Cats

Bud is not happy that a tree in a bucket is on his lookout perch.

Petey is following me back to the house, so I started putting extra food closer.  Today the ground is covered with snow, and he blended so well I did not see him waiting for food.  He is a big boy and eating at least 2 cups of various dry foods and 1 can of Fancy Feast a day, plus a saucer of cream (yes, I know) and a dozen catnip Greenies.  Every brat loves them, like cat dope.

After breakfast, synchronized snoozing.

Mark is out of bed and still sick but slightly better, should be able to drive tomorrow.  As careful as I am, the bug has still jumped to me.  I will force Carole to wear a mask.

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The tree that never left

First it was puffed with batting and framed, followed by the addition of thin ribbons securing tiny bells and ornaments.  The frame and batting were removed, and I no longer wanted this tree.  But it kept showing up every Christmas and once I aged it with dye from the original off white, I liked it more.  It adorned the refrigerator for a time which I really liked, then the very large blue basket, always needing a backing and some way to affix.

 I used two threads pulled from the fringed edges for the hanger, and machine sewed a strip of boning to the top back.  Now it can be displayed just about anywhere without requiring support!  How many times I wanted to throw it out!  I think the new cabinet in the half bath would be a perfect spot.

I slipped this material into the top hem pocket on some of the larger samplers that are not framed and they've stay straight and aligned.  JoAnn carries it, don't remember if there was more than one type.

This tiny tree is 18" and I was lucky to find tiny ornaments several years ago at Kraynak's.  They are made of some sort of unbreakable, soft, yet sturdy material lightweight enough for the flimsy branches.

My surgery was cancelled once I was prepped.  He forgot to tell me to stop the Eliquis, which I assumed was not necessary since it's minor.  But he was not comfortable since there will be three incisions, so I had to reschedule.  This will make walking around Cleveland easier, but Mark is sick with a head cold and sinus headache, I may be driving.  Not good.  Since my accidents I am a nervous wreck and vision is also an issue.  How do you drive for almost 2 hours when drops need to be used every 15 minutes?  There is no pulling over on these roads!!

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Hope your day is going well!.

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The shame of it

There were always bad asses that started fights, stole a pack of smokes, always in trouble.  But in today's society, the number of people raised to believe it is acceptable to steal, disrespect others and their property, expect to not be punished for their deeds, is astonishing.  Cemeteries are not immune, summer flowers of departed loved ones are taken, and at this time of year, wreaths are removed.  Even the artificial flowers aren't safe.  

My parents' stone has two vases and I have liners that hold the seasonal memorials.  We drilled a hole in the bottom to insert a sturdy wire up to the top and through the floral, down the outside to meet with the bottom end and twist shut.  If they try to grab and go, it won't pull out.  

The wire also makes the liner fit very tightly and removal is not easy.  And just for spite, I leave a few long wires twisted to stems that will puncture the scum's skin.  Not always a good idea because their mentality is that they have a right to steal.  I wonder how they would react if someone would try taking from them?

Another group of Santas are grounded.  No hanging this year.

My podiatrist is one of my favorite docs.  He does not believe in using the hospital for surgeries that can be done with local anesthetic, and I agree.  I've had this done before and although the shots between toes are excruciating, I do not have to deal with hospital protocols and procedures, additional costs, and being knocked out.  He is the only podiatrist around here that does the office surgeries.  So I will be there only about an hour, after the initial scream.   But I've had an intestinal bug for 4 days so I will tell him that if I say .... uh-oh...., he better put down newspapers.  I don't know what caused it but because of the road trip Friday I am eating the only thing I know is safe, chocolate.  I hope it ends soon.

Petey seems to be doing OK, I don't see signs of an infection.  He is coming closer to the house and is never quiet.  I do believe he had a family.  The brats are not happy, and this boy deserves a home and human.

Have a good day!!

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Menopause, redux

What the hell?  My night flashes were the first to intensify and now the daytime flashes have returned.  I thought my menowar was over.  In the car Saturday, the 1961 Jimmy Dean song "Big Bad John" played (I listen to 50's and 60's music) and I could not stop the non-existent tears.  It's hard to cry when you have no tears.  Your face contorts, your mouth sours, but without the tears falling, you look like you just ate a few lemons or smelled something rank.   The Hobby Lobby commercials of the little girl and sheep, the young man and his mom, send me into a tizzy of distortions.  Just about anything does.  I started taking Viviscal for my hair loss but there isn't a hormone to be found in it, same with the Plaquenil.  So what gives?  When I got my mammo last week, the tech told me she can tell who takes hormones and who doesn't.  Really?  That obvious?  Yep.  If I would have known then .....!   I've been told it's too late to start, that ship has sailed.  Well throw on a life jacket and raise that damn anchor doc, we need to talk.

I worked a little more on decorating, decided to not hang the Santas on trees this year.  I went into the parlor where pieces were moved for painting (and never returned) and found a little black cupboard I made.  Perfect size for the table top next to the small tree.  I need a few more sprigs, but I think this display won't be changed.  

I have a plan for the other set, and also the BOAF boys, maybe tomorrow.

Hope your weekend was great.

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It's beginning to look...

like this for two days until I switch the Santas or bring out the BOAF boys.  I had black hammered chargers on each side but it was too much for my taste.

As with last year, I am only putting out half of what I used to.  

I purchased these artificial greens when James Creek was closing, wish they had more.  I really love the texture and soft falling branches.

I went out for the Friday $1 poinsettia sale and have splashes of red around.  I like the pop of festive color better than a wooden bowl of greens.  Two small lighted trees and I will finish the tags for the unlit.  (I hear commotion in the parlor, Missy must have found floss again.)  I am staying home Sunday, as far as I know, and hope to get them made and put all the totes away.  Outside is always just fresh boughs and a spotlight, should not take long at all.

When Mark went to feed Petey this morning, he couldn't find him.  Later in the morning, I checked on him and found he was curled up in the box corner and barely visible.  He is a mess.  There was a terrible fight during the night and my poor Pete is really beaten up.  The brats stay inside at night so it wasn't Nitzy, and the extra box I keep closer to the house had the padding and bedding pulled out into the yard.  I tried babying him all day with fresh turkey bits and treats, but since I can't really get close to him I was interrupting his rest and making him leave his box.  I hope he is better tomorrow because I can't capture him for a vet visit.

Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving?  Our food was good, but Carole looked very pale and not well at all.  Since she started the Entresto, she is having episodes of blurred and grayed vision.  Doctors including an eye specialist have said it's not related.  But it has to be.  

Next week I am taking her to the local cardio on Monday and in Cleveland (pray for no snow) on Friday.  I have appointments Tuesday morning and toe surgery Wednesday.  Time is flying and I so hope to have some days to stay home and relax.  I did all the shopping online with in-store pickup and the Amazon order is being delivered to a locker hub in Rite Aid.  So many thefts of packages, showing the lack of decency, morals, and scruples of people today.  Is there an electrified porch mat that can zap the crap out of these vile scums?  How about a cover that activates a loud alarm if removed?  If delivery persons are willing to throw it over and push an on button, sounds like a great idea!

Enjoy the weekend, stay safe!

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Smoking

I used to!  A lot.  Being the only female in the all male accounting department back in the early 70's, I decided to start swearing like a fiend and smoking like a chimney to fit in.  That continued until 20 or so years ago.  Well, not the swearing.  As long as I stay calm and dry, we're OK.  Unless I am bewildered, astonished, surprised, shocked, inept, run into a mannequin, bang into a pole that should not be there, tip over a display, or any number of things.  Then all bets are off.  Hypnosis liberated me from cigarettes, not sure it would help with the mouth problem.  It's not difficult to restrict my vocabulary in front of family because most visits are pleasant and do not trigger the tongue.  I never used profanity around my parents and was uncomfortable if a movie we were watching contained that fricking word.  In private, at home, let it fly.  But restaurants and stores are not the place.  Unless you run into a mannequin, bang into a pole that shouldn't be there, tip over a display.

The smoking today is widespread.  Every room on the first floor.  I always start the turkey at 450 degrees for 15 minutes and then turn it down.  This time, I did not heat the pan before adding the bird and we are smoking.  Big time.  Nothing like having ear piercing alarms go off (that falls under "surprised") and cats scatter while you try to turn the damn things off and can't (that falls under "inept").  Needless to say, that spew made the dead bird roll over in his pan.

The boys were peaceful until then.  I've been close enough to old man Bud to know that Nitzy's position is not a good one.

So before I start the pies, I thought it best to relax a little with two of my favorites.  Vanilla Birch candle and Nutella, and what Coni calls a cup of "damn good".  What could possibly go wrong?  Probably a bird flying in the open windows to get rid of the smoke, the brats chasing it throughout the house, creating another spew.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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