In the middle of the rain some fierce sounding rain awakened me. It sounded like hammers hitting our metal roof. It was a fast, full on fury for a few minutes and then it subsided to less than a dull roar. I got up to check downstairs and see if anything was askew. Thankfully, nothing but a whiny cat wanting a midnight snack. It took a bit but falling back to sleep after a brief scare is always welcomed. This morning I slept in a bit and woke up in that groggy state, where it takes a little bit of time to begin to function. Buddy was waiting for me in the hallway, so we descended the stairs, she being much quicker than I. A quick check out back found Punky resting on a rock waiting for breakfast. So after getting the coffee started and Buddy treated, I headed to the garage to prepare a delicious Saturday morning breakfast for Punky and Strawyer. Soon after their morning grooming the kittens joined them out on the rocks. Lots of rambunctious playtime of slipping and sliding and chasing their own tails. The runt, whose gray patch on the top of their head that looks like a toupee, hangs with Punky most of the time and only joins in occasionally. Poor Strawyer doesn't quite know what to do with these kiddos running around. Sometimes he playfully swats at them and other times he lets them come close and touch his nose.
With a little less than an hour to run a couple of errands and by gauging the sky while leaving, I decided filling up the truck and going to the grocery store were the priorities facing me with this time crunch. Sure enough, I had put the cart up and started the truck when this horrible noise, that I took for a motor type problem, began...no, it was only some of the hardest rain pelting the truck with a good force. It was a tedious drive back home, maybe not getting over thirty miles an hour. The rain let up just a bit and I was able to get the groceries in. Then, the deluge hit. In just a little over an hour the rain gauge measured around 2 inches. The rocks on the incline did their job but other little waterfalls formed. I was worried about the kittens, surely they were over under the grill. A white and orange flash caught my eye...drenched little kitten coming out of the cleft of the rock. I could see a gray and white face looking out from one of the bushes. I felt so helpless...what to do? Would Punky let me help them? The meows of distress were sounding over the pounding rain. I put on my galoshes and opened up the garage door, then the side door. Punky came out from a shrub carrying a kitten in her mouth. Almost too big for her to carry now but two other kittens followed behind. She was barking out, or should that be meowing out, orders left and right to those kittens when she put the kitten in her mouth down. They sat there on a rock while she came over to the garage and checked it out...she brought the kittens over near me but placed them under the storage tote. She went back for the other kitten. I got some towels and began drying off those kittens much to their dislike. That fourth kitten came out with her, then ran back into the bushes. Back Punky went to get that kitten...it wouldn't budge. She came back to the garage and meowed those kittens to follow her under the grill. The little kitten mewed constantly. I went over to the bushes and climbed up into them. The lightning and the rain was a bit unnerving and it didn't feel safe to be out there in all that mess. So, back to the garage, cleaned off the yuck and went into the house and onto the back porch. Punky stayed with the three while the prodigal cried in the bushes. When the rain let up just a bit, she ventured out again calling for that kitten. It took three times but finally that little one came down to drier spaces with mom and reunited with its siblings.
***************
That all happened on Saturday and it is now Monday. We got a reprieve from the rain that was forecast yesterday and it was a beautiful day. I've changed my plans for today just because....I like these kinds of days.
Buddy had a restless night Saturday thus that translates into one for me as well. All those awake hours aren't wasted but it does tire me out. On Saturday morning Roy had asked me to send him my taco soup recipe. Sent it with added notes of different things to add or not add. He told me later how he made the soup and to be honest...I got a little miffed over it. It sounded like he totally messed it up and made more work for himself than needed to be done. Such a minor and stupid thing for me to get miffed over but when one doesn't really cook but one has perfected taco soup, well guess my feelings were hurt. In those awake hours, after being so pious praying and thinking through the lesson for Sunday morning, I got to thinking about that taco soup debacle. Well, the debacle is mine, not Roy's. Sunday morning I apologized to Roy for overreacting to the whole thing and the story made it into the lesson, twice...what we meditate on...skews or blesses our thoughts, prepares us for the moment or moments God will use us..and by wanting Roy to make the soup exactly as written, well, that was me just putting "Saul's armor" on him. Told him later about using the illustration and assured him, I was the bad actor in the story...he came out smelling like...well...his version of taco soup.
Since I had the less than three hours of sleep kind of night, I left after Sunday School. Made a quick trip to Fresh Market and came home, ate lunch and took a nap. Before leaving for church earlier that morning, I snapped a few pics of the kittens at rest and then awakening to rough house with one another. Upon returning home, I saw two kittens resting on the rock, but didn't see the orange kitten nor the other kitten that I have named Bolt, for two reasons. Bolt is the kitten that wouldn't come down to the others in the pouring rain and looking back, he might not have been scared but rebellious. He explores farther away from the others and marches to the beat of a different drum. Even yesterday morning he still had all the red clay on his one side while everyone else had groomed and cleaned themselves up nicely. The second reason is in the middle of that gray patch on his back is a streak of white that looks like a lightning bolt...so his name is Bolt. Later in the afternoon, Punky was searching and calling out for those two kittens. She kept arranging the other two on the rock where she could see them. She kept going out onto the driveway, so I went out there and searched all the regular spots, no kittens. Her pacing picked up and her frantic passion of keeping Mama Cat away from the backyard intensified. A little later here came Strawyer coming out of the weeds and coverings of the ravine part of the gravel road and behind him, the two kittens. They certainly were disheveled and a worse for the wear. Maybe the call of the gravel road, that has called out to the multi generations of these cats was too much to resist. There was a very happy reunion of the four and mom joined in once she figured out her little family was together again. The two that hung around? Well, they were treated with a little snack. When I brought it to them, they went back into the shrubs but kept their faces where they could be seen. Really trying to get them used to me and socialize them. With all the kittens that have passed through the yard, I have been able to observe and interact with these more than any other litter. They came to the yard being the youngest and whatever the attraction has been in the past for the corner up on the gravel road, it isn't holding much interest these days. The terrain under the porch is very different than when it was the deck. So when the kittens were very young, they were under there but with all the rain in recent weeks and when construction was in their midst, it wasn't a good choice. Punky is hiding these kittens under the shrubs and it looks as if the cleft of the rock isn't a popular choice, probably because of the rain Saturday and the fact the kittens have grown since they first found solace there.
I was considering a drive to Otto NC to look at places there for chairs for the table on the porch but I think I can find what I'm looking for closer to home. It is just being consistent by checking on local shops. So there you have it, my life this past week, cats, studying to teach, and shopping for chairs in consignment shops and antique stores. Boring, maybe to others but for me contentment. Well, except for the muddy part searching for a kitty.
Monday, June 24, 2019
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Thursday Is Catching Up Day
The long anticipated rain with brief thunder showers has arrived. The forecasters anticipated the rain, but the hour of arrival kept changing. They assured us to get all our errands and things taken care of this morning. While I was a bit later than I had hoped to leave the house, I did get my errands taken care of with time to spare before the deluge. Which has all of the sudden stopped. Wow, now it is really quiet except for the whiny meow of Buddy as she makes her way upstairs...ah, there it is, the rain has returned.
For the first time ever I experienced traffic like Houston on these back roads. Not from a tractor or waiting on big rigs or equipment to leave the job after getting it taken care of. No, the backup on these roads was from a semi that hit a bridge on I 26 nearby. The freeway was closed down and then finally, one lane was opened as inspections were being made for any repairs. Text alerts came for most of the day to avoid this whole area, all the back roads and other routes cause it was a mess. I made the decision to turn around and go back home to pick up Mustang Sam's registration and inspection papers and head over to Madison County to get the new sticker for the coming year. No one was in line when I arrived, so that was perfect. What a beautiful day to drive along the river road. The top was down and I pulled over to watch a hawk chase after a bird in the sky. Lots of maneuvering and evasive moves by the bird but it was looking like the hawk was going to have supper for the kiddos, so I stopped watching and moved along. It is kind of like the sticky fly traps out in the garage. Sometimes the buzzing sounds like little fly screams, which is totally weird, I know.
This morning Punky rescued what seems to be the runt of her litter from the cleft in the rock. That kitten is not as strong as the others, so if it doesn't get out first or second by standing on the other kittens, it cannot get out. Three kittens were out and playing but Punky kept searching for that fourth kitten. She came over to the hole at the top of the rock and went in it about three fourths of the way. She pulled out, no kitten. She came to the front of the rock where the little cleft is and maneuvered into that space. She pulled the kitten out with her and gave it a little bath and it was on the way to play with the others. Punky sat there a moment, almost enjoying the few seconds to herself....cause those four kittens rushed her like she was a quarterback and got her in position to have a little breakfast. Strawyer is demanding attention from Punky too, but in another way. His technique needs a little work cause Punky averts and he ends up by himself. He seems a bit puzzled to her aversion moves but she is not in heat and not interested in his practice runs.
Roy gave me the news that tomorrow will be an early morning for me...ugh! It doesn't help that last night was a rough one with Buddy. Dementia kicked in yesterday and all night long. She can't settle and she comes and goes. She had a lot of porch time today which usually helps her sleep well at night. Hopefully, that will make tonight a bit easier. The kittens are more lively this week and with the afternoon rain, they have a lot of energy this evening. They have been wrestling and running and jumping and falling off the rocks. Punky is close by and she barely a year old still wants to play. So I got out the red laser light and she had a blast running after it. Think she was ready for them to settle once it became dark but with all the lightning bugs, they can't seem to stop. Even tempting them with a late night snack didn't work. They'll be played out soon enough. Sure enough, I just went downstairs after a brief electricity outage, not even long enough for the generator to kick in, and there is Punky sleeping outside on the big rock cause her kiddos are sleeping in the cleft of the rock. She is being such a good mother, better than her mom Camo ever was. I'd almost go as far and say she is as good as Cali. Which, the little runt of the litter, well its actions remind me so much of Cali as a kitten.
******************
It be raining hard this afternoon. Note to self, ask for gutters for the back porch for my birthday. We caught a bit of a break earlier with light rain and the skies turned sunny. Now, gray skies and rain.
This morning I was taking notes as I read our lesson for this Sunday. We are beginning now with David, Samuel anointing him to be king and then David facing Goliath. From early on I have loved studying David and as is true with the Word of God, new things are grabbing my attention and thus I am thankful that the Word of God is alive and active. I was doing some research on Saul putting his armor on David. I have always heard it didn't fit David, it was too big for him but no, it probably fit, he just wasn't comfortable in it. Saul and Jonathan were the only ones who had swords, shields and spears. David was much more comfortable with his shepherd accessories. We can still experience "Saul's armor" today, but we've up charged the way we do it.
*************************
The saga of the outdoor lights continue. Howard came by today to see of the new set of lights would work...it is kind of like the three bears, back plate too big, now back plate too small, but Howard said he had an idea how to fix it, so hopefully, it will be just right. We tried to get the kittens out but only Punky ran off trying to divert our attention on her. She had gone under the grill with her babies because mean ol' Camo came to the backyard. Camo is her mother...
Today, has been a day of taking care of all the little things that don't get done, so I am feeling somewhat accomplished today. Also did fun things like working on the back porch and studying the lesson some more.
We had choir last night due to the VBS schedule this next week. We worked on several songs and it was a lot of fun. Afterwards, I went to Turkey Creek because I have been craving one of their burgers. It was delicious and I brought home a slice of cookies and cream cake.
For the first time ever I experienced traffic like Houston on these back roads. Not from a tractor or waiting on big rigs or equipment to leave the job after getting it taken care of. No, the backup on these roads was from a semi that hit a bridge on I 26 nearby. The freeway was closed down and then finally, one lane was opened as inspections were being made for any repairs. Text alerts came for most of the day to avoid this whole area, all the back roads and other routes cause it was a mess. I made the decision to turn around and go back home to pick up Mustang Sam's registration and inspection papers and head over to Madison County to get the new sticker for the coming year. No one was in line when I arrived, so that was perfect. What a beautiful day to drive along the river road. The top was down and I pulled over to watch a hawk chase after a bird in the sky. Lots of maneuvering and evasive moves by the bird but it was looking like the hawk was going to have supper for the kiddos, so I stopped watching and moved along. It is kind of like the sticky fly traps out in the garage. Sometimes the buzzing sounds like little fly screams, which is totally weird, I know.
This morning Punky rescued what seems to be the runt of her litter from the cleft in the rock. That kitten is not as strong as the others, so if it doesn't get out first or second by standing on the other kittens, it cannot get out. Three kittens were out and playing but Punky kept searching for that fourth kitten. She came over to the hole at the top of the rock and went in it about three fourths of the way. She pulled out, no kitten. She came to the front of the rock where the little cleft is and maneuvered into that space. She pulled the kitten out with her and gave it a little bath and it was on the way to play with the others. Punky sat there a moment, almost enjoying the few seconds to herself....cause those four kittens rushed her like she was a quarterback and got her in position to have a little breakfast. Strawyer is demanding attention from Punky too, but in another way. His technique needs a little work cause Punky averts and he ends up by himself. He seems a bit puzzled to her aversion moves but she is not in heat and not interested in his practice runs.
Roy gave me the news that tomorrow will be an early morning for me...ugh! It doesn't help that last night was a rough one with Buddy. Dementia kicked in yesterday and all night long. She can't settle and she comes and goes. She had a lot of porch time today which usually helps her sleep well at night. Hopefully, that will make tonight a bit easier. The kittens are more lively this week and with the afternoon rain, they have a lot of energy this evening. They have been wrestling and running and jumping and falling off the rocks. Punky is close by and she barely a year old still wants to play. So I got out the red laser light and she had a blast running after it. Think she was ready for them to settle once it became dark but with all the lightning bugs, they can't seem to stop. Even tempting them with a late night snack didn't work. They'll be played out soon enough. Sure enough, I just went downstairs after a brief electricity outage, not even long enough for the generator to kick in, and there is Punky sleeping outside on the big rock cause her kiddos are sleeping in the cleft of the rock. She is being such a good mother, better than her mom Camo ever was. I'd almost go as far and say she is as good as Cali. Which, the little runt of the litter, well its actions remind me so much of Cali as a kitten.
******************
It be raining hard this afternoon. Note to self, ask for gutters for the back porch for my birthday. We caught a bit of a break earlier with light rain and the skies turned sunny. Now, gray skies and rain.
This morning I was taking notes as I read our lesson for this Sunday. We are beginning now with David, Samuel anointing him to be king and then David facing Goliath. From early on I have loved studying David and as is true with the Word of God, new things are grabbing my attention and thus I am thankful that the Word of God is alive and active. I was doing some research on Saul putting his armor on David. I have always heard it didn't fit David, it was too big for him but no, it probably fit, he just wasn't comfortable in it. Saul and Jonathan were the only ones who had swords, shields and spears. David was much more comfortable with his shepherd accessories. We can still experience "Saul's armor" today, but we've up charged the way we do it.
*************************
The saga of the outdoor lights continue. Howard came by today to see of the new set of lights would work...it is kind of like the three bears, back plate too big, now back plate too small, but Howard said he had an idea how to fix it, so hopefully, it will be just right. We tried to get the kittens out but only Punky ran off trying to divert our attention on her. She had gone under the grill with her babies because mean ol' Camo came to the backyard. Camo is her mother...
Today, has been a day of taking care of all the little things that don't get done, so I am feeling somewhat accomplished today. Also did fun things like working on the back porch and studying the lesson some more.
We had choir last night due to the VBS schedule this next week. We worked on several songs and it was a lot of fun. Afterwards, I went to Turkey Creek because I have been craving one of their burgers. It was delicious and I brought home a slice of cookies and cream cake.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Porches, Punky, Precocious....
The ubiquitous of scenary here is little churches everywhere. They are mostly Baptist, Southern Baptist, but other affiliations of Baptist churches are represented. After Baptist churches, it seems like Methodist is in second place. Over near Roan Mountain most of those Baptist churches are Free Will Baptists, with a few primitive Baptists thrown in to vintage it up. That first month I visited here the number of churches dotting the landscape surprised me. I have written before about a little Baptist Church I pass several times a week and sometimes on Sunday mornings. The name used to be a bona fide churchy big word church that only someone who has attended church most of their life or at least VBS would know. It must not have worked for them because sometime late last year, the name changed along with a once a month sing a long added to the sign. A new start, a new beginning...only and sadly, the sign has changed, no more Wednesday or Sunday night services. Now granted, the most trucks, cause it was only trucks in the gravel parking lot has been four, but mostly three. And driving by after service, usually, there were three men standing outside the front door talking. The grassy area around the gravel hasn't been mowed in quite a while and I am wondering if the three gave up. I read a book several years ago whose title and author escapes me, but it was written by a man who put forth the question, what if one Sunday women stayed home from church? How would the church house react? This little church in dichotomy is most interesting.
This back porch has added such a dimension to nature. Since Punky brought her kittens down to the backyard because of all the rain, I am experiencing cat life up close and personal. None of the other cats brought their kittens down so soon. These are not weaned but Cali and Camo brought kittens to the back when they were six weeks old. Mike the Mower Man was here today and our neighbor was mowing the gravel road at the same time. Punky kept an ear to the sound and when she felt it was in her kittens best interest, she meowed but it was a meow...but she called for them in a low, purr, cat sound, nothing I've never heard. Not chirping like at the birds nor was a pure purr, and three out of the four obeyed her immediately. Of course there has to be the one who saunters toward mom but all it took was for Punky to stand up and that kitten came a running. After all the lawn noise Punky gathered up the troops but she was one short...so she went looking for that kitten. I have said several times I didn't think Punky was a very good mother, but I take that back after watching her this afternoon. Wow! She has them or had them, they move around so much, under the grill. Yes, the playroom of all the previous kittens. They love playing under and then later when they are able to jump to the top of it, sit there like kings and queens of the world.
********************
A new week, a new day. The reports of rain I believe are fading but maybe this afternoon we will get some. If not, it will be a early evening of watering all the flower beds. We had a glimmer of hope for rain yesterday but it went north of us. I got a few more plants put into flower pots in the anticipation but alas...nothing. We didn't have choir last night so yesterday after church was a great opportunity just to relax, nap and read... My only responsibility of the afternoon, getting the trash can down to the road.
On Saturday a good bunch of friends drove over to TN to go to The Farmer's Daughter for lunch. I took the Mustang because the Kroger at Johnson City was calling out my name afterwards. They carry the cat food that Buddy will eat right now. Ann D rode with me to the restaurant and we had a blast talking and singing to Earth, Wind and Fire....oh and maybe a little Gladys Knight thrown in for good measure. By passing the Academy which is a new habit for me, I went straight to Barnes and Noble...a life long love and addiction to books. The three magazines I've been looking for all happened to be there and I had coupons. It was a great day to shop for books and magazines. If I had time, I was thinking of driving over to Roan Mountain but the tireds were taking over and the best use of time would be to return home, rest a bit and then finish up studying for the Sunday School lesson. There was so much to cover and in retrospect, maybe I should have zeroed in on two or three main points but all the background info was so important to the major points. Then, our new pastor's wife, Kelly, came into our class yesterday. So, I was a little nervous and more scattered than usual. She seems to have a great sense of humor and to be lots of fun. I never got a dour look from her, so whew, that's good. And on a side note, I love God's Word! How many times have we all studied or heard about Samuel and Saul? Each time, something new pops out to ponder.
These kittens of Punky are so fun to watch. Seems like they have grown so much in a week. She still hasn't introduced them to food other than what she provides. Punky hides under a burning bush shrub and watches the four play. I haven't been successful in getting the four of them with faces facing toward the camera so the three gray and white kittens are difficult to tell apart. Two of them I know their faces but the third one is content to do its own thing much of the time. Anyway, name contemplation is on hold until I can tell them apart. And by casual observation, I think there are two males...so far in the count. Each little family group brings different dynamics to observe. The other kittens in the past, have always played in and around the big rocks in the backyard but these kittens, until they are all too big to do this, have found a little, shall we say, a cleft in a rock, that is where they escape to when danger seems imminent or just me on the porch. When they have stayed in there too long, Punky comes over, looks into the cleft and calls them outside. But it looks like they nap and maybe even sleep there at night. Mama Cat still shows but not as often. Ever since Strawyer has become the alpha male, he is a pest to the female cats...When Strawyer is approaching her...by the way his grandmother.... for, uh, let's see...attention, Mama Cat is not interested and gives him a couple swipes to the head. He was stalking her last night up on the gravel road and before she made the turn to wherever she lives, she came back to him and gave him a little "what for." We are going on two weeks without Mr Meany and for this I am thankful. He was a slick one, wooing in the innocent and then biting them or taking a few swipes. He was a stray because he wasn't afraid of people. I warned the construction crew about him.... Camo is hit and miss. We don't see her for days and then out of the blue she shows up.
Buddy loves the back porch and she has made it her own, of course that is not a surprise. She still wants out on the front porch in the mornings, probably because of how sunny it is, but the afternoons and evenings, back porch is preferred. I got the ladders out that we bought for flowerpots and so far I have done two. Still deciding if I'll put a shelf between them. Then, the small green ladder from Maggie Valley, might end up outside instead of on the porch. I'll just have to see how things go as we finish up the details of the porch.
This back porch has added such a dimension to nature. Since Punky brought her kittens down to the backyard because of all the rain, I am experiencing cat life up close and personal. None of the other cats brought their kittens down so soon. These are not weaned but Cali and Camo brought kittens to the back when they were six weeks old. Mike the Mower Man was here today and our neighbor was mowing the gravel road at the same time. Punky kept an ear to the sound and when she felt it was in her kittens best interest, she meowed but it was a meow...but she called for them in a low, purr, cat sound, nothing I've never heard. Not chirping like at the birds nor was a pure purr, and three out of the four obeyed her immediately. Of course there has to be the one who saunters toward mom but all it took was for Punky to stand up and that kitten came a running. After all the lawn noise Punky gathered up the troops but she was one short...so she went looking for that kitten. I have said several times I didn't think Punky was a very good mother, but I take that back after watching her this afternoon. Wow! She has them or had them, they move around so much, under the grill. Yes, the playroom of all the previous kittens. They love playing under and then later when they are able to jump to the top of it, sit there like kings and queens of the world.
********************
A new week, a new day. The reports of rain I believe are fading but maybe this afternoon we will get some. If not, it will be a early evening of watering all the flower beds. We had a glimmer of hope for rain yesterday but it went north of us. I got a few more plants put into flower pots in the anticipation but alas...nothing. We didn't have choir last night so yesterday after church was a great opportunity just to relax, nap and read... My only responsibility of the afternoon, getting the trash can down to the road.
On Saturday a good bunch of friends drove over to TN to go to The Farmer's Daughter for lunch. I took the Mustang because the Kroger at Johnson City was calling out my name afterwards. They carry the cat food that Buddy will eat right now. Ann D rode with me to the restaurant and we had a blast talking and singing to Earth, Wind and Fire....oh and maybe a little Gladys Knight thrown in for good measure. By passing the Academy which is a new habit for me, I went straight to Barnes and Noble...a life long love and addiction to books. The three magazines I've been looking for all happened to be there and I had coupons. It was a great day to shop for books and magazines. If I had time, I was thinking of driving over to Roan Mountain but the tireds were taking over and the best use of time would be to return home, rest a bit and then finish up studying for the Sunday School lesson. There was so much to cover and in retrospect, maybe I should have zeroed in on two or three main points but all the background info was so important to the major points. Then, our new pastor's wife, Kelly, came into our class yesterday. So, I was a little nervous and more scattered than usual. She seems to have a great sense of humor and to be lots of fun. I never got a dour look from her, so whew, that's good. And on a side note, I love God's Word! How many times have we all studied or heard about Samuel and Saul? Each time, something new pops out to ponder.
These kittens of Punky are so fun to watch. Seems like they have grown so much in a week. She still hasn't introduced them to food other than what she provides. Punky hides under a burning bush shrub and watches the four play. I haven't been successful in getting the four of them with faces facing toward the camera so the three gray and white kittens are difficult to tell apart. Two of them I know their faces but the third one is content to do its own thing much of the time. Anyway, name contemplation is on hold until I can tell them apart. And by casual observation, I think there are two males...so far in the count. Each little family group brings different dynamics to observe. The other kittens in the past, have always played in and around the big rocks in the backyard but these kittens, until they are all too big to do this, have found a little, shall we say, a cleft in a rock, that is where they escape to when danger seems imminent or just me on the porch. When they have stayed in there too long, Punky comes over, looks into the cleft and calls them outside. But it looks like they nap and maybe even sleep there at night. Mama Cat still shows but not as often. Ever since Strawyer has become the alpha male, he is a pest to the female cats...When Strawyer is approaching her...by the way his grandmother.... for, uh, let's see...attention, Mama Cat is not interested and gives him a couple swipes to the head. He was stalking her last night up on the gravel road and before she made the turn to wherever she lives, she came back to him and gave him a little "what for." We are going on two weeks without Mr Meany and for this I am thankful. He was a slick one, wooing in the innocent and then biting them or taking a few swipes. He was a stray because he wasn't afraid of people. I warned the construction crew about him.... Camo is hit and miss. We don't see her for days and then out of the blue she shows up.
Buddy loves the back porch and she has made it her own, of course that is not a surprise. She still wants out on the front porch in the mornings, probably because of how sunny it is, but the afternoons and evenings, back porch is preferred. I got the ladders out that we bought for flowerpots and so far I have done two. Still deciding if I'll put a shelf between them. Then, the small green ladder from Maggie Valley, might end up outside instead of on the porch. I'll just have to see how things go as we finish up the details of the porch.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
The Theme Was Rain.....
The theme, rain. The blessing, we needed rain. Another blessing, we have had intervals in between moderate to heavy showers. The gratitude comes from hearing that our weekend of rain will taper off and blue skies are ahead beginning tomorrow, oh and the highs in the 70's. All the new plants are a little more established now with the rain and then before all the water evaporates, it is time to finish up planting. Oh maybe I will throw in a little weed pulling...emphasis...on little.
We are thrilled that the porch that began in March came to completion on June 6th. It turned out beautifully. Over the weekend I began pulling out the things that have been collecting dust in the garage that we picked out for the porch during the last two years as we waited on Bruce's busy schedule. In that time preferences of color changed constantly but the design never wavered. This wouldn't be a white wicker themed porch. White wicker, really any color of wicker furniture is beautiful but since I like metal furniture, this was the never changing direction we would go. Now, I did capitulate when we found chairs that would fit in perfectly because they don't take up a lot of space but they aren't that southern look. So this weekend, I put together a day bed, the chairs and a table that came with the chairs....oh, and a decorative piece I found at the Biltmore Garden Shop, that they had taken apart. Now that thing was a bugger. After all the furniture assemblage we need to invest in better wrenches but the likelihood that we will be putting more furniture together is slim. We had put together this three year plan for remodeling, but since we had the two years in between, it looks like we will take a break in the plan because I don't know if I am up to a master bathroom remodel. I read an article that said the walk in bathtub thingy advertised on TV to senior citizens has become a "must" for the millennial. You know, it is so tempting but me thinks it is still an old person look to a home. We would want the whole bathroom gutted, new tile and cabinetry. That would include maybe the hallway bathroom too but just tile and new cabinet.
The porch is considered finished because this morning all the building scraps and materials were loaded onto the back of a truck and a little later, the porta john was picked up. It was a clear morning so it was an optimal time to get this done before the now, steady rain has hit our area.
So, the theme of getting some stuff done today is taking a backseat. With Bruce and crew here and then with a couple other distractions, the list of things to take care of today, isn't be checked off. Also, the usual schedule for studying to teach on Sunday will be accelerated this week because of Saturday plans. So, I am far behind with an iffy beginning.
****************
Theme today, cool temps and sunny. It has been such an enjoyable day to run errands and work outside. Of course coming in and resting on the back porch was needed. I brought home a wine cooler refrigerator to use for drinks on the back porch. It is tall and it holds 18 drinks, so I loaded it up with vitamin water and diet root beer. Tomorrow I will add some Topo Chico.
I'm going to wrap this up and post it. The theme was rain but today that theme didn't hold water.
We are thrilled that the porch that began in March came to completion on June 6th. It turned out beautifully. Over the weekend I began pulling out the things that have been collecting dust in the garage that we picked out for the porch during the last two years as we waited on Bruce's busy schedule. In that time preferences of color changed constantly but the design never wavered. This wouldn't be a white wicker themed porch. White wicker, really any color of wicker furniture is beautiful but since I like metal furniture, this was the never changing direction we would go. Now, I did capitulate when we found chairs that would fit in perfectly because they don't take up a lot of space but they aren't that southern look. So this weekend, I put together a day bed, the chairs and a table that came with the chairs....oh, and a decorative piece I found at the Biltmore Garden Shop, that they had taken apart. Now that thing was a bugger. After all the furniture assemblage we need to invest in better wrenches but the likelihood that we will be putting more furniture together is slim. We had put together this three year plan for remodeling, but since we had the two years in between, it looks like we will take a break in the plan because I don't know if I am up to a master bathroom remodel. I read an article that said the walk in bathtub thingy advertised on TV to senior citizens has become a "must" for the millennial. You know, it is so tempting but me thinks it is still an old person look to a home. We would want the whole bathroom gutted, new tile and cabinetry. That would include maybe the hallway bathroom too but just tile and new cabinet.
The porch is considered finished because this morning all the building scraps and materials were loaded onto the back of a truck and a little later, the porta john was picked up. It was a clear morning so it was an optimal time to get this done before the now, steady rain has hit our area.
So, the theme of getting some stuff done today is taking a backseat. With Bruce and crew here and then with a couple other distractions, the list of things to take care of today, isn't be checked off. Also, the usual schedule for studying to teach on Sunday will be accelerated this week because of Saturday plans. So, I am far behind with an iffy beginning.
****************
Theme today, cool temps and sunny. It has been such an enjoyable day to run errands and work outside. Of course coming in and resting on the back porch was needed. I brought home a wine cooler refrigerator to use for drinks on the back porch. It is tall and it holds 18 drinks, so I loaded it up with vitamin water and diet root beer. Tomorrow I will add some Topo Chico.
I'm going to wrap this up and post it. The theme was rain but today that theme didn't hold water.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Phenomenal and Extraordinary
This week I kind of stumbled across an article that caught my interest, "Why No One is Interested In Your Travels." It is written by Jonathan Look, Jr. He has retired and he and his female partner are always in search of exotic travels where he can experience a sense of adventure and not be a part of cookie cutter suburbia. He noted a paper written by Harvard Psychologists titled "The Unforeseen Costs of Extraordinary Experience." It is not jealousy that make people glaze over when people tell of these exotic and unusual adventures, it is lack of the ordinary in the stories told after trips of a lifetime, or two. The paper goes on to state that those telling the extraordinary experience are not always gifted story tellers either giving too many details or not enough.
I used a little of this extraordinary experience in the Sunday School lesson I taught this morning where we mainly looked at Hannah. Now there is someone who had an extraordinary experience and it has translated well, even to us today. The communicator and writer tells her story beautifully. Truthfully, Hannah and her story has been one that I have stayed away from since she is a popular Mother's Day topic for sermons and she seems to be the patron saint of infertility. More so than Sarah or Sampson's mom, cause we are told the story of how she walked away from the year after year taunts of Peninnah at Shiloh and went into the Tabernacle to pray, all the while being accused by Eli of being drunk and having to hold it together while her husband, well meaning in his questions to her and then concluding she should think he would be better than having ten sons. This week it really have been a joy to get to know Hannah better, in fact since Judy and I are helping relieve our teacher Gale this summer since she has a family wedding consuming much of her time, I was able to split the lesson and use the Eli/Samuel portion it in next week's lesson.
It feels like I am living extraordinary experience these days in the mountains of North Carolina. Just like the article some want to hear of the travels and experiences and others don't but I write on anyway because these days are ones I want to remember. The choice is theirs, to read or not to read...that's not even the question. Being here has been so healing, in all the realms whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. Of course there are other factors contributing to this well being, but it feels like this should be written in broad brush strokes.
I went old school studying for the lesson on Sunday by looking at some of FB Meyer's writings. Still relate-able today but had to look up some of the obscure words that didn't make it into the 21st century regular vocabulary.
***********************
This June day will be remarkable in that it will only reach into the high 70's today. This morning it was 57 degrees while I enjoyed a cup of coffee on the front porch. Buddy was pretty happy about it as well. The cooler temps has made errand running rather pleasant. I thought I had more potting soil than I did, so back to Lowe's tomorrow to finish up the project. A couple of weeks ago while in CVS they reserved some of the new shingles shots for me and today it was the first thing to do while out and about. No waiting and shot number one and I'm good to go. The next shot needs to come in the next four t six months. Feeling shingle protected it was back to Tractor Supply and they had the bird seed back in stock. Oh happy day. Then the dreaded Walmart to pick up some more plastic bottles of Topo Chico. They are so refreshing when I am on gardener duty. Also, I don't know if they will be affected by the tariff dealy thingy. Across the way to Lowe's for supplies and they had some beautiful zinnias, which might be my favorite flower.
The work on the back porch is coming along today. All the screen is in and both of the storm doors have been hung. Just waiting for whoever finishes staining it. The feral cats are confused but Buddy took several trip around the edge of the porch and meowed her approval.
Yep, it has been and is a extraordinary experience.
I used a little of this extraordinary experience in the Sunday School lesson I taught this morning where we mainly looked at Hannah. Now there is someone who had an extraordinary experience and it has translated well, even to us today. The communicator and writer tells her story beautifully. Truthfully, Hannah and her story has been one that I have stayed away from since she is a popular Mother's Day topic for sermons and she seems to be the patron saint of infertility. More so than Sarah or Sampson's mom, cause we are told the story of how she walked away from the year after year taunts of Peninnah at Shiloh and went into the Tabernacle to pray, all the while being accused by Eli of being drunk and having to hold it together while her husband, well meaning in his questions to her and then concluding she should think he would be better than having ten sons. This week it really have been a joy to get to know Hannah better, in fact since Judy and I are helping relieve our teacher Gale this summer since she has a family wedding consuming much of her time, I was able to split the lesson and use the Eli/Samuel portion it in next week's lesson.
It feels like I am living extraordinary experience these days in the mountains of North Carolina. Just like the article some want to hear of the travels and experiences and others don't but I write on anyway because these days are ones I want to remember. The choice is theirs, to read or not to read...that's not even the question. Being here has been so healing, in all the realms whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. Of course there are other factors contributing to this well being, but it feels like this should be written in broad brush strokes.
I went old school studying for the lesson on Sunday by looking at some of FB Meyer's writings. Still relate-able today but had to look up some of the obscure words that didn't make it into the 21st century regular vocabulary.
***********************
This June day will be remarkable in that it will only reach into the high 70's today. This morning it was 57 degrees while I enjoyed a cup of coffee on the front porch. Buddy was pretty happy about it as well. The cooler temps has made errand running rather pleasant. I thought I had more potting soil than I did, so back to Lowe's tomorrow to finish up the project. A couple of weeks ago while in CVS they reserved some of the new shingles shots for me and today it was the first thing to do while out and about. No waiting and shot number one and I'm good to go. The next shot needs to come in the next four t six months. Feeling shingle protected it was back to Tractor Supply and they had the bird seed back in stock. Oh happy day. Then the dreaded Walmart to pick up some more plastic bottles of Topo Chico. They are so refreshing when I am on gardener duty. Also, I don't know if they will be affected by the tariff dealy thingy. Across the way to Lowe's for supplies and they had some beautiful zinnias, which might be my favorite flower.
The work on the back porch is coming along today. All the screen is in and both of the storm doors have been hung. Just waiting for whoever finishes staining it. The feral cats are confused but Buddy took several trip around the edge of the porch and meowed her approval.
Yep, it has been and is a extraordinary experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)