It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new.
But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

When an Animal Behaves Better Than A Human

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2014/05/maternal-instinct-credited-for-dog-saving-baby-in-argentina/



I think I am just going to give up on even trying to understand what goes on in other peoples minds.
Because it would be like trying to think like a serial killer or a child molester ,  your brain just can't wrap itself around that kind of thinking.

That is what came to me while reading this article. After seeing the dog.
When a dog behaves in a more human way than the actual humans involved.

(It was a coincidence that it took place in Argentina. I didn't notice that until after reading the story, of course Argentina like the US and certain European  and Asian countries, has terrible issues with animal cruelty and neglect .. but this story just knocked me over. now I really want a dog. )


On A Quiet Summer Day

On a quiet late summer Sunday in our old neighborhood, in Buenos Aires... where you could walk without the crowds of people on the sidewalks, cross the streets and be the only people crossing the street, linger at the windows, find a cafe open and always find a table open ,  hear birds instead of cars honking  ... on a quiet Summer day in Buenos Aires.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Happy Holidays

Wishing you a Merry, Happy, Joyous, Cheerful, Warm, Snowy, Full of Love Christmas  or whatever else you want to celebrate this week.
Thank you for being there .. for reading ... for commenting .. . I consider you all a gift.
Happy Holidays from Minette and I ... to you. Thank you.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Only Happy Stories


This is Miley. She was found in a garbage dump. She was so weak and sick and injured, there was little hope she would live. 
But this man, rescued her, took her to the vet, and they did their miracle work. 

This Christmas will be especially good for Miley and her new family. 
She just smiles all the time now.








Saturday, December 20, 2014

Saturdays, Skies, Snow, Stuff

No, that isn't my house.
It is cool though, a barn with the garage on the side .
But to give you an idea of what my neighborhood is like, that belongs to a nearby neighbor.

And this is my sky. Our sky. The sky.
But those are my trees !
Many of them decided that their huge branches were just too big, too long, too heavy so they dropped them in the yard. I will do nothing about it for now, with the snow and ice and what have you, I am sure there will be more large objects in the garden soon enough.
When it is convenient , the Tree Man can come with his brave men, large equipment that chops whole trees into saw dust in minutes .
Good thing I have a gazillion trees, I can afford to lose a few.
Why am I up so early ? Actually Minette allowed me to sleep until 5 .
She is like any baby, she is awake, the rest of the household might as well be awake also.
Then when you get up, stagger around with your first (of many) cups of coffee ... she goes back to sleep.
It is all a plan. She knows exactly what she is doing.

I will spend the day buying last minute Christmas presents, wrapping paper and Stuff.
Have a good weekend.
Stay warm.
Or Cool if you are that lucky ... just don't tell me about it if you are.


Friday, December 19, 2014

What ??

The cats face makes me laugh every time I look at this.
Right about now, with the final days of shopping frenzy for the holidays, I thought I would share a giggle or at least a smile with you.

It has already snowed, iced, rained and fogged here .
Winter didn't want me to think it would be gentle this year.
I say, bring it on ... I lived through last winter ..

I have plans ... Things are happening, although slower than I would like.
Not huge plans in the scheme of things but a change of location, a change of view, change ... that is my plan.

Now my luck just has to stay Good, my timing has to be Perfect ...

All during the holidays ... I don't know if you would call that good timing or not.

I will be here with the kitten.. wrapping wee presents for a wee boy who hopefully will get a kick out of Christmas this year. Last year it was all a big puzzle to him, what is that ? who is she ? why am I here ???

Actually, those have often been My thoughts these past months ...

Enjoy your Last Shopping Days til Christmas, Christmas parties, Secret wrapping of gifts after everyone goes  to bed ... all the things that make it so much fun.

Now I must go talk to a little kitten about the need for quiet and peace first thing in the morning.
Maybe she wants a dog ?

Thursday, December 18, 2014

7 Days ....

So I have just a few things left to get for Christmas presents.
Things like a gift for my son, his wife and the baby. Stocking stuffers too. And something for Minette. In other words, I have done no shopping.
So I have to get a few things. soon. like tomorrow.

I will be spending as much time as possible enjoying the baby who will be having his second Christmas but the first that he will actually be a part of ..

This year I am ... getting a real tree.
Minette will be delighted.

I have the lights and bought red ribbons with gold trim and those will be the main ornaments.
I will find some non-breakable child friendly ornaments for the baby to enjoy .. play with .

The biggest job will be to keep Minette from climbing the tree and batting at all the dangly things that are within reach and getting in the way of my son ... he has no patience for kittens.
His mom has no patience for sons who have no patience for kittens so it will be a jolly time at my house, I am sure.

Christmas dinner will be pasta with smoked salmon. With something chocolate for dessert.
I thought maybe I would buy a bottle of Asti Spumante for some cheer.
Maybe someone would be relaxed and not want kill my kitten if she goes close to the baby..
Hopefully the baby won't try to kill her either.
Minette has no idea how her life is threatened in so many ways :)

Last night she fell asleep, at the foot of the bed.. lying on my robe that I had thrown on the bed.
I woke up around 5 am and she was curled up on my pillow, next to my head.
I moved her and went back to sleep.
I woke up later with her sleeping under the covers ..  she travels a lot in her sleep ..
What I really really love is she will be sleeping and I will lift her up to move her and she starts purring loudly.
Go head, Minette, sleep anywhere you wish.


Countdown .. how many days til Christmas ? yikes !! 7 days !!!!!




Monday, December 15, 2014

10 Days Until Christmas !

 And I have still not bought presents.
I have been snowed in, people were here that required my presence and now there are no presents !!

Today I went to a shop to buy something ... anything ! and the store was closed.
Monday .. all the shops close on Monday !! ARGGGGHHH !

And I braved driving out of the driveway covered with snow.

Dear Santa ... don't forget I need boots for walking in snow.
I only have nice boots for walking on city streets ... dry city streets.
And my Ugg boots for being warm in the house .. there is nothing like a suede boot full of shearling to make your toes curl up and sigh.

Today I will make lists.
Tomorrow I will go shopping.
IF I can get to Great Barrington Ma. That is the best little town for shopping, you name it, they've got it. I plan on getting myself some good snow boots too. A good down coat would be nice.
Last year I didn't bother .. this year I must get a coat. For living in the Frozen North.
I never needed a coat that warm before ...

Minette has fallen in love with the scarf-thing that I bought .
It is a circle .. you pull it over your head to wear it around your neck.
It is some ridiculously soft furry looking stuff but creamy white with dark chocolate brown at the roots ...
I wanted to wear it to bed last night.
It can be my Security blanket during the Night and a Scarf during the Day.
I sleep alone, I need the extra warmth that is missing..and at the same time, there is no one here to laugh at me for looking so goofy.

Now I have to get back to making lists and figuring out my Christmas Dinner.
It is going to be something that can be made ahead, so I can spend all my time with a one year old who is going to experience a Christmas very unlike last years.
There will be a real tree and lights and stockings and presents and laughter and music.
Oh ... and a cat.

(who is staring at me right now, sending telepathic messages to me ... Mama ... Mamaaaa, I want something to eeeeeat ) ...

If you haven't done it, remember to mail your Christmas cards so they aren't late.
I hate getting cards After Christmas !

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Our Lady of Pilar

Our Lady of Pilar .. and Recoleta Cemetery... my neighbors.

On a Sunday , we could lie in bed and listen to the Church bells ring.
We would walk Tate over to the parks and peek inside the church when everyone had come out.
An ancient church, tiny , perfect.
The Convent for the nuns was next door. They were always busy with their good works, taking care of things and well, being nuns.
I don't know what it was but just being around it, was peaceful .. comforting .

I loved walking through the Cemetery. My husband would laugh at me and tease me about being a ghoul. Then he would make some corny joke about me being the ghoul that all the boys liked.
He was so silly. He always made me laugh. I could use a few laughs these days.

I was constantly pointing and saying, Look at that sky !
Or I was photographing the skies.
Buenos Aires - Good Air ... the sky is always beautiful. Even when stormy.
And being a city that doesn't have a gazillion highrise buildings, you could see the sky forever ... it was usually an intense blue , especially summer, and the clouds were fantastic with shapes that I would try to figure out, is it a horse or a ship ?

I miss hearing those bells ring.

Tastespotting

 Tastespotting


What do you do when you are stuck inside for DAYS  with snow ?
Today I looked in the cupboard and noticed that there was not much to eat.
I wasn't really prepared for this snow that was bigger than expected and it is soooo cold out that it is not melting.
Only the street .. not the driveway or walks ... just the street.

So what do I care ? I am snug inside with Minette the wild maniac biting snuggling kitten and television, a Kindle and music.
If they delivered groceries and cat food ... I would not come out until May. or whenever snow is finally finished. When I don't have to worry about sinking to my neck in a snowdrift or slipping and falling and not being able to get up .. or all those snow related issues that come up.

I am getting bored. I want to eat something tasty.
I have no more pasta left over.
I have coffee ... thank god.
I have some Nutella.

So thanks to Tastespotting .. I absolutely love this website !! I will be baking
Drum Roll ********

Nutella Bread Pudding.

I will see you in the Spring.
I will be the one with the chocolate on my face .. with a few buttons undone to accommodate the sudden "growth spurt" !



Saturday, December 13, 2014

How lucky we are

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2014/12/homeless-man-walks-five-miles-a-day-to-see-his-dog/


How lucky we are .. to have computers and a comfortable chair to sit on at the desk and heat in the winter and food to keep us going and people who love us and a dog or cat to love us and to keep us company.

The way I can think of being thankful for that luck is to share my good fortune in some way.
I think this man and his pup should have a home together and be able to enjoy their lives just a bit more. What do you think ? For Christmas  ,,,

Friday, December 12, 2014

New Times

I am here alone ... with a sleeping kitten.
It snowed all last night and some of today. It might snow again tonight. No one came to do my driveway but it is OK .. there was nowhere I wanted to go.
I was snug.
Snug in soft , floppy, too big on me, sweat pants and a big chenille sweater that is like wearing a favorite baby blanket.
There was no one to see if I was fashionable or not.
My hair did look amazing though, too bad no one saw it.

I started the day with Good Intentions.
You know what those are .
You wake up and lie there and think .. there is nothing to do , nowhere to go .. no one here but me .. and an insane kitten..
What do I want to do ?
What do I want to do more than stay in and be  snug and warm ?
Nothing.

So I vacuumed.
Yay me !

Minette ran away .. next time I am trying to eat something ( Ramen noodles ) and she is struggling to swat them with her paw as I lift the fork, I will get out the vacuum. That'll teach her.

I dusted and tidied up.
Which is sort of sad, how much untidiness can one woman and a kitten create ??
But it was pleasant enough, good music playing while dusting always helps.
Today mine was classical. Sometimes it is Argentine or Tango but today was Vivaldi and a wonderful Bach Solo ..

Tonight I will snuggle in with the kitten and make plans.
She likes it when I tell her The Plan.
This Plan involves selling houses and buying new ones.
New ones that are just the right size for a lady and a kitten.
And possibly an occasional visitor.

Yes, new times are coming.
I am trying to be ready for them.
Minette and I  !






Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Best Laid Plans

I had plans for today.
I had places to go and people to see.
I had ambition. I had energy. I had no idea it was going to be a big snowstorm.

Minette is bored.
Therefore she does things to make me jump up and chase her around yelling.
She laughs.

It is so very beautiful out.
Yes, I took a gazillion photos.
Like I never saw snow before.
Like it didn't snow all winter last year.
Like I won't see it again next winter.
Minette just shakes her head .. rolls her eyes .. I have no idea where she got that from !

So far this morning, I have had a full pot of coffee ... watch out !
I have eaten about 5 of those tiny cinnamon rolls that come in the round plastic container at the local grocery .
I have another one in the freezer ... I thought ahead.

There is enough soup ( I made Ribollita and love it !!) and there is plenty of pasta makings and if things get really bad, there is Bisquick , milk and eggs...
Pancakes for dinner !

Oh ... and I have potatoes and spinach .. omelets !

See ... I am getting the hang of this snowed in thing .. as long as I don't lose power I am all set.
As long as I don't lose my mind ... is another matter. .

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

What To Do In An Ice Storm

What to do in an Ice Storm.

Wear a lot of sweaters.
And anything fuzzy and warm on your feet.
With a few pair of socks if you like.

Drink a lot (a    Lot ) of hot tea.
Have some hot soup.

Be sure the heat is on in the bathroom.

Take frequent looks out at the trees, covered in ice, huge branches drooping.

Be sure you have the items needed if you lose power.

Be sure there are plenty of warm fuzzy blankety things in the kittens carrier. Things that can be a kitten cave if needed.
When making soup, be sure the kitten does not stick her head in the pot while you are doing your taste test.

Keeping curtains closed keeps the cold from radiating off the windows and into the room, where it will go directly to your back .. right in the middle, between your shoulder blades.
If this occurs, add another sweater.

If the kitten finds a warm and snug spot to nap ..... Be Quiet.

or

Finish your tea and take a nap too.


Later you can amuse yourself with watching the icicles grow , as they form off the overflow in your gutters ... that you never had the gardner clean ...

You can watch the cars drive by too fast and see if This is the one that crashes.
So far, no crashes but one fishtailing slidey moment ..
My car is warm and dry in the garage where she might remain until Spring.
I am no dummy.

Plan a trip.

The farther South the better.

Make soup. If it has pasta in it, it will be a hit. Even if you are the only one having soup for dinner.

While there is still electricity, baking anything sweet is a good idea. It goes well with tea and keeps your mind of the length of that icicle outside the window.

This has been my public service announcement.





Sunday, December 7, 2014

Life is just a Big Adventure ...

The first week we were living in Buenos Aires .. we were staying in an apartment on the top floor of a small building and the windows looked out over the parks and other buildings. The views were good .. as you can see here, Very Good.

You would have thought I never saw the sky before moving there. Every day I was oohing and aahing the clouds, the color of the sky , the sunsets . I was at the Bottom of the World, ! what did you expect ? The sky is different. I am sure it is. And there is so much of it .

We never went to visit our friends out at their estancia and I was always sorry. I wondered if the skies were as breathtaking .. as far as you can see, sky.
As far as you can see , Argentina !

Here, I have good skies. Clean air/ country air.

I am about to begin a new stage in my life. Everything I do now is a First in one way or another .
This will be the First time I have ever sold a home , bought a new home, moved by myself.
It should be interesting ... I hope I am brave enough to do it alone.
I hope there are people around me who are encouraging and not negative.
I always think, I can always move back to Buenos Aires ..
Minette likes that idea. She seems to be a bit of a tiny adventurer ..

Today I bought my first Christmas present ! yay me !
Maybe I can do it like this - each day, one gift . I should be finished by Christmas.
next year.
Oh well, we will see ... life is just a big adventure, isn't it ?

Friday, December 5, 2014

Wanderlust

 I have been stricken by a serious case of Wanderlust.
I could pack up the kitten and not come back for years. If ever.
Carla Coulson did not help. Actually, she just added to the list of Places I Must Go.
Minette is trying to pack her bag ... she is having trouble deciding what to take.

Brugge

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Room of Washing, Next to the Room of Swinging

I fell asleep last night with water heaters and flooded basements uppermost in my mind.
Throw in a few dreams about hiding in closets and I woke up exhausted! at 6 am.
Thank you Minette.

At least I was warm and snug in my house. Nevermind there is no water . My hot water heater thingee died .
I want to call it a tank but that machinery down there has nothing that resembles a tank.
So the Thing went kaput and I have no water .. anywhere ... water water everywhere and not a drop to drink.
The very nice plumbing and heating man and his trusty sidekick ( son?) will be here any minute and they will install my brand new machinery and then I can sell this house to the highest bidder.

Yes .. I am serious.
This convinced me that I need a smaller newer or at least better house to be alone in.
Minette is really useless when it comes to fixing things and I can only  do so much or even want to do only so much.
I just don't see me down in that basement sticking my hands into dark corners where anything could be waiting. I have a hard enough time walking from one side to the other to the laundry room.
Why they put it there I have no idea.
I have to walk down a bad flight of stairs, to the door, walk down a passageway past dark rooms where creatures lurk ( in my mind maybe ) and turn on lights as I go.
 Listening for the sounds of scurrying ... or god forbid, shuffling .
And switch on more lights and there is the brand new washer dryer we bought when we moved in.
It stays with the house ... anyone who is interested in buying .. if you have a thing for doing the laundry in dungeons etc.

There is a room that was sort of halfway finished, old fake wood paneling on the walls and most ridiculous of all ... a fake fireplace.
My son is convinced that one of the previous owners were "swingers" ... you know, 60s music, shag carpet, fake wood paneling, fake fireplace .. bouffant hair-dos and mini-skirts and maybe white shiny boots and a big sofa. With a cocktail bar.
Michael Caine would have loved it ... ( reference to all those good Alfie movies)

So when I go downstairs, I pass the dark empty rooms and come out into the room of Washing found right next to the room of Swinging. Only in a 50s house in the country, down the hill from a farm.

When the plumbers are gone , I am off to visit my Realtor.
I have to discuss a plan .. while I have just gotten used to being here alone .. I still sleep with my bedroom door locked. I think a smaller cozier home would do better for the kitten and I.
With a nice light clean basement that has no ghosts of former swingers. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Wish us luck ..


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

What would I do ?

She was just watching me , wondering what I was doing.
Waiting for me to come and play.
She has made such a difference in my days, in my life. I once again have a "baby" to take care of, she keeps me company , especially at night and a  noisy little creature to wake me up too early in the morning .
When I am really wanting to be asleep and snug under the covers, she sits on my pillow and washes my hair. She will purr loudly and constantly ... then if I stay really still, sometimes she will curl up next to me and fall back asleep.
One morning this happened and when I woke the second time, she was nuzzled in the curve of my neck and snoring away.
Of course, I had to lie there without moving, until she stretched and woke up. Ready to  chew on my fingers and make sure my hair was clean.
What would I do without her ?

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

It is just one of those days

First of all, it is soooo cold out.
Feels like Snow kind of cold.
Gloomy and raw and still ... I know it ... it is going to snow.

I have errands to run. I went to the mailbox .. yes, the one at the end of the driveway .. it was far enough.. it is too cold to be out.
Minette thinks I should get back in bed and play.
With her.
Take a nap.
With her.
At present I am not speaking to her.
She keeps sharpening her claws on the sofa.
Yes, the sofa we  shipped back here from Argentina.

I think it might be time to look into slip covers or whatever they are ... I like the idea of Toile.
I will become the old woman in the house with her cat, surrounded by Toile.
I might make a little mattress cover in Toile for her bed.
With a tiny pillow ... in toile.
She likes red.

I need soup recipes.
Feel free to email them to me. Or post them here in the comment section.
Think of it as doing your bit to keep me from getting that starved , locked in a house with a wild kitten look.

I made my first Apple Crisp in ages the other day.
Amazing how good it is for Breakfast.

I need a plumber.
I have ice cold water that comes out of the faucets like Niagra falls.
When I turn on the hot water, it dribbles out like .... well ... let me put it this way .. a bird pees with more power.

You can imagine the pleasure of a shower with that kind of water pressure.
In the frozen North.
With a kitten banging on the door to let her in.
So she can leave the door open and run out again.
Over and over and .....

She just knocked something off the dresser ... I stomped in there ... she flopped over on the floor and played Dead Kitty.
When I scooped her up, she made that little tiny scared kitten noise.
A love-in ensued ...
I am such a pushover.

I have to get out of the house ... the Apple Farm is waiting... fresh Macadamia Nut cookies, cider and apples and maybe some zoop. yes... zoop. soup. zoop. same thing.

Stay warm ..



Monday, December 1, 2014

It Always Starts With Just One

It would be so easy to be the Crazy Cat Lady on my street.













She is only 2 months old. Minette might enjoy the company and she could teach the baby .. you know, the things a kitten should know.
I think it might be nice.
I have to give this some thought.

I am in danger of being that crazy woman down the street with all the cats.
It always starts with just one.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

From One Day to the Next

Everyone was here, the house was full, rooms full, beds full, laughter, talk, baby talk, young man talk, parental talk, family mother children talk.

All sorts of food .. veggies, sweets, baby delicacies and even something for a kitten.

Bedrooms overflowing, beds everywhere !

Small beings were introduced to New England cold and snow and trees laden with several inches of snow. Birds were included, full feeders and the chipmunks got their pistachios.

Stuffing without a turkey worked !
The first apple pie baked by this baker in over 10 years ... is delicious.
It might become a favorite breakfast, for all I know.

Yesterday .. the baby and his mama and daddy went home.
There was a big gap in the house ... the rooms were a bit more quiet, the little sounds and smiles and sweetness was missing.

Today with a flurry of cooking , eating, laughing , packing , chatting and hugging, the last of the visitors were gone !

Minnette keeps looking out the window ... where the heck did they all go ???

I keep thinking about doing laundry or maybe just take a long shower and read ...
but it is difficult ..

The house is too quiet.
The house is too empty.
Minnette went to take her nap. She muttered something about being bored.

I guess I might go join her in that nap.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Saturday, November 22, 2014

At Home



Home ... in Argentina.
Warm .. summer .. warm nights .. lots of stars .. sit on a bench in the park and listen to the musicians and enjoy the night air..

Here it is cold. Very cold. Windy. The deer are staying in tonight and the birds went to bed hours ago. The Highland Cattle are all facing the wind ... waiting to go into the nice warm barn.
The sheep are huddled together with the babies. The horse looks bored.
Ignore him, he always looks bored . He is a Stud. They have an image to maintain.

Minette is just looking for trouble.
I left a drawer open the tiniest bit , her tiny paw fit right in .. she was fishing things out as fast as she could.
I cut open an avocado, you would have thought it was pure catnip, she practically walked up my arm to get to it .
Figures, I find a kitten who loves avocado .. if she likes chips, we can have an afternoon of chips and guacamole

I got a haircut.
I love it.
phew~

My daughter is driving up here .. now ... not feeling well ... visiting Civil War sites and on her way to Mama's house .
I will be here, waiting , with pots of hot tea and something sweet for the boy.
Who is taller than me .. deep voice .. beautiful baby boy/man.
Minette will be beside herself .. people ! more people to wash !! It must be Christmas !!
and then the baby will arrive and she will just swoon .. she won't know who to wash first.

I am going to watch Doc Martin or something .. I need a bit of Brit in my life.

Have a good weekend ..
 ..

Friday, November 21, 2014

She Chose Me

 A Forever Home

Most of my friends and readers know that my little kitten Minette was adopted from Animalkind, in Hudson New York.
She had been found, under a bridge, in the snow, with a dead cat.

She was dreadfully ill, very tiny, very young and pretty frozen herself.
With all sorts of health problems, she was a tiny sick little baby.

When she was well enough to be out of the hospital, she was kept in the glass rooms in the building, where you see them as you walk in. I was walking towards the desk and saw her, she saw me and started walking towards me.
The lady at the desk said go ahead, pick her up.
And that was that.
She chose me.
We are happy with each other.

Minette was terribly sick .. she was on all sorts of antibiotics and stomach medicines.
Her little tummy is still not great, but she manages not to make a mess anywhere, she flies to the litter box like a good girl.
She is still tiny, she can be a picky eater or she is just finicky and a little Princess.
Whatever, I love her.

Today she talked back at me.
She started to stick her paw where it did not belong and I held my hand out and pointed at her and said no ... and she batted at my hand and talked back.
It might have sounded a bit like meh ... maaa ... maaaa .. Maybe she has been talking to those sheep up the hill ... or the Highlanders.

Last night I gave her a choice, sleep on the bed with me or in her crate .. her crate has an open door and is all cozy and cushy so she sometimes likes to be snug in there ..
She chose to sleep on my bed with me.
For the first time, she slept all night and didn't wake me up at 5 ... she woke me up at a little before 7 am and here is the good part ... she woke me up but came back to bed, snuggled under the comforter with me and we both snoozed a little while longer.
It was a good morning.
I am so glad she chose me.


Friday .......

Friday  To Do List :

Get Hair cut. First haircut since my husband died .. longest my hair has ever been . I sort of hate to cut it but there is something about an adult woman with extremely long girlish hair that I don't like.
(at least on me )
I end up always putting it into a ponytail anyway.
New Life, New Haircut.

Company's a'coming!!
It will be a Full House and I can't wait !
Minette will have two more people to charm and irritate. She will be beside herself with glee.

There is this little house , not far from here, that I have my eye on.
I want it.
It is like a dolls house and my furniture probably won't even fit but I love this tiny little house.
Minette would love it too.
Gotta get advice, look at it again. Make a decision .... ugh ... I hate making decisions.

I will be very busy very soon for a little while and I doubt I will be blogging.

So until then, Have a Fabulous Thanksgiving, eat as much as you want, you can go on that diet the day after. Enjoy your loved ones and be happy ... there is much to be thankful for. Sometimes you just have to sit a minute and remember it all.

Be Happy.


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

I am lucky too

I have 3 or 4 days until the entire family ... my little bitty family .. arrives . We are celebrating Thanksgiving and a Birthday.
I keep thinking I have everything under control then I am out at the market and realize I have no list.
I think I got everything.
When I get home, I find out I got a lot of things but not the right things .. but I did get a brownie mix.

I remembered to get the makings for the cornbread stuffing I will make.
We don't eat turkey but we like all the trimmings.
We will be quite full , I think, on devilled eggs, cornbread stuffing,   potatoes ( not sure what form yet ) , fresh broccoli with garlic, noodles with peanut sauce, a salad with Everything in it , and then there are the other cooks who will make things that I am not even aware of .
Dessert is cooling on the counter now - double chocolate brownies.

I will probably make Ribollita again because it is just so darned easy to make and so delicious.
It has everything you need, veggies and broth and spaghetti .. zoop at its best.
With some nice fresh Italian bread for grilled cheese sandwiches, After Thanksgiving dinner will be fine too.

I want it all ready now- so when everyone arrives, we can celebrate the birthday of a beautiful  young man and all be together when he blows out ALL of those candles ...
I still remember when he was born. I met him when he was 2 days old I think .. that baby would fit in one of his hands now  ..

I am lucky, I am sad but I have to remember how lucky I am too.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Just Minette and I

Yahoo features Pet Finder on their main page.
I look at it. I end up reading stories about pets that have been lost, given to shelters because they barked or wouldn't bark or wanted to play or whatever lame excuse some dim-witted person thought up in order to excuse the fact that they were giving a cat or dog to a shelter that would most likely kill them.
At times like this- when I read stories like these, I hate people.

I look at Minette. Tiny still, blue , huge yellow eyes and a personality as big as a tank.
She talks, she scolds me, she purrs like a freight train and she weighs 6 pounds.
She is totally fearless yet she now runs to me if something startles her or she realizes she hasn't seen me in the past 15 minutes.
She walks up me when I am lolling on the sofa and circles a few times, of course I am part of the sofa... what else am I doing there ? and then settles down for a nap , usually with her head tucked under my chin.
I cannot move until that nap is over.
I cannot cough, sneeze, answer the phone or change channels .. forget about the book that she has pushed out of her way, no reading that either !
I admit, there are days that I end up taking a wee cat nap with her. Something about the warm little body and the purring .. it is impossible to resist.

She keeps me company, she makes me laugh, she sympathizes when I am sad .. now how could any human take a little creature like her and just hand her to strangers in a shelter that will put her to sleep ?

It is beyond me.
I sort of like to pretend people like that don't exist.

I am not sure how long I will be living in this house .
When , if I move again, I am giving serious thought to 1- a puppy/dog 2- another kitten to keep her company. Or maybe, if I were to move somewhere smaller than this house, just Minette and I will be fine. We are a duo now.



Friday, November 14, 2014

Waking up to Winter

I  woke up to silence and Minette.
Minette wakes me up too early - 5 am - and doesn't stop nudging me ... feed me, pet me, open the door, mamaaaa.

But the silence kept dragging me back to sleep .. that big bed in that big warm bedroom just hung on to me ... never mind it was too early for anyone to be awake   .. it was too cozy to be awake !

But she didn't let up .. I dozed, while she ransacked the house .. finally I got up, staggered around, looked out the window.

A Winter Wonderland ... snow .. everywhere.
The huge pine and fir trees are decorated for the holidays .. the ground is covered but it is not deep.
Since the roads are clear and it is the First Snow of the Season, I will not freak out yet.

Company is coming for the weekend.

Company is coming for the holidays .. I have a busy time ahead and combined with hopes for new ventures here, I should be busy . Or frantic . Or insane. Minette and I will make a good pair.


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Sweet

That sweet little face just made my heart a tiny bit lighter today.

It is another blustery day , quite cold and a good day to stay in and nest.
Baking cookies is a good idea but that would require going to the store for bags of chocolate chips.
I guess I might force myself out to do that.

Weird how some days I wake up bouncing with energy and others the kitten has to drag me out .. push me down the hall to the kitchen and hold her bowl so I can pour her kibble in it.

I want to be out among people but they are all home too... it is a definite pre-winter day .. blustery and grey.

The squirrels and birds and chipmunks are working overtime to stock up for the winter.
I am glad the trees in the back provide lots of nutty things for them. Not to mention the nut in the house who is known to buy massive bags of bird seed and who shares her snacks with the chipmunks.
Minette just watches, biding her time, she will get out there and grab one of those creatures one day ..  so she thinks. Let her have her dreams .. the Blue Jays are bigger than Minnette.

I have been feeling slightly off lately but hoping it is going away. I am forcing myself to eat more .. blech.
I think a new project is needed. Something to look forward to, something to work on each day, something that will give satisfaction when done.
Aside from baking cookies of course.

We will see what ideas pop up.
Feel free to suggest anything .. don't feel bad if I say WhadarYoukidding ??

Thursday, November 6, 2014

I am still not able to stop smiling

I went out to the garden, it is damp and cold.
I went back into the house when I heard something and turned around to see ...

  I could hear them but the trees were in the way .. I walked to the edge of the property, there is a line of pine trees then a great vast field where hay grows in summer.
And there they were ...

 A Murmuration of Starlings

I tried to take photos, it is damp and wet and my battery died but if I got any decent photos, I will post them later.
The sound ... I have never heard anything so wonderful .. it is damp and cold and wintery out, and silent ... then there was this faraway sound of many many birds ... then there was the whooshing sound as this great huge cloud of black birds swirled and dipped and passed by ... I will never forget this ..

They all landed ... the yellowish brown cornfield became a mass of black birds ... all making their bird noises as they looked for food.
Then as if a timer went off, the entire flock , at one time, swept up into the air, swirling over and away.

I was and I am just boggled by it .. I was smiling and crying .. I wish someone had been here with me to see it too ..

The Best I Could Have Hoped For ..

Today would have been our  44th anniversary. Yes, I was a child bride.
I had just arrived in New York City. A friend introduced us.
He invited me to tea at Serendipity. And that was that.
I flew to North Carolina shortly after to celebrate my mothers birthday with her and with my "baby" brother .. who is now older than I am .. odd how that happens.
When I flew home to NY, there he was, waiting at the airport .. we went home together to his apartment and we were never separated again. Until now.

He was romantic, he did crazy things, I , younger by a few years, was the one who would say Wait, what if ??? And he would laugh and say, What if we don't ? Why Not ? Everything will be fine.
And it was ..  every day was fun, exciting and full of love.

No matter what was going on in our lives, Love was the one thing we were sure of.
I followed him everywhere , he led.

We had children , he adored them both. He worried about them, he was their Father ..
The best I could have ever hoped for.

He was an adventurer , he lived in all sorts of interesting and exotic places ... Paris, Rome, London, India ... New Jersey .. and Buenos Aires for the last 7 years.
But he was always a New Yorker and my husband , the man I adored.

I was very young when we met and now I feel quite old.
I look back on our life together and so much was done ! so many people we met .. so many places we visited ... so many places we lived ... and I loved every minute of it, even the times I hated, I look back on fondly.

The last seven years in Buenos Aires were like one long honeymoon.
The three of us, we brought Tate, our Standard Poodle with us and the three of us were ridiculously happy living in Argentina.
The last year there, Tate died . He was old and he had cancer .. but he died at home with us by his side, on his own terms. I miss him still.
I like to think like my grandmother used to think, that he and my husband are together, somewhere "up there" , waiting .. it sort of makes the bad days better when you imagine you will be with them again. Be happy together again.

So the weather is appropriate I guess, we are having a dreary grey cold rainy day.
Minette has her work cut out for her, she is all there is to cheer me up today .. so far she bit my nose and helped me make the bed.

I might have to go shopping. Go somewhere ..

Yesterday I had a lovely visit with my friend and realtor.
So changes are being set into motion ..
Minette and I .. preparing for the next adventure.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Yes, there really are Angels .

This is the story about pilots who fly their planes to rescue animals.
Pups in this case.
There are sooo many kill shelters around. It is horribly sad.
Minette was adopted from Animalkind, where they keep the poor little cats and kittens until they are adopted. There are friends of the people who work there that help, fostering cats and kittens.

I see so many, too many stories about beautiful dogs that for small reasons, are left behind by the people they belong to ... abandoned, left to die, to go to a kill shelter where they will die.

These are dogs and cats that only want to be loved and to love you back.

Minette washes my face in the evening .. she thinks I need it. I might taste good since she has done it more than once and she would not do it if she didn't like me.
She was found in the worst possible circumstances .. in the snow, about 2 months old and next to a dead cat. Maybe her mama. She lived. That is a miracle right there .
And now she is warm and fed and loved . Isn't that all cats and dogs ever want ?

So this story is why    these men, who go to the trouble and expense of rescue are such heros to me.

I hope you enjoy the story .. and appreciate them like I do.

dog-rescue


If You Could Change

If You Could Change


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

It was for you






Nothing like a day at the races.
Sunshine. Everyone is in a good mood .. at least as the day begins.
The horses are so beautiful.
We sit in a grass lawn area with small tables with umbrellas and we can walk to the fence .. the one that goes around the track.
If you stand there before they run, the jockey will sometimes pull the horse over so you can reach out and touch. Wish him luck. Take a photo and walk around with a silly smile the rest of the day.
Especially when that horse wins the race ... you know that it was for you ..

Monday, November 3, 2014

Stay Warm

Autumn is here and the landscape is a blaze of reds and golds and some green. That green will become very important when all the colors are gone and that is the only one we will see until next Spring. 

 

I took a drive to Old Chatham where you can have coffee in this room that is all windows with a wood burning stove in the middle of the room. 
You pick a sandwich, soup of the day or a pastry and coffee, or tea and go sit in the room and read, daydream and enjoy the warmth and nice feeling of coziness that the place always has...whether it is busy or you are the only person there. I love the red tin rooster . 
The art on the walls is local artists and for sale. Some of it is fabulous. 
I have a thing for the line drawings/ pencil drawings of flowers .

There are Alpaca and Llama farms in the area, not to mention the Chatham Sheepherding Company.
I have to go there soon and buy some Christmas presents. Soft wool  lined slippers and maybe something cuddly for a certain tiny boy.

 I quit taking walks .. it is so cold. I get a headache from breathing the cold air .. my sinuses complain .. they liked the warm air in Argentina. So did my skin. I am flaking already. Winter has not even really hit yet but I have winter skin .. Nivea and Lubriderm are my Best Friends.
The Sunsets are always pretty but with the trees bare, it is so beautiful, the dark trees etched against the red and gold sky .. Nature has a good time here, making pretty sights.
 Stay warm ..

Sunday, November 2, 2014

A Chicken Soup Day

I woke to the sound of the wind blowing.  Hard.
Trees whipping around, leaves flying around, chipmunks hiding, birds hiding .. a Blustery Day, as Winnie the Pooh would say.
I, on the other hand, call it a Soup Day.
I am not going out, I am not considering doing anything that involves leaving the house.
Minette and I can listen to music, read and maybe watch a movie later and I will make soup.
Yesterday I thought about it, today I will do it.

Because as we all know, when it is a Sunday, the sky is grey, the wind is blowing like crazy, there is nothing you can do but make soup.

I quit eating chicken. I don't know why, I just didn't have a taste for it and after a while I realized that months had gone by and I had not eaten chicken.

The other day I thought, I will buy a little roast chicken at the market and use it in a sandwich or something ... but no .. it still sits and waits for someone to appreciate it.
This morning, looking at the weather and listening to that wind blow, I figured, it is a
Chicken Soup Day .. if there ever was one.

I might make it this way  Colombian Chicken Soup


or I might just make Grandmas Chicken Soup .. everyone knows that one.. you cook the onions, celery, carrots and chicken in water and seasoning then let it simmer and then you have
Chicken Soup.
You can add macaroni, rice, potatoes or as I recently saw , dumplings.

So this is where I will be today, home, with Minette, making soup and watching the chipmunks fly by .. I will let you know if I see any little dogs named Toto flying  by ...

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Soup would be nice.

It is a good day to have nothing that I have to do.
Nowhere I have to go.
And no one here but the kitten and myself.
The landscaper came earlier today and after filling 7 big bags with leaves, left.
He will be back next week with more bags and I will be here with more leaves. Many . More.

It is  raw and wet and cold out .. I would like to have a fireplace but a soft sofa with a kitten and one of my husbands soft sweaters on ... I am managing okay.

Soup would be nice.
Maybe tomorrow.


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sunset in Buenos Aires

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