly skimming it but it is enjoyable reading about the role she played in her husband's ministry. As I have been going through the bookcases and getting ready to take books to the Habitat store, I have found a few books that I bought and never read. Okay, I found a lot of books that fits the description but the point being, I've put them aside to read after Suzi. 

Our hope for you, our friends and family, is to have a Merry Christmas even if this year looks much different from years past. May we all slow down and experience the extraordinary of God in our ordinary lives. There is much to celebrate in practicing that. 

Curating Sweets and Book Reviews

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

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

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

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

****

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

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

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

Just the Daily

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

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

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

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

*******

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

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

December 13

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

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

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

Herding Cats is Not For The Fainthearted

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

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

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

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

December 2

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

December 4

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

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

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