99 thoughts on “snowy days are here again”

    1. oops…watch what ya wish for 🙂 I actually said out loud the day before: “where’s all the snow?” The implied response was “you want snow? Here’s your snow.” It was cold, too, lower 20s. I thought my thumb was frozen when I was trying to tie up my cat shelter tarps…with the wind whipping everything that wasn’t tied down. lol Our snow isn’t going to last long, “winter wonderland” turns into “sloppy mess” pretty fast.

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      2. It was a fluke. But the weather folks kept bragging breathlessly about the coming storm, and it was just trickling a few flakes here. I guess I jumped the gun. I avoid walking on ice and even snow makes me cautious. We haven’t had a real old-fashioned snow storm in years. It is supposed to get up to 40 on Wednesday. I have been going to physical therapy on Mondays and Thursdays for a month, and now I’ll do four once-a-week sessions. It was a reaction to an antibiotic that contributed to weakness of my legs…made me furious.

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      4. I have an appointment with a specialist, so hopefully will find out what’s going on with my ears… besides needing hearing aids. I would just avoid the whole deal except that I have gotten so I can’t follow a multi-person conversation, and have a problem hearing anyone unless they are facing me. Not that it’s anything new, I just have been ignoring it.

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      5. I’m in the ignoring stage, too. John and the boys have to repeat things often for me. Background noise is a big nuisance. It’s hard to know when to take the big leap for hearing aids. I hope the specialist will have good advice for you.

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    1. Dogs do love the snow, especially puppies. We had a little guy named James that would skate at the end of his chain in a circle. Another dog, a collie, used to beg to go outside so she could lay in the snow. I let three of my cats outside to use the facilities last night, and had to remind them that they are house cats only by the grace of my goodness… they liked playing in the snow but I told them to get their fannies inside or they could camp out all night. 🙂

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      2. I would have let them stay out, but I was ready to go to bed. The two Calicos go in and out at will, and Peggy is supposed to be outside but I let her in when it’s real cold. They all know where the shelter is in the back, so it would have been OK to leave them out. It was bitter cold, I had to make some repairs and I came in twice to get warmed up.

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    1. Barbara sort of stamped in a couple days ago, but she retreated quickly when I said go. She is staying close to the shelter, and seems to have conquered her fear of me. I even petted her on the back and she didn’t panic. She is just skin and bones, poor thing. I’m glad she’s making a home here at least temporarily so she doesn’t have to leave the safety of the shelter. There are some others who also live here, they have tunneled. Cat Henry and Fluffy are here often.

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      1. I’m glad to hear Barbara is safe, as well as the others. Awfully cold to be outside without shelter. I wonder how the other ferals survive?

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      2. warm places, tall grass, boxes, structures…in a pile. My shelters are lined with bales of straw, and several tarps, some kind of a rug or blanket on the floors. There aren’t many ferals around here that aren’t in a community or whatever they call it, around here they live in my shelters, next door in their shelters, next door to that in the horse barns.

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      3. Community. That’s not a word you tend to associate with cats, but I guess they must form loose family units or something? They’re lucky to have you providing them with shelter.

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      4. maybe the word I’m looking for is “colony.” The APL guy referred to it that way. Cats, even ferals, apparently live in some kind of interacting society. I am not alone in caring for them, my soninlaw next door has his own colony…which is sort of merged with mine…normally different cats. Then there is another neighbor across the road that sets out food and water for any strays that wander around, and also rig up a shelter. When the greenhouse was operating across the road another neighbor fed and watered whoever-cat was in the greenhouse, which had a warmed section for all year plants. That included Barbara I think. She was quite forlorn when they literally knocked down the greenhouse and the huge old barn that stood on the property also. The spaying has done enormous good! Neutering males accomplishes limits because where there is a harem of females handy, if the local males are sterile new ones just come in from someplace else. The horse barn I mention occasionally is on the other side of Daughter1’s house. They rent stall space and have some corrals and other facilities…so that provides a hospitable home for would-be ferals. So apparently the facts are that there aren’t many ferals, and most of the outdoor cats around these parts belong to families.

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      5. I like how you redefine them as outdoor cats. True ferals aren’t cared for by anyone, anywhere. I wonder if this is how cats and humans first came together? I’m pretty sure they chose /us/, not the other way around. 🙂

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      6. The Animal Protective people do run an effective “no kill, trap, neuter and release,” program in this county. Residents complain, but they do tend to set out water and food even for the strays they never see. The trap and neuter project has cut down the problem a lot. Resident want the police to “do something” about the strays they call ferals. Two or three years ago there was an enormous uproar when a woman called police about kittens in their neighborhood which were scratching the kids, pooping in flower beds, general nuisance. The caller was outraged though when the police officer showed up and shot five kittens dead. God was that a fiasco. It’s not funny, except that the cop who was always known as some kind of prick, managed to get in trouble with everybody.

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      7. Ugh, horrible story. Never ever call the authorities for animal problems. Ours don’t shoot, but the pound is still a horrible place. When we first moved to Warrandyte, the fencing wasn’t secure and my little dog got out. He had a collar on with the phone number on a tag…but it was the /old/ phone number. In all the madness I’d forgotten to change the tag.
        Someone found him and took him in overnight. Meanwhile I’m driving around like a mad woman, calling for the dog at midnight. Next day, the person [never did find out who] took Kushie into the pound.
        I finally tracked him down and when I got there, the attendants had just hosed down the concrete cell he was in. Very small pomeranian, sopping wet and shivering with cold….grrrr.

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      8. Actually the APL branch here really does do a good job. Here’s a funny story…a few years ago my granddaughter adopted a really … uh problematic … dog. Once he went missing and she had to go to the pound to retrieve him after locating him there. The pound wanted all sorts of identification and proof of ownership, etc. refusing to turn the dog over to her. Finally she said “do you really think I’d go to all this trouble if he wasn’t MY dog?” She did get him back. 🙂

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      10. No, this is my oldest granddaughter, she’s a licensed social worker and therapist in her own practice. . The rockband gal has a dog named Marty that traveled along on her road trips back in the day, but now he is too old and has to stay home when GG3 travels. (I have four granddaughters and two grandsons; six greatgrands; assorted in-laws. I once said I have more sonsinlaws than daughters 🙂 One daughter-in-law, who is the best DIL in the world.

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      12. Yes. On the procedural front, I have an appointment next Wednesday for a heart-catherization at 6 a.m. I said that is the middle of the night, and the office person said “well its his first appointment, so he’ll be good and rested.”

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      16. They can just drop me off at the hospital, they don’t have to wait. It should just be an outpatient surgery, unless they need to put some stents in or otherwise.

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      17. The reason the doc wants to do a heart-cath is that the last time when they put the two stents in was several years ago, and he wants to be sure there isn’t any blockage or other issues causing the discomfort. I only apply the word “pain” to like a stubbed toe or a gas pain. What I have is a pressure in the heart area which is often present…not painful per se. I guess I’m pretty much a pain in the ass as a patient. They have the dumb pain level chart on every office wall, and ask what level is the pain. I usually say a two or three but they want me to say seven or eight.

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      19. Yes, I am doing it. I talked to the Physical Therapist and told her what was going on, and that I need a doctor’s slip to resume my therapy. I do want to take it as long as I can and the heart doc said to wait until after the heart cath. I do feel lots better, and vow to take it easy. Today is Son2’s birthday, he is 56.

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      22. Well between my neighbor (Dau1 and husband) and I, plus the horse barn guy next to them have possibly 10 cats…no more than that. Two have lived with the horse people since they were kittens, then there are the males that were neutered who came back home and still maintained their hierarchy. The occasional kittens (Barbara mainly, and Barbara’s daughter who lives next door, were the product of “visiting toms” that were obviously someone’s cat because of grooming and not skinny scraggly creatures. Yeah, I think cats chose us originally….I have a wall plaque that says “Cats were once considered Gods, and they have never forgotten it.” LOL

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      23. Sorry trying to answer 3 comments in one as Debunking Granny is full up:

        Hey! Insurance companies are normally miserly, or so I’ve heard, so I’m glad they were precautionary in your case. 🙂

        I love the idea of neighbours joining together for the care of animals. Here in Warrandyte, everyone is dog crazy and we all watch out for each other’s dogs on the road. Luckily a Good Samaritan saved Golli [the cat] when he was hit, too. This is one reason I love this place so much.

        lol – yes, our cats remember those times quite clearly and never let /us/ forget either. 😀

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      24. We neighbors don’t really work together per se, but we all love cats, so we all tend to do what is needed. Barbara is sharing the shelter with at least four other regulars, Fluffy, Cat Henry, Peggy, and a grey cat that shows up for food and shelter. I’ll put some more barriers up in waiting for the extreme cold that is coming in a few days. More tarps, and make sure the windbreaks are in place. They have like a tunnel system carved out in the straw. I might see if they have another bale of straw when I buy cat food later today. I don’t really feel like messing around with the shelter, but I want to make sure it is doing its job. The straw makes great walls, and also loose straw can be moved around as they want it. It is supposed to get up to 40+ F today, but expected -7 F or something tomorrow. Crazy weather!

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      25. Doing what’s needed is probably the best form of co-operation.
        I know you want to make sure the cats are okay, but please don’t over do it.

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      26. We bought three bales of hay (in addition to the ones we already had) and I want to add another tarp. I use the big bales as building blocks. I need another tarp but I insist on doing it MY WAY, and everybody has their two cents. Daughter3 is coming today to take me to the doc…not that I couldn’t go by myself, she wanted to see me and couldn’t get over here before. It is becoming super cold…down in the single digits or minus-temps. That’s Fahrenheit. (my fellow Americans do not want to recognize the metric system, when they put it on the speed limit signs there was so much uproar that they took it off and just left milesperhour. That is another whole story, the metric system.

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      28. Re the appointment: Daughter4 went with me, which I allow because my hearing is so bad and concentration lacking that I need someone to interact with the doctor. I am the main gal, don’t get me wrong, but I am not a medical person and the girls are all nurses, so I get more details. When it comes to the willybooger and the whats-it I know nothing. (That’ my story and I’m sticking to it.)

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      32. Today I have to take Son2 to get his ID renewed. His birthday was yesterday. He doesn’t drive, so doesn’t have a driver license, but he has to have an official government ID. While I’m out I have to go to a lab to have blood drawn and results sent to my doctor. And its still somewhere around 0-degrees. (The temperature is heading upward actually.)

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      34. Yeah I’m resting, all my aches acting up again after that terrible hospital bed. I have several follow-up and new doctor appointments in the next couple of weeks. I absolutely HATE that, as I have important writing stuff and general thinking that I need to do. Delayed my daughter-in-law’s birthday again, and today is my great-granddaughter’s birthday and her card will be late. I sold some items on ebay so need to get that taken care of…bless the postal service for their pick-up at my mailbox service. It is actually part of the carrier’s job, but I still appreciate it immensely not having to run to the post office.

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      35. You must delegate where possible! Seriously, until you’re feeling 100% again. Ask for help. I know it goes against the grain but sometimes it’s necessary. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way during my own back problems. I can ask and I can expect to get some help when I need it. So can you. 🙂

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      36. I do delegate, and right now my new meds etc are affecting how I feel. As I said, #3 Daughter will be here this afternoon, and will go to the heart doc with me. She is also a nurse, as are her sisters, so I’m not apt to get off the path with her in charge of me. 🙂 Seriously, I am taking it very easy, and not tackling any big jobs. I want to make the most of the years I have left, so I will do whatever I have to do to cooperate.

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      38. If you don’t mind I’m going to start using one of my every-day emails for personal email. I often hesitate to say something to you (and others) that I wouldn’t think twice about in email. I had a conversation about this with my youngest granddaughter (22) yesterday, she does not do email, but she does twitter, facebook, Instagram, skype…etc. She would be GD4 in family ID. 🙂

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      43. I hate the word “feisty,” which to me has always translated into: “mouthy, mean little bitch” as I always say: I am not little, certainly not cute, and not much of a lady.

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      44. Really? Oh that’s a pity. To me, feisty has always meant ‘straight talking & brave’. Isn’t it odd how the same word can have totally different connotations in different countries.

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      47. It’s the rude and crass little gals that give me the pain in the butt…the ones that think since they are old they are allowed to say anything to anyone no rude or disrespectful or downright hurtful. My mil once told a visitor at the nursing home that she had gained so much weight she hadn’t recognized her. Talk about a sweet little itchy….that was a whole den of them. On the other hand no that I am aging…so to speak…I hear myself saying mean things about TV personaltieis (too much hair…gained a few pounds…that’s a terrible dress) …. I try to bite my tongue, as I don’t want to lower myself to e
        becoming and mean and intolerant…especially since I am no prize myself.

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      48. Hmm…I have a biting tongue when I’m really riled. I hope I never start using it indiscriminately as I age. Compassion & empathy aren’t just for the young, are they?

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      50. Our country is gripped in sheer insanity…so what else is new? Our government is open now after 45 backed down (uproariously nasty laugh) and our Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stood her ground. 45 has mean and derogative names for any of his opposition, but he made a point of saying the other day: “I call her Nancy.:” She is a small woman about 70-ish, and her daughter was quoted as saying “watch out, she’ll rip your throat out…” 45 and his stupid wall…

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      51. Yay! I hadn’t heard the news until now. Go Nancy Pelosi. I’m so VERY glad she stood her ground and forced /him/ to back down. I hope voters remember her courage and determination when the next election rolls around. Do you think she’ll nominate?

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      52. She is the Speaker of the House now that the Democrats have won the house majority. I think she is Representative from California. She is small, and “cute” and 45 just refers to her as “Nancy.” She is 70-something now, and I don’t think she ever had any designs on the presidency. The Speaker is third in line for ascendance to the throne… er presidency. We have a lot of women who were elected this time, and some of them were making noises about challenging Pelosi…which is not a good idea. 45 has lost a lot of face with this shutting-down the government stunt…even some of staunchest “supporters” have turned on him already. The US Coast Guard has not been delayed paychecks, also the parks system, half the administration workers, part of the border patrol, air traffic controllers, the airport security people…. yep, bad bad business. A viper government. 🙂

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      54. At the time the Founders were making up the details of the constitution, slavery was rampant in the South, and usually slaves didn’t really have rights personally, but their masters had rights concerning/regulating their slaves. At one time slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for tax purposes. Both of my great-grandfathers were Union soldiers in the Civil War, they didn’t see much if any real action as when they turned 18 the war was ending. But I identity with the North. I will refrain from going on and on as I am wont to do… 🙂

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      56. Yes, slavery was THE issue for decades. Slave labor helped the South become very wealthy, free workers on the plantation. Here in the North there are towns like Oberlin and Wellington that supported the “underground railroads” that helped runaway slaves to escape to Canada. It was bad.

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      58. The horrors of the slave trade are endlessly fascinating. After the British abolished slavery and various nations’ ships were hesitant to run slave ships, the Portuguese were running slaves to the U.S. under US flags…so their cargoes did continue long after slavery was outlawed. I did a paper on the subject in grad school for a seminar course requirement., which I find fascinating…I’m going to publish it on the blog someday. The title is “England and the Empire.”

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      60. It is very cold. I worked on the cat shelter yesterday, and this morning dragged a huge box out there so they can step into it to eat. Inside is cozy with straw tunnels. The wind is wicked though, so they only go out far enough to do their business then beat it back into the shelter.

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      63. Does the shelter have to be completely temporary? I wonder if you could use wooden packing crates both as the ‘inside’ and as a frame to which you can attach the straw?

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      64. Well, the shelter is in the middle of my back deck for two reasons: it is temporary for winters, and it is handy for me to step out there and feed the cats and give them water several times a day. I only have like 5 cats out there at a time…tops. Barbara, Fluffy, Cat Henry, big grey cat that visits but doesn’t necessarily sleep here, and an “occasional other.” Peggy lives in the house when it is super cold. So the big umbrella stays up all year, and the table which is part of the infrastructure is…well, a table in summer. There are five bales of straw out there, about one and a half is loosely packed into the mainframe, thus the deep tunnels and I use bales as building blocks. Last year 2018 I had the best shelter, one of its main components was a packing crate; bales of straw packed around it, and a heavy blanket hanging down as a door. The plastic tubs that are made like igloos with insulation and what all are popular among the cats.

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      66. Oh, the shelter isn’t just for winter comfort, the cats tend to live there all year round, in and under the wing, on tables, on the railings…and some even get on top of the framework. There have been a number of kittens born there also…including Bob, Dottie, Sister, Cat Henry, and Peggy.

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      67. Those will get their back pay soon, butthead will probably try to shut the govt down again, but they have 3 weeks to figure out a solution. 45 wants his stupid wall, and the Dems are blocking it. The problem here (one of them) is that the Republicans still control the Senate…which has to vote on house-bills, and can (and do) block passage of anything put up by the Democrats.

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      69. yes, except for a relative few who worship 45 and don’t believe any of the “bad stuff, i.e. fake news” about him. Incredible! Idiots that actually said “well he wouldn’t cheat on his wife now that he’s a grandfather.” and my personal favorite: “now he has God on his side and a lot of people praying for him.” poo

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      71. They are often referred to the “uneducated class” or the nonschooled high school drop outs etc. Hillary Clinton once called them a
        “basket of deplorables.” hahaha

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      73. The media frequently uses “non-college educated voters” not necessarily in a derogatory way but as a description of a very large class of #45 backers. (Other qualifiers being “women” “whites” “blacks” “evangelicals” etc.) As in terms such as “white college-educated” and “non-college educated.” The implication is intended and obvious…college educated voters tend to support 45ers. Now that is loaded! I don’t even want to go there here. :-\ This all means exactly what it implies.

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      74. Well the Speaker of the House is actually chosen by the U.S. Congress, which is directly elected by the people…by districts. The Senate is also elected by the voters, two senators to each state (we have 50 states.) If a big alligator got loose in the white house and ate both the pres and vicepres…. the Speaker would immediately ascend to the presidency.

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      76. In the stupid/but genius movie Sharknado 2 or 3 the Sharks invaded the white house and wreaked havoc, but they didn’t eat anyone who mattered much. Lightening bolts could do it, or the hand of God could come down in a fist. My imagination has no bounds. lol

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      78. Have you seen any of the Sharknado movies? There are five of them. Usually shown on the SYFY channel Sharks get sucked up into tornadoes and fly around devouring people. There is a hero who with his merry band of folks always saves the day. One show features the WhiteHouse and the president helps defeat the sharks. Ahem… this series is SO stupid that it is hilarious. (Yes, typical of us yanks.)

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      81. alligators? sweeties in their own way I suppose. There is a popular history channel show called “Swamp People.” Very graphic and violent, lots of blood, and Louisiana-folks who are likeable in spite of their guns and expertise at wrestling huge (10-11 foot long) alligators. ) More than likely these are 45ers. lol

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