It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new.
But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Daydreaming

I never took the bus when we lived there. I don't like buses, for various reasons.. all good.
But I love this photo, it is a location close to our home, we walked on that street almost every single day and I liked the buildings .. in the middle of the noise and bustle of a huge city, it was always a pretty quiet street.

The sun is shining here.
I am supposed to be packing.
Or even preparing to pack.
And finding a mover.
and I am sure there are other things I am also supposed to be doing but I am sitting here, daydreaming about Buenos Aires.

Friday, January 29, 2016

What next ?

I looked out the bedroom window, it is so grey and gloomy out ... a very tall tree fell in the night .. away from the house. It had all the possibilities of being a disaster for me .. the first room in the path if it had fallen in another direction would be my bedroom .. my bed is at that wall. Or the sunroom which is all windows.  No one sleeps in there.

I was so thankful.
I have been walking around trying to figure out who I know that I can call to get it cut up and removed.

I looked out again, it is snowing. Hard.

What next ?

Thursday, January 28, 2016

The Inspection

The House Inspection was today.
Boy .. if only everything in this deal goes so well. Smoothly with nice people laughing and chatting and getting a job done with the least amount of stress or anxiety.
And whatever happens, the septic tank is empty. Drained. Enough about that ....

Apparently I clench my jaw when I sleep.
Today I have a tooth/jaw ache.
I bought clove oil .. we will see if that works.

The cats were angels all day.
Merlin napped.
Minette napped and looked out the window.
Sweet babies.

It looks like snow.
Dark already it is just 4 pm.
I found some clean , in perfect condition boxes from our move here .. I am going to pack books.
Good idea, huh ?
Yes, the things that you don't need out and that you don't want keep thinking that you should be packing, not sitting around ..
I also have to find a mover .. OY !!

so that is Inspection Day .. painless .. so far ... and actually quite pleasant.

Now to discuss dinner with the kitties.





Wednesday, January 27, 2016

I Worry


I worry ..
I worry about the cats. 
Managing with them in a hotel room. 
Managing to find my way from Here to There.
I got the sketchiest of directions from someone who has done it.
There will be no one in the car to read the map to me.
There will be no one in the car if I get lost .. alone .. with 2 cats .. who cannot read maps .. Amazing but true, they can't tell the top  of a map from the bottom. cats.
Can't live with'em, can't live without em !

I have to find a mover. For some reason, up here, it is hard.
The best ones were in Brooklyn .. but they charge too much .. first they would have to drive to Albany then start to load the trucks. too much.
You would think living so close to the Capital city of New York !!!! there would be a big moving company close by ... but nooooo .. there are people who use the name of a big company but they aren't quite the same.

I will have to call the biggest moving company there is ... Mayflower ? United Van Lines ... who else is there ? 
My mind, she quit working.

You know the movers will cost as much as this house sold for.

Then I will drive to Florida with 2 cats.
Stay in a hotel that is pet friendly.
Househunt .
While living in a hotel. with cats.
Worrying about the cats. 

It is all enough to make me sell everything and go back to Buenos Aires.
Hmmmmm .... who thought of that ??? hmmmm .... let me think ......

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Happy BIrthday ...


On the news , here in NY, there was an elderly lady who was celebrating a birthday.
The news people were talking to her about the things that happened throughout her life , so far.
The people , the husbands, the children, the
The things that changed ..
Then they asked her, this sharp and frisky lady,


"How did you live to be 107 years old ?"



And her answer was :


"Slowly, year by year  "

Read this

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/baby-rhino-lost-his-mom-so-he-sleeps-with-a-blanket/



Poor Minette

She just can't understand what happened !
There she was , the little bitty Queen Bee and then along came this rather large, very hairy Cat.
He doesn't say much at all, he sleeps most of the time , he is slow and not that much fun.
One day they did have a little chat, both taking advantage of the warm sunshine coming in the window on them .. but today ...

I have the cat crate ( it is a dog crate/quite large) in the corner of the den, between the wall ( heat) and the sofa.
I put a folded blanket on top so 1- it stays warmer inside 2- there is a spot for someone who likes to sleep on top of things ( Minette has decided that the top of the fridge ( a built into the wall  fridge) is a warm spot for naps )
So now , to get it out of my way, I put a little "cocoon" on top of that .. it is made of baby soft fleece.
Everyone ignored it.

Yesterday I came through the room and there was Minette, sound asleep, on top of the crate on the cocoon.
That has been her warm nap spot since then.

I went out today and did errands. Came home wishing we had gotten a house with a fireplace .. it is grey and dreary and bone chilling cold out .. snow ? hope not.

No one came to greet me as usual ... where were they ??
Minette was not in the pantry where she naps sometimes, Merlin is hard of hearing so he might have no idea Mama is home ..

I walked into the den and there was Minette, asleep in "her" cocoon on top of the crate.

I got them some snacks, we talked while I put away the groceries then they left and I found a snack.
Where did they go ?
Minette was looking out the living room window. I asked if it was going to snow ... she shrugged.
Where was Merlin ??
He is on top of the crate, sound asleep in Minettes ( possession is 9/10ths of the law) fleece bed.
Snoring away .. the dear dear old sweetheart.
Using his tail like a boa, wrapped around his neck.

Minette is beside herself.
THAT CAT is in her bed.
THAT BED is her nap bed. HOW DARE HE ????

She stomped ( if a 6 lb cat with tiny feet can even stomp) into the kitchen and howled.
I gave her some wet cat food, the stinky kind .. she stopped howling.
Poor Minette, being a big sister of an old cat is difficult ..

Update :
Tonight, Merlin is sleeping on top of the crate which is covered with a blanket and a towel .. he is in his pillow bed. A little girl cat appeared and curled herself up right next to him and went to sleep ..
It is too sweet to even try to describe.



Sunday, January 24, 2016

An Inspector Will Call

I get emails that tell me people want to buy my house.

I feel sad.

I get an email telling me an inspector will look at the house .

I feel anxious.

I don't know if it is because I "cling" to the house as the last place I lived with my husband, that I am so unused to going on "adventures" alone,  that it is daunting to leave this house.
I don't want to be stuck in a house that constantly needs repairs and costs so much .. taxes are hideous.
But it is my home, the only one I have ... I am sad.

If there was something exciting I was going to ... a flat in Buenos Aires near the Museum .. I might be packing already. Teaching the cats Castellano.
But I sit here while Minette sleeps on top of the crate in her soft little pillow bed she got for the trip, and Merlin is tucked in on my bed .. he appreciates a good bed .. I think that comes with old age.

I am not excited, I am anxious.

I will start calling movers tomorrow.




A Little Ray of Light

In those dark early days of my new life, the one called Widowhood .. I was so lost... so pathetic.
Shock from the suddenness of everything and the overwhelming feeling of being alone and afraid .. I was really unable to talk to people or behave normally.
If anyone was nice or said something sympathetic, I would start to cry.
The weirdest thing at that time, was the way people did things for me.
A total stranger offered to do things on the property .. dangerous tree limbs needed removing, the a/c needed to be taken out of a bedroom window and put away .. small chores but nothing that I could do.
Then he refused to accept any payment.
I had   curtains for the windows that are everywhere .. but we had not gotten around to putting them up .. our painter, offered to do it. He spent hours here, after working all day at his job .. drilling and installing rods and hanging the drapes for me.
Then about a week later, he told me to get fans and he would replace the old junky ones that were here .. he installed with the help of a buddy, 4 ceiling fans one evening.
That was the way it was ... those days .. those dark days that I only remember as ... dark.
I could barely think and had a hard time not just crying all day and all night.

Then one day, I was in the yard .. that was my daily Getting Fresh Air time. I walked up to the farm sometimes and told the Highland Cattle and the Rescue Horse all my sad stories. The horse was fine with me weeping all over him.
So as I was walking back to my house .. this young girl with this huge German Shepherd came walking up to me and just started chattering away like we were old best friends.
As I think about it now, I weep at the sweetness of that girl, the kind and huge heart she has .. she was newly married, her father in law owns the farm that is up the street ..
She has a German Shepherd the size of a small pony. I heart that dog ... big time.
So she came to my house and we walked around the yard and she just chattered away to me about whatever .. I have no memory of what we spoke of but she lifted my poor aching heart ..

I was so so happy to have her in the neighborhood ..
Then her husband was transferred to Florida and there went my friend..

I started getting emails from her. Just short little notes, as if we were old friends from way back.
Just chatter .. girlfriend chatter .. this sweet girl who is at least 40 years younger than I.
But I guess she has an old soul .. I know she has an amazing giving heart and soul.


So they left. I was sad . I missed her. She emailed often. She told me when she was pregnant.
Time went by .. her life was busy and happy and she had a baby boy.
Then one day .. she said they were coming up to see the families.
She came to see me. She and her baby boy ... then she told me there was another baby coming .

He is here ! He arrived yesterday. I am so sorry I am not there .. to sit with her, to hold the baby while she holds the new baby .. to try in some way to pay her back in any way possible for the kindness and sweetness she just hands out as if she doesn't even think .. it just happens.

I will move to Florida. When this house sells, the cats and I are getting in the car and taking off.
And my sweet friend and her husband and those two baby boys will be my first
visits ..
I have always thought that we meet people for a reason. sometimes it is not a good thing, sometimes it is a wonderful thing.
She is the wonderful thing.
I try to remember , I too can be a good thing. We all can be a good thing.
It doesn't require much, you just have to care ... to have an open heart.
And you can be a ray of light like my young friend .

Traveling with Two Cats

I have gotten suggestions on what to do and what to bring and how to go about things, so I thought I would post this now .. sharing tips, ideas and what I already know ... from experience.

I will be driving from NY State to Florida.
I will have 2 cats with me .. a young sweetie named Minette and an old darling named Merlin.

I bought a dog crate. That is where they will ride, during the days .. all cushy pillows etc for them inside. I can also throw a cover over it if the constant changing scenery freaks them out.
We will take stops and relax and have a bite and some snuggles during the day.

I will stay at a Pet Friendly hotel at night. ( La Quinta Hotels are pet friendly, we drove from Florida to Oregon with Pup , staying at La Quintas every night)

The "kids " will go into the hotel with me in cat carriers and will sleep in the crate in the room.
No roaming allowed .. I am not going to spend the trip worried about them getting loose, someone opening a door, one of them hiding ... I will be overly cautious for my own sanity.. and their safety.

They will have their food and we will all have bottled water that I will bring.
Just to be sure our bellies don't complain ... you never know.

I had hoped someone would take the drive with me but no ... so I will do what I know how to do from previous drives and from common sense.
And overly cautious because I hang on to those cats as if they were my infants and I would lay down and die if something bad happened.
Maybe I will get over that one day - I don't care if I don't .

I have the cell phone, the cats and my car and I think it will be fine.
It would have been finer if the person who said they would fly up and drive down with me, had kept their word but I have to learn, you can't really count on anyone but yourself.
and your cats.

So that's it. I will be selling the house, the offer was made and it is good.

so that's the story so far. hopefully it will get to be a really fun adventure story with some kind of wacky happy ending ...

I will have the laptop, hope it works while on the road .. if not , don't let the suspense kill you:)


Memories


Not one flake, not one drop of snow fell in my area.
I woke to quiet and thought, aha, we are buried in snow again. sigh ... then I got up and looked. Grass, a road, houses, everything normal and Snow-Free !!

I am thankful. I am tired of that claustrophobic trapped in the house feeling with feet of snow piled up outside the door. 
The cats are being annoying. All is normal again.

Someone made an offer on the house.
I am going to accept it.
It isn't as much as I hoped for but ... it never is, is it ?

The house in the photo ... Our First Home ( that we bought - there were plenty that we lived in before that)
When we bought it , it was brown, dark brown/black shingles , aged and dingy and tired looking.
The street used to be a "moonshiners hide-out" .. Up off the road were the stills and illegal goings on.
Then times changed, someone built a house and there ended up being about 8 houses on this hill .. each one different in style and each on beautiful. Except for ours. It was waiting for someone to come love it.
And love it we did.

The sale of that house, 7 years later, gave us the freedom to move/ travel/explore the world a bit more than just a 2 week holiday in Paris.

I loved that house .. 
It is so full of great memories. 

There was an offer made on my house. I accepted. I will have to start finding a mover, boxes, pack .. drive to Florida all by myself with 2 cats. I wish I could turn back time, I would be on the sofa in that house with my husband, listening to music with a nice big fire in the fireplace.
And Pup sleeping by the sofa and the cat so close to the fire that we used to have to check to be sure he wasn't toasted.

Memories .. we are so lucky to have the good ones. Even when they hurt.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Dear Friend,

I am doing a test. So far it is working out the way I thought it would.
If I send an email to a "friend" .. I will get an answer . If I don't email anyone, I don't get an email from anyone.
This is not counting my son and daughter.
Just those who I routinely have written to each day, keeping up with them and thinking they wanted to keep up with me.
I have come to the conclusion that some were there for me because they felt so bad for me, so suddenly being alone and mostly lost.
I feel nothing but gratitude and love for them.
I will miss our emails. I will miss hearing about the dogs and the city and the little things that we chatted about in our emails each day. Keeping me connected in that tenuous way to the Outside World.
So to those of you who were there for me when I needed you most, thank you thank you thank you.
I will miss you but maybe you will still drop a line now and then and catch me up on things .

lots of love and thanks,
me

Blondie

When I was born, I did not have much hair. And what I had was pure white.
My mother said there was a time she worried if I would have much hair at all.
I have all those photos of me , with my dog, with my toys, in the desert ( I was born in Az) and through the years. . a white haired little girl ..
My hair went from white blonde to "dirty blonde" to a mousy brown back to blonde.
I am thrilled to have arrived in the hair stage of grey/white.
It all started with a wide streak at my forehead .. that streak got wider.
Now I have trouble finding any hair that has color , it is pretty much all white.
Which , happily , looks just like my hair color when I was 4 years old. White.
I am happy for all the women out there who would , at one time, have suffered through expensive hair coloring every 5 weeks, roots and dye and expense and never really feeling like their hair looks natural. It rarely does. Temporary color fades fast .. dye looks like dye ... then you get roots anyway.
Of course, there is always the Avant Garde idea, why be ordinary , why look like everyone else ?
But most of us prefer hair that looks like ... hair..

So whatever color your hair is ... love it ... it is beautiful whatever the color.
As a man I know once said ... Be Glad You Have It ~








Thank you cul de sac for the photos

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Fantasia on a Theme

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Cold ? how cold is it ?

You want to know how cold it is ?

When the snakes start wearing their Christmas sweaters, you know it is time to move South.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Thank you ...


 


I want to thank everyone who has sent me notes and left comments, it means so much to me.
Thank you. 


My heart is warm with the friends I make,
  and better friends I'll not be knowing;
Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take,
  No matter where it's going ..

 

Cat Food and Soup

If you have a soft heart , or even a hard heart, don't sit down to the computer first thing in the morning and read One Green Planet before you have coffee ..

Unless you have better control than I do.

Which is most likely.

Now you can go read it ~  because if you are reading this, you are ready for everything else.

Have a lovely day .. it is freezing cold here with sunshine that is supposed to turn into snow.
So I am off to the supermarket to buy more soup and cat food.
Yes, that is all one needs to survive in the frozen north ... cat food and soup.


Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Being A Grownup



I am talking to my daughter on the phone about places in Florida where I may live.
I talk to friends online about homes in Florida where I may live.
I think about homes, styles, apartments , houses, in Florida, where I may live.
Then I think about selling this house... Saying goodbye to the last place where I lived and loved and was happy with my husband by my side. It will be hard.
I try to comfort myself with the thought of new places, new adventures, my sweet little companions.
It is hard.
I have not done this by myself before.
I know I can do things but I have no one at my back .. no one to get reassurance from, advice or just someone there ... Having lived with the same person for over 40 years, it takes a bit of time to adjust.
When we met, I was just out of my teens .. I was not what you would call Worldy or Experienced in a lot of things.
I had Been Places and Done Things but the "grown up " stuff .. finding a suitable home, making payments, being sure of things like Insurance, Bank Accounts and Stuff .. grown up stuff. . .

I want to be a kid again. Or a kitty who sleeps and eats and snuggles and takes a nap.
Who is loved and taken care of and never has to worry or be afraid .. because someone is there for them, watching over them .. being sure they are safe and cared for.

I think I want to be one of my cats.

We might be getting some snow. Maybe not "some" snow but maybe Snow. I will make my tortellini soup again. Ridiculously tasty ..
I hope it snows.

Thank you Sephora for sending me a sample of perfume with the last order I made.
Thank you Sephora for sending me a bottle of the perfume that I sampled last order I made.
It smells lovely.
I guess I will have to go to a crowded store somewhere and walk up to perfect strangers and present my neck or wrist and say "Smell .... isn't it Fabulous ! ? "
:)
The Sweeties and I will be going to bed soon.
There is nothing on tv and I am tired. All that thinking.
Worrying and Thinking, they are exhausting !
And so is being a Grown up ... grumble grumble .....


An Ode to a Dog - by Jimmy Stewart

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it.
But mostly he didn't come at all.
When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay
He did things his way.
Discipline was not his bag
But  when you were with him, things sure didn't drag.

He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
and when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.
He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn't read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
but that story's too long to tell.

Suffice it to say that he survived
and the house survived as well.

On evening walks, Gloria took him
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear.
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were !
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
they created a bit of a stir.

Every once in awhile, he would stop in his tracks
and with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure The Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house - I guess I'm the first to retire.
As I'd leave the room, he'd look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.
He knew where his tennis balls were upstairs.
and I'd give him one  for a while.
He'd push it under the bed with his nose
And I'd fish it out with a smile.'

Before long he'd tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner in no time at all.
and there were nights when I'd feel him climb upon our bed
and lie between us.
And I'd pet his head.
And there were nights when I'd feel his stare and I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there
And I'd reach out my hand and stroke his hair.

and sometimes I'd feel him sigh and I think I know the reason why.
He would wake up at night and have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he'e be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
climb up on our bed and lie between us,
and I pat his head.
And there are nights when I think I feel that stare
And I reach out to stroke his hair,
but he's not there.
Oh, how I wish that wasn't so
I'll always love a dog named Beau.




this is dedicated to my boy, Tate,

Baby Duma

Baby Duma

A baby elephant and his best friend forever

Saturday, January 16, 2016

That Pup

We lived in Portland, Oregon for almost 2 years.
In the Summer they had this wonderful Summer Festival.
The Budweiser Horses were there ... and their mascot, the dog.
We had our own pup then, Tate .. who would yodel if he saw a horse or a cow.
God knows what he thought they were and what that yodel meant ... we started thinking it was sheer joy.
We were taking a walk in our neighborhood , Portland was having a Summer Celebration and there they were , those breathtaking huge horses . We walked around and petted them and talked to them and their people ..  Pup was beside himself .. he was controlled, he managed not to say anything or yodel .. then we saw the young dog by one of the horses.

A lovely Golden puppy .. half-grown .. still all ears and big feet .. beautiful.
And the horses were calm and contented and at ease. Their Pup was there with them , as ours was there with us !
It was a real treat, something I never expected to see and yet there I was, petting one of those massive horses  while Tate whimpered with joy ... he was something else. that pup.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Friday Flowers

                                             Have a Happy, Fun, Safe  Weekend

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Winter Zoop

I made Tortellini Soup.. creamy soup. With a bit of spiciness to it.

Carrots - diced
Celery - diced
One small onion- diced
Olive oil
Broth
Tortellinis .. I use fresh , with cheese .

In a  deep pot ( I use a Dutch Oven  ) saute the carrots, onion and celery in some olive oil.
When things start getting softer and more tender, add the broth .
Bring the broth to a boil and add the tortellinis, cook until tender.
Turn down the heat and let it cook a while longer, the broth will thicken a little.

I threw in some black pepper at the end, the broth has a tiny bite to it instead of being a bit too creamy and bland from the tortellinis.

This is so easy to make and has such a good taste plus on cold winter nights, it is a comforting supper .. Minette liked it.

I walked into the kitchen and she was on the counter, licking the spoon clean.
Merlin sat on the floor and watched .. not sure if he could see that well but he was a lousy Look-Out .. he never said a word when I walked in and caught her in the act  lol....



,


Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Compass & Rose (UK)

Compass and Rose are Interior Designers in England.

This is their work, this is what I want.  We will work out the small details later .. like when I find a new home, when they want to work in the US or I find my new home in the UK ... small details.




Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Ahhhhh That Sound Again

Nothing like the sound of a Snow Plow going by.
In a totally white and silent world .. you hear the slam of the plow hitting the street, scraping along .. but it is snowing hard and fast, the road is white behind the plow as it goes by.
The trees are covered, the lawns and driveways ..

It was nice when I went to the Supermarket, there was a warning that It Might Snow.
When I got home, flurries were swirling around.
I put away the groceries, got my book .. snuggled the cats and had a couple of those tiny cinnamon rolls I am addicted to.
Hearing it might snow- I bought 2 packages of cinnamon rolls.
If you have to be snowed in, at least have something you like to nibble on. Those and soups and Constant Comment Tea.

The cats were glad to see me .. then went back to sleep.
I did this and that and forgot to look out the window .. until I heard that plow hit the pavement.

Minette is howling. No idea what that is about . Better go ask her.

Snowing ...

I went to the Supermarket because they said it was going to snow some.
I came home, there were a few flakes falling.
Not even an hour later, the street and driveway are covered with snow and it is coming down heavily ...  well, I won't be hungry and the cats will have me to themselves after all.

I had really hoped to go somewhere and get away from the house ..

I wonder if I can hitch the cats to a sled and we can get out of here ........ no .. probably the other way around, they will ride in the sled and I will pull them.

Warmish



It has been warmish lately. I am glad it is not snowing like it did last year .. But I know we are just now going into the time of year when snow can happen.
But warm days with sudden severe thunderstorms are unexpected.
Followed by spectacular rainbows is a gift.

This is farm country. You will see old farm houses, barns and fields, cows and sheep and horses.
And next door to all that will be a fabulous new modern home that would be comfortable in any suburb of New York City.

This is the part of living here that I especially like.
The open views, the trees and skies. The skies change constantly and you see them clearly .. no buildings blocking the view and also no smog or haze  ... just clear clean air .

My realtor took this photo, on the way home in the car ... I am impressed.

Tomorrow house hunters will arrive. They want to see the attic. ???? I never saw the attic.
The steps to the attic are located in the garage ceiling .
My husband looked up there .. from the ladder .. it is an attic. From below, looking up .. it looks clean and empty and just like an attic .. imagine that .
I guess they are teaching new tricks at the School of HouseHunting.

 



Sunday, January 10, 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Saturday .. cats and househunters

For the first time in a long time now , I woke up and lay there thinking my husband was still here.
The cats were quiet, I must have been sleeping after waking up to them wanting out of the bedroom ..  It was quiet , I just thought he was in the living room, reading the news like he used to do ..
Drinking his first cup of coffee, reading the news online, the curtains in the big bay window wide open .. sunlight coming in .. after a while, he would get up and bring me a cup of coffee, waking me with a kiss.

This is the way I woke up for 44 years.
I guess it is natural for an occasional dream, flashback .. refusal to wake up to reality ..

The realtor came alone with her sweet smile and ready laugh and the house hunters were all cheerful and friendly.. thank goodness. The cats stayed locked in my bedroom, the house hunters were impressed with the size of Merlin and loved the color of Minette.
They also really liked the house !
Sometimes people look and are very polite and nice and leave .. sometimes they will say something like , You have a lovely home . But these people were enthusiastic and chatty .. made me feel good..

The cats hung out .. Merlin slept in the window .. Minette on the sofa .. I never took my eyes off them .. I have this .. I guess some could call it .. Separation Anxiety ... Fear of losing them.
With people walking in and out and doors open .. it was nerve wracking. Finally I closed them in the garden room.
They hated it. It is cold out there . So now I am spending the day, Making it up to the cats.
They have me very well trained.

It is 4:15 ... the sun is setting. The grey sky has a hint of pink and all the bare trees make it look like  a beautiful pen and ink drawing. or Oriental brush painting ..

There are so many things I love about being here.
I guess the only thing I hate about being here is being so alone.

So ... hopefully ... a change will come soon.

Next hurdle .. driving alone to Florida with 2 cats in the car .. The companion I was supposed to have, that I counted on so much to be with me on that drive, backed out.

It's always something.
I am going to look into the Auto Train. with 2 cats. overnight .. I dunno ....

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Merlin


Merlin has settled in to his new life here ... he seems to have adjusted quite easily.
Minette might be having a harder time with it. She likes him and they often are found sleeping next to each other , at afternoon nap times but she still gets all huffy and stomps out of the room if I am seen holding him and talking love talk to him.
If I try to hold her after I have been holding him, she will struggle to get away and will leave the room.
She has a lot of attitude, my little Minette.
Merlin ... no attitude at all.
He is old and sweet and dear. 
He has bad eyesight, he might be a bit hard of hearing and he is missing a few teeth.
But he is no longer all boney and frail feeling and he has been seen playing like a kitten with a new toy someone bought just for him.
He enjoys nothing more than a good pillow and some sunshine for his naps.
And at night, he is there on my bed, waiting for me to settle down so he can get his beauty rest.
He never meows. He never hisses or acts unpleasant in any way.
He does purr .. very loudly. Very sweetly.
It was a Good Day when we found Merlin.


Monday, January 4, 2016

Life

"Life is mainly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in one's own "

Adam Lindsay Gordon.






 

How would you like to look out your window

And see this every day ?

Yes, the neighbors , across the street.
For comparison, the neighbor across the street where I live now, live in a 50s Ranch House with 2 acres of trees and lawns. Not ugly ... but somehow, failing to be as wonderful as the view we had in Buenos Aires. 
Perhaps lacking in that romantic style, at night they opened the French doors when it was warm and you could see the massive chandeliers .. they had a party one time .. all the doors were open and you could hear the music and laughter .. since it was inside, across the street, it was more like a film we could see rather than neighbors having a party. I just wanted to be invited .
We used to talk about living in England or France. My husband had lived in both places.
I had grow up an Anglophile .. my great grandmother was from England. 
And her family and so on and so on. 
My husband and I used to go to England and France on holidays. I wanted to live in either country, I wasn't picky. Then we went to Buenos Aires on a holiday .. and that was that .

 The idea that the architecture in Buenos Aires would be so enchanting, so interesting to me was a complete surprise. I became a fanatic with the camera, photographing buildings.
Oh sure, there are a gazillion photos of my sweet boy Tate and my husband but it seems like buildings and streets were the most popular subjects for me in those days. 
I would like to go back .. take more photos ... have a book published of photos.

Someone is coming to look at my house today.
Maybe they will like it .. maybe 1950s Ranch is their Thing.
Maybe I will get to pack up the cats and move ... South ..
Waaaay South .

Sunday, January 3, 2016

at Downton ...

For some reason I thought I had to wait a season to see the last season of Downton Abbey.
Imagine my delight when I sat down to watch what  I thought was a show about the filming of Downton Abbey and it was the prelude to the First Episode of the Last Season ..

So I will be at Downton for the next hour.

In case you want to know where to find me ...

Sunday nights

                         What will Sunday nights be like, with Downton gone ?

Friday, January 1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR



Can you believe it  .... It is January 1st  !!!!!!  
Didn't the year kind of zoom by there at the end ?
I mean, it was Autumn, leaves were still falling and Santa showed up ... hey ! what gives ?

Happy New Year ... 






Living in Argentina

Living in Argentina

Blog Archive

Pages

And Don't Forget To Visit Me Here Too !

See more photos here

sunset in Buenos Aires

Powered By Blogger