Gardening... cats.. and badgers

Its been so cold lately, that I have to wonder what happened to our spring! We have even had frost a few nights.

Last week I saw what I thought was a new stray cat eating at our bread we had left out for the birds. Turns out it was a badger! I got to watch him for about an hour. He's been back a few times, although always after I have gone to bed. I am going to have to find a way to video him some time.

A friend has given us a section of land to loan for a garden spot! I am so excited. I know its going to be hard work, and its been ages since I have actually done any real gardening, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Today we bought the seed potatoes, and other seed we are going to put in. We have to break the ground, and hope to plant next week as it will be warming up.

My cats have decided that I don't need sleep lately. When my husband comes to bed, they decide I need to get up. I don't, and if I lay quietly enough they will eventually go and sleep at my feet. Tigger, my very gorgeous large male, is sitting on my lap watching me type.

Worked every day this week, although its only half days. Its been rather fun as I have had lots of energy to play with the kids. Looks like I could be working at this place for the next few weeks. I would love that.

The book I ordered a month ago came today. Its a fun little birthday present that cost me 11 buck including shipping. It's not intellectual like all the others I have been reading lately, and I got it for some down time. Have been reading a series lately, for teens, to help boost my vocab. Its been amusing, and relaxing.

 

Wet cats and womtailbats

       In truth, this blog has nothing at all to do with womtailbats, but when I was thinking of a title, that came to mind. I don't even know if there IS such a thing as a womtailbat! But here shown below, you can at least see a wet cat.... who remarkably managed to dry himself very fast.

But I digress.... Today was rather.... odd for a humpday. ( you know the day in the middle of the week... you head up the hump to Wednesday and head down the hump to Sabbath).

Sometime ago I agreed to take my neighbor NOW AND THEN to the kindergarten so she didn't have to take the bus and get stranded in town for hours each morning. I mean like... once a in a while, and she offered to pay gas for the trips I took her on. No problem... I thought. But somehow she got the idea that it should be a daily arrangement, and I am not so fond of that idea. Today was once such day. I was not feeling well yesterday, so I had my husband tell her I was still in bed when she came to ask me to take them. So this morning I got up, even though I didn't know if I was working or not, and got ready to take them. After waiting 40 mins and not seeing a sign of them, I crawled back in bed to rest. It was rather annoying because I could have slept.

I got up and worked on my project that NEVER seems to end... you know the embroidery project? and then went in to town for a couple of errands. One of which was picking up a couple of new books at the library! To bad there is only two more in the series I am reading :( and the library isn't sure they have last one yet as it just came out. Finished my other errand and came home. I had just gotten settled in my chair when we got a call from a friend to come help her plant her fruit trees..... SO we got up and spent 2 hours helping her get them in. Only three weren't finished today due to the bad weather that had crept over the landscape from them oment we started.

We got home soaked from the rain and hail, but thankful we had managed to get most of them planted. Then we warmed up in a shower, and washed the cats. Tigger had crawled in bed with me last night and smelled horrid, so it was a must.....

And now we are sitting by a cozy fire, smelling the fresh sent of our wet cats, thankfly I lke the smell of their shampoo which is made for pets, and waitng for diner to be finished!

And there's the buzzer! FOOOOOOOD time!

Days that seem to speed on by

Can you believe is April already? I mean, wasn't it just December last week? I don't know about the rest of you, but it seems like so much has happened the past four months that a whole year could have gone by, and yet if you turn over the coin it seems like time is just flying by.

Today I woke up at 10. Actually I was before that, but I laid in bed cuddling my cat, snuggled up next to my husband, listening to the birds chirping outside. Then I got up, made myself a hot drink, and took my bible out side to read in the early morning sun. Tasia, my cat, was rather active so I put her on her leash and took her out to play in the dew strewn grass. I got about an hour of reading in before the neighbor girl saw me sitting outside and headed over to say hello. She is rather loud and rambunctious, but this time she came quietly and Tasia let her pet her. It was rather cute.

I suppose it sounds odd that I woke up at 10 on a Sunday morning, but yesterday we went with some friends to an evening meeting. A speaker from the states was vising someone she knew so she asked if we all wanted to go and hear what he had to say.  I had already heard what he was sharing in the final two meetings, but there is something to be said for hearing things you already know from another perspective. He did make some good points, however, about how our out ward shows of religious fervor should be toned back, and in many cases should be considered for private worship rather than the possibility of doing such behaviors and being seen as being prideful, or merely wishing to show off or even imitate others. I of course just now reworded it, but the way he put it was rather well put and stuck with me.

I think its fascinating how you can get a group of strangers in a home, or some small area and they just seem to mesh into this mass of interesting conversations. Last night, amid all the conversations, a Tom turkey was strutting around proudly announcing to the world that 7 little ones had hatched the night before. I am quite sure many in the room thought I was rather odd as I had a very hard time keeping my grins to myself each time he gobbled. After most of the people had traveled home, one of the ladies came out with two brand new kittens. They were adorable.

Today I started spring cleaning in our bedroom. I aired out the blankets, changed the sheets, swept, vacuumed and mopped the floor/carpet and washed down the rails, walls and side tables. Got the kitchen started too. I am not done with either room, but at least they are started and looking and feeling much better. I have decided that we need to sort through the house. we have to many things. But that will take time.


One accomplishment lately is that I have read 4 and 1/2 books in the past month. I haven't been doing a lot of reading lately, so to have that many in a month is a positive thing for me. I even ordered myself a book from a series I read a bit from in college just because. It's been like 4 years since I bought my self a "play" book. I have also been reading a book called "Is it really that simple? - a biblical look on healing the mind." i'm afraid I don't recall who the author is right now, but its a case study a psychologist did on several patients where the normal way of treating a patient didn't work. I picked it up from a professional curiosity and as it was highly recommended by a counselor friend I know, I thought it would be an interesting read. So far it is. I am about half way through it.

And that's today's - Tea time for two...... what did you drink today?

The Learning Curve

Today, Jan 14, was a special day for me, in a rather hard way. Instead of wallowing in self pity, or allowing my head to go to sad or depressing thoughts, I  chose to continue the thinking process I have had the past few days. I also chose to go to work, and even though I found it hard to stay focused, and even had to tell the woman in charge of the class room I was working in why I was a bit distracted, I feel it was therapeutic for me to do.

I even went back and updated and added to the My "simple" garden path blog post that I had written last February as I realized a lot of the things I had gone through and what they really meant.

These past 11 months have been quite trying on me, and I was looking back over them wondering what I have learned and how I have changed during the process.

I have learned the difference between sexual attraction, family love, brotherly love, and Agape in ways that I could never have imagined.

I have become stronger in what I believe, and in my search for truth.

I have become a stronger person as I have passed through this fiery time, and I as  continue to pass through it.

 I have learned that I do have a voice, and that I do have important things to say. I have learned that I do not need to put up with others bad thoughts, or words, or feelings nor do I need to care about them. They are living their own lives... let them wallow in what ever deep murky pit they choose to be in. However, I will be there for them when they decided to seek for help.

I have learned that I am worthy of love and affection, and that I should never withhold myself from one who is seeking friendship. I have learned that to do withhold myself can cause future pain and remorse as well.

I have learned that through sickness and pain I can also become more focused and determined.

I have learned that even a cat who does not show affection can see and understand grief and pain and changed to become a loving caring individual.

Most of all I have learned that God wants to be my best friend... to fill the loss that I have experienced and that when I allow him to reside in my heart others can see him through me.

I have learned that I can reach past the boundaries of my fear and touch the lives of others both physically and spiritually in ways I only dreamed and long to do before.

And I have learned that when one asks in desperation for something from God, even if they don't quite know what they are asking for, He will often give it, even if it something as powerful as a double portion of ones spirit.

I have learned many things, and I will continue to. My grief is still not completely over, but I am moving on in power and hope knowing God has a plan for my life, and that this pain I have been forced to endure will work in be to better my character for his glory.

Both pictures were taken from the internet and are not mine.

Sabbath Blessings

.....I wish I could say I used lots of imagination, but the above picture is to spur you into using your imagination and perhaps you can see what I have been up to last little bit.

I wish I had taken notes over the time since September. I sort of did, if I went back and read all my conversations with Rhy, but I have not taken that time. So I will try to remember. Most likely what I remember is the most important anyway!

In September i wrote and posted pictures of my garden. It was such a little thing, but I must admit I was quite proud of the results. It was a thrill to bring produce from my own garden to the table.

I had an interview in September. This picture was taken moments before I left. I felt good that day, and the interview went well. However after talking aback and forth through the month Kyrre and I decided that the amount of money being put out to get to the job, or to move and the amount of stress I would have to go through at the job was not worth the small amount of income I would have left. So we turned down the job.

Kyrre and I attended a family outing with his extended family. I was rather annoyed that because Kyrre has gained so much weight since his cancer treatments some of his family members felt he over ate, and made small hurtful remarks in that directions. I was humored however when watching the plates of food they consumed to Kyrres 2 rather modest ones.

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Pond at the family gathering

 

 

 

 

My favorite picture of the year. I took this.

During my time of waiting for work, yes I managed to get a sub job as a kindergarten teacher with a sub agency, I was privileged to attend hydrotherapy classes at the Bible school. It was over two weeks, and I attend each class. I do have one more hydrotherapy practical application to go through as it conflicted with a physical therapist appointment, but I passed the class and will get credit towards Wildwoods online classes if I choose to take them. Here is the set up for the days practical.

Teachers demonstrating the first hydro treatment

I enjoyed the classes, however I managed to break a blood vessel in my finger this day. No idea how.

It healed quickly due to the fact that during the hydro treatment I simultaneously did hot and cold treatments on this finger for 3 hours. I didn't realise til I got home that broken the vessel.

Its been quiet other wise. I have had some very positive times with Vivians mother the past few months as she has needed help, or wanted company. It is not perfect. I still have to gauge her carefully at times, as she can change her mood towards me with the weather.... but I am thankful that I can keep my promise to Vivian. If things should ever change, I will continue to pray for her.

The last fun event was a party we attended for friends at Church. She was turning 40, he 50 and they had been married 10 years... so it was a 100year party. It was a long one, 6 hours, but I was in attendance with my husband and Vivians mom and w all had a blast. These were our place markers.

Its been a good couple months. Thankfully my grieving stage has passed, although I still miss Vivian and will do so probably until time comes to a close. I have seen and experienced lots of fun things and look forward to more. I have been studying the bible a lot these past months and found things I had never known before. I am excited to be learning and look forward to learning more.

Today I got a call from a friend inviting us to Sabbath dinner, and another Friend dropped by with food. We are also being loaned some money... so my weird paycheck mishap has been covered. Wasn't going to get it until January! So we have food, and gas money to last until I get paid again at the end of the month. Praise God for that!

Oh ! We got our first snow today. So pretty.

What is up with you?

It's been a while since I have even had the desire to sit down and chat. And now I am not even sure what to say.

I have had lots going on the past few months, but sometimes it just seems like nothing is going on at the same time! So I plan to think about it over the weekend, jot down ideas that come to me, and blog you around thefirst of the week. How does that sound?

till then,

How are you? You have my email! Write me!

My last two months in photos....

My first garden harvest.

Morning of my interview

Trying to find a solution for cuddle time while NOT ruining my new sweater. She loved it

Vivian and her fathers grave stone. The inscription reads, See I am coming soon. Yes, even so come Lord Jesus

Tired of my shoes clunking away in the closet, I bought this and asked Kyrre to place it in. nearly 2 hours later, and tearing part the closet, he managed to make it fit. It isn't coming back out.