Update on Kittens

They are doing fantastic.  So far all have survived.  We are no longer calling Mama Cat by that name.  She is now Cleopatra Queen of the Garage.  Renea has named her because this cat has definitely taken over the garage.  Kevin also only gives her filtered water.  I would say she is getting spoiled.  She is getting really friendly with all of us.  She comes out of the corner and wants to be petted, she is purring, and when I fed her today she tried to eat the food off the spoon.  She gets upset if we take her bowl to put the food in it so we just take the food to her bowl.  She is also really good about using the litter box.  Still no pictures.  She is keeping the kittens back in the corner and they are hard to see.  However, she no longer hisses at us when we get near them.  She has even allowed Stephanie to pick them up when they fall off the shelf.  She is on the bottom shelf of a stack of five. 

It’s still been a little windy so I am picking up more sticks and twigs.  I finished cutting all my grass plus Kevin and Renea’s front yard.  Of course, now it’s time to cut mine again.  That will probably happen on Sunday or Monday.  I planted the two Lantana plants in my front yard.  They look really nice.  I am getting new leaves on my hydrangeas.  Those two plants were looking pretty sad for a while so I’m glad to see some new growth.  I have some “new” birds coming to my bird feeders.  My yard is very busy right now. 

The Dawn Redwood we planted in Jim’s name is looking really good.  Below is a picture. 

I have finished the CRAP JEOPARDY except for the board to put the cards, etc. on.  I even have the prizes.  I still need to get some kind of bells or whistles for the teams.  Not sure what I will get. Maybe I will just have them holler.  They will probably do that anyway.

 Almost ready with the Scavenger Hunt.  I have all the items, and just about finished the list the teams will use to find them.  I am still working on the teams.  I’m thinking of putting an experienced Scavenger Hunter with a new one.  I also have to come up with prizes.  Jim used to give dollar bills.  I’m thinking of quarters. 

I have our email addresses set up for the business.  I have been working on our portfolio.  I also have our domain name.  Now it’s time to start working on the website.  I was hoping to be further along on that this week, but I got sidetracked (the kittens). 

Kittens and Sticks

I was awakened this morning at 6:30 by a phone call from Stephanie.  Sorry to wake you, but could you come over.  “She” had her kittens in our garage and I don’t know what to do.  So, I put on my shoes and grabbed my jacket and headed over.  There are five brand new kittens and no mama.  Four are black like mama and one is a dark brown. They look to be only a day or so old.  Apparently mama cat had them, then when the garage door was open she went out looking for food.  She must have been outside when the garage door was closed last night.  Renea told Stephanie to try and give them some warm milk.  Steph had put them in a box with a towel to keep them warm.  She was trying to feed them, but it wasn’t working.  “She,” the mama cat is a small black cat that hangs around our houses.  She is so good at hiding we can’t always find her.  She won’t come to any of us.  We decided to leave the kittens alone and the garage door open in hopes that she would come back.  We were worried that something  may have happened to her during the night.  About 8:00 a.m. I got a text from Kevin telling me that mama cat had returned and was taking care of her younguns.  I am to use the back door for the time being.  I’ll try and get some pictures in the next couple of days.

As for the sticks – it has been so windy here the past couple of days that we all have sticks and twigs all over our yards.  This morning, after I put the mail in the mailbox, I picked up all the sticks and twigs on the north side of the yard and the circle.  I made quite a few trips carrying them to the pile.  We are saving them for a campfire – if the wind every quits blowing.  I still have a bunch to pick up on the other side of the yard.  Then we will have to work on Kevin’s yard because he has a bunch of them also.

Renea had bought two Lantana plants when I bought mine.  She put hers in pots in her front yard.  They are not doing too well.  I think they need to be in the ground.  So, she told me to take them and plant them in my yard.  I brought them over this morning and now I need to decide where to plant them.  I will probably do that tomorrow morning because I need to get some top soil and potting soil.  I actually have a whole list of items I need to buy. 

I have been working on our CRAP JEOPARDY game for CRAP.  I am just about ready.  I have all my questions and answers.  Now I am making the cards.  I need to find a big piece of cardboard, or something, to hang these on.  Should be fun.  I made sure I put a few questions in that will be probably embarrass a few people.  I also have the three teams set up. 

I have also been working on our website, email addresses, etc, for the BKM Wood Products LLC business.  This is Kevin’s last week for school (he will have his Bachelor’s Degree) and then he can get started making things.  I’ll let you know when the website is up and running so you can check it out.   Kevin actually has a couple of orders already.  We are definitely making progress.  Right now Brian and I are just waiting on Kevin and the word to get started.  We are moving a little slower than originally anticipated, but that’s okay.  We are doing it right.

I am also in the process of getting estimates for gutters and downspouts on the mobile home.  I hope to be hearing from them in the next couple of days. 

I’ve been busier this week than I thought. 

Home Sweet Home

My few days (no more than a week) to visit Mom and family ended up lasting three weeks.  Every time I decided it was time to leave something else came up.  I stayed with Jana and Dave which made it easy to get things done.  We had paperwork to sign and file to finish up Uncle Clarence’s estate.  We made several trips to the bank.  Brian finished Uncle Clarence’s taxes so we signed that paperwork and filed them.  Now we are waiting for the last of the refunds to come in, then we can close Uncle Clarence’s bank account and be finished with all of that.

I didn’t get to do much visiting of friends and family.  I did spend a little time with Brian and his family.  While there Steven found out he was accepted into the Butler Tech School of Criminal Justice.  He will start this fall.  I had to put this on my blog because he told me I better.  You are welcome Steven. J  I also spent an evening with Rita and Bob when they returned from their trip to Brazil.  Looked at all their pictures, they took over 400 so it took a while.  They had a great time.  Brian and his family were also there that evening. 

I spent one day with my friends Ronnie and Tom.  We are having a great time catching up on the past 50+ years.  It’s wonderful.  I don’t know what talked the most; Ronnie or me.  We did let Tom get a comment in every now and then.  I emailed them a picture I have of our group who graduated eighth grade from Sacred Heart.  We decided to see if we can track down the people in the picture.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a reunion of just that group?  We do know that one of the guys has died, and that Jim, who is not in the picture, has died. 

I put together an album for Mom to have at the Nursing Home of pictures of our family including some “old” pictures I had of her dad, mom, her mom’s family and others.  She enjoyed it so much, Jana and I went through a box of pictures mom had in her cupboard and I put together an album of her friends and activities at the Senior Center, etc.

While I was in Cincinnati I decided it was time to sell the motorhome.  I knew I wouldn’t be using it any more.  Just too big, and I’m not sure I want to camp/volunteer any more.  That was something Jim and I did together.  I  just don’t want to do it by myself.  So, Brian and I made arrangements with Steve Jung (Colerain RV) to sell it for me.  Brian drove it over to Colerain and I met him there to sign the papers, etc. I hope he is able to sell it.  I just couldn’t see letting it sit and no one using it.    

I talked to Kevin and Renea several times while I was gone, and they informed me that I better get back soon – I had a lot of grass to cut.  Wasn’t it thoughtful of them to leave that chore for me?  Does this mean they missed me?

Okay, it was time for me to head back to Alabama.  Instead of driving down I-75 this time, I took I-65.  I did that because of a detour heading south on I-75 in Tennessee due to an earth slide.  I much prefer I-65.  No Knoxville.  No Atlanta.  Less trucks.  Yea.  It was a much easier drive.  I did take two days again.  I stopped in Franklin, TN, for the night and finished the trip the next morning.  And, yes, I did have grass to cut.  But, that’s okay.  I enjoy it, especially since I have a riding mower to use.

So, now I’m back home.  I have cut the front grass and weeded my flowers/bushes.  All is going well.

Visiting Mom, Etc.

I’m in Cincinnati right now.  Staying with Jana and David and visiting Mom every morning.  I came to Cincinnati last week Friday.  Kevin drove me up here and towed my car so I would have transportation, then he went back home on Sunday.  Stephanie and her friend, Anthony, came with us.  We went directly to Brian’s and spent Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night at Brian’s.  Andy didn’t spent the whole weekend barking at me.  He has a new “friend” who is Bradley’s girlfriend.  He barks at her now.  On Sunday we all came over to Jana’s.  Jana brought Mom from the Nursing Home for day so she could visit with Brian and family and Kevin, Steph and Anthony.  We had a really great time.  Jana fixed us a great lunch. 

Before I left Alabama I spent two days cutting grass.  All I accomplished was cutting the front – both mine and Kevin’s.  We will probably have to rent a bushhog for the back yard unless Kevin and Renea had time to cut it.  I also bought some plants and planted them before I left.

One of the plants I bought was a Roseum Pink Rhododendron.  I decided to put it in a large pot and sit it in the corner of my deck. 

I also bought two Lantana plants.  I planted them in front of my deck.  I love the different colored flowers on just one plant. 

I bought three Encore Azaleas.  The reason I bought the Encore Azaleas is because they bloom once in the spring, once in the summer and once in the fall.  One is an Autumn Monarch (dark orange-pink blooms with red freckles), another is Autumn Empress (medium pink), and the other is Autumn Embers (deep red-orange).  Each one had one bloom on them when I bought them, but they also had a few buds.  I planted them in front of the deck also. 

I still have a lot of yard work to do.  However, that’s okay.  It keeps me busy, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. 

Renea said she would water everything while I am gone.  She is also feeding the birds.  I talked to Kevin the other night and he told me to hurry home because the grass needs cutting again.  Looks like I have a summer job J

I had planned to stay only one week, but I had so much to do that I will be staying a second week.  As of now the plans are for me to leave the day after Easter Sunday.  With a little (or lot) of luck I should have everything done by then.  I haven’t stopped since I arrived.  I will be driving myself home.  I plan on taking two days just like I did the last time. 

By the way, Mom is doing great.  She has had a cold but is doing better. 

My Life is Changing

It’s been hot and sunny.  Sure could use a day of rain.  Nice rain – no storms.  I cut the center circle of grass again.  This time I used the riding mower.  Also cut the front, both sides and next to the neighbors.  The yard is starting to look really good.  It’s almost time to cut the front again and I haven’t even cut the back yet.

One of my “twigs” that I received from the Arbor Foundation has a couple of leaves.  I’m still watering and watching.  This morning I planted some sunflower seeds in a couple of pots.  Hopefully, they will take root and survive. 

I bought two pots with plants.  I have them sitting on tables on my deck.  When Kevin builds my planter to hang on my deck railing I will transplant them into that.  So far they are looking good.

One is Gerbera Daisies

The other is Petunias and Dusty Miller

I also have a pileated woodpecker that comes to my yard every day and eats out by the pecan trees.  I finally got a picture of him. 

Looks like we might have some purple martins building nests in their house.  The past couple of days while sitting at my computer I have been watching them fly back and forth to the house.  They have been really busy. 

Still have a lot of birds coming to my front birdfeeders.  I even have a couple of cardinals coming now.  Haven’t seen any finches lately.  Maybe they are nesting.  I’ll keep watching.

I went to the doctor on Wednesday for my blood work results.  My sugar was a little high and my bad cholesterol was really bad.  My blood pressure was low.  Maybe one of these days I will get everything on track.  He told me to get more exercise, lose some weight and cut out all the desserts.  I’m working on it.

Started watching the basketball games yesterday.  I filled out a bracket sheet just for the heck of it.  I did pretty good.  Only missed two so far.  Almost time for them to start playing today.

Tonight I am getting together with the Prime Timers.  That’s the “over 50” group from church.  The notice on the board said we would be watching a movie and having popcorn.  Looking forward to getting out for the evening.  I’m starting to make friends with the group from church.  Nice group of people.  I know there are a few of you that are probably shocked that I am going to church after all this time.  I am actually going to the church of the pastor who visited Jim and me while Jim was in the hospital.  He also came to Cincinnati for Jim’s Celebration of Life and did the Memorial portion of the service.  I really like him.  It’s actually a Missionary Church call the Church of the Nazarene.  Another reason I decided to go to this church is because Kevin’s friends, Patrick and Kara belong.  Patrick came to the hospital, rehab center and nursing home almost every day to visit and pray with Jim. 

My life is changing in more ways than one.  Hopefully, it is for the better.

The Great Outdoors

Well, the hydrangeas are planted.  I have kept them watered and they are looking good.  I think I chose the right spot for both of them. 

I have been busy working outside the past few days.  As most of you know, Jim was always the gardener in our family.  Well, now I have taken over.  Before I planted the hydrangeas I cut the grass around the deck.  I hand trimmed close to the deck because I don’t have a weedeater.  I used the walk behind mower for around the deck, and then I also used it to cut the grass in the circle.  I weeded both the Bradford Pear trees (they are getting buds on them and should be blooming soon).  I also weeded around the Dawn Redwood (that is also getting buds) and around Jim’s plaque.  Oh yea, and around the bird feeder and bird bath.  That circle is sure looking good.

I had dug up some daffodil bulbs last year and put them in a large pot.  They are blooming this year and look beautiful.  I actually have two flower pots with the daffodils.  I have them both sitting in front of the deck. 

A couple of months ago I gave a donation to the Arbor Foundation and this week they sent me 12 “trees.”  The package said they were “baby” trees, and, believe me, that’s what they are.  The sent me two each of crabapple, redbud, hawthorn, dogwood, goldenraintree and crapemyrtle trees.  Each of them are just a twig with roots.  The instructions said to plant them in a temporary spot for two years and do not use any fertilizer.  So, I planted each in a separate flower pot in just plain old dirt.  I also put a tag in each one with the name of the tree.  They had them color coded with a list enclosed.  I planted six yesterday and six today.  They are sitting along the side of my deck.  Let’s hope they survive. 

I told Kevin I wanted to start using the riding mower.  That was another thing I had never used.  So, he showed me how to use it.  Filled the gas tank.  And, I spent part of today cutting the grass in the front yard.  Hopefully, I will finish tomorrow.  It was easier than I thought. 

While I was working outside my neighbor came over (I’m sorry to say I don’t remember her name) and gave me a couple of cuttings of forsythia and weeping willow trees.  I’m not sure where I will plant them. 

Also, during this week I did my laundry, went to the grocery, had blood work done (I have a doctor appointment next Wednesday), and all the stuff that normally needs to be done.  I also went to a new bank so I could change where I do my banking.  I have not been happy with TIC.  Kevin and I also opened an account for the business.  I still need to go to the Russell County Courthouse to get our permits.  That’s on my list for this coming week.  My list for this coming week just keeps getting longer.  I guess that’s why I like that saying:

I’M SO FAR BEHIND I THOUGHT I WAS FIRST.    

WE WERE LUCKY!

I am so thankful for how lucky we were with all the tornadoes. I pray for those who lost family, friends and homes. We had tornadoes all around us, but we did just fine. All we had was some rain, about ½ inch. No damage.

I don’t think I have any purple martins nesting in the martin house. I keep watching. I’ve seen a few birds check it out, but that’s about it. I am going thru a lot of birdseed though. I have a large of variety of birds, including a couple of cardinals that have started visiting the feeder. The birds are also stopping at my new birdbath. I enjoy watching all of them. I even bought a new camera so I can get some good pictures.

Yesterday I stopped at WalMart and bought two hydrangea plants. I have decided not to plant the dwarf weeping cherry tree next to my deck. I just don’t think there is enough room. I’m afraid it would become a problem for someone wanting to put their camper on the concrete pad. So, I decided to plant hydrangeas. One will be next to the deck below my living room window and the other will be next to the ramp. I also bought a shepherd’s hook to hang my wind spinner. I am hoping to get all this done within the next day or two since the weather is supposed to be nice. I will post pictures then.

This morning I am doing laundry and cleaning. This afternoon Kevin and I will be going into Phenix City to open two bank accounts. I am planning to change banks. I am not at all happy with the one I am banking with now. The second one will be for our business. Kevin, Brian and I have started a new business called BKM WOOD PRODUCTS LLC. Brian and Kevin will be building all types of wood products for sale including picnic tables, furniture, bird houses, and many other items. They will also make custom items. You just need to ask. I will be setting up a website and I am in charge of finances (so to speak). We are equal “partners” so all decisions will be made by the three of us. Of course, Renea and Tracy and also involved.  I would call them "silent" partners, but that is not right.  We value their opinion and look forward to their input.

This past week I have been busy setting up accounts, etc. in the computer for the business. I also heard from Doug and Susan. They are in Phoenix, AZ, right now and he has been doing some genealogy research. He did some for me and found a lot of information about my great grandparents on my dad’s side. Of course, I talk to mom every night. She is doing great.

Also have some other good news. Uncle Clarence’s house has been sold. The closing was last Thursday. Our attorney will finish probate court in a week or so.