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Saturday, November 22, 2014

catching up...




No, this is not my youngest grand daughter... although when my daughter saw it and sent it, we both had to look twice (this is the way that my grand daughter looks when she squeezes her cat).  However, I think this child is older than 2... but adorable just the same. It did remind me of pics of my oldest grand daughter when she was very young (she's now 13 - going on 18).



Oldest grand daughter when she was 4


I find it hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week and Christmas a few weeks after that. You'd think that after all these years, it wouldn't surprise me how fast winter and the holidays set in. We had some pretty cold days (for Texas) this past week. But of course it's warmed up a bit since. 

Never-the-less, it's apparent that another cold winter is upon us. And I have to say that I'm not looking forward to it. But I am grateful that we live where we do and don't get the really heavy snowfalls and icy conditions like some places. It may  be beautiful... but my southern soul would have a hard time surviving.

I've missed reading blogs and posting lately as grandkids' birthdays have taken precedence. Our oldest grand daughter just turned 13 and spent some time here in Dallas with us in October. Our oldest grandson just  turned 16 and we celebrated at our house this past week with a big batch of red beans and rice as well as bread pudding with whiskey sauce! And next week, our youngest grand daughter will turn 2!  So... life has kept us busy... keeping up with them.

Our inside cats react to the cold as do I and are either cuddled up next to the Aga, by the fireplace, or curled up on a blanket on our bed. The outside ferals have taken shelter either on the back porch where DH has installed heat lamps or in the front corner of our house where we have placed heaps of hay, or in the garage (which we have locked, but leave about 6 inches open so that some of them can find warmth in the hay or blankets inside).

We have one mama that has brought her 2 young kittens to the front corner. They look to be about 6 weeks old. Most of the other kittens are older (born in the Spring) and these tend to huddle together in baskets or under the heat lamps on the porch. We have one mama that has always preferred the garage. She seems to think it's her own personal haven... and can be found settled in a mound of hay in a wheel barrel almost any time of day or night.

It is unbelievable how much snow some areas up north have had this week! I can't imagine how the rooftops are not all collapsing and pipes bursting... not to mention how difficult it must be to get around anywhere. The pictures on the news of all that snow are absolutely amazing... and more than a bit frightening.




But... it is time to take down the Halloween decorations and start putting up Christmas ones (actually one of our neighbors already have their Christmas house lights on...)  Usually we get our tree the day after Thanksgiving and start putting up the live garlands not long after that. I do like the smell of Christmas in the house. And the inside cats of course love the tree! It's their own personal cat toy.

Julie and her mouse on kitchen chair


Tux helping me knit...

Oh... and Happy Thanksgiving!  (Just in case I don't get back here before then)




10 comments:

  1. I also have a thirteen year old grand daughter and I can relate to the going on 18 statement for sure.

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    1. Yes, kids seem to grow up faster these days... or so it seems.

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  2. It's a busy time of year for you (and many). I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm glad ours is in October. LOL. My outdoor decorations are going up today, and we're having a reprieve from the cold weather. I consider our whole area lucky that we didn't get the snow that Buffalo did. If that storm had tracked north of the Lake, we'd still be digging out.

    Take care and have a great week.

    P.S. Please FedEx some bread pudding. With the sauce. :-D

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    1. So glad you're having a reprieve from the cold... but considering where you live, it probably won't last for long... so enjoy!

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  3. It got really cold everywhere, including all the way up here in the far northwest corner of the land. But now we're back to normal, mild temperatures and lots of rain. Glad your ferals have a nice place to get out of the cold. Those heat lamps are a great idea. :-)

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    1. Yes, we have 3 on the back porch and they huddle under them. Occasionally we've had a raccoon join them there...

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  4. I heard you got a blast of winter down south. All of us might have to adjust to these major temperature changes, regardless of where we live. With holidays coming up fast, what I hate the most is traveling under poor conditions. Enjoy the mild weather. We all envy you.

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    1. I too hate traveling in heavy rain, ice, or snow... and generally don't. I had a scare once when I was still working... stopped at a red light on an icy road and my car just started sliding sideways into the car next to me. I had to work the wheel back and forth to wiggle it until the light changed. We didn't hit, but it did scare me.

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  5. Thanks for your comment on the box of cats, I appreciate anyone taking the time to comment,
    Reading about your ferals fills my heart with love for the poor little things, thank goodness we don't have many over here, we did have Daddy a while back but he no longer comes, I assume that he passed away, he looked quite old.
    You're doing a good job for those little ones, thankyou.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Thanks, Briony. We have quite a few ferals in our neighborhood (almost all of them black). I wish we could catch more and follow the catch and release program (catch, spay/neuter, vaccinate- then release)... and we have done a few in the past, but they have gotten pretty wise about not getting caught and never go into the hav-a-hart traps (although coons, skunks, and possums will).

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