Friday, January 30, 2015

Full House

I




Yes, it's a full house with the new babies. It's getting less chaotic as time goes on, I think, but it's definitely a full house. Sometimes I think they are here for a reason, that I need more babies to care for, and love now that my human babies are grown and out of the nest.

Evening In Front Of The Fire





I've been thinking about the concept of hobbies lately, and wondering if I should add some to my life. I'm not sure if creating things or making music is me, but I do know that I really enjoy having people over and I love trying to make it a special time for them. Maybe my hobbies lie in the hospitality area. Terry came over for an evening this week, and it was fun to catch up on life while we snacked and sipped wine in front of the fire. Can friends be hobbies?

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Lunch Outing








Debbie and I finally found a time to get together for lunch. When we thought about it, we hadn't seen each other since before Thanksgiving. A lot had happened during that time, too, with Debbie breaking her arm and healing, my kidney infection, and the holidays. We've been best friends forever, though, and it's always like old times when we do get together.

We exchanged gifts. Debbie gave me salmon and cheese that Bil had smoked. I gave her a bottle of Happy Wine and chocolate covered cherries. Then we went to the General Store for lunch.

We weren't planning on buying. We had browsed through everything, and were just about ready to leave, when I found a table runner that I thought might work for our bedroom dresser! (The lace one we've had for years has holes and stains, and I've been wanting to replace it.) I took a chance and bought it, and I like it!

It was a fun day.

We had some delicious salads, heart to heart conversation, and lots of laughs. I am so blessed to have her in my life.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Weekend's Here






The weekend is here!

It was such a pretty day today, with sun and temps close to 40 degrees. I stopped at Cub after work to pick up a few things, and of course I had to have some of their complementary coffee. It's fun to browse and sip, and I do appreciate it since not all of the Cub stores do that.

I've been chipping away at some piles of paper that suddenly appeared in our room the last week. Funny how that happens. I think it has something to do with being busy living life. Anyway, it feels good to get things back in order.

Debbie and I are going to meet tomorrow for lunch and window shopping at the General Store. They have so many interesting things to look at, but I'm determined to not bring more into the house. A bite to eat and hanging out with my good friend will be just fine!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Ah, So That Makes Sense




I've been trying to understand why Cleo doesn't act like any of the other cats we've had over the years. She's absolutely beautiful and obviously intelligent, but so active! And verbal, her voice sounding more like a chirp than a meow.

She's constantly pacing and attempting to open up cupboards and drawers. We even had to put a lock on the sliding door to the kitchen because she figured out how to open it during the night. She loves to play in water, bites, and climbs up the highest places.

And she wants to be by me constantly. She's intense.

I finally put two and two together. She's part Bengal. I mean, I knew that, but today I actually did a little research about Bengals. They have big personalities, and evidently, quite a few are surrendered to shelters because people find they don't have the time or energy to deal with them.

This is good to know. Poor little girl is just being who she is. I'm going to have to give her a little slack!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Naughty



The kitties have been naughty. I've been doing my best to keep the chaos to a minimum with all of them in the house, but they out number us and it's a challenge. They seem like kids, acting out to get my attention.

Tristin is a big boy and has started to knock things over during the night, even pictures on the wall. Cleo bumps things over with her head and likes to chew. Pumpkin slips her paw under doors and rattles them. So peaceful at night when the house is quiet and people are trying to rest! I'm grateful for Minnie Mouse, who seems content to just watch all the shenanigans.

I probably need to cat-proof things even more. Box things up and tuck them away so the temptation isn't there. And maybe they'll all settle in as time goes on, I can only hope.


Monday, January 19, 2015

Sunday




Jake popped home for a quick visit this weekend! He still has class until the end of the month, but that's the advantage of going to college only an hour away. We watched some Netflix, made a run to Target, and and had a bite to eat at Noodles. We also visited Grandma Gloria, who seems to be doing just fine after her bout with the flu.

He had to drive back in the afternoon, though, so I made Bruce and I a cornish game hen for supper and then we watched Downton Abbey, our Sunday night thing to do. Not a bad way to end the weekend.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Clearing Out The Clutter




I'm not ready to give up on the clearing out of the clutter yet. I look around my house and see so much that I want to do! I have the thinking, but not always the follow through and this seems to happen more and more as I get older.

I do think it's helpful to deal with things on a daily basis. And it's also helpful to not be hard on myself so that I just give up on my endeavors. Once more, I'm going to try to have a plan with some room to be flexible.

This year, I'm going to try to collect the equivalent of a bag of stuff a day to get out of the house. I don't think I will count trash, but include things that I can give away to charity. I won't be rigid and say that the bag must be collected every day, but in the end it works out to be 365 bags in the 365 days of the year.

Will I follow through? I don't know, but I will try. Every little bit counts, and that's what matters.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Night In






Katie drove home yesterday for a visit, bringing with her friend, Lee. Their plans were to get Tristin settled in, have some coffee in Minneapolis, eat supper, and then meet Katie's friend, YD, from South Korea at the airport later in the evening.

We thought we might all go out for a bite to eat, but at some point Lee offered to cook for us. Wow! Maple glazed pan fried trout, a wild rice pilaf with veggies and cranberries, asparagus. It was an amazing dinner.

The two headed out to the car for the airport, but Bruce noticed that one of Katie's headlights was out. Being the dad that he is, he offered to fix it right then. Lee played guitar while Katie sang, and the animals stretched out in front of the fireplace. Well, Minnie and Jessie did. Tristin ran through the house. Pumpkin and Cleo hid out in the bedroom.

It was a bitter cold night and it felt so nice to be home, especially being able to hang out with family and friends.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Again




Last night when I was talking to Katers on the phone, it hit me. Hard. I know that she's been dreaming of going back to South Korea to teach, but now it's really happening. In less than two months! I think I've been in a bit of a denial as she has been preparing for her quest. She's been working hard, getting all the paperwork and interviewing done, even submitting fingerprints to the FBI and all that goes with it. I'm proud of her. But, this time she will be gone for a year. That's a long time for a Momma to wait.



Trisitin will be coming to live with us again. I'm going to have to do some serious crowd control with all the cats. Four cats? Yikes! But, I do love little boy. And it will be like having a part of Katie with us even while she is so far away.





I can Skype with her, and talk on the phone, so that will be good. But, I will miss having Momma ~Katie days when we watch horror movies on Netflix, and she makes me creations like the poached egg and kale breakfast pictured above.

I know she will do well.