Seriously?

You know how, a couple of days ago, I was telling you about our new little kitty, who I love to death, but who really doesn't know I'm alive?  The one who I keep trying to pet and love on, but who scampers away after about 2 minutes?

Yeah, THAT one!  Yesterday, she began acting differently - a LOT differently!  Before this, she would let me brush her briefly, then run away.  Now, she's coming to ME to be rubbed/brushed, all the time "talking."  She doesn't really meow; she "squeaks."  So, she's been squeaking a lot more; last night, she must have waked me up four times by "calling" to us.

Then there's the tail wagging.... or rather, the tail END wagging.  When you start scratching her back, she starts arching it, lifting her hindquarters & tail, and then scratching her back feet a bit. 

See where I'm going with this?  I'm pretty sure that she.  is.  in.  heat.  That hussy.  The worst part?  When we adopted her from the shelter, they told us that she had been spayed.  When our vet checked her out, he said that he THOUGHT that he could feel her scar.  SO, we've been resting easy the past four and a half months.  That party's over!

After talking with the vet & describing her symptoms, we came to the conclusion that she probably was "looking for love."  Our next topic of conversation?  What day & how soon we could get her fixed!  We've done the kitten thing once.  ONCE.  That was enough.  As beautiful as she is, and as cute as kittens are, our house is full.  Plus, she's too little to have babies. 

Wednesday.  March 14.  That's D-Day for her & her uterus.  The irony?  A month ago, she was put under anesthesia to have her front claws removed.  If we had only known .....

Stay tuned as updates occur - and they probably will!

"Parenthood".... and cats....

Long story short, (yes, I know:  every time someone says that, it's too late) I had a cat - Oliver.  He was uber cute and snuggly. 

His favorite thing was to help you take a nap - that's an acquired skill!  BUT, eventually he decided that he liked my darling daughter PWTH better, and he removed his favor from me.  Then when she got married, she took him to her new home - in TEXAS!  This house was in desperate need of a new, snuggly cat, preferably a very fuzzy one.

See, one daughter got a cat in middle school, and the older daughter stole I mean acquired a cat.  I had no cat at all!  This had to be remedied.  So, the first weekend of November, 2011, we went to the local animal shelter (dog/cat pound), as they were having an open house with half off the adoption fees.  We were looking, hopefully for both a dog AND a cat, having lost faithful doggie Ellie a month before.  But, alas!  No big dog/potential horse there (we like the big ones).  So we went into the cat rooms ...  big mistake.  HUGE!

By the end of our time there, both daughters were crying:  they know the statistics, and wanted to adopt all the kitties & thus save them.  UNfortunately, we had room for only one.  We all start looking/playing/trying to find the cat for us.

There was a six-toed cat (not a Maine Coon, just six toes), a Siamese-type with a bobbed tail, what seemed like HUNDREDS of kittens, and several others, including lots of tabbies (our personal favorites).  After a little while, I decided that we were going to take home a grown cat, as their chances of rescue were much smaller than cute, cuddly kittens.

I kept coming back to this one cage where a little fluffy cat was hiding in her litter box.  We finally got her out - she did not want to come - and started looking at her/playing with her.  Little bitty thing - our vet weighed her at 5.5 pounds and supposedly, she was 2 years old.  She kept trying to go back into her cage, but I couldn't let her go!  Long hair, Persian face (I don't know enough about cat breeds to know if she's full Persian or not), and HUGE brown eyes.  The shelter assistant said that she's the one who will hide all over the room.  This baby was so scared.  Then they told me that her owners had "given her up" because they had just had a baby.  That was it for me - this poor little thing had been abandoned by the only people she knew and trusted!  So we paid our $25 (for a PERSIAN!) and took her home - her name is Allie.  She hid under the car's seats all the way home, and once we got her inside the house, she kept hiding under all the furniture.

Eventually, she started trusting us - somewhat.  She'd come out of her hiding place, see us, and run back in.  (this is where the movie "Parenthood" comes in)  I was so desperate to see her/hold her/cuddle her, that every time she would come out, I'd get all excited and say, "HI, Allie!"  (just like the older mom trying to reach out to her adolescent son in the movie)  Of course, it was instantly BYE, Allie!

But, four months have passed.  She lives in our room, bathroom, and library.  She hangs out in the bidet (true story).  She LOVES men - I think it's their deep voices & bigger hands.  She loves for me to brush her, which is a good thing, considering her fur!  She's gained an entire pound - 6.5 pounds now - which is pretty amazing.  And I SO love her!  She tolerates me - typical cat!  But isn't she beautiful!  

All this to say, adopt a cat or dog from your local shelter or rescue organization.  And don't get too excited if they come out to investigate - you'll just scare them away!

Yesterday.....

Yesterday being Valentine's Day, I wasn't expecting too terribly much!  It's 1.5 months after Christmas, and only 9 days before my birthday.  So, while I love the fun and romantic feelings of the day, my expectations were low.


But....


but....


BUT!!!!!!


Sometime in the early afternoon, my sweet hubby arrived at my office with a braided-trunk azalea in full bloom.  You know what I call that?  Enough!  It turns out, that was just a good start.


When I got home, I walked into the house, to the smell of his signature spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove.  A salad was already ready to be dressed, homemade bread was cooling, and the pasta was waiting to be cooked.


The table was set with "the good stuff" waiting for dinner.


He then presented me with some amazing chocolate-covered strawberries, along with some bubbly stuff to wash it down with. 


He escorted me to the fire burning merrily in the great room - good thing it was a chilly day.  So I relaxed, ate "some" strawberries, and read the newspaper - in peace!


He cooked the pasta, sliced the bread, tossed the salad, and escorted me to the table, FOUR minutes before our usual dinner time of 7 (usually the food hits the table right at 7, on a GOOD day).


While we were eating, he had a cherry pie in the oven.  Know this:  I LOVE cherry pie.  He does NOT.  That's an act of service, believe me!  So, after I was sufficiently stuffed with all that good food, we had cherry pie for dessert.  Yes, he ate some.  Yes, I ate more!


Did I get a gift?  I sure did - about six of them - all acts of service.  Oh, plus the azalea.


Did HE get a gift?  He sure did - a voucher for a driving lesson + 3 driving laps at the nearest NASCAR racetrack!  Who was more excited about their gifts?  It's hard to say - it's pretty tough to compete with everything he did for me.


I love you, sweetie!

Twenty-six years ago today.....

This....

Met this..... 

 While on a date with one of his friends (true story) .....

Which led to this.....

 And then this......

 And all of a sudden, THIS (engagement #1)....

Led to THIS.....

And THIS....

And that night, this (engagement #2!) ......

Led to THIS.....

And this....

 Which has now given me this (3 sons)....

And this (3 daughters!)....

????

And, after almost 26 years, we're still doing THIS!

Here's hoping you and yours have as happy, and as PROLIFIC, a Valentine's Day as we've had over the years!

One Sentence Saturday, #4

Join Robin at Pensieve for One Sentence Saturdays!!!

Yesterday afternoon, our youngest child sent us a photo she had just taken of the Eiffel Tower - the REAL one-which means that she's now been to more countries than I have.

Five-Minute Friday: Trust

Lisa-Jo, at The Gypsy Mama, has a 5-minute prompt for a blog post.  This is a new one for me - usually I agonize for 30 minutes or so, making sure all the syntax/grammar/spelling is perfect. 

BUT, the theme is "trust" so I'm trusting that it won't be too awful (that's 1)
I trust that my husband will remember to set the alarm on his side of the bed each night, as I need it to be the first one awake each morning. (2)
I trust that my stove will continue to light, enabling me to cook dinner every night, which is important to me.(3)
I trust that God will continue to provide for us, just as He's done for the past 25+ years (not necessarily the way WE might wish, but always in HIS perfect time). (4)
I trust that even in this economy, my school system will still need me to be one of their psychologists. (5)
I trust that, as 3 of our kids are scattered out of our "nest" (one's in Paris as we speak), God will continue to keep them safe. (6)

That's it!  Five minutes!  Go here and join in the fun!
 

One Sentence Saturday, #3

Spaghetti & Meatballs for Sunday Dinner makes my heart sing!!!!


(join in the fun here!)