Eager beginnings, iffy moments and happy endings

Brother Don, his daughter Becca, my Ginger

We just completed a whirlwind of a (driving) trip to Georgetown, Texas. Prior to leaving, Mr. Ray wasn't feeling the greatest, what with a bad cough & all. So we dutifully doctored up & got all the meds (we thought) he would need and headed east... after picking up Ginger, Bob and Gus. However, as we progressed in mileage, Ray felt worse and by the time we got there Friday night, it was obvious to anyone who ever knew Ray Huecker that he was not himself. So, Niece Teresa (aka Angel Girl) took us to the ER and patiently waited with me while they did a multitude of tests, most of which ruled out any bad stuff. Turns out, along with the (by now) terrible cough, the Mr. was also dehydrated, so very soon after the IV fluids went in, he began to look and sound like his real self (thank goodness). Long story short... he got a lot better and continues his recovery even now.
We have that and many other things to be thankful for now that we are back home with our cats and chickens. For starters, we are just so glad we were able to be in Texas to observe and celebrate my brother's 80th birthday, and the fact that he had made it to that ripe old age without becoming a curmudgeon.** We are surely grateful to his wife, his kids and his kids-in-law for putting the party together in a (seemingly) effortless way. Food, drink and entertainment all coming our way ad infinitum, with plenty of time to relax, visit and reminisce.
Brother Don and wife are thankful for the beautiful weather which allowed folks to sit outside all day & into the evening... thus saving wear and tear on the rugs & furniture inside. Don likes to take credit for that, claiming he has an "IN" with certain forces of nature.
On a personal note, the Mr. and I are so glad Ginger, Bob & Gus were able to be with us on this journey, giving moi much relief from driving duties... and we are eternally grateful to whatever forces (heavenly or otherwise) that kept us safe even as we were hurtling across the Arizona desert at 85 (or 90) mph when moi was not behind the wheel.
Final thought: getting together with loved ones at every opportunity is an effort richly rewarded. I recommend it.

**This is the perfect spot for a snide remark but today I am feeling kind (and don't want to chance that maybe he really does have an "IN" somewhere).

Time Change

Did you remember to 'spring forward' this morning? We have a variety of clocks in several rooms so it is a bit of a chore (not even counting trying to change the time on my watch with its teeny little stem). Just before Christmas, the kitchen clock with its (appropriate) rooster motif, fell off the wall and broke... so, I hung up a lovely Christmas clock which is still there, caroling to us every hour. Maybe that's a little out of date now, so I'll replace it with the office clock (shown here) until I can find another rooster that can tell time. Maybe this would be a good time for me to put away the banner tacked to the outside of the garage... fall scenery with a Thanksgiving turkey in the middle. Oh... and while I'm at it, I might as well pull out the red, white and blue plastic flowers which have been putting on a patriotic show since before the fourth of July. One thing I'll say for myself: I always get things done... although not always in a timely manner.

Reclaiming our territory

I love our sunroom. At one time it was a patio but is now all enclosed, with many big windows, good views, lots of sunshine. It was a great place to have a meal, walk the treadmill, listen to music, read or work the crossword puzzle.
Enter the cats. When we got those two kitty boys last spring we fixed them up a 'cat lair' in the garage... carpet, chairs with cushions, rugs, blankets, food and water and a covered litter pan. What more could a cat want?? Well, come winter, it seemed a little inhospitable for them to be out in the cold garage, so we let them come into the sunroom... big mistake! Despite our efforts at shooing them off the table and out of the bookcase...they had their way. Smokey's favorite place was in the middle of a big flower arrangement (which he consistently dumped onto the floor). I'm pretty sure Bandit was the one who frequently rearranged my cookbooks by taking them off the shelf and putting them (in random order) on the floor. Ditto the DVDs and CDs... nothing was off limits. Eventually we just gave in and the sunroom became the CATROOM. Cats ruled!
The weather has now become warmer... hey, kitty boys! Guess what?? The cat lair in the garage has been refurbished; yesterday I spent several hours vacuuming, cleaning, polishing in the sunroom and an equal amount of time convincing the 'boys' that they will no longer rule that particular roost.
I love our sunroom.