Sick

I have not been feeling this week. Something is going around and my youngest brought it home. A head cold that just hangs on. Needless to say, I've been writing and taking it easy. But I saw this clip this morning and wanted to share. Long, but worth the time if you want a smile or laugh. Enjoy!




Hope you're well and stay healthy.

Found

I can't believe it's Friday! I had plans for a few blogs this week, but I got busy working on my Christmas Novella (pretty much all I was doing until yesterday) and then had a few cat things crop up and all the writing came to grinding stop!

On Wednesday, a new senior foster, Gabbro, came to stay with us for a few weeks. She's a fifteen year old black cat, so tiny. She was not doing as well in the shelter as they'd hoped. She's on a lot of medication and a picky eater. So far so good. She's a biter though. I have the scabs to show for it. But she's coming around. She's a little stiff in her movements so not a big jumper, but when I woke up my oldest guess who was in bed with her? Gabbro had gotten up there herself. Of course, she didn't know how to get down. I helped her! Might have to set up stairs like we did for Spirit. These old girls just aren't as nimble as they once were.

Then on Thursday morning, I received an email from Home Again telling me to renew Rocket's subscription. He's my furbaby who died in March. Needless to say, I started my morning off with a good cry.

Then about an hour later, I found this cat on my back porch. Well, in full disclosure mode, the two dogs found him. Though we didn't know the cat was a he. My first thought was he looked like Rocket, due to the coloring and long-hair.

I knew the dogs wouldn't hurt the cat, but I was worried the cat might freak and attack them. I planted myself between the cat and Cato, since I knew Chaos would listen to me. The puppy not so much. I ended up with two front paws caught on my track pants.

Rose saw me outside and came out to help, getting the dogs inside. The poor cat was so scared. And thin. Emaciated really.

I hadn't done dishes and used the last of the cat bowls for breakfast so I grabbed what I could find quick. I gave him food and water, but he just sat there. I emailed my contact at the shelter I foster for. I sent a second one with his picture, then went outside to sit with him.

He was growling under his breath, but I sat about a foot away and didn't try to touch him. He finally ate a little. I slowly reached for him, and he allowed me to pet him. Once he finished eating, I had to run inside, wash my hands, then check on Gabbro since she's adjusting to her new space. I received a reply from my shelter contact. She was calling to find out if the shelter had room and asked if I could get close enough to crate him.

The poor guy didn't move when I went to pick him up. He almost seemed relieved. I got him in a carrier with food and water. I put him in the sun and up high where the dogs couldn't bother him. I also made sure he could see inside to know he wasn't alone. I would have loved to bring him indoors, but I couldn't chance it with all my cats and the foster. Given his condition, not to mention matted fur and super long nails, he'd been outside on his own for awhile.

The shelter had room for him and named him Shasta. They set up a vet appointment for him, and I took him there a couple hours later. The vet agreed he is in bad shape. She couldn't believe he was even walking, let alone made it to my backyard. She was very pessimistic about his condition, but the shelter agreed to run blood tests and give him fluids. The vet cleaned him up. Matted fur was shaved and nails clipped. He didn't make a sound or fight any of this. Such a dear, good kitty

I then took him to the shelter. He has a wire cage to stay in. He's warm and safe. The shelter person let me know last night that he'd eaten and was a sweet boy.

Now, we wait to hear from the vet about his blood work. My hope is he's just starving, but his body reminded me of Rocket's at the end, when the cancer had taken over. I'm praying there's no underlying cause to his condition other than lack of food. No matter what the outcome with his tests, I'm happy Shasta showed up. At least yesterday and today he's been and is being loved. He has people who care about him, are taking care of him and are praying for him. He also has a nice indoor place to sleep and rest and fresh food and water.

UPDATE: The test results are back. YAY! Shasta has Hyper-T and an infection but both can be controlled/treated with medication. I'm so happy for the handsome guy! I will be visiting him at the shelter soon to see how he's doing! Thanks so much for all your prayers!

I'm not sure how Shasta found my backyard, but I'm really happy he did. 

Hope you have a nice Friday!

Monday links and shares

I'm busy writing so I thought I'd share a couple links I came across this weekend that I enjoyed.

The first is about parenting, and is from The Matt Walsh blog. Click here. I remember one of Rose's tantrums. It was in Target, and we stuck it out in spite of the glares and mutterings of other customers. Needless to say I really loved this blog!

Another is a commercial from Thailand's True. There are subtitles, but even without them you could figure out what was going on. Definitely worth three minutes of your time. But fair warning...tissue alert!



My friend Al sent me this link to a Buzzfeed article titled "15 Types of Readers, As Told By Cats and Dogs." Love, love, love it!

Do have any links you want to share?

Another week!

We've almost survived another week of full-time school. And this week hubby has been gone. But I've been so busy I've hardly noticed I'm alone during the day. Well, alone if I don't count the fur kids. One thing I realized this week is I wish there was a bus to take my oldest to her school and bring her home! Spoiled by the other two already!

One reason for wanting that bus is I started a new story, one I'm writing super fast, and having a blast with! I just can't wait to write and write again. Love when this happens! I'll tell you more about this project soon!

The kids are still loving school. Nothing but smiles. The only tears happened this morning when Rose was making her lunch. Chaos grabbed her sandwich off the counter and ate it. Thankfully, we had another package of ham in the fridge!

On the bummer side of things, my oldest is sidelined from swimming, right as the high school swim schedule gets underway. Her shoulder is still bothering her from her bike accident back in early July. She has an MRI on Monday. Would appreciate healing thoughts and prayers sent Mackenna's way. She's still going to practices and was at the first meet yesterday acting as the swim team manager. Sure hope she doesn't have to stay dry the entire season.

Well, time for me to get to work! Hope you have a wonderful Friday whatever you're doing!

Never Forget

I plan to read as many entries as I can from New York Times' Portraits of Grief and remember those who lost their lives twelve years ago.

Then I'll write letters to our service members who are putting their lives on the line for us today and every day.

It's the least I can do.

My New Cover!

I wanted to share the cover for my upcoming November release, A Little Bit of Holiday Magic, the final book in my Hood Hamlet Christmas Magic series that's available for preorder!

Here's the back cover copy:

A new family…for Christmas?

All widow Grace Wilcox wants is a fresh start for her and her young son, Liam. When her truck spins off the icy road, her rescuer turns out to be the hottest firefighter in Hood Hamlet, and even wary Grace can't say no to his offer of help!

Bill Paulson has stuck to his no-dating rule so far this Christmas, but having Grace in his home is testing his chivalrous side to the limit! Her little boy is melting his heart, even asking for a new daddy from Santa….

But Grace has already loved and lost one hero. Can she really let herself get close to another?

I also had Hot Damn Designs add the cover to my Facebook page. If you haven't liked the page, please do. Now that I have more time will be hanging out more there:

I'm going to be doing giveaways in November and December to celebrate my book's release and Christmas! Be sure to sign up for my newsletter(you can do so on the right) because at least two giveaways will be for subscribers only!

Small World

The first week of school has gone well! Yay!

Everyone is adjusting to the full-time schedule, including me! Of course, there hasn't been much homework. Next week will be a better test. But both of the younger kids are excited to head to the bus each morning and smiling when they walk in the door in the afternoon so that's a huge sigh of relief. I miss the kids, but am also enjoying the freedom to do things during the day.

Yesterday, I had lunch with my dear friend, Tiffany. We used to be neighbors. We used to climb together. We used to hang out a lot! But between our move and her being an ex-pat in London for a  couple of years, we haven't seen much of each other. We reconnected at The Bollywood Theater to have a belated birthday celebration (mine!)

We picked up right where we'd left off! I wasn't surprised at all.

What was surprising was who we saw at the restaurant...the woman who introduced us over ten years ago! It was fun catching up with her. Tiffany and I used to belong to be shareholders in the CSA she and her husband run. They noticed our addresses and that we were neighbors so introduced us so we could 1) carpool or 2) alternate picking up our harvest shares at the farm. We not only did that, but became friends! Pretty amazing we lived a couple houses away from each other and had never met!

Needless to say a wonderful time yesterday.

And now that the kids are in school, I hope it's not a couple years until we can get together again!

First Day of School

After five years of homeschooling, I sent all three of my kidlets off to school this morning. The oldest, a sophomore, had started full-time school her freshman year. I figured I'd just keep the other two at home until it was time to send the off to high school. So much for plans!

The past three years, the kids attended a two day a week parent partnership program at an alternative school. I volunteered half a day for each kid. Add in the commute time (half an hour each way) and they really weren't away from me that long.

This is a huge change.

Tuesdays have never been this quiet in the house unless we were gone. Right now we would normally be at piano lessons. But I need to redefine "normal" around here.

Did I mention the youngest two are taking the bus? They didn't want me to walk them to the bus stop this morning. Neighbors were showing them how it all works.

I knew I'd miss them, but I really, really miss them.

I keep waiting for someone to yell, "Mom" or want help with an assignment or need something from me. At least, the cats will want lunch in a couple hours. Until then I'm off to find some chocolate and write a letter to a soldier. Then maybe I can work on the new story.

What are you up to today?