Nasty Weather - Matthew

I have to admit that I don't remember much about weather-watching before the family moved to Florida in 1961.  I do remember snow when we lived in Millington, Tennessee, and I remember feeling hot and sticky when we lived in Kingsville, Texas.  We moved to Gainesville, Florida a few weeks after I turned 5 years old, and Dad retired from 22 years in the US Navy.  Our house in Florida was a little smaller than our house in Kingsville, but we had a great yard with trees and bushes.  The house floor actually sat about two feet above the ground, so it could breathe and stay cool in the summer.  Gainesville, itself, is about in the middle of the northern peninsula of Florida; it took 90 minutes to drive to either the Atlantic Ocean, or to the Gulf of Mexico.  There was a nice fishing lake about a mile from our house, and lots of little creeks and swampy areas nearby.
    And, as I've frequently mentioned, we (or I) spent most summers on the barrier islands of Chincoteague and Assateague, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Virginia.  My Grandfather purchased a small lot on Peterson Street and built a catalog-ordered Sears & Roebuck house just before he married Grandma, two weeks after her 16th birthday, in 1915.  The "big kitchen" was added onto the house in 1919, and Grandma chose the wall paper to be used.  It was an oyster-white background, with blue-grey trellises and large old-fashioned English pink roses - some in bloom, some still buds.  Besides the corner with the warped floor boards, so that the rocking chair was permanently tilted back, the thing I remember most about the big kitchen was the wavy brown lines at five different heights, that ran all around the room, marring the wall paper.  (There were six, after the Ash Wednesday Storm in 1962.)
   Now, Momma always kept a decent house - she dusted and cleaned and vacuumed, so nothing was dirty, even though we did have piles of books and magazines all around.  One summer night, after wiping the kitchen table clean, I asked Mom if I should try to wipe away the brown marks on the wall paper.  I think I was six or seven years old at the time, and she explained that those brown marks "were history - the history of the house and the island."  They were the high tide marks of hurricanes and nor'easters and big storms - and they couldn't be washed away.  I think I loved that room even more than the rest of the house, once Mom told me that. The latest owners of Grandpa's house knocked off the kitchen and enclosed the front porch, so the history I grew up with is no longer visible.
   While living in Florida, we saw, via television, what happened during hurricanes.  In Gainesville itself, we had lots of rain, some flooding, and high winds - but we were never hit as hard as places along the coast line.  I lived in Florida, pretty much straight through, from July 1961 until the fall of 1995.  These are the Hurricanes that struck Florida, or near by, while I was there:
1964 -  Cleo and Isabell        1965 - Betsy and Dora     1966 - Alma and Inez     1968 - Gladys
1972 - Agnes     1979 - David     1985 - Elena, Juan, and Kate     1987 - Floyd     1992 - Andrew
1994 - Tropical Storms Alberto and Beryl; Gordon     1995 - Allison and Erin
    And, of course we watched the horrific coverage unfold in 1961 with Hurricanes Carla and Hattie; in 1967 with Hurricane Beulah; Camille in 1969 was devastating; then Celia in 1970 - and Alicia in 1983, Gloria in 1985, and Hugo in 1989.

    I feel so much sympathy for those of my friends, family, and colleagues who are being impacted by Hurricane Matthew.  I know that a lot of folks I know are under evacuation orders, and are not at home with some of their most prized possessions.  I wish I possessed magical powers and could wave my hands, or wriggle my nose, and make the seas and winds calm again.  (No, I do not want to be a God, or God-like.)  I just wish that our coastal areas could enjoy calm weather...  Friends, please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.  Know that you're in my heart and thoughts...

Life's Little Pleasures

I must admit that, usually, life's little pleasures are the ones I enjoy the most.   Sitting by a fire on a cold night; listening to my cats purr; having dogs get excited when they see me; having a horse come to my call; being warm when it's cold outside; being cool when it's hot outside; having a roof over my head; having enough to eat; having plenty of things to read; not worrying about if I have enough money to pay the rent, or to buy cat food.  Life's simple pleasures.
   I'm typing this at my desk, looking west at snow covered mountains.  My female cat is cradled in my left arm - her butt on my left breast, her front paws hanging over my left shoulder, and her whiskers tickling my face and neck.  She is purring.  My male cat is on the cat tree, less than two feet from my reach; he's watching the neighborhood ravens and our friendly squirrel.  Bea is asleep, as far as I know.  (She's a night owl, and I'm an early morning person.) I have a full tummy, I have taken my medications, and I feel at peace with the world - having paid my rent and having a cupboard full of food for the cats, and for human consumption.
  We seem to be in the middle of a heat wave (heavy sarcasm here), as it was all of 11 degrees (F) this morning, and not in the single or negative digits.  We're supposed to have a high temperature above freezing, for the first time in over 8 days - it will feel good.  Bea has to work tonight, and then she's off for 3 days.  If flights are running smoothly tomorrow, I'll pick up the Brittany Spaniels family about 4 in the afternoon, and be back home for supper and a night in my own bed.
   After Beatrice got off work last night, I cooked our New Year's Day meal:  ham steak, black-eyed peas, mashed sweet potatoes, home-made garlic-cheese biscuits, applesauce (which I didn't cook), and fresh baked gingerbread.  We were so stuffed that it was difficult to even move last night - but I had the girls to walk and put to bed and sleep with.   We did laugh hysterically, watching Nedi and Lovey chase each other; and Nedi was playing with his string toy - throwing it around, attacking it, and charging through the apartment, dragging it after him...  It was a nice, pleasant, enjoyable evening.
   I hope this New Year of 2016 is full of such evenings for you.

Contemplating Lives

It's overcast and hazy this afternoon in Boulder - it's the second day of the Annual Creek Town Festival, and I'm contemplating the lives of loved ones who have passed away.  I just lost two geriatric clients this past week - Lucy Lou, a 14-year-old Portuguese Water Spaniel, and Tugger, a 19-year-old cat.  I've been their pet-sitter for nine years, each.  I walked Lucy on a daily basis, and stayed with her, sporadically, when others couldn't.  I stayed and spent a lot of time with Tugger - he had a thyroid condition, and his owners and I spent countless hours coaxing him to eat his food.  Tugger's brother departed us two years ago, and Tugger took Sasquatch's passing rather hard.  He and I slept together for two weeks, and I awoke whenever he cried for his brother.  I'll miss their furry love, barks, meows, and kisses.
   I also saw a two-year-old obituary for a man that I went to school with.  Now, when I say that I went to school with someone, that generally means all the way from Kindergarten or first grade  all the way through twelfth grade graduation.  I was shocked to learn of this man's death, because he was always friendly, nice, pleasant, helpful and was constantly active outdoors.  Seeing that he passed away at the age of 57 was a shock.  Steve Green, you are, and will be, missed.  I grew up on 50th Street, and you grew up on 48th Street.  I remember catching frogs and tadpoles with you in the creek; making tipis in my yard, building a wicki-up in yours...  You were always smiling, and always pointed out the bright, lighter sides of things when I complained.  Thank you, my friend, even though you left this life two years ago.  Doesn't seem possible.
   As the end of summer comes, and fall begins, Boulder is going to have an increasing problem with black bears.  I spent last night at Finn's house on 4th Street, and saw a sow with two cubs, both in Finn's yard, and in the yard next door.  Luckily the owners had warned me that the bear was in the neighborhood, so it wasn't a great surprise.  We have a whole new group of freshman college students living on Uni Hill, and spread out through the town.  I hope they listened well to their landlords regarding the disposal of trash, and will follow instructions.  Otherwise, we're going to have a nasty incident since the bears' normal food is scarce in the foothills and mountains already.

Boulder and Chincoteague

'Tis a beautiful, sunny day in Colorado.  I slept well with Rosie last night, and she has been eating like a little piglet for me.  I mention that, because she frequently acts disdainful of the food her owners give her, but not food from me.  I can't figure that out.
   After I went back to Tamarack Court last night, Beatrice informed me that Nedi decided that she was safe to get some loving from...  He stropped her ankles and purred quite a bit for her while she was using my computer.  I guess that someone sitting at the keyboard is considered "safe."
   Have had a wonderful time talking with Lynn about Chincoteague and the ponies.  She wants to see Pony Penning next year.  I have already reserved the place I stayed at this summer for next year - I am hoping and praying that my friends Carolyn and Greg can make it to the island, as well as Rabbitt, a man Carolyn and I went to school with...  Then Lynn hopes to come, also.  Luckily the house sleeps 10, and if everyone can attend, there will be one couple and three singles...
   I was able to go out with Captain Barry for a Sea Exploration cruise, as well as an after-hours trip up the neck with him, his wife Aleda, Jimmy, and Jimmy's parents. (Jimmy works with Aleda at Right Up Your Alley, a food truck behind the Village Mall on Main Street.)  Captain Barry's trips leave from a mooring spot between The Jackspot and the Fairfield Inn & Suites - and they are delightful.  If the band is playing at the Jackspot, they break for a few seconds to wish Captain Barry a "Bon Voyage," and Barry blows his conch shell horn at them...
   The new visitor centers on Assateague are fantastic - I was very impressed by them.  I also fell in love with my cousin, Karen Quillen, all over again.  I looked up to Karen as a child, and desperately wanted to please her.  I found that I still do.  Karen was, and still is, "Miss Karen" to most of the children riding the school bus on Chincoteague Island. She is full of common sense, and speaks her mind.  She gave me gifts to share with the rest of the family when I left - and I have yet to spread them around.  I also got to talk with my cousin Maureen Beebe, and with her two daughters.  It was sheer heaven.
   Back here in Boulder, I was a little nasty yesterday.  Each and every apartment in the new complex we moved into has one, and only one, assigned parking space.  Beatrice and I have number 50.  In my first three weeks here, I left four notes on four different windshields noting that 50 was my space,  I pulled in yesterday evening, and found an SUV from Oregon parked in my spot.  I sat and tooted my horn until several neighbors looked out over their balconies.  The visitor was staying (and doing a party hardy) at the apartment above mine.  He took his time in moving the car...  but I was feeling a bit cranky and wanted MY spot.  Think I was out of line?  The designated spot for that apartment was empty - so I didn't, and don't, feel badly about it.
 

Five Inches of Snow

I closed my curtains at 5:30 yesterday afternoon - the sun had set and it was as dark and cloudy as it had been all day.  I sat down with my cats and a book and I read.  I stopped to eat supper and then read until I went to bed.  When I arose this morning, I was quite surprised to find 5 inches of snow on the ground.  The weather forecaster had stated that Boulder might get .3 inches overnight.  - Hah!  With the snow piled up, I put out fatty nuts for the squirrels and then put a nice scattering of hulled sunflower seeds out for the birds.  Nedi thought that 14 degrees was delightful, so I had to "round him up" to get him back inside after I put the seeds and nuts out on the patio.
   An old family friend contacted me via Facebook during the night, and I was delighted to hear from her.  She and my sister Kathy are the same age, and spent a good deal of time together while on Chincoteague.  I can't wait to tell Kathy about Joan making contact.  I think it'll make her happy.  One of my good friends, and my employer at The Corner Bookstore, where I met my husband, passed away yesterday on the Shore.  Betty Wellborn Taylor was a kind, warm, loving, and giving lady.  Her warmth will be missed by all those who knew her.
   Today is the big American football day - the Super Bowl.  It will be played in Arizona, with the New England Patriots facing the Seattle Seahawks.  I don't really like either team, but if I have to choose one, I'd pick the Seahawks.  Mainly because I simply don't like Tom Brady, the quarterback for the Patriots, nor do I like their head coach, Bill Belichick.  But I'll be watching the commercials with great interest, and will prepare my supper during the half-time show.
   Getting ready to go out and walk Tessa this morning, and then again at 3 this afternoon...  She's a sweetheart of a dog, and is always so excited to go out for a walk.  She's a real love!

Snow and Friends

It's snowing in Boulder again...

 

Friends forever

 

Best buddies

 

Crocus in the snow - my sister's front yard

 

Snow?

The day began without a cloud in the sky, but now the clouds are starting to roll in... Today's local newspaper says to expect between 2 and 4 inches of snow this afternoon and evening... It's certainly chilly enough for it, and we're supposed to get some of the moisture from the California snow storm over our area; but it hasn't arrived yet. I am still coughing from my bronchitis, but it's now occurring a lot less frequently than before. I visited the store this morning, and purchased more crunchies for the kitties and cereal for me, plus a couple of oranges. I plan on using my 50% off coupon today to purchase a large pizza - that will give me three full meals for $6, so I can't complain.
  My friend Geary managed to be home in New Orleans for Mardi Gras - he sat on his Auntie's porch in the French Quarter and watched the parades and crowds go by. He also loaded up on Cajun cookin', and he says he'll have to diet for the rest of the month to get back to his normal weight. I am currently reading jack Whyte's Uther, which is only 917 pages... the first 100 have been riveting, and I haven't wanted to put the book down. And I'm a little concerned for my next-door-neighbor: the lease for my apartment states that I can't run or operate a business from here, and I'm sure that's in all the rental agreements. Chris and his friend and partner just got a SBA loan to start up their own business, doing mirror etching. For the last week, they have been working on their patio, making the etchings in the mirrors. I'm afraid that the maintenance man and/or the building owner will see their set-up (it covers the whole patio) and they'll get kicked out. Chris is one of the nicest neighbors I've ever had, and I'd be sorry to lose him...

I Hate Being Ill!

It's nice and bright outside today, but the wind has started to pick up, and the weather forecast is "Windy with a high of 36 degrees." So, even if we get up to 16, it will still feel like it's in the teens... Lovey and Nedi let me sleep in this morning, I'm not sure why, but they did. I wonder if they somehow osmosed what the doctor told me last night: "You're not going to get better unless you rest. Rest, rest, rest!" He listened to my lungs, looked at my ears, nose and throat, and said I still had an acute upper respiratory infection... I now have an inhaler, Tessalon Perles for coughing, and another round of antibiotics. Plus I've been told to stay on bed rest until Valentine's Day... I got him to say it was OK for me to sit up and read, so here I am. Other than walking dogs, I don't have any jobs until the 17th of February, so I've notified the folks that pay me to walk and play with their dogs...
  I enjoyed NCIS and Vegas last night on the television. Yesterday afternoon I spent with my friend Bea, and we had a leisurely lunch at The China Gourmet, then we wandered through Lucky's Market and also visited the newly opened Lucky's Bakehouse and Creamery. It's a good thing that we were so stuffed from lunch, because I lusted after/over almost every single item in the new store. Everything looked tempting and it certainly smelled tempting, too. Then we went to the Carnegie Library and started working on Bea's family tree. Unfortunately, her Mom's surname was Jones, so it's becoming a search for a needle in a haystack, in seeking her Mother's parents. Since they were from Louisiana and had strong ties to the church, I hope to find the answers in Parish records.
  Besides looking for Bea's ancestors and my usual computer play, I am half-way through reading The Man on the Donkey, then I have Wolf Hall to read (thanks to Alexy), and then the next two Chronicles of Camulod books by Jack Whyte. At least I won't be bored!

Sunday Stuff

I talked with my friend Carolyn in Vero Beach this morning - we traded coughs at each other - she had this upper respiratory infection and bronchitis starting the week before Christmas, and she's still coughing.... We got caught up on family news and giggled over the past and laid out a few plans for the future, including a shared trip up to Chincoteague. It was good to hear the voice of a childhood friend! We're as close as most sisters, and she (along with her husband, Greg) always makes me feel loved and secure (even if we're griping about the cost of cable TV or whatever). It was good to be able to talk and relax and laugh - and cough - with her. I had to admit that I had forgotten the name of Amy, her orange female tabby - I knew her name was short and started with an A, but I couldn't have said Amy to save my life... The problems of having too much stuff in one's brain, I think.
  I figured the Texans would win over the Bengals yesterday, and I was happy to see the Packers prevail over the Vikings. Now we have today's games: Colts and Ravens, then the Seahawks and Redskins. I'm rooting for RGIII, Shanahan, and the 'Skins. Lovey and Nedi curled up with me and spent all night with some portion of their anatomy touching me - even though I was having fever and chills and kept tossing the covers on and off. Lovey is currently in the reading chair, while Nedi is sprawled on the patio, soaking up sunshine. Friday was the first time since Christmas Eve that we achieved a temperature above freezing - it was in the low 40s yesterday, and is supposed to be thereabouts for the next week. We're having a heat wave! And I love it! Warmth, warmth, give me warmth! I was going to be at home all this week, but it looks as if I'll be at Aiko and Yoshi's for 3 nights this week. Then I'll be at home until the 17th.
  The Mapleton Hill community is holding a candlelight vigil for Edward the Elk this evening. The majority of people in Boulder love their pets, furry friends, and wildlife to an extreme - that's how I make my living, after all - and, while there are also those black-hearted knaves around who dislike anything other than humans, luckily they are a minority. If I didn't have this bronchitis, I'd be there to pay my respects.

The Election Is Over!

Thank goodness the election is finally over. I cheered out loud when our local station announced they were airing their last political at at 4:24 p.m. yesterday afternoon. ... I said good-bye to my friend Patrick this morning - he's already packed, and is driving over to Winter Park when he gets off work. He's very excited, and is looking at this as an adventure - I wish him well.

  The kits are enjoying the sun today - we're expecting a high temperature of 72, with 60s the following two days. Then a high in the low 40s Saturday and low 30s Sunday, with the possibility of snow both days and nights... The ravens just chased Nedi back inside - he high-tailed it across the grass, slowed down on the patio, and dropped into a walk as soon as he crossed the thresh-hold. I hope to get some good photos of the kits today... I got a few good ones of Remy, Rosie, Mona, and Boo earlier this week.

  I worry about the folks who are facing the Nor'easter for the next few days. They say the effects won't be too bad on Chincoteague and Assateague, as the storm will be heading almost due north, as it brushes by the islands. But the poor folks in New Jersey and New York are definitely in for another rough few days. Without electricity or heat, and with so many homeless, it seems that Mother Nature has decided to lob a very nasty one-two punch at the East Coast and her people. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

  I won both a large and a small pizza from Papa John's Pizza last week, so my friend Nancy and I are going to redeem them today. I like getting a free meal (or two) mid-week. And, since I talk football with the guys who work there, I'm pretty well-known; same as at Starbucks and the local Bakery. I hope that your Wednesday is/was as pleasant as mine will be!  Relax!!

A Pretty Monday

It looks glorious outside today - I've already been to the store (to pick up kitty crunchies) and was hit with the double whammies that my friend Brett, who works in the bakery, is being transferred back to the Iris store, and my friend Patrick is moving to Winter Park and leaving Starbucks. I'll still be able to see Brett, and Patrick thinks he'll come back to Boulder, but it's like having my sons move away... They are both great kids, though, and I wish them the best.

  Questing, the filly who didn't want to run in the Ladies Classic on Friday, checked out OK by the vets immediately following the race. However, two hours later, her left eye was swollen completely shut. Her connections don't know if she hit her eye in the starting gate, or if a large dirt clod from the track hit her in the eye in the early part of the race. Thank goodness it was nothing worse, and she'll be fine to race again. ... The folks around Wise Dan and Fort Larned say that both of these colts will return to the track, after having a 45- to 80- day long vacation. The colts' owners are happy to say that, barring accidents, their boys will carry their colors next year at the races.

  I'm getting ready to go walk Rosie and Remy, and to stop by various houses around the northerly neighborhood to just say "hello!" to the various critters I care for... and I will be at the Thore house for Thanksgiving, so I can bake brownies and cookies for the bus drivers. I have to admit was rather taken aback last week; I had told one of the drivers that I loved him/them, and, as the bus left the station, the driver turned on his outside PA microphone, and yelled, "We love you, too, Betty!" which was easily heard for 2 square blocks. (I was so embarrassed and pleased that I laughed 'til I cried...)

  And, one last thing: if you are registered to vote in the Presidential election, please do so. I really don't care whom you choose to vote for. Just, please, exercise the right that over a million people have died fighting for. If you have already voted early, in person, or by a mail-in ballot, I thank you. If you haven't yet voted, please go to your polling place tomorrow and place your own, unique vote. That is what makes America America. Thanks.

Look Out Florida, I'll Be There Soon!

Well, the Denver Post headline on the front page told yesterday's game story: "Tim-Tastic!"  Two Broncos' field goals went wide during the game, and with 5 minutes left, the score was Miami 15, Broncos 0. At the final whistle, it was a tie game.  Then came Over Time.  Special thanks to D J Williams for batting the ball out of the Dolphins' quarterbacks hand, and then recovering the 'made' fumble.  Three running plays and then Prater kicked a winning field goal.  Poor Dolphins.  They have yet to win a game this season....

And I leave for Florida in the morning!  Kathy and Jim and Mike will be caring for the kits while I'm gone.  I walked Kathy through feeding the kits, checking the mail, and cleaning the potty boxes last night.  Today it's already 72 degrees; tomorrow the high is supposed to be 61; and Wednesday the forecast is for a high of 42 and snow.  Thankfully, Florida is a wee bit warmer right now.  I have my boarding passes for the plane trip and feel like I'm on a prolonged sugar high....  I still need to wash and dry two loads of clothes and pack my bags.  Other than that, I'm ready!

I hope to be able to check my e-mail and possibly put up a few quick blog entries while I'm gone.  If I don't post anything - don't worry...  It means I'm having too much of a good time to sit inside at a keyboard!  Lovey and Nedi know that something is going on, as they are sticking to me like glue;  I will miss them.  And I'll miss the daily walks with Remy and Rosie, too.  -  But seeing old friends will be great!!!