Trekking with Me

Happy Christmas to you! This is for those, like me, who may have woke not with scurrying tiny toes and bounces of little tots excited to see the morning light of day, but to a quiet, stillness to this holiday morning. I noticed an extra stillness this morning, as a little part of my "family" is not present.  I had to say goodbye to my little precious kitty yesterday.  My "Pud" (Puddie cat) was a gift of God's love to me for 17 years.  She was given to me in 2001, as a gift from one of my sweet students who learned that I lived alone and felt I needed the comfort of a pet.  My student accompanied me to the humane society animal shelter to pick out the perfect little purr box:  this little tortoise calico kitty grabbed my attention when she swatted at my hair from a crate she was housed in.  She was laying in a twisted position so to reach out her playful paw under the gate, seeming to say, "Hey! Pick me!"  Her paw was her trademark. That little ki...

Growing up I always wanted to live on a farm with lots of animals to tend and love.  Now, I have a more realistic understanding of how demanding a farm can be so I have settled, contently satisfied with my sweet little furkids: Baby Kitty, Sasha, and my foster cat, Pepper. Some mornings when I meander down the hall, barely awake, I am passed up by a romping furry critter or two,  whom then begs me to feed them before any such bathroom stop or coffee is put on, or when they wake me up in the wee hours of the morning, demanding that their food dish be filled to the brim, or when my foster kitty thinks she has full rights to my bed or I wake and hear the soothing snoring of Pepper who is nestled right between my legs, I wonder, do I live on an animal farm?  Even so, I love the sweet tangible love an animal can give, the companionship, the need to be needed;  they make me smile and sometimes laugh at how much they seem to "run" my moments.  They can't be ignored. ...

1.  Family.  They made this holiday beautiful in many ways. 2.  A place setting especially for me :-) 3.  A grand display of God's Love and Beauty... 4.  Peace in my heart, because of His Mercy and Grace. 5.  A visit with a dear friend from my youth. 6.  Lots of FOOD. 7.  A toasty fire and perfect FL weather :-) 8.  Coming Home - enjoyed my travel time starting with a starbucks stop, a discounted chic-fi-la sandwich (thanks for a coupon!), praise music, time to talk with the Lord, some great podcasts that encouraged my heart and mind, and warm welcomes from my kitties and puppy who missed me.   I can tell by their "meeee-ooooows" and excited tail wagging... 9.  Christmas time... is here.  I may get a miniature real tree this year.  Inspired by my sis-in-love. 10.  Energy to unpack my bags as soon as I unloaded my car.  :-) Exhaustion is setting in as i type...

Happy Fourth of July!  I believe this day is one of my favorites; over the past few years, it has distinguished itself in my memories.  Sailing is one part of the weekend, as well as watermelon, blueberries, some group activities like Contra dancing or hometown festival... and this year it is no different - more or less. :-) This year, this weekend has included a bit of sailing, a bit of hanging with friends, but mostly I have enjoyed a quieter holiday setting my house in order, keeping Sasha company and calm during the exploding flares and bottle rockets in my neighborhood.  I do plan on joining my community group tonight for a firework show and traditional fourth food! Kitty is all about the celebrating too... "I think we should shoot some off in the house tonight.  Sasha would totally love it.....you know, like good therapy, make her face her fears.  I am just thinking of what would be good for her..." "Mom, I am not going to smile, I don't care ...

Good Saturday Morning! "You have me in the house, what more do you want?" I love that one of my precious nieces thinks I have the idealistic life: I have a cat and a dog and get to play with them all the time.  What a wonderful life in her eyes.  :-) I am glad she thinks so.... I can remember thinking something like that when I was her age... no homework, do what I want to do when I want to do it... have as many animals as I want... climb trees until I am ninety and eat mac'n cheese every meal.  That is the life! Well, I don't eat mac'n cheese nearly as much as I did as when I was 10... though I do consume a box or two on rare occasions, I do enjoy my animals, I still like a good climbing tree, and adventure calls me to explore, travel, and be spontaneous as much as possible.  Ah... but I am not 10 anymore.... *sigh* My house is evidence of a full-time, not-10-any-more, working gal.  I am realizing, part of taking care of yourself means providing yourse...

It's way too early.  Can't go back to sleep.  Kitty discovered I was awake so she thought it would be good to have some food in her bowl: i complied.  How can you resist this love muffin? I have no spiritual thoughts right now, well, I am praying about some things. It is very quiet, still, the fan is circulating cool air, the neighborhood is asleep, you can feel Heaven's breezes...   Things are not so foggy, the Whisper in my heart and head is easier to recognize. I am heading to a retreat this weekend.  God opened the opportunity for me to go, I am looking forward to what He wants to give, maybe this early hour is to prepare me to receive.  I am also looking forward to some sand and surf between my toes, a sunrise... on Myrtle Beach. Anyhow, early thoughts... my alarm goes off in an hour.  If I actually make my bed, my room will look like this when i leave...  I miss my bed when i go away.  I love my bed.  Bye bed... se...

My furkids amuse me.  Whoever thinks animals don't have a personality, come over to my house for a day or so and I can prove you wrong.  Or rather, my Baby Kitty will prove you wrong. Sasha could too, though I am still learning her personality.  She is a dog,  a bit less complex than Baby-Kitty but still something I am discovering.  She is happy about everything, except maybe taking a bath under the hose or  ...being alone, but who likes that all the time? Take for instance... the rare occasion I allow her to sleep inside, in my room, on the floor.  Not sure why, but i guess i start feeling a little sympathetic as we may have not gone on any walks or tossed any balls in a few days.  I start feeling I am neglecting my poor child. So,  I let her in.  She thinks she's died and gone to heaven. She cracked me up this week as she received the high honor one night.  I spread a towel on the floor as I don't necessarily enjoy having ...

So it's a rainy, cold February day today. This Kitty has opened my door at least three times this morning... starting at 6 something.  It's nice to sleep in on such rainy mornings... but around here, no shut eye after 7AM.  Thursday's I like to try... She would not have it.  Nope. She is purring now, curled up on my tummy, my child of 10 plus years... i should skin her alive, but somehow... she feels more like a best friend.  She is God's tangible love gift to me somedays... and I would not trade that for "all the tea in china."

( FYI: "Life of Riley" is a saying that means  An easy and pleasant life! - in this case, extremely exaggerated! ) We've been together nearly 10 years.   Mom, we need to talk. Yeah? Mom, I need a name, like a serious name. What's wrong with Baby Kitty... or "Pud" or "Goose Brain"? Mom... Mom... Really? Now that is a good spot... right there. Mom, you are distracting me. A real name would be good for my self identity, Mom. Oh... yeah, that's the spot...oh please don't stop... Yes, yes... under the chin... oh yes... Mom... I... think... "Riley" would fit me real nice... yes.....

This is what welcomed me this morning... !! Sasha was pretty psyched about this white stuff too!! Utterly.... beautiful... i love it. My little tree in the backyard... Some color... cool! Go ahead... just come out of that tree Squirrel!! I like this view...  Baby Kitty was not too happy about this snow stuff... she was hunting for a warm spot. Sasha and I went for a romp... we had a book to deliver, a good excuse to venture out! So pretty dressed in Snow :-) Kitty found her place.... Sasha just wanted to go on another jaunt! :-) I thought it was time for some hot chocolate....

Happy New Year!! Hooray for New Beginnings! I hope you are enjoying your first morning of 2011!  The Lord has blessed me this morning with a quiet, foggy morning, the house all to myself - quiet, still except for a few critters who wanted to be fed earlier than I wanted to rouse - and time in my favorite quiet time spot - my cozy orange chair, covered with a few flannel throes and a good hot cup of coffee as I enjoy the Word and time in prayer.  A good slow start... (plus, my house is on the cleaner side of things as I spend some time taking care of these earthly belonging - it makes my heart happy to wake to clean clear floors and empty laundry baskets). I welcomed the New year with my two furkids... I actually fell asleep before 10 - I must have been really tired because I slept deep but then was roused by the firecrackers going off around the neighborhood - I flipped on the tv just as the countdown started: it was exactly 11:59:45... I hugged Sasha, who desperately want...

"can't catch me." I am a little tired today.  It can all be blamed on this varmint. "it's my favorite to get my picture taken!" Last night my folks came to town bringing sweet Sasha home!  She seemed happy to be home and we all loved on her a lot - she really liked that! I came home from school to find a wonderful dinner of grilled hamburger and mac'n cheese!  Toys were typically haphazardly ornamenting the living room floor - evidence of my brother and nieces being present for a mini-family reunion.  It is nice to come home to a full house - yet my house screams "little house" when they all descend. Bed time rolled around - none too soon - I had a long day and I had started early.  My folks stayed with me and since i have a queen size bed, my mom slept with me.  I have flannel sheets on my bed for the winter months - which i love, love, love - yet i discovered something last night.  It gets REALLY hot when there are two bodies in t...