Thanksgiving Day After

 Happy Day After Thanksgiving! Most years I try and blog on Thanksgiving Day, it is a hit and miss kind of thing. We are truly thankful so many things especially in the year 2020. That crazy ding dong virus has changed our way of life, sometimes for the frustrating and sometimes for the better. Yet in it all, we gave thanks yesterday and we are still giving thanks today. 

Our Thanksgiving Day really was no different than the ones we've had in the recent past. Since it is just the two of us, we do celebrate it differently than families with so many extended family members. Until 2012 this season was just a counting of days, not Advent, to endure. Get through Thanksgiving...check, Christmas, check, father's birthday, check and Roy's birthday, check. Then a little reprieve. The season was marked by being around my father more and that my friends, can be too much to sustain and be subject to. So some years we came up here and did the Biltmore Thanksgiving thing, but in 2012 we were free to our own devices. We began a tradition of going to the Bass Pro Shop since they are open on Thanksgiving and then driving around the countryside before returning home. Last year, we were in Houston, and we did that plus Buc-ees. Since we don't live near a Bass Pro Shop here, we went to the Big Lots Thanksgiving morning sale. We were not planning on that but we discovered on Thanksgiving our garbage disposal wasn't working and a slight backup in the kitchen drain. We didn't own a plunger, we do now, so we went to Big Lots with a 15% off coupon and came home with more Christmas decorations that were 25% off, plus the 15%... As we loaded the car I said to Roy, that was the most expensive plunger ever. We came home and ate a snack lunch of cocktail weenies in a sugar free BBQ sauce. They were delicious. I began working outside and Roy finished up emptying the cabinet under the sink. When he finished that, we planted lenten roses in the back, moved the hammock stand, and pulled the last of the plants and weeds out of two small flowerbeds in the back. We put together a small Christmas tree and a lighted truck Christmas decoration for outside. Our plans had been to do some more work in the house after our delicious Thanksgiving meal, but we were pooped. We opted to watching the delightful reruns of Laverne and Shirley. Roy introduced me to Pluto TV. 

Roy is back among the land of the living. His reaction to a new med and a new diet hit on Monday and it wasn't pretty and we were a bit concerned. Roy rarely feels bad, so it is not a usual thing. He turned a corner on Monday night, endured Tuesday and began to see the light in the land of the living on Wednesday morning. He rested and took it easy all day which is not the Roy way. He is back 99% today and I am thankful his Dr appointment is next week. 

Even with some extended days of rest, we have been able to get so many of our to do projects done. Just a few more today and nothing is too energy stealing or strenuous. 

Wednesday though held some worrisome thoughts with the ferals. Hector Protector didn't show up for treat time, and that is not unusual. Late riser. When HP didn't show up for breakfast, I was concerned. That is not like him. I kept an eye out for him all day and when evening mealtime rolled around, and HP was a no show, well...I was sad and preparing myself for the worse. I could not help but think of Cali who I found by the side of the road in 2018 the day before Thanksgiving. Gramps wasn't around either. He is so small I figured he had been spotted by a hawk...I can't even think about that. That pesky gravel road held appeal for HP of late and so has the road out front. Thankfully, this story ends well because HP was front and center for treat time yesterday morning, meal times and hung around with me while putting out garland and planting. This morning Gramps showed up for treat time. I don't know where they wander off to but love it so when they wander back into the yard. 

While I would love to write a little more breakfast beckons. Roy is fixing bacon and eggs. Don't want to miss out on that. 

Adventures Come to a Stop

 After last week, a whirl wind of fun, yesterday brought that all to a slow pace and a complete stop. With Roy's relatively new diagnosis of diabetes and his overachiever approach to getting it under control, some side effects from overachieving brought him to a screeching halt. I'll not go into details but I was a bit concerned and if you know Roy he can be a stubborn one, so I texted our friend and my Dr, Andy. Of course I consulted Dr Google first, and yes, that is always such a good thing to do...not!  Andy called, gave us suggestions of what to do and when, if it came to that, we needed to be concerned which means getting to an urgent care or worse, the ER. I went to CVS and picked up supplies, returned home with them, and thus the next part of the journey began. It was a long evening into a longer night and even this morning feels a bit long in the tooth, but I think Roy has turned a corner. He is finally sleeping and will need the day to regain his momentum. Seeing Roy ill is not something you see too often and it un-nerves me each time. He is such a good caregiver and in the recent past years of recovering from a virus attaching my heart, he has taken such good care of me and I wanted to extend that same kind of care to him. Although, we did have a few good laughs of his approach that he takes some times and I was able to spring it on him. A few know the story of and I will tell it again, but not now.  

I am so glad we were able to get out and about last week. Roy had never been on 441 through the Smoky Mountain National Park, so we made that trek last Wednesday. We were not disappointed. The elk were out in herds and Roy was able to get some great pictures. While it was still early, we went to Clingmans Dome. We were treated to several ice walls on the huge rocks on the mountainside. Mesmerizing beauty. We parked and began the walk up to the observation area, only I realized in that short distance, to stop, let Roy go on and I would head back to the parking lot and wait for him. The incline of the climb was taxing my heart and it began to flutter quite a bit. Why I am doing well now is that I stay in the parameters my cardiologist set for me and when I stay in those boundaries, I am active and feel good. Roy said I got better pictures from the view that one is treated to in the parking lot. He said people were lining the walk up to the observation deck, tired, exhausted and not in shape to make the climb. He was so happy I turned back. After taking pics, I went to the car and picked up my "car book" and waited for Roy. It took a few minutes for me to remember the storyline of the book, but it returned. We headed over to Pigeon Forge and didn't stay there too long, so commercialized. Told Roy Gatlinburg is worse, more compact, more people, so we began heading back toward home with a stop at Barbers Orchard and a very late lunch at Blue Rooster. We had a lovely day.

On Tuesday, we went to Otto, NC to peruse Bryant's Antique Mall. We stopped at the Smoky Mountain Guest Center there, where we found several good buys. Roy bought a jacket and we both got several t-shirts, twenty five percent off as well. We found a couple of things at the antique mall and stopped in at an architectural repurposing yard and found a few things there as well. 

This past week held a few firsts. Roy made his cauliflower crust pizza and y'all, it was very good! I also tasted a roasted brussels sprouts and the consensus is, I still don't like them.      

We worked in the garage on Thursday and had quite a load for the landfill and for Goodwill. We still have a little bit left to go through, but the hardest work has been done. We also went through Roy's closet and chest of drawers and we have more stuff for Goodwill. There is always something to take care of around here. No complaints, just a fact. 

Only love could send me to the store on a Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Roy needed some stuff, so I picked up his supplies, cat food, bread and milk. It was a busy day there at the store but there were plenty of cashiers. Walmart and Target make it feel like such an oppressive experience. They blame Covid but to me the lack of cashiers is a cost savings for them. It is making curbside sound better, well for Target, but what the hey, doesn't matter right now. We are quickly getting to the time when I vow for no Target visits until January. 

The patient is doing much better this afternoon. He is resting and watching TV. I was going to do some outside Christmas decorating, but it is too cold. Thanksgiving is supposed to be warm, so maybe that's when we will finish up. Roy is watching Walker, Texas Ranger...not my style but while he wasn't feeling well, he watched The Andy Griffith Show and The Simpsons with me. 

Begin the Fun

 It is kind of funny, that after writing about because and then laughing when the excuse whether good or not is, because of Covid that Roy would receive an email letting him know his flight is canceled and canceled because of Covid. Well probably more like, canceled because of Covid related numbers and not having enough people to justify the flight. He scrambled to find another flight on a different airline and in the midst of the scramble, he booked a flight to Charleston. Now, I like Charleston, but he meant for it to be a flight to Charlotte. Once again he booked his flight. The nonstops are all but nonexistent to Charlotte from Houston, travel time would be horrible for him and all the flights seem to come in at night. While he was driving home from the office, I found a flight for him on a Friday, nonstop and to Greenville. He got it booked and then began rearranging doctor appointments and a haircut appointment. Now, with the Greenville landing, we will make a trip to Costco while in the area. Love Costco runs with Roy. 

I am still soaking in the fun and fellowship, hey Baptist here, yesterday morning with our Sunday School class. The friends at Edify, put together a barn quilt kit for us to paint. We did the small size. It felt so good being back together again, even if everyone couldn't attend. We painted and laughed, gave praise reports and prayer requests. I'm glad that we had so much fun because when I came home, there was a gate problem to deal with. It kept opening and shutting, which I figured out how to stop that but upon closer inspection I noticed the arm on the gate that opens and closes it was coming loose, like almost totally coming off. Quick look to call gate repair people but no luck in getting anyone to come out. As a last resort I contacted the guy that installed the gate, he said he could be here on Tuesday. Well, Tuesday turned into Wednesday but he and another guy showed up. We briefly discussed the electrical problem from a few weeks ago and then they got to work. This time they brought huge bolts with them. Thus, the gate has been fixed. It kept me home almost all weekend except for going to church. Guess since Covid is spiking it was good to stay home. 

On Saturday, I began cleaning out the flowerbeds getting everything ready for when spring rolls around. The weirdest thing, the WiFi and internet went down a minute or so of reading a friend's post that Biden had been declared President-Elect. Now that is a strange feeling and being raised by a conspiracy theorist I had to fight the thought of what this loosing internet and WiFi meant. Was it like the electrical issue from the fence cement? So, Roy contacted Spectrum. At first they said, no outage, but he tried a second time and there was a huge outage across the area when a contractor cut a fiber optic line accidentally. Once settling into the house after working most of the day outside, I finished up a book. About halfway through the book it really grabbed me in and that is where I was when Roy called and I turned on the TV. Ah, internet. I read with interest people's ideas and theories of what had happened. Alas it was none of those things, just someone not getting lines marked and cutting a major fiber optic cable. 

The days have been warm with a breeze but a cold front is supposed to arrive sometime on Sunday. Next week the highs will be in the 50s. My kind of weather. That meant it was a perfect day yesterday, after the rain to finish planting daffodils. Did that in the front and also planted two azaleas in the backyard. Have the perennial Lenten roses to plant. Not so much a rose but in the buttercup family. They need more shade so they'll likely be planted on the other side of the back porch. 

A fun day awaits, so I will feed the cats and begin the fun.....

Because

 Because....

Sometimes that is all we hear. Like in childhood, many times over one would hear, "because I said so" from our parents. Many times when I questioned the why, it wasn't done out of rebellion or not wanting to, but out of a sense of knowledge, to know how this 'because' would pan out in the big picture. Because, the word that is the gateway to know the reason...He will be late because....of traffic or poor planning or doesn't care...whatever, because is the introduction to the reason, except when parents or leaders or whomever says, Just Because!

I was at the dentist yesterday, because the crown had come in for the implant, my first one, that was done in 1999. This was unexpected work this year but the crown and the abutment due to a receding gum issue, made it a veritable deposit for germs and the like. This crown and original implant has been a disaster since day one. Dr Hodges was surprised that it hadn't given me more problems through the years. Yesterday, a monumental day, he seated the new crown, being able to use the ancient of days implant and my friends, it is a thing of beauty! The original crown had never looked right and the oral surgeon from way back in the day, messed with it and it was the beginning of an aggravating tooth journey. The next implant work is scheduled for 2021. On January 1, 2020, I awoke with an abscessed tooth and truthfully, I'm not sure if it was a warning for the year or what. 

Because I haven't given a report of late on the ferals, I will do that this morning. Since we lost Strawyer, Punky isn't around much. She comes around once a day or so and fights with all the other cats. She has stopped rubbing my legs while fixing food but I always suspected that Strawyer's presence is what made her kinder and more approachable. I know cats mourn and she was so close to Straw. Mama Cat's kittens are thriving after a few weeks of not knowing whether two of them were fairing well. Miss Priss hasn't been here in over two weeks, so she has probably moved on whether on earth or in kitty heaven. Hector Protector can't decide whether to go all in with me or remain with the tribe. Hector and Radley elected to stay in the garage when I left yesterday, so they got a warm, undisturbed nap. Biggio cracks me up. He sits by the litter box in the garage and when one of the ferals uses it and there is always a line, he sits there like a bathroom attendant, and goes over what they have done. They all cover it up but it's like he thinks he should take care of this. No one has left him a tip, but he did get a little special food from me. Junior takes after his dad Strawyer by taking over the cat house that has the warming electric heating pad on one side. Radley and Bobsey still like playing with the kittens, teaching and entertaining them. This group is the friendliest of all the litters with interacting. I would include me in the interacting. Yep, they still will scatter when I walk in the midst of them with food, but they don't scatter as far. 

Because, the outdoors calls to me too often, thus leaving inside work undone, I am trying to get caught up with the inside stuff. I have been putting off the total changing out of seasonal clothes but today, I am going to finally get this wrapped up. Because I have less than two weeks to take care of all of this. It's not too bad but it is still those pesky little things that need to be done. 

Because I spent over an hour in the dentist chair and because I made a Target run, no make that a Target wait, I treated myself to a Whopper, fries and shake yesterday on the way home. I have not had BK since February. It was delicious! Target is organized chaos whereas last week when I had to go to Walmart to get the flavor of food Buddy will eat these days and only Walmart has the flavor, no organization to the mass chaos and people. Target makes you wait in a preliminary line to get to the checkout. I don't understand how this helps with safety of social distancing. Walmart just had people yell when they opened a checkout line. In fact, one person yelled so loud and garbled his words that I think everyone there took it not to be an announcement of an open lane, but more like someone who is willing to make trouble and take people with them. Target adds to the worry of someone cutting in line because they have a person stationed nearby that will check you out if you have five items or less. I think the two ladies in front of me were getting ready to form an exploration party. They were jumping around, craning their necks and almost ready to tackle the next person who walked past them. Roy called in the midst of the Target wait and I told him I had to pay attention to instructions, cause I didn't want to loose my place in line. I felt so Seinfeldish, no soup for you! When we got close to the checkouts, the girl in charge said, oh just find a lane to about five of us. I noticed that lane four only had the annoying woman who had held up the lines with her visiting a friend, so that's the lane I chose. Of course she had three separate orders, not unlike Instacart, but it still went faster than the other lanes. Once in the car I called Roy and renewed the vow of not shopping in person at Target, because several months ago, I made the same vow. This time, I am serious!

Several of us were talking the other day and we laughed at how Covid-19 is now used as an excuse, even when it doesn't seem to be the reasonable answer. You just end your sentence with, you know, because of Covid. I know Covid is not a laughing matter and is serious but sometimes in these unprecedented times of uncertainty and new normal, there has to be a relief valve.

Although, because of Covid in the midst of anxiety we are finding the simpler life is better for us. The stresses and the run and gun of life can wear us down. In the midst of everything I have found gardening is much more enjoyable than I thought. Wrote a short story, been reading not a lot but more than when this all began. Cooking more but can't say that I enjoy it, yet. 

I'm looking out the window watching the sun set. More golden than pink but it is beautiful. You know because...I say so. 😁😃😎

Whole Lot of Planting Going On

 The sound of a huge truck backing up the road toward our neighbors was a slightly disturbing noise. Only in that, you hope for an experienced driver that knows what they are doing backing up a big rig filled with building materials. Work on their new deck must be in the beginning stages. Happy for them to start this project since it has been on the radar for quite awhile. 

Last night our church held its quarterly business meeting. There are things and projects you never know about unless you are there to see the slides and hear the stories. Our men's ministry helps so many by building ramps for wheelchair access to homes and a local business contacted the church to help, along with their monetary donation, with a much needed driveway and for a more elaborate ramp due to the layout of the land...read high up on a slope for a local family. After the business meeting, we had a prayer service led by our property and resource committee for future buildings and ministries of the church. It was a good evening to be with fellow believers. Our pastor reminded us of the Sunday in March where he said several times, we don't know what will happen, we do know to trust God. At the time we formed prayer circles and prayed together. I thought, oh no, they are leaving Newfound, but it was much bigger, being the last service we held for a bit because of the pandemic. Our pastor, deacons and leadership have led us well in these months. 

I just came in from planting more roses. Dug a lot of holes and a couple are nothing but rocks and concrete from other people's projects from back in the day. So, after a couple of non-cooperative places, I found success. Not one to love a uniform look, so different shades of coral and pink roses mixed in with some red drift roses. Hopefully it will turn out well in providing a backdrop of color year round and in the spring tulips, daffodils and the like will come up. After their season is over I will put portable raised beds that I used down in the big flowerbed on top of the ground for summer color. Loved using these cloth raised flower containers but it will be much easier to water closer to the house. 

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Zeta moved through early this morning leaving lots of flooded streets and wind damage. We faired very well, just tons of leaves have dropped and a few branches. I cancelled my hair appointment and the stylist sent a pic of the road in front of and beside the salon. Totally flooded. After not having a haircut for several months during lockdowns, I'm not as bothered by cancelling the appointment. Especially since I have stopped highlighting. We had a few limbs down but I think the people across the road had some trees fall cause the sound of chainsaws running seemed to be background noise of the afternoon. 

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Sunday morning after setting the clocks back last night. I think I lost several hours of sleep due to my restlessness with the thought of four feral cats spending the night in the garage. Hector Protector does this quite often but Radley, Bobsey and Biggio joined Hector. They did really well. Used the litter box and didn't tear anything up. I let them out early this morning and fed everyone. I did all this in bog boots and jammies. I also got the hose disconnected and the winter cover put over the faucet. For good measure I put a heavy piece against it cause the kittens tend to think that this is a play toy just for them.

Preparing for the first freeze of the season. We've had a couple of frosts. Six years ago, Dena and I were on our way here from Houston. It snowed and we couldn't take the scenic back way here from Chattanooga. The snow glistening in the fall foliage that remained was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. I drove and cried tears of joy, thanking God to be able to live here. Dena was coming with me to pick up the keys from Kate to our house. We had closed but she needed time to move and since we weren't going to be here until Thanksgiving, it was not a problem. As we drove along Newfound Road Dena kept saying, this is the road to your house? This is the road to your house? Yes, in all its beauty. We came by and looked at our new home and then headed over to the Inn on the Biltmore Estate. 

This year I never made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway or up toward Grandfather Mountain. Certainly, the trees around here have provided autumn in full color. One of the backroads that I take whenever the chance I get, was resilient in reds and golds. One of my favorite scenes is when either the gold or the red jump out from the background of oranges, reds, greens and golds. Or against the background of no leaves at all. I'll go back and look at autumns past on my phone.  2015 was a banner color year and so was 2020. I still have daffodils to plant for spring color. Our neighbor still has lots of fall foliage on her trees, so I will take it all in while digging little holes.