O Glorious Days

 Oh glorious day! I learned of a farm produce stand mere minutes away from the house. Open seven days a week and maybe next year I will do a CSA with their farm. For those who might think that stands for something else, it means paying for a share, that helps with the funding of their farm and reaping the benefits of the hard farming work of veggies, flowers and fruit during the summer months. Since Roy should be here full time, we will put all that bountiful flavor to good use. Of course it is like any risk, some years great return, some years you only get beets. Some like beets, not this child. 

Yesterday was an early to rise day thus making it an early to bed night. My friends attending a conference at Ridgecrest had an early morning flight. So up at 4:00 am to get ready and feed the Feral Fam. Those that were awake and in the garage. Left for the "crest" around 5:00 am because the fog was like Foggy McFog yesterday morning. In these past few years, I have driven in some bad fog, but this was the worst ever. At least I was driving in a valley and not on the Blue Ridge Parkway or over a mountain. Vision was limited and had the thought of deer crossing the roads that took up every bit of attention I could muster. Sometimes, I knew where I was and other times...nothing looked familiar. Well, that was due to fog covering everything in existence. The fog was not so intense on the freeway but there were pockets that slowed us all down. Picked friends up and we made our way to the airport. Thankfully, the fog was not bad at all but one should always prepare for that here. Breakfast seemed in order and not missing the turn this time, I made it to Cracker Barrel only to see that they open at 8:00 am, not the usual 6:30. Off to Another Broken Egg, to enjoy the waffle breakfast. Once I began the drive back fog had lifted except for our area. Turned on Fletcher Martin, and engulfed with fog. 

War has been declared on Japanese Beetles! The traps arrived the other day and Neem oil has been used on roses, blackberries, ornamental cherry trees and such. All these beetles do is eat and have sex. The trap lures the female with food fragrance and male with sex fragrance...it's a win win trapping situation. 

This morning bears witness that cats do have a sense of humor, not playing around but a true sense. Breakfast was almost a full house this morning. Heard some growls and saw some swatting. These cats don't play when it comes to meal time, except today I witnessed something I've never seen. The more dominant and aggressive cats take over eating at the bowls with the younger ones and Boodos regulated to y'all get to eat the leftovers. Boodos climbed up on some storage containers to watch the frenzy of black and white fur with some orange fur thrown in. Boodos looked around and then made the growling noise associated with King Herod. Guess Herod needs trumpet like sounds to announce his arrival. The cats scattered and I have to admit I made my way quickly to the backdoor. With the bowls cleared and with food still left in them, Boodos calmly made his way down to the bowls for his quiet breakfast. He looked at me and did the half eye closed look. Seemed like he was saying, look huuuumannnn what I did.  

We have been discussing a new dishwasher for several weeks. This morning Roy went to Lowe's in Houston to hear what they had to recommend and I was going to Lowe's here to get a fan for our classroom and some more Japanese Beetle traps, not for our classroom but for the roses. Roy and I picked the same dishwasher and then when we talked learned this fact. Thankfully, it is one they have in stock, so bought it and will have it installed next month. I love the third rack thingy. 

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Beginning on Sunday, it will be time to count the morning fogs for our snowfall prediction. It is not scientific but it is fun to keep count. The kiddos got a late breakfast this morning. Buddy once again is napping after we had our quiet time together. She's a non participant for the most part, unless she was in deep prayer with eyes closed but somehow I highly doubt this. 

Sunday was a fine day. Pastor is wrapping up our study on Mark and the new series will be Ephesians. We had our fellowship and prayer Sunday in class. Choir rehearsal last night was productive and fun. Sometime soon Debbie, new choir director, is offering a learn to read music class. I am going to take it. Know it will not help my singing but it will stretch me for sure, making my brain work in an area that seems very challenging. 

Last Friday upon returning home after breakfast, I decided to go to Burnsville. I also made a short trip to Johnson City. I just needed to get away. July has been a difficult month in so many ways and I felt like hitting the road. Driving around the countryside always helps me mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I found cute things at Vintage Lamp Post and had a delightful visit with the young freshman girl getting ready to head to App State in August. Really, it has been a week of delightful conversations. The checker at Ingles in Mars Hill and I talked about heart issues and we both gave each other some needful information. Her name is Ann and I will be looking for her upon any return trip. The Barnes and Noble in Johnson City have good stuff on the last chance sale table. Went to Hobby Lobby looking for a particular paper but didn't find what I was looking for. I didn't feel like going to Kroger or Troyer's so I just came on home. The drive and the time and even my singing in the car did a world of good and refreshed my soul. 

On Saturday, Roy sent an email from his Dr to me. Shocked the bejabbers out of me. Long story short, after discovering some health issues last July, Roy the overachiever changed doctors and began a year long process of getting back into a healthier range with his bloodwork. He is off most of the medications that were prescribed last summer but in this process, Roy lost a tremendous amount of weight. When I saw him for the first time after all his weight loss, I was shocked and thought he looks like he has cancer. He was struggling to get his weight back to around 170-175. He believed his weight loss was from one of the meds he was taking. To rule out anything else, the doctor had several tests prescribed for him. One was a stress test and what was so funny, he was on the treadmill longer than any other person in his age range and wasn't nearly tired. The nurse stopped the test saying, clearly his heart was not an issue. Bloodwork, which brings me back to the first sentence. The doctor writes, no markers were found in his blood for pancreatic cancer. What???!!!!  I called Roy and asked why he didn't tell me they were testing for this and he replied, he didn't know they were testing for this. He has gained weight and in his prescribed weight range. He still eats a lot to keep that happening but not like before. We are both so pleased that what was looking so dreadful last July hasn't been the case. We praise God for this news!

Encounters

 The fog is slowly burning off, the kiddos are fed, Buddy has been treated and now napping, and I have my coffee and easing into the morning. I think there was a full house for breakfast including Radley. His presence keeps King Herod at bay, so that cat is certainly appreciated. His months long absence gives me hope for HP but my mind tells me differently.  A couple of days ago, I pretty much thought Junioretta's kittens might not have made it. No little meowing sounds and she seemed a little more footloose and fancy free of her motherly duties. I encountered the truth of, very much alive and the two look so cute. I was able to get a quick glance, while Junioretta was being footloose. 

In the late afternoon I made a TJ Market trip for some peaches. They had apples as apple season is nearly upon us. Apple or apple cider donuts season...it's all good. I encountered Wolf River apples, a variety I've never heard of, so a couple of those were purchased. Just Googled It Up and it is an old time apple variety, mostly used for cooking but these two small apples purchased probably won't be made into anything other than a snack. 

Roy has had some interesting encounters with some of the older ladies at his condos recently. He calls them the hot smoking women because they are outside smoking in the hot temps of Houston. They are keeping him informed on things he needs to purchase to make life easier. They suggested to him last week after watching him make three trips from his car to his condo that he needed to get a cart to cut down on the wear and tear of multiple trips. We had one of those carts long ago when we lived at Post Oak Lane but it had long been sold in a garage sale. They are a little more costly than back in the day. The hot smoking women gave him this tip, get something with a more solid platform than just wire on the bottom. His cart from Amazon came yesterday and he needs to assemble it. Another tidbit of advice they have shared is about the grills one can use. Don't follow the instructions because they are wrong. They told him what kind of lighter to buy and how to use the grill. He has been making chicken and beef kabobs on Saturdays on the grill. Their expert instruction has taken a lot of wasted time out of the process. This is opposite of his encounters with some of the women at Post Oak Lane Condominiums. Our dog Tiff kept most of them at a distance but there was a lady on our floor who seemed to be making plans of removing me and replacing my presence with hers. After my encounter with the virus that attacked my heart and being on the road to recovery, the lady approached me as I sat by the pool relaxing one hot fall day. She asked if it was true, that I had nearly died and that the prognosis at that time wasn't too good for making it. Yes, I confirmed it was true, it was a near death experience but I believed I would live beyond the expectations of a life span given to me. She said, well in case it doesn't turn out that way for you, could you put in a good word with Roy about me before you die? Oh yes, that will be high on the list of last instructions. Gee whiz! When our home sold in May, Roy began looking for a condo and considered Post Oak Lane again. Ironically, that woman's condo was on the market but we weren't looking to buy. So either she found someone or she passed away or could have just moved. Guess I can take that off my list of things to do, ha!

Yesterday, I had two encounters of the Baylor kind because of wearing a Baylor tshirt. At Barnes and Noble I heard someone say, sic em bears! An employee followed Baylor basketball throughout March Madness and then as champions. A little later at the grocery store while entering to get a basket a gentleman said, I love Baylor University! He began telling me what a good education one could get there and how beautiful the campus is. Then at the end of his story he sheepishly said, well, I guess you know that already. Wow, that makes four encounters over the six years but two in one day...wow! 

Roy and I are looking into buying a new dishwasher. Ours still works but you can feel that it is making that final turn to its last days. We are both researching what we need and what will work. I am looking for shorter cycles. The one we have now is the longest running dishwasher that I can ever remember. Also looking for the quiet cycles as well. Of course I need to go measure the thing and that is what Roy would have done first. 

It feels like since the beginning days of discussing, then deciding to sell our Katy home to this week I have just had a feeling of being overwhelmed, overwrought and overthinking. Emotionally everything has felt topsey turvey. Not sad about selling the house or thinking that the last time I was there in 2019 was, the last time to be there. There is a happiness that is the result of selling the house, that frees Roy up in so many ways. I think selling the house is more of a marker to define these feelings. Partly, maybe, it is being able to come out of the restrictions of the pandemic only to think we might be heading that way again. Each spring and summer I look forward to the book recommendations for released or yet to be released novels. There hasn't been one list that I have purchased a book via the recommendation. It has been a sad experience. Unlike any summer book reading list ever. Has that stopped me from buying other books? No. Then this morning, while studying for our lesson next week, I read this...He restores my soul, from Psalm 23. Gave me a bit of an emotional adjustment...it does more than that because it is the Word of God, that doesn't return void, but calm overtook the overwhelmed, overwrought and overthinking this afternoon. Encountered the Good Shepherd, He restores my soul, I know His voice. 

Ding Ding Ding!

 After several attempts of writing about the whole HP thing, I just can't do it, yet. I write a paragraph or so and then have to stop with my emotions bubbling to the surface. So until that day, I have hope but reality says, she will not be back. For the first time in quite a while, the desire to write has ebbed. It will return but right now to sit here and type out anything is an exercise and not a joyful habit. 

I think that this feels like such a season of loss with a bit of change thrown in. Of course there is the obvious loss of HP but I feel a loss in another area of life that I can't quite write about now. Pondering and praying as I make my way through this. Part of the change being experienced is a happy one though. Roy is putting pen to paper on retiring. We have several scenarios to choose from or not as likely but still a reality that the scenario is directed by others. So soon, that countdown will begin and I for one, even with a loss of a paycheck change, is ready for this to happen. 

Had a nice break in the routine yesterday. My friends Eulalia and Phyllis are in town for a conference at Ridgecrest. They had quite the tiring journey, or maybe that is a lack of the start to the journey, when air traffic controllers kept the flight from taking off for an hour because of crowded air traffic conditions. The flight finally made it to Asheville. While I was at the curb waiting for them, an unusual situation developed. Since I was in the truck and that thing is not the easiest to maneuver, I pulled as close as possible to a pedestrian crossing for pull out room. A little car eased into a nothing space in front of me. The lady sat there for a minute, then proceeded to get her luggage out of the back. She stopped on the passenger side of her vehicle, pulled out her purse and locked her car. She went into the terminal. The loud speakers announce every few minutes that any unoccupied car will be ticketed and towed. At that moment I kind of felt all Gomer Pyle in the Andy Griffith Show, and wanted to yell citizens arrest, citizens arrest cause, you know...I don't fly often but I do know they will tow that car off in a heartbeat. I'm looking for the policeman that had just walked by on patrol. The lady came out, with her luggage. She was on the phone and she made eye contact. She asked, have you ever left your car parked at the curb here? Nope, I would not, could not leave a car. No park away, park away in the lot over thar. She says I'm alone, no one at the counter, and I left my credit card at a restaurant and no one is answering the phone at the restaurant. Ding, Ding, Ding!!! We have a winner! She was a scam artist. I should have asked what restaurant, but I said either go get your card and reschedule a flight or leave your car here for the most expensive flight ever. I could feel she was looking at me but I was not going to meet her gaze...wasn't going to give her money...nothing. Cause she was scamming in the soon to be rain. About that time Phyllis and I made contact but the lady in front of me moved on. Looking for another victim, seeking whom she might devour, I mean deceive. In retrospect, she was a bit too calm over this. If this was me, I would be trying to get my thoughts together and make my next good decision knowing that leaving my car at the curb was not the decision to make. Now back to the original thought, of picking up friends. We stopped at The Moose Cafe. We all got veggie plates and those veggies were sooooo good! I asked about a long time server there at the Moose and was so saddened to hear she had passed away last year. Robin had worked at the Moose for twenty five years and she was only 45 years old. She was tough and if one made the mistake of acting like a tourist or entitled or a problem customer, the ride would not be an easy one for the rest of the meal but if she liked you, it was a very fun and memorable experience. She and Peggy had a conversation that was quite entertaining and funny. 

Got the kiddos fed earlier and I was happy to see Boodos. He had not been around much and was a no show for supper last night. There are certain cats that don't make a habit of missing a meal and he is one of those cats. It was assuring though to see Radley or was it Darth hanging around in the garage last night. He gets great service from me because when he is around, Herod is not on the scene. 

This is our prayer and fellowship Sunday so I am using the time to get ahead on our study of Martha and Mary. I am also taking time to get a few things done here around the house. Like these catch up days. 

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Catch Up

 We have had rain at some point in the last few days and I am so thankful not to have to go out and water plants. Dead heading roses, really need to get that done but I just haven't had the will to. Need to, cause the roses are so beautiful throughout the summer but as of this morning just dried out blooms. 

We kind of finished up with Sarah and Hagar yesterday in Sunday School. Just saw a t-shirt being advertised on FB. The names of several biblical women are on the front to give you encouragement or is it to encourage others? Cause really, you don't look at the t-shirt when you are wearing it. The first Bible woman named on the shirt, Sarah. It said be like; In waiting be like - Sarah. Wait. Okay, yes, but Sarah was kind of snarky and manipulative and down right mean in her waiting for a child. If I was wearing this t-shirt, I would add Hagar to the list. So it might be, Know God like-Hagar. Saturday night I had a WWI documentary on for background noise. At first, it had my interest but the sound effects overtook the words being read from diaries or letters from that particular time. The words, the interesting part, could be understood cause of the sound distraction. I feel that way about Hagar. We get so wrapped up in Abraham and Sarah, and we should, but if we aren't distracted, we can learn so much from Hagar. Only woman in the Bible promised multiple descendants and only person to give God a name. She found herself in a drama she didn't create, she did have that short lived issue with pride that contributed to the drama but she ran right into God in her runaway to the wilderness, by a spring on the road to Shur. 

Last night I decided to wear a pair of capris that I had ordered early in the year and at a smaller size. The smaller size was too big. Nice problem yet I love these capris. I had to wear a belt to keep them pulled up and not falling down to my ankles. 

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HP hasn't shown up and I don't know that she will. I do know that the right thing was to set her free from the back porch. She wasn't eating much and that lively look about her was fading. Her right legs were healing up but I know the last few days on the porch, she gave me signs she was ready to go. Tried one last time for she and Buddy, but no luck. I also know she feared King Herod and she wasn't going to stay around here to experience his wrath. Junior has come back and recovering nicely. While fixing food he meows so quietly to let me know he was under the car and that is where I took food to him. Yesterday, he was surprised by Herod and chased a bit. I try not to feed KH.  Even Mama Cat has withdrawn to the gravel road. Punky hasn't been around for a couple of days and that is unlike her although she is at the stage of ditching her last litter to be on their own. Biggio comes and goes as well as Baby. Baby has been around but haven't seen Biggio going on day two. I do think I saw HP on Saturday evening in the far reaches of Mary Joyce's yard, back among the shrubs and trees. She hung out a lot at the Mountain View Church by us, so maybe someone claimed her. Daily, it is finding the happy in the hard when it comes to HP. I miss her. I can hardly stand to garden because she was by my side on most days. I am not ruling anything out because these cats disappear and then show up, but I am also a realist and know she could have gotten in the woods and didn't pay attention to her surroundings. I cannot think about her much, although I do. If I give in to thoughts, even the good ones about her, I will break down. I am not ready to do that holding onto hope she will return. Meanwhile I am doing the most I can to persuade KH this might not be a good place for him and he needs to move on. He has been on the scene for a couple of years and wasn't a problem until recently. 

Mama Cat just went up on the list. Just saw her carry a little snake in her mouth up on the gravel road. Mama Cat you have earned extra food and treats for that little act of kindness. Now, if you could just do that to King Herod, I will set you up for life. 

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Decided in the middle of the night to change plans for today and postpone those plans until tomorrow. I ran a bunch of errands yesterday. One was to stop in at Reems Creek and use the bonus bloom bucks accumulated over the past several months. I got some more zinnias even though the thought of gardening right now makes me sad because of HP and her absence. But the love of a deal and of zinnias overtook the sadness and those plants will be planted today or tomorrow. Had a Big Lots coupon so I got some more post lights to put in the back. Earlier in the day I made an Ingles run. Out more than I had anticipated but took care of those pesky things that occur weekly, like you know, buying food. At Reems Creek, finally found some Neem oil. Everyone has been out because the Japanese beetles are all over, on almost every tree and flower. 

This morning as Buddy and I eased into the day and as I read for the lesson on Sunday, all the bunny trails came together in a plan for Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Now to get those things written down and prayed over. Roy asked the other night who I liked best in the story, besides Jesus, cause you know that would be the correct Sunday School answer as well as the truth. First I teased with Lazarus cause he doesn't seem to have to do anything around the house but truthfully, Martha has been a favorite since I can remember and that would include back in the day as a kid learning these lessons. 

Tomorrow marks one week since HP has been around. Punky showed up last night but not looking too good. Biggio is still MIA. Right now the joy is gone cause HP is gone. Just going through the motions in getting them taken care of but here is a happy in the hard; for the first time in six days Junior came into the garage and ate at his usual place instead of wanting to be fed while hiding underneath the car. 

Still Concentrating On Cat World

 After several days of quiet the backyard this morning contained all the joy and glee that kittens can bring to playing. While these cousins haven't quite accepted each other as of yet, in their own groups they chased, tackled, attacked with brief periods, no make that seconds of rest. A whole lot of black and white flashing through the rocks and flowers with only the occasional orange and white making brief appearances. Some of the plants are a little worse for wear, but this is not their first rodeo with several litters playing in the same spaces from days gone by, intense hide and seek at its finest and well, the plants, hopefully, will make a comeback in the fall. Junioretta has moved her litter by the steps to the backdoor. Carefully, not gazing intently, I act like it is no big deal coming and going through the door but everything within me wants to take a long look. There is additional room so the kittens are not as whiny as over by the tool chest and weedeater. Junior showed up this morning to greet the newly free HP and he has been hanging around. He was in the backyard when King Herod showed. Junior ran away...tough Junior and now King Herod rules the roost in Junior's head. Junior still has a limp and he has lost a lot of weight. He was eating treats when that no goodnic showed his face. Later, seeing Junior under the Mustang, I snuck him a bowl of food and he wolfed that down in no time. I stood guard cause Mama Cat had gotten a whiff of the salmon/shrimp combo. No sighting of HP but don't expect one anytime soon. If nothing happens to her she should be back. Biggio just showed back up so maybe she will come in the cool of the evening to eat. Buddy has taken over the back porch now that it has been vacated. We really hoped that Buddy and HP could abide together but the situation reminds me of Barney and Earnest T Bass. Barney tells Andy, let me take him out back and work him over, and Andy responds he'd kill you. Even with HP not at 100% the likelihood of Buddy getting hurt is about 95%. I would eternally feel horrible if for the sake of ease in caring for these cats that Buddy was fatally injured and the vet told me that was a huge reasonable inevitable occurrence. 

Been working on the Hagar lesson this afternoon and getting it written out. The sources I have been studying are full of interesting details and things that apply to our life. 

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The early part of the evening yesterday consisted of King Herod patrol. He was hanging out trying to get some food. If he is going to injure and maim and possibly kill the Feral Fam, I am not going to fuel his rage. For a brief second last night, I felt he might attack me. He was in the stealth position and creeping along, moving toward me. I had my big cane, long line leather work gloves and wasp spray to defend myself. I stood and his advances turned to retreat under the car. To keep him out of the garage where Boodos was hiding out and of course Junioretta's little fam is in the corner. Combined the food and took it to the back steps. Heard a rush coming from the top of the yard, around the fence and Darth was chasing King Herod. We all stood and cheered, well only I did, but if cats could or rather would do such a thing, they would have joined in. Poor Junior was hiding out in the decorative mailbox on the front porch for most of the evening. Still no sightings of HP but there is peace in my heart and spirit. I did the right thing. She was beginning to pace just like the lions and tigers at the zoo. Back and forth and circles. It was a sign she was ready to go back into her world. She still had a little weakness in her front right paw, but it seemed to be manageable. Mama Cat has vacated her staked out territory in the back for she and her kiddos due to King Herod. MC is one of the toughest and the oldest cat out there. She is mostly the aggressor against other cats, but in this bonding with one another over the fear of KH, she has been a little more friendly to the others. 

I do not like King Herod. He attacked Boodos and has Junior so afraid. Heard this faint meow, Junior under the car again, fed him and gave him water to drink. He was afraid of the fly buzzing around. None of the cats have been in the back today, because of KH. He tried to go after a kitten, but sprayed water on him. Didn't see HP so I hope she is hiding or maybe she found a home. She is so friendly, but if I find out that KH killed HP, I will be so upset. I don't think that but the thought crossed my mind as he tried to go for that kitten. 

Just before the dusk turned to dark, I think I saw HP across the way, deep into Mary Joyce's garden. Baby, who looks so much like HP, was on the driveway under the window. The peace of knowing I made the right decision to let HP be out and about is still with me and I know the right decision was made concerning her, although it was a decision but the hard of it was actually letting her go. 

Happy in the Hard, Cat Version

 Junioretta has brought her kitten(s) into the garage and I hope by her seeing that I noticed her, she will not move them or it. She has positioned herself in the tiniest of spaces. She was pregnant huge, so I wonder if something got to them under the porch or if she just had one or two. I am horrible at this, she probably has nine kiddos and just has them crammed into a little bity spot. This is the first cat to actually bring her litter inside instead of under the house or down the gravel road. Junioretta has never been a gravel road aficionado, so not surprised there. She has spent a lot of time in the recent weeks under the front porch. This I know about her kittens, she has one orange kitty. Boodos, is still hanging out in the back so that's a good sign that at least this morning and afternoon King Herod has been busy elsewhere. 

Walking on Water by Madeline L'Engle is just about one of my all time favorite books. I have marked my copy up in so many different colors that when I saw a copy in the bookstore several weeks ago, I purchased it with the thought of starting a new book or giving it away. Most probably it will be given away because I know in my markings and notations where certain quotes are. Think a quote or two will make it into this weeks lesson on Sunday. What an insight and profound way with words. She and Pat Conroy are two of my favorites, oh yes and late to the list Wilma Dykeman, an Asheville treasure and legacy. I have several books that I need to read, to learn and become better informed but I am having trouble not with the content but with the style of writing. Jan Karon and her Mitford series and anything written by Elizabeth Elliott, I have tried to read their books but their style and my brain do not mesh. So, this is not a new thing. I am hanging in there with these other books but it is a struggle. 

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Haircut appointment changed till 10:00 instead of 9:00 am. Still not as crowded as later in the day. I went to Target after that. It has been a while since going in a Target store. I got what I needed...and then some other stuff I didn't need. That's the Target way. Ran to Ingles and Publix, then came on home. I couldn't find HP on the porch. She wasn't on the daybed as usual. I began looking and saw her hiding under one of the chairs. Most probably from the weedeating Mike did. I got her out and sat with her awhile, even bringing lunch out to keep her company. As for her lunch, she ate a bit but not too much. I have felt like she is feeling ready to get back to life with her siblings and cousins. I took a slight nap out there and she laid out on my arm up against the pillows on her back. 

An afternoon highlight was a quick phone conversation with Lisa P. 

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This morning I made a "happy in my hard" decision. Last night, Baby came to the back porch and meowed and paced watching HP. HP paced, making circles of either the table or the daybed. I considered letting her out last night but each time I considered that, the neighbors on the road in the kind of trashed out house would set off one firecracker. They've been doing this since Monday and usually it is a total of four firecrackers set off at intermittent times. Makes me jump cause for one, it startles me and two, I think it is a gun shot. As the evening wore on, I sat in the living room keeping a watch until HP settled in on the daybed. I asked the Lord, kind of like Gideon, to confirm the feeling that HP was ready to be out with her Feral Fam, by having Biggio be around this morning. He has been absent for two days.  You know, he was front and center out in the back with Mama Cat, Junioretta, Punky and Boodos. Surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses, I went to the garage and put out a bowl of food where Biggio and HP usually start their meals, came back to the porch, hugged HP, told her I loved her, she is welcome back anytime but to go out and be happy with her Fam. I picked her up and carried her to the garage, where we were met by Biggio. He was one excited cat and she was a bit in shock. In fact, she sat there a bit looking at me like, really, for real? Yes. She came over to the now empty bowl and I filled it once again and she ate at bit. Did a brief meet and greet with the rest of the Fam. She went over to the corner by the garage door and introduced herself to two of Punky's kiddos and she went out under the door. The sound of meowing came from the driveway where she had just gone out. It wasn't her meow, so I checked and it was Junior who has been gone a week, greeting her. Him, with a definite limp but looks to be healing. They walked together and rubbed heads and moved around the stairs, so happy. HP looked at me and that meant a lot cause it is not an angry, you kept me holed up for a week look. I think she knows she needed help and this past week has been to get her back on stable legs. So far I have not gone out to look for her, cause I am sure she is out there making sure her places are still there. Happy, in my hard decision to let her go back to her life but I feel like she will come back in on the porch and not feel like she had been held captive, well yes, she was, but in luxury. Let's call it rehab. 

Junioretta has moved her kittens to another part of the garage. Hopefully, she chose more spacious accommodations.  Think this has given her a little bit of freedom, cause she needs a break. Little kittens are a whiny bunch. A noise in the garage got my attention a few moments ago. A broom and rake were knocked over. All the food is gone, so it must have been a full house this morning. 

Back to the Routine

 We left the house around 6:30 am. Fog being our companion until we got to the freeway. With sadness in my heart, I dropped Roy off at the airport and had plans of having breakfast at the Cracker Barrel close by. Missed the turn so onto Another Broken Egg. Made a quick stop at Ingles. The Feral Fam acted as if I had not fed them at 6:00 am, so I put out another few bowls of food. Checked on HP and then Buddy and sat down at 9:07. That was a lot of cram into those few hours. Happy to be home though, although it is quieter. 

Over the past few days we got so many things taken care of. Roy did yeoman's duty in everything he undertook. Sometimes things that need attention can feel so overwhelming. Friday morning we dropped off cardboard at the landfill and upon leaving Roy said, a trip to NC isn't complete until we make a landfill run. We went to Big Lots and Publix, then returned home. The man who installed our roof came around 4:00 to see about a leak that might have developed and he found the problem and fixed it. When he left we drove around a bit with the day being so beautiful and only in the high 70s. Saturday morning we went to Burnsville to see some photos Roy was interested in. We didn't come away with anything from that particular photographer, but we stumbled upon the Burnsville Farmers Market and he found what he was looking for there. It is a small market but they are trying to expand it. Burnsville was a happening place. After we got home we got to working in the yard. Roy cut branches back that are getting too close to the house and he cleaned the water filter. 

Seems this past year has held so much and one thing that has been startling strange is, the weird dreams I had. Think they call them pandemic dreams. Sunday morning, the last dream is memorable and I knew when I woke up I didn't want to forget it. In this dream I was interviewing a man, deep in Appalachia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I think I was a news reporter and the conversation centered around a field he was working in. Before he could even plant anything, he had to pull all this junk out of the field, old fence posts, metal discards, wire...and I asked the question, isn't it hard to have to do all that pulling out the junk and his response was, you have to find your happy in the hard. I woke up. Happy in the Hard. 

I can think of several situations going on in life right now where the desire to find the happy in the hard has become paramount. Cause, that seems to be the only way for me to progress. There are situations I am not understanding. Finding the happy in your hard is really the joy of the Lord is your strength. Last night dragging the hose across the yard to water plum trees was hard. The evening had not cooled off, I forgot to wear a headband or visor so sweat is pouring into my eyes. While pulling the hose, kinks had to be straightened and as always keeping an eye on walking with balance because there are little dips in the yard can throw one for a loop and definitely a fall. Growing frustrated with the whole process, I almost gave in to the hard to walk away and let the plum trees figure out how they were going to be watered. But, I needed to find my happy in the hard. So usually the first thought is, I couldn't have done this work five years ago. Happy to have good knees now. The work didn't need to be done at full speed, a leisurely pace accomplished the same goal. So the nozzle was set to soak once reaching the trees. Already so close to the road saving another trip, brought the trash cans up to the gate. Since both trees had been watered and Mike the Mower Man doesn't come till Wednesday, I was able to go around the house to turn off the water and today I will reverse the process moving back to the hose stand. 

Junioretta has had her kittens and July 3rd is their birthdate. I could hear them meowing in the straw behind the hydrangea. A few plants over that way need to be watered but didn't want to frighten Junioretta. First litter of kittens I have known where they are, man it was hard working in the yard last night but happy to hear their little meows. 

Boodos has been hanging out in the backyard, yesterday and this morning. He spends most of his time in the garage hidden on a shelf. Probably keeping a low profile because of King Herod. Hopefully, with him feeling more free to be outside, maybe, I sure hope that King Herod has moved on, at least for now. A respite from his presence sends a feeling of calm in the back. I am watching HP and she seems more ready to make a go of it on the outside again. Her front right leg isn't completely 100% so that worries me a bit. I'll really have to find happy in the hard when I let her outside. It seems she and Buddy aren't a possibility mainly on Buddy's part. 

After about 3-4 weeks, Dena and I got caught up on the phone yesterday. Yes, even life in rural America gets quite busy, just not with the same concerns as city life. Dena has had her hands full as well. 

This Sunday we will finally get to Hagar and her story. I find her much more interesting than Sarah but this time around, finding some nuances of Sarah has been encouraging. Sarah and Hagar are much more than flannelgraph characters from the Bible. 

I picked the first ripe blackberry from our blackberry bushes we planted this spring. They will not be yielding a huge harvest but oh that blackberry tasted so good. Wish there had been one when Roy was here. He inspected his apple trees and there will not be a bumper crop of apples this year. The ginger gold tree is leaning again, so we fixed that situation once again. 

Just The Normal Stuff

 Nothing to see here. Just a human with a hyper-extended knee from coming up the road too quickly pulling a trash bin. Too long of stride, dodging rain and the neighbor who comes up our road too fast and is usually distracted. So ouch! Buddy is trailing my every step to make sure I do not spend too much time with Hector Protector. At first I thought it might hinder me going to serve dinner at church, but then after a little rest, it was all good. 

I wrote this first paragraph on Tuesday and now here on a Friday is my first chance to sit and write. Of course I am busy with good things and that makes me especially happy. Because of scheduling conflicts, Roy flew into GSP in the Greenville area Wednesday morning. Oh the fun of I 26 and all the construction, but guess Roy is worth it. Even when they get the widening and bridge replacement done, I think it will not be enough infrastructure. Reminds me of 99 in Katy with the flyover being inadequate to handle the traffic from day one. His arrival by plane and mine by car were almost a perfect meshing. I only waited about ten minutes. They had landed but pulling into a gate took time. We immediately celebrated his arrival by having lunch at the Longhorn Steakhouse and then a fun trip to Costco. On the way home we stopped by Strawberry Hill. Last week for strawberries but we also got peaches, nectarines, cantaloupe, blackberries, corn and tomatoes. Yummy, yum yum. We got home and put up everything and made a quick, but late trip over to church. Roy wanted to visit with DC and I wanted to eat whatever leftovers they had since it had been taco Wednesday at VBS. There was just enough to make a taco a piece. 

On Thursday, we had a full schedule of things to take care of. We dropped the truck off at Jimmy's for oil change and maintenance. We were going to go out for breakfast but decided to come back here. HP is coming off of pain meds, so we wanted to make sure she was okay and not pacing too much. Roy made one of his delicious breakfasts. Then we were out the door to our insurance office to update a few things insurance wise. We met with Daniel, from State Farm. No khakis but he had on his Mississippi State bow tie in celebration of the Baseball Natty. Since NC State got rooked out of the deal, MSU was my next team to root for. We got all that taken care of and off to the T-Mobile store in the Waynesville area. They could not help us, we were going to have to go all the way over to Hendersonville Road to get a sims card. Sprint is now a part of T-Mobile. We have been with Sprint since the beginning and now, we do not feel any loyalty at all to this T-Mobile model.  First of all the stores feel old and not appealing. They don't have enough staff, which is understandable due to Covid, but one person working and the wait much longer than we had time to give. Yes, that sounds so first world entitlement problems, but it was more, we have so much to get done in a day. I have jumped ahead in the story though. After a no go help from T-Mobile we had lunch at the Blue Rooster. Time wise, I didn't even have coconut cake or take any to go. A quick stop at Duckett's for some greasy beans, then onto Champion Credit Union. Then we headed over to Hendersonville Road and I have already told the story and it was pouring rain. We stopped in at Jimmy's to see about the truck. Would be about 30 minutes, so I took Roy over to see Tessa's Shop Around the Corner in Weaverville. Okay, that was more for me than Roy. Then we went back to Jimmy's got the truck and headed home. We needed to go to the grocery store but I was done for the day. I went out to the back porch, sat with HP and I do believe I took a nap. 

Today, both Roy and I are happy for a slower paced day. The rain looks like it will be heading out of here by early afternoon. We have some boxes we need to breakdown and take over to the landfill. Yes, exciting times.

Last night while sitting on the back porch, the too common commotion of a cat being chased broke through the silence. Baby was up near the top of our neighbors fir tree with King Herod underneath it. Gee, it felt like it was a good time to water the bottom of the fence or maybe even through it. Herod moved on and Baby was able to get down. Herod hung around the garage trying to get some food, earlier and I had been on watch to keep him away. That is not for bullies! When all the chase noise happened, HP, moved closer to me and eventually on my lap. She slunk down almost knowing she didn't want to be spotted by KH. Roy, the enforcer, came out with the big water gun cause KH was moving closer to the porch. I checked on Biggio by camera cause he was asleep on the front porch. He slept till the rains came down and that rain helped diffuse the tense situation in the back.  Punky got her kiddos to safety and Mama Cat, she has introduced the little kittens to all the glory of the garage. This morning while feeding the Feral Fam, Baby came as close to me as he ever has. I am taking that as a thank you for giving him a chance to get out of that tree. The whole atmosphere changes when KH is near. 

HP is still hanging out on the back porch. I hope I am doing the right thing for her. We are going to try and introduce Buddy and HP tomorrow.