snack

Quickie snack:

1 apple, pared and sliced
a little sugar; a little cinnamon;
let sit awhile in bowl;
then add a little Bisquick;
stir;
place butter dabs on top;
Microwave 2 min.
Yum!

Pregnant mama cat

Did I mention that the mama cat is expecting? My guess is that it will be sometime in the next couple of weeks. Knowing nothing about what to do for an outdoor cat - or an indoor one for that matter, I searched "pregnant cat" on the Internet and came up with some simple ideas.

Let me interject here that none of the cats is tame enough for me to pick up and put in a container to take to a rescue facility. They're tamer than a couple of months ago, but that's all.

Although I'm sure the cat can have her kittens anywhere, I kind of want to keep her close to home. We have a patio, but the roof leaks so it's not dry when it rains. I made a makeshift sort of "cubbyhole" where she can curl up, stay dry, and keep the kittens in one place.

I took a box, covered the bottom with a huge plastic bag flattened down. Then I covered it with newspaper. Some of the present kittens have enjoyed curling up under some hurricane shutters that are leaning against the wall. I simply placed them so that they now cover the cat box.

Then, after finding a big gray tarp, I basically wrapped it around the box. This gives a layer of protection between the box and the concrete so that if it rains, the box will (hopefully) stay dry. It also covers the top of the box, which doesn't have a lid.

Perhaps this will be all for nothing. The box may get soaked anyway or the cat may not use it. I put it together Thursday and so far as I can tell, no one has given it a sniff of investigation.

So, we'll see.

Let me also add that if hubby were here, he would have helped make everything more secure. I just did the best I could consider a few limitations on my part.

Poinsettias

I love poinsettias at Christmas time. I have red bushes that bloom in our front gardens from November through March. At the end of October this year, I noticed that the bush close to our front door was losing its top leaves, apparently eaten off by Oleander Caterpillars. I know this thanks to the Internet. I had to read about dozens of caterpillars, but finally recognized the ones I’ve seen on another plant. But -- After a week or so the leaves suddenly began growing back and now they’re turning red. I’m thrilled!

Also, on the front porch I have two potted plants. Well, HAD two. Now I have only one since the other died. I believe it got overwatered by the sprinkler system and rain. The other plant is doing just fine. It’s called a “desert rose” and has beautiful pink blooms from time to time. However, I doubt that the name is accurate since I know other flowers by the same name and they’re not the least bit similar.

For several weeks, the pot with no flower has been nagging me to put in something new. Finally, today, I took a new pink poinsettia plant (from a group of ten that I bought last week at Home depot for $1.49 each) and planted it. But first --- I had to empty the pot, clean it thoroughly, and then place the fresh poinsettia in it. It sounds easy, but wasn’t. The pot was mildewed inside and out from sitting in water for too long. And of course it’s heavy – a Mexican type style. With previous back difficulties I hesitated to carry it around; but since there’s not one else. . . Bottom line: so far, so good. Carting it back and forth to the kitchen sink and scrubbing hard, everything went fairly well. I’ll let you know tomorrow how the back is.

After putting rocks in the bottom for better drainage, I added the old soil, some fertilizer and the plant. It Instead of placing it in the same spot, I moved it so it wouldn’t get so much water. As I do with the other plant, which is out of sprinkler range, I’ll take care of the watering.

Now it sits to the left of the front door, enhancing the entrance, and it looks gorgeous!

Re-gifting Surprise

Way back on Thursday, December 21st, I stopped at a store that sells citrus goodies, mainly for sending to folks in the northern states.

But I spied some home made stollen cakes made from Honey Bell oranges. Now if you haven't heard of Honey Bells, they're a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit. They are juicy and delicious --- and rare. We used to have a tree in our back yard, but the hurricanes in '04 pretty much stripped them and wiped them out.

Thinking of a couple of neighbors who've been big helpers since hubby died, I bought one and also a huge, delicious-looking apple pie for the other.

But the one for whom the stollen was intended had left town for Christmas. I didn't realize this until I left a message on their voice mail. Gary called back and said they'd be returning in about a week. NOW, what to do with the stollen? I could freeze it -- the store associate said it freezes just fine.

But I know there's nothing like fresh. So, on Sunday I took it to church figuring I'd give it to one of the special workers there. But she didn't show up. So when a couple invited me for a bit of lunch at their house, I offered it to them We shared it and it truly was delicious.

Meanwhile, someone gave me one of those tiny loaves of -- cranberry -- bread. I received it graciously but I don't really care for cranberries, whether juice, dessert, or bread. So I removed it from the little baking dish and tucked it in the freezer.

You're right -- when my neighbors returned, I took it out of the freezer, warmed it in the oven, and put it back into the now-washed dish. When I took it over, Gloria said, "Oh, thank you. I love cranberry bread. I'll make one for you from my favorite recipe and you can tell me which you like best."

Aarrgh! Foiled! But guess what -- this morning she brought over a little dish of pumpkin bread. She said she didn't have time to get the ingredients for the cranberry bread. I AM SO GRATEFUL! The pumpkin is delicious!

Last day of 2006

Well, goodbye to 2006. There were so many challenges for me this year, that I'm hoping things can only get better. However, I have my doubts. However, for everyone else:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Plaxo saved my addresses -- and me!

Since my desktop has been giving me trouble recently, I'm starting to use my laptop more and more. The problem is -- how to transfer my email file of addresses (Outlook Express) to the laptop's Outlook. Unless they're on the same computer, it can't be done.

Last night I remembered that Plaxo.com has a copy of all my addresses on its server. So, instead of having to re-enter everything one by one, I went on line to the Plaxo site. After reviewing and deleting old ones, I downloaded the file more or less as quick as a wink. Everything worked and now I have all those addresses in my Contacts file on my laptop.

Whew! Talk about being grateful!

Http://www.plaxo.com Check it out because it automatically updates your Plaxo colleagues when they make changes to their email info. It is very cool --- and FREE! Of course you can upgrade for @$50.00 to a fancier version. But I find the basic is just fine and saved me a lot of trouble last night.

Starting to live with the tattoo

As Trevor finished up the tattoo, he said, "People will think of you differently now. And they will react differently, too." I knew what he meant, but I hadn't given it much thought until he said that. After all, in every other way, I don't fit the profile of a tattoo-sporting woman.

An hour or so after getting the tattoo, I needed to run an errand to the photo store where they know me. After completing the transaction -- where my hand was in full view -- I said to Joe,
"Notice anything different about me?"
He replied, "Are you taller?"
I said, "Ah, that's good to hear. But what do you think of my hand?"
"Did you spill some paint on it?"
This guy should be in comedy.
I showed him the parrot. He said, "Does it talk?"
Why didn't I think of that? I should have positioned it so the beak was movable!

Actually, I thought this was pretty good for the first reaction. I loved the paint spill idea and may use it myself. And as far as the parrot talking, that's something to consider, too.

The next day, I didn't say anything at a business appointment. But one woman who knows me, after a few minutes, said with a big smile, "What's that on your hand?" I showed her and she responded, "I love it!" She said it was easy for her to see it in a positive light because one of her sons has several body piercings and a tattoo. OTOH, when her colleague saw it, she was convinced it was temporary. She couldn't believe that I would do such a thing. (I think I may get a lot of that kind of reaction. If a group of my friends or acquaintances was asked, Guess who got a tattoo, I don't think my name would be the first one mentioned.)

On Friday afternoon, I was with someone where both of us were using our hands quite a bit. She said nothing and I didn't bring it up.

Late Saturday afternoon, I ate dinner with a friend I haven't seen in person in about 20 years, even though we talk on the phone from time to time. Only near the end of dinner did I ask him what he thought. He said he had seen something on my hand during our meal but he wasn't sure what it was. I think he meant by that, that he saw it was a tattoo but he couldn't believe it. Yet he was very gracious about it and didn't seem negatively judgmental about it.

At church, one person began to admire my nails, which as you can see by the photos are a dark, dark maroon - almost black. Perhaps she was interested in the nails; or perhaps she actually wanted to hear about the tattoo. At any rate, she said, "Leave it to you to be up to date!" That was cool. The polish is, in fact, very up to date. I don't know whether the tattoo is. In retrospect, I think she wasn't really sincere.

A couple of people said, "It's going to be hell to remove." And I'm thinking, "Why would I do that? I love it."

Someone asked if the parrot has a name. Hmmmmm. I've pretty much decided the parrot will not be given a name.

In the several weeks since getting it done, I most enjoy the reaction of younger people. They love it -- and say so!