Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Tuesday-9:15am

Tuesday morning and February has already begun.  We had blue skies one whole day...
...but many days we were lucky if we got a peek of sunlight before it disappeared behind the thickening clouds. 
Karma...asking in the morning for me to open the patio door several inches so she can get a good whiff of the outside world. 
 Karma doesn't care if it's only 20 degrees out there--she wants to smell that cold air.  Just misses her old porch.  And here I thought my days of opening and closing doors to the freezing cold were done when I moved here--LOL!
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Besides the usual--laundry, making a big pot of bean soup, and other necessities--I did get my writing prompt stickers slathered with some color. 
Decided to do two months at once this time. 
Looks so cool when you peel away the backing and just the colorful stickers remain. 
I have kept up with my daily journaling and the writing prompt journal...oh, and my bullet, of course, so far this year.  But January wasn't a very creative month.  I'm hoping February will be better.  :)
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I had everything set up on Sunday for Craft Night but by the time Ian was in bed Leah was too tired to come over and next Sunday is their Super Bowl party.  I left out my paper trimmer and card stock, though, so I can start cutting it into quarters so I can stamp some card fronts to color (for sets of birthday cards) while I watch TV.  I haven't done stamp coloring for years and have been ready to dive in again.  
McFamily and I got together last night for our (very late this year because we usually get together for dinner after New Year's) Christmas.  Everything is off kilter this year.  I am ordering Ian a few things now in February--(but we won't mention Christmas to him because he wouldn't understand).  There was no way I could manage sewing him anything like I planned...well, you know how bad of shape I've been in for many months.  Good thing Ian is too small to notice yet...but my free pass for messing up is over with as of this year, I think--LOL!  ;) 
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McFamily got me a set of metal kitchen utensils!  With red handles!   
No, they don't have a stripe on the end of the handle.  The light just is hitting the angled ends. 
Now I can add all my plastic utensils to the kitchen give-away box in the garage for freecycle this spring.  I no longer have any non-stick pots and pans--only metal and cast iron--tada!
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Karma's still been on and off her food...sleeps a lot...gets up stiff-legged.  For years she wouldn't touch anything but pate canned foods.  Well, one of the cans I got from that Natural Grocers store wasn't pate and she ate it really well.  So I had Leah pick up a case of Fancy Feast (chunks with gravy) at Costco.  Smaller cans, so actually less waste if she goes off her food again.  (And I could always gift them to Sammy and Annie if she refused to eat them at all.)  
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Last night I gave her a big tablespoon (she gets one in the evening, too) and she licked the bowl clean.  Same thing this morning.  But then it is something "new" and tonight she could easily walk away or barely touch it.  Same with her dry foods, too.  Some days she eats them and some days she barely touches them.  Could be just getting older.  She acts about the same otherwise.
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Since we had melty-temps a couple of days there is more brown grass exposed around near me.
You can see the evidence of the wind vortex by my patio, eh?  LOL!  Lots of snow left out there, though. 
And, as it melts away, we are left with all the little rabbit gifts--LOL!  You should see how many gifts they have left around the dumpster!  
The jackrabbits must go around behind--between the dumpster and the fence to get out of the wind.  Smart.  But they leave a tremendous amount of evidence behind--LOL! 
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That's about it from Fargo this morning.  You can see Miss Karma is in her chair...McLap and my faithful red cup.  (Hi everybody over at Elizabeth's for T_Day!)
Karma is gently snoring.  It's a dark day.  Says 27 degrees but feels like 16--so there's some wind, not just breeze today.  Since there's so much exposed grass scattered about now I haven't seen the grouse for two days.  I may have missed them, of course.  Been engrossed in letter writing.  I am actually going to make an attempt to join in on International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo) and try to send 29 letters or cards this month!  What the heck.  :)  
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And I need to work on making cards this month, too.  
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Oh, and the plan is for Leah to take me grocery shopping at Cashwise tomorrow.  Caroline is returning to work soon and she'll be coming to clean later in the month.  I can hardly wait to hear all about her little boy Parker and see pictures.  :) 
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 Speaking of which, I totally forgot to take any pictures last night at McFamily's!  I am just terrible about that.  I am so engrossed with the visit that it just flies out of my brain.  I was reading books to Ian last night and we were having a high time!  Then when he went to bed Leah cut my hair for me--and Dagan dropped me back at home to a lonesome cat who demanded lots of extra snuggle time.  The wonderful days just fly by.  :)
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I promise I will try to remember to get some pics of us shopping tomorrow.  ;)
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Did that feel like a long Minnesota goodbye?  LOL!
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Anyways, have a sweet day!!  :):)
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"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."
Rumi

24 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

fresh air is good. maybe karma's just getting finickier in her old age.

Valerie-Jael said...

Good to see that you have been keeping busy and managing quite a lot.
Those stickers are great. Glad Karma is doing well for her age. Have a good week, and a happy T Day,hugs, Valerie

Deb J. in Utah said...

You sound happy! I love those new cooking utensils and those colorful writing prompt stickers. Sounds like you had a great "Christmas" dinner with McFamily. Have a great week and as always, regards to Karma!

Linda Kunsman said...

Well Rita you sound energized and as deb says this is a happy sounding post too! Looks like you have lots on your agenda to keep you busy. Happy T day!

Viktoria Berg said...

Good to visit you again, you really seem to have settled down now. Perhaps cats are like people; I´m pushing 50 and I sure can´t eat like I used to, even if I want to! Happy T-Day!

Sherry Ellis said...

I like your new utensils. Such pretty handles!

Dianne said...

Your prompt writing stickers turned out gorgeous...and wow, wonderful new utensils too! your grass is the same color as here in Ohio, but you have a lot more snow hanging around. Have fun dear...coloring and making cards...good luck with the letter-writing!

Anonymous said...

Would it be possible to send me one of your wonderful home made cards, please? If so, email me & I'll send you my address!!

DJan said...

Gosh, your life is totally full from top to bottom! I'm so glad to hear you are getting stronger and that Karma is eating better, too. Sending you all lots of virtual hugs. :-)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Gosh, you say goodbye about like I do. FOREVER and ever.

What a fun weekend you had. I don't care if you don't think you did much, it's the way you told how and what you did that makes it all so interesting. Everything from painting stickers to leaving your paper trimmer out, to your new metal cooking utensils make for a fun read. What I really enjoyed was how you forgot to take family photos. You have NO idea how bad I am at that, too, even though I have my camera with me at all times.

One thing that surprised me was you are using cast iron with your bad arm. I was first diagnosed with my rare form of arthritis when I was 19 and dropped a cast iron skillet out of my hand because I suddenly had no grip. Now I couldn't lift cast iron if I tried. I hope the weight doesn't give you any problems.

Thanks for sharing your weekend and your travel mug (TWICE) with us for T this Tuesday.

GrandmaG said...

Personally, I can't believe it's just February. For most of January it felt like spring so it seems like it should be March, at least. And it doesn't help that Easter is so early this year. In March it will feel like it should be late April or early May! Crazy what weather does to the mind. Most people think it's the dream to live in the tropics. But not having four seasons would be so weird for me. Hoping you're much better soon!

Lisca said...

What a great post again. I always enjoy your posts and have settled myself in my favorite chair to read it.
I enjoy reading about Karma, and about McFamily (and Ian of course).Your new utensils are very nice. I like the color.
Talking about color: your stickers are great! Will you give us a close-up next time? I'd like to see what they say.
I've heard of IncCoWriMo. My blog friend Bridget Larsen is taking part in it too.(http://bridgetlarsen.blogspot.com.es/2016/02/a-month-of-letters-today-is-day.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+FruitSalad+(Fruit+Salad))
Thank you for sharing your life with us,
Have a good week,
Lisca

My name is Erika. said...

Did you get that big storm? I bet Karma wouldn't like a bit of snowy air if you opened the door. Glad to hear she is eating and your stickers look so fun. Stay warm if your temperature drops off but hopefully your weather will stay a little warmer and brighter. :)

Far Side of Fifty said...

No sun today here, but no storm either! Cats are sometime strange, we had a cat once who would not eat any food while we were gone over the weekend and then as soon as we got home she ate and growled at the same time. Cats!
I saw a wonderful thing that Leah might be able to make for Karma come spring it was pretty much a kitty cage, and I bet it would be great just out your patio door....a mini enclosed patio!
Good to see you are doing some projects:)

ChicagoLady said...

My cousin's husband complains about her "Minnesota goodbyes." He has to start prodding her an hour before they want to leave to get her to start, then they can actually get out the door on time. LOL

I understand about time flying by and forgetting to take pictures. Any time I go visit my family, I forget about pictures and come back with nothing. Most of my time is spent just enjoying being with them.

You could almost say you were "engroused" in letter writing! LOL

johanna said...

to pick out the favorite of this post: the Stickers!! i will definitely try this out, too.
and best wishes for Karma!
have a great week!

~*~Patty S said...

Your melting snow looks similar to ours here in Virginia.
It's raining this morning so lots more will be leaving us.
I too was wondering if you got hit by the latest storm.
Your stickers look like they were a fun project and are a nice colorful pop.
Happy February...it sounds like you're off to a good start Rita.
oxo

Darla said...

I'm finally back catching up with all my blogger friends. I've missed your reports. The month of letter writing sounds so interesting. I'm tied up with a month (or more) of paperwork otherwise I'd join you.

TammyV said...

OUr remaining pug, Gracie, is getting terribly picky about her food. She never was as long as Sueno was around, I'm guessing because of the competition thing but mornings now she sniffs her food and walks away. Eventually her pug nature takes over and she snacks all morning and the all afternoon on her dinner. She too is getting very stiff - we use chodroitin pills and fish oil in her morning meal...which she most assuredly does NOT like and lets me know it - if looks could kill!

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

It has been hot then not so hot all this week, today it is wet and somewhat warm, I have a pile of letters to answer and a lot of other stuff that I want to do but can't find the motivation to do any of them

Anonymous said...

Love the sky shots and those colourful stickers.

Intense Guy said...

You really really have to watch where you walk! LOL!

I think Ian's pretty smart so, I suspect your free (he won't remember this anyway) pass is just about up!

I think Karma needs a sniff-a-port-hole that works with Kat fingers...

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

Imagine if you received a letter for each one you wrote this month....you'd sure have a full mailbox full of interesting mail! Had to laugh at your reference to the long Minnesota goodbye. I know that all too well...sometimes stretching 45 minutes or up to an hour.

Serena Lewis said...

Cool utensils!

Lovely sky photos!

You did a great job on the stickers....nice and colourful!

Yes, with Karma, it could be an age thing. Good that she hasn't totally gone off her food.

Wishing you a sweet day too. xo