Boxing Day

I'm having "a cuppa" with Alexy this afternoon, just to catch up on the news and neighborhood.  Spent last night with Charlie and Tinkerbelle, then took care of Sasquatch and Tugger, and then walked Rosie, before coming home to my kits for a couple of hours.  Both Lovey and Nedi went running out, but they both came back in after about 15 minutes.  Their big point of curiosity was a large Schwinn box that has been leaned up against our back privacy fence - they were giving it a good investigation when a visitor from next door walked out and approached the box.  I glad both kits decided to come in, because the female was apparently gifted with a set of throwing knives yesterday, and is using the box as her target.  So far, the best she's done is get 2 out of 5 knives to stick in the box - the others bounce off, or hit the fence.  Oh, well.....
   I had breakfast with Kathy and Jim yesterday morning, and then we had a late afternoon meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, biscuits, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.  Beatrice joined us for the evening meal, and we all laughed quite a bit while at the table.  I made out like a bandit yesterday, getting two new books (one in my stocking), next year's calendar, and a neat cat sweatshirt, plus all the other usual stuffings - chocolate candy, nuts, fruit, and silly toys...
  Lovey seems to have run into a buzz saw on Christmas Eve - she was outside for a few minutes, then came running back inside, and tossed her cookies.  She didn't want me to touch her, and curled up on my old winter coat.  Once she was asleep, I was able to see that her right ear was split in half, and, in running my hand over her scalp, it felt like rough sandpaper - I don't know if she got her head stuck in a trap, or if she ran into a new cat or dog...  All I know is she was very quiet yesterday, and is a little subdued today.  I did clean everything with hydrogen peroxide, and, so far, nothing looks or seems infected.
  In racing news,  Hollywood Park closed it's gates after the last race on Sunday, 22 December, and is already being demolished.   ....   Summer Bird, who won the 2009 Belmont Stakes passed away on 23 December in Japan, from a severe case of colic.  He had retired to stud at WinStar Farms, and had shipped to stud duty in Japan last year.   ....  And 5-year-old Orfevre, so of Stay Gold, grandson of Sunday Silence, won his final race on 22 December by an increasing 8 lengths.  The race was the $4.622 million Arima Kinen, run on the turf over 12 1/2 furlongs.  Orfevre, who won the Japan Triple Crown as a 3-year-old, will be retired to stud, having won over $15 million in purses.  Here's to you, big boy!