Merry Christmas And Unexpected Blessings

Merry Christmas from the mountains of Western North Carolina! When we got up this morning it was a balmy 27 degrees. Frost on the ground and rooftops, but no snow. We stayed up past our bedtimes and watched White Christmas. This time last year I had seen it, oh probably, about five or six times. Roy had never watched it and while he prefers a Hallmark Christmas movie, he did enjoy the story line. I looked up the trivia for the movie and we had fun watching for a few missteps and the pure laughter of Bing and Danny when they sang the "Sisters" song. Yes, we are so easily entertained.

Christmas Eve Day was rather laid back and it is looking like we will have that same mindset for today. Around 4:45, yesterday, the bell ringers did several run throughs of Away in the Manger. We were joined by the ushers as they prepared the candles and the juice box communion elements...the ones where you have to find the dividing point of the wafer and grape juice. Let's just say if Roy hadn't been here to successfully open mine, I'd still be at church trying to take the Lord's Supper. Roy was happily taking pictures and videos as we rehearsed. With just four notes for me to play, mostly on words, I felt better about this song than Sunday morning's. That being said, everyone else had the huge responsibility to carry the tune, add the musical embellishments and the like...it was a harder song for everyone else. While I won't miss bell rehearsal, then home for two hours and then going back to church for choir practice, I'll miss the time we spent together learning but mainly cause you know it has to be fun, laughing. This year, the Christmas lesson is getting out of your comfort zone and although some think being out of a comfort zone should be mountain climbing or bungy jumping or zip lines or kayaking down the rushing river, this was just as challenging as any of these I have listed. Well, at least for me cause there was a day that all that outdoor adventure stuff was a piece of cake to do.

After the service last night as the candles and holders were gathered to be put away for another year and as the bell tables were taken down and returned to the closet, I watched and took in the various scenes taking place around the sanctuary. Family pictures in front of the Christmas trees, friends gathered in groups laughing and visiting...just a general feeling of peace on earth, goodwill to men. Kind of like Mary, only in the pondering and taking these things to heart, I sat there so happy to be a part of this church and this community. Just as simply as possible, we gathered to worship our Savior who came as a baby to save us all from sin and death and all that comes with that. It has been especially poignant to be so grateful for our friends, both here and there. Life long friends to newly made friendships, so thankful for you all.

We are experiencing unexpected blessings yesterday and today. Especially when it has to do with these little feral cats that have become a part of our lives for over a year. Riley came into the garage yesterday morning, unknown to me, and she hasn't shown any desire to leave. We are going to have to figure this out by Thursday morning though. So yesterday she came close and smelled my hand and my toes...she meowed to me and her purring was on high gear. Have her all fixed up with a litter box, food and blankets if she will use them. The garage isn't exactly the warmest place but it has to be much better than where she has been sleeping. When Cali died, that left Riley on her own. Camo and her kittens don't have anything to do with her, so Riley is fending for herself. As I fed her and gave her treats I hoped she would see that she is better off and so I guess this is her first step in realizing this. Of course we are talking about feral cats, so who knows? Today, our experience totally blew me away. When Cali was a kitten, I tried playing with her and MJ. They were somewhat interested in the little kid fishing pole but they never quite trusted me with the toy. So today, Riley and I began playing with it. She loved chasing the fish. Several times today, about forty five minutes at a time, we played. She was purring and having such fun with it. Later I moved from the backdoor more toward the other end of the garage and she was even more attentive. What happened later totally shocked me, but she came up to me and began rubbing against me and putting both paws around my leg. Okay, I was trying to hold it together...but maybe a few tears were shed. I went out there to check on her a little bit ago and she is doing fine. There is so much research on feral cats and the whys and hows but most of the advice is this, patience, patience, patience!

Meanwhile on the outside it is a hit and miss situation with Camo and Crew. They come and go, days at a time. Just when you think there is some kind of normal with them, they all disappear. Mama Cat came by kind of late for her and she missed out on any food cause those kittens eat. I even felt sorry for Camo, which doesn't happen too often.

Brenda came over this evening bearing gifts. Now, she is a great gift giver! And she is also a lot of fun to shop for. Roy could only laugh at all the sheep related gifts tonight. Buddy loves the wrapping paper and has kept herself amused with it. Gift giving is such an art and lots of love and thought usually goes into it. There are some people I wish I could ask for us not to exchange gifts cause it feels like anything chosen for them goes into the black hole...never to be seen again.

The fine folks at Publix helped us with our Christmas lunch. I was thinking we might do tacos but in the end, traditional food won out. We did a late lunch cause Roy had made biscuits for breakfast. He made eggnog biscuits and we had elderberry jam. Delicious!

Today, with a slower pace, it was a good day to take in all we have heard this year in church leading up to this day. After the holidays life in January begins to slow...more into a quiet season. I don't think Roy can do many days like today but for me they are treasured.

Having Ourselves A Little Christmas

Living the exciting life this evening. Roy is in the midst of watching a video for his CPE requirements to have enough continuing education hours for this year. The guy on the video...his voice is oddly annoying. I have a cat trying to disrupt any type of blogging this evening but we seem to have met a compromise where she can relax and I can type.

After many rehearsals and much prayer, this non music reading but music loving person rang a handbell in the handbell choir this morning, at church. It was exciting. My fan, Roy, videoed and took pics of this momentous occasion. First time through I hit a few wrong notes but finally by the last time through before the service, it went well with my soul and bell. Roy has been a great encourager through this entire journey. When Pastor Gene asked me to participate, I kind of laughed and told him I don't read music...he said, I think you can do this. Come and try. I wasn't going to but had told Roy and he bolstered my confidence to at least try. This whole thing is totally out of my comfort zone but there is a part of me that is still adventurous, maybe not by some people's standards, to challenge myself. Somewhere in the midst of a challenge, it became a lot of fun. This morning we played, O Come O Come Emmanuel. Tomorrow at the Christmas Eve service we will play Away In the Manger. Most of my notes are on words, so that is always helpful.

Yesterday, after getting home from Charlotte and making a quick check on Buddy and then Riley, we headed out to eat lunch and run a couple of errands. We have finally narrowed our Christmas Day luncheon choice and made a decision on Christmas Eve day fare which will probably be some of Roy's famous tacos...or my famous taco soup. Either way...it will be flavorful. Our afternoon was spent in the hunt of nearby snow. Just a few miles up the road people had 3-6 inches of snow. Happily, we made a drive over to Marshall and did a little shopping at Penland's. Got on the road toward Mars Hill and over around I 26...Bingo, we found snow and trees with rime ice. Oh my, the sights were just so beautiful. Roy got a new camera and two lenses for Christmas. He has been researching cameras for over a year. He is a Cannon man.
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A rare morning when we all sleep in. No appointments, nothing on the schedule until our Christmas Eve service. Roy made breakfast complete with biscuits...eggs and bacon. All was delicious! The rest of Roy's camera stuff came today. It is always iffy around here on deliveries cause many times they report delivered and of course it isn't or it has gone to the wrong address. The day was wonderfully sunny but deceptively cold. In the midst of everything Camo and crew were back. They are gone for days and then stick around for days....  The other night Roy and I came in after dark and found Mama Cat and a possum facing off over the last dregs in the bowls. Mama Cat's scowl won.

Roy likes his new blanky for his man cave. Hmm...blanky doesn't seem to fit but every year we find these great Eddie Bauer blankets. Roy is trying to fight for ownership because Buddy thinks that this blanket is hers.

We have some cookies from Hannah and I am feeling the need to go downstairs and have a sugar cookie or two.

Be Careful When You Sing In The Car

The sun has set. It was a wonderfully warm-well, warmer than what we have experienced in a while. The key here is to stay out of the shade but if you're in the sunshine...you are warm. Today was a day with a few surprises...the good kind. One surprise was seeing Camo, her kind of grown up looking kittens and Mama Cat. It has been a little over a week since Camo has been in the yard and it has been longer for her kittens to be around and with her. Cute as ever. Mama Cat was hanging around hogging all the food, but she has always tended to be that way. Riley had been around earlier this morning and she was out there too but none of them get along, which is so very sad. Another surprise was Nathan had been here and has cleared out the tree limbs and branches from the yard. So about a third of the tree is left and can probably be saved by the looks of things, although this is being written by a nonprofessional. The last surprise of the day came in the mail and that's about all I can say about that.

Yesterday our choir along with the children's choir and drama team presented The King Is Here. Sometimes in musicals, there are a one or two songs you dread learning but all the songs were so good. It was a joy to practice and learn. Today while running errands, still singing those songs to myself and out loud.
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It is not the gold pieces of special events that we hoard in our remembrance of things past, but the pennies of daily currency that have lodged with special brightness in some pocket of the mind." Wilma Dykeman
I came across this quote this morning and it feels like it was meant for yesterday. It was one of those ordinary days where the little things or almost the things that don't cry for attention are taken in, pondered. Many times with days like this, out comes the phone to capture the moments in a photo but yesterday there wasn't a camera, but a heart to ponder, remember and delight in how the day unfolded. It was a day that hadn't been calendared for certain places or appointments, but a road trip day that just kind of happened, as those kinds of days are wont to do if we will just take notice. The day came complete with surprises of the common.

But with that ordinary day came the news of the passing of Penny Marshall. Her comedic sense was outstanding. She could tell a story, whether it be poignant or just downright funny. I loved watching Laverne and Shirley and that is when I began to take notice of comedic writing and the way to tell a story with just snippets of, yes once again, ordinary life. Okay, toward the end when they moved to California, I stopped watching because it felt stale and also ran, but those years in Milwaukee were so good. My favorite episode is when the girls bought the diner from Squiggy. "Betty, please, pick up."



My friend Carole is killing it with bilateral knee replacements. She moved to the rehab hospital yesterday and probably won't be there too long. I am cheering her on. She has encountered the battle, guess that would be the word, of being mentally competent in a setting where nurses, doctors and helpers assume you're not able minded cause so many in the rehabs are not. You have to fight and advocate constantly, well that is until they realize you know what you're doing.

This morning I read an article on a well known Christian speaker and writer...and they called him a  fabulist. I had never heard of this word before and looked it up...it means liar, a creator and writer of fables. In fact the author of the book uses the term chronic fabulist. "embellished and fabricated his credentials, achievements, and personal experiences, and that he has done so for decades."

So now I know two fancy words, fabulist=liar and penurious=cheap.
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I am finally getting back to this post and will finish it up this rainy Friday morning. It was the idea to write last night but after a day with too many hurries, the will to write wasn't there. So, yesterday morning around 8:54 am, I got my first ticket in thirty one years. My speeding tickets all have one common denominator, being happy and not paying attention to the increasing speed. Y'all I know better than to speed in Woodfin and while singing Christmas carols, the fast pace of the song translated into a fast pace in the car. Besides the river road has various speeds all along the way...55, 45 and 35 and not always in that order. The officer was merciful and didn't give me the ticket I deserved and for this I am thankful. With that ordeal over and Christmas music turned off in the car, I headed toward Biltmore Village. Even with the delay, I was able to get immediate seating at the counter at Corner Kitchen and there with the usual Biltmore breakfast, I destressed over the ticket. I can pay online or mail in the money and don't have to go to the courthouse in Asheville. That is a huge praise! Did a quick stop in at Soft Surroundings and then headed over to get highlights and a cut. It was a happening place with everybody getting do's for the the holidays. The heating company had called the day before wanting to schedule Zach's return to install the new relays and reattach the heating strips. He was scheduled to arrive around 2:00 but he was running early, so it was a quick exit from the salon, but a safe driving the speed limit to get home. After he installed everything, thankfully it was under warranty, is when I decided to email Roy and tell him about the morning's happenings. It was a good news bad news email and he wrote back and said it made him laugh, whew, and could he share it with a couple of coworkers who would find it funny. Sure.... So he wasn't upset or did an I told you so kind of thing....Later today I will be in the truck and it is not too tempting to speed in it.

Well, there are things to do and I better get a move on....

Dear Cali

Earlier today I remembered Cali has been gone for a month and I know it is silly but it seemed a good thing to sit down and write her a letter...even though she couldn't read...and would probably tear up the paper as a toy...bear with me please



Dear Cali,
You've been gone from us for a month and I still wistfully look out the back windows hoping to see just a glimpse of you. I know I won't and it is comforting to know where you are. Your marker rocks are holding firm even in snow and rain but more than just being buried on your favorite spot, you are buried deep within my heart. Today at a store, there was the best ornament to honor you, "Best Cat Ever!" You know, you slip in a photograph. But, I decided against it cause again these are the things you ponder in your heart, not display on a Christmas tree...which we didn't put one up this year....

Cali, you would be so proud of your Riley. She is out there getting by everyday on her wits and courage. She's a lot like you, she is her own cat. Riley is attempting play with her cousins but it doesn't help when she wants to play but if they come nearby while eating, she hisses and chases them away. Riley is on the prowl for birds and she is a fine squirrel chaser. Riley comes when called and especially has a spring in her step when she hears the treat jar shaken. She's a late sleeper just like you. Cali, she has grown into those ears finally. She is symmetrical and is beautiful. There seems to be a lack of male attention cause all those cats you knew, Big Sissy Daddy and Dead Beat Dad aren't around anymore. Ok, you are not going to believe this but your mama came back to the deck after being gone since June the day after your passing. She's around every once in a while and she is still a cranky mess with her grandchildren and daughter but she gives me the closed eye look a lot, which as you know signals trust. You and Riley are the only two who have talked to me, meowing, all the others are kind of silent. Just stare. Riley is like you in that she comes close by and once even touched her nose to my fingers when I held them out to her. She's only done that once. Remember those mornings when you'd come into the garage while your meals were prepared? She'll do that too and lingers sometimes like she is debating on whether to chance a night in the garage. Wish she would overcome that trust issue but I know it is deeply ingrained in you cats. 

I shed a whole lot of tears at your passing yet I am thankful that the Lord allowed me to see you there on the side of the road and bring you home. You laid in repose on the deck and Riley came to you and then ran full speed to the front yard. For almost a week she sat by the fence waiting for you to play. Think she knows now, no playing. Just thinking about you can cause me to tear up cause you touched me deeply. You missed a year anniversary just by a few days and when the memories come up on FB it brings a smile and a tear when thinking back to those early days, there at the tent of meeting which became the tent of napping. Young Strawyer, your nephew the orange kitty, loves the tent of napping and uses it a lot. Just this afternoon he ate a bite and then headed over into the tent.

Oh, your two babies that the neighbor got, well they have grown into beautiful young cats and have been adopted into new homes that love them. They will have a good life, a better life than you experienced, but then that is what parents want for their children. Their absence about broke you though and I think you wouldn't have been wandering about so far away if you still had them with you. But, in the big picture, they are better off and Riley could be too. I almost got her twice but she is a fast thing. Makes me wish that day when you were a kitten sitting by the window that I would have been able to get you. You and Buddy. Buddy keeps interested in Riley and since Riley spends a lot of time sleeping on the chairs on the front deck, I think they have had some close encounters of through the screen kind.

I miss you a whole bunch! I miss the mornings with you waiting for me to come downstairs and once the backdoor opened, you ran to meet me cause you knew breakfast was on the way. I think Riley has your stomach problems, but I have been putting FloraFit on the food to help her. I miss you waiting for me when coming home in the afternoons. I'm trying my best to take care of Riley for you. Like I said before, you'd be proud of her.

Love,
The human that brought you food, gave you a tent and talked with you

PS Your memory still brings me joy!

History of Christmas Letters

In this nonproductive week other than being a productive reader, an interesting article in the Smithsonian magazine got my attention...no not scientific info or history or the future of technology. No, the article was on the development of the newsy, family Christmas letter, how it began and has evolved over time. There in the hey day of the Christmas missive you found out all kinds of happy, sappy stuff. Living the good life, still in love, children the most successful ever kind of story. Then came the Christmas card personalization family picture complete with matching outfits, at least color wise, on the beach or in a meadow or on a train track or against a barn or on the ski slopes or standing in front of a tree...well, you probably are getting the picture, and I write this in a comfy gray chair, with subdued lighting and Christmas decor in the background.... You know neither the chatty Christmas update nor the picture perfect card is a realistic visualization of daily life. Now, it is not my intention to hurt anyone's feeling who has done this or are sending out these kinds of cards and letters...just my observation for this post. My cousin Becky does a great Christmas letter and I look forward to it every year and I love that if she doesn't get it done for Christmas, she sends it as a New
Years letter.

For years, my father wrote the Christmas letter for he and my mom. It was newsy but he wrote it in a particular voice that read more like a report of "What We Did This Year." The last ten to fifteen years of the letter always included their annual twice yearly trip to Branson, to see the same shows and stay in the same crappy motel...where one feared robbery by night so they slept with their wallets under their pillows. I thought the tooth fairy should do a reversal and leave teeth and take the money while they stayed in that motel. Those few years they lived in Georgetown TX were probably some of the most unhappy times for my parents. My father, being funny, not, said the wrong stuff about the right people and those people ostracized them right out of the church and thus their social life because the friends they had from Houston who had moved there, had moved back to Houston due to medical concerns. So there they were...watching TV church most Sundays. My father befriended a neighbor whose husband was confined to a wheelchair and the four of them did things together. In hindsight, that was a pattern for my dad. He would befriend people he felt "superior" to, so that he became the dispenser of approval or friendship in the later years of his life. So, these Christmas letters became quite interesting...because he wrote about Branson and he devoted paragraphs to my brother's family. Then, at the end of the letter, more by indifference than compunction, he would mention us. Usually the brief one or two sentence reference could be summed up ergo, "Roy and Nancy are still breathing and taking up air others could enjoy." We waited for that Christmas letter, just for those last few sentences of rancor and so did my brother cause we would laugh at the letter in general and the uncharitable reference to us. I kept those Christmas letters he wrote but once my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, he stopped writing the letters. He was embarrassed that she had it and didn't want anyone to know.

If I was going to write a Christmas letter and send cards the following might kind of be what would be written.


Merry Christmas Family and Friends,
There are rumors of a slight chance of snow this Christmas. The rain is melting the snow that began in earnest last Saturday night and ended on Monday. Snow paints and covers the landscape with quietness and wonder. The crunch of the snow breaks the silence but now a little older and with replacement parts, I don't do too much snow crunching because I don't want my yells for help to break the silence complete with sirens.

2018 has been a good year for the Monarchs. We've experienced God's goodness. We have had more happy than sad times. Roy continues along with his regular duties,  college recruiting for his company and he has found that he is good at that and enjoys the whole process of it. He has also become involved with Toastmasters at his company. Like most things he takes up, he is focused and highly motivated to achieve. While that is great, I think his greatest accomplishment has been learning to make biscuits...no, not just any biscuits, but Brenda's biscuits. He is very proficient and his experimental flavors have been hits. Even his blueberry biscuits that turned the biscuits totally blue. He has a new camera and I think he is so ready for time off so he can explore about the countryside taking pictures. He put his 2019 calendar together last weekend and one of my pics made the cut.

I feel the best I have felt in a very long time. Still working with a functional fitness trainer and at the end of March I had an ablation for afib and for heart flutter. Second one with the first being in 2013. So, I have a lot more energy which is wonderful. Several friends visited this year in NC and it was a blast having them here. Starting in the summer we discovered the other end of the Blue Ridge Parkway that is relatively close to us and we have fallen in love again with the Parkway. Last November I started looking after a little feral cat family and they evolved into the Feral Fam. I fell in love with the calico cat of the family. She came the closest to me and she talked (meowed) to me.... While she is such a huge part of happy news, she is also a part of our sad experiences. She was lost the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and while running an errand, I saw her on the side of the road. She was dead. We gave her a proper funeral and she is buried under her favorite tree which also happened to be one of her best loved spots. At church I am part of the teaching team for our Sunday School class and still singing and participating in choir. The director and his wife have put musical faith in me and lets me be a part of worship, not just be the part of being funny. I will forever be grateful for this encouragement. We increased our landscaping with new flowerbeds and with a whole clean out of the backyard. Next spring and summer will be fun times to plant flowers and then enjoy the colors and fragrances. We hope to find a contractor next year to replace the back deck with a covered, screened in back porch. The building boom being what it is around here, it is difficult to find anybody available.

So yep, that's about what the body of the letter would be. I am still so thankful to have a home here in the mountains and thankful that this home and our home in Texas are paid for. We welcomed a convertible to our stable of vehicles this past summer and what a welcomed addition Mustang Sam has been. So fun to drive on the Parkway or back roads with the top down and the breeze messing up your hair. I am so thankful for friends both here and in Texas. God has certainly blessed us with kind, funny, and generous friends.  God has wonderfully blessed me with a thoughtful husband who makes this all possible and his desire to free me from the heat of Houston that kept me as a prisoner, cause it was a high price to pay health wise.

As always, thank you for reading Monablog. Thank you for the encouragement and comments. This year other things have distracted me from writing less than usual on the blog but I was writing, even though absent on the blog. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Season Greetings!

Snow Is The Theme, Now Replaced By Rain

There is a definite theme to Monablog these days and it's about snow. Today as the temps begin to rise into the upper 40's, more of the frosty white snow is melting at the front of the house. That is due to the fact our home faces south....ish. The backyard is still heavy laden with snow and ice. The backyard is so comfortable and nice in the spring, summer and fall months but in the winter it is the last place for snow and ice to loose their icy cold grip.

So there was an earthquake around 4:00 am about a 180 miles away. Several have commented on social media from our area that they felt the quake. Uh, I slept right through it yet if the fan produces on minor little squeaky sound, I'm alert, awake and ready to solve the problem of the newly detected squeak. The past few nights Buddy has had a difficult time settling in for the night so that means going to bed a little earlier to still get the same amount of sleep.

Last night I was watching the show Leah Remini does on A and E and an interesting statement was made by one of her guests she interviewed. Talking about what had been discussed or promised and the woman replies, it was all lies...because you can control with lies. Wow! That is a very true statement. The liar is depending on silence between the parties being lied to or nothing being said and then backing off if promises were made when confronted. So I guess initial lies do control but when the truth is revealed, all the control is gone.
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Oh Thursday, still snow on the ground and pushed into the corners of parking lots but it was a day to get out and about. Not that I had really needed to go to the grocery store cause you know winter preparedness is easy from all the years of hurricane preparedness. But you do start running low on favorite kind of stuff and beside that, it just felt good to experience the world other than the porch, front yard and backyard.

This summer a female cardinal was in love with herself and she spent a whole lot of time admiring herself and then challenging that beauty to a fight except it all happened at the truck window or rear view mirror. Now, almost winter and a young mockingbird is on the hunt to rid his neighborhood of this other mockingbird, only it's him. He tries to feed the reflection and then fights it. There are scratch marks on the windows so I will need to see if I can repair those marks.

Riley stayed really close today. While she ate and then while I worked in the garage. I tried twice to grab her but she is too quick. She let me stand very close while she ate this morning. Since Buddy loves the treats morning munch, today instead of the regular treats, I gave Riley some of that morning munch and she liked it as much as Buddy.
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The ongoing blog post... We were awakened by the sound of icy, hard packed snow releasing its grip on the second floor roof and pounding into the ground and deck below. Wow, what a good morning wake up! Scared us at first cause it sounded like troops had landed. Several times this morning the big wallop sound happens but now we aren't quite as jumpy over the noise. It is raining and finally the snow is melting. That puts us under a flood advisory...the times and the weathers, they are a changing.

This feels like a late morning jammie kind of day. I'm decked out in festive Christmas pajamas with houses, trees and churches surrounded by snow. Hmmm....snow is the theme for the week, in all things.

And The Snow Lingers On.....

The bright sunshine is most welcomed this morning. The neighborhood kids are getting in their last fun with the snow in our front yard. Probably school will be in session tomorrow but today before the sun melts it away, playing in the snow awaits. I shoveled snow yesterday and while that truly isn't playing, more like needed, it was entertaining and for just a quick moment the thought of building a snowman came to mind, but responsible Nancy as well as dusk was nearly falling, kept me focused on the more important thing, clearing a path for Riley to her food bowls. We just had another winter advisory alert that there is a strong possibility of black ice again tonight. So maybe school will be delayed tomorrow. The thought of getting out and about entertained me for a bit but think I will just wait till tomorrow to run errands and just get out and about. Don't have cabin fever or anything. I can always find something to entertain me.

So it feels like...well kind of...but not really...being a pioneer woman with the heater upstairs. With the part not arriving for a week or so how does one journey this adventure? Well, the tech working on the heater yesterday said to crank up the heater downstairs right before going to bed and position a fan on the stairs to help pull up the heat. The new ceramic heater from Lowe's is doing a fine workout these past days...so that heater came into the bedroom to help keep the room warm. Since we have a mountain of comforters and blankets...as well as a feather bed topper,the bed is warm and comfy. Also due to my warm nature, around 3:30 am...the heater was moved back into the hallway. The temp in the hall was 65 which is not too bad, so all the reworking to keep things warm seemed to work last night.

This morning I read Psalm 147. It is one of my favorite Psalms and has deep personal meaning.

He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

Who can withstand his icy blast? 

He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up the breezes and the water flows.

Now it would seem to be writing this now with the snow and ice these past few days and of course that is reasonable to think. But these verses have meant so much to a former hard hearted and stoic person. One who thought being tough and not showing weakness to be the most important attribute. To never say kind things, to be defensive and not need the weakness of love or even to be able to express "I love you" to others. This belief came from my father, who I thought had a strange approach to life but he must be telling and ingraining this into me because it was his awkward showing of "love," He said he was just trying to help when life's problems and difficulties came my way. Well, surprise, surprise, that wasn't really the truth. He is one of the best, if not the best liar I have ever seen and this was backed a few years ago by adult protective services, police and constable office. These past few years of putting the pieces together and talking with those who knew him, helped me by understanding the traits of a narcissist. While this is important to know the most important is; there is victory and there is freedom and there is abundant life that comes from the Lord in spite of the hurt, anger, bitterness that so wants to dominate and hold on. But with the Lord, let go. It isn't easy at first...but so worth it. So today as these huge chunks of snow and ice begin to melt, especially dropping off the roof line, that noise and process reminded me of these verses in Psalm 147. He sends his word and melts them. That is my testimony that all these years, early on his word began to melt my heart and heart just like this morning when first hearing those early drips of snow and ice melting...but as the years have gone on, the melting has come like those big chunks of ice and snow that land with such a force, it is heard and sometimes startles. Just a thought here and there in the midst of the afterward of a snow storm.

Riley has made several appearances today. She looks and acts like she is ready to be so over this snow, yet she hasn't made a move to change that. Haven't seen Camo since the snow but that isn't too unusual.

Lunch today was delicious as it almost all came from The Fresh Market, tuna salad sandwich and their baked potato soup. Great comfort food lunch, with a Fresh Market Christmas tree cookie for dessert.

Snow...Now Waiting For It To Melt

Well, we aren't waiting on the snow anymore. It continues to fall and everything is blanketed in its beauty. It looks like we have had about ten inches. Even though pictures are taken in color, the snow makes the photos look black and white. Such a wonderful beauty contained therein. While the snowfalls heavily at times and then it slows, I am thankful we don't have blustery winds to complicate the matter. 

The other day I was in a store and a grandmother and several of her older grandchildren were doing some shopping. Gathering from the conversation and they were having quite a bit of a laugh, the grandmother is OVER the red truck with a tree or dog motif. The kids kept bringing her plates, cups, paintings, pictures of red trucks with Christmas decor spewing out over the truck, into the snow...you get the picture...anyway, they did it to hear her talk about back in the day it was a common sight in her life but never ever did she think it would become Christmas decor lore. She told them don't be buying that junk cause next year it will be over and something different will take the interest of Christmas consumers and you'll be stuck with a bunch of junk that won't garner a nickle at yard sales. That is one wise woman. Although I kind of like the red truck look or blue or green. 

In and out all day as the temps have gone above freezing, I have cleared a way to the truck and shoveled off a lot of the snow that has hit the front deck coming off the roof. Love that neighbors have cleared our road and earlier this morning guys on their tractors were clearing the main roads around here. Offices, schools and stores are mostly closed tomorrow. There was a lot of snow but not the huge amounts that had been predicted across the mountains, but once again the Blue Ridge Escarpment area got a whole lot of snow. 

The thing about snow, you see all different types of paw prints and there are several on the driveway that can't be identified by this non scientific type person. One looks kind of big and the other, think it could be raccoon. They are so mean. I have seen kitty paw prints and hopefully once the snow begins to melt, the kitties will be visible again.
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So, we got more snow last night and all the paw prints were covered with fresh snow. But around 3:00 am we heard a commotion in the backyard. Looked out the window and didn't see anything, so I came downstairs and looked out the windows...nothing. I had this uneasy feeling about Riley but thankfully, this morning, I saw her. She hung around most of the day and even sat by why I shoveled snow so she wouldn't have to walk in it to her food. Yes, these cats run my life.

The heater or the emergency auxiliary heat stopped working yesterday. Heat pumps are pretty good until it gets really cold. So much to my surprise the A/C company sent a tech out this afternoon. Something is wrong with the relay so they will have to order the part and install. Should be covered by warranty...this is the Christmas of heater repair and a total replacement in Katy. Having ourselves a little warm Christmas... While he was here the front fir right by the driveway, split and fell into the yard...well 2/3 of the tree split. Thankful it went into the yard and not onto the truck. The truck has been moved away from the fir. 

The sun is supposed to be out longer than today so at least by Wednesday everything should be cleared out. We will probably have black ice in the morning. The snow is always so beautiful and it quiets the world around you but then you're ready to see just the regular scenery. 

Just Sitting Around Waiting For Snow

Having done all to prepare...preparations have been made. Simple food, snacks, sweet stuff, water, a few Diet Cokes and the like... Thermal underwear located, check.... So today I took the one bag of trash to the landfill because it is doubtful if all these weather predictions and forecasts prove true, there won't be garbage pick up or school or much of anything on Monday as we come out of the snow and ice. I put a two foot piece of thin wood in the backyard for measurement sake. We shall see.

Since doing the landfill trip, post office run and truck fill up, I could have stayed home and cleaned the house a little more but instead opted for an afternoon out and about. Ran a couple of fun errands and topped it off with a little trip to Marshall. The bridge going to Marshall needed to be totally replaced and that work was completed on December 1st. It has been a while since heading that way, so off I went. Found a few Christmas presents and got to talk with my friend who owns the store. She has the store windows decorated so festively and she is selling old fashioned candy during the holiday season. All of that kind of candy is nothing I am the least bit interested in, so it was easy to walk on by.

Yesterday in Fresh Market upon entering the store somehow my purse strap got hooked up with my open hoop earrings, it was quite the sight I am sure to have someone whose head is way over tilted to the left and she can't seem to right things by removing the strap from said earring. You think one sympathetic person would have stopped to help, no they laughed and went on about their business. Good thing this wasn't about fifteen years ago cause I would accidentally of course, ram the cart into the back of their heel. Finally, sweet release came when I was able to finagle the strap and earring. If it hadn't come undone, the whole earring was going to come out of my ear and I would start the whole process again. In other yesterday happenings the Kroger carries longhorn cheese. Publix used to but then they discontinued carrying it, Ingles never had it...so it is good to know Kroger in Johnson City has it in stock.
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This Sunday, if we have church, the lesson is on Joseph and Potifar's wife. These Genesis lessons have been good and it has caused me to think on many particulars to the story both leading up to this and then afterwards with the cup bearer and baker. While traveling about the past few days contemplating Joseph, his brothers, Potifar, his wife, and Jacob so many thoughts of the hows and whys has whelmed me not overwhelmed, just whelmed. One day, along the river road, a memory that I haven't thought of in forever came to mind. In his retirement my father had designed and then sold to school districts a broom that could clean out school buses efficiently and better than a regular broom. He also sold other products to help schools keep things clean. He had a great design and product but he couldn't make the switch to the digital age. He kept making cold calls and in person visits. Because of this I encouraged him to get someone to design a website for him and he could take orders that way and hit a market he wouldn't be able to travel to and make the call. No, this internet thing was a fluke according to him. He had been talking to me and then pressuring me to join him in his business. Y'all I knew better than to do that cause it would have never worked and it would be another opportunity to try and place another tentacle of control in our lives. He offered me a week that he and Mom would be gone to "run" the business...and all that I made would be mine. Mom told me in private to really think it over cause he had piled up work that he didn't like to do and it would take the whole week and thus no profit for me to take care of everything. My mom knew....so after a harassing from him for several weeks I lied and said I was going to church camp to be on staff. Yes, church camp was that week but I wasn't going that year. So this being in the age of answering machines, I screened all my calls. He did call several times and I think he knew I wasn't at camp because he was probably doing surveillance. But, it was so hard to keep the story straight for several years after that...because it was a lie. I wrote all of this now because for all those years Joseph's brother had to keep the lie and tell the story the same way time and time again. Were they on point so to speak if one of them slipped up and said something? Ten of them, what are the odds? The Bible doesn't tell us but surely it was never too far from their minds what they had done to Joseph. For me, I finally told my father years later I hadn't gone to camp but before he could jump in and claim victory that he knew that, I shared with him that although I would have made a great salesperson with product to push and sell and probably like him would have been very successful, I didn't like who I became in that profession. Always pushing, always trying to make things happen, always trying to convince and any down time would be spent trying to perfect the things I just mentioned. Been there, done that...didn't like it. And so many times, to sell, you had to lie and I didn't like to lie. And having lied not to become a part of his business, it was best that this subject not be brought up again, at least to me. I was ashamed at the depths I had come to. He was probably seething inside as most narcissists tend to do and most definitely plotted some revenge to be exacted at a later date. And probably that revenge was enacted but I just thought it was regular meanness and the like. Sadly, when it came time for him to give up his business, he had one person in mind that might buy him out but that person who wasn't looking to expand, turned down his offer, much to my father's surprise. Thus, the whole thing died. He probably didn't even have the broom design patented. The same thing happened when he developed the first liquid drain cleaner but fear and lack of trust kept him from patenting that and as they say the rest is history.

So far on this Saturday morning, no snow around here. Yahoo! Forecast is for it to arrive this evening. I could get out and about if I wanted...and it's tempting but I really don't have anyplace where I have to be. Think I will go out and rebuild the front cat protection structure. Riley seems to be the only one around now consistently, well at least since Wednesday. Wish she would just go to the tent but she probably thinks Camo still has domain.

The Calm Before The Storm

It has been a while since posting on the blog but I had written a post that was taking way too long, so it was ditched and tonight, a new beginning. Today while roaming about the countryside thinking of what would be good to write...well, as those brilliant thoughts must still be out there in the countryside where there was quite a bit of snow.

We are experiencing the calm before the storm. So reminiscent of days before a hurricane hitting the coast. Beautiful skies and the temps here warmer than they've been gives a false sense of well being, that there isn't anything barreling across the country, following I 40. I am prepared as well as I know how to prepare. Got the snow shovel last year and still have some de-ice stuff. Grocery shopped and have all the particulars for staying in for several days. Just in case there isn't anything interesting here to read I made two stops at Barnes and Noble, but I am getting ahead of myself. This morning I decided to do the unusual for me, once all the prep has been done, I stay around the house...waiting. Not today. Once it warmed up, the roads were not wet, but still didn't need to take a chance, I drove over to the Barnes and Noble on Tunnel Road and then went to Whole Foods. Since I forgot to take the cooler, yes I know it is cold out but one doesn't take a chance with milk products, I headed back home, put up the milk and headed out to Tennessee. Wow, there was a good amount of snow in the fields and along the road once crossing the line into Madison County. Tennessee had also been blessed with lingering snow and it looked so beautiful in the mountains. I decided the first stop would be Mountain View Country Store. Time was always in the back of my mind because I wanted to be near home at least by dusk. The shopping trip was faster than anticipated so then it was off to Johnson City on the back roads. With the leaves decorating the ground houses that are usually hid by them were in plain view. Quite lovely. For a storm heading this way and maybe not as bad up that way or not but the Kroger wasn't all that busy. Got the things I came for and once again stopped at a Barnes and Noble. The drive home with the clouds and sky, with the snow and the last lingering bit of fall, were a sensory overload. Being concerned with getting home in a timely manner, the temptation to stop and take pictures had to be overcome but with so few cars and trucks on the road, I was able to grab a few without endangering others or myself.

In that small break at home, before leaving I went to check on Riley. She had been on the front deck sleeping when I left earlier. She was now hanging out in the back and she was quite talkative. In fact, I came over to her, she was on the deck. Carefully and very slowly, I put my hand through the slats and she came forward to my fingers and sniffed my hand, then touched her nose on one of my fingers. Just then she made a dash under the deck and our moment was over. That is major headway that's for sure.

When leaving the Johnson City Barnes and Noble, I got out two cookies from Mountain View...I didn't take a bite of a cookie until back on the freeway and that delicious bite of an iced sugar cookie took me back...because that cookie tasted just like the ones my mom always made at Christmas. Wow! That was such a pleasant surprise and eating that cookie gave a few minutes of memory. Then...the clouds and sky grabbed my attention...

Sometimes, not always, but sometimes miscommunication turns what would have been a meaningful yet fun day into something you never expected to experience. Our Sunday School class was to go to the veterans nursing home and give wrapped hand cream. There are several stories out there to why and who cancelled the event but none of us, Inez, Velda or me knew that it had been cancelled. Quick shout out to Jennell and her daughter for making sure it got there and then handed out. Thank you for doing that...They also had decorated for the Friday night Embrace event...again, thank you so much...anyway, once the three of found out the event had been cancelled, we decided to go see our friend Gwen who is in the rehab hospital after having back surgery. We were going to do that anyway but our timeline moved up. I have such a blast with those two, Velda and Inez. They are long time friends of each other who have graciously welcomed me into their friendship with open arms. We laughed a whole lot on the way to see Gwen. We laughed a lot trying to find her room and we left before they kicked us out. Gwen looked fabulous and it looks like she is kicking butt in rehab. Since we were so close to La Cantina that is where we stopped for a late lunch and then a look see in Soft Surroundings. That whole day, minus the miscommunication, felt like I was with Dena and Lisa...that kind of joking and talking, that kind of easy and effortless friendship. I am so blessed with friends in Houston and friends here.

Sunday was our Christmas Luncheon after church. The food delicious and the fellowship even better. I sat with Betty, Jennell, Louise, Ruth and Ann. I loved hearing their stories of growing up, attending Newfound, some for over fifty years, and the weddings that took place there and VBS and the like.

Well, it is getting late or later than I usually stay up. Just like last night I watched CSPAN to see the services and tributes to 41. Dena was able to get away from the office and find a good place to watch the train with the President pass by. Her video along with others brings tears to my eyes. So does Hail to Chief and I hate to admit this cause A&M is on my bad list...that has to do with football...but playing the Aggie War Hymn while bringing the casket off the train was a great moment. Maybe I'll write again or at least put a link to my encounters with the Bush family. Good memories, but they don't know me from Adam.

Sunlight Awaits

One of my favorite drives is along the river road. Doesn't matter if I am headed to Marshall or headed to I 26, the twists and turns, the river, the beauty and yes the ugly enthrall me and the huge dump trucks that travel way too fast on that corridor scare me. It was mainly overcast skies yesterday yet the light variances among the curves and straightaways is noticeable even on cloudy days. So it was along the river road yesterday that a few considerations came to mind as the road bent and curved and the lighting went from light gray to steel gray to dusk, yet is was only about 10:20 am.

You see, yesterday, I was on the way to the dentist office for a second attempt to seat the crowns on the implants. It wasn't the second trip that took my attention, it was the fact this journey probably began around the time I was sixteen years old. My mom took me to our childhood dentist. The details are not crisp in parts of this story like was this a special trip or a routine one? The appointment was after school though and after the examination, our dentist called another dentist in the med center that did extractions and asked if he would take us at this later hour. He agreed and we were off to his office where he extracted the tooth in question, on the upper left side of my mouth. It was a Novocaine pulling and that means you hear every rip and tear as they work on that tooth. Afterwards he asked me if I had experienced repeated blows to that side of my face because in his evaluation all those top teeth felt a little loose. I looked over at my mother and she gave me that little helpless look like...please don't mention anything...so my response to the doctor was this, I play volleyball and I've had several hard blows to the face. He seemed satisfied with the answer and this is before en vogue questions like, do you feel safe in your home but he volunteered his opinion that I would lose all those top teeth over the span of my life. I don't remember his name and I never saw him again, but that dentist was certainly correct. Almost all my dental troubles have been that upper left side.

You see, my father was a hitter, a slapper of the face...sometimes maybe even a little punch thrown in when he thought he could get away with it...and he always got away with it. Those hard slaps and hits were usually used in "learning a lesson" type situation. So whether it was learning about nouns, adverbs and adjectives or having door or drawer closing lessons, the hit to the face was the choice learning device to use in his arsenal . An aside, when I was in my 50's, my father wanted me to proof and make corrections on a letter he had written...his grammar and punctuation usage was atrocious. As we went over the mistakes, you know the thought came to mind to use his teaching techniques....but of course, I didn't.

Those early years of battering my face took its toll. Gradually, beginning in 1977 through about 2009, all those teeth were pulled. The oral surgeon advised we wait till all teeth were gone to begin the restorative work with implants. Then, life happened and other things needed to be tended to and the implants were put on a back burner. In 2014 we were beginning to start the process and when we came home from Western North Carolina in September with an accepted offer on a house, I returned the implant journey on a back burner.

Last year, Roy and I decided we needed to begin this journey once again. So since the spring of 2017, this has been a top five item on the health path and almost everything that has been successful has had to go to a second try both in putting in the hardware of the implant and then with the seating of the crowns.

So, yesterday all those twists and turns and light changes on the road gave pause for remembrance and then gratitude for surgeons and dentists attention to detail to finally make this moment possible. Over the years I have spent a whole lot of time in a dental chair and have experienced all kinds of dental work, some of it very painful and I never cried, I never shed a tear. That record came to an end yesterday morning, because after the seating and grinding and polishing, I sat there in that dental chair and wept tears of joy...notice I did not write the ubiquitous "with tears streaming down my face," Now, I can smile big again or not say when being photographed, I'd rather have the pic taken from this side.

It was a little strange last night when I sat down to eat my supper...still getting used to being able to use both sides. This morning, it seemed less strange and surely in the coming days, never another thought will be given but I will remain and always be thankful for these implants. Praising God for  His supply, thanking God for a husband that encouraged me, repeatedly, to begin this expensive journey.

While checking out at the front desk yesterday, they asked if there was a reason we had a credit on our account. I thought she said it was $12.50, so I said let it ride...but no it was not that amount. You can move the decimal point over two spaces to the right. Woohoo! They will be sending a refund. Now that was an unexpected surprise. Kind of like when you're driving the river road and gray has been the companion to the trip and then you come around a curve and sunlight awaits.

A Quick Bit Of Catch Up

I have to tell y'all I am a little weirded out by the return of Mama Cat. She came back today and it took her a while but she ate....a lot...and poor Riley got swated this afternoon by her granny. Camo came over to check her mama out and went on about the business of eating. Poor, sweet Riley trying to bond with someone and this is what she has to pick from... I am trying to get her interested in coming into the garage in the evenings but so far, she's not biting. I would let her in the garage with food and warm blankets and let her out in the mornings. It was a year ago November 25th that Mama Cat showed up with three kittens. Hmm, maybe she has a summer home in the area and feels like this is her winter residence. Who knows, but we will be keeping an eye on the situation.
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Well, I don't know if Mama Cat came around today or not since we left in the early afternoon. Looked in the backyard when we got home and all the bowls were turned over so a cat or a possum had a good supper tonight. Camo has moved out of the backyard and I don't know if she took her kittens with her or if she has set them free to adult life. I said to Roy this morning if something happens to Riley we are stuck with two cats that I really don't care for, Mama Cat and Camo. You know you can get that little quickening when you know you are about to have or learn a spiritual lesson. Oh my...it was just so easy to love Cali.

We did other things this past week than be saddened by the loss of that little feral cat. On Monday we went up to Boone and yes, once again the town was rocking! So, we went to plan B which became lunch first, then shop. We ate at the Dan'l Boone Inn Restaurant. We had heard good things and we were not disappointed. After lunch, I sat in the car while Roy walked uphill to a tshirt store because he has wanted another Appalachian State tshirt. He hit pay dirt and found two and brought one for me too. Then we went to Valle Crucis to Mast. A good shopping trip and then our last stop Grandfather Mountain. Y'all, it was so dang cold up there on that bridge. My ears were freezing off! We didn't spend a lot of time up there but rather came down to the nature center area to get warm and get something to drink. Roy got some good pics during our trip up the the high country.

Tuesday, it was the good ol Costco run to Spartenburg. We had lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse and it was delicious. On our way back home Roy began not to feel well, so he rested for the rest of the evening. Wednesday, well we took Buddy to the vet for her steroid shot and mani/pedi and then of course you all know what happened during the afternoon. Meanwhile Roy was sounding worse. We had planned on going to The Farmer's Daughter but the thought of the drive and probably waiting didn't appeal to Roy, so we were so fortunate that our church did something new this year. Instead of our usual Sunday night before Thanksgiving church fellowship...the church had a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday and invited the community to come and have a good meal. So thankful for the servant hearted of our church.

Friday afternoon we had made plans with Inez and Cuman to go up to the Cattaloche. We have planned this trip several times and never have been able to find compatible times. Friday morning Roy knew he could not do it. He had no energy and he didn't want to sit there and cough and sneeze and blow his nose the whole time. So, we will hope for good weather at Christmas and go then. We did keep his holiday tradition of going to Lowe's. He was mainly looking for a couple of things for his office and we are probably going to need a new microwave soon. Think ours is on its last legs.

Well, I have a whiny cat, Buddy. She wants to go to sleep but is encouraging me to think of doing that myself. Not ready but hopefully, she will settle here soon.

Still Remembering Cali

While putting on eye makeup this morning the thought occurred, why in the world are you doing this? This morning there were tears shed almost each and every hour. The backyard silent, no stirring...nothing. Even shaking the treat box didn't rouse anyone who usually came running. With nothing moving the daily breakfast being served outdoors was just milk and some treats. The usually safe feeling deck has lost its safety. Not even Camo was around. After getting dressed I trudged back up to Cali's resting place. Added a few more rocks to the heart shaped rock, spread more pine straw and made a cross out of the tree root we pulled out of the ground to make room for Cali and a semi large stick. Came back to the house and cried a little more. Since Roy has been under the weather since Tuesday and is just now regaining his voice, we opted for the Thanksgiving lunch at church and didn't go to The Farmer's Daughter like we had planned. The thought of jockeying for a place in line just didn't appeal to either one of us. We also considered staying home and finding something around here to make for lunch. I was afraid I would bust out crying if anyone said anything about Cali but we decided to take that chance and some Kleenex in my jean pockets just in case. We had a delightful time at church. There were a good amount of people, most not church people and that was the goal. The food was delicious. It felt right to be there today with our church family and to laugh and tell stories and just talk. Bonus, we even came home with supper for this evening. Now that is wonderful. There were the kind words to me about Cali. Y'all, I know she was just a cat and a feral one at that but that little cat was a blessing and it was comforting to look out in the back and see her watching over her kingdom on one of those big rocks. Or she would be stretched out on the deck napping. It became a favorite to call her name and then Riley and watch those two come from underneath the fence and bound down to go under the deck and then peak from under the stair to see what was being served or if it was snack time. 

Right before we left for church, Roy told me Riley was in the back. Yes! I went outside and put out a few more treats and a bowl of food. Took a few pictures and then we left. When we came home Roy told me that Riley was under the deck looking out. Now Riley rarely does that. She looks between the railing slats thinking she can see us but thinks we cannot see her. I told Roy oh that's not Riley, it is Big Sissy Daddy. But then the black and white cat came out from under the deck and ate a few treats. Could it be? I started looking at pictures on my phone....y'all that cat was Mama Cat! She has not been around here since early June and so we assumed that she had died. Never one of slight build, she still carried herself in that grand stocky way and she looked like it hurt to walk. Riley wasn't afraid of her but did the cat deference thing...as if she knew who she was or had been introduced or saw her on a regular basis. Mama Cat began that long climb up the hill and then rested on a big rock. She sat there for quite sometime, then gingerly began moving down into the bowels of the gravel road and the ravine. Y'all that was just a strange moment...why did she show up? Where has she been? 

Camo made a food appearance and left quickly. Think she has moved her brood maybe over toward Mary Joyce's home. I am worried for Riley. She and Cali were constant companions. She let me be rather close to her today but she did keep a wary eye on me. 

Buddy keeps looking out the windows as well but it seems that maybe Riley spends a lot of time on the front deck or under it and that is one of the reasons Buddy wants to be out on the front porch. This afternoon it was warm enough to let her out. 

I know each day the grief of losing Cali won't be so raw. And every blog post won't be about her or the Feral Fam or Riley. There are so many stories I never shared in this past year of taking care of this little cat family. I took a lot of pics that I never posted on Facebook. Several have said to me and it is true how God brings these animals in our lives. Buddy is a gift from the Lord and even though she is kind of whiny at times, she has been used to teach me so much. The Feral Fam needed a little help last winter and I was happy to jump into their lives. I cannot give a thought of thought to the what ifs? If she still had her kittens would she have been on the move so much? She would still dominate in keeping the territory of the deck. If I had been at home more the past week and hadn't missed the regular schedule, would she have wandered? There aren't any answers to those questions but I have wonderful, fond memories of each morning being expectant to see The Fam. And the lessons I have treasured, learning and refining, I wouldn't trade them. 

Being a calico cat and blending in with the scenery probably preserved her body. Today the way a leaf was arranged, there were times it looked like she was out there. Again, I am so fortunate to have found her yesterday and to bring her home and place her near the spot she loved....where she had fond memories....if cats have memories. I went out there this afternoon and placed some solar lights nearby. 

I was happy to share her with y'all. Thank you for the kind comments and thank you for your patience as I remember her. She was so loved by so many....I wish that day she almost came in the house had been successful. 

Cali Feral Passed Away Today

I met the Feral Fam last November 25th. Mama Cat had them sitting under a fir tree up near the gravel road. Those little kittens grabbed my heartstrings right away. I remember going up to them with a couple of bowls of Buddy's food. I left the bowls and began walking away and those kittens devoured the food. After a few days and a trip to the store to get them wet food, they would come down into our yard to eat. The temps were getting colder and snow in the forecast. After searching The Google for warm alternatives for feral cats, I did the best I could and bought them a tent. I filled that tent with things to insulate from the cold and lots of towels and blankets. I put the tent under and back of the fir tree and hoped the Feral Fam would take advantage of the warmth. I called it the tent of meeting at first but then realized they used the tent during the day as the tent of napping. So the tent became the tent of napping. I brought out blankets to set their food on hoping to give their little paws some warmth from the cold, frigid temps. 

Last night, in the middle of the night, I thought about Roy, Buddy and me. Roy and Buddy sleeping soundly, me not so much. Buddy had a rough start to the night and couldn't settle down. So, of course at 3:00 am we get up to get "laced treats" which means chill pill or two broken open and put into the bag. Yes, that helped her settle. So Roy, who was a little congested so he was snoring a bit, Buddy making little sleep noises after getting bedtime treats and now with the colder temps, good ol whistle nose is back for me. I thought we have so much to be thankful for, this little noisy band of sleepers. And like I have for almost a year I asked the Lord to keep Cali and Riley safe. Even when Buddy and I came downstairs at 3:00 am I did the usual look see out the back windows to see the kiddos were out having a late night. All was quiet out in the backyard, not a creature was stirring, not even a possum.

This morning we had breakfast and began our day. Buddy had an appointment at the vet, so we needed to get the chill pill in her. We accomplished that with relative ease and with that task taken care of we continued about the morning. We left for the appointment, came home. Roy and I left to go eat Mexican food and came home. I had a few things that needed to get into the mail today, so as soon as the heater guy called and said he was on the way, I took the stuff bound for the post office and began that trek. Right as I got to a familiar crossroad near our home, I looked over and there on the side of the road, lying in the grass was a calico cat and I knew those markings so well...it was Cali, member of the Feral Fam. My heart sank, tears came immediately and I called Roy to tell him I saw Cali, dead on the side of the road. Business taken care of at the post office and then I made my way home knowing what I needed to do. Roy wanted me to wait to go get Cali until the heater guy left but I could not stand to think of a bird or an animal picking Cali apart on the side of the road. That cat deserved so much more than that. I grabbed an old towel, a garbage bag and a shovel, because I did not know if I would be able to pick her up to wrap her in the towel. Oh and a pair of garden gloves. I was able to pull over to a safe spot and hoped against hope there was still life in that cat, but I knew when I saw her the first time, there wasn't any life. She was lying there on her side, something had skinned away a portion of fur on her left leg. Her eyes were closed and a little blood had ran out of her mouth. From somewhere deep inside I found the courage and the strength to pick that little cat up so I could wrap her in a towel. Even with her being a feral cat and running through the red clay around here, she always kept her white fur on her legs so clean, almost brilliant. I brought her home and laid her in repose on the backstairs to the deck. That is where she and Riley loved to have their treats. As a kitten Cali spent a lot of time on the deck running and playing with Camo and MJ and sometimes even Mama Cat joined in. Riley came from the gravel road and at first balked at being near Cali...when she realized it was her mama, she ran to the front yard and went under the porch. I was crying and sitting vigil over this little cat I named Cali that brought me so much joy. I wanted to bawl, but when the heater guy is in the house....you sit outside in the cold and cry hot tears that change quickly into cool tears as they ran down my face.



Loved those kittens and even Mama Cat but the one that stole my heart was Cali. She was the runt, got picked on, left out, swatted the most by her mama, her sister Camo was mean to her but her brother MJ protected her. In the evenings she would chase that red laser light all over the deck and up to the rocks behind it as I stood inside directing the beam. Mama Cat or Camo could be sitting outside waiting for me in the mornings to bring out breakfast and I might not make a beeline out into the cold but if Cali looked at me....I was out the door to get that baby some food. In March, when Lisa P was here, we caught Cali and Big Sissy Daddy expressing their love under the fir tree....I remember shouting something like, "not on my watch!" and went outside and threw bad limes at BSD. Several months later Cali brought her three kittens to the deck, kind of letting me see them briefly. Cali lost two kittens from that litter and thus Riley has been by her side since then. Cali and Riley would play and chase one another, it was like Cali was getting to have fun like she should have had as a kitten. When I would come out to the yard, Cali would run up to me and get pretty close, first she would do a little hiss and I responded with Cali, come on, I have never hurt you and always treated you well. Then she would start meowing and talking to me. We got to the point where we would do the almost closed eyes to greet one another. That is a cat's way of declaring trust and love. Cali was a good mama. She had a second litter. She kept them in the olive bucket on the deck when they were tiny little ones, eyes not opened yet. She and Big Sissy Daddy had another litter and almost exact copies of the first litter. The little orange kitten passed away and she had two left. Our neighbors were able to get the kittens, to provide a safer environment for them and they are thriving. But that kind of set Cali in a whirl. She wasn't as friendly or would come as close as she used to but all I had to do was call Cali and Riley and they ran down to the backyard cause it was the come for supper call. We were out a lot these past few days and missed the regular feeding times, but I always fixed their supper and put it out for them to find. Only Cali wasn't hanging around here as much as she had always done. 

I knew that Cali ran this area. She crossed the road all the time to get over to the cow pasture across from us. My neighbor Josh said she brought her kittens down to his house while they were little. Mary Joyce saw Cali and fed her like we did but she said the road was going to be the death of Cali...she was so right. 

All this time we tried several times to trap the Feral Fam but they were too smart to fall for anything and we gave it a rest for a bit. Cali knew I stood outside with them after placing the bowls for their consumption so that she and Riley got first dibs. Camo never would eat  while I stood there. Camo is a bully and there is some kind of cat hierarchy. When Cali didn't have her kittens anymore, she lost first right to the deck and under the house....Camo came in with her kittens. Cali and Riley were back to the gravel road and sneaking under the fence to the yard next door. 



Monday night I had a dream that Cali came running to me and let me pick her up. I rubbed her head and held her for a while and then she was gone. I woke up. The next morning I told Roy I don't think Cali will be with us much longer, only I was thinking she would be moving on, finding a new place to hang out. I saw her yesterday morning, she looked tired. She was shaking a tad. This young adult cat, having two litters of kittens while she herself was a kitten showed on her, aging her. She looked weary as she watched to see if I would place the treats in the same place as usual. I walked away and turned around to watch she and Riley for a moment. I always loved the sound they made crunching those treats up.



I think the Feral Fam was a gift to me from the Lord. Their arrival here was about the same time I began to dissect and ponder life as the first anniversary of my father's death was a few short months away. It had been hard for me to really grasp how much my father had hated me and the amount of effort he put into that hate. He was a complicated, mean spirited, narcissist. He was cruel and had made a great effort to be cruel to me even in his death. Thankfully, my brother talked some sense into him. But as I digested my life and the goodness of God in all those horrible and hard chaotic days of long ago, there were those feral cats outside, surviving. God taught me so much by watching them and caring for them. They never lacked a meal, had two tents, numerous blankets, treats and toys. 

I never got to touch or pet Cali in life but I was honored to pet her and then wrap her in the white towel in death. With the afternoon going by and the need to get her buried, I took the shovel up to the gravel road and looked for the suitable burial spot. I began to put the shovel in the ground when my heel began to sink in a soft place and I knew it was where we would lay her. I dug deep and wide, there was a fountain overflowing but it was my tears. My neighbor Nancy who has rescued Cali's kittens and one of Camo's, and he only has three legs, came by on her ATV and she helped me finish out the hole. I went and got Cali. We took her out of the bag, covered her better with the towel and began covering her with that red clay dirt. Funny, we had to adjust the towel when we put her in cause those brilliant white back legs were uncovered....we kept them clean just like she would have. A heart shaped rock was waiting close by to mark the spot of her burial. I don't think I have ever loved an animal that wasn't mine as much as I loved that little runt, Cali. I know friends buried their wife and mother today. On Friday Peggy will see her mother buried and eulogized. I know a cat is just a cat and out here in the country, can be a dime a dozen. That little Calico Cali made me happy and soothed my anxious heart with her presence. I will miss Cali but I shall never forget her.





Cali Feral was just a little over a year old when she met her death the way she lived life, wild and free. She leaves behind her partner Big Sissy Daddy, her daughter Riley, and two rescued kittens from her second litter, Tux and Canvas. She also is survived by her sister Camo and a niece and two nephews. Mama Cat, Dead Beat Dad, two kittens from her first litter and her brother MJ proceeded her in death. Also left behind to grieve her passing, her human friend Nancy Mon. Cali brought joy everywhere she went except if you were a bird or a mole.

Hand Bell, Sleigh Bell, Bat in Belfry...All Singular

It was very noticeable yesterday that the landscape around here has made the turn from fall foliage to winter. Leaves have dropped to the ground and the ones clinging onto limbs are getting that wearied brown coloring. The day is overcast and holds precip dangerously close. So far just a few sprinkles here and there. Beginning tonight, we are under a winter weather warning with most of the ice forming in higher elevations and along the Blue Ridge escarpment. Yesterday, it seemed like a good idea to make a Johnson City trip with a stop at Mountain View store either on the way or on the way home. This morning with the reports of heavier rain in the afternoon that trip is on hiatus.  Instead it was a trip to the bank, Fresh Market, Publix and the Shell station.

Houston has a freeze warning and was colder there yesterday than here. Roy left the office early to get the pipes wrapped. He had figured to do that after Thanksgiving but sometimes weather plays havoc with the usual. He has the heater guys coming out because the heater there has been wonky off and on. He said this morning the carbon dioxide detector went off but he thinks faulty batteries near the end of their life was the problem. Today is also moving day for him at the office. They are moving on up to the 8th floor. Roy's office is a little smaller than the one he had but he is thrilled that his group is closer to his office and they aren't spread out across the in various cubicals across the floor.
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My brother called this morning on his way back to Nashville. He had to take care of some paperwork to finally wrap up all the loose ends from my father's estate. Think he is happy to have it all come to a close. I was telling him about some of the research I have been doing on narcissists and in that research there was a fact that we knew all too well. Besides all the intentional cruelty one could experience from his hand, experts discussed why Christmas is the holiday a narcissist loves to destroy. There are just a few Christmas's that weren't sabotaged by our father. We both kind of moaned and then laughed cause we don't have to deal with that anymore and haven't had to for a long time. It was just nice to read that because it reinforced that we weren't crazy...well, not that kind of crazy.

I also talked with a friend this morning and I am thinking of not doing too much Christmas decorating, especially outside this year. Our women's ministry isn't doing the progressive dinner thing and I usually do an entree and cram a group of twelve into our little downstairs. Might not even put a tree. That is not unusual for us. Many years we didn't even decorate except I do remember our first Christmas together, married. We could buy a tree but didn't have money for decorations. Think Mom gave us some lights and I made the decorations out of that salt dough using cookie cutters. I still have the round ones with our names and 1977 on them.  We can spend half of the Thanksgiving holidays decorating for Christmas and then use three fourths of the Christmas holidays putting everything back up. That's the hard part but at least with Roy helping, he does the tedious things and that stuff gets put up correctly and not just thrown into a box with the thought of, oh we can solve this next year...um, don't. know who does that. But the beautiful sleigh bell from Dena arrived yesterday and that might stay out all year. It must be a sign unto me that playing the hand bell is God's will and the bell was the confirmation. She also sent pics of her new window treatments and wow, they are beautiful!

Today has been a fun day watching Cali and Riley playing and chasing one another across the backyard. It probably helps them stay warm. It is funny that you can look away for one moment and they are out of sight and a small movement telegraphs their position. Camo has been around a little but she is not playing, only watching.

Last night just as I was falling asleep a thought came about the Sunday School lesson this Sunday. I asked the Lord to let me remember it this morning cause if I had got up to check out the passage, it would have taken a very long time to fall back to sleep. He is faithful and this morning a little more work was done on the lesson.