Finally, A Blog Post

First of all, something I learned yesterday and not at church but in the kitchen. The room that is merely where I pick up something to drink or assemble something for meals, no real time is every spent there...well except in winter when I tend to cook. Anyway, after zonking out for the afternoon, a big ol' nap, cause Buddy and the heat caught up to me, I began to get the trash ready to go out. I had found some really old blackberries in the freezer and had let them defrost in the sink. The plan was to put them down the garbage disposal but I looked at the container and decided the whole thing could just go into the trash. Well...I put the container in a bag before putting it in the trash bag and went about collecting from the various receptacles around the house. That being done, I pulled the trash bag out and blackberry juice went everywhere...all over the floor, my pants, my bare feet and on the kitchen chairs. Goodness, I carried that bag out so quickly to the garage and came in and attacked the juice before it could stain the hardwood floors which are a light color. Then I realized I was making juice footprints, so put on the old gardening shoes and went about cleaning up the mess. From all the 2020 episodes or Dateline I now see why people get caught when they cause blood splatters in the home or business. That juice was everywhere! I mopped and cleaned up everything and I am keeping an eye out for any missed splatters. So what I learned is, go with the original idea of garbage disposal and then throw away the container.  Better yet use your frozen blackberries in a timely manner.

These past few weeks I have stuck around home mostly keeping an eye on Buddy. Last Saturday I got her into the vet on an emergency visit. They gave me some meds for her and if they worked, they would call a prescription into the compounding pharmacy down the street from them. The combo meds have helped Buddy so much. She has night dementia and really bad arthritis. Looks and acts poorly during the day, comes alive at night with super cat powers. Since she doesn't want to sleep in the bed anymore I don't feel as guilty about shutting the door after she leaves the first time. It has worked out pretty well but there is usually a 3:00-4:00 am window where she cries outside the door. Sometimes I let her back in and sometimes not. No matter the door shuts again or stays shut cause she can't settle at night. The past few days she has seemed a little more lively and that is a happy sign.
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Just when I think we might be on the road to recovery Buddy has a bad night. It wasn't the worst night she has had but it did make changes for today. Sticking around home instead of venturing off to where I had planned to venture. So, I will work on the lesson for Sunday and re-mop the kitchen to make sure all the blackberry juice is taken care of.

This past weekend was the studio tour and even though I didn't get to as many sites as in years past, it was a productive day. The past few years I begin at Addison Vineyards where several artists display their craft. My favorite is a self taught blacksmith. I have bought several different things from him over the years and he saw me looking at a gate he made. He asked if I was interested and I always am but big pieces like that are always expensive. In the words of The Godfather, he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Being in the Mustang meant coming back later in the truck to pick it up but I continued on with the day by going out to Sandy Mush. Love the artisans whose studios are out in that scenic beauty. Found a couple more things and had a wonderful visit with the Biltmore blacksmith. Also an herbalist who is new to the tour had her studio open. Very interesting woman. On then to Twisted Laurel for lunch, came home got the truck, got the gate and this morning I finally unloaded the gate. Only thing I put a huge gash on my shin trying to get it out of the bed of the truck. Okay, maybe not huge, but a nice sized gash. I thought maybe it could be used on the front deck but the gate is too wide for that. It is probably going to be more of a decorative thing. So until it gets a home around here, it will be in the garage awaiting further placement.



Buddy and I were watching the evening playtime of Strawyer and Mr McBeavy last night. Sometimes it didn't look like play with Strawyer but then he would return to his normal personality of gentle giant of a cat. The more I look at the Mr I am thinking his father was Mr Meany. Facially and body type is making me think that but Strawyer includes him and keeps watch over him when danger seems to be in the air. Mama Cat showed up on Sunday after a three week absence. She looked like she has been in several battles. Saw Camo once last week. It's mainly the little family of three. This morning the black and white cat was back and I think that is Cali's son that our neighbors adopted. They try to keep him in but sometimes he escapes into the great outdoors.

Weather alerts are sounding off on my phone and thunder is resounding so now to close this and go check on the skies.

Could We Take It Any Other Way?

A relaxing Sunday afternoon that included a nap on the back porch, a little reading and a light lunch was much appreciated. The little family of three hangs around the ladders and plants in the side yard. so it is a continual jockeying for the coveted spot under the flowerbed chair. They seem to take turns so that is a nice thing. Buddy spent most of the afternoon on the porch, moving from sleeping spot to the next as the spirit or the warmth of the sun moved her.

Last week Buddy had a bit of a health scare and although she seems better I don't know if we are out of the woods yet. I was anticipating another good night's sleep after the successful night of rest on Saturday, but it was not to be last night. The vet is calling today for updates and maybe the continued use of the muscle relaxer, for Buddy, not me. It has calmed Buddy, but she is so lethargic. It was a welcomed sight to see she had eaten some of her food during the night and the treats she had ignored. We just spent a good amount of time sitting together this morning. She has not given any indication she would like to go out on the porch this morning.

I went into Sunday School prepared to teach but a little concerned for the last part of the lesson since I had not written it  out and had only jotted notes because of the additional concern for Buddy. During my prayer time Sunday morning I told the Lord, I am depending on You, but this morning I am really depending on you. He didn't fail me. We looked at the facts of Ecclesiastes and then looked at those nuggets that get overshadowed by vanity, vanity...under the sun...everything is meaningless. We were looking at these twelve chapters from a different vantage point and asking the Lord to open up His Word to us. Karen B gave us a great example as she told us about a group tour she went on to NYC. Instead of staking out the seats they sat in the first day, they changed seats often to get different perspectives of the city. I asked if anyone wanted to change seats with me and she said, the bus driver doesn't change seats. That quote is going into my journal. We finished the one and done Sunday look at Ecclesiastes with Chapter 12 in the beautifully written description of what happens as we age...Solomon the great builder of buildings, gardens, homes, navies and cities deconstructed the building process as a building falling in. I had a "you are old moment" Saturday morning at the vet while giving details to them about Buddy's behavior, I said something to the effect that what I had just told them...couldn't remember what day that behavior happened. The young vet responded, it's Saturday. Today is Saturday...well, I knew that and thought about responding, well, it sounds like you are listening to every 5th word...Okay, back to the chapter at hand... I also found a rather humorous view of what those verses mean. Funny, I never noticed or paid attention to those verses in the past but now...they have my full on attention. We ended the lesson though contrasting the ending verses of Psalm 92...where we that are older are to flourish in the courts of the Lord and still bear fruit. Velda gave us a perfect example of that to end the lesson as she recounted a shopping experience and small details became very useful as each person involved in the story contributed to a good outcome. It was also a monumental day, Inez read out loud from her Bible which had a great in-depth look at the verse we were reading.

During the week while studying, many times my remembrance of August 2014 came to mind. Roy gave me a month here to help me health wise miss the hot August of Houston. While here for that we also had on our schedule to begin the search for a home here. Originally, we thought about a condo for just summer/fall but Roy realized a house would be better especially for whenever he retires. In the midst of searching there was so much time to read and write or just sit and think. So the good ol' blog became a diary of sorts of comings and goings, roads, wonders, cows and of course the mountains themselves. In this period of time I experienced the kindness of God like never before and the scripture I was reading was mainly out of Ecclesiastes. On the outside of mountain bliss, circumstances all kinds of chaos was happening, it was the month of "come get these boxes" by my father a message delivered to us by his posse along with phone calls of investigations of being falsely accused of elder abuse and all other kinds of horrible, untrue accusations. In the midst of this, God's kindness...just a very little example...I do not like tunnels and would cringe beyond cringing while going through the tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There was always someone with me but during that month, I drove through 11 tunnels by myself, knowing God's presence as I was going through lightly, the valley of the shadow of death. I know, hyperbole....but I hated tunnels.

Last night in choir rehearsal we had the nicest surprise. Our pastor came in and just wanted to thank us for leading our church in worship on Sunday mornings. He appreciated our hard work and the passion we brought to the music, both with the congregation corporate worship as well as our piece prepared for each week. He thanked us again...and we thanked him for coming in to encourage us. It was refreshing the simple thank you and not adding a teaching moment to the mix as some pastors are wont to do.

Buddy is fussing, over what I don't know. Her imagination is not captured by treats this morning. She has been on the front and back porch. She has sat in my lap a lot. In fact, she is here right now and typing is difficult. She has never been much of a cat that rubs against you but she has become one over the weekend. Last night I got a lot of her putting her head against my face. Into the day we go, just me and Buddy, living in the mountains, taking it one day at a time...like we could take it any other way, ha!

Celebrations, Cake, Buddy and Ecclesiastes

The rain cooled air has dropped the temps with breeze and we didn't even get any rain to enjoy the evening cool degrees. Buddy has been on the back porch all afternoon with intermittent naps between keeping an eye on Mr McBeavy. After a fun birthday yesterday it was an ease into the morning kind of day. Buddy took advantage of the available lap and I began reading up on Ecclesiastes.

Needing to run a couple of errands, one being grocery shopping for staples...not like for a stapler which is probably what most would think I needed. Anyway, picking up mail, prescription and a brief stop at Publix were quick enough and got home to put things up and check on Buddy. She was upstairs but when she heard the familiar sound of a porch door, she made her way slowly. In fact she spent the greater part of the afternoon asleep on the daybed.

Sunday held lots of fun and deliciousness. After church Brenda, Lois and I went out for lunch. The fried shrimp was our unanimous choice. We left way too full but I had two errands that had to be done, so I waddled to the car and began the drudgery but I also knew that upon completion of these errands, there would be strawberry cake. I made a quick check on Buddy before going over to Brenda's to celebrate with strawberry cake. Brenda knew how tired I was and sent me home to take a nap...which I did.
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It's Thursday. My attention has been elsewhere. Buddy wasn't her normal cat self Sunday night...and normal isn't really a definition cause Buddy changes normal several times a day. It was an up and down night and I finally settled in a chair downstairs, which seemed to help Buddy. Monday, Buddy was still struggling so I kept close by. Monday night, I was concerned that she would not make it through the night. Her breathing shallow and labored, neurological facial tics, and she was so warm. It was a night of crying and praying. Buddy was wobbly and struggled a bit on Tuesday but seemed to have some improvement. On Wednesday, I felt I could leave for a couple of hours to get my glasses adjusted and to run to Walmart...for a few things. Got home to a sound asleep Buddy who was more than happy to move her nap out to the back porch. She stayed there all afternoon and into the early evening. Last night was a tough night but not a rough night. She has started coming back upstairs after a little bit of not coming up this way. She had a few moments of thinking she was lost and she had a few moments of fighting things that are not there. She and I have been having some good talks this week, about life together these past fifteen years. This morning after lying on my lap for a bit, she has taken her sleepy self out to the front porch where personally, I think it is too hot. There have been several times in the past two years that seemed like Buddy's time on earth was up. Monday night is the closest to that fact. I'm keeping watch and hope she pulls through like she has done in the past. It is now Friday morning and Buddy had the best night last night that she has had in a long time...which means I got sleep from 11:00 to 3:30. She came upstairs mournfully crying and sat at the end of the bed...with the low tone whimper. I got up and sat her on the bed and once I settled in, she got right beside me and stayed there until 5:30 and I got up at 7:30. This morning she has been perkier and as always she is eating well and staying hydrated. She takes after me with the eating well...hydration, she gets from Roy.

I was talking to our neighbor Nancy yesterday afternoon. They have had lots of animal drama happening up on their farm. From the death of their goat and having to put their puppy down because of a large tumor on the spine. Their horse Zoe had a near death experience while they were away all day at a horse show in SC and they had to decide whether to have the surgery at UT Knoxville or put the horse down. Zoe had the surgery and is still in Knoxville with a detailed and elaborate wellness plan once she gets home.

This morning, once again I was looking at Ecclesiastes for the lesson on Sunday. Lots of directions to take the lesson but no clear direction on what to include. This morning the Lord brought it together and I feel better about it all. Now to get it written down so I don't forget. So that's what I am going to do now...It has taken almost a week but finally a blog post. 

Happy Birthday Buddy!

This is the first picture of Buddy that was on an email to the staff at Houston's First Baptist from Lisa Lewis. Her cat had kittens and she was looking for a home this little gray kitten, who at the time was thought to be male. I fell in love with this face and called Roy to tell him about a picture of a kitten that had stolen my heart. Long story short, Buddy came to live with us. She was born on August 4, 2005. Does that make her a millennial cat? 

Buddy is fifteen years old and in cat years that means she is nearly 80. She is somewhere in her late 70's but I am too lazy to do the specific math. She is definitely slowing down and has dementia moments especially at night. Nothing like that mournful cry at 2:00 in the morning. She is even more than before a whiny meower. If she was human she would have already had a hip replacement but there are days she moves and jumps like a ten year old cat. Buddy has always had a bit of a temper but things that used to make her take a swipe at me, well, they don't seem to bother her anymore and she knows I think, that I am trying to help make her comfortable.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Buddy that Peggy took. She caught that iridescent shine of her gray fur and that little smile. 

My life changed for the better when this little gray kitten came in my life. I don't know, it was like the Lord added her to help me and this little cat has helped me process and think through so many things. When I was so ill she hardly left my side, sleeping next to me all day and following me to the bathroom or kitchen. She is also the little sneaker that has hiding places and doesn't reveal them easily. Many a time I have called this cat and she remains stealth and silent as I desperately search for her.  

Buddy doesn't like change....of hardly anything but she survived two major moves and she has flown more than me in the past five years. She loves her some time on the porches, front porch in the morning and back porch from the late afternoon on into the evening. She'll work you for a treat, it is a constant that is for sure. In the midst of not liking change, she herself has changed her routine. Her favorite napping places remain unused. After nearly 15 years of sleeping on our bed with us for 95% of the night, she now sleeps elsewhere. It took some getting used to on my part but the quality of sleep has improved for both of us.

So, Happy Belated Birthday Buddy! I started the post on Saturday but I was enjoying my birthday festivities and was too tired last night to finish this up.

Fruits, Veggies and Isolated Incidents

August 1st, opening day for Barbers Orchard. On the first day I am not going for the apples, it is more for the produce and honestly, the baked goods. Inez and I decided we needed to go to opening day, so we met at church and headed over Barbers way. Lots of cars but it wasn't too crowded. The line for the bakery wasn't too bad and once the woman with a large order got it all paid for, the line moved quickly. Taking care of the most important purchase of apple cider donuts, we were able to peruse the fruit and veggies. We got that done and decided lunch would be at Haywood Smokehouse. It was delicious as usual. Before heading home we decided we should make a quick stop at Duckett's in Clyde. We got lemon melons and right now mine is cooling off in the refrigerator. I took our bakery purchases to the truck and I felt the breeze with a hint of fall in the fragrance and temperature. Some of the first trees that show the change of color, well the top leaves are beginning that precursor to autumnal pigmentation.

The late afternoon held some rain but mostly lightening and thunder. The temps cooled down and made for a pleasant late afternoon on the back porch. Buddy was interested in the little family of three but soon the urgent need of a nap overtook the curiosity. I need to move one of the little chairs for flowers alongside the one that is already outside near the porch cause all that little family loves the chair. The zinnias that occupied the chair have seen better days especially since they've been smashed down even with the soil.
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The wonderful, good beginnings of Solomon is on my mind this morning. In a few minutes I will begin writing out the lesson for Sunday. In the past few days several words and phrases have stood out and so I have studied with those words leading the way. Buddy has decided she wants to contribute to the blog this morning, like most mornings when I sit down to write. The call of the window has overtaken her desire to contribute. Think she made the best decision.
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No, the call of the window did not get to me like Buddy but the call of writing out the lesson for Sunday and a few errands took precedence. Also, the supper invitation from Brenda was too good to resist, so the blog post kind of fell by the wayside.

It was shocking to read of the untimely death of a young woman's husband this week. She worked in the ED Suite, as it was known back in the day. She might have been an assistant to me for just a little bit of time before becoming the full time admin for Married Young Adults. I don't remember. She was falling in love while she worked at First Baptist and married this fine young man. He died of a cancer I had never heard of. Then this morning I read about the owner of The Pink House passing away this past week of breast cancer. She had been fighting the fight for a long time. Sadly, The Pink House is going through the closing process. Over the years we had found several pieces of furniture and all kinds of interesting things at her local shop.

Brenda served a delicious country supper filled with veggies and her homemade rolls. Yum! We visited for a bit after supper. Roy had called but I hadn't heard the ring cause I don't have good coverage at her house. He had spent the afternoon out in the yard with the sprinkler guys. Two of the seven zones of our sprinkler system had never worked correctly because they had been wired wrong. The lines were not color coded nor labeled. In the midst of the work they must have cut the cable in the yard. Roy thought it was the modem and took it in to Comcast but it wasn't that. The sprinkler guys are coming back this afternoon to finish up the work. Roy is at a seminar and will head home quickly after it is over.

I have been out in the yard cutting up weeds and pulling up flowers that have done bloomed. It is a dried up mess to deal with. The trees that needed extra watering got attention this morning as well. It is looking like it might not rain this afternoon but if it does, it's because I watered trees and a few plants.

Last night just as I was falling asleep I had the first major afib moment in over a year. I have gotten so used to being in rhythm. There were a couple of things on my mind but nothing too troubling and although the last couple weeks have held some added stress, it didn't seem like anything that would knock me into the world of irregular beat. It could be that I had caffeine after 2:00 yesterday. But today, I can feel the fatigue from my heart working overtime when it didn't need to. My prayer is that this is an isolated incident.