Whose Chair Is It?

Everyone knows this is Layla's chair.

Except Wuffie, and he does not care.  He might have been inherited lately - hopefully temporarily - but he takes nothing off anyone.

Maybe a little intimidation from the former alpha cat.

Maybe he won't notice.

Or maybe he won't care.

 Oh, hello!

He looked at me.  Now what?

    This bravado is unusual.  Usually, there are a few growls - or worse.

    

Showing her good side.

    

And W is not intimidated - or impressed.

    

    

What just happened?

    

This is the best spot anyway.  Snoring in the ear of my caretaker.

Just to be clear that this is now my chair.  No one messes with a battle-scarred veteran.

Celebrate November

 

 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion into clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."  Beattie, 1990)

November is a great month to be thankful and grateful.  

This is from one of the blogs I follow called Stonegable.

I am so impressed by so many people who take the time to share their ideas and photography, and I read a few of their blogs every day.  I'm past the time of my life when I have a house that I need to decorate or holidays that I need to prepare for - in other words, all the stress.  Now I can just enjoy seeing nice things and picking up a little decorating tip or recipe sometimes.  

I tried keeping a gratitude journal a few times, and it just didn't work out for me.  I should do that, I guess.  I have a planner and a budget book and a password book and a brain dump book plus my phone and computer usually stacked up on the coffee table or dining table or beside my bed.  There is just so much to do to keep up with all that and have a life too.  My mind is full of crocheting and knitting and quilting ideas, although I don't follow through with them.  Now I'm seeing Christmas things I want to do with the girls, and all we have time for is homework and a snack in the afternoons.  I just want my world to slow down a little so I can enjoy myself!  I did chat with a couple of people from Thomaston today, and that was nice.  Facebook is good for that, keeping up with old friends and seeing what they're up to.  

I would like to celebrate every day in November instead of mourning the end of blue skies and warm days.  I'm going to try.  Yesterday was one of those days where you don't really enjoy anything outside - or maybe it's just me.  I received an email that a package had been delivered, but looking closer at the picture, I realized that was not my porch.

It didn't bother me too much because it happens quite frequently.  My friend Noreen's former apartment was in the same building as mine but 201.  I know all these numbers and front porches and side porches are confusing, so we usually just go out and walk around until we find our package - or someone will come and bring it to us.  

I went out the garage door, planning to check my mail at the same time, but it had started to rain, and the wind had been swirling around all morning.  That miserable kind of weather where you aren't dressed warmly enough and just have to bear it.  I did spot my package at Apt 201, but I haven't met the new people yet or actually seen anyone move in.  I rang the doorbell on the side porch, so they would know why I was creeping around the side of their place, but I got no answer.  I did make my way around  the corner and grab it from the front porch, but I was aware that I was trespassing and expected to see my picture on Nextdoor as a porch pirate.  So far, I remain undetected.

As I was returning from picking up my mail, a mere 60 or so steps, I thought about my attitude and decided to try to enjoy the rain on my face.  It's never hard rain, just a drizzle, so I'm thankful for that.  And I don't have to stay out in it long.  Plus there's the comfort of coming back in to a warm house and even having a fire if I want one.  And I had a package of spoons to open!

I've gotten more exciting things this fall.  In fact, I've been on a mission to treat myself to upgrades on small things I use every day - a new colander that fits on the sink, magnetic measuring spoons and cups, socks, vitamins, white appliance paint for touchups on my beautiful apartment-grade sinks - plus some cute fall decorations and a couple of birthday gifts for Elise.  But the acquisition of these spoons and the four forks that are on the way is so satisfying.  When we moved here 9 years ago, I got 8 place settings of the pattern shown above and have been happy with them, but I no longer have 8 spoons and 8 forks.  How do you lose forks and spoons? I have some ideas but no proof.  I think a few have left here with food that Elise took home with her - in fact, she admitted that she "might" have done that.  Then there are constantly children here and an elderly careless person.  I was happy to see that Amazon carried the pattern and that they were $10 to $12 apiece, so I planned to replace them gradually.  Then this week I noticed that they were very much on sale and just decided to spring for 8 pieces to cover all my losses and maybe have an extra one or two.  

So I'm grateful for rain and spoons?  I guess so.  Plus a visit from Noreen afterwards who had been out walking in that rain and never complained and an upcoming visit with another friend Mary today who is bringing her Scrabble game.  

My sweet middle schooler was allowed to jump off her bus at the elementary school and come to my house

.  She immediately started on her homework, which unfortunately was math yesterday.  She has a web site that we refer to (because Ryan and I have to relearn all these things along with her).  Math with Mr. J.  I wish we'd had these helps when I was growing up.

It took me a little time to understand number lines again, but once I got into it, it was pretty exciting - if math can be called exciting.  I think it helped Graysen to explain things to me, and she did a great job of keeping her mind on what she was doing.  Once when we were arguing about an answer and my not understanding WHY, she said, "Hey, Google, what is the answer to negative 8 plus negative 10," and Google immediately took her side.  I hate to admit it but after she left, I went back to Mr. J and got him to explain one of the rules again.  

By the time Katherine got there, Graysen was finished with her homework and made them both a cup of hot chocolate - all by herself.  They both had to leave around 5 to get Kate ready for soccer.  They hardly ever call off practices or games because of a little rain, even though she left here with hope in her heart!  I'm so glad I got to spend that happy time with them.  Kate will come back Friday and bring a friend while Graysen has a Dungeons and Dragons group.  I know nothing about that except that it was a big deal back when our kids were growing up.  Graysen has a friend whose dad is willing to host a group of 4 or 5 girls and teach them to play, and they just love it.  

I'm up early with a cup of coffee and a fire and just enjoying my life so much.  So even though it's not November yet, I'm celebrating.  Maybe I'll have some Halloween pictures tomorrow.

In the meantime, some oldies.

Where Does My Time Go?

 There's no answer here.  I'm just mourning all those pretty fall days that are probably over with for this year.  The rain started yesterday afternoon - just a sprinkle - but it was gloomy by 4:00.  The red leaves showed up beautifully on all the streets I walked on or drove on, but I'm missing the blue sky.

The crunchy leaves on the sidewalk in front of my place have made it more fun to walk.  Kate still likes gathering up handfuls and throwing them.  The cats are on high alert as they try to nap on the porch, since every falling leaf could potentially be a critter to chase.  

I was going around the house to the car yesterday (because my remote garage door opener once again needs batteries), and Bowie was walking alongside me.  Just as we got to the drive, we both saw a small deer just standing there watching us.  He then kept on nibbling on the ground cover and hardly paid Bowie any attention.  I spoke to him and walked a little closer, and he then looked down to show me Wuffie lying there between us.  They all seem to be acquaintances - just three little boys enjoying the morning sunshine.  

Wuffie is between the deer and Bowie.  I shooed him away then since he was getting a little too close to my little pot of geraniums beside the car. I'm not sure they care about geraniums, but I do have a really pretty hosta out front that he would probably like to sample.  

One day last week, Ryan texted and asked me if I had any polyester batting.  I looked and had only cotton batting on hand and none of the polyester bags of stuffing I like to keep around.  I did find a pillow form which was 100% polyester that I knew I would never use and offered that to him.  He said he had decided to just buy some for his project, and it's a good thing he did.  That little bit would not have made a dent in what he was planning. 

There was a lot of trial and error on his part, and Emily ended up helping him pull off the surprise while Gray was at soccer and Kate was over here.  It was VERY impressive!

The sunset appeared right on cue to make for some beautiful and unusual pictures.

During the afternoon, the girls worked on designing a video game.  I have no idea what they're doing, but they love it and impressed me!

Kate has graduated into a red outfit for DMW instead of the white one and is pretty pleased with her new status.  She explains it all in the video below - if it works. 

I wish I could see Graysen's cross-country finals this afternoon, but it was too hard to work out the times and distance.  I am expecting some pictures and videos.  She's placed in all four meets so far, 3rd, 2nd, and two 1sts.  Hoping this speedy girl will get another first place and that all the girls and boys will have fun and maybe bring home an award for SMS.  

Field Day is Thursday at their school, and then there's a Halloween dance on the weekend.  This is new for me.  I should volunteer to be a chaperone, so I can see what this is all about.  I thought Homecoming was last week at the local high school, but the elementary school is having Spirit Week this week.  I really can't keep up, but then I'm not expected to!  

Finally, I had the 2-week checkup on my wisdom tooth extraction, and the biopsy was negative.  It was some sort of cyst that had gotten infected, so I hope it's taken care of now.  I do have bone loss in that jawbone, but I'll try not to worry about that until someone tells me I should.  

Busy Girls

 After years of seeing the girls almost daily, I've now reached a time when I'm lucky to spend any time with them.  So far, they're filling up their spare time with sports and activities, and as long as they're happy and getting the required schoolwork done, I'm happy too.  I hardly ever am involved in practices or games and for lots of reasons.  Some practices are out of town and end up late, and Emily and/or Ryan are able to take them - and enjoy it.  It's hard for me to keep up with schedules of practices or games, and I just depend on someone to tell me what's coming up or what happened and cheer from a distance. 

I did get to one of Graysen's soccer games last Saturday.  Katherine had had one earlier that morning, but besides being early, cool, and foggy, it was located in a place where I would have a lot of trouble getting up and down a hill.  Gray's game was at 12:45, and the weather had settled into a nice crisp fall afternoon - blue sky and warm-with-a-jacket temps.  I got my chair set up and tried to keep up with the action.  The other team was much better, and our girls lost, but they held them at bay for a long time.  

My pictures aren't so good from a distance, but this is the best I could do.  Gray gave me a grin when she noticed I was there, and I got a nice hug later.  She's found some sweet friends through this team, and I'm glad she's having a good time.  It's hard not to win more often, but she is making some goals and trying to figure out the different positions.  I think she plans to play middle-school soccer as soon as it's offered - maybe this winter.  Club soccer takes a tremendous amount of time for all the practices and always a game on the weekends, usually not in Snoqualmie.

I don't have any pictures of Katherine's game Saturday, but she did make a goal and they ended up losing by one point.  She had an excellent game the weekend before and got two goals.  They ended up tying that one.  I'll try to post the videos of her best goal.  It's impressive that she stays aggressive even after the goalie blocks her first attempt and barrels right in and scores - and then jumps up and screams with joy.  I love this girl.  

Kate's Goal.

I might have to work on videos a little more. 

Graysen joined the cross-country team when school started, which is really the only after-school choice for 6th-grade girls.  Luckily, it's the one that she loves the most and is quite good in.  They've had 4 meets, and she came in first place in two of them, 2nd place in one, and 3rd place in one.  Unfortunately, the school has not won a meet, but they've tried hard.  The finals are coming up in about a week-and-a-half.  We don't know any of the details of how it's done, but we'll be pulling for her.  

 Snoqualmie Middle School has only 8 girls on their 6th grade squad.  Some schools have as many as 50.  They're a sweet group, I hear, and are out there trying every week.

I can't wait to see them run in person.  I'm so glad they're getting this opportunity to get out and exercise and learn about competing and encouraging each other. 

Gray at the finish line with Maija only 2 seconds behind her.  

The second meet.  Still smiling.

 

Delicious reward for a job well done.

I don't have pictures from the last two meets, but I'll work on getting and learning how to store all these downloads.  

Katherine's favorite still is her martial arts classes, but she's joined a new sport now - lacrosse - and is pretty excited about it.  I think Graysen will do that too when she's free.  It helps that their two sister friends are joining up too.  I hope it's everything they think it's going to be.  I know zero about lacrosse, but I guess I'll be learning something new.  

Not sports related but Emily's favorite hobby.