Category Archives: Cats

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 27, 2013

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 27, 2013

Outside my window… dark now but temperate today — maybe high 50’s or low 60’s?

I am thinking… about the calls I need to make tomorrow morning.

I am thankful… Daniel is home.

In the kitchen… dishes to do.

I am wearing… blue shirt and light blue striped pajama bottoms.

I am creating… afghan squares and blog entries.

I am going… to hope Daniel’s pediatrician hasn’t left UC Davis and we can get in with them next week.

I am wondering… about too many things tonight.

I am reading… Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood. It was a freebie on Friday and looked interesting. I also just finished re-reading The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron and am of the opinion that I’ll be starting to stock my NOOK with her works because she’s so brilliant.

I am hoping… Daniel can go back to school on Tuesday.

I am looking forward to… Morning Prayer on Tuesday and my massage on Friday.

I am learning that self-care is important.

Around the house… vacuuming to do. Gah.

I am pondering… the Salon.Com article that all my pro-life friends were quoting this week. Having read it, I’m not quite sure where my heart and mind are with regard to it. On the one hand, the author *did* make those statements. On the other hand, I think a number of people missed the point.

A favorite quote for today… ??Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.?? — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Coca-Cola. It is sooooo bad for me but I love it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Morning Prayer on Tuesday, WIC on Tuesday afternoon, work on editing Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, massage on friday afternoon.

A peek into my day… I finally got my giveaway items staged for my day on Forty to Forever. It’s a coffee cup from Peet’s, a pound of their Fair Trade blend, some Pepperidge Farm Lexington cookies, and a copy of Kisses from Katie.

Giveaway for Forty to Forever.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 14, 2013

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 14, 2013

Outside my window… dark. Today had a high of 48F and we’ll get down to 29F tonight. I’m aware that the rest of the country is laughing at California whining about these temperatures but it’s actually not a good thing for our citrus industry.

I am thinking… about Vicki, Trace, and Cammi as well as the rest of Rick’s family as they bury him today.

I am thankful… for Rick’s life and the way he blessed mine, especially in the first couple years of Jon’s ministry when I needed a friend.

In the kitchen… I need to go grocery shopping.

I am wearing… charcoal grey shirt and fleece pajama bottoms. If only I could go to the grocery store like this. #firstworldproblems

I am creating… plans for Reece’s Rainbow fundraisers and patches for a stained glass blanket to auction off for Kaia.

I am going… to the store eventually tonight.

I am wondering… if people realize that if the science teacher at Taft Union High School had been armed on Thursday, there would have been one more casualty — the teacher disarmed the gunman by talking him down. The student that was shot is recovering.

I am reading… The Buzzard Table by Margaret Maron.

I am hoping… to get back to my normal self soon.

I am looking forward to… Morning Prayer tomorrow.

I am learning how to use Scrivner.

A favorite quote for today… “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” — Martin Luther

One of my favorite things… purring tabbies.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Morning Prayer (hopefully) tomorrow and WIC on Thursday.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 7, 2013

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 7, 2013

Outside my window… dark. It’s almost 2 a.m.

I am thinking… that the antibiotics might be working — I’m not in half as much pain as I’ve been in this week. (Stupid cat bite infection!)

I am thankful… for my awesome LCMS PA who saw me on Friday and gave me antibiotics. Apparently, all the stuff I was dealing with in December was in my chart or the providers talk amongst themselves because she knew all about Daniel’s illness last month. It was nice that she asked.

In the kitchen… dishes to do.

I am wearing… blue shirt and black sweat capris.

I am creating… squares for an afghan when my hand isn’t throbbing.

I am going… to hope I can get to sleep tonight.

I am wondering… about the true use of the word “engage” in theological practice and discussion.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans — re-reading it after my long drive back from southern California. I tried reading Montana by Debbie Macomber and threw it in the back seat after 30 pages because it was crap. I lived in Montana for 4 1/2 years and I can’t say that I knew of any militias while I lived here, especially in Sweetgrass proper or the Sweet Grass Hills. I used to *work* in Sweetgrass — there’s nothing up there except a bunch of import brokerages, ICE, and Border Patrol. It would be the stupidest place to have a militia with that much government around.

I am hoping… that my citrus-colored tabby decides to come and hang out with me after I get this done.

I am looking forward to… NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles on Tuesday as well as Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday.

I am learning patience and self-care. (I’m craptastic at both.)

Around the house… toys and Christmas stuff.

I am pondering… way too many things which is why I’m up blogging.

A favorite quote for today… ??Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.??
— C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

One of my favorite things… a half steak/half chicken burrito bowl from Chipotle

A few plans for the rest of the week: home with Daniel today (tomorrow), Morning Prayer on Tuesday, Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, and copy-editing the rest of the week while the bear child is at school or sleeping.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 1, 2013

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… dark — it’s almost midnight and I’m the only one awake except for possibly my in-laws’ rotund orange tabby patch female.

I am thinking… that I really need that massage scheduled on Friday — lots of lower back and neck pain.

I am thankful… for a good road trip to see family this Christmas.

In the kitchen… not home yet but probably fast food tomorrow night when we get back.

I am wearing… blue shirt and blue striped flannel pajama bottoms.

I am creating… squares for a stained glass blanket.

I am going… HOME!!!

I am wondering… what is causing the lower back pain.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans. I actually finished it on the way down to southern California and read her other book Evolving in Monkey Town but it was good enough that I’m re-reading it and I want to be her when I grow up.

I am hoping… the citrus-colored mancat on my foot is amenable to moving shortly.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

Around the house… quiet other than the citrus-colored cat purring like a jet engine and the whalebone tabby snoring beside him.

A favorite quote for today… this, the first two lines of which were quoted by my mother-in-law a day or two ago in the car while on errands to Michael’s to get yarn..

“For God’s sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings;
How some have been deposed; some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed;
Some poison’d by their wives: some sleeping kill’d;
All murder’d: for within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits,
Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,
Allowing him a breath, a little scene,
To monarchize, be fear’d and kill with looks,
Infusing him with self and vain conceit,
As if this flesh which walls about our life,
Were brass impregnable, and humour’d thus
Comes at the last and with a little pin–
Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!”
— William Shakespeare, Richard II

One of my favorite things… citrus-colored cats and whalebone tabbies.

A few plans for the rest of the week: driving home tomorrow, massage on Friday (and possibly a doctor’s appointment).

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

December 22: A Picture of Your Family

Posted on by

Me, Daniel, and Edda

This picture was taken on Friday morning after a night of being up worrying about Daniel. I didn’t have a chance to edit the red eye out of the picture or brush anyone’s hair so it’s a bit of a candid shot. 🙂 I do enjoy having a lapful though and I enjoyed having Daniel fall asleep on me or cuddled up with me the last few nights. He is the best cuddlebug in the world.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 10, 2012

Posted on by

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY December 10, 2012

Outside my window… dark. It was decent today though I was indoors for most of it being sick and taking care of a sick bear.

I am thinking… nasal congestion is the pits.

I am thankful… Jon stayed home today so I could sleep.

In the kitchen… apples and peanut butter.

I am wearing… white v-neck and plaid shorts. (I’m doing laundry, OK?)

I am creating… snowflakes and Christmas shopping.

I am going… to try and take care of errands tomorrow.

I am wondering… if I will ever be able to eat normally again.

I am reading… A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband “Master” by Rachel Held Evans.

I am hoping… my face decongests.

I am looking forward to… working on stockings tonight.

I am learning that I can actually read crochet patterns.

Around the house… *sticks fingers in ears* I can’t hear youuuuuuu!!!!

A favorite quote for today… ??Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning…?? ? C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Coke — it’s so bad for me but it’s my comfort substance.

A few plans for the rest of the week: finishing stockings, WIC tomorrow, and hopefully not much else.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes: Introducing Kaia, Starching Snowflakes, and Cats Playing with Ribbons

Posted on by

7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Brett now OFFICIALLY has a mama and papa. You know my Reece’s Rainbow kid Brett? Court was held on Monday in his region and his parents’ adoption request was granted. There’s a 10-day waiting period so the verdict can be recorded (this is Eastern Europe — things move slowly) and then they can spring him. Meanwhile, they’re preparing to go to court for his adopted sister Delilah. So… prayers answered!!!

— 2 —

As Brett is now taken care of and will be in the States in a few weeks, I asked to be allowed to have another child for whom I could advocate as a Guardian Angel. I had seen Kaia mentioned in the Reece’s Rainbow group on Facebook and her picture stuck with me as did the words in her profile:


Kaia has pretty green eyes, what a little dolly! She should be heading to kindergarten next year, not the institution.

She is the beautiful little china doll on my sidebar. Her adoption grant is currently only $5.00 — can we increase it this week? Please and thank you. (As of midnight on 12/8, her grant is now at $15. My deepest thanks to whoever donated to do that.)

— 3 —

My snowflakes were a hit last night. I starched them on Tuesday using this method and as they weren’t completely dry by Wednesday afternoon, I spent some time with a blowdryer on them while exhorting them to stiffen. The blowdrying worked and the person who received them in the ornament/decoration exchange loved them. She’s a fellow crocheter so I’ll be sticking the pattern and starching instructions in her box on Sunday.

— 4 —

At the same ornament/decoration exchange during Ladies’ Night Out, I got a beautiful ceramic angel. It was wrapped beautifully and had a long green ribbon which immediately went into my purse. All my crazy cat ladies can probably guess the rest of the story: Edda and her siblings got extra playtime last night. It was comical to see Freya (our little butterball gremlin) going absolutely crazy and Finian (my fluffybutt) was also pretty funny.

— 5 —

I’m “occupying Advent”. I decided to take on blogging as an Advent discipline and am following Beth Anne’s tasks as my subjects. You can find other people’s efforts using the hashtag #AdventPhotoADay.

— 6 —

This is disturbing. My mom sent me a video from the Today Show about a trick thieves are using to get into hotel rooms. It disturbs me that the makers of the locks used by most hotel rooms has known since July and is suggesting band-aid solutions and not upgrading the locks free of charge. Hotels are also feigning ignorance which irritates me.

— 7 —

Who’s up for meatless Fridays? Thomas of Identified Catholic is hosting a link-up of what people are eating on Fridays as an effort to do communal penance during Advent. The USCCB is pondering a return to the practice and I’m participating during Advent in solidarity with my Catholic friends who are taking it on.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.