Brrrr...and I love it!

Since I knew it was supposed to get a little brisk last night, I pulled out the puppy's white, fluffy duvets and put one on each bed in the event they were cold over night.  Sometimes they co-bed, sometimes Sis kicks Wig out for snoring, sometimes he leaves because she kicks him so much in the night.  Either way, they were "covered" last night.  I tucked the elderly gentleman in his, first, between the layers like a sandwich, with him as the meat, and he always tries to climb out, until he gets all warm and toasty.  I usually scratch on him for a second while I wait for his body heat to warm up the bed.  OOO, la la...after that he doesn't budge until morning.   Sis dives down underneath her duvet for maximum snoozability.  She looks like a reverse Oreo--white chocolate outside with the dark chocolate center.  Deeeelish and the warm dog smell is pure heaven.

I just looked down below my desk and found Sis, hogging the entire donut bed, with old, arthritic Wigman sitting beside the bed on the carpet, all chilly and pitiful looking.  That is just soooo Sis, so I picked him up, shoved her enormous butt over and snuggled him in.  Now they are both snoozing happily.  I thought I had pretty much ceased parenting.  NOT.  At least not for these two anyway.

I haven't told the pups we are all headed for the Farm tonight since time ticks so slowly when you are a dog, waiting to go somewhere.  They will both know anyway once they see us packing up and then the frenzy will begin.  It's better not to have to deal with both of them going nuts until later.  I won't blog from the Farm since there's no WiFi connection at the house and besides, I'll be too busy stoking my fire in the fireplace, cooking burgers outside, and mostly chasing down Sis.  Geeeze....she's a full time job and with the tree men there??....Oh, Lordy...it's likely to be more excitement than one gal can stand.

JMO

Since yesterday I was in desperate need of a pick me up, I ran by to see Wolverine and the Fairy Princess, and baby sister, Avery.  They actually were not in costume when I got there, but after Wolverine appeared in his, F. P. had to go put on hers.  Nothing like two little kids in Halloween costumes to make you laugh, and honey, they delivered.  Big time.

Afterwards, on my way home, I went shopping for their Christmas presents....I know....before Halloween.... but this year, I've decided to get my shopping done early, and stress less.  Shuddddup....I'm gonna give it a try.  I got Wolverine's gift, but FP's has no come in yet, despite the fact it is on the front of one of the kid's store catalogs.  I'm on the call list for when it does come in, and it's gonna rock her world when she gets it.  Picture it: a hot pink, crushed velvet looking, machine washable, girl super hero cape, and matching reversible mask.  Ohhhhh, yeah, baby.  This is b-i-g stuff.  I can just see her flying through the house in it now.  And since Wolverine already has his cape, they will soon be able to do a dual fly- by.  Way cool.

  I'm still working on baby Avery.  Since she turns one a few days after Christmas, this year I may just do a birthday present--her big day.  After that, she'll get two every year--one for Christmas and one for her birthday.  As a December birthday kid, I know what it's like to get that "combo" present every year-- and ask any December birthday kid and they will all tell you the same thing:  December birthdays and a combo gift SUCK.  As do birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper.  Other birthday month people just do not get this, until you give them a "combo" gift wrapped in Christmas paper, on their birthday, in July.  And even then, they will act like you are nuts and they are fine-- they aren't-- they just have birthdays in other months so they are clueless.  And it's not about the present--it's about the combining--you wouldn't do it any other month, so don't do it in December either.  It's just wrong--take it from me--and that's just how I see it.

Ouch!

Yesterday I got the dreaded phone call.  The one where they told me mom needed someone to come with her, to get her hair done.  I had called them Tuesday to check something out and the Receptionist said things were OK.  No hint that we were there yet.  But after her appointment yesterday, they called and said she was a falling risk, and that did it for me.  Of course she's a falling risk...no question about it and I totally understood where they were coming from--it still just didn't make that news feel good.  Further down the tubes we go.

So, late yesterday afternoon, I made a quick call to the big Salon at The Edge, as we now call it.  It was 5:15pm so I figured I'd just leave a message.  Nope...it was even better than I expected.  Jennifer, the wonderful gal who had just recently done mom's hair answered, I recognized her voice, and told her what I needed.  DONE.  Standing appointments set up?  Yep.  Nails and pedi's arranged?  You betcha.  Even a facial and waxing if she wants it.  WOW....I cannot stress the relief I felt and kindness they showed both mom and me.  We got it set up for them to be paid weekly, as she uses them, and afterwards, I sat back stunned.  Boy, if you think there's not a God out there looking after you, ya might want to look more closely.  When I called my sister to report what had happened, she got really quiet and said "well...God's been busy, hasn't He?"

I realize hair appointments aren't a huge deal on most people's list of important matters, but it is on mine, where mom is concerned.  It's a quality of life issue and I don't know a woman alive who doesn't feel wonderful after getting her hair and nails done.  I just chatted with the Assisted Living desk at the Plaza and told them what I needed: someone to walk mom over to her appointment and walk her back afterwards.  It's close by where she is, but involves using a door with a code and I know that won't work with mom on her own.  Again I was told, "Sure...we can do that".  I hate to sound like a big weenie but when I hung up, I  almost cried.  Mom is just going down hill FAST.

Intuition on target

Dang.  My intuition was right.  No party this year for Halloween and I had to go to the dermatologist to find this out.  Seriously, I did.  While waiting in her office, in walked one of my nabes (neighbors) from down our block, so I got the full skinny.  Not only is there not going to be a party, but Cyrena sold her house to the guy next door, and he moved his elderly mom into Cyrena's old house.  Sure explains why I haven't seen Cyrena in a while.  It's also clear I need to stop pulling out the back way down our driveway and go down the front of our block, since I am missing out on all the block doings.  If it weren't for my trip to the dermo, I'd still be in the dark.  Another couple had volunteered their yard for the party but Cyrena couldn't decide whether she wanted to do it again, and by the time she decided, they'd made other plans.  Oh, well....a little Halloween candy and I'll be OK.

I just threw together my favorite quiche recipe and it's in the oven doing what quiche does, getting all custardy and deeelish.  The recipe says to put the green onions, the green chilies, the sliced ham/Canadian bacon/bacon (use what you've got), and cheese in layers but I've developed my own cut to the chase method that puts 1/2 of the cheese on the bottom, then I mix up all the other stuff and spoon it in the partially baked pie crust, throw on the rest of the cheese, and then on goes the egg, milk, pickled jalapeno, salt and pepper mixture that you whir up in the blender, and pour on.  Into the oven and up go your feet, for a nice little break.  A fruit salad or a green salad and honey, you are done.   It's even good nuked the next day for lunch, assuming there's any left.  Even the boys like this one so be advised.

Lastly, I tried a new biscotti recipe Sunday that was from the same cookbook as my favorite one--one of their alternatives, with pistachios nuts (green colored) and golden raisins.  At first, I was really underwhelmed.  Not near as good as their first one I made but ....this one grew on me.  And Fred, too.  It's only Tuesday and that biscotti is history.  Sure was good this morning with my coffee and I'm sure going to miss it tomorrow. Waaah.

Sonic

It is with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I type this....  I go through this every year but this could be it.  The real deal.  The year our neighbor down the block, Cyrena, decides not to throw her annual Halloween Party.  I know I've blogged about it in the past--everybody comes or at least drops by, which isn't hard considering it's in her front yard.  And, it's the only time some of the older guard venture out.  Every year she has her Gypsy wagon with a magician, tables set up for dinner and a buffet, and she used to dress up her dog, Teddy.  We've had everything from Thai food to Wild About Harry's hot dogs and the last couple of years have been Mexican food.  If it's rainy, she does easy up tents, and if it's cold....welllll, just don't eat the ice cream and bundle up. But go.  'Cause it's fun.

Anywho, yesterday as I booked it down our block, I noticed she's having a new front walkway put in which will look really nice when they are finished.  The previously laid thin pavers, popped off after a few years and were not a good look.  The new front walk and all the work, is what has me wondering if the party is going to happen.   Arrgg!  It could happen --and since I regress back to about the emotional age of a five year old, for Halloween, I refuse to give up on this until I.... just... have.... to.  I'm just going to hold out hope that maybe I'm wrong.  She tried to sell her house earlier this year and Fred and I were already thinking "oh, noooooo" back then, but when it didn't sell, I figured we might still be in there.   Stay tuned.  If it doesn't happen, I'm just gonna have to big girl up and cope, but I sure do love that party.  And so does Fred....even more than me.  He practically runs down the block every year. 

Which reminds me, since we have eaten almost all of our Halloween candy--we do this every year--I 'd better get some more.  And I only get the good stuff which explains why we never have any.  Brian came by last night and all three of us were grab bagging around like little kids.

I've decided that for next Saturday's tree trimming finale, I'm going to cook burgers out on the grill for all the tree workers and anyone who shows up to help drag limbs.  Last week, Neil and John (Fred's baby brother's) bought the tree trimmers lunch from the Sanger Sonic, home of the backward blading guy who delivers your drive thru order to your car.  He's kind of nerdy --ok, a lot nerdy--but he's real nice and he loves to do all his stuff-- carrying your order.  I tip him extra 'cause....well....he's entertaining.  And seeing him skate back in, backwards, with the tray, and all his "moves", just guarantees I'm gonna laugh my head off on the way back.  Last time he told me to" have a great day" and I said "back at ya".  Then he said "well, you can't have a bad day on roller blades" to which I replied "trust me...ya can if it's me."   Man, I am old because he laughed......a lot.

Happy Cow pic's

Since I've had a request to see the girls, vs that nasty snake, here they are.  The rest of the gals were hanging out in the same pasture--just way back there.

Oh, please...not again

The bull snake I mentioned previously was still on the screened in porch at the Farm when we arrived, since I guess he/she had no way out.  Fred was out in the yard checking out the partially trimmed trees when I headed to unlock the back door.  Oh, not again....this time it was way over by the far side of the swing on the back porch, but not nearly far away enough for me.  I hollered to Fred to come kill it and he was mad thinking it had gone back in it's crawl space because I was yelling.  Well, no...it couldn't get in there since he'd already caulked that up, so it was all crouched in the corner with it's tail hanging out, and the rest of it's body coiled up by the siding.
The next thing I know he's telling me he's going to "grab it by the tail, and for me to open the screen door"....ohhhhhhhhh, I opened the door all right, and then took off running.  Out he came with a writhing snake and tells me he's going to "throw it out in the pasture."  Ohhhh, no you're not.  That snake is way too well acquainted with the back porch and I don't wanna see him again.  Ever.  Admittedly, I get a little violent around snakes so since Fred was near the woodpile, I told him to grab a log and club it to death.  And I waited right there while he did, too.  I wasn't going inside until that snake was buzzard bait--good and d-e-a-d..  And then Fred threw him in the pasture.  Fine by me.  At that point I was about to hurl.

So, to distract myself afterwards, I took pictures of the trees that are trimmed, and some of the cows who are loving eating the acorns off the branches.  I knew pigs loved acorns but I had no clue Black Angus gals did.  Thank heavens all the gates to the yard were closed or they'd have been up in the yard, munching off all the branches that haven't been dragged off yet.  And those gals can tear up a yard, too.  Rain, hooves, and grass that was previously a yard quickly become mud, and lots of it.

I'm sooo glad that snake part is over.  I've just had enuf '.