The Quilt

Marilyn has always been a sewing type of lady. And she is good at it. When we visited once, I noticed all her beautiful quilts that she has-just sitting around to throw on your lap or over you knees. It was very comforting. I wanted one-hey, I wanted them all. But, how can you say that-"Oh, Marilyn, love the quilts . . . gonna take em home with me". I thought about it, but decided I valued our relationship over the quilts. Too bad, too, cause they were great quilts.

As I admired the quilts (and the manchildren snuggled under them to watch TV), I said, oooohhhh, I would love a quilt. (Guess that is nicer than just taking them). Marilyn smiled and said she would make me one. I thought she was kidding, but thanked her.

She worked on the quilt for 2 years-on and off, always coming back to it. It was our 25th Anniversary gift. She mailed it to us and we waited until Christmas morning to open it. Both Larry and I were speechless. It's beautiful-and such love and work went into this quilt. She gave us a book explaining each block with pictures of her making it.

I was going to hang it on the wall-who could use such a work? When I told Marilyn, she said-NO, I want it to be used and loved by the family. Well, it is. It is used everyday.

Thank you Marilyn.

(oh, and I love your quilts, wanna send another one?!?-ok ok, that was a joke!)

Wednesday Wishins'

Every once in a while, I see something and I go- gee, I wish I could have that or I wish I could do that. Now, I don't need it, don't really want it, but sort of wish I had it. OR, I really want it, really need it and really wish I had it. Here are a some of my wishin' things for Wednesday.

1. Hershey Chocolate Bars (the plain ones-no nuts). Can't find them here. My Man Child #2 loves them. Since he loves them, I like to give them to him every once in a while. I miss those candy bars.

2. Reynolds Wrap. I don't like the aluminum foil up here. It's thinner. I am spoiled on Reynolds wrap. I will get over it.

3. Snow Tires. I wish my Fairy Godmother would go "poof" and put snow tires on all the cars. It's going to cost us over 2K. Whine.

3. Big Battery Backup. I saw one of these at Home Depot or Home Reno or whatever its called. They have em at Canadian Tire, too. These puppies will run your basic needs for at least 12 hours. And cost over $400. Don't really need it, but want it. Not gonna spend the money on it. Where is my fairy godmother-she's got work to do.

4. My ManChild #2 would do the dishes when I ask-the first time, or maybe the second time, or maybe the 5th time . . . .

5. My socks to stop showing up all over the house. Kitten likes my socks. He drags them everywhere. I want em back, please.

6. Leaves to go away. "Poof" by the Fairy Godmother (gee, she is going to be busy).

7. My friends. I wish I could see them today, or maybe next week, or maybe go to breakfast with the Old Moms Club.

I guess I should wish for world peace, or maybe some sort of relief for the economy, or general happiness for those in the depths of anguish.

Nah, I am gonna wish for chocolate.

Small Ouch

Ok, let's ignore the overexposure, that I have no makeup on, etc etc. The focus here is the nose. Yep, the nose. Someone in this house just got his little claws trimmed.

I do have to say, this was an accident, he was playing with my hair and his claw on the toe that is sort of like his thumb got me. He didn't have his claws out, but the thumb nail is always out as it doesn't really retract.

It was a small ouch- but does it have to be so obvious?

So, you wanted to see more of long ago?

Just a few highlights:

We got married at Darlington Chapel.

Larry's father married us. We wrote our own vows and had to remember them (yes, I was nervous)

I didn't meet his parents until a couple days before the wedding-by myself (Larry was still in Canada) and yes, I was nervous.

I helped pick out Larry's mother's dress. It was so pretty on her. She loved it but needed convincing since it had lace on it (something to do with conflicting with my dress-no problems from me on that one). She looked at so many dresses but we kept coming back to that one. It was perfect.

Larry's sister (Marilyn) made her dress. It was beautiful. I was intimidated by her ability (and still am but that's another story).

My father walked me down the aisle. He is a nice, southern gentleman who happened to grow up in the north. But we didn't hold it against him. LOL. Seriously, he is a very nice man and I have very fond memories of growing up fishing, aquariums, boating and camping. Dad hadn't met Annette yet. Their first date was during my honeymoon. They married soon after. They are having a 29th anniversary soon too. Gee Dad, you have had two very long marriages-thanks for setting a good example for us. Happy early anniversary Dad and Annette!

Larry's father told the photographer NO pictures during

the ceremony. He hates photographers crawling around. He wanted the focus on our vows. Smart man. The photographer wasn't all that happy about it. He did take one picture from the loft-right before the ceremony started.

My brother wasn't married to Sue yet. Which is too bad, it would be nice if the picture had Sue in it. Maybe I could photoshop her in.

It was a pretty Fall day. Hmm, Fall, leaves . . . I see a connection there, somehow.

Dinner for Anniversary

I was trying to think what to make for dinner. I asked if Larry wanted to go out but he said he preferred going out on the weekend.

Hmmm, what would be nice?
Steaks? nah, we have those a lot.
A roast of some sort? Boring.
Standing Rib roast? Not a bad idea but very expensive.

Then I thought, how about that special lamb dish I used to make all the time until we had kids that hated lamb (they like it now). I pulled out my old recipes and found it. Yum. And not hard to make. Below is the recipe~Enjoy.


Lamb Chops Bergerie style

6 loin lamb chops (or 3 pounds lamb shoulder cut into 2 inch squares
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
12 small white onions
8 small carrots
Salt and pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
Grated rind of ½ lemon
½ pound mushrooms, sliced
½ cup dry white wine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brown the lamb chops or pieces of shoulder in the olive oil and butter. Remove lamb to a casserole dish.
Add the onions and carrots to the fat remaining in the pan and stir until brown here and there. Remove from pan and add these to the lamb.
Sprinkle top with salt and pepper, the thyme and lemon rind. Top with sliced mushrooms and pour the wine over all. Cover.
Bake in 350 degree over for 50-60 minutes.
Add more wine if the dish gets dry.

Wow, it's been 29 years.

29 years.

Lots of changes, but we are still very much in love.

Ouch

So, did I tell you I threw my back out? Yep. Very painful. Did I happen to tell you how I threw my back out? No? Maybe there is a reason for that. It's because . . . well . . . it's slightly embarrassing.

Last weekend, we were raking leaves (sound familiar?). After, I was leafy and tired so I took a long hot bath and then took a nap. Naps-the reward of raking. I wake from the nap refreshed. I sleep on my stomach and I push up to see what time it is. Ahh, still early. At that point, I decide its time to get up. I guess I should say, our bed is covered with heavy quilts, etc. I am doing a push up in bed and decide to flip over and kick the blankets off at the same time. Hard to explain but even harder on the back. Whammy. Ouch. So, now I am face down on the bed-all tense and in pain. I will myself not to be tensed up as I know it is only making it worse. Slowly, I roll over and get out of bed. Hmmm, the back isn't hurting, but man, it was really painful for a few minutes there. I am so lucky it isn't hurting . . . ouch, did I move wrong? Ahhhhhhh, now I get it. The back is fine until I move a certain way. But I can't figure out the movement that makes me wince. Oh well, it will get better.

Yep, I actually threw my back out . . . getting out of bed. Really. How many can say that? Too bad my back isn't like the kitten's back. Caesar sleeps in any way he wants.

Recurring Themes

Have you been reading my blog lately? There are a few recurring themes running through it. Several come to mind: parking spaces, Quebec and importing cars (think paperwork hell), cats/kittens and leaves.

Yes, leaves. I now understand why Fall is called Fall. Leaves fall. Lots of em, lots of em at one time, especially if the wind is blowing (add in a little rain and its a downpour of leaves).

Every couple days, I force someone to do something to the leaves. Not all of the leaves, just some of them. I tend to focus on the front yard because the leaves have a bad habit of sitting on the driveway as well as the yard. Once the driveway is covered (and this takes about 5 minutes of slight wind and rain), I find it difficult to back out of the driveway. How can you back out of a driveway you can't see??

So Matthew and I have been raking and bagging the leaves in the front yard, Thomas has been blowing the back yard (get those pesky leaves off the new grass). Did you notice that I didn't say anything about bagging them in the back yard? We did the entire backyard once or twice and decided to wait until all the leaves fell. I am not sure that was a good idea as now we have Mount Everest of leaves back there. We bagged about 8 very large bags (think BIG plastic lawn leaf bags and add a bit more) the other day. Guess what, you can't tell we did a thing. But isn't it nice that God made the leaves to match KC?

Guess our new hobby is bagging leaves. The idea here is to get them out of the back yard before the snow comes. Shall we take odds on whether we will get it done? (well, we know that once Larry gets in the back yard, it will be done in a day-and I will get to hear about it with sore muscles from everyone) Or maybe we can guess when the first real snow will fall?

Mom vs Son

Have you ever noticed that parents and children think differently? (ok, that was a stupid question). Yes, we do. I am not sure if the following story is a generational issue, a male/female difference issue or a Canadian/American issue. I think it is most likely the former.

Matthew asks ever so nicely to go to EB Games in the mall to pick up a new game. (Now, I should have made him drive by himself to get the practice but I happen to like having him around and we all know he would get totally lost-hhhmmm-I wonder where he got that from?). Off we go to find a parking space. And I figure we can look for a winter coat for him. I have found its easier to make the kid shop if there is something HE wants at the end of the prescribed shopping torture. After looking at one store (I know our limits on shopping), we make our way to the game store.

We both look around for the game. It was released that day. There is a display but no game. I finally ask. They only received enough games for their pre-orders, they have no idea if or when they will get any more in, and those may be in french. In other words, tough luck, kiddo.

As we walk to the car, I get to hear how stupid that the store didn't order enough, that you have to pre-order, that he will have to wait if we order it online, how Canadian stores are different from US stores (US store have things in stock), how hard it is to shop here, how its alllll so irritating. Sigghhhhh. I respond to each comment: the store does it that way not to lose money (well, they are losing the money of walk in buyers he responds), how this will be more common as the economy worries hit more stores, you do have to think ahead to purchase items in Canada -he needs to remember that the US is THE consumer country and we are used to getting what we want, when we want it (unless its Wii Fit), blah blah blah.

Then I have the great idea to go to Best Buy. Best Buy here isn't like our old Best Buy. It looks like it, but its like a slightly bad imitation. Not everything is in stock, they don't carry as many things, don't have a lot of salespeople on the floor, etc. I don't like going there. (Whine-I want my old Best Buy) We go and have to find another parking space (ggrrr), and walk in the store. We head straight to the game section. There is a place for the game-lots of spaces actually. No game. Ok, so that means they are sold out, but I want to ask to see if possibly its in the back. Wait . . . wait . . . wait-finally someone can help us. He doesn't even blink and says, yeah, go to the check out, it should be in the lock box up there. Off he goes.

We walk to the front. I am getting a little grumpy. There is a long line, and we don't even know if they have the game. We finally check out and yes, there is a game, locked up behind the cashiers. Yea, success.

As we walk to the car, I start to grump. How stupid-they have the game but you would never know it, its locked up, NO sign to say go to the cashier, No ticket to take to the cashier, they make you stand in line to even see if there is a game, the salespeople are few and far and not very helpful, obviously service isn't high on the stores list, etc. Matthew looks at me and says, I can see why they do it that way and starts to comment on each of my complaints.

Funny how that worked. In a way, we were both the same. We expected our stores to be at a certain level: I wanted customer service and was willing to play the game to get it (in other words, pre-order), Matthew didn't care about service, he wanted the game (and didn't care if he had to wait in line, even if it was possible it was not there). I understood EB Games and Matthew understood Best Buy. Two people with different outlooks. But, who cares, we got the game (but no coat . . . sighhh).

A little Extra on the Toaster Story

I suppose you got the feeling I was a little irritated when Larry told me the new super duper toaster wasn't working correctly. You were right, I was not all that happy. Several reasons . . . I hate returns, I hate it when something (somewhat expensive) doesn't work and I wanted a toaster for my husband. I knew I would have to return it. Just Yuck.

So, on Saturday morning as I prepared to go on my Costco Return Adventure, I felt it might be of some use to know what is wrong with the toaster. After all, they may ask.

"Oh, Larry, what exactly is wrong with the toaster?" And remember, he has earlier said it wasn't working properly.

"The first slot, which is the one on the left, doesn't work correctly. The heating element on the right side only heats on the top and bottom and not in the middle when it is on setting 4. So, you get the bread toasted on one side and only on the top and bottom and not the middle on other side." (I have to remember not to use the word "exactly" with Larry because he will tell me)

"Ok- I got it, the slot is broken." :)

The Toaster Bit the Dust

Our toaster died. Actually, it has been on its way out for a long time. I don't remember how old it is, but I remember that it was important that it have "cool touch" sides, so it must have been during the toddler years in our house. It was a nice 4 slicer. About a year ago, two of the slots quit working. Since Larry is the only one in the house who actually toasts anything, it wasn't an issue with him. He just used the slots that did work. About two months ago, those two slots stopped. Here I come to save the toaster day, as I had just unpacked a toaster thing we had given Larry a few Christmas's ago. It made breakfast sandwiches (think egg mcmuffin). Two slots for the bread and a round section for the egg and cheese. Cute idea (I suppose) and the men in the house enjoyed it for a while. Finally, I put it away to be forgotten until I unpacked it.

Now, we have a toaster. Two slice-Larry is happy . . . until that toaster died last week. He announced the toaster stopped working. I look up and think, yeah, I know where this is going. Sigh. "OH? Sorry to hear that." "Yeah, I can't make toast in the morning now." He looks at me sweetly. sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. "Ok, hon, I will go buy you a toaster tomorrow".

Off to Costco to buy a toaster (well, it was off to Costco and I thought I might look at the toasters). Yep, they had a super duper one. A little expensive, but it was for those types who love their toast. I buy it. Wonderful. I set it out for Larry. When he gets home, he looks at it and says-"Thanks so much . . . but, well, it's a bit more of a toaster than I need". I have NO idea what he is talking about . . . its a 4 slicer, with multiple setting, polished chrome, LED, defrost, etc etc. I give him a look-"It's FINE". Yes, he says, it is.

The next evening, Larry sighs and says . . . hon, I hate to say this, but the toaster doesn't work right. "WHAT?!?!-Well good grief! I am not taking it back. YOU are!" (I may have slightly overreacted to his comment at that moment). The next morning, I said I would take it back. Now, I don't really like shopping but I HATE taking things back. Hate it! Toss in French speaking customer service, and you might as well put bamboo between my finger nails.

It's Saturday and I decide, well I might as well learn something if I have to take it back. So I research a Costco downtown (my first mistake) and off I go. I figure the only way to learn my way around is to go. I found it fine (even with the one way streets and no off ramp, back tracking, etc). But I didn't take into account this may be a big market area. Seems there is everything in this one little area and everyone is driving around. Good place to get a lot of shopping done . . . if you needed to go to lots of stores. I however, only want Costco. I finally get close and find a pretty good parking spot (pretty good means, I can still see the building).

I walk in and get in the longest return line I have ever seen at Costco. Ok, at this point I have to admit I have maybe gone to Costco a total of 10 times in my life (8 of which were in Quebec), so my experience with how long the return lines can be is limited. It is taking forever. Not sure what the hold up is (its a couple having some sort of issue). I think about leaving, but I don't want to have to come back another time, and I want a new toaster. Finally, the line starts to move. I am the next in line and I notice that one return lady is very fluent in English and one has a very heavy accent. Guess who I got.

I slide the super duper toaster over the counter and say, "Bonjour (yeah, I say that now), it doesn't work correctly. One of the slots is broken". Not a problem. We have to wait a bit while her manager looks something up on her register for a different customer. Finally she starts to type in the computer and looks up at me-sort of shyly. Ummm, what did you say was wrong? The slot is not working. The slot? Yes, the slot (and I point to the slot on the picture). The place where you put the bread. Hmmm, ok. She looks at her computer and finally leans over to me and says "I am 99% bilingual, and I have to type what is wrong-so I type the slot?" Yes, the slot S L O T.

. . . ohhhhhh . . . "O!" We both laugh at the same time.

The end of the story is I find a simple but sweet toaster that Larry loves. Its a two slicer and isn't a slut.

He's a Keeper!

Ah, such a nice guy. Watching TV with a purring kitten snuggling up to him.

I have to say, I have a good guy here. He goes out of his way to take care of me. Steps, locks, doors, leaves, kids, cars and kittens.

Plus, he is dealing with the cars now ever since I melted down when the van failed the second time. I took it back to the shop that fixed it and had to wait to talk to the service man. By the time, I got to say anything, I just looked at the guy and burst into tears . . . "it-t-t-t-t didn't passs-s-s-s". If you know me, if I get really bad ass mad (yeah, that basically tells it as it is), I end up crying-not yelling. But it worked great. The owners wife was there and tried to take care of me. I said, no, I will go for a walk. So, the owner ended up taking the van in himself and explained to the guys that is was a 4 wheel drive vehicle etc and the parking brakes are fine. "Oh, its a 4 wheel van?" Sighhhhhhh. So, the van passed. Then Larry decided to step in and take the paperwork (now, realize this is like the 4th place we have had to go to get more and more paperwork) to get the car tags. Well, the car licence tag people say we need a document from the Canadian government when we imported the van. Then the Canadian Government says the papers they gave us are fine, the Quebec people say, well, we say we need it and they are wrong. Larry is so good. He just keeps plodding along. He has a few calls into the different people. I am sure we will get the license at some point. But, I have to admit, I am glad I am out of the loop now.

Yeah, Larry, I think he is a keeper.

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

Yesterday was our first Canadian Thanksgiving as a family. Well, since Larry and I had a couple Thanksgivings up here when we first married, I have to specify "family". It was yummy. Fresh Turkey, Dressing, Gravy, Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Carrots with Thyme (our token vegi-mashed potatoes don't really count as a vegi once you finish smashin em, and butter and cream, etc), Wine Baked Pears, Cranberries, and Pumpkin Pie with fresh whipped cream.

The day before Thanksgiving, we spent all day raking and bagging leaves. Ohhhh, the yard looked soooo good. Guess what we got up to a day and a half later? YES, the lawn is covered again. You can't really tell we did anything (except for all the bags of leaves!).

Caesar got to venture outside for the first time to check out the leaves. He wasn't too sure about it but he loves playing with the occasional leaf that blows into the house.

And finally, we had a visitor today by the kitchen door. A fuzzy caterpillar was right by the door. So, if its fuzzy, you are going to have a hard winter, an easy winter, no winter? Or do you count the hairs, look at the colors, check out his teeth? LOL, I moved him to a nicer location where he was less likely to become a squashed fuzzy caterpillar.

Oh, Toto, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore

Every once in a while, I read or see something to brings home the thought that we have really moved. Quebec has a lot of laws that I find unique and interesting (and at times frustrating, humorous, or a law that I don't understand isn't everywhere . . . depending on the law).

Examples:

• Quebec is taking on WalMart for it's blatantly anti union tactics. (Workers rights are big here-good for them!)




• On the main island of Montreal, you can't turn right on red after stop (but you can everywhere else in the province).




• You have to put winter tires on your car (so folks, that means everyone will have two sets of tires-think storage issues with that one).




• Cats don't have to vaccinated against rabies or have any vaccinations for that matter (all I can say to that one is "wow").




• Children aged 14 and up can have medical services without their parents’ knowledge. They have set up clinics for teens and young adults (to 24) to receive medical services conveniently. These clinics are also in the schools.




• Quebec makes it universally impossibly hard to import vehicles from the US. I was in tears today over the paper work, inspections, rules, people who you have to call, see, deal with, etc. What a total pain.




• When you license a car for vehicle tags, the cost includes basic car insurance. So, everyone on the road has basic insurance. (Ok, I think that’s a great idea-expensive but great).




• Stores have to close Saturday and Sunday nights.




• You have to use your maiden name for your health insurance card. (Now, folks, I haven’t used my maiden name in almost 29 years . . . that’s a change for me!)




• If you have a minor, the health insurance comes to the mother (in her maiden name).




• There are hardly any laws against animal abuse. The comment the government official made was, we have our priorities and that isn’t one of them (at the moment).

I could go on, but you get the idea. Not really big differences, but, just not the same as the US. Then I read the article below. There are several ideas that jump out at me, but the one I find really interesting is that the government tells the grocery stores how many workers can work at night? At that moment, I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz: “Oh, Toto, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore”

Quebec grocery stores to be closed for Christmas, open for Canada Day

Source: CBC News

Posted: 10/09/08 5:45PM

Filed Under: Canada

The Quebec government has reached a compromise with grocery stores over how many staff they can employ on holidays and at night.

A bill introduced in the provincial legislature would see major grocery chains close for five holidays during the year: Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, St-Jean-Baptiste Day and Labour Day.

In return, the stores would be allowed to have as many employees as they want on every other day, at any time.

Currently, the big chains can remain open on statutory holidays, but for seven of them - the aforementioned five, as well as Canada Day and Jan. 2 - they can employ only a reduced staff. Also, they can have no more than four employees working after 8 p.m. on weekends and after 9 p.m. on weekdays throughout the year.

"The rule is simple," Quebec Economic Development Minister Raymond Bachand said Thursday of the new legislation. "If you're closed, you're closed. And if you're open, you have full service for the consumer."

Marc-André Denis, who works in the fish department at a Metro store in the Montreal suburb of Town of Mount Royal, was happy with the plan.

"It's good because we're always working on Christmas and holidays," said Denis, adding that he would be able to spend the time with friends and family instead.

Bachand said the government hopes to have the legislation passed by the winter holiday season.

More Joys of Kittenhood

I had forgotten the joys of kittenhood. Ahhh, sweet little kitties sitting on your lap, meowing little meows . . . quiet little kittens.

Yeah, right. This cat makes so much noise you would almost think he was a dog. No little quiet footfalls. Thud, Thud, Thud. Lots of energy and chasing KC around the house. That said, he has been very good with not harming anything in the house. He tried to use a chair as a scratching post and it only took twice taking him to the real scratching post to train him. He doesn't look at the drapes or the leather couch. But he discovered the joys of toilet paper today. And continues to lay in wait to attack those pink fuzzy socks that seem to walk around the house.

Sometimes friends time things just right

Today was one of those days. I was feeling a little low, sort of overwhelmed. I got my first taste of "the attitude" from a french speaking saleslady last night ("Oh, you need English?" and talk about your cold shoulder-guess what, I left and went to a different store and bought what I needed). The car issues continue-it's been one headache after another with the paperwork for importing the cars to Quebec (not a problem at all to import them to Canada . . . but Quebec is a paperwork hell when it comes to the government). The kids are having great fun bugging me to no end, the kitten has decided my fuzzy pink socks must be some sort of rodent that has to be killed at every chance (umm, the fuzzy pink socks are also on the list of things my kids tease me about but that's a different story), we had to have ID pictures taken last night for our government issued insurance cards, etc etc etc. Nothing terrible, just little things.

So the doorbell rings today. After going to the wrong door at first (oh, yeah, the postman uses the Party Door), I find the postman with two boxes from D. Ohhhhh, it's like Christmas and I know some of what is in the boxes. My old kitchen phone (that I happen to like and accidentally left in St. Louis) and a paper log maker.

I open the boxes and I have to admit, one thing made me really smile. Blueberries. Blueberries from Blueberry Muffin Mix. Sheila makes Blueberry Muffins a lot but never uses the blueberries. They like the muffins without the blueberries! I remember when she first told me that little tidbit. "Hey, we love blueberries in our muffins!" Next thing I know, I have tons of little cans of blueberries at my front door. And we have really enjoyed them. I was just thinking how sad that we are almost out of the blueberries-and here comes some more. Now, that is a friend! Thanks for bringing such a smile to me today. I know shipping blueberries was probably very expensive, but it was wonderful to see those little cans! :)

I have a problem but I am willing to live with it.

They say the first step is to admit you have a problem. No power over it. Just accept it and then start from there. So at this point, I must stand up in my virtual blog room (you can see it, can't you? Big, white walls, slightly cushioned chairs in a row), and walk to the front of the room.

Hi, my name is Vicky and I am addicted . . . to sweaters. I unpacked SOME of them this weekend. Let's see-there are the cat sweaters, the cat Christmas sweaters, the winter type themed sweaters, the light jacket type sweaters, the light soft sweaters, the black sweaters, more of black sweaters, turtle neck, mock turtle neck and V neck sweaters . . . (get the idea?). I may go through withdrawal from looking for cute cat sweaters online. Please remember that if I seem grumpy during these cool fall days and the thought of sweaters come to mind.

Honestly, I don't have to buy any clothes for up here. I have the coats, the pants, the sweaters (times 10), gloves, hats (that I won't wear) and some boots. I may need thermal underwear and maybe some more boots (I figure I will wait and see on the boot issue).

Fall is Here

It's starting . . . the tips of the trees are starting to turn. I have some leaves falling already in the back yard. It's so nice in the evening-cool and a little breeze at times.

Guess we will start raking this weekend. We will have to be gentle to the baby grass in the backyard (the baby grass in the front is protected by the more mature grass so it's not a problem). Maybe we will blow the leaves in the backyard.

This morning, I let KC out in the backyard. I sort of noticed that some leaves were moving in the far corner near the brown fence. As I turned around, I noticed that there wasn't a breeze. Hmmmm. What was that. I looked again and again I saw some leaves move a bit. I looked closer and it was a calico cat. I SWEAR she blended in so well that when I looked away for a second, I couldn't see her again until she moved. She was perfect with brown tabby, orange and white. She blended in to the brown fence, orange leaves with a dabbling of sunlight.