We Just Keep Rolling Along

 This morning I woke up without jaw pain and my teeth don't hurt. It has been several months of clenching and grinding my teeth while sleeping. The dentist decided not to wait till my last implant is in to make the mouth guard. Last night, first night with mouth guard. It was kind of hard getting used to and then I fell asleep, problem solved.

 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly]. Psalm 141:3

That verse will work in more ways than one. 

The debate this morning was an out and about day or a stay home and work day. Decided to stay home and work on getting flowers planted as well as getting flowerbeds ready for planting. It looks to be another beautiful day. Of course there are tons of projects to be done inside, but they don't quite hold the interest of outdoors. Besides the outdoor stuff, I need to keep an eye on Buddy. She's doing okay but slowing down much faster than usual. Buddy gave quite the scare last night when she acted like she could not get up and walk. Finally, she made the decision to move from the bed and for this I was thankful. 

After getting the new night guard with spring being spectacular in color, a drive through the Biltmore seemed to be the right thing to do. The trip did not disappoint. Considered eating a late lunch at Cedrick but knowing a stop at the grocery store was on the schedule, the drive through with a quick stop at the garden shop onsite was in order. The azaleas are beginning to bloom and what spectacular color. The sheep and lambs were playful and fun to watch as well as the geese and the gooselings crossing the road and learning to maneuver access and exit from the lagoon. It was quite the busy scene of people and wildlife. The prize of the day, finding two unusual planters on the 50% off area. Happy purchase and in a minute figuring out where these beauties are going to go.  

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I am so glad I chose stay home and work day because Mike brought the large pieces of flat rock for around the swing. I helped him a tad but he did all the heavy lifting and work. I think we work alike in that we can think of unorthodox ways to make things move when there is just one person to do it. He came back later and mowed the front lawn. He is supposed to be by today to weed eat the backyard. I worked on getting two rose bushes planted, moving dirt, planting patio lemon and lime trees and putting the snapdragons in the above ground planter. Then I watered everything when it was cooler. 

Roy looked at a condo yesterday. He really liked it and waiting to hear back on the availability. When he finally got home after a trip to Costco and Whole Foods, we talked about the advantage of that condo verses others he is to look at on Friday. We also talked about what to keep and not keep. Bill Bain is going to do an estate sale at our house. We don't need a lot of duplicates of what we already have here. I don't think Roy is going to take any couches and just use the recliner and the two wing back chairs. I decided yesterday the antique table we bought when we were first married, that we have loved having in our homes, needs to go to another home for others to enjoy or repurpose or trendy paint. 

Buddy had a semi rough night, well early morning. She is sleeping now. She spent most of the afternoon on the back porch yesterday. She loved that and she was putting her scent on everything to remind HP who the "big" dog is. Or big cat, is probably the better reference. 

The inspection of the house is still in process. They want an AC guy to check out the unit. Roy thinks, hey you left it on a low temp when you left, that should give you an answer. I asked Roy if he mentioned to Ryan the work done on the unit so filters don't have to be changed or used and receipts for upkeep and maintenance. He did not. This is where Roy and I sometimes disagree, I think upfront knowledge is better than having to backtrack and explain things. This is a difference we have not just with the house, but many subjects. Many times it is the details he leaves out that causes our biggest discussions. When he finally fills in the details, I'm like, you should have told me that from the start. Then we laugh. Roy is so dang smart his brain moves much faster than most so it is not a duplicitous thing but a rather smart guy thing. 

Made a quick trip into Weaverville. Thought about getting out this afternoon but Buddy once again finds herself ensconced on the back porch. I can get out tomorrow. I'm wearing nicer things today so no working in the yard, but I think the time has come for the comforter and extra blanket to be pulled off the bed. I should go do this before Buddy comes back in and plops herself on her blankie on the bed. 

There Was Good, Here Is Great

 The song Four Days Late by Karen Peck and the New River Band is going through my mind this morning. Because today, we should be signing the contract for our house to be sold. It went on the market on the evening of Thursday the 22nd and we chose one of the offers on Sunday afternoon. It's a hot real estate market, that's for sure. So if one waited till today...four days late.  It's a hot market here too but no place to go. Besides, with the barn and pasture remaining in its present state, back porch and the landscaping we've done, I am happy and blessed to be right where I am. Brenda said, y'all took a lot of the stress off you by being able to buy the NC house long before putting the Katy house on the market. So now, we are going through details etc.. and we just signed the contract. Oh happy day and now the fun begins....

Yesterday it was too cold to plant rose bushes and today it is almost too hot. I did get the rose tree planted. I did the research on how they like to be planted. One thing I read is, they love water, so placement needed to be where I could easily water it. I started digging yesterday and then the Katy house took my attention and when I returned back to the task at hand, it was a bit chilly. So the beginning of that hole will take another rose bush and then I need to finish out getting soil into the above ground flowerbed. Everyone seems to think we have had the last of our coldest temps until later in the year. I sure hope so because I have been sitting on ready to get some things planted. 

Our pastor took a break from Mark 13 yesterday and we looked at Psalm 19. Love hearing about the Psalms. It was a bittersweet day because our music director and musician extraordinaire, well his last day was yesterday. We sure will miss him. Also loved hearing Diane teach in Sunday School. 

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Oh Tuesday morning, so beautiful! The inspection of the Katy house happens this morning. Roy is looking into seeing some condos this week and we may have an estate sale to cull through everything. I don't think this is a spiritual thing or an improved person thing but an old person thing...there are pieces of furniture that I thought would be apart of life until death, but I am willing to part with them now. My brother and I were talking about this the other day. Coming from our background we accumulate, not to the point of hoarding, but things held a pull and sway. Me more so than Doug, because he is a minimalist and I'm a cram as much into the room, then start taking away type. 

Yesterday, such a productive day planting rose bushes and a few geraniums. Got the rose bud tree planted and two of the yellow knock out roses. Also some calla lilies. It was such a beautiful day. I have new cushions for the chairs and swing, but waiting until after Mike comes and mows to put them out. 

Before we totally move on from our beloved Katy home, there are several pictures that I need Roy to take. When we moved in, a severe drought plagued our area. The tree in the backyard was stressing. Every night the ritual was to water that tree and to keep it from dying. The tree thrived and Roy had to have Abel and crew trim it back recently. I think about decorating the house too. How fun it was to scavenger around some shops in Houston to find what I was looking for. We filled our home with Amish crafted and built furniture. Originally, we had carpet in our bedroom but even with the most expensive pad and carpet, a trail was made. We had been talked out of hardwood floors in the bedroom, but a call to Dave P and his company installed the floor as well as installing plantation shutters. We have a lot of good memories in that home. Cherish the times we laughed, ate and played. After my mom's funeral, we all came back to the house. I think it is the only time my father was in it. He told me when we were building, why would he want to come and see the house? He didn't care. Probably in hindsight, he couldn't stand that all his manipulation, gaslighting and meanness had failed in me being a successful person in this life.

When we bought our home here we wanted something the total opposite of our home in Katy. There open concept, here definite rooms. I do miss our bathroom and closet though and the outdoor fireplace. A friend asked me how I could leave that home in Katy and move here. Here trumps there a 1000%. There was good but here is great, even with a tiny and cramped shower. 

Oh The Memories...

 

Our home in Katy went on the market yesterday. This got me to thinking and so this morning I went back to Monablog April 2011 and read the story of how we came to find the house we wanted, the lot we picked and the stories that went along with that wild ride ten years ago. The house market is hot in the Houston area so we are hoping that the warmth of the real estate market graces our home there and we will be in that wild adventure of getting Roy settled in for the rest of his ride before finally arriving here. Last night, after an unscheduled stop at Costco to get a nail removed from a tire, Roy came home and adjusted a few things I saw in the pictures of our house. Poor baby, he was so tired but it was a good thing he did that because there is a showing appointment today. 

Hopefully, we have seen the last of freezing for the spring. The last two nights I have covered plants to protect them. I don't think last night got as cold as the night before, but I wasn't taking any chances. The cooler temps during the day kept me inside quite a bit and I made significant headway in changing out the seasonal clothing and getting things ready to take to Goodwill. I also cut up strawberries and got a few things put away that had found a temporary residence on the dinning room table. I'll probably evict some more squatters from the table today as well. 

On this cold morning there were a few that came for treats, including HP. She and I have kind of an easy going relationship. HP likes to come in for a private dining experience but if she isn't tired and hasn't been wandering about all night, she is fine to leave once she has consumed what she deems needed until breakfast. That is what most mornings are like but every once in a while, she wants to nap on the daybed. 

This week a friend from church and high school passed away from cancer. I haven't seen her or kept in touch with her all these years as we went our separate ways but it was good to go back in those long ago memories to remember her. By the time I was in high school, I had pretty much stopped going to Westbury Baptist Church. Early on it was by choice and then everything changed January 1971 when I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. That's when I started going to Willow Meadows Baptist. A friend posted a few pics from back in the day and those who are on FB, I looked at their pages. We are all grown up, well we grew up and now well....thankful. Several years ago I read about a reunion of sorts that an ensemble from church in the late 60s and early 70s had. One member in particular, who was somewhat of a wild child and didn't fit in church world but had a beautiful voice wrote about the reunion. She had grown up, left the wild child days behind and was successful in business and life. She wrote that when they all got together she was put back into her long ago identity. They all responded and reacted from their long ago roles in high school, church ensemble singing. She was saddened by the experience and wrote she would not go to another reunion if planned. It is not the same thing, but this is why when passing the exit on the Interstate for Monroeville, the home of Harper Lee, I've never been tempted to turn off and take a look see. It is not the same as when she grew up, she had a love/hate relationship with the group that reenacts the courtroom scene  from To Kill a Mockingbird and with all the anticlimactic hype, it would be such a major disappointment. 

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Good morning from rainy NC. We have needed the rain and tomorrow afternoon if the weather cooperates, I will be planting rose bushes. Yesterday, after going to Goodwill, I stopped at Big Lots to look at outdoor chair cushions. Found what I was looking for. Normally, I buy these at Lowe's but the ones I wanted had to be shipped or delivered. Besides, with the sun bleaching out outdoor things, I didn't want to spend a lot of money. Then a quick trip to TSC to use my coupon on cat food and birdseed, mostly. I bought a lemon and a lime tree. Came home to drop things off and headed back out to Lowe's where I found the containers with wheels for the lemon and lime trees. I also found some white rose bushes and a rose tree, with the tropical color roses. The poor hydrangeas are beginning their third time to leaf out. Three freezes have cut that time. I see a few green leaves again and hopefully, they will survive. I forgot to cover the spring azaleas and I did enjoy the lavish color of the blooms, well that is before the freeze this past week.  

I have the little fireplace looking space heater on for Buddy. She has had a difficult week with the cooler temps. She is slowing down. Well, there really isn't too much to slow down from but she is sleeping a lot more. We usually sit together in the mornings but she has wanted to sit by me in the evenings. I welcome her company except when I am trying to eat and she wants to sit close to my head. The Feral Fam was rowdy yesterday, in a good way. They were having a blast playing and tackling one another. Even HP got in on the fun and that was good to see. She doesn't usually jump in on that kind of thing. 

The rain has become more steady and even though there are things to do, the rain is calling me to just sit and read this morning. Have several options to choose from. I find it funny that Barnes and Noble sends emails that say since you read_________, you might like these. Yeah, funny, since I read...maybe it should be since you bought ___________ and it is on your TBR, can we tempt you with these books. Hmmm...go ahead, I'm listening......

Happy Happy Weekend and Other Stuff

 It happens almost every time. Why do the waves of sleepies overwhelm after having a haircut? I slept well last night, got plenty of sleep. Worked in the yard yesterday but took rest breaks as so not to over do but this afternoon I am fighting to stay awake. Now, if I would just go outside and move the rest of the plants onto the front porch, the cold blast of air just might wake me up but sometimes getting cold has the opposite effect and nap time beckons, no nap time demands attention. 

After my haircut, I did something I haven't done in over a year, I went to Home Goods. It was early enough before large crowds but too early to see all the merchandise contained in all those boxes. For a brief moment, I thought something might happen that has never happened before, it looked as if I would leave the store without buying anything. Then I found what I came looking for, new outdoor cushions. Going out to the car the skies looked like snow skies. The bottom is to drop out temp wise today, but thankfully those steely gray pewter skies held only rain. Light mist. By the time I got back to Weaverville, it was mostly dry. Stopped in at Publix for a few things. Then, upon leaving, those snow skies were getting closer. As I got closer to home, the skies were just overcast, with the sun working hard at breaking through. Mike the Mower Man was here. He is going to bring some more flat rock like he did before but I don't need as much as before. His other client that bought the remaining stack of rock from last year, wants more flat rock as well. Looks like this is going to work out all the way around. 

For a brief minute, I thought I might need to fill in on Sunday teaching but things have worked out. I am looking forward to hearing Diane. I've heard she is a wonderful Bible teacher. 

Buddy has slowed down significantly in the past few weeks. Still able to leap to the nightstand but think I will take her helping stairs and put them near my nightstand instead of Roy's nightstand. This little cold burst is probably playing havoc with her arthritis. She has finally started going back to the front bedroom where she gets her best dose of sun. She boycotted that room for the longest time. 

All the tender vegetation is covered, at least what I am able to cover. The blackberry bushes have little blooms on them, so maybe if they survived last night, covered, we might have blackberries later on. Several years ago I bought when deeply discounted, some rolling metal carts meant for boots and shoes in a mud room. I use them outside with plants to wheel them in and out of the front porch for such a time as this. 

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Woke up to 27 degrees. A little colder than forecast. I'm glad I caught the local weather forecast for our area and not the news from SC. They predicted that the valleys might get colder than what they originally thought. I went out last evening before the sun set to disconnect the hoses from the water spickets and put a wrap around the one on the side of the house that has the most exposure. I probably overreacted but I'd rather do that than face busted pipes this morning. 

Security cameras are great, but this morning they were great for Feral Fam ID. Hector Protector wasn't in the garage when I fed them this morning. A little later, I put some treats out for them, Jurioretta came a running, but that is all. Just a bit ago, I went out to the garage to get something out of the refrigerator out there and whew, HP was there, snuggled in with everyone. She must have missed out on leftovers from breakfast, so I put a little food in her special bow. She ate and moved back with her fam and covered up to keep warm. 

Today, I think, our Katy home officially hits the market. Roy has been working diligently preparing everything and filling out paperwork so it will be able to show well and have all the info that is needed. I'm helping by doing some behind the scenes work for Roy, looking up stuff or confirming things. We have so many fond memories in that house but it is time for another family to make memories there. Roy needs to be closer to downtown for a myriad of reasons but the one that is getting to him the most is, the drive home. Now, more people are returning to offices and the traffic on the freeway has increased tremendously. 

Last week my brother sent some pictures that my parents had. I think they were Mom's class photos from the one room school house she went to. I put the pics on the Then and Now FB page for the city where I was born. Had lots of interesting comments but one in particular was insightful. The comments and then message conversations I was having with the daughter of a man who had grown up with my mom and her twin brother. In fact, as a child I had met him. Both of my parents knew him when they all worked at Kroger. She filled in a lot of info and we might be distant cousins. It was like having a pen pal for the weekend. 

I went to the Madison Spring Market on Saturday and had a blast. Got a lot of birthday shopping done. No, not for my birthday but for others. Good crafts people. Truly, taken aback with all the talents that people have. Found a couple of fun things and a rag wreath for the kitchen. TJs had plants and I went over that way to see what they were offering. Very happy with what I found and brought home and then protected last night. Since I was close by the Ingles, I stopped there and picked up orange chicken and kung pow chicken. Delicious! Then the weekend finished out with teaching Sunday School and once I came home, I crashed. I was so exhausted. Also, waiting on papers to sign in for our realtor. Got them signed. It was an early to bed kind of night after watching Home Town. 

Looks like all the winter clothes are packed away and most of the spring and summer things are put away. Just a little more to get done and then that project will be crossed off the list. Usually, this takes so much longer but this year, a plan came to me on how to accomplish this time taking chore more efficiently. 

One last thing for this post, I just ordered extra narrow ruled notebooks. Y'all, I am thrilled to pieces. Cue Patsy Cline, Fall to Pieces music...I ordered extra fine nibbed disposable fountain pens only not reading the extra fine print, these were just the pens, no ink. The cartridges arrived yesterday and the notebooks arrive Saturday. Looks like another happy happy weekend in store. 

A Blended Post

 Buddy is still asleep and all the Feral Fam are out in the garage eating breakfast. Punky is there stirring things up a bit but once all the bowls are on the ground, the Fam gets everything figured out to at least eat peaceably for a meal before they head out for the day in their bonded or separate ways.

Yesterday began slow but sped up before noon. My healing cap on my implant area felt very different than it had the past couple of days. I called the dentist office and they could do a quick look see if I could get there around noon. It was 11:34. The good news is what I was feeling was the gum tissue healing nicely and doing what it is supposed to do. Whew! I have about thirty minutes to get over to Biltmore Church and get my second vaccine shot. Very well organized and a great day to be in a convertible weather wise. After the waiting time was up, I was close to Biltmore Park and a Barnes and Noble. On the way toward home I stopped in at the Farmers Market and got some strawberries. A trip to the grocery store to pick up some prepared meals for just in case I felt bad after the shot and a quick trip to Penlands, cause fried pies were afoot. All the while of running errands, I felt like I was in a brain fog. No really, foggier than usual, but Roy suggested it could be due to the fact I hadn't had anything to eat since 10:30 am. Yep, that could do it. Made a light and quick supper, brain fog dissipated but I was fatigued and felt feverish. Rested and then went to bed early. Woke up feeling better than expected but still light fatigue and a little headache. I have plenty of non strenuous stuff to keep me occupied today, so that's good. 

I do not like the International Delight Irish Crème for coffee. I have been looking at recipes to make your own and I might resort to that once my supply is gone. 

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Thinking I would not feel well after getting the shot on Wednesday, I felt good, just a little fatigued. So, as I worked around here, I took appropriate rest breaks in between jobs. I also rotated the chores so I didn't get too worn out to not get anything accomplished. Got the second chair and foot rest down by the swing, pulled weeds and did all the watering, but broken up into morning and evening. Worked on Sunday School lesson and hanging up spring/summer clothes. 

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Well, finally I am returning to finish up this blog post. I may break it up into several subject matters. Yet, I could get distracted which is coming easier and easier to do. The Feral Fam and Buddy have been treated and only Buddy isn't taking her first morning nap. Saturday night was a rough night with her, because she could not settle. With her being so old and fragile, I hate to banish her from the bedroom, but if I was going to get any sleep before 6:30 am, she would need to sleep or roam elsewhere. When I shut the bedroom door, she didn't cry or nothing, so she must have been okay with that. 

Think we are in dogwood winter this week as the temps drop and maybe have a frost. I haven't planted anything that is tender and susceptible to freeze or frost. I do have some things that are but they will be planted where I can bring them in easily. TJs had some beautiful plants and I picked up a few late Saturday afternoon. Two beautiful hanging baskets as well. Which reminds me, I need to water them.  

I rediscovered disposable fountain pens. I forgot how much I like using them. Used them to write out the Sunday School lesson this past week. It is always a joy to study and it is a joy to write with disposable fountain pens. Since I looked them up my FB timeline is overwhelmed with pen and paper ads. My weakness...so tempting and the one thing I would buy is out of stock, so that's good. 

Happenings In and Around

 Yesterday, after a dental appointment for a night guard and to put a different type healing cap on my soon to be completed yet nothing is every easy implant. I've mentioned before the dentist office is very close to the Biltmore Estate and when we were tourists and if I missed the turn for I 40, we turned around in their parking lot. With the day being so beautiful and the tulips and Biltmore Bloom happening, I decided to treat myself to an afternoon of visual delights and relaxation. The drive through the gardens? Well, just so beautiful and everyone had the same idea in mind to stop at the garden shop but when no close by parking was available, I continued on toward Antler Hill Village. Made a quick detour when the sheep and lambs were close by the fence in their regular spring pasture. Yes, just what I needed, more sheep pics but it was fun to watch the lambs play, the moms intervene and the soft bleating of moms and babies. There was a black and white sheep in the mix. I have never seen one in that pasture and when finally exiting the estate, I drove by once again and thought I saw a black sheep at the top of the hill. In hindsight, I think it was a tree stump by looking at the picture I took. I wandered around Antler Hill Village till 4:30 to eat at The Bistro. For a long time The Bistro has not been my favorite dinning experience at the Biltmore, but they grill a mean steak, so I go there when the hankering for steak is calling. Outside seating was comfortable, no flies or anything. Good people watching and one group in particular was interesting. It seemed as if their conversations were had for those around them. They talked loud, bragged about things but to look at them, they didn't fit the stereotype of their conversations. It seemed to me, my amateur opinion, said they were working the Bistro for a free meal. Nothing was right or at least to them. They complained about the rosemary focaccia bread, which at my table was delicious. Then they complained about the temperature of their soup and had it sent back. Then the steaks arrived...overcooked...for them. Lots of fussing going on, more protest than seemed necessary. I didn't stick around for the end result. The winery had rosemary cheese straws and the regular cheese straws are so good and I love rosemary, so it should be a winning combination. I decided to take the long and scenic drive home and it was worth the time and extra miles. 

I returned home to famished cats waiting for my return so supper could be served. HP ran straight to the back porch door, so I let her in and then went about my return to normal life by bringing the trash cans up to the house and feeding the cats. Buddy was just as annoyed and happy to see me. Treated her and she was fine to return upstairs to her napping spot. Talked with Roy and our conversation was mainly about the house in Katy and then all that relaxation and peace seemed to ebb away with a few feelings of being overwhelmed hit me straight on. So much to think about, decisions and what will need to be done. 

Another overwhelming moment from reading, some weeds around here take seven to eight years to totally eradicate from flowerbeds in NC. I think the fast growth of weeds and all the flying gnats, flies and stink bugs are the price we pay to live in such scenic and majestic beauty. I have just come inside after planting two snowball bushes to contribute to the beauty in the backyard. Have a few more things that are safe to plant now, but will wait till the late afternoon to resume the work outdoors. Mike the Mower Man is here and I do not want to impede mowing and weed eating. Besides, it has warmed up and with the additional heat come the anticipated slow down that comes with work outdoors. 

Roy is doing his best to understand weather around these parts but he wants to use Texas reasoning for it and believe me, it doesn't work. The weather trends here are so different from there. We were talking about the apple crop and that growers in Hendersonville are concerned they have lost 80-90% of their fall crop due to the latest cold weather. I won't bore you with the conversation but it is amusing to hear his justifications for weather related news that just doesn't apply here. 

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Ah Wednesday, I've been looking forward to you for about three weeks. So far this morning I have studied for the Sunday School lesson this Sunday and talked real estate with Roy. Last night Ryan got the comps to us and in the group of homes he looked at, one is our floor plan, almost exactly the same except we did hardwoods throughout with the exception of tile in the bathroom and carpet in the guest bedrooms. That house has an option pending and the asking price is about where I thought we could be. I had worked out in the yard all day and Roy had a "day" at the office, so neither of us were fully, mentally there to discuss with Ryan. Roy asked if we could move the discussion to tonight. He has a big meeting this afternoon and will be in a better mindset tonight. It just so happened that I talked with my brother last night, who used to be in real estate, and he gave me some good ideas. He is in the midst of going through old pictures and found school class pics from elementary school of both of our parents. We were searching and looking for our parents as children. Easier for my mom and I only remember seeing one childhood pic of my father. 

So in this real estate discussion is the looming issue of going back to Houston to help with the process. Buddy looms large in this decision and if worse comes to worse, we will take her and bring her back. This puts plans in limbo and while I am thrilled for this to happen, I am also overwhelmed by it. Roy can talk about this stuff early in the morning...me not so much. 

Into Earnest Things of the Day

 All is calm, all is bright. Not quoting Silent Night but once the Feral Fam and Buddy have been treated, things calm down expedientialy. With warmer temps I am not too quick about feeding the kitties early cause they don't need the calories to keep warm, now it is just calories to keep up mischief. 

Yesterday morning as I was wrapping up the morning routine before going to church, HP and Buddy got in a hissing and sparing fight through the screen. Trying to get Buddy away from the screen, I bumped my forehead on the edge of the fireplace mantel. Ouchy! I resorted to the early advice and sports medicine from a softball coach, walk it off and rub the sore spot. Took some Tylenol and left for church. I felt a kilter off, mainly from the aggravation of bumping the old noggin. I also think that's why I felt like I struggled with teaching yesterday. This chapter in John 5 had such a new view for me and sometimes while preparing a lesson, some stuff that God brings to mind might just be for the teacher and not to share. But the same treasure in this is, God's Word is active and alive and sharper than a two edged sword. I love this! Especially when one, I would say suffer, but I don't feel like it is suffering now, from ADD. Keeps things fresh and new. Back when you had to make good grades, it wasn't such a delight. Or maybe in my case make average grades...yes, that's it! Thanks for staying tuned in this rambling paragraph. 

An afternoon of rain on Saturday, we were rewarded with some of the most beautiful skies as the rain moved on. I was sitting here in the bonus room and I noticed the sky with such a golden glow and that can mean there is a rainbow to be found. I went out front and caught the last little bit of the rainbow but what seemed more intriguing, the purple haze, fog and sky. Light purple backlights to the spring landscape abounding in color. The cows across the pasture almost looked magical in the haze. 

 

Even after living here for six years, I don't take for granted the immense beauty we live in. Where azaleas can bloom for months, not just two weeks. Granted we pay the "time" price because for flowers like zinnias and snap dragons, it is best to wait until after Mother's Day to plant. 

Once again I used an Andy Griffith show example in the lesson yesterday. This morning I read a post that asked, what do you dislike that everyone else likes? The person who said Barney Fife is getting hammered by other Mayberry aficionados. I don't dislike him but the writers of the show sure overused the same plot line with all of Andy's girlfriends and Barney jumping to the conclusion even after one date they were going to get married. Each season has several repeats of various plots, Aunt Bee has a boyfriend, Clara gets too involved and gossipy. Last year during the middle of the pandemic I did get a little aggravated over the fact that everyone enabled Barney's behavior but I think I came to my senses because it was just an early 1960's show and they didn't know about enabling back then. 

Roy is still motivated over the Katy house and is just about over the drive from Katy to downtown. With more companies requiring people come into the office, the freeways aren't quite as open and free. He has started working out in the company workout facility before work. Looks like he is going to drop his membership at Villa Sports. Man, he waited for that to finally open, then Covid, and now it is open again and Roy isn't thrilled with others using the facility. He likes that six foot thing when he is on a treadmill. Letting that membership go is just another step on the journey of coming this way. When the house sells, he wants to move closer in but not all the way into downtown. 

A plethora of articles are hitting as people discover dressing up again after a year of living in comfort clothes. Of course last year people said that comfort clothes were forever...yes, yes they are but it is nice to clean up once in awhile, said by me whose motto last year and this year for spring and summer, visor hair, don't care. As I have started the transitional winter to summer clothes exchange, I realize that I have quite a few Flax outfits, not from overbuying, okay maybe a little of that, but more so that Flax linen lasts forever. I still have a Flax jacket from the late 80s that I still wear, still looks good and since Flax kind of sticks with the same design with different fabrics, timeless. I'm being careful not to put away everything winter cause we still have blackberry winter and maybe even dogwood winter since they are blooming now but could have been confused with red bud winter. Roy is still encouraging me to stay with the original hair color and not go back to highlights...don't know if that is more monetary related or he really likes the natural look. I like not spending hours in the salon. 

I have been easing into the morning to ease into the day. Now, I better get started in earnest on the other things of the day. 

Sun, Then Wind, and A Little Rain

 If the answer my friend is blowing in the wind, then the wind is blowing too hard and too fast for me to find the answer. I tried working in the yard but fighting against or running against the wind was way too difficult. When most of your energy is given to standing in the howling mess, then you gets tired real easy. Maybe I'll give it another shot this afternoon because it would be nice to get some things into the ground and let the rain do the watering. We shall see. A lot of the Feral Fam retreated to their corner of the garage. Any noise I made rattled Junioretta and Boodos but HP, Biggio and Baby didn't give it a second thought. Radley and Bobbsey must be out tom catting around. I did get a positive identification on Biggio and I think he is just a late bloomer by the looks of thing and right now that is just fine with me. We have not had a litter of kittens since last summer and I am not complaining. I do think there is a litter out there via Punky but we shall see what happens and if they show up in the yard. They would be about two weeks old according to my poor calculations of those kinds of things. She brings them around 3-4 weeks and one litter didn't bring them down until about six weeks but that was after the rescue of all her kittens but Boo. Of course she did not see it as a rescue. As for Boo, well, a little more social now than those early day

If spring was a color in the yard it would overwhelmingly be yellow. I'm not talking about pollen but it is yellow and it is making an appearance. Not counting green grass and soon to be green leaves, yellow is the theme. Today the yellow flowers are being joined by a flock of gold finches. I just looked it up, a charm of gold finches...I mean there has to be twenty to twenty five gold finches in the front yard. The males have turned that bright yellow and they are flying from bird feeder to bird feeder in all their gold glory. Maybe they are here to help this lone Baylor Bear fan here in the mountains. I was in Marshall yesterday, proudly wearing a Baylor t-shirt when three women stopped me, to tell me they loved Baylor and had watched the MBB game, championship the other night. Girls trip from TX and LA. So it was a bear and tiger fan club right there in the middle of Marshall. 

The promised rain showers were nothing more than a sprinkle, so I will have to get out and water. With gusty winds, that made it nearly impossible so looks like watering will be a Friday thing. That will change my plans. I had considered going to Haywood County, do some Hazelwood area shopping, eat a late lunch of prime rib at Blue Rooster and then stopping by Duckett's produce on the way home. If I do that, I will not want to water plants. So, looks like a quick grocery store run or maybe even a revisit to Reems Creek. Maybe they have snowball bushes and those can go in the side yard beside the hemlock tree. 

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It's Friday! Well, truthfully, everyday this week has been Friday cause nothing on the schedule, so to speak. This morning at treat time with the Feral Fam, I realized that HP working her way through the kitty crowd looks like a VIP getting in the stage door at a club. Club reference, well back stage door reference is merely from what I've seen in movies or on TV. She makes her way through every time. HP has started gardening with me once again. That made that blustery day more enjoyable. Mama Cat came by the other day. Haven't seen her in about a week. She wanted to eat but Punky was there and those two seem to be mortal enemies. Mama Cat hid near a box and when I got up from the chair and went to the refrigerator for another cold drink, Punky skedaddled and Mama Cat crept up to the bowls. I sat there ensuring her a peaceful eating experience. I had other stuff to do but it seems Mama Cat and I have come to an understanding. She doesn't hiss at me too much anymore and as much as the most aged feral of the bunch, has come to understand I am here for them, not to harass or make life tough. My goodness I have cut their hunting time down, thus better survival for them and the birds.  Boodos wanted to bring a dead mole to me the other day, but I respectfully declined. With the days being warmer I am a little slower about getting them fed. They don't seem to mind too much, well except for Junioretta. She is a little bit on the whiny side. 

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This morning before the rain began and before shoppers arrived in Marshall, I went to Bowmans Hardware to pick up the rocking chair. Kathy and I got it into the back of the truck. My plan of being in Marshall between 9:00-9:30 worked almost perfectly but I hadn't taken into the equation that a moving truck would be parked near the store thus taking prime real estate to load. It wasn't too bad though and on top of getting the chair, I found my brother's BD gift, PVC pipe! No, not really. Got the chair home and unloaded, then it began to rain just a bit. Since I had gotten up early, ate some yogurt and hit the road, I came home and fixed some coffee and a couple of slices of toast. Mmmmmm.....good. 

Ryan met Roy yesterday at our house in Katy. He is going to work on the comps and get back to Roy. One thing he said to Roy, and he said many good things, that Roy needed to clean up the clutter. For once it is Roy clutter and not Nancy clutter. I cleaned out things in November and December of 2019. We are both clutter and pile  prone , but I am the only one, until today, that has admitted to having that tendency.  We had a small crack in the laundry room window, so Roy had that fixed this morning and he was decluttering. He admitted when we had the house on the market before, he wasn't motivated but this year and at this time, he is very motivated. He is off to Lowe's to replace some of the border around the roses in the back. 

Well, I better wrap up, finish writing out the lesson for tomorrow and change out winter clothes to spring and summer clothes. 

For This I Am Thankful

 It is always good to be grateful. It is always good to be thankful. It is always good to be joyful. Yes, today I am these things for a myriad of reasons but in no particular order, this morning on this gorgeous day in the mountains, here are a few. 

I was finishing up outside in the early evening last night. Struggled with the old hose reel and making the decision to cut the hose because the couplings were unusable to hook another hose to it. The the carrier itself became a problem. So, I hooked up the new hose to the faucet, but not using the reel to get these newly planted flowers and blackberries watered. I had returned to Leicester Supply and bought another one of their hoses. I'm telling you, we have bought a lot of hoses for the yard, but these hold tight to the faucet, with no leaks. On Saturday's work session, I had planted four border plants with the tulips and daffodils and although I had watered them, it wasn't a great job, because of the old defective hoses. So, to water I went and looked across the road, saw some cows and thought, oh, the cows look happy tonight. What! Cows! I let out a good yell of happiness. Truly, the fence around the property was for cows. I took a pic and sent it to Roy and also since so many knew of my disappointment of seeing barns being torn down and the thought of houses being built, I shared the picture on FB. My friend here, Jennifer knew the skinny and shared basically, it came down to a tax break on farm land. And Nancy knew that ten acres of the property were for sale on the other side of the barn, where the trees are. Hopefully, not too many more trees are bulldozed down, but I have never been more thankful for higher taxes being broken by the lands use of farming. So, I will have to call Jeff the fence guy and tell him, the good news and bad news. No need for a fence right now. I'm thankful for that late night prayer time with the Lord and the all too mountain fact of not moving too fast on things. For this we give thanks.

Last night I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the Baylor vs Gonzaga MBB play for the national championship. Being on the Eastern Time Zone sometimes certainly can play havoc with ones sleep. The game didn't start until after nine and I had decided if it was too close or Baylor was loosing, off to bed I would go at halftime. I stayed up for the whole dang game! So fun and exciting yet...there is that yet of failure because if you are a long time Baylor fan...there are those times of disappointment and sometimes we longed for disappointment because that was better than failure. Heartache and sorrows, we've known them. Not last night. Baylor dominated! For this I am thankful and for this we give thanks. 

Mike the mower man is here this morning and he is weedeating. Oh my, my poor attempts were pitiful. I mean he got in there with the tulips and trimmed back that clover. He got all the backyard done as well and for this, we are thankful.

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This morning at treat time, I thought HP was looking at me but it was Bobbsey. He has been gone for over a week and I didn't notice too much of a limp. Truthfully, I thought he was dead. While talking to a friend this past week, I made a flippant comment of well, one less cat to take care of, but that comment was just to hide how sad I was. He is the sweetest cat. He got a little spooked by Roy's presence. This morning he even let me pet him for a bit. For this I am thankful. 

HP has been running to greet me these days and has just started purring again when she is petted. For this I am thankful. 

The hose we bought at Leicester Supply? It was cheaper there than on Amazon...for this we are thankful. 

Thankful for the warm weather and Mustang Sam. Nothing like driving through the countryside and taking in the fragrances of spring. Every few miles or so the fragrance of fall, cut hay, would drift on air. I drove over to Marshall to see if any new pottery had hit and they are waiting on a delivery. Because I am on the quest to find metal washers in assorted sizes in a little pack, I went down to the hardware store. I love that place. Well, no little packages of washers but I did buy a Madison County made Adirondack rocking chair. Since I was in Mustang Sam, I will go back and pick it up in the truck. 

This Sunday in Sunday School, we are in John 5. It is one of my favorite stories in the NT but it is turning me every which way but loose. Seeing so much more this time around and for this, I am thankful. 

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom!

 

Today April 5th, would be my mom's 92nd birthday. I miss her and think about her almost everyday. My brother sent me this picture yesterday and I keep looking at it because instead of just looking at the picture as just mom, I see how beautiful she was. I also now see why even when I was six feet tall and weighed a 120 pounds, that she thought my legs were fat. Looking at this picture, I see where she got that idea because her legs were so skinny. My legs were more muscular than shapely. This picture was taken when I was in junior high school. I had long straight hair in high school but short for most of my younger life. Beginning in the 7th grade I grew an inch a year until my senior year when I reached the height of 5'12".

My mom was so funny and whimsical. She could pull a joke without being mean. Give her some fabric and odds and ends of bric a brack along with some buttons and she made some of the most fun stuff animals or hearts with faces. When my father was cleaning out her things after she passed away, he asked me what I wanted. I chose a little stuffed cat she had made. Funny thing, HP was drawn to that little stuffed cat during her recovery. 

My mom was an avid gardener. She could just look at a twig or a piece off a broken plant and soon those broken twigs and pieces turned into beautiful plants. My brother has the gift too and I am coming late into our legacy. Truthfully, having a southern exposure helps. So, today to celebrate her birthday, I planted three blackberry plants and worked on getting the camellias better covered with cow manure and potting soil. Pulled a few weeds and watered plants.  Think she would be proud and probably a bit surprised. 

Planes, Fences and Easter

 Happy for the sunshine and no wind today. It is still cold but with the day beginning to warm up, hopefully we will get everything done today that we need to take care of. All the Feral Fam has been fed, Buddy treated and Roy fixed another one of his delicious breakfasts for us. We are discussing our next steps in the process or Operation NC as I have been calling it. We made a phone call to a friend, no we are not on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and Roy is meeting with him next Friday. An exciting beginning to a journey full of hard work in the near future. We both like a good biblical type funny, I told Roy the other day I have been here preparing a place for him...I have to cause my stuff has taken over with the exception of a closet and a dresser but not a closet dresser. 😊 We did manage on a rainy day to clean out his closet, got his flannel shirts put away for next season and got his spring/summer shirts ready for use. I'll be making a trip to Goodwill in the coming weeks to get clothes to them. I will say this, we both love us some flannel shirts. 

Three lots on the other side of the barn across the road have realtor signs. We had a fence man come out yesterday to give us an estimate on a decorative fence for part of the front yard. He said he thought where the pasture is low, would be like a flood plain. He was really nice and kind of humorous when he said to me, you know this fence isn't tall enough to block a view. I told him, I know but really, that's not what I am going for, more so for our eyes to be drawn to inside the fence and then way over the fence for long range views of the mountains. 

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Yesterday, Roy and I hit the outdoors and almost stayed out until dark. We worked so hard around the house. He put together the raised flowerbed. We planted a few things and I got out the weedeater and did some trimming. A lot of trimming. We worked on the hose reels and came to the conclusion that we need new hose for the old reel and we need to replace the workhorse hose that has been utilized since 2015. `We moved potting soil and compost, we worked so hard and only took a break for lunch. By the time we finished the Baylor vs U of H game was in the second half and it was a game I enjoyed since I root for Baylor and Roy was for U of H. I watch the first half of the UCLA vs Gonzaga game but totally could not stay awake for the second half. I missed a good game for sure, but sleep felt good, except for the leg cramps that kept me awake most of the night. Working on inclines will do that. Roy said yesterday, I don't think we have any level ground. We do but it is at a slant. 

We talked to our neighbor Josh yesterday about what we would like to do with a fence. Clearly, we are staying on our property but his father is a surveyor and will come mark out the boundaries. Josh said his dad did all the surveying for the property across the street and there is a chance that the land closest to us will only have one or two houses. The man who owns the land is thinking of that being where he will build. His family owned so much property and he currently lives in a house that was his grandparents. He had this beautiful home built at the top of his development, but he didn't live there very long. Sold the place. While working out a leg cramp last night I got to thinking about the fence and the reason why we would have that built. If it is only going to be one or two houses, there isn't a reason to spend all that money and kind of ruin the view. Josh was going to get more info from his dad. He also said, he was surprised the barns remained....and he has put up fencing more for cattle, so holding a good thought. I'll call the fence man and tell him we are putting a pause on that project. We had kind of put it on the back burner anyway and only revisited when we talked to the Lowe's person who schedules contractors, etc... We are getting a new screen door with a pet door in it for Buddy so she can go out on the front porch without me having to leave the screen door open for her. 

It was kind of strange not being in church on Easter Sunday. Not like last year strange, but odd due to Roy's flight schedule and flying out on Easter Sunday. On the way back, I stopped at The Fresh Market for tuna salad, love theirs, and Mustang Sam was almost on empty. That is not a usual cause I am a gets a little past half of a tank, let's fill it up kind of gal. There was a day that Easter Sunday morning would be rather still. Nothing open, people not playing golf or getting tuna salad at The Fresh Market. Some of the smaller churches here had a smattering of cars. I guess it is easier to celebrate Christmas than Easter but Easter is resurrection and hope! Last year I played Easter music, more specifically Easter organ music to feel the majestic notes that Easter music announces. Our hearts fill with that victory and hope that only come from Jesus but organ music proclaims that in those lofty notes. Of course I am a Boomer and we probably have a stronger feeling toward the organ in church. I do miss an organ from time to time. 

Yesterday as well, I watched Mahalia on Lifetime TV. Wow! What a powerful story and life. When the 1959 version of Imitation of Life is on TCM, I wait for the end where Mahalia sings Soon I Will Be Done. Just had to You Tube it now. Powerful!

April No Fool Day and The Friday After

 Happy April Fools Day! But if you read Monablog, you are no fool. This is happy six year anniversary that the moving truck arrived and we began in earnest moving things and our lives to North Carolina. One of the best decisions we ever made on so many different levels. Only one bench got broken in the move which is pretty good. We have talked so much this week about what we have left in Katy and the timing of putting the house up for sale. No doubt, the day is coming at a quick and fast pace, which is wonderful! Now that I am of a more slow pace, I hope I can deal with the timing and everything. When I was there in 2019, I got a good clean out going of our bedroom and the guest bedroom Now, I have the casita bedroom left to go through. I've asked Roy not to throw things out from there because so many letters and keepsakes from my mom are stored in the closet of that room. This is also the four year anniversary of my father's death. It came to me this year that April 1st is my freedom day. Left the heat of Houston and my father, a source of havoc, chaos, confusion, lying, manipulation, and mean spiritedness, left this earth and we hope he went to heaven. I know his friend Thelma was so concerned about this the last few years of his life that she kept this in front of him almost every time she saw or talked to him. Over the years he had several "salvation" experiences, but you just don't know....but we hope. 

This week as we have been out and about and home at work, Roy and I have some of the best conversations. Subject matter is all over the place, probably due to my short attention span. Long ago I came to the conclusion I didn't want to be wild, just a tad rebellious. This week the conclusion has been, I don't want adventure, but fun. Adventures was the topic on our road trip Monday. Although, thinking about it this morning, moving to NC was an adventure that turned out to be quite fun. 

Sadly, I believe that Baileys Irish Cream Creamer has been discontinued. Glad I bought up several when it was on sale. The Fresh Market has an Irish Crème Brulee' coffee, which come to think of it is seasonal. So, I better buy up a few packages. That is what I have been drinking this week and it is so good! Double good with the creamer though. 

HP has been coming in on the back porch often. Think she is catching up on her sleep and the other Feral Fam members hang out in the garage during the rain and cold. This morning, Frankie greeted me from underneath the car with a healthy hiss. I don't care for him but when it is cold I don't mind feeding him. I have to feed him first so that the other cats can eat. He is getting a little too close for my comfort as he keeps nearing the dish I keep by my feet for HP and Punky and sometimes Radley. Frankie is just mean, he out means Punky. He lit into her this morning and I was prepared to help her if the need arose. Just yelling at him this morning sent him retreating to underneath the car, but I don't know that this will continue to work. Sadly, I have a feeling that Frankie might have contributed to Bobbsey's disappearance. Frankie is the most muscular cat I have ever seen. I think he lifts weights. I hadn't seen him in several days and I was so happy with his absence. 

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Well, I had good intentions of finishing this post last night. Oh well, Happy April 2nd! Roy went with a friend to Mars Hill yesterday morning. He saw snow flurries there. Mars Hill is about 30 minutes north of us, depending on how you go...so it could be 20 minutes. After he got home I told him about the sale at TSC and we need a new hose reel cart for the side of the house. They also had a great deal on a above ground wooden planter that we could put on the front deck. So we ordered for curbside delivery. While we waited on the confirmation email I saw on FB that Ducketts had coconut cake. Then the email came though so we went for the cake about thirty minutes away and then drove back to Weaverville for the pickup. The cake was a smaller type size cause there is no need for a huge cake. 

We have been out in the yard planting the rest of the forsythia. Ran over to Leicester Supply for another shovel and some potting soil. Got the truck unloaded and got the Feral Fam fed. Roy fixed dinner and it was delicious. He is watching TV and I am finishing this post.