All Saints' Day

Happy All Saint's Day Eve

Thermostat week

Well, both the house & the car got a new thermostat this week. In other news, I finally finished planting all the bulbs I got for free. I planted hyacinths, daffodils, & irises this fall. Hopfully, we will have a colorful yard in the spring...

this daffodil http://brecks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_67241

these hyacinths http://brecks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_67345

63 Degrees

well, been gone a couple of days, because our heater went out... & the Heater Guy said I needed a new ventor motor assembly.....spent two nice days with Grandma & Grandpa Motherkitty. Heat back on....thanks for the Hershey Bar

Morning

I am always glad for the morning to come. Glad for the sunshine. Glad for a new opportunity, a fresh canvas. Sometimes I wake up in the night after dreams and lay in bed and think about worst case scenarios. But one thing I am learning is that I would rather get up for a while and wait for the morning to come than lay in the dark. When I think of the morning I think about positive things. The sun is one thing that is out of my control that is good. It brings warmth and life to our planet. Why should I bother with worst case scenarios? The worst thing could happen and I would have to live with it. So why jump off that bridge before I get to it. I consider it trying to forge a habit, thinking about positive things on purpose when worries come. I read in a book recently that thoughts are like water, and that similar thoughts over and over develop a rut similar to a riverbed in your mind. Well, I am choosing to make new ruts, even if it takes the rest of my life to dig a new river. I have also learned over recent months that if you smile it makes you feel happier even if you were not happy to start with. So there.

Birthdate

Your Birthdate: June 5

With a birthday on the 5th of the month you are inclined to work well with people and enjoy them. You are talented and versatile, very good at presenting ideas. You may have a tendency to get itchy feet at times and need change and travel. You tend to be very progressive, imaginative and adaptable. Your mind is quick, clever and analytical. A restlessness in your nature may make you a bit impatient and easily bored with routine. You may have a tendency to shirk responsibility

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

saw this my friend Trish's blog, she is a writer

http://trishwrites.blogspot.com/

All you happy people

I wish the best for you...

Well I ended up taking Little Sister Girl to the doctor yesterday afternoon, just to make sure her cold wasn't something more serious....no antibiotics given, no tests done, & of course she acted better & happier & less sick than she had in 2 days....But the good news is that last night both of my girls slept better. And I made some tiny progress on dishes, garbage & laundry yesterday. Now for that elusive shower.....

When it Rains, it Pours

interesting history of Morton Salt
http://www.mortonsalt.com/consumer/about_us/history/

how the Morton Salt girl looked when my parents were born...

I looked up Morton Salt for the graphic to go with the slogan that seems to fit the mood in my family's life right now. The history of salt includes the the history of popular myths and superstitions about salt, and is very interesting to read. I found it a nice distraction. I have always admired the optimism of the Morton Salt girl, even though she might not be so happy when she realizes she poured out all her salt....Thank God for salt. I like to think about what Jesus meant when He said we were supposed to be salt and light in the world (one place He says this is Matthew 5:13)
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6, my paraphrase

forgot to mention--got my $25 in free hyacinth and daffodil bulbs in the mail yesterday. Yippee! Gonna be digging in the dirt today! :)

Feeling Better

well Dancer Girl is feeling better after the doctor visit, and 2 brown paper bags full of medicine samples.....here is what she has to say.... l,.lkuofxdg vf400. 2l45028lmjik12l,mlkkkk783322 xeg

her favorite color today is RED

her favorite song today is Patty Cake

her favorite story today is The Three Little Piggies

her favorite princess today is Belle, from Beauty and the Beast

No Dancing Today

Well, Dancer Girl has gotten a yucky cold, and we are off to the doctor's office in a couple of hours. Unfortunately, today is the day for her ballet and gymnastics classes. So I guess any dancing she will be doing today will be at home. Sad dancer girl... Kitten Duchess and Big Fat Kitty have been trying to console her with love and purrs. She fell asleep on the couch yesterday and Duchess Kitten snuggled up right next to her.

from little sister....as she says, "type" in her sweet baby girl voice....
z ,f mfmvmmvvmm...mjjj nbmk vffffggv, v jjjfjnv

Disappearing

I did write a post on the 15th or 16th, and it just disappeared. I remember it was happy and positive. Well, now it is the 17th, & here I am. Did you know you could repair one of those pop up mesh laundry baskets on the sewing machine?

Mixed Feelings

Friday morning-- in a few hours I will be on my way to a doctor visit. I have mixed feelings about this, partly because I am unsure if this new doctor will be the right one for me. Another part of me has been avoiding doctors in general for my whole family due to the cost of healthcare. Life without health insurance is a very interesting place to be, to say the least. Let me just say, well, I really don't know what to say.....I think when we finally pay off hospital bills for Little Sister Girl I will feel much relieved and less scrutinized. It is a terrible feeling to be in debt to someone (wait, did I just call a hospital/doctor's office someone ? What can I possibly be thinking?). I think mostly I am trying to retain a shred of dignity when I take myself or my family for medical care. I always thought before that there would be no difference in care I would receive no matter what my financial or insurance situation is/was. I had always heard that some offices would treat people differently if they were using a Medical Card/ Medicare, and I didn't believe it. I guess it is my own perception really, but it feels much different to have had health insurance, easily get care and pay a copay, and then suddenly be without this, and be ineligible for any health assistance. Don't get me wrong, I get a special self-pay amount that is discounted (supposedly) from regular rates. Woo hoo. But I have to pay in full for every visit to get this special rate. Every time I think I have let this issue go, something comes up and I realize I am still angry about the whole situation. It also doesn't help that I will have to leave Dancer Girl this morning with Long Hair Daddy. No problem, usually. She has had a low-grade fever for two nights now, and has been feeling puny, and mostly wanted me to hold her and snuggle. Little Sister Girl, now 19 mos, still is too young to really understand and hasn't wanted to share Mommy at all(translation-- lots of screaming and crying when I can't hold her). I feel very drained, and yet at the same time, I am glad that I am her Mommy and that I have love and patience for her that no one else has. I feel glad that she wants me to hold her and comfort her. I get this feeling that I will blink my eyes and she will be grown up. I hope she will never outgrow needing me, but know that some things will never be the same as when she is this little.

Happy Tuesday

Happy Tuesday! May your day be filled with opportunity, hope, and goals completed.

*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[ so aptly put by Big Fat Kitty as she sits on my lap and types ]

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine. Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he says unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus said unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and said unto him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but you have kept the good wine until now. This the beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
from John 2

Relief

Long Hair Daddy had to replace a busted hose on our '88 car because it had overheated earlier in the week and the hose went boom. Well the good news is that he realized that the last mechanic who looked at our car to fix the overheating problem had the radiator cap screwed on too tight. Long Hair Daddy loosened the cap and Voila!, the car temperature has been normal ever since. Thank God this time it was something simple and that Long Hair Daddy figured it out himself!

Wallace & Gromit

Wallace & Gromit goooood.

Rosh Hashanah

Leshanah tovah tikkatev

May you be inscribed for a good year.

This is sometimes said during the Jewish New Year, and I have read it means not only Happy New Year, but may your name be inscribed in the book of life this year. During the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, many think about the previous year and seek forgiveness. At the end of the ten days people say to each other, "May the final verdict be favorable," because the end of the ten days is the Day of Atonement or Judgment, Yom Kippur. This is my wish for my friends and family and enemies, that they be forgiven and have their names inscribed the Book of Life. I am thankful that God is good and His mercy is forever.

I also read that Psalm 37 is a traditional reading in synagogues at this time.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: don't fret yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not yourself in any wise to do evil.....

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread...

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them.....

(as always, my paraphrase)

also found this...http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I must have been tired yesterday. Apparently I had dozed off on the couch when Little Sister Girl was nursing to sleep. I woke up at least 30 minutes later than I remember with white kitten Duchess asleep under my right arm and Little Sister Girl asleep on my lap under my left arm. I spent most of the day on the phone taking care of bills and stuff and helping Little Sister with the potty. I did manage to throw some towels in the dryer and bag up the garbage and feed the cats. It was one of those funny days where you are busy all day long, and at the end of it you look back and wonder what you did. At least there were no dead birds on my carpet in the living room like Saturday morning. [Yes, I opened the cat door back up for a while, and apparently Mama White Kitty can't resist the temptation even though her kittens are grown and mostly moved away from home]. The biggest news today is that Dancer Girl is coming home after staying at Grandma's house since Saturday! Can you believe it? That's 3 nights away! I guess that means my little girl really is growing up. Also, Little Sister Girl is really starting to talk and repeat words and phrases. My favorite this week is her version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I am glad both my girls love to sing. Thank God for the sun.
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/sun.html

Dancer Girl Visits Motherkitty

Well, after a rip-roaring princess birthday party with her friends, Dancer Girl, aka Sleeping Beauty in Pink with a fancy bun ponytail with bow, announced that she was going to Grandma's house with a "Don't worry, Mama...I'll see you on Tuesday." So, it is very, very quiet around here.

Beautiful white kitten has been officially named Duchess of Silk by Dancer Girl. Now to find her a rhinestone studded collar....

5 days til Wallace & Gromit....