My Geese are back!

BREAKING NEWS!

They are a little bit early this year! So far I've only seen 4 of them, so 2 are missing, and I was really hoping that the 2-year olds might both return with a mate.

They were very vocal when they first landed!

Welcome come, Goosies!

First thing this morning Al and my Dad did the deconstruction and started framing for screening in the patio! Woo Hoo!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I know I will!

Big Hugs ♥xo

Coffee: Nectar of the gods

Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures:
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz:
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no Equal™:
For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks:
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the House of Mochas forever.

~Author Unknown

My fancy Cuisinart coffee pot died a quiet death Sunday morning. It was only about a year old. I was not at all pleased. My old electric perculator lasted 15 years, as did my office Mr Coffee.

So off I went to buy another. So many choices. I was tempted to buy the Kuerig, but I need a great every day pot, not one for the occasional indulgent cup of coffee. I spent a great deal of time, walking around the coffee pot shelves, reading, re-reading, weighing out the pros and cons.

Ultimately, I bought the GE 12-cup Gourmet because it offers 2 blends: regular and gourmet.

Product Information 

Gourmet Coffee Shop Coffee at home! GE's new 12-cup coffee maker has everything you need. The oversized French Press Style coffee filter allows more coffee grounds per cup and the high wattage heater means faster brew time. No over-extracted, bitter or sour coffee. Save money by making your favorite gourmet coffee at home. Features mesh and charcoal filters, programmable digital brew and timer functions, adjustable brew strength and more.

•  12-cup coffee maker 
• 1300 watts  
• Black plastic and textured brushed stainless steel  
• Water level indicator  
• Adjustable brewing strength  
• U-type mesh filter  
• Charcoal filter removes chlorine for better tasting coffee  
• Dripless carafe spout  
• Oversize drip head for fuller coffee grounds saturation and richer flavor  
• Splash guard on fill tank  
• Pause-n-serve function  
• Self-cleaning cycle  
• Program digital timer and brew functions  
• Wake up time is programmed for brew completion time  
• Adjustable automatic switch off time up to 2 hours  
• Non-stick keep warm plate  
• Adjustable keep-warm plate temperature  
• Cord storage  
• AC 120V 60Hz  
• UL listed  
• Model# 169209

I brought it home, unpacked it, read the directions and ran 2 full pots of water through it, as directed. Then I made a pot of gourmet coffee.

Oh, SO good!

Enjoy today's trip around the sun! I'm sure going to try!

Big Hugs ♥xo

Drying out

We had a ton of rain come down in a matter of hours. I had flooding at the Swamp. We got a few inches of water in the garage and the shed. The house was built over a crawl space so it's just fine.

The water has drained nicely, thank goodness! It's still soggy, but headed in the right direction. The bad part is that more rain is coming tomorrow and again on Sunday. Hopefully, not nearly so much in such a short span of time.

Most of the pre-move projects are done! Once we get the patio screened, we'll empty the house and then we can start packing to move. I've still got a few more projects I want to do to the house, like tiling the backsplash and replacing the countertops and vinyl floors in the kitchen and replacing the carpet in my bedroom as well as a few minor projects, but I'll get to them over the next year or so!

I long for a weekend with nothing to do but relax. I almost forget how to do that. Don't worry though - I'm sure it will come back to me!

In other news... I've already moved the cats back to blogger and I've decided to move my blog back, too. Here's my old - and now new again - blogger blog!

Big Hugs ♥xo

Wow. I've been away a long time!

Busy, busy, busy! I've done lots more painting. My bedroom is all painted and the closet organizer rocks! All that remains for my bedroom is replacing the carpet with flooring like I put in the living room. I'm not a fan of carpet at all. I'll also replace the base boards after the flooring is in. However, I've decided that can wait for one day down the road. I'll live with the carpet a while.

Today we got the laundry room cabinets hung! That was another big project to check off the list. The overhead cabinets (that I took out of the kitchen) are slotted for the garage, but I may not finish those until after we move in. The doors are all painted and the new hardware is on, but the base is not painted yet.

Al had to do a redesign on the way the original owner of the house had the filter for the air return in the hallway. Not only was it Mickey Mouse'd and an eye sore, but it was very inconvenient access and had extremely hard-to-find filter sizes. He ripped that mess all out and put in a standard 20x20 grate. Tomorrow he's going to try to figure out how to finish the outside so it looks like it's suppose to look. A challenge, but he'll figure something out.

What do you think of my painting in the raspberry jam mud room just off the laundry room and opposite the kitchen doorway? Too much raspberry jam? I can hang it in the living room against the khaki green wall, but I kind of like it there. I'm thinking of getting a floating black shelf to hang under it. Suggestions are welcome!

Sorry I haven't been around much at all. I'm trying to get all these last little projects crossed of my To-Do so we can do the last project - screening in the back patio. The cats need some fresh air and I need some peace of mind that they'll be safe. Lots of wild critters live at the Swamp you know!

Once the patio is screened, then we'll start emptying the house of all the tools and miscellanea and then... then... then we can actually move in! My sister Lynda and BIL Rick just booked their flight for March 8th and I need to be all moved in before then! Can I do it? I sure hope so!

And now that you're all officially caught up... Oh, wait. Did I mention that I seem to have flunked Fostering 201? Yup. I have a new kitty. Her name is Gracie. I could not find anybody who wants a precious kitten. Lord, help me. I should have named her Caboose, because she is definitely the end of the Kitty Train! But she is a sweet little girl and I already love her to pieces. I bet she puts those boys in line, too! And she loves playing dress up! I think I'm going to enjoy having a little girl around!

Big Hugs ♥xo

Prancing Pony?

For the past few days Gracie has started doing THE most adorable thing! She waits at the threshold of the living room while I get her food ready. As soon as she sees me walking towards her she arches her back, gets on her tippy toes, her tail goes straight up in the air and she starts walking in circles while meowing. Gosh, I've never seen anything SO cute. I wish I could get it on video!

Today is a few small touch-ups here and there. My closet organizer is fabulous! I need to get to Lowes now to pick up a few accessories to further customize the closet. I think I'm going to put something like this in the guest bedroom and maybe even my garage this summer. It's so great having a place for everything and actually being able to see it and have it easily accessable!

It's still freezing here and I am ready for it to be warm. Seriously.

Have a wonderful day! Big Hugs ♥xo

Organized

We got the final coat of paint on my bedroom yesterday. So, today's the day we install my closet organizer!

I have a small walk-in closet right now but my new closet at the Swamp is a wide closet with bi-fold doors. Believe it or not, this organizer will actually give me more hanging space as well as more shelf space than the walk-in! Woo hoo!

There are just a few projects left before the big move. Painting the quarter molding for the kitchen and mud room floors, painting the doors and then the Big One... Screening the patio. I'm worried that the kitties could sneak out when the sliding glass doors get opened. For one thing, they have a tinted film on them so I'd never be able to tell if they were sitting there waiting for the opportunity for escape.

Well, here goes nuthin'! Big Hugs ♥xo

Pink, Purrs and Pincushions (aka Climbing Mount Mom)

This is what my days are full of, y'all! Gracie, pink mousies, purring and pinholes in my legs, because as it turns out Gracie likes to leap up onto my legs and climb me in order to get into my lap or onto my desk. Owie! Those cute little kitten paws have very sharp clawrs! She's even done it a few times when I was on the phone with a customer. So far, I've managed not to have any sounds come out of my mouth!

We may have a brief break in these frigid temeratures, hopefully long enough to get some power painting done. My mother keeps asking me when they should start packing. With all these unexpected delays it's hard to tell her a date.

So far, business has been good this year! Yay! I just hope it keeps up! Mama needs a new screened patio!

Stay warm. It seems to be cold all over. Global warming, my Aunt Mabel! Big Hugs ♥xo

I really am, but I REALLY AM trying to find her a good home! I am *thisclose* to being a crazy cat lady as it is! I have my parents living with me and as much as they love Gandalf, Grayson and Whitey they are not crazy about the idea of me keeping Gracie. I can also assure you that Gandalf, Grayson and Whitey will not be crazy about her either! Grayson and Whitey are doing much better, but they still have their hissy fits at least once a day after 5 months of cohabitating.

Please, share this on Facebook, Twitter, etc. I won't do a classified ad because you never know what crazies respond to "Free to good home" ads, and I won't bring her to the local shelter because they are not a "No Kill" shelter.

Right this minute Gracie is taking a nice nap in Whitey's old bed. OMG, she's just too adorable! Lord, help me.

The Playful Kitten Edition

The only one that doesn't seem to mind the frigid temperatures we're having is this little one. She just plays, and play, and plays... And she loves the camera, or does the camera love her?

To borrow a phrase from my sainted Catholic grandmother, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, it's cold outside!". In fact, it's much too cold to paint so I'm actually doing some paperwork (well, not at this very moment!) and I've got a few orders to process! Yay! That is always a good way to start off the day. I'm hoping my customers will start spending some more of their money this year. They were a bit tight with it last year. Of course, who wasn't?

Stay warm! I'm sure trying! Big Hugs ♥xo

Look into these lovely green eyes and try to say "No"

Keyboard Hypnosis... She's doin' it right!

So far we've discovered that Gracie loves the tiny bits of cheese that stick out beyond the egg and sausage on my McGriddle, yogurt, the mouse curser, the fax machine, my lap and the top of my desk! She especially enjoys typing! In fact, Gracie seems to love discovering all the new things in her new surroundings.

Since she was gotcha'd by my friends Mike and Peggy, they had to keep her confined to a bedroom because of their cat Feather and 3 dogs Baby Girl, Tank and Puggles. Especially Puggles, their English Bulldog. (Think bull in a china shop and that is Puggles!) Anyway, they were all less than thrilled by her presence. Let's just say that Gracie is loving having full run of the house!

Blubbery Pie

In other news, Blubbery Pie is my Dad's favorite so MotherDear makes it fairly often for him. Like yesterday for dessert. Yum!

It's freezing cold here! There is even snow in our forecast for Thursday and Friday! And I'm not even kidding a little bit. Bundle up! I sure am! Big Hugs ♥xo

Gracie

Gracie Girl is Gorgeous"

As much as I already simply adore this sweet little one, I would love to find her a good home. Please share this post on Facebook, Twitter, etc. All of Gracie's particulars are on yesterday's post. If you are in the south Georgia area and can offer Gracie a loving home, please contact me!

Thanks so much!

Big Hugs ♥xo

UPDATED: Gracie will need to be strictly an Indoor kitty because of her leg. My friends who rescued her a month ago also have another cat (Hi, Feather!) and 3 dogs. Gracie did not enjoy any of them and stayed hidden in small places from them, but as she gets older and learns to trust more, that could possibly change.

The one that should have photos of my out-of-town friends

I was lucky enough to have several friends pay me a visit from out of town this weekend.

Friday afternoon and evening my friend Anna and her mother, sisters, daughters and nieces came over for pizza and wings in front of a crackling fire. [Insert happy group photos here.]

Saturday morning my blogging friend Sandy and hubby Dick stopped for breakfast with me as they made their way to Florida. [Insert happy group photos here.]

It's a well-known fact that too much talking, fun and laughter causes even an amateur photographer to forget to take photographs!

So. Here's a cute kitten photo I took yesterday. Remember little Tripod? The kitten my neighbors rescued? Well, they're not going to be able to keep her because their cat Feather will not have any of it. It has been well over a month and instead of getting better, it's getting worse.

So this baby kitten has been with me at the Swamp for the past few days. During that short time I've discovered that the kitten is a baby girl and that she has begun to use her back leg that was so horribly broken.

I will bring her to my Vet for a 2nd opinion, but it looks as though little kitty girl can keep her leg. It will never be right, but she is using it.

So, the name 'Tripod' simply will not do! We're calling her Gracie for now, because she's Gray. ;0)

Gracie needs a Forever Home! She's had all her shots. She is disease-free and parasite-free. She will need to be neutered when she's a bit older.

She is about 2-3 months old. She was born feral and was only about 4 weeks old when my neighbor noticed she was dragging her back leg, captured her and took her to the Vet. Her right rear leg had been broken in 3 places. It healed that way. She'll never be able to straighten it or bend it.

She is extremely timid. She loves to play! She is a purring machine!

She needs someone to love her as much as she deserves.

I flunked Fostering 101, so I really need to find her a home SOON!

Comic Book Effect

Whitey iz a Super Hero!

I learned a new technique in Photoshop. And It only took all morning! :P

Biggify it for full effect!


I feel better now. It almost beat me! OK. Back to work. Got out of state company arriving in about an hour!

Happy New Year! Big Hugs ♥xo