Today is my final day of cat wrangling for my sister-in-law's two indoor cats, countless outdoor ferals, and Odin the Insistent, who stretches alllll the way up as far as he can reach on the outside door so I'm SURE TO SEE HIM and NOT FORGET that he gets his food in a different bowl than the other outdoor LESSER CATS beneath his notice. It's been ( Read more... )

Sneaking in for a quick update! I've started this post three times, but keep getting interrupted. I've been busy helping sis-in-law with decluttering (finally!), cleaning and repairing apartments (she and my brother have tenants moving in and out quite often), and learning how to prepare tax forms for their vendors and businesses. It's ( Read more... )

We really got lucky with winter storm Harper. Our temperatures stayed in the 40s, so we got rain instead of all the snow and ice predicted to hit the area. Sixteen hours of heavy rain so far, but I'm not complaining because... the ceiling hasn't leaked ANYwhere! And I checked. A lot. Three cheers for the new roof, which I hope remains as ( Read more... )

Shiredad was cleared to go home by his doctor and physical therapist, so yesterday... we took him home! It took four of us about seven hours to get everything done (including packing up his stuff, driving to and from Philadelphia, cleaning and organizing his kitchen and bathroom, unpacking, and lots of grocery shopping), but Dad was ecstatic to ( Read more... )

It's finally September! Even though we'll have more days in the 90s this week, I'm very very hopeful that cooler days (and nights!) are on their way. Just when I've finally *begun* to get a handle on the (infinite) weeding, a few leaves are beginning to fall.

Wooo hooo, I'm meeting up with
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I went to the orthopedist yesterday for the third (final) ankle x-ray, and the bone is healing well. My ankle still bothers me a little, but the doctor said that's normal, and that it'll take a full 5-6 months to fully heal. I'm cleared to do everything except run and (as she said) "sports like soccer which put so much stress on the ankles". Not ( Read more... )

This morning, just before 7 a.m., I wandered out into the kitchen and heard water running and splashing somewhere. It wasn't raining, which made me say "Uh oh". I hurried through the house into the room where the door leading down to the basement steps usually stands open, and the sound grew thunderous. I looked down to the bottom of the steps to ( Read more... )

We haven't had furniture in the living room since we moved in (8+ months ago), but were recently able to get two couches from a friend of my brother's and a chair and ottoman from my sis-in-law's aunt. Finally the room is ready for visitors!

( three pics )

I love my wooden spoon! It's old and worn, but was part of my childhood. I remember mom stirring chocolate pudding with it, and it seems like it was forever being used to make something yummy. It's so homey and familiar and sturdy, and I use it every chance I get.


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My first teensy tiny 1/2" long tomato baby!

( three pics of the farm including wee green baby )